A5063260881- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Birth, Development, and Health
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Malaria Research and Control
- Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
Martin Luther Christian University
2024-2025
Indian Institute of Management Shillong
2021-2025
Institute of Public Health Bengaluru
2021-2025
Christian Medical College & Hospital
2013-2024
MRC Unit the Gambia
2023
IQVIA (India)
2019-2020
Christian Medical College
2010-2019
Tufts University
2014
Wellcome Trust
2011
Abstract Background Human immunology is a growing field of research in which experimental, clinical, and analytical methods many life science disciplines are utilized. Classic epidemiological study designs, including observational longitudinal birth cohort studies, offer strong potential for gaining new knowledge insights into immune response to pathogens humans. However, rigorous discussion methodological issues related designs statistical analysis that appropriate studies lacking. Methods...
Sustainable Development Goal 2.2-to end malnutrition by 2030-includes the elimination of child wasting, defined as a weight-for-length z-score that is more than two standard deviations below median World Health Organization standards for growth
Globally, 149 million children under 5 years of age are estimated to be stunted (length more than 2 standard deviations below international growth standards)
Abstract Growth faltering in children (low length for age or low weight length) during the first 1,000 days of life (from conception to 2 years age) influences short-term and long-term health survival 1,2 . Interventions such as nutritional supplementation pregnancy postnatal period could help prevent growth faltering, but programmatic action has been insufficient eliminate high burden stunting wasting low- middle-income countries. Identification windows population subgroups on which focus...
More than 500,000 deaths are attributed to rotavirus gastroenteritis annually worldwide, with the highest mortality in India. Two successive, naturally occurring infections have been shown confer complete protection against moderate or severe during subsequent a birth cohort Mexico. We studied protective effect of infection on and disease India (where efficacy oral vaccines general has lower expected).
Diarrhoea and water-borne diseases are leading causes of mortality in developing countries. To understand the socio-cultural factors impacting on water safety, we documented knowledge, attitudes practices handling usage, sanitation defecation rural Tamilnadu, India, using questionnaires focus group discussions, a village divided into an upper caste Main lower Harijan colony. Our survey showed that all households stored drinking wide-mouthed containers. The quantity supplied was less colony,...
Introduction Rotavirus vaccine efficacy ranges from >90% in high socio-economic settings (SES) to 50% low SES. With the imminent introduction of rotavirus SES countries, understanding reasons for reduced these could identify strategies improve performance. Methods We developed a mathematical model predict high, middle and based on data specific each setting incidence, protection conferred by natural infection immune response vaccination. then examined factors affecting efficacy. Results...
Background. Probiotics have a possible role in the treatment of pediatric acute gastroenteritis. We report effect probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on intestinal function, immune response, and clinical outcomes Indian children with cryptosporidial or rotavirus diarrhea. Methods. Children gastroenteritis aged 6 months to 5 years, testing positive for either Cryptosporidium species stool (coinfections were excluded), randomized LGG (ATCC 53103) placebo, once daily 4 weeks. Baseline...
Current control strategies for soil-transmitted helminths (STH) emphasize morbidity through mass drug administration (MDA) targeting preschool- and school-age children, women of childbearing age adults in certain high-risk occupations such as agricultural laborers or miners. This strategy is effective at reducing those treated but, without massive economic development, it unlikely will interrupt transmission. MDA therefore need to continue indefinitely maintain benefit. Mathematical models...
While improvements in oral rehydration use and access to healthcare have contributed impressive gains child survival, diarrheal diseases remain the second most important cause of mortality India. Pathogen specific disease rates, while key deciding on utility public health interventions such as vaccines, are extremely difficult obtain developing country settings with less than optimal access, diagnostic services information systems. This study combined burden within five cohorts infants...
Stunting or reduced linear growth is very prevalent in low-income countries. Recent studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between alterations the gut microbiome and moderate severe acute malnutrition children these However, there been no primary longitudinal comparing intestinal microbiota of persistently stunted to that non-stunted same community. In this pilot study, we characterized microbial community composition diversity fecal 10 with low birth weight persistent stunting...
