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immunity

Francis Ndungu

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Email: 
fndunguatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org
Group: 
Molecular Parasitology and Immunology

Immunity to malaria is slow to develop, is non-sterilising and wanes rapidly when immune adults migrate to non-endemic regions, suggesting that specific problems exist in the establishment and main

Margaret Mackinnon

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Email: 
mmackinnonatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org
Group: 
Molecular Parasitology and Immunology

What is it that causes pathogens to harm their host? In my lab, we study the evolutionary pressures, and the biology underlying them, that make pathogens virulent.

Transmission dynamics of respiratory viruses

Principal Investigator(s): 
D James Nokes

• Household transmission of respiratory viruses: who acquires infection from whom (Patrick Munywoki - PhD student)

• Mathematical modelling of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission dynamics and the impact of different vaccination strategies for its control (Timothy Kinyanjui, PhD Student)

• Quantifying RSV re-infection in the community - transmission in the school setting (Dorothy Koech)

• Characterising contact patterns relevant to respiratory virus transmission (Moses Kiti)

• Oral-fluid sampling for the determination of RSV infection and immunity

 

Viral genetic and antigenic variation: infection, immunity, control

Principal Investigator(s): 
D James Nokes
Other Investigator(s): 
Charles Sande


• The effects of strain variation on respiratory syncytial virus infection and Immunity (Charles Sande, PhD Student)

• RSV evolution and molecular epidemiology (Charles Nyaigoti, WT Masters Fellow)

• Genetic diversity of group A rotavirus strains in severe diarrhoeal admissions

More information:

 

T cell responses to PfEMP1

Principal Investigator(s): 
Britta C Urban

This research team investigates whether the phenotypic and antigenic properties of variant antigens expressed on the red cell surface of Plasmodium faciparum isolates determine cellular and humoral immune responses to that isolate.

Identifying the merozoite targets of naturally acquired immunity to malaria

Principal Investigator(s): 
Faith Osier

We are currently studying antibody responses to a panel of merozoite antigens that are leading candidates for malaria blood stage vaccines including Merozoite surface proteins (MSP) -1, -2 and -3, Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1), Erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) and Glutamate rich protein (GLURP).

Faith Osier

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Email: 
fosieratkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org
Group: 
Molecular Parasitology and Immunology

People living in malaria-endemic areas become immune to death from severe malaria essentially by the age of five years, and develop immunity against mild clinical episodes at variable rates.

Impact of natural immunity on expression of Plasmodium falciparum variant surface antigens

Full Title: 
Measuring the impact of naturally acquired immunity on the expression of Plasmodium falciparum variant surface antigens
Principal Investigator(s): 
Pete Bull

Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes express on their surface, members of a diverse family of parasite molecules called PfEMP1 that are encoded by a family of 60 var genes in every parasite genome. These molecules interact with the surface of host cells and mediate parasite sequestration in tissues including the brain, an important step in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Although naturally acquired antibodies to PfEMP1 provide specific protection against the molecular variants that they recognise, PfEMP1 are often considered too diverse to be vaccine candidates.

Pete Bull

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Email: 
pbullatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org
Group: 
Molecular Parasitology and Immunology

My group aims to identify new targets of malaria intervention by identifying and characterizing subsets of PfEMP1 that are associated with infections of children with low natural immunity at diff