The EDCTP Alumni Network

Dr
Roma Chilengi

Zambia

Related fellows

Mrs Haita Ndimballan

Public Health officer

View

Mr Mahamat Alio

View

Mrs Justina Magalhães Bramugy

Junior Researcher

View

Profile EDCTP Fellowship 1

Current Organisation

Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia

Current Job Title

Chief Scientific Officer

Biography

Publications

Authors:

Evelyn Muleba Kunda-Ng'andu Michelo Simuyandi Melissa Kapulu Masuzyo Chirwa-Chobe Hope Mwanyungwi-Chinganya Stanley Mwale Roma Chilengi Anjali Sharma

Journal:

Wellcome Open Research

Content:

Date:

2021-09-14

Authors:

Katayi Mwila Kazimbaya Laxmi Yeruva Caroline C. Chisenga Michelo Simuyandi Cynthia Mubanga Phiri Natasha Makabilo Laban Samuel Bosomprah Sallie R. Permar Sody Munsaka Roma Chilengi

Journal:

PLOS ONE

Content:

Date:

2020-11-10

Authors:

Aybüke Koyuncu Pradeep Dudeja Michelo Simuyandi Samuel Bosomprah Roma Chilengi

Journal:

PLOS ONE

Content:

Date:

2020-10-02

Authors:

Bolutife Fakoya Karthik Hullahalli Daniel H. F. Rubin Deborah R. Leitner Roma Chilengi David A. Sack Matthew K. Waldor

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2021-12-18

Authors:

Wilbroad Mutale Imelda K. Moise Samuel Bosomprah Perfect Shankalala Oliver Mweemba Roma Chilengi Sharon Kapambwe Charles Chishimba Mulenga Mukanu Daniel Chibutu Douglas Heimburger

Journal:

PLOS ONE

Content:

Date:

2018-08-23

Authors:

Evelyn Muleba Kunda-Ng'andu Michelo Simuyandi Melissa Kapulu Masuzyo Chirwa-Chobe Hope Mwanyungwi-Chinganya Stanley Mwale Roma Chilengi Anjali Sharma

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2021-02-12

Authors:

Roma Chilengi Michelo Simuyandi Mwelwa Chibuye Masuzyo Chirwa Nsofwa Sukwa Natasha Laban Caroline Chisenga Suwilanji Silwamba Nicholas Grassly Samuel Bosomprah

Journal:

Vaccine

Content:

Date:

2020-10-01

Authors:

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2014-01-01

Authors:

R. Chilengi K. Mwila- Kazimbaya M. Chirwa N. Sukwa C. Chipeta R.M. Velu N. Katanekwa S. Babji G. Kang M.M. McNeal N. Meyer G. Gompana S. Hazra Y. Tang J. Flores N. Bhat N. Rathi

Journal:

Vaccine

Content:

Date:

2021-06-01

Authors:

Bolutife Fakoya Karthik Hullahalli Daniel H. F. Rubin Deborah R. Leitner Roma Chilengi David A. Sack Matthew K. Waldor Barry R. Bloom

Journal:

mBio

Content:

Date:

2022-04-26

Authors:

Charlie Chaluma Luchen Aftab A. Ansari John Mwaba Harriet Ng’ombe Peter Ibukun Oluwa Alabi Michelo Simuyandi Obvious N. Chilyabanyama Luiza Miyanda Hatyoka Cynthia Mubanga Samuel Bosomprah Roma Chilengi Cleopatra Caroline Chisenga

Journal:

PLOS ONE

Content:

Date:

2021-12-02

Authors:

Katayi Mwila-Kazimbaya Miren Iturriza-Gómara Miguel Pugliese Garcia Samuel Bosomprah Natasha Makabilo Laban Caroline Cleopatra Chisenga Sallie Robey Permar Michelo Simuyandi Sody Munsaka Roma Chilengi

Journal:

PLOS ONE

Content:

Date:

2017-12-28

Authors:

Natasha Makabilo Laban Samuel Bosomprah Kalo Musukuma-Chifulo Michelo Simuyandi Shilpa Iyer Harriet Ng'ombe Mutinta Muchimba Adriace Chauwa Sekayi Tigere Caroline Cleopatra Chisenga Mwelwa Chibuye Obvious Nchimunya Chilyabanyama Martin Goodier Roma Chilengi

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2021-05-06

Project Title

A randomized controlled trial of two versus three doses of Rotarix™ vaccine for boosting and longevity of vaccine immune responses in Zambia.

