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Mkunde Chachage

Senior Lecturer

University of Dar es Salaam-Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences

Biography

I am a biomedical researcher from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, whose focus is on studying HIV pathogenesis, preventive and therapeutic studies. I currently lead efforts to investigate: (1) premature immune ageing in children living with HIV, (2) pathogenic mechanism during HIV co-infection with other pathogens including helminthes and Human Papilloma Viruses, (3) differences in the induction of vaccine-induced immune responses between different populations, (4) immune markers that aid in a timely/accurate diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and (5) host and viral factors for COVID-19 disease outcomes in Tanzania.

Research Interest

(1) Premature immune ageing in children living with HIV 

(2) Pathogenic mechanism during HIV co-infection with other pathogens including helminthes and Human Papilloma Viruses

(3) Differences in the induction of vaccine-induced immune responses between different populations 

(4) Immune markers that aid in a timely/accurate diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) treatment 

(5) Host and viral factors for COVID-19 disease outcomes in Tanzania.

Contacts

Email:

Projects

Implementation of superior treatment regimen and improved patient pathway for neurocysticercosis in Sub- Saharan Africa.  Funder: European Commission

Modelling to Support Decision-Making for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening. Funder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Publications

Chachage M, Parikh AP, Mahenge A, Bahemana E, Mnkai J, Mbuya W, Mcharo R, Maganga L, Mwamwaja J, Gervas R, Kibuuka H, Maswai J, Singoei V, Iroezindu M, Fasina A, Esber A, Dear N, Imbach M, Crowell TA, Hern J, Song X, Hoelscher M, Polyak CS, Ake JA, Geldmacher C; AFRICOS Study Group. High-risk human papillomavirus genotype distribution among women living with and at risk for HIV in Africa. AIDS. 2023 Mar 15;37(4):625-635. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003437. Epub 2022 Dec 1. PMID: 36398743; PMCID: PMC9994804

Mnkai J, Ritter M, Maganga L, Maboko L, Olomi W, Clowes P, Minich J, Lelo AE, Kariuki D, Debrah AY, Geldmacher C, Hoelscher M, Saathoff E, Chachage M, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Kroidl I. Increased HIV Incidence in Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilaria Positive Individuals in Tanzania. Pathogens. 2023 Feb 28;12(3):387. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12030387. PMID: 36986309; PMCID: PMC10054595.

Horvath A, Rogers L, Pollakis G, Baranov O, Pieroth N, Joseph S, Chachage M, Heitzer A, Maganga L, Msafiri F, Joachim A, Viegas E, Eller LA, Kibuuka H, Rerks-Ngarm S, Pitisuttithum P, Nitayapan S, Dhitavat J, Premsri N, Fidler S, Shattock RJ, Robb ML, Weber J, McCormack S, Munseri PJ, Lyamuya E, Nilsson C, Kroidl A, Hoelscher M, Wagner R, Geldmacher C, Held K. Systematic comparison of HIV-1 Envelope-specific IgG responses induced by different vaccination regimens: Can we steer IgG recognition towards regions of viral vulnerability? Front Immunol. 2023 Jan 9;13:1075606. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1075606. PMID: 36741409; PMCID: PMC9891136.

Mnkai J, Marandu TF, Mhidze J, Urio A, Maganga L, Haule A, Kavishe G, Ntapara E, Chiwerengo N, Clowes P, Horn S, Mosoba M, Lazarus W, Ngenya A, Kalinga A, Debrah A, Rieß F, Saathoff E, Geldmacher C, Hoerauf A, Hoelscher M, Chachage M, Kroidl I. Step towards elimination of Wuchereria bancrofti in Southwest Tanzania 10 years after mass drug administration with Albendazole and Ivermectin. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul 20;16(7):e0010044. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010044. PMID: 35857778; PMCID: PMC9342735.

Chachage M. "The gut-microbiome contribution to HIV-associated cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders." Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research (2021): 100287. doi: 10.1016/j.coemr.2021.100287

Mbuya W, Mwakyula I, Olomi W, Agrea P, Nicoli F, Ngatunga C, Mujwahuzi L, Mwanyika P, Chachage M. Altered Lipid Profiles and Vaccine Induced-Humoral Responses in Children Living With HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in Tanzania. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Nov 9;11:721747. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.721747. PMID: 34858867; PMCID: PMC8630663.

Mbuya W, Held K, Mcharo RD, Haule A, Mhizde J, Mnkai J, Mahenge A, Mwakatima M, Sembo M, Mwalongo W, Agrea P, Hoelscher M, Maboko L, Saathoff E, Geisenberger O, Rwegoshora F, Torres L, Koup RA, Kroidl A, Chachage M, Geldmacher C. Depletion of Human Papilloma Virus E6- and E7-Oncoprotein-Specific T-Cell Responses in Women Living With HIV. Front Immunol. 2021 Oct 25;12:742861. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742861. PMID: 34759925; PMCID: PMC8573218.

Mcharo R, Lennemann T, France J, Torres L, Garí M, Mbuya W, Mwalongo W, Mahenge A, Bauer A, Mnkai J, Glasmeyer L, Judick M, Paul M, Schroeder N, Msomba B, Sembo M, Chiwerengo N, Hoelscher M, Geisenberger O, Lelle RJ, Saathoff E, Maboko L, Chachage M, Kroidl A, Geldmacher C. HPV Type Distribution in HIV Positive and Negative Women With or Without Cervical Dysplasia or Cancer in East Africa. Front Oncol. 2021 Nov 30;11:763717. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.763717. PMID: 34917506; PMCID: PMC8669270.

