Project Title

Nasopharyngeal and Lung Microbiota in HIV Positive Children Presenting with Respiratory Disease

EDCTP Project Call

Career Development Fellowship (CDF)

Project Objectives

1.Characterise the microbiota of the nasopharyngeal and lung niche of HIV positive and negative children 2. Correlate specific microbiota with the respiratory disease and outcomes in HIV infected and non-infected children. 3.Determine the risk factors associated with exposure to specific microbiota.

Study Design

Mixed case-control and longitudinal study design

Project Summary

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), respiratory tract infections are still among the leading causes of death in children including those with human immunodeficiency virus worldwide. Although viral infections and bacterial agents account for significant proportions of respiratory infections, routine clinical practice has only focused on tuberculosis as the main aetiological agent of pneumonia in HIV patients. However, the aetiological agents of paediatric pneumonia appear more complex with the involvement of many microbial pathogens which are all embedded in a complex microbiota of generally presumed harmless commensals. In this project we aim to describe the microbiota profile of both HIV positive and negative children presenting with respiratory disease and their corresponding and find out the specific pathogens which are associated with pneumonia. We are using a mixed case-control and longitudinal design approach to both describe the microbial profile pathogens and determine pathogen specific risk factors of pneumonia. At the end of the study we hope to obtain baseline data on microbial pathogens associated with pneumonia, Identify biochemical markers that could predict pneumonia and describe the meta-taxonomic and metagenomic profile of microbial pathogens underlying pneumonia in children.

Host Organisation

Sites

Current Organisation

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Current Job Title

Post-doctoral Research Scientist

Biography