EDCTP Project

TMA2016SF1511

EDCTP Program

EDCTP2

EDCTP Project Call

Senior Fellowship (SF)

Host Organisation

Department	Institution	Country
Research Department	Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)	ZM

Project Objectives

Objective 1. Assess boosting and longevity of antibody responses between infants receiving two versus three doses of Rotarix™ vaccine and evaluate safety of third dose. Objective 2: Profile innate and adaptive cellular, cytokines and secretory antibodies responses to Rotarix™ vaccination and investigate influence of cytomegalovirus exposure Objective 3: Determine genotypes and phenotypes of HBGA profiles and assess association with Rotarix™ vaccine immunogenicity Objective 4: Profile changes in rotavirus specific antibody titres and non-immunological components in maternal breastmilk over time and determine association with infant vaccine response

Study Design

The proposed clinical trial is a phase IV or post licensure trial. It will have two arms and will be an open-label randomized controlled trial of two versus three doses of live, attenuated, oral Rotarix™ administered at 6 & 10 weeks (the standard of care arm) and at 6 & 10 weeks plus 9 months infants age (the experimental arm). The intervention in the experimental arm is an added third dose of Rotarix™ vaccine given at 9 months infant age

Project Summary

Rotavirus vaccines such as Rotarix™ are presently proven to be an effective and powerful tool for saving child lives from diarrhoea deaths especially in developing countries like Zambia which have high burden of diarrhoea. However, these vaccines show reduced immunogenicity, efficacy and effectiveness in developing countries compared to developed countries. Based on research findings in Zambia, vaccine induced responses also seem to wane in later infancy. The trial will assess the potential immunogenicity benefit and safety of an added third Rotarix dose to the regular two dose schedule in the national immunisation program in Zambia. The trial will profile immune responses associated with vaccination, longevity of these responses, and assess the influence of maternal and infant factors on these responses among Zambian infants at a peri-urban public health facility in Lusaka

Results & Outcomes

The published findings from the study showed that a third dose of Rotarix vaccine is safe when administered at 9 months of age concomitantly with measles/rubella vaccine a in Zambia. The study however found no significant difference in RV-IgA titres at 12 months between the two arms. The study also found modest vaccine seroconversion rates (27.8%) in the study setting. The study also profiled maternal and infant histo-blood group antigens among the study cohort and their associations to rotavirus antibody responses. The study is generating findings on human cytomegalovirus and infant T-cell responses and effect on vaccine responses to be subsequently publication. Results from the primary objective contribute to improved knowledge on the immune benefits of additional doses in later infancy among children residing in low-income settings within which rotavirus vaccines are much needed due to the high disease burden. While the study did not find a boosting effect, we were able to show that administration of these vaccines outside of the usual age range is safe within Zambian children. This has potential to provide opportunities for testing of other vaccines at these time points to counteract waning immunity. Our findings of low seroconversion rate recorded within our study cohort emphasises the continued need to improve vaccine performance. It remains unclear why rotavirus vaccines have reduced immunogenicity, efficacy and effectiveness within high burden, poor resource settings despite several reasons proposed. As investigation of these reasons remain ongoing and development of new vaccines is underway, strategies to improve the performance of existing vaccines in routine use such as booster doses like that done in our study remain necessary.

Dr Roma Chilengi

Related fellows

Mrs Haita Ndimballan

Mr Mahamat Alio

Mrs Justina Magalhães Bramugy

Current Organisation

Current Job Title

Biography

Publications

Project Title

EDCTP Project

EDCTP Program

EDCTP Project Call

Host Organisation

Project Objectives

Study Design

Project Summary

Results & Outcomes

Dr
Roma Chilengi