CBRD

Malaria

Jonathan M. Mwangi, BSc., PhD., Molecular Geneticist, Assistant Research Officer. Currently Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK

Research Interests:
Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis of P. falciparum genes affecting parasite infectivity of mosquitoes; Studies of selective sweeps in different parasite genes due to control measures; Gene mining for antimalarial drug targets; Gene mining for targets that affect vector competence in mosquitoes such as heteroocis, melanization and parasite mortality.

Publications:

Mwangi, J. Omar, S.A., & Ranford-Cartwright, L.C. (2006). Comparison of microsatellite and antigen-coding loci for differentiating recrudescing Plasmodium falciparum infections from reinfections in Kenya. International Journal for Parasitology. 36 (3): 329-336.
Omar, S.A., Mens, P.F., Schoone, G.J., Yusuf, A., Mwangi, J. M., Kaniaru, S., Omer, G.A., & Schallig, H.D. (2005). Plasmodium falciparum: Evaluation of a quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay to predict the outcome of sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Experimental Parasitology.110: 73–79.
Stivanello, E., Cavailler, P., Cassano, F., Omar, S.A., Kariuki, D., Mwangi, J.M., Piola P. & Guthmann, J-P. (2004). Efficacy of chloroquine, sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine and amodiaquine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Kajo Keji county, Sudan. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 9: 975–980.

Luna Kamau, BEd, MSc, PhD, Molecular Entomologist, Senior Research Officer
Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
P.O. Box 54840-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: 254-20-722541 ext. 3312; Fax: 254-20-715105
E-mail: lkamau@ke.cdc.gov

Research Interests
Population genetic structure of malaria vectors; insecticide resistance studies in malaria vectors; development of molecular tools for malaria vector identification; malaria vector ecology; and determination of the genetic basis for malaria vector potential. Current research activities involve analysis of the population genetic structure of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Anopheles funestus mosquitoes in relation to malaria transmission, and monitoring of insecticide susceptibility/ resistance in Central and Western Kenya and analysis of associated resistance mechanisms.

Recent Publications
1. White BJ, Santolamazza F, Kamau L, Pombi M, Grushko O, Mouline K, Brengues C, Guelbeogo W, Coulibaly M, Kayondo J, Sharakhov I, Simard F, Petrarca V, della Torre A, Besansky NJ. Molecular Karyotyping of the 2La Inversion in Anopheles gambiae. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In Press.

2. Koekemoer LL, Kamau L, Manguin S, Hunt RH, Coetzee M. 2006. Impact of the Rift Valley on RFLP typing of the major malaria vector, Anopheles funestus. Journal of Medical Entomology, 43(6):1178-1184.

3. Kamau L, Vulule JM, Mulaya N. 2006. Evaluation of the potential role of Anopheles ziemanni in malaria transmission in Western Kenya. Journal of Medical Entomology, 43(4):774-776.

4. Kamau L, Vulule JM. 2006. Status of Insecticide susceptibility in Anopheles arabiensis from Mwea rice irrigation scheme, Central Kenya. Malaria Journal 6;5(1):46.

5. Lindblade KA, Gimnig JE, Kamau L, Hawley WA, Odhiambo F, Olang G, ter Kuile FO, Vulule JM, Slutsker L. 2006. Impact of sustained use of insecticide-treated bednets on malaria vector species distribution and nuisance mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Entomology, 43(2):428-32.

6. Mutuku F, Bayoh MN, Gimnig J, Vulule J, Kamau L, Walker E, Kabiru E. 2006. Pupal habitat productivity of Anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes in a rural village in western Kenya. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 74(1):54-61.

7. Garros L, Koekemoer LL, Kamau L, Awolola TS, Van Bortel W, Coetzee M, Coosemans M, Manguin S. 2004. Restriction fragment length polymorphism method for the identification of major African and Asian malaria vectors within the Anopheles funestus an An. Minimus groups. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 70(3):260-265.

8. Weeto M, Koekemoer LL, Kamau L, Hunt RH and Coetzee M. 2004. Evaluation of a species-specific PCR assay for the Anopheles funestus group from eleven African countries and Madagascar. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 98(3):142-147.

