Home » Mycobacterial Diseases

Mycobacterial Diseases

  Mycobacterial Diseases Research Directorate(MDRD)

About MDRD

The Mycobacterial Diseases Research Directorate (MDRD) is mandated to conduct research on two major fields: Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy.

The mission of MDRD is to generate scientific evidences in both TB and leprosy contributing towards diagnosis, prevention and control of the diseases.

  • Basic Biomedical Research

             Understanding and characterizing the Host-pathogen interactions

  • Epidemiology of the diseases

            Molecular epidemiology of the circulating strains, drug resistance patterns

            Co-infections

  • Biomarker search for

            Diagnostics

           Vaccines

           drug targets

  • Operational Research

 Research

Major Research projects

1. An integrated approach to unraveling susceptibility to tuberculosis in Africa

              (TBGEN-Africa )

Africa has the highest level of genetic diversity amongst all human populations.  It also has the highest level of genetic diversity amongst populations of the pathogen that causes tuberculosis (TB).

The project proposed that the long history of co-evolution of host and pathogen genomes contributes to the diverse outcome following MTB infection, as reflected in the variable percentage of individuals progressing to active TB and varying efficiencies of ongoing transmission.

To test this hypothesis:

  • The distribution of MTB genotypes alongside the genotypes of genetically-distinct human populations in four African countries will be mapped.
  • Comparison of paired host and bacterial genomes will identify loci that have co-evolved.

This information will have fundamental importance in understanding the influence of host genetics on disease susceptibility and will highlight novel factors that impact on TB pathogenesis and pathology including the influence of HIV-induced immunosuppression.

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Cameroon are members of the consortium and AHRI leads the project.

Funding:  Wellcome Trust through African Academy of Sciences (AAS) as part of the H3Africa Consortium.

For further reading: tbgen.ahri.gov.et

2. Immune Signatures to Characterize Progression from Latent TB Infection to Active TB Disease (Ethiopia) (Tuberculosis Research Units Network (TBRU) Ethiopia) 

The Tuberculosis Research Units Network (TBRU-N) is a consortium project involving partners from USA and other parts of the world to study the role of antigen specific T cell responses in the control of tuberculosis (TB). AHRI is involved in this consortium to study the spectrum of

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-antigen specific immune responses in contacts of pulmonary TB patients, which ultimately contribute to the development of tools that help identifying  people who are at higher risk of progression to active TB and make priorities for preventive interventions. The study is an observational study, involving contacts of pulmonary TB patients and conducted at selected health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This collaborative project is funded by NIH.

For more information:  http://tbru.emory.edu/ 

3. AHRI-APOPO Tuberculosis Research Project

This project, being conducted under a partnership agreement between AHRI and APOPO (a non-profit organization that trains and deploys detection rats for humanitarian purposes; www.apopo.org) has two wings:

(A) enhanced TB case finding in Addis Ababa and

(B) improved TB/HIV screening in Ethiopian prisons. Special features of the project are the research into the use of TB detection rats (African giant pouched rats, bred and trained in Tanzania) as a TB diagnostic tool, and the improvement of services along the TB care cascade in line with the global efforts to “Find. Treat All” and ending TB.

4. SeroSelectTB 

Evaluation of the feasibility, accuracy, and effect of a rapid point-of-care serological triage test for active TB (SeroSelectTB) in high burden, HIV-endemic African settings: a multi-centre, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: to qualify the performance of SeroSelectTB and determine the extent to which the test reduces diagnostic delay and expedites treatment.

Funding: EDCTP; the leading institute is NIPH

5. Post Exposure Prophylaxis for leprosy (PEP4LEP )

"Chemoprophylaxis  for leprosy: comparing the effectiveness and feasibility of a skin camp intervention to a health centre based intervention; An implementation trial in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Tanzania" (PEP4LEP)

The general objective of the project is to contribute towards interrupting the transmission of M. leprae by identifying the most effective and feasible method for screening of people at risk of developing leprosy and administering chemoprophylaxis (a single dose rifampicin; SDR) in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Funding: EDCTP & LRI, and leading institute is NLR

6. Microbiological and epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis during pregnancy

 The project aims to investigate the impact of pregnancy on the immune control of latent TB infection.

