Chief Secretary

Ms Edith Mazengera

National Diploma in Secretarial Studies

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Senior Lecturer

Dr Lovemore Ronald Mazengera 

BEd (Dundee, Scotland); BSc(Hons)(Dundee, Scotland); PhD (Dundee, Scotland) 

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Publications (in the last three years)

1. Presence of asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and other enteric pathogens in pregnant women and their infants in a high HIV prevalence setting in Harare, Zimbabwe Sub-title: Asymptomatic enteric pathogens in pregnancy, Agness Farai Nhidza, Thajasvarie Naicker, Felicity Gumbo, Lovemore Ronald Mazengera, Curtis Makaza, Tawanda Chisango, Edson Panganayi Sibanda, Mildred Pepukai, Tsitsi Bandason, Babill Stray-Pedersen, Aziah Ismail, Kerina Duri, Takafira Mduluza, African Journal of Reproductive Health (in press)

2. Plasma IP-10 Concentrations Correlate Positively with Viraemia and Inversely with CD4 Counts in Untreated HIV Infection. Mhandire K, Mlambo T, Zijenah LS, Duri K, Mateveke K, Tshabalala M, Mhandire DZ, Musarurwa C, Wekare PT, Mazengera LR, Matarira HT, Stray-Pedersen B. Open AIDS J. 2017 Apr 26;11:24-31. doi: 10.2174/1874613601711010024.

3. 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)

Research Interests 

My research interests are in anemia in pregnancy. The current research compares two groups of pregnant mothers, HIV positive and HIV negative groups. The main objective is to study prevalence and associated risk factors in these two groups. The impact of these risk factors on pregnancy outcomes is also being studied.

Senior Lecturer

Professor Rutendo B.L. Zinyama-Gutsire (Associate Professor)

Diploma of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (DLSHTM); BSc Honours Degree in Biological Sciences (UZ); MSC Biotechnology (UZ); MPH (London University, LSHTM); Masters in Clinical Trials (London University, LSHTM); PhD (University of the Witwatersrand, S.A.) 

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Skype: Rutendo Zinyama-Gutsire

Publications

1. HIV-1 Vertical Transmission in Zimbabwe in 622 Mother and Infant Pairs: Rethinking the Contribution of Mannose Binding Lectin Deficiency in Africa. Zinyama-Gutsire RB, Christiansen M, Hedley PL, Rusakaniko S, Hagen C, Stray-Pedersen B, Buzdugan R, Cowan F, Chasela C. OMICS. 2016 Jul;20(7):433-41. doi: 10.1089/omi.2016.0056. Epub 2016 Jun 17.

2. Practical Approach to Biobanking in Zimbabwe: Establishment of an Inclusive Stakeholder Framework. Matimba A, Tybring G, Chitereka J, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Dandara C, Bürén E, Dhoro M, Masimirembwa C. Biopreserv Biobank. 2016 Oct;14(5):440-446. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

3. HIV-1 Disease Progression and Survival in an Adult Population in Zimbabwe: Is There an Effect of the Mannose Binding Lectin Deficiency? Rutendo B.L Zinyama-Gutsire, Charles Chasela, Per Kallestrup Simbarashe Rusakaniko, Michael Christiansen, Bernard Ngara, Exnevia Gomo, Henrik Ullum, Christian Erikstrup, Hans O. Madsen Babill Stray-Pedersen, Peter Garred Takafira Mduluza. OMICS: A Journal of Intergartive Biology. 2015. Vol 19, number 9.

4. Role of Mannose-Binding Lectin Deficiency in HIV-1 and schistosoma Infections in a Rural Adult Population in Zimbabwe. Rutendo B.L Zinyama-Gutsire, Charles Chasela, Hans O. Madsen, Simbarashe Rusakaniko, Per Kallestrup, Michael Christiansen, Exnevia Gomo, Henrik Ullum, Christian Erikstrup, Shungu Munyati, Edith N. Kurewa, Babill Stray-Pedersen, Peter Garred Takafira Mduluza. PLOS One. 2015. 0(4): e0122659 :10.1371/journal.pone.0122659.

5. HIV and schistosomiasis in rural Zimbabwe: the association of retinol-binding protein with disease progression, inflammation and mortality. Kotzé SR, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Kallestrup P, Benn CS, Gomo E, Gerstoft J, van Dam G, Mortensen OH, Ullum H, Erikstrup C. Int J Infect Dis. 2015 Apr;33:159-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.01.015. Epub 2015 Jan 22.

