Hiv/Aids

HIV/AIDS research activities in CBRD date back to the mid-1980’s when cases of HIV/AIDS were first reported. Indeed, scientists from the center were part of a team of doctors and researchers to make the first diagnosis of HIV in Kenya in 1984.  CBRD scientists were also the first to pioneer low dose oral alpha-interferon in the management of HIV infected individuals.  The Center has continued to carry out further investigations into the therapeutic value of interferons and other biological response modifiers in HIV infection.

Past achievements in this area included research on immunological aspects of (1) an open label dose ranging clinical trial to determine efficacy, safety and tolerability of trioxolane (KE091/ATX) in asymptomatic HIV+ individuals, (2) a double blind, clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of Viron-50 (a seven subspecies interferon and germanium sesquoxide), and (3) a pilot study to compare the effectiveness of a nutrient formulation (Liqua Health™) supplementation with that of Vitamin A, in asymptomatic HIV individuals.

Current activities include (1) investigations into the clinical benefits of Viro-Klear (stabilized y-Neuraminidase) in HIV infected individuals, (2) research on the potential usefulness of selected cell surface surrogate markers for HIV infection that may add prognostic significance to CD4 T-cell and viral load measurements, and (3) determination of the local range of normal values for various immunological parameters. For further information please contact: Dr. Solomon Mpoke, smpoke@kemri.org

The People
Solomon Mpoke, Chief Research Officer & Head, HIV/AIDS Research
Magdaleine Kinyanjui, Chief Laboratory Technologist
Kellern Wafula, Laboratory Technologist
Dorcas Wachira, Assistant Research Officer
Penina Achayo, Data Entry Clerk

Collaborators
●Becton Dickinson International
http://www.bd.com/
●Centre for Virus Research (CVR), KEMRI
http://www.kemri.org/centres/cvr/index.asp
●Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), KEMRI
http://www.kemri.org/centres/cphr/index.asp
●Centre for Clinical Research (CCR), KEMRI
            http://www.kemri.org/centres/ccr/index.asp

 

Key Personnel
Solomon Mpoke, BSc (Nbi), PhD (USA), Cellular and Molecular Biologist, Chief Research Officer, Head, KEMRI Graduate School of Health Sciences,
Email: smpoke@kemri.org                               

Research Interests
Immunology of HIV; lymphocyte dynamics and biological response modifiers in HIV disease; regulated cell death (apoptosis) in HIV pathogenesis; assessment of cell surface surrogate markers with prognostic significance in HIV infection; in-depth understanding of immune correlates in HIV infection. Other interests include human population genetics (human DNA identity typing; genetic predisposition to disease)

Publications

  1. Ochieng W, Wanzala P, Bii C, Oishi I, Ichimura H, Lihana R, Mpoke S, Mwaniki D, Okoth FA. (2005) Tuberculosis and oral Candida species surveillance in HIV infected individuals in Northern Kenya, and the implications on tuberculin skin test screening for DOPT-P. East Afr Med J Dec;82(12):609-13.
  2. Khamadi SA, Ochieng W, Lihana RW, Kinyua J, Muriuki J.,Mwangi J, Lwembe R, Kiptoo M, Osman S, Lagat N, Pelle R.,Muigai A, Carter JY, Oishi I, Ichimura H, Mwaniki DL.,Okoth FA, Mpoke S., Songok EM (2005) HIV Type 1 subtypes in circulation in Northern Kenya. AIDS Research and Human retroviruses: 21, 810-4
  3. Brandstatter A, Peterson CT, Irwin JA, Mpoke S, Koech DK, Parson W, Parsons TJ. (2004) Mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from Nairobi (Kenya): inferring phylogenetic parameters for the establishment of a forensic database.
    Int J Legal Med. Oct;118(5):294-306.
  4. Kiptoo, MK, Mpoke, SS, Ng’ang’a, ZW (2004) New Indirect Immunofluorescence assay as a confirmatory test for Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 East Afr. Med. J. 81: 222-225
  5. Songok E.M, Kiptoo MK, Kobayashi N, Genga IO, Adungo, N., Tukei PM, Mpoke S, Vulule, J., Fujiyama Y, Ichimura H (2003) Outcome of use of short course zidovudine to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV in rural Kenya Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 60: 8-13
  6. Makokha, E.P, Ogolla, M, Orago, A.A, Koech, D.K, Mpoke, S, Esamai, F, Songok, Kobayashi, N, Okoth, F.A, and Tukei, P.M (2003) CD4 T lymphocyte subsets and disease manifestation in children with and without HIV born to HIV-1 infected mothers  East Afr. Med. J. 80: 95-100
  7. Makokha, E.P, Songok, E.M, Orago, A.A, Koech, D.K, Chemtai, A.K, Kobayashi, N, Mpoke, S, Tukei, P.M, Andayi, F.O, Lihana, R. W, Adungo, N.I, Vulule, J.M (2002) Maternal immune responses and risk of infant infection with HIV-1 after a short course zidovudine in a cohort of HIV-1 infected pregnant women in rural Kenya  East Afr. Med. J. 79: 567-573
  8. Mpoke S, KEMRI and JICA in-country training programme for laboratory personnel in provincial hospitals, in “Implementation of the New Blood Safety Policy” proceedings of a consultative technical meeting 29-30 April, 2002 Nairobi, Kenya
  9. Somoza JR, Skillman AG Jr, Munagala NR, Oshiro CM, Knegtel RM, Mpoke S, Fletterick RJ, Kuntz ID, Wang CC (1998) Rational design of novel antimicrobials: blocking purine salvage in a parasitic protozoan. Biochemistry 37(16):5344-8
  10. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1997)  Differential staining of apoptotic nuclei in living cells: Application to macronuclear elimination in Tetrahymena thermophila  J. Histochem. Cytochem.  45: 675-683
  11. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1996)  DNA digestion and chromatin condensation during nuclear death in Tetrahymena thermophila  Exp. Cell Res.  225: 357-365
  12. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1996)  Macronuclear elimination in Tetrahymena: Is it mediated by lysosomes?  Mol. Biol. Cell 7: S 31a
  13. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1996)  Nuclear death in ciliates. Mol. Biol. Cell 7: S 518a
  14. Lu, M.J., Mpoke, S., Dadd, C.A., and Allis, C.D. (1995)  Phosphorylated and dephosporylated linker histones H1 reside in distinct chromatin domains in Tetrahymena macronuclei.  Mol. Biol. Cell 6: 1077-1087
  15. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1995)  Dying nuclei in living cells. Mol. Biol. Cell 6:S 245a
  16. Mpoke, S & Wolfe, J. (1994)  Programmed DNA fragmentation and heterochomatinization in Tetrahymena Mol. Biol. Cell 5: S 6
  17. Wolfe, J., Mpoke, S., and Tirone, S.F. (1993)  Cilia, ciliary concanavalin A-binding proteins, and mating recognition in Tetrahymena thermophila  Exp. Cell Res. 209: 342-349
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