Chairperson

Professor Kerina Duri

BSc (Hon), Biochemistry (UZ), MSc, Biotechnology (UZ), PhD, Virology-Immunology (University of Oslo, Norway).

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Publications (in the last three years)

1.  Influence of maternal characteristics during pregnancy on the infant early life immune responses in a high HIV burdened setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. Nhidza Agness Farai, Thajasvarie Naicker, Babill Stray-Pedersen, Tawanda Chisango, Edson Sibanda, Aziah Ismail, Tsitsi Bandason, Curtis Makaza, Kerina Duri, Takafira Mduluza. (Accepted in the African Journal of Reproductive Health. In press for September 2018 publication).
2. Maternal Plasma Vitamin D Levels and Associated Determinants in Late Pregnancy in Harare, Zimbabwe: A Cross-Sectional Study; Raylton Chikwati, Cuthbert Musarurwa; Kerina Duri; Kudakwashe Mhandire and Tracy Snyman, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth July 2018.
3. Maternal stress among pregnant women in a birth cohort in Harare, Zimbabwe, Nyamakura Rudo, Clara Maphosa Haruzivishe, Simbarashe Rusakaniko, Kerina Duri; Asaph Ziruma and Babill Stray-Pedersen. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS). DOI 10.9790/1959-0703037074.
4. Genotypic diversity of ano-genital human papillomavirus in women attending cervical cancer screening in Harare, Zimbabwe, Mandishora R, Christiansen IK, Chin’ombe, Duri K et al; Medical Journal of Virology, June 2017, DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24825
5. Intra-host sequence variability in human papillomavirus; Mandishora Kristina S.Gjøtterud, BabillStray-Pedersen, Kerina Duri, Nyasha Chin'ombe, Mari Nygård, Irene Kraus Christiansen Ole Herman Ambur, Mike Z. Chirenje and Trine B. Rounge, Journal: Papillomavirus Research, Volume 5 June 2018, Pages 180-191.
6. High plasma IP-10 concentrations correlate positively with high viraemia and inversely with low CD4 counts in ART-naïve patients, Mhandire K, Mlambo T, Zijenah LS, Duri K etal; The Open AIDS journal, February 2017.
7. Use of Proviral DNA to Investigate Virus Resistance Mutations in HIV-Infected Zimbabweans; Musingwini-Hwati TV; Duri-Mhandire D; Duri K.; Gomo E; Oktedalen O; Chimukangara B; Shamu T; Shawarira-Bote S; Prof. Collet Dandara; Zhou D and Babill Stray-Pedersen, In press BSP-TOMICROJ-2016-39.
8. KIR gene content diversity in a Zimbabwean population: Does KIR2DL2 have a role in protection against HIV infection?" Mhandire Kuda, Louis-Marie Yindom, Mqondisi Tshabalala Tommy Mlambo, Duri Kerina, Mazengera Ron, Doreen Duri, Matarira Hildah Cuthbert Musarurwa, Collet Dandara Sarah Rowland-Jones, Zijenah Lynn S and Babill Stray Pedersen; OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology 2016; 20(12) (in press)
9. Apolipoprotein B gene polymorphisms and dyslipidaemia in HIV infected adult Zimbabweans; Kodogo Vitaris, Danai Tavonga Zhou, Ovav Oektedalen, Kerina Duri, Babill–Stray Pedersen, Exnevia Gomo, Bentham Science Publishers, BSP-TOAIDJ-2016-27, September 2016.
10. Revaluating the contribution of APOBEC3G haplotypes, on influencing HIV infection in a Zimbabwean paediatric population, Mhandire K, Duri K, Dandara C, Musarurwa C and Stray-Pedersen South African Medical Journal; 2016 May 106(6):11013

Research Activities

Research activities are in tandem with the Department research theme, aiming to understand the impact foetal HIV stimulation and in utero cumulative HAART exposure early in life through into breastfeeding on pregnancy outcome, infant health, growth, immunity, and neuro-development taking into account a range of factors, including co-infection with persistent viruses, maternal nutritional status and breastfeeding, together with maternal HIV status, levels of immune suppression and immune dysregulation, gut microbiome and HAART use duration in the HIV+ women. Numerous maternal factors being investigated call for a multi-disciplinary collaborative research with the aim to improve the care of mothers and their babies at the same time creating a vibrant and sustainable research culture in the Department and UZ-CHS with the mandate to contribute towards evidence based medical practice and sound policy formulation. In the long term contributing to strengthening of critical HIV and co-infections cutting edge laboratory and clinical research at the UZ through technology transfer via international collaboration.