6. Association of HIV and ART with cardiometabolic traits in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dillon DG, Gurdasani D, Riha J, Ekoru K, Asiki G, Mayanja BN, Levitt NS, Crowther NJ, Nyirenda M, Njelekela M, Ramaiya K, Nyan O, Adewole OO, Anastos K, Azzoni L, Boom WH, Compostella C, Dave JA, Dawood H, Erikstrup C, Fourie CM, Friis H, Kruger A, Idoko JA, Longenecker CT, Mbondi S, Mukaya JE, Mutimura E, Ndhlovu CE, Praygod G, Pefura Yone EW, Pujades-Rodriguez M, Range N, Sani MU, Schutte AE, Sliwa K, Tien PC, Vorster EH, Walsh C, Zinyama R, Mashili F, Sobngwi E, Adebamowo C, Kamali A, Seeley J, Young EH, Smeeth L, Motala AA, Kaleebu P, Sandhu MS; African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR). Int J Epidemiol. 2013 Dec;42(6):1754-71. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyt198.

7. Interpreting and dismissing the relevance of the wait and wipe finding from the circumcision studies conducted in Africa Paul Ndebele, Sithembile Ruzario, Rutendo Zinyama-Gutsire. Malawi Medical Journal. December 2013. 24(5). 113-115.

8. Polymorphism in the interleukin-7 receptor α gene and mortality in untreated HIV-infected individuals. Hans Hartling, Lise Thorner, Christian Erikstrup, Rutendo Zinyama, Per Kallestrup, Exnevia Gomo, Susanne Nielsen and Henrik Ullum. AIDS. 2013. 1615-1620.

9. Longitudinal Analysis of CCR5 and CXCR4 Usage in a Cohort of Antiretroviral Therapy-Naïve Subjects with Progressive HIV-1 Subtype C Infection. Jakobsen MR, Cashin K, Roche M, Sterjovski J, Ellett A, Borm K, Flynn J, Erikstrup C, Gouillou M, Gray LR, Saksena NK, Wang B, Purcell DF, Kallestrup P, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Gomo E, Ullum H, Ostergaard L, Lee B, Ramsland PA, Churchill MJ, Gorry PR. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 18;8(6):e65950.

10. HLA-G3 untraslated region 14-base pair deletion: Association with poor survival in an HIV infected Zimbabwean population. Margit Larsen, Christian Erikstrup, Lise Thorner, Rutendo Zinyama, Per Kallestrup, Exnevia Gomo, Susanne Nielsen, Henrik Ullum et al. 2013. J Infec Dis. 207 : 903-906. 2013.

11. CCL3 gene copy number and survival in an HIV infected Zimbabwean population. Margit Larsen, Christian Erikstrup, Lise Thorner, Rutendo Zinyama, Per kallestrup, Exnevia Gomo, Susanne Nielsen, Henrik Ullum et al. Infection Genetics and Evolution. 2012. (12) 1087-1093.

12. Downregulation of MIP-1α/CCL3 with praziquantel treatment in Schistosoma haematobium and HIV-1 co-infected individuals in a rural Zimbabwean community. Zinyama-Gutsire R, Kallestrup P, Ullum H Butterworth A, Erikstrup C , Gomo E Vennervald B.J Mduluza T. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2009. 9: 174-185.

13. Schistosomiasis and infection with HIV-1 in rural Zimbabwe: systemic Inflammation during Co-infection and after treatment for schistosomiasis. Erikstrup C, Kallestrup P, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Gomo E, Govert J van –Dam, Andre Deelder, Butterworth A, Bente K Pedersen, Sisse R Ostrowski, Jan Gerstoft, Ullum H. Am. J Trop. Med. 2008. 79(3) 331-337.

14. p24 as a predictor of mortality in a cohort of HIV-1-infected adults in rural Africa. Erikstrup C, Kallestrup P, Zinyama-Gutsire RB, Gomo E, Lüneborg-Nielsen M, Gerstoft J, Schüpbach J, Ullum H, Katzenstein TL. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008 Jul 1;48(3):345-9. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817dc3d1.

15. Reduced mortality and CD4 cell loss among carriers of the interleukin 10-1082G allele in a Zimbabwean cohort of HIV-1 infected adults. Erikstrup C, Kallestrup P, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Gomo E, Butterworth A, Bente K Pedersen, Sisse R Ostrowski, Jan Gerstoft, Ullum H. AIDS. 2007. 21: 2283-2291.