7. C-type lectin receptor expression by helminth or HIV infection: setting the threshold for sensing of mycobacteria

The project aims at understanding the underlying mechanisms of immunity to M.tb by worm infections in the human system at the level of CLR expression. Specifically, the effect of maternal helminth infection on CLR expression in mothers and newborns will be investgated, which will address how intrauterine exposure of the infant to type 2 immune environment affects their response to BCG vaccination.CLR expression and functional analyses will be complemented with a broader analysis of immunological gene expression and epigenetic histone modifications.    

Collaborator: Universitats Klinikum Erlangen

Funding : DFG, German Research Foundation

8. Characterization of innate and adaptive immune responses to mycobacterial antigens in house-hold contacts of Tuberculosis patients (IRTBHHC). 

Objectives: to evaluate TB antigen specific immune responses in house hold contacts of TB patients, and correlations with the ability to inhibit mycobacterial growth and with epigenetic modifications in innate immune cells.

Funding: TBGEN Africa, EDCTP, OWSD-UNESCO, NIH/Fogarty Global Centre Infectious Diseases

For further reading : https://ahri.gov.et/irtbhhc/

9. Exploring epigenetic alterations of cellular immunity in MDR TB with relevance for new therapy using epigenetic and immune modulating drugs

The objective of this project is to study immune checkpoint molecules and epigenetic alterations in DS-TB and MDR-TB

10. Active case detection of leprosy and tracing household contacts in hotspot areas

 One of the priority areas in leprosy research is early detection of leprosy. The delay in leprosy case diagnosis and the presence of asymptomatic individuals at high risk of developing leprosy are the causes for increased disability among newly diagnosed patients and for ongoing transmission of leprosy in the population.

The recent strategy of WHO and national control program is to conduct active case detection and contact tracing activities in hot-spot sites. We have conducted ACF and contact tracing in West Arsi zone (Kokosa wereda) and in East Hararghe zone (Fedis wereda). The activity includes KAP assessment, training of HEW and TBL focal persons in leprosy management, house to house survey and close follow up of contacts and laboratory based assessments.

Researchers at MDRD

Dr. Kidist Bobosha (MSc, PhD)
Senior researcher and Director of MDRD
Email: kidist.bobosha@ahri.gov.et
Tel: +251 911 672286
Skype: boboshak

 

Dr. Liya Wassie, (MSc, PhD)
Senior researcher and TB Team Leader
Email:  liya.wliya.wassie@ahri.gov.et asie@ahri.gov.et
Tel: +251 911 664975
Skype: lilisho

Dr. Berhanu Seyoum, (MSc, PhD)
 Senior researcher
Email: berhanu.seyoum@ahri.gov.et
Tel: +251 911 677774

Martha Zewdie (MSc, PhD)
 Postdoctoral fellow- TBGEN Africa
PI of IRTBHHC project looking at protective immunity and epigenetic modifications of innate immune cells

Meseret Habtamu Mekonnen (MSc, PhD)
Postdoctoral fellow
C-type lectin receptor expression by helminth or HIV infection: setting the threshold for sensing of mycobacteria
Email: meseret.habtamu@ahri.gov.et
Tel: +251 921623485

Negussie Beyene (PhD, MPH)
Head, AHRI-APOPO Research project
Email: negussie.beyene@apopo.org 
Tel: +251 911 391166 
Skype: negbene 

