Viral Pathogens

Infections caused by viruses remain a major public health challenge especially HIV with no vaccine nor a cure and emerging and re-emerging infections like SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola. Our close affiliation to Uganda Virus Research Institute which is one of the few institutes in Africa dedicated to virus research, strong links to the Uganda Ministry of Health enable the Unit to have impact in addressing these viral infections. The Viral Pathogen Theme has three focus areas: viral pathogen epidemiology and interventions (VPEI); viral pathogen discovery, diversity and impact on epidemic and disease outcome (VPDD); and oncogenic virus immunovirology (OVI). Our aims and key objectives for each of the above focus areas will include: 1) VPEI: To undertake research on the epidemiology & prevention of HIV, oncogenic and emerging/re-emerging viral infections, associated co-infections, and to improve long-term health conditions. The key objectives are to quantify the magnitude and trends of HIV infection and mortality in general and key populations, to inform interventions for HIV prevention and treatment; to quantify the magnitude and trends of SARS-CoV-2 in relation to infecting variants, HIV co-infection, vaccination, and long-term health; to develop new interventions and expand coverage of existing tools for HIV prevention and treatment and to improve the long term health of persons living with HIV; to identify the environmental correlates of viral control of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in the oral cavity and systemically, to allow development of targeted intervention strategies in the future, to decrease transmission and pathogenicity, thereby reducing the substantial burden of KS in the region. 2) VPDD: To contribute to the discovery of emerging viruses of public health importance and understand how viral diversity affects epidemics and disease outcome. Key objectives are to identify new and re-emerging viruses of potential public health importance; to study the emerging HIV Drug Resistance patterns and their predictors especially in the era of integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and PrEP; to investigate how HIV and SARS-CoV2 diversity affect immune protection. 3) OVI: To study oncogenic viruses and their host interactions in order to contribute to cancer prevention and control. We will study the virological and immunological factors that contribute to sustain high levels of KSHV transmission and disease on the continent. In the areas of VPEI and OVI, our work will include rigorous social science research to understand the social determinants of disease, to design appropriate interventions, and to study factors that influence uptake of interventions.