Objective To estimate the burden and assess prenatal postnatal determinants of illnesses experienced by children residing in a semiurban slum, during first 1000 days life. Design Community-based birth cohort Setting Southern India Participants Four hundred ninety-seven 561 pregnant women recruited followed for 2 years with surveillance anthropometry. Main outcome measure Incidence rates illness; clinic visits hospitalisations; factors associated low weight, various growth. Results Data on 10...
Acceptance and long-term sustainability of water quality interventions are pivotal to realizing continued health benefits. However, there is limited research attempting understand the factors that influence compliance or adoption such interventions. Eight focus group discussions with parents young children - including compliant not households participating in an intervention study, three key-informant interviews village headmen were conducted between April May 2014 perceptions on effects...
Strategies are needed to improve oral rotavirus vaccine (RV), which provides suboptimal protection in developing countries. Probiotics and zinc supplementation could RV immunogenicity by altering the intestinal microbiota immune function. Infants 5 weeks old living urban Vellore, India were enrolled a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 4-arm factorial design assess effects of daily (5 mg), probiotic (1010 Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) or placebo on two doses (Rotarix®,...
There is an increased focus on whether mass drug administration (MDA) programmes alone can interrupt the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Mathematical models be used to model these interventions and are increasingly being implemented inform investigators about expected trial outcome choice optimum study design. One key factor threshold for detecting elimination. However, there currently no thresholds defined STH regarding breaking transmission.We develop a simulation...
Since 2015, India has coordinated the largest school-based deworming program globally, targeting soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in ~250 million children aged 1 to 19 years twice yearly. Despite substantial progress reduction of morbidity associated with STH, reinfection rates endemic communities remain high. We conducted a community based parasitological survey Tamil Nadu as part DeWorm3 Project—a cluster-randomised trial evaluating feasibility interrupting STH transmission at three...
A large proportion of diarrhoeal illnesses in children developing countries are ascribed to an unknown aetiology because the only available methods, such as microscopy and culture, have low sensitivity. This study was aimed at decreasing diagnostic gap disease by application molecular techniques. Faecal samples from 158 with 99 without diarrhoea a hospital South India were tested for enteric pathogens using conventional methods (culture, enzyme immunoassays) (six PCR-based assays). The...
Abstract Background India has seen rapid unorganized urbanization in the past few decades. However, burden of childhood diseases and malnutrition such populations is difficult to quantify. The morbidity experience children living semi-urban slums a southern Indian city described. Methods A total 176 were recruited pre-weaning from four geographically adjacent, located western outskirts Vellore, Tamil Nadu for study on water safety enteric infections received either bottled or municipal...
Cryptosporidium spp. is under recognized as an important pathogen causing diarrhea in children and HIV-infected individuals with associated high morbidity mortality. In endemic areas, most symptomatic infections are childhood immunocompromised adults. The immune status of the host plays a critical role determining severity cryptosporidiosis. Infection self-limited immunocompetent hosts, but can be severe persistent such AIDS patients or malnourished children. Cryptosporidiosis developing...
ABSTRACT Diarrhea causes significant morbidity and mortality in Indian children under 5 years of age. Flies carry enteric pathogens may mediate foodborne infections. In this study, we characterized fly densities as a determinant infectious diarrhea longitudinal cohort 160 urban 80 rural households with 1,274 individuals (27% age) Vellore, India. Household questionnaires on living conditions were completed at enrollment. Fly abundance was measured during the wet dry seasons using ribbons...
Abstract Reverse transcription‐real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) for the VP6 gene was used to study group A rotavirus shedding in children with symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. Sequential stool samples (n = 345) from 10 associated diarrhea five 161) infection were collected over a period of 2 months. RT‐qPCR assay on using plasmid standard demonstrated high reproducibility, an inter‐assay coefficient variation (CV) 1.40–2.97% intra‐assay CV 0.03–3.03%. The median duration...