Institute: MRC Unit The Gambia/Imperial College London
Biography
The focus of my current research is the detailed mucosal and systemic immunogenicity of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in Gambian children using a systems vaccinology approach, including interactions with the host nasopharyngeal microbiome. In the context of a clinical trial where Gambian children aged 2 – 4 are immunised with intranasal trivalent LAIV, I have set up a pipeline to assess serum and mucosal humoral responses, influenza-specific systemic T-cell responses, transcriptomic studies and vaccine virus shedding at the MRC Gambia.
I am interested in using LAIV as a human infection challenge model in children, with vaccine shedding as a surrogate marker of infection. In this context, we are able to evaluate both naturally occurring and vaccine-induced immune responses that are associated with influenza virus replication in the nasopharynx.
Key Publications
A list of publications can be found here.
Web Links of Interest