EDCTP Alumni Network

Fostering excellence and collaboration in the next generation of researchers

Call EDCTP-AREF Preparatory Fellowships (PF)
Programme EDCTP2
Start Date 2021-10-01
End Date 2022-10-31
Project Code TMA2018PF-2535
Status Active

Title

Determining the Role of Fc gamma Receptor (FCGR) gene polymorphisms in HIV infection progression and treatment outcomes in Ghanaian Adults Using Next Generation Sequencing (FCGR-HIV)

Objectives

The main objective of the fellowship is to build capacity and strengthen competence in the field of HIV immunology. Specific objectives of the fellowship is to 1. To genotype FcγRIIa, FcγRIIb, FcγRIIc, FcγRIIIa and FcγRIIIb SNPs and copy number variants associated with HIV infection and treatment outcomes. 2. To measure the reservoir size of the patients. 3. To evaluate virological and immunological biomarkers of the HIV-1 latent reservoir.

Host Organisation

Institution Country
Department of Experimental Biology Netherlands

Participants

Name Institution Country
Helena Lamptey Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana Ghana

Study Design

Cross sectional study

Sites

Amsterdam University Medical Center

Phd Study

Title University Start Date End Date
The impact of naturally acquired immunity and antimalarial drugs on Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in a malaria endemic area in Ghana School of Public Health, University of Ghana 2012-08-02 2017-07-31

Students Supervised

Type Name Title University Start Date End Date
MPhil Mary Tetteh Malaria Related Anaemia Among Children in the Fanteakwa District in The Eastern Region of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 2018 2020
Mphil Mavis Oppong Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disorders and Malaria Infection in Children Aged 1-12 Years in The Volta Region, Ghana: A Community-Based Study School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana 2018 2020

Results & Outcomes

The study observed that children and pregnant women had higher asymptomatic infections, making them highly at risk of re-infections and reserviors of transmission. The parasite diversity detected gave an indication of higher ongoing transmission intensity than might have been detected. The prevalence of Pfmdr1 as a marker of potential drug resistance associated with ACT showed a similar trend of an emerging drug resistance and / tolerance in other parts of Sub Saharan Africa. The heterozygous α -thalassemic condition conferred protection against infection in children, however, the increased risk of P. falciparum infection when heterozygous for α–thalassaemia in adults and pregnant women is unclear. There is evidence of high antibody responses against these two potential transmission blocking antigens in the endemic area

Publications

Lamptey, H., Ofori, M. F., Kusi, K. A., Adu, B., Owusu-Yeboa, E., Kyei-Baafour, E., Arku, A. T., Bosomprah, S., Alifrangis, M., & Quakyi, I. A. (2018). The prevalence of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage and multiplicity of infection in children, pregnant women and adults in a low malaria transmission area in Southern Ghana. Malaria journal, 17(1), 331. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-018-2479-y
Lamptey, H., Ofori, M. F., Adu, B., Kusi, K. A., Dickson, E. K., Quakyi, I., & Alifrangis, M. (2019). Association between alpha-thalassaemia trait, Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites and gametocyte carriage in a malaria endemic area in Southern Ghana. BMC research notes, 12(1), 134. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4181-8
Oppong, M., Lamptey, H., Kyei-Baafour, E. Ofori E A, Tornyigah B, Kweku M, Ofori M. F. Prevalence of sickle cell disorders and malaria infection in children aged 1–12 years in the Volta Region, Ghana: a community-based study. Malar J 19, 426 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03500-5
Lamptey, H., Bonney, E. Y., Adu, B., & Kyei, G. B. (2021). Are Fc Gamma Receptor Polymorphisms Important in HIV-1 Infection Outcomes and Latent Reservoir Size?. Frontiers in immunology, 12, 656894. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.656894
Bonney, E. Y., Lamptey, H., Aboagye, J. O., Zaab-Yen Abana, C., Boateng, A. T., Quansah, D., Obo-Akwa, A., Ganu, V. J., Puplampu, P., Kyei, G. B., & H-CRIS Massive Action Team (2021). Unwillingness of patients in Ghana to interrupt antiretroviral therapy for HIV cure research. Journal of virus eradication, 7(1), 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jve.2020.100027
H. Lamptey, Z. Seidu, M. Lopez-Perez, E. Kyei-Baafour, L. Hviid, G. O. Adjei, & M. F. Ofori.
Bonney, E. Y., Lamptey, H., & Kyei, G. B.
C. Z.-Y. Abana, H. Lamptey, E. Y. Bonney and G. B. Kyei
B. Tornyigah, S. O. Blankson, R. Adamou, A. Moussiliou, L. Rietmeyer & R. Tahar