9. Kamau L, Koekemoer LL, Hunt RH, Coetzee M. 2003. Anopheles parensis: the main member of the Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) species group found resting inside human dwellings in Mwea area of central Kenya at the end of the rainy season. Journal of the American Mosquito Control association, 19(2):130-133.

10. Kamau L, Hunt RH, Coetzee M. 2003. A survey of Anopheles funestus (Diptera:Culicidae) group of mosquitoes from ten sites in Kenya with special emphasis on the population genetic structure based on chromosomal inversion karyotypes. Journal of Medical Entomology, 40(5):664-671.

11. Gimnig JE, Vulule JM, Lo TQ, Kamau L, Kolczak MS, Phillips-Howard PA, Mathenge EM, ter Kuile FO, Nahlen BL, Hightower AW, Hawley WA. 2003. Impact of permethrin-treated bednets on entomological indices in an area of intense year-round malaria transmission. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 68: 16-22.

12. Gimnig JE, Kolczak MS, Hightower AW, Vulule JM, Schoute E, Kamau L, Phillips-Howard PA, ter Kuile FO, Nahlen BL, Hawley WA. 2003. Effect of Permethrin-Treated Bed Nets on the Spatial Distribution of Malaria Vectors in Western Kenya. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 68: 115-120.

13. Kamau L, Hunt R, Coetzee M. (2002). Analysis of the Population Structure of Anopheles funestus Giles (Diptera:Culicidae) from Kenya Using Paracentric Chromosomal Inversion Frequencies. Journal of Medical Entomology, 39(1):78-83.

14. Koekemoer LL, Kamau L, Hunt RH, Coetzee M. (2002). A cocktail polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to identify members of the Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) group. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 66(6):804-811.

15. Collins FH, Kamau L, Ranson HA, Vulule JM. (2000). Molecular Entomology and Prospects for malaria control. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 78(12):1412-1423. 6. Gimnig JE, Ombok M, Kamau L, Hawley WA. (2000). Characteristics of larval anopheline (Diptera: Culicidae) habitats in Western Kenya. Journal of Medical Entomology, 38(2): 282-288. 7. Kamau L, Mukabana WR, Hawley WA, Lehmann T, Irungu LW, Orago ASS, Collins FH. (1999). Analysis of genetic variability in Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae using microsatellite loci. Insect Molecular Biology, 8(2):287-97.

16. Gimnig JE, Ombok M, Kamau L, Hawley WA. (2000). Characteristics of larval anopheline (Diptera: Culicidae) habitats in Western Kenya. Journal of Medical Entomology, 38(2): 282-288.

17. Kamau L, Mukabana WR, Hawley WA, Lehmann T, Irungu LW, Orago ASS, Collins FH. (1999). Analysis of genetic variability in Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae using microsatellite loci. Insect Molecular Biology, 8(2):287-97.

18. Kamau L, Lehmann T, Hawley WA, Orago ASS, Ke Z, Cornel A, Collins FH. (1998). Use of short tandem repeats for analysis of genetic variability in sympatric populations of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. Heredity, 80(6):675-682.

19. Kamau L, Lehmann T, Hawley WA, Orago ASS, Collins FH. (1998). Microgeographic genetic differentiation of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes from Asembo Bay, western Kenya: A comparison with Kilifi in coastal Kenya. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 58(1):64-69.

20. Lehmann T, Hawley WA, Kamau L, Fontenille D, Simard F, Collins FH. (1996). Genetic differentiation of Anopheles gambiae populations from East and West Africa : Comparison of microsatellite and allozyme loci. Heredity, 77:192-200.

21. Lehmann T, Besansky N, Hawley WA, Fahey T, Kamau L, Collins FH. (1996). Microgeographic structure of Anopheles gambiae based on microsatellite and mtDNA loci.Molecular Ecology, 6:243-253.

Other Colleagues:
Ms. Damaris Matoke, Assistant Research Officer
Ms. Lucy Njeri Wachira, Laboratory Technician
Mr. Geoffrey Gikandi, Laboratory Technician