A5055839016- HIV Research and Treatment
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Genital Health and Disease
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Viral-associated cancers and disorders
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- interferon and immune responses
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
University of Botswana
2021-2025
Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
2021-2025
Introduction: Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common malignancy and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in Botswana.Currently, diagnosing CaP relies on examining prostate biopsy samples, which can be challenging due to benign mimics.This study aims evaluate potential Alpha-methyl acyl-CoA racemase (AMACR/p504s) p63, as diagnostic markers for CaP.This may potentially validate use immunohistochemistry detecting Botswana, where it not routinely utilized.Methods: The...
Background The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tb ) strains remains a threat to (TB) prevention and care. Understanding the drug resistance profiles circulating is crucial for effective TB control. This study aimed describe genetic diversity rifampicin-resistant in Botswana using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Methods included 202 stored isolates from people diagnosed with (RR-TB) between January 2016 June 2023. Genomic DNA was extracted cetyltrimethylammonium...
Abstract Objectives To assess whether a single instance of low-level viraemia (LLV) is associated with the presence drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and predicts subsequent virological failure (VF) in adults receiving ART 30 communities participating Botswana Combination Prevention Project. Methods A total 6078 HIV-1 C pol sequences were generated analysed using Stanford HIV database. LLV was defined as plasma VL = 51–999 copies/mL VF ≥ 1000 copies/mL. Results Among people (PWH), 4443 (73%)...
Background Approximately 30,000 non-citizens are living with HIV in Botswana, all of whom as 2020 eligible to receive free antiretroviral treatment (ART) within the country. We assessed prevalence HIV-1 mutational profiles [pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) and acquired (ADR)] among treatment-experienced (TE) treatment-naïve (TN) Botswana. Methods A total 152 were enrolled from a migrant clinic at Independence Surgery, private practice Botswana 2019–2021. Viral RNA isolated plasma samples...
We evaluated naturally occurring nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NTV/r) resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains from Botswana, a country with no NTV/r use to date, in order recommend the usage of agent for high-risk patients disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Abstract Objectives Pre-existing rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations (RVP-RAMs) have been found to predict HIV-1 virological failure in those switching long-acting injectable cabotegravir/rilpivirine. We here evaluated the prevalence of archived RPV-RAMs a cohort people living with HIV (PWH). Methods analysed near full-length pol sequences from proviral DNA for presence RPV-RAMs, which were defined according 2022 IAS–USA drug resistance mutation list and Stanford database. Results...
Background: Scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and introduction treat-all strategy necessitates population-level monitoring acquired HIV drug resistance (ADR) pretreatment (PDR) mutations. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 4973 HIV-positive individuals residing in 30 communities across Botswana who participated the Combination Prevention Project (BCPP) 2013–2018. sequences obtained by long-range genotyping. Major drug-resistance mutations (DRMs) surveillance (SDRMs) associated...
We evaluated subsequent virologic outcomes in individuals experiencing low-level virem ia (LLV) on dolutegravir (DTG)-based first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) Botswana. used a national dataset from 50,742 adults who initiated DTG-based ART June 2016–December 2022. Individuals with at least two viral load (VL) measurements post three months were for first and episodes of LLV (VL:51–999 copies/mL). was sub-categorized as low-LLV (51–200 copies/mL), medium-LLV (201–400 copies/mL) high-LLV...
Monitoring HIV-1 drug resistance mutations (DRM) in treated patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with a detectable viral load (VL) is important for the selection of appropriate cART. Currently, there limited data HIV DRM at low-level viremia (LLV) (VL 401-999 copies/mL) due to use threshold VL ≥1000 copies/mL testing. We here assess performance an in-house genotyping assay using plasma detection LLV.
Abstract Background The variation of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes shapes the risks cervical cancer and these variations are not well defined in Africa. Nucleotide changes within L1 gene, nucleotide variability, phylogeny were explored relation to HIV samples from Botswana Kenya. Methods A total 98 HPV-positive sequenced identify different HPV variants. Phylogenetic inferences used determine investigate clustering sequences between women living with (WLWHIV) -women (WNLWHIV). Results...
Abstract We sought to investigate whether SARS‐CoV‐2 was present, and perform full‐length genomic sequencing, in a 5‐year‐old male crossbreed dog from Gaborone, Botswana that presented overt clinical signs (flu‐like symptoms, dry hacking cough mild dyspnoea). It only sampled posteriori, because three adult owners were diagnosed with infection. Next‐generation sequencing based on Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) performed amplicons generated using reverse transcriptase real‐time polymerase...