Students Supervised

Type Name Title University Start Date End Date

Memberships

Role Committee/board Start Date End Date

Education

Institution Degree Year
,

Grants

Publications

Authors:
H. Lamptey, Z. Seidu, M. Lopez-Perez, E. Kyei-Baafour, L. Hviid, G. O. Adjei, & M. F. Ofori. , H. Lamptey, Z. Seidu, M. Lopez-Perez, E. Kyei-Baafour, L. Hviid, G. O. Adjei, & M. F. Ofori. (2023). Impact of haemoglobinopathies on asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection and naturally acquired immunity among children in Northern Ghana. Frontiers in Hematology 2023 Vol. 2 DOI: 10.3389/frhem.2023.1150134 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frhem.2023.1150134
Date:
2023-04-25
Journal:
Frontiers. Hematology
Content:

Background: The protective effect of certain haemoglobinopathies, such as HbS, HbC, and α-thalassaemia, against severe malaria has long been established; however, there is only limited and equivocal evidence regarding their impact on asymptomatic parasitaemia. Here, we investigated the effect of HbS, HbC, and α-thalassaemia on asymptomatic P. falciparum parasitaemia and acquired immunity among children in Northern Ghana.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,017 healthy children (1-17 years) in 13 malaria-endemic communities in Northern Ghana. The children were screened for structural Hb phenotypes using SickleSCAN, for P. falciparum infection using anti-HRP2 malaria RDT and subsequently confirmed by capillary electrophoresis and PCR, respectively. α-thalassaemia genotyping was done using PCR. Levels of IgG specific for six recombinant malaria antigens (PfCSP, GLURP, MSP3, Pfs230, HB3VAR06, and IT4VAR60) and crude asexual blood-stage antigens were evaluated by ELISA.

Results: 266 out of the 1,017 participants had either HbAC (18%) or HbAS (8.4%), whereas 35% had α‐thalassaemia. Twenty-five percent and 6% HbAC individuals co-inherited heterozygous and homozygous α-thalassaemia respectively. Similarly, 25% and 10.5% of HbAS co-inherited heterozygous and homozygous α-thalassaemia. Asymptomatic parasitaemia rates were 23%, 24%, and 19% in those with HbAA, HbAC and HbAS, respectively. The overall parasite carriage rates in heterozygous (21%) and homozygous α-thalassaemia (25%) individuals were similar to that of individuals without α-thalassaemia (23%). P. falciparum parasite carriage risk was about three times higher among homozygous α-thalassaemia individuals with HbAC (OR = 2.97; 95% CI 0.83-10.62) and heterozygous carriers with HbAS variants (OR = 2.86; 95% CI 0.85-9.60) compared to the wildtype. In HbAS individuals, IgG levels to IT4VAR60 and HB3VAR06 were significantly lower, whereas anti-CSP levels were higher than in HbAA and HbAC.

Conclusions: Co-inheritance of HbAS and HbAC with α-thalassaemia increased the risk of asymptomatic parasitaemia, an indication of a negative epistatic effect between these Hb variants. Antibody levels against non-PfEMP1 antigens were slightly higher among HbAS children, but quite similar in all study groups, indicating differences in parasite exposure.

Authors:
Bonney, E. Y., Lamptey, H., & Kyei, G. B. , Bonney, E. Y., Lamptey, H., & Kyei, G. B. (2023). HIV cure: an acceptability scientific agenda. Current opinion in HIV and AIDS, 18(1), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.1097/COH.0000000000000771
Date:
2023-01-02
Journal:
Current Opinion In HIV And AIDS.
Content:

Purpose of review

Recent years have seen major investments into HIV cure research, seeking a permanent cure or remission. The purpose of this review is to consider how this important research agenda could be broadened to include issues of acceptability and appropriateness for different populations.

Recent findings

We discuss how the definitions of cure such as functional cure (remission) or complete cure (viral elimination) could be interpreted differently by various populations. We also discuss the different methods of cure and the importance of including Africa in cure research to ensure that emerging remedies could be trialled and utilized on the continent that bears the brunt of the AIDS pandemic

Summary

We propose that the social science research of HIV cure acceptability should be done concurrently with the basic and clinical sciences, to ensure that cure methods consider stakeholder preferences.

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