Impaired -specific T-cell memory phenotypes and functional profiles among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Uganda.

Background: Efforts to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) are threatened by diabetes mellitus (DM), which confers a 3-fold increase in the risk of TB disease. The changes in the memory phenotypes and functional profiles of ()-specific T cells in latent TB infection (LTBI)-DM participants remain poorly characterised. We, therefore, assessed the effect of DM on T-cell phenotype and function in LTBI and DM clinical groups.

Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV-1 and the Associated Factors in Rwanda, Africa.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 and associated mortality continue to occur at unacceptably high rates, despite the extensive rollout and implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programs, including the modified versions of Option B and B+ in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Maternal HIV viral load (VL) and socio-behavioral factors sustaining MTCT in Rwanda remain largely unexplored. The study examined the effects of socio-behavioral factors on maternal VL and their contribution to transmission of HIV-1 in the context of Rwanda's HIV epidemic.

A systematic review reveals that African children of 15-17 years demonstrate low hepatitis B vaccine seroprotection rates.

Childhood HBV immunization remains globally fundamental to the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, monitoring proportions of HBV vaccine seroprotection and their determinants among African Pediatric recipients is crucial. This study sought to verify extent of immune protection accorded by the HBV vaccine in African children of up to 17 years of age by pooling the prevalence of seroprotection reported by primary studies conducted in the Northern, Western, and Southern African regions.

Alcohol Consumption Modifies Susceptibility to HIV-1 Entry in Cervical Mucosa-Derived CD4+ T cells of Women Resident in a Fishing Community of Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Background: A significant overlap exists in the burden of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over 60% of HIV infections occur in women, mostly through the cervical mucosa. Absorption and systemic circulation of alcohol induces global physiological and immune effects, including at the genital mucosa.

Proportion of Ugandans with pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses: A pilot study.

The estimated mortality rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic varied greatly around the world. In particular, multiple countries in East, Central, and West Africa had significantly lower rates of COVID-19 related fatalities than many resource-rich nations with significantly earlier wide-spread access to life-saving vaccines. One possible reason for this lower mortality could be the presence of pre-existing cross-reactive immunological responses in these areas of the world.

Antitetanus toxoid antibodies in mothers and neonates: a single-centre study from Uganda.

Background: Neonatal mortality due to tetanus persists in Uganda despite the mandatory vaccination of pregnant mothers. Maternal antibodies wane within a year. Uganda's maternal vaccination guidelines do not specify the timing or frequency of tetanus shots, contributing to suboptimal transfer of tetanus antibodies to neonates.

High proportion of Ugandans with pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses.

The estimated mortality rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic varied greatly around the world with multiple countries in East, Central, and West Africa having significantly lower rates of COVID-19 related fatalities than many resource-rich nations with significantly earlier wide-spread access to life-saving vaccines. One possible reason for this lower mortality could be the presence of pre-existing cross-reactive immunological responses in these areas of the world. To explore this hypothesis, stored peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Ugandans collected from 2015-2017 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (n=29) and from hospitalized Ugandan COVID-19 patients (n=3) were examined using flow-cytometry for the presence of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations using four T-cell epitope mega pools.

Whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda: implementation of the low-cost ARTIC protocol in resource-limited settings.

In January 2020, a previously unknown coronavirus strain was identified as the cause of a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). The first viral whole-genome was sequenced using high-throughput sequencing from a sample collected in Wuhan, China. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is imperative in investigating disease outbreak transmission dynamics and guiding decision-making in public health.

Effectiveness of thermal screening in detection of COVID-19 among truck drivers at Mutukula Land Point of Entry, Uganda.

Introduction: Despite the limited evidence for its effectiveness, thermal screening at points of entry has increasingly become a standard protocol in numerous parts of the globe in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to determine the effectiveness of thermal screening as a key step in diagnosing COVID-19 in a resource-limited setting.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on a review of body temperature and Xpert Xpress SARS CoV-2 test results records for truck drivers entering Uganda through Mutukula between 15th May and 30th July 2020.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection among adolescents and young people living in fishing populations along Lake Victoria Fishing Communities in Uganda.

Introduction: fishing communities in Uganda are key populations for HIV, with persistently higher prevalence and incidence than the general population.

Methods: between March and August 2014, a cross sectional survey was conducted in 10 fishing communities of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Data was collected on socio-behavioural characteristics using interviewer administered questionnaires and venous blood collected for HIV testing.

Field Performance of PIMA Point-of-Care Machine for CD4 Enumeration Under a Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing Program in Remote Fishing Communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Uganda is among the most HIV/AIDS-afflicted countries, and many HIV-infected persons live in remote areas with poor access to health care. The success of HIV care programs relies in part on patient monitoring using CD4 T cell counts. We conducted an evaluation of the point-of-care PIMA test using BD FACSCount as a gold standard.

Population attributable fraction of incident HIV infections associated with alcohol consumption in fishing communities around Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Background: Although the association between alcohol consumption and HIV risk is well documented, few studies have examined the magnitude of new HIV infections that could be prevented by controlling alcohol use. We report the population attributable fraction (PAF) of incident HIV infections due to alcohol consumption among the HIV high-risk population of fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Methods: In a community-based cohort study, 1607 HIV sero-negative participants aged 18-49 years were enrolled from eight fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda.