The EDCTP Alumni Network

Mr
Helena Lamptey

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Profile EDCTP Fellowship 1

Project 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)

EDCTP Project

TMA2018PF-2535

EDCTP Program

EDCTP2

EDCTP Project Call

EDCTP-AREF Preparatory Fellowships (PF)

Project 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.

Study Design

Cross sectional study

Project Summary

During HIV infection the host immune system elicits antibodies to control the virus. Depending on receptor type, Fc Gamma Receptors (FcγR) can regulate immunity by causing cell activation or inhibition in response to infections. There are differences in HIV infection progression and treatment outcomes among different patients. One of the factors hypothesized to be the cause of these differences is FCGR polymorphisms. Genetic variations that occur in FCGR genes such as Copy Number Variations (CNV) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to affect Fc-mediated effector functions. These variations could modify FcR expression and IgG isotype binding, which would affect HIV infection risk and disease progression. Although the burden of HIV in Africa is high, data is lacking on the effect of FCGR polymorphisms on HIV disease progression and antiretroviral therapy (ART) response in African populations. Therefore, it is important to determine the impact of host FCGR polymorphisms on HIV infection progression and ART response in the Ghanaian population.

Host Organisation

Department	Institution	Country
Amsterdam University Medical Centre	Department of Experimental Biology	Netherlands

Sites

Amsterdam University Medical Center

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

Current Organisation

Current Job Title

Biography

Publications

Authors:

Lamptey H. Ofori M. F Alifrangis M

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2019-01-01

Authors:

B. Tornyigah S. O. Blankson R. Adamou A. Moussiliou L. Rietmeyer & R. Tahar

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2022-01-01

Authors:

Lamptey H. Bonney E. Y. Adu B. & Kyei G. B.

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2021-01-01

Authors:

Bonney E. Y. Lamptey H. Kyei G. B

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2021-01-01

Authors:

Bonney E. Y. Lamptey H. & Kyei G. B.

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2023-01-01

Authors:

H. Lamptey, Z. Seidu, M. Lopez-Perez, E. Kyei-Baafour, L. Hviid, G. O. Adjei, & M. F. Ofori.

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.

Date:

2023-04-25

Authors:

C. Z.-Y. Abana H. Lamptey E. Y. Bonney and G. B. Kyei

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2022-01-01

Authors:

H. Lamptey Z. Seidu M. Lopez-Perez E. Kyei-Baafour L. Hviid G. O. Adjei & M. F. Ofori.

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2023-01-01

Authors:

Bonney, E. Y., Lamptey, H., & Kyei, G. B.

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.

Date:

2023-01-02

Authors:

Oppong M. Lamptey H. Ofori M. F

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2020-01-01

Authors:

Lamptey H. Ofori M. F. Quakyi I. A

Journal:

Content:

Date:

2018-01-01

Mr Helena Lamptey

Related fellows

Mrs Mary Bobb

Mr Akili Mawazo

Mr Ouanan Nicolas Tuo

Project Title

EDCTP Project

EDCTP Program

EDCTP Project Call

Project Objectives

Study Design

Project Summary

Host Organisation

Sites

Results & Outcomes

Current Organisation

Current Job Title

Biography

Publications

Purpose of review

Recent findings

Mr
Helena Lamptey