PUBLICATIONS
THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RHD AND OUTSTANDING GAPS
Despite the explosion of scientific innovation over the last few decades, fundamental scientific studies to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of RHD remain in their infancy and the determinants of RHD progression thus remain uncertain. Moreover, inconsistency in natural history and phenotypic presentations are seen between Africans and other cohorts in which preliminary studies were conducted, implying that differences in genetic complexity and environmental factors may be responsible for the differential disease progression rates.
MORE PUBLICATIONS
ALTERED ANTIBODY RESPONSES IN PERSONS INFECTED WITH HIV-1 WHILE USING PREEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS
Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool, although effectiveness is dependent upon adherence. It is important to characterize the impact of PrEP on HIV antibody responses in people who experience breakthrough infections to understand the potential impact on timely diagnosis and treatment.
A MULTIPLEX ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF SHIV PLASMA AND MUCOSAL IgG AND IgA
Evaluating antibody maturation provides valuable data to characterize immune responses to HIV infection and can provide insight into biomedical intervention efficacy. It is important to develop assays that evaluate antibody maturation in both plasma and mucosal compartments.
LOW-COST METHOD TO MONITOR PATIENT ADHERENCE TO HIV ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY USING MULTIPLEX CATHEPSIN ZYMOGRAPHY
Monitoring patient adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) by patient survey is inherently error prone, justifying a need for objective, biological measures affordable in low-resource settings where HIV/AIDS epidemic is highest. In preliminary studies conducted in Ethiopia and South Africa, we observed loss of cysteine cathepsin activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HIV-positive patients on ART.
CURRENT EFAVIRENZ (EFV) OR RITONAVIR-BOOSTED LOPINAVIR (LPV/r) USE CORRELATES WITH ELEVATE MARKERS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HIV-INFECTED SUBJECTS IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have shown elevated incidence of dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most studies, however, focus on cohorts from developed countries, with less data available for these co-morbidities in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa.
PRO-ATHEROGENIC SHEAR STRESS AND HIV PROTEINS SYNERGISTICALLY UPREGULATE CATHEPSIN K IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS
Major advances in highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) have extended the lives of people living with HIV, but there still remains an increased risk of death by cardiovascular diseases (CVD). HIV proteins have been shown to contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction with effects on the different cell types that comprise the arterial wall.
AZIDOTHYMIDINE (AZT) LEADS TO ARTERIAL STIFFENING AND INTIMA-MEDIA THICKENING IN MICE
HIV positive patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have shown elevated incidence of a number of non-AIDS defining co-morbidities, including cardiovascular disease. Given that HAART regimens contain a combination of at least three drugs, that disease management often requires adjustment of these regimens, and HIV, independent of HAART, also plays a role in development of co-morbidities, determining the role of specific HAART drugs and HIV infection itself from clinical data remains challenging.
ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION, ARTERIAL STIFFENING, AND INTIMA-MEDIA THICKENING IN LARGE ARTERIES FROM HIV-1 TRANSGENIC MICE
HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) exhibit elevated incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including a higher risk of myocardial infarction and prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions, as well as increases in markers of subclinical atherosclerosis including increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT), increased arterial stiffness, and impaired flow-mediated dilation.