Senior Laboratory Technologist

Mr T Mlambo

B-Tech Applied Biology & Biochemistry (Hons), University of Zimbabwe, Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences

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Aspiring MPhil student who intends to be working on immuno-genetics of HIV-1 subtype C infection. Will be working on the role of cytokines in disease progression from recently infected individuals attending Parirenyatwa Hospital, Opportunistic Infectious Disease Clinic under the supervision of Professor L.S. Zijenah.

Publications made as a co-author

1. 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. Plasma IP-10 Concentrations Correlate Positively with Viraemia and Inversely with CD4 Counts in Untreated HIV Infection. Open AIDS J. 2017 Apr 26;11:24-31. doi: 10.2174/1874613601711010024

2. 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. KIR Gene Content Diversity in a Zimbabwean Population: Does KIR2DL2 Have a Role in Protection Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection? OMICS. 2016 Dec;20(12):727-735

Chief Secretary

Ms Edith Mazengera

National Diploma in Secretarial Studies

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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.

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.