To describe the occurrence of HIV drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in both intact and defective HIV-1 cell-associated DNA (HIV-1 CAD) among early-treated infants.
It remains unknown whether the C-C motif chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) coreceptor is still predominant used by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) in Botswana, where HIV-1 subtype C predominates. We sought to determine HIV-1C tropism Botswana using genotypic tools, taking into account effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and virologic suppression. gp120 V3 loop sequences from 5602 participants were analyzed for viral three use predicting algorithms/tools: Geno2pheno, Web...
ABSTRACT There are limited data on the prevalence of fostemsavir (FTR) resistance-associated polymorphisms in people with HIV Botswana. We sought to determine FTR HIV-1 subtype C sequences from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve and ART-experienced individuals Previously reported literature were surveyed HIV-1C proviral generated a large population-based cohort enrolled between 2013 2018. Sequences ART-naïve included analysis. A total 6,078 participants gp120 this study, 6,030 (99.2%) had...
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral escape has been poorly described among people with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. We determined the prevalence of CSF and HIV-1 load (VL) trajectories in individuals treated for A retrospective longitudinal study was performed using paired plasma collected prior to during antifungal treatment 83 participants recruited at Botswana site phase-3 AMBITION-cm trial (2018−2021). RNA levels were quantified then (CSF ≥ 0.5 log10 higher than plasma) VL...
Background We evaluated the prevalence of archived proviral drug resistance mutations (DRMs) associated with to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) shortly before Botswana transitioned in 2016 using dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral treatment first-line regimens. Methods used Stanford University HIV database analyze INSTI-resistance (RAMs) a large representative population-based cohort adults recruited 30 geographically dispersed communities as part Combination Prevention...
We assessed HIV-1 drug resistance profiles among people living with HIV (PLWH) detectable viral load (VL) and on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Botswana. The study utilised available 100 residual VL samples from unique PLWH Francistown who had viraemia at-least 6 months after initiating ART Botswana's national program November 2023 to January 2024. Viraemia was categorized as low-level (LLV) (VL: 200-999 copies/mL) or virologic failure (VF) (VL ≥1000 copies/mL). protease,...
We used HIV-1C sequences to predict (in silico) resistance 33 known broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and evaluate the different HIV-1 Env characteristics that may affect virus neutralization. analyzed proviral from adults with documented seroconversion (N = 140) in Botswana (2013-2018). env were bnAb using bNAb-ReP, determine number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGS) variable region (VC). also assessed presence signature mutations sensitivity vitro. observe varied...
We investigated intra-host genetic evolution using two SARS-CoV-2 isolates from a fully vaccinated (primary schedule x2 doses of AstraZeneca plus booster Pfizer), >70-year-old woman with history lymphoma and hypertension who presented infection for 3 weeks prior to death due COVID-19. Two full genome sequences were determined samples taken 13 days apart both belonging Pango lineage FL.2: the first detection this Omicron sub-variant in Botswana. FL.2 is sub-lineage XBB.1.9.1. The repertoire...
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral escape has been poorly described among people with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. We determined the prevalence of CSF and HIV-1 load (VL) trajectories in individuals treated for A retrospective longitudinal study was performed using paired plasma collected prior to during antifungal treatment 83 participants recruited at Botswana site phase-3 AMBITION-cm trial (2018-2021). RNA levels were quantified then (CSF ≥ 0.5 log10 higher than plasma) VL...
HIV is known to accumulate escape mutations in the gag gene response immune from cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). These can occur within an individual as well at a population level. The of Botswana exhibits high prevalence HLA*B57 and HLA*B58, which are associated with effective control HIV. In this retrospective cross-sectional investigation, HIV-1 sequences were analyzed recently infected participants across two time periods 10 years apart: early point (ETP) late (LTP). CTL was relatively...
Abstract We used HIV-1C sequences to predict (in silico) resistance 33 known broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and evaluate the different HIV-1 env characteristics that may affect virus neutralization. analyzed proviral from adults with documented seroconversion (N=140) in Botswana (2013-2018). were bnAb using bNAb-ReP, determine number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGS) variable region (VC). also assessed presence signature mutations sensitivity vitro. observe varied...