Hepatic schistosomiasis and HIV interactions: Epidemiological approaches to pathogenesis and clinical targets

Globally, HIV and schistosomiasis are leading causes of death due to infectious diseases. Despite available interventions, the infections remain uncontrolled in low-income settings causing acute and chronic morbidities. Intestinal schistosomiasis is caused by a parasitic blood fluke, most commonly of the species Schistosoma mansoni, and is predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Chronic infections lead to advanced disease including liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, and severe anaemia. In the context of coinfections, severe clinical outcomes including death may be likely due to immune failure, interactions related to general fibrosis, and responses to starting antiretroviral therapy. In this project, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge statistical and big data approaches alongside state-of-the art immunology to examine disease progression in the context of schistosome and HIV coinfections in arguably some of the poorest settings worldwide.

The group of Associate Prof. Chami studies schistosomiasis evaluating transmission, clinical outcomes, and treatment strategies, especially for liver fibrosis, in the SchistoTrack Cohort with the Uganda Ministry of Health. This Cohort is the largest individual-based cohort tracking individuals prospectively in the context of schistosomiasis. At Oxford, students can get exposure to computational, big data approaches to clinical epidemiology and field experience in global health research.

The group of Dr. Sereti studies HIV immune pathogenesis with a focus on inflammatory complications related to HIV and coinfections. Studies on biomarkers and how they may assist in identifying early people with HIV who may develop inflammatory and other adverse complications is currently an active area of investigation in the lab as they can also inform disease pathogenesis and new targeted interventions.

At the NIH, students can get experience in immunology research (wet lab) with optional exposure to complicated cases within a clinical setting.