16. Predictors of mortality in a cohort of HIV-1-infected adults in rural Africa. Erikstrup C, Kallestrup P, Zinyama R, Gomo E, Mudenge B, Gerstoft J, Ullum H. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007 Apr 1;44(4):478-83.

17. Schistosomiasis and HIV in rural Zimbabwe: efficacy of treatment of schistosomiasis in individuals with HIV coinfection. Kallestrup P, Zinyama R, Gomo E, Butterworth AE, van Dam GJ, Gerstoft J, Erikstrup C, Ullum H. Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Jun 15;42(12):1781-9.

18. Schistosomiasis and HIV-1 infection in rural Zimbabwe: implications of coinfection for excretion of eggs. Kallestrup P, Zinyama R, Gomo E, Butterworth AE, van Dam GJ, Erikstrup C, Ullum H. J Infect Dis. 2005 Apr 15;191(8):1311-20.

19. Schistosomiasis and HIV-1 infection in rural Zimbabwe: effect of treatment of schistosomiasis on CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA load. Kallestrup P, Zinyama R, Gomo E, Butterworth AE, Mudenge B, van Dam GJ, Gerstoft J, Erikstrup C, Ullum H. J Infect Dis. 2005 Dec 1;192(11):1956-61

20. HIV in Africa - still a major matter of unsafe sex. Kallestrup P, Zinyama R, Gomo E, Gerstoft J, Ullum H. Int J STD AIDS. 2004 Oct;15(10):709-10

21. Low prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in an HIV endemic area of Zimbabwe support sexual transmission as the major route of HIV transmission in Africa. Per Kallestrup, Rutendo Zinyama, Exnevia Gomo, Ebbe Dickmeiss, Per Platz, Jan Gerstoft, Henrik Ullum.^. AIDS. 2003. Jun 13;17(9):1400-2.

22. Adrenaline suppression of the macrophage nitric oxide response to lipopolysaccharide is associated with differential regulation of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and inteleukin-10. R. Zinyama and L B Sigola. Immunology. December 2001. 104 (4): 439-436.

23. The impact of repeated treatment with praziquantel of schistosomiasis in children under six years of age living in an endemic area for Schistosoma haematobium infection. Mduluza T, Ndhlovu PD, Madziwa TM, Midzi N, Zinyama R, Turner CM, Chandiwana SK, Nyazema N, Hagan P. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2001;96 Suppl:157-64.

24. Adrenaline inhibits nitric oxide production through beta1 and beta2 adrenergic receptors. L B Sigola and R. Zinyama Immnunology. July 2000. 100 (3): 359-363.

Research Interests

My research interests are in Immunology of infectious diseases focusing on HIV, malaria and schistosomiasis and HIV Drug resistance testing. I have over the years co-authored publications on HIV and schistosomiasis immunology. Zimbabwe is one of the country’s worst hit by the HIV epidemic, with huge numbers of people currently on ART and HIV drug resistance is on the increase. It is therefore an urgent need to validate low cow HIV drug resistance testing kits like Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (OLA) for use as point of care in patient management. Such results are very relevant to our local setting and will be shared with relevant policy makers in the Ministry of Health. Validation of the Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (OLA) kit, a low-cost HIV drug resistance kit for use in our low resource settings and confirm the results using Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing.

Lecturer

Professor Lynn S. Zijenah

BSc (Hon), Applied Biology(Thames Polytechnic, London,U.K.); MSc, Biophysics/Biochemistry (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada); PhD, Vascular Pathology (University of Cambridge, Cambridge,U.K.)

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Publications (in the last 3 years)

1. The role of KIR and HLA gene variants in HIV infection control: A review of African populations. Mhandire K, Zijenah LS, Duri K, Stray-Pedersen B. Intl J Virol AIDS, In Press, 2018.

2. The World Health Organization Recommended TB Diagnostic Tools, Tuberculosis. Lynn S. Zijenah (September 26th 2018). Jean-Marie Ntumba Kayembe, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73070. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/tuberculosis/the-world-health-organization-recommended-tb-diagnostic-tools.

3. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis in hospitalised HIV infected patients in a low income tropical setting: a cross sectional study. Musarurwa C, Zijenah LS, Mhandire DZ, Bandason T, Mhandire K, Chipiti MM, Munjoma MW, Mujaji WB. BMC Pulm Med. 2018 May 8;18(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s12890-018-0640-6.

