Research group Epidemiology of tropical infectious diseases

Achievements

• Leading role in defining the human infectious reservoir for malaria

  We played a leading role in defining the human infectious reservoir for malaria and the importance of different demographic populations to onward transmission of both P. falciparum and P. vivax. This work supported guidelines of the World Health Organization on extending seasonal chemo prevention to school age children.

• Forefront of developing and testing novel transmission blocking interventions

  We are at the forefront of developing and testing novel transmission blocking interventions. These interventions range from antimalarials drugs to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Vaccines and mAbs are developed and tested in collaboration with the group of Dr. Matthijs Jore.

• Unravel human immune responses through antigen discovery and epidemiology

  We continue to unravel human immune responses that influence malaria transmission dynamics. This work is a combination of antigen discovery (filling the pipeline for next-generation interventions), and epidemiology (understanding what drives transmission efficiency at population level).

• We enjoy fun research

  We enjoy fun research, whether it is on James Bond adhering to travel advice or the consequences of wearing speedos for the attractiveness of male academics.

• Sustainable research

  We strive to make our research (environmentally) sustainable. This is supported by our research on the carbon footprint of academic practices and sustainable alternatives for activities with a large environmental footprint.

Publications

See the publication list of the research group leader on Web of Science.

• A selection of our publications

  • Effect of weekly fever-screening and treatment and monthly RDT testing and treatment on the infectious reservoir of malaria parasites in Burkina Faso: a cluster-randomised trial. Collins et al. Lancet Microbe. 2024;5(9):100891. doi: 10.1016/S2666-5247(24)00114-9. 
  • Artemether-lumefantrine with or without single-dose primaquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine with or without single-dose tafenoquine to reduce Plasmodium falciparum transmission: a phase 2, single-blind, randomised clinical trial in Ouelessebougou, Mali. Mahamar A et al. Lancet Microbe. 2024;5(7):633-644. doi: 10.1016/S2666-5247(24)00023-5.
  • Sources of persistent malaria transmission in a setting with effective malaria control in eastern Uganda: a longitudinal, observational cohort study. Andolina C, Rek JC, Briggs J et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 ;21(11):1568-1578. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00072-4.
  • Quantification of sporozoite expelling by Anopheles mosquitoes infected with laboratory and naturally circulating P. falciparum gametocytes. Andolina C et al. Elife. 2024;12:RP90989. doi: 10.7554/eLife.90989.
  • Higher gametocyte production and mosquito infectivity in chronic compared to incident Plasmodium falciparum infections. Barry A, Bradley J, Stone W et al. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):2443. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22573-7.
  • Predicting the likelihood and intensity of mosquito infection from sex specific Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte density. Bradley J et al. Elife. 2018;7:e34463. doi: 10.7554/eLife.34463
  • Highly potent, naturally acquired human monoclonal antibodies against Pfs48/45 block Plasmodium falciparum transmission to mosquitoes. Fabra-García A et al. Immunity. 2023;56(2):406-419.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.01.009.
  • Unravelling the immune signature of Plasmodium falciparum transmission-reducing immunity. Stone WJR, Campo JJ et al. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):558. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02646-2
  • No time to die: An in-depth analysis of James Bond's exposure to infectious agents. Grammars W et al. Travel Med Infect Dis . 2021: 44:102175. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102175.
  • The critical role of funders in shrinking the carbon footprint of research. Bousema T et al.. Lancet Planet Health. 2022;6(1):e4-e6. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00276-X.