Academics
 |
Research Proposal Molecular Epidemiology and Phylogenetic Analysis of HIV 1 Epidemic; A Case Study of the Western Province of Rwanda By Roman NTARE, MSc MLT Kigali Health Institute, Kigali, Rwanda
|
Summary
The unusual genetic variability of HIV-1 complicates its vaccine development, diagnosis and drug efficacy, which renders the monitoring of molecular diversity trends an indispensable public health component of HIV 1 infection treatment and management. Refuge immigration in and out of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide war and its aftermath correlates to an HIV-1 genetic diversity-epidemic that rapidly spread into the country. The Rwanda-Uganda-D.R.C wars (1997-2004), the refugee camps (1994-2006) and the international commercial positions, altogether make the western province an important study population for HIV-1 genetic diversity in Rwanda. Moreover, the possible transmission of HIV 1 Drug Resistant Forms (DRM) to drug-naïve victims constitutes a major threat to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. This project will evolutionary analyze the temporal changes in the HIV-1 molecular diversity in the country.
It is hypothesized here that the molecular diversity of HIV-1 in Rwanda has changed over time due to imported viral strains and ARV therapy. To test this hypothesis, 250 drug naive plasma samples collected in 2003 from the western province will be analyzed alongside a cross-sectional sample of 350-490 newly diagnosed and not previously ARV exposed. The latter will be collected from randomly selected VCT centers at each district headquarter of the western province. DNA shall be analyzed for HIV molecular diversity and DRM forms by amplifying the gag, pol and env genes using specific primers in a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This will be followed by direct sequencing of the PCR products and alignment to global databases of the molecular diversity found at these genes. Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approaches will be used to analyze the phylogeny of the sampled isolates.
This will be the first population based molecular epidemiology study in the country and will provide an essential baseline data on the emergence of HIV-1 in this region, where infection is likely to be dynamic due to volatile politics. Percentages of subtypes, CRFs, URF and transmitted DRM forms shall be calculated. Evolutionary parameters, such as the most recent common ancestor of the sampled clades and the origin of resistance will be analyzed. This analysis will also determine whether the origin of resistance pre-dates the onset of large-scale ARV distribution in western Rwanda, which will aid in estimating the success of the expanded access to ARV-treatment program.
The project will run for approximately one year and eight month, and the estimated cost for this project is forty million, seven hundred sixty one thousand, thirteen Rwandan Francs (40,761,013 RFw).
Brief Biography
ROMAN NTARE;
HEAD, BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES DEPARTMENT,
KHI.
Email address: ntaleroman@yahoo.com Phone: 08689412.
Education:
He holds a Masters of Biomedical Sciences from the University Of Westminster, UK since 2003.
Roman’s MSc Dissertation studied the “Interaction between Trichomonas vaginalis and Chlamydia trachomatis”.
Professional experience:
Mr Roman SABA NTARE is an experienced Biomedical Laboratory Scientist with a strong background in serology and modern molecular diagnostic techniques.
Roman had worked for 4 years as an Immunology and Virology teacher in this department, where he acted as a member of the KHI academic senate and students’ grievances committee.
While at Westminster, he worked with Infection Control Nurses at the University College London for a year.
He also worked with the Quest Diagnostics Laboratory, UK as a par-time laboratory Scientist for one year.
Research interests/Hobbies:
His research interests include molecular epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases and interaction of the immune system with infectious diseases.
Hobbies are swimming and reading novels by Shakespeare & classic African Writers.