Development and Implementation of a Minority Health International Infectious Diseases Research Training Program.

From 2014-2019, the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa offered a National Institutes of Health funded Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program for undergraduate research experiences in infectious diseases. The goal of the program was to immerse undergraduate students in conducting global infectious diseases research to train a new generation of scientists to combat future global pandemics. The MHIRT program trained educationally underrepresented groups unique in Hawai'i: Native Hawai'ians and other Pacific Islanders, and underrepresented Asian Americans, e.

Phenotypic changes of γδ T cells in placental malaria and pregnancy outcomes in women at delivery in Cameroon.

Introduction: Depending on the microenvironment, γδ T cells may assume characteristics similar to those of Th1, Th2, Th17, regulatory T cells or antigen presenting cells. Despite the wide documentation of the effect of Th1/Th2 balance on pregnancy associated malaria and outcomes, there are no reports on the relationship between γδ T cell phenotype change and Placental Malaria (PM) with pregnancy outcomes. This study sought to investigate the involvement of γδ T cells and its subsets in placental malaria.

Soluble biomarkers of HIV-1-related systemic immune activation are associated with high plasma levels of growth factors implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma in adults.

Background: Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a multicentric angio-proliferative cancer commonly associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. KS pathogenesis is a multifactorial condition hinged on immune dysfunction yet the mechanisms underlying the risk of developing KS in HHV-8 seropositive adults remains unclear. Here we explored whether soluble markers of HIV-1-related systemic immune activation (SIA) and angiogenesis (VEGF and FGF acidic) are involved in the pathogenesis of KS in adults with HHV8.

Chemokine modulation in microscopic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in women at delivery in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

In pregnancy-associated malaria, chemokines such as CXCL-4, CXCL-13, CXCL-16, and CCL-24 play critical roles in leucocyte trafficking to tissue sites in the infected placenta where inflammatory reactions are active. However, how plasma levels of these chemokines associate with Plasmodium falciparum placental malaria and pregnancy outcomes remains not well understood. The present study analyzed the plasma levels of CXCL-4, CXCL-13, CXCL-16, and CCL-24 chemokines in matched peripheral, placental and cord blood in relation with placental malaria (PM), and with submicroscopic parasitaemia.

Characterization of the primary antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum antigens in infants living in a malaria-endemic area.

Background: The primary antibody (Ab) response to Plasmodium falciparum is a critical step in developing immunity to malaria. Information on the initial Ab responses of babies in malaria-endemic areas is incomplete, in part, because babies receive maternal IgG via transplacental-transfer and usually become infected before maternal IgG wanes. The study aimed to identify the primary IgM and IgG Ab responses to malarial antigens in Cameroonian babies.

Transplacental transfer of total immunoglobulin G and antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum antigens between the 24th week of gestation and term.

Full-term newborns have antibody (Ab) repertoires and levels similar to their mothers to help protect them from environmental pathogens. Unfortunately, preterm babies, especially those born < 34 weeks, have reduced levels of protective antibodies. In Africa, antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum are important in protection from malaria.

TLCD1 and TLCD2 regulate cellular phosphatidylethanolamine composition and promote the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

The fatty acid composition of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) determines cellular metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, our understanding of how cells regulate PE composition is limited. Here, we identify a genetic locus on mouse chromosome 11, containing two poorly characterized genes Tlcd1 and Tlcd2, that strongly influences PE composition.

A structured approach to effective mentoring of women health researchers in Africa.

Objectives: To formatively evaluate the HIGHER Women consortium's Mentor Protégée Program (MPP) and derive lessons for successful African women scientist mentorship.

Design: Desk review of program documents and cross-sectional surveys of mentors and protégées.

Setting: All 10 regions of Cameroon.