Horn S, Borrero-Wolff D, Ritter M, Arndts K, Wiszniewsky A, Debrah LB, Debrah AY, Osei-Mensah J, Chachage M, Hoerauf A, Kroidl I, Layland LE. Distinct Immune Profiles of Exhausted Effector and Memory CD8+ T Cells in Individuals With Filarial Lymphedema. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Aug 11;11:680832. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.680832. PMID: 34485170; PMCID: PMC8415778.

Mbuya W, Mcharo R, Mhizde J, Mnkai J, Mahenge A, Mwakatima M, Mwalongo W, Chiwerengo N, Hölscher M, Lennemann T, Saathoff E, Rwegoshora F, Torres L, Kroidl A, Geldmacher C, Held K, Chachage M. Depletion and activation of mucosal CD4 T cells in HIV infected women with HPV-associated lesions of the cervix uteri. PLoS One. 2020 Oct 2;15(10):e0240154. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240154. PMID: 33007050; PMCID: PMC7531815.

Kroidl I, Chachage M, Mnkai J, Nsojo A, Berninghoff M, Verweij JJ, Maganga L, Ntinginya NE, Maboko L, Clowes P, Hoelscher M, Saathoff E, Geldmacher C. Wuchereria bancrofti infection is linked to systemic activation of CD4 and CD8 T cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 Aug 19;13(8):e0007623. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007623. PMID: 31425508; PMCID: PMC6736309.

Ahmed MIM, Ntinginya NE, Kibiki G, Mtafya BA, Semvua H, Mpagama S, Mtabho C, Saathoff E, Held K, Loose R, Kroidl I, Chachage M, von Both U, Haule A, Mekota AM, Boeree MJ, Gillespie SH, Hoelscher M, Heinrich N, Geldmacher C. Phenotypic Changes on Mycobacterium Tuberculosis-Specific CD4 T Cells as Surrogate Markers for Tuberculosis Treatment Efficacy. Front Immunol. 2018 Sep 28;9:2247. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02247. PMID: 30323818; PMCID: PMC6172348.

Opat S, Hearps AC, Thia K, Yuen A, Rogers B, Chachage M, Moore G, Shortt J, Ryland G, Blombery P, Schwarer AP, Noori T, Trapani JA, Jaworowski A, Voskoboinik I. Adaptive reprogramming of NK cells in X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Blood. 2018 Feb 8;131(6):699-702. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-08-803668. Epub 2017 Dec 12. PMID: 29233820.

Hearps AC, Agius PA, Zhou J, Brunt S, Chachage M, Angelovich TA, Cameron PU, Giles M, Price P, Elliott J, Jaworowski A. Persistence of Activated and Adaptive-Like NK Cells in HIV+ Individuals despite 2 Years of Suppressive Combination Antiretroviral Therapy. Front Immunol. 2017 Jun 30;8:731. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00731. PMID: 28713370; PMCID: PMC5491541.

Chachage M, Pollakis G, Kuffour EO, Haase K, Bauer A, Nadai Y, Podola L, Clowes P, Schiemann M, Henkel L, Hoffmann D, Joseph S, Bhuju S, Maboko L, Sarfo FS, Eberhardt K, Hoelscher M, Feldt T, Saathoff E, Geldmacher C. CD25+ FoxP3+ Memory CD4 T Cells Are Frequent Targets of HIV Infection In Vivo. J Virol. 2016 Sep 29;90(20):8954-67. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00612-16. PMID: 27384654; PMCID: PMC5044822.

Nicoli F, Chachage M, Clowes P, Bauer A, Kowour D, Ensoli B, Cafaro A, Maboko L, Hoelscher M, Gavioli R, Saathoff E, Geldmacher C. Association between different anti-Tat antibody isotypes and HIV disease progression: data from an African cohort. BMC Infect Dis. 2016 Jul 22;16:344. doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1647-3. PMID: 27450538; PMCID: PMC4957276.

Portevin D, Moukambi F, Mpina M, Bauer A, Haraka F, Chachage M, Metzger P, Saathoff E, Clowes P, Ntinginya NE, Rachow A, Hoelscher M, Reither K, Daubenberger CA, Geldmacher C. Maturation and Mip-1β Production of Cytomegalovirus-Specific T Cell Responses in Tanzanian Children, Adolescents and Adults: Impact by HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Co-Infections. PLoS One. 2015 May 14;10(5):e0126716. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126716. PMID: 25974183; PMCID: PMC4431818.

Chachage M, Podola L, Clowes P, Nsojo A, Bauer A, Mgaya O, Kowour D, Froeschl G, Maboko L, Hoelscher M, Saathoff E, Geldmacher C. Helminth-associated systemic immune activation and HIV co-receptor expression: response to albendazole/praziquantel treatment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Mar 27;8(3):e2755. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002755. PMID: 24675895; PMCID: PMC3967945.

Chachage M, Geldmacher C. Chapter: Immune system modulation by Helminth infections: Potential impact on HIV transmission and disease progression. In: How Helminths Alter Immunity to Infection. Ed: William Horsnell. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2014; 828: 131-149 doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1489-0_6. PMID: 25253030.

Portevin D, Moukambi F, Clowes P, Bauer A, Chachage M, Ntinginya NE, Mfinanga E, Said K, Haraka F, Rachow A, Saathoff E, Mpina M, Jugheli L, Lwilla F, Marais BJ, Hoelscher M, Daubenberger C, Reither K, Geldmacher C. Assessment of the novel T-cell activation marker-tuberculosis assay for diagnosis of active tuberculosis in children: a prospective proof-of-concept study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014 Oct;14(10):931-8. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(14)70884-9. Epub 2014 Aug 31. PMID: 25185458.

 

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=chachage+M