Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine against uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection in Tanzania, 2022, a single arm clinical trial.

Background: Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first line anti-malarial drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Tanzania. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular efficacy monitoring of anti-malarial drugs to inform case management policy decisions. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of AL for treating uncomplicated P.

Genomic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients attending regional referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization increases the risk of subsequent infection by MRSA strain complex interlinking between hospital and community-acquired MRSA which increases the chance of drug resistance and severity of the disease.

Objective: Genomic characterization of Staphylococcus aures strains isolated from patients attending regional referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Methodology: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study using short read-based sequencing technology, (Nextseq550,Illumina, Inc.

Short reads-based characterization of pathotype diversity and drug resistance among Escherichia coli isolated from patients attending regional referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Background: Escherichia coli is known to cause about 2 million deaths annually of which diarrhea infection is leading and typically occurs in children under 5 years old. Although Africa is the most affected region there is little information on their pathotypes diversity and their antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: To determine the pathotype diversity and antimicrobial resistance among E.

Diagnostic options for pulmonary fungal diseases in Africa.

Background: Fungal lung diseases are global in distribution and require specific tests for diagnosis. We report a survey of diagnostic service provision in Africa.

Methods: A written questionnaire was followed by a video conference call with each respondent(s) and external validation.

Proportions of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Door Locks and Working Benches in Clinical Laboratory: A Laboratory Based Study.

Background: Numerous studies have revealed the association of the door handle and contamination of pathogenic bacteria. Door handles of clinical and research laboratories have higher chances of contamination with pathogenic bacteria during closing and opening with contaminated gloves on, or sometimes after visiting the toilets without the use of disinfectant materials. There is limited epidemiological data regarding bacteria cross contamination of door locks of the Clinical laboratory at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.

Detection of Rift Valley Fever virus inter-epidemic activity in Kilimanjaro Region, North Eastern Tanzania.

Background: Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic arbovirus of public health impact infecting livestock, wildlife, and humans mainly in Africa and other parts of the world. Despite its public health importance, mechanisms of RVFV maintenance during interepidemic periods (IEPS) remain unclear.

Objective: We aimed to examine comparatively exposure to RVFV between humans and goats and RVFV infection between humans, goats and mosquitoes.

Serological evidence of exposure to Rift Valley, Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses among agropastoral communities in Manyara and Morogoro regions in Tanzania: A community survey.

Tanzania has recently experienced outbreaks of dengue in two coastal regions of Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Chikungunya and Rift Valley Fever outbreaks have also been recorded in the past decade. Little is known on the burden of the arboviral disease causing viruses (Dengue, Rift Valley and Chikungunya) endemically in the inter-epidemic periods.

Cellulose filtration of blood from malaria patients for improving ex vivo growth of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

Background: Establishing in vitro Plasmodium falciparum culture lines from patient parasite isolates can offer deeper understanding of geographic variations of drug sensitivity and mechanisms of malaria pathogenesis and immunity. Cellulose column filtration of blood is an inexpensive, rapid and effective method for the removal of host factors, such as leucocytes and platelets, significantly improving the purification of parasite DNA in a blood sample.

Methods: In this study, the effect of cellulose column filtration of venous blood on the initial in vitro growth of P.

The Severity of Plasmodium falciparum Infection Is Associated with Transcript Levels of Genes Encoding Endothelial Protein C Receptor-Binding P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1.

By attaching infected erythrocytes to the vascular lining, parasites leave blood circulation and avoid splenic clearance. This sequestration is central to pathogenesis. Severe malaria is associated with parasites expressing an antigenically distinct erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) subset mediating binding to endothelial receptors.

Plasma Ang2 and ADAM17 levels are elevated during clinical malaria; Ang2 level correlates with severity and expression of EPCR-binding PfEMP1.

The pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria involves a complex interplay between parasite adhesion and inflammatory response that includes release of cytokines and activation of the endothelium with accompanying release of Angiopoitin 2 (Ang2) to the plasma. A-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is a protein responsible for releasing cytokines, including Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα), and shedding of adhesion proteins. In this study, we show that plasma levels of ADAM17 are increased in Tanzanian children hospitalized with a malaria infection compared with asymptomatic children but similar to children hospitalized with other infectious diseases.

Plasmodium falciparum var genes expressed in children with severe malaria encode CIDRα1 domains.

Most severe Plasmodium falciparum infections are experienced by young children. Severe symptoms are precipitated by vascular sequestration of parasites expressing a particular subset of the polymorphic P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion molecules.