A5010122391- Hepatitis C virus research
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Genomics and Rare Diseases
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Diabetes and associated disorders
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Pharmaceutical studies and practices
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Immune responses and vaccinations
World Health Organization
2023-2024
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
2024
MRC Unit the Gambia
2009-2021
Wellcome Trust
2018-2021
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2008-2017
Medical Research Council
2009-2015
University of London
2010-2015
MRC Human Nutrition Research
2009-2014
Family Research Institute
2013
Child and Family Research Institute
2013
Abstract Seasonal variations are rarely considered a contributing component to human tissue function or health, although many diseases and physiological process display annual periodicities. Here we find more than 4,000 protein-coding mRNAs in white blood cells adipose have seasonal expression profiles, with inverted patterns observed between Europe Oceania. We also the cellular composition of vary by season, these changes, which differ United Kingdom The Gambia, could explain gene...
Abstract In experimental animals, maternal diet during the periconceptional period influences establishment of DNA methylation at metastable epialleles in offspring, with permanent phenotypic consequences. Pronounced naturally occurring seasonal differences rural Gambian women allowed us to test this humans. We show that significant variations methyl-donor nutrient intake mothers around time conception influence 13 relevant plasma biomarkers. The level several these biomarkers predicts...
H3Africa is developing capacity for health-related genomics research in Africa
The effect of host genetic variation on the outcome hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its treatment is poorly understood. chemokine receptors CCR5, CCR2, CCR3 their ligands, RANTES, MCP–1, MCP–2, MIP–1α, are involved in immune responses selective recruitment lymphocytes to liver HCV infection. We studied 20 polymorphisms within these genes investigated association with persistent carriage HCV, severity disease, hepatic inflammation, response a large European cohort. Significant...
Abstract Background Interindividual epigenetic variation that occurs systemically must be established prior to gastrulation in the very early embryo and, because it is systemic, can assessed easily biopsiable tissues. We employ two independent genome-wide approaches search for such variants. Results First, we screen metastable epialleles by performing genomewide bisulfite sequencing peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) and hair follicle DNA from Caucasian adults. Second, conduct a genomic...
Why was the cohort set up?Research on malnutrition and malaria has been conducted in Kiang West district of The Gambia (West Africa) since 1950, initially through Professor Sir Ian McGregor's annual anthropometric health surveys rural subsistence farming community this low-and middle-income country (LMIC) setting (described more detail elsewhere 1 ).With establishment a permanent field station by UK Medical Research Council (MRC Keneba) 1974, research provision expanded into wider...
Abstract Background, aims: Early onset periodontal diseases (EOP) are a group of inflammatory disorders characterised by rapid rate tissue destruction, in young individuals who otherwise healthy. There is now substantial evidence to suggest that genetic factors play rôle the pathogenesis EOP but precise nature these remains unclear. Polymorphisms cytokine genes which may underpin inter‐individual differences synthesis and secretion have been associated with other an pathogenesis, including...
Variation in the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene has been reproducibly with body index (BMI) populations of White European origin. Data from Asians African-Americans is less conclusive. We assessed effect 16 FTO polymorphisms on a large population predominantly lean Gambians (Nmax 2208) participating long-term surveillance program providing contemporary early-life anthropometric measurements. Sixteen tagSNPs screened here, including several BMI Europeans, were not birth weight...
Background: Exposure to environmental toxins during embryonic development may lead epigenetic changes that influence disease risk in later life. Aflatoxin is a contaminant of staple foods sub-Saharan Africa, known human liver carcinogen and has been associated with stunting infants. Methods: We have measured aflatoxin exposure 115 pregnant women The Gambia examined the DNA methylation status white blood cells from their infants at 2–8 months old (mean 3.6 ± 0.9). was assessed using an ELISA...
Identifying people at higher risk of developing tuberculosis with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may improve clinical management co-infections. Iron influences (TB) pathogenesis, but understanding the exact mechanisms how and timing when iron is involved remains challenging since biological samples are rarely available from disease susceptibility period due to difficulty in predicting who when, if ever, TB will develop. The objective this research was determine host status...
Early-onset periodontal diseases (EOP) are caused by interactions between host factors, specific microbial pathogens, and environmental factors. It is, therefore, of interest to investigate the nature factors as they may provide useful risk markers reveal important information regarding disease pathogenesis. Genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene associated with parameters bone homeostasis which loss is a cardinal sign, particular osteoporosis. Rapidly progressive one feature...
Persistent hepatitis B virus infection is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most frequent cancer in some developing countries. Up to 95% of those infected at birth and 15% after neonatal period fail clear virus, together resulting approximately 350 million persistent carriers worldwide. Via whole genome scan Gambian families, we have identified susceptibility locus as cluster class II cytokine receptor genes on chromosome 21q22. Coding changes two these genes, type I IFN...
BackgroundVaccination against hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is safe and effective; however, vaccine-induced antibody level wanes over time. Peak anti-HBs directly related to decay, as well risk of persistent carriage despite vaccination. We investigated the role host genetic factors in long-term immunity HBV based on peak seroconversion anti-HBc.MethodsWe analyzed 715 SNP across 133 candidate genes 662 infant vaccinees from The Gambia, assessing core (anti-HBc) status, whilst adjusting...
Rethinking research processes to strengthen co-production in low and middle income countriesCo-production needs become an integral part of the training funding researchers ensure meets everyone's needs, argue David Beran colleagues