4. The Impact of Prostate Specific Antigen Testing on Incidence of Prostate Cancer cases in Zimbabwe. Musonza M, Zijenah L, Nyanhete VT. Texila International Journal of Clinical Research Volume 4, Issue 2, Nov 2017.

5. Plasma IP-10 Concentrations Correlate Positively with Viraemia and Inversely with CD4 Counts in Untreated HIV Infection. Mhandire K, Mlambo T, Zijenah LS, Duri K, Mateveke K, Tshabalala M, Mhandire DZ, Musarurwa C, Wekare PT, Mazengera LR, Matarira HT, Stray-Pedersen B. Open AIDS J. 2017 Apr 26;11:24-31. doi: 10.2174/1874613601711010024.

6. Envelope Tropism and diversity of Subtype C Among Pregnant Women in Zimbabwe. Clinical Research in HIV/AIDS. Modukanele K, Lint J, White W, Manasa J, Zijenah LS, Bassett M, Kassaye K, Katzenstein D. 2017; 4(2):1038.

7. Association of high serum vitamin D concentrations with active pulmonary TB in an HIV co-endemic setting, Harare, Zimbabwe. Musarurwa C, Zijenah LS, Duri DZ, Mateveke-Dangaiso K, Mhandire K, Chipiti MM, Munjoma MW, Mujaji WB. BMC Infect Dis. 2017 Feb 13;17(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2243-x.

8. Effect of new tuberculosis diagnostic technologies on community-based intensified case finding: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Calligaro GL, Zijenah LS, Peter JG, Theron G, Buser V, McNerney R, Bara W, Bandason T, Govender U, Tomasicchio M, Smith L, Mayosi BM, Dheda K. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017; 17: 441–50. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30384-X.

9. KIR Gene Content Diversity in a Zimbabwean Population: Does KIR2DL2 Have a Role in Protection Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection? Mhandire K, Zijenah LS, Yindom LM, Duri K, Mlambo T, Tshabalala M, Mazengera LR, Mhandire DZ, Musarurwa C, Dandara C, Rowland-Jones S, Matarira HT, Stray-Pedersen B. OMICS. 2016 Dec;20(12):727-735.

10. Effect on mortality of point-of-care, urine-based lipoarabinomannan testing to guide tuberculosis treatment initiation in HIV-positive hospital inpatients: a pragmatic, parallel-group, multicountry, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Peter JG, Zijenah LS, Chanda D, Clowes P, Lesosky M, Gina P, Mehta N, Calligaro G, Lombard CJ, Kadzirange G, Bandason T, Chansa A, Liusha N, Mangu C, Mtafya B, Msila H, Rachow A, Hoelscher M, Mwaba P, Theron G, Dheda K. Lancet. 2016 Mar 19;387(10024):1187-97. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01092-2.

11. Comparative performance characteristics of the urine lipoarabinomannan strip test and sputum smear microscopy in hospitalized HIV-infected patients with suspected tuberculosis in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zijenah LS, Kadzirange, Bandason T, Chipiti MM, Gwambiwa B, Makoga F, Chungu P, Kaguru P, Dheda K. BMC Infect Dis. 2016 Jan 22;16:20. doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1339-z

12. Psychological distress and its relationship with non-adherence to TB treatment: a multicentre study. Theron G, Peter J, Zijenah L, Chanda D, Mangu C, Clowes P, Rachow A, Lesosky M, Hoelscher M, Pym A, Mwaba P, Mason P, Naidoo P, Pooran A, Sohn H, Pai M, Stein DJ, Dheda K. BMC Infect Dis. 2015 Jul 1;15:253. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-0964-2.

Research

The research theme is "Immunology of the immuno-compromised host". My research activities include studying biomarkers associated with mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of MTCT of HIV; development and evaluation of novel point-of-care diagnostics tools for HIV and TB, immunogenetics of HIV and TB as well as investigations of immunological and virological biomarkers of HIV disease progression amongst ART-naive patients. I also train Masters/DPhil students and other younger researchers in conducting clinical trials in HIV/AIDS, TB and other HIV/AIDS related co-infections.

Current research

Optimization of Option B+ for PMTCT of HIV through implementation of point-of-care maternal HIV load, early infant diagnosis (POOCBART Study). The main objective of this project is to implement effective point-of-care through early infant diagnosis of HIV, maternal and infant VL monitoring to optimize prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, maternal and infant treatment.