Expression profiles of miR3181 and miR199a in plasma and placenta of virally suppressed HIV-1 infected Cameroonian pregnant women at delivery.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection during pregnancy reduces the transplacental transfer of protective maternal antibodies needed to confer immunity during early postnatal life. However, the mediation of MicroRNA in this dysregulation is not well understood MicroRNAs 3181 and 199a have been shown to mediate neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-like transmembrane antibody transfer and endocytosis respectively but their expression levels in the placenta and plasma in women living with HIV have not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to determine how the expression levels of miR-3181 and miR-199a in the placenta and plasma are affected in women chronically infected with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are virally suppressed at delivery.

Prevalence of alpha and beta haemolysin among blood group O donors in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Background: The occurrence of high titres of alpha (anti-A) and beta (anti-B) haemolysin immunoglobulin G antibodies in blood causes haemolysis during blood transfusion from a group O donor, commonly and inappropriately known as the 'universal blood donor', to a group A, B or AB recipient. Surprisingly, haemolysin testing is not routinely done during blood transfusion services in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of haemolysin among blood group 'O' donors at the Regional Hospital Bamenda Blood Bank, Bamenda, Cameroon.

Skin microbiome profile of healthy Cameroonians and Japanese.

The commensal microbes of the skin have a significant impact on dermal physiology and pathophysiology. Racial and geographical differences in the skin microbiome are suggested and may play a role in the sensitivity to dermatological disorders, including infectious diseases. However, little is known about the skin microbiome profiles of people living in Central Africa, where severe tropical infectious diseases impose a burden on the inhabitants.

Fear and depression during the COVID-19 outbreak in Cameroon: a nation-wide observational study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with significant psychological and social distress worldwide. We investigated fear and depression among adults in Cameroon during different phases of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: An online survey was conducted in Cameroon from June-December 2020 using a structured questionnaire.

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours in Cameroon: A Six-Month Online National Survey.

Since March 2020, the Cameroonian government implemented nationwide measures to stall COVID-19 transmission. However, little is known about how well these unprecedented measures are being observed as the pandemic evolves. We conducted a six-month online survey to assess the preventive behaviour of Cameroonian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Does Antibody Avidity to Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Antigens Increase with Age in Individuals Living in Malaria-Endemic Areas?

High-avidity antibodies (Abs) are acquired after a few infections in low transmission areas, but it remains unclear if Ab avidity to different merozoite antigens increases with age in individuals with persistent antigenemia and, if so, when a fully mature Ab response occurs. The study used plasma samples collected between 1996 and 1998 from 566 individuals aged 4 to 84 years in Simbok, Cameroon, where residents received an estimated 1.6 infectious mosquito bites/person/night.

The Development, Fine Specificity, and Importance of High-Avidity Antibodies to VAR2CSA in Pregnant Cameroonian Women Living in Yaoundé, an Urban City.

Pregnant women infected with often produce antibodies () to VAR2CSA, a ligand that binds to placental chondroitin sulfate A causing placental malaria (). Antibodies to VAR2CSA are associated with improved pregnancy outcomes. Antibody avidity is a surrogate marker for the extent of maturation of the humoral immune response.

Drug resistance markers within an evolving efficacy of anti-malarial drugs in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis (1998-2020).

Background: Malaria remains highly endemic in Cameroon. The rapid emergence and spread of drug resistance was responsible for the change from monotherapies to artemisinin-based combinations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers within an evolving efficacy of anti-malarial drugs in Cameroon from January 1998 to August 2020.

Haematological reference intervals for healthy adults in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Background: In the era of evidence-based medicine, haematological reference intervals are essential for the interpretation of data for clinical decision-making, monitoring of treatment and research. It is not uncommon that reference intervals used in most African countries have been obtained from published scientific literature, textbooks, reagent/instrument manuals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine haematological reference intervals of healthy adults in Bamenda, Cameroon.

The immunoglobulin G antibody response to malaria merozoite antigens in asymptomatic children co-infected with malaria and intestinal parasites.

Background: Co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites is common in children in Africa and may affect their immune response to a malaria parasite infection. Prior studies suggest that co-infections may lead to increased susceptibility to malaria infection and disease severity; however, other studies have shown the reverse. Knowledge on how co-morbidities specifically affect the immune response to malaria antigens is limited.