Publication

MDRD publications 2021

  1. Begna Tulu, Aboma Zewede, Mulugeta Belay, Miserach Zeleke, Mussie Girma, Metasebia Tegegn, Fozia Ibrahim, David A. Jolliffe, Markos Abebe, Taye Tolera Balcha, Balako Gumi, Henny M. Martineau, Adrian R. Martineau, Gobena Ameni. Epidemiology of Bovine Tuberculosis and Its Zoonotic Implication in Addis Ababa Milkshed, Central Ethiopia. Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8: 595511. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.595511
  2. Hygon Mutavhatsindi, Gian D. van der Spuy, Stephanus T. Malherbe, Jayne S. Sutherland, Annemieke Geluk, Harriet Mayanja-Kizza, Amelia C. Crampin, Desta Kassa, Rawleigh Howe, Adane Mihret, Jacob A. Sheehama, Emmanuel Nepolo, Gunar Günther, Hazel M. Dockrell, Paul L. A. M. Corstjens, Kim Stanley, Gerhard Walzl, Novel N. Chegou, the AE-TBC ScreenTB Consortia. Validation and Optimization of Host Immunological Bio-Signatures for a Point-of-Care Test for TB Disease. Front Immunol. 2021; 12: 607827 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.607827
  3. Birhan Alemnew, Soren T. Hoff, Tamrat Abebe, Markos Abebe, Abraham Aseffa, Rawleigh Howe, Liya Wassie. Ex vivo mRNA expression of toll-like receptors during latent tuberculosis infection. BMC Immunol. 2021; 22: 9. PMCID: PMC7842038 doi: 10.1186/s12865-021-00400-4
  4. Meseret Gebre, Lindsay Hatzenbuehler Cameron, Getachew Tadesse, Yohannes Woldeamanuel, Liya Wassie. Variable Diagnostic Performance of Stool Xpert in Pediatric Tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, ofaa627. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofaa627
  5. Drug Resistance Conferring Mutation and Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates in Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis Patients; Ethiopia. Sosina Ayalew, Teklu Wegayehu, Hawult Taye, Liya Wassie, Selfu Girma, Stefan Berg, Adane Mihret. Infect Drug Resist. 2021; 14: 575–584. Published online 2021 Feb 15. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S298683 PMCID: PMC7894881

 MDRD publications Jan- Dec, 2020

  1. Tekle Airgecho Lobie, Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel, Daniel Asrat, Demissew Beyene, Magnar Bjørås, Abraham Aseffa. Genetic diversity and drug resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the Benishangul Gumuz region and its surroundings, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231320.
  2. M. Habtamu, G. Abrahamsen, A. Aseffa, E. Andargie, S . Ay a l e w, M. Abebe and A. Spurkland. High-throughput analysis of T cell–monocyte interaction in human tuberculosis. Clinical and Experimental Immunology (2020), 1–13
  3. Abiyu Mekonnen1, Jeffery M. Collins, Eveline Klinkenberg, Dawit Assefa, Abraham Aseffa, Gobena Ameni and Beyene Petros. Tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among non-health science university students needs attention: a cross-sectional study in three Ethiopian universities. BMC Public Health (2020) 20:631
  4. Melaku Tilahun, Ezra Shimelis, Teklu Wogayehu, Gebeyehu Assefa, Getachew Wondimagegn, Alemayehu Mekonnen, Tsegaye Hailu, Kidist Bobosha, Abraham Aseffa. Molecular detection of multidrug resistance pattern and associated gene mutations in M. tuberculosis isolates from newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Plos One; Aug 4, 2020 . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236054
  5. Kedir Urgesa, Kidist Bobosha, Berhanu Seyoum, Biftu Geda, Fitsum Weldegebreal, Adane Mihret, Rawleigh Howe, Mirgissa Kaba, Abraham Aseffa. Knowledge of and Attitude Toward Leprosy in a Leprosy Endemic District, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. Aug 10, 2020 doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S254625
  6. Fregenet Tesfaye a,g,*, Erik Sturegård a,c, John Walles a,d, Niclas Winqvist a, Taye Tolera Balcha a, Sara Karlson b, Daba Mulleta e, Per-Erik Isberg f, Marianne Jansson b, Per Bj¨orkman a,h. Alternative biomarkers for classification of latent tuberculosis infection status in pregnant women with borderline Quantiferon plus results. Tuberculosis Sep 2020 doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2020.101984
  7. Mahlet Birku, Girmay Desalegn, Getachew Kassa, Aster Tsegaye, Markos Abebe. Effect of pregnancy and HIV infection on detection of latent TB infection by Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay among women living in a high TB and HIV burden setting. Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Dec; 101: 235–242. Published online 2020 Oct 9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1452
  8. Solomon Abebe Yimer, Shewit Kalayou, Håvard Homberset, Alemayehu Godana Birhanu, Tahira Riaz, Ephrem Debebe Zegeye, Timo Lutter, Markos Abebe, Carol Holm-Hansen, Abraham Aseffa, Tone Tønjum. Lineage-Specific Proteomic Signatures in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Reveal Differential Abundance of Proteins Involved in Virulence, DNA Repair, CRISPR-Cas, Bioenergetics and Lipid Metabolism. Front Microbiol. 2020; 11: 550760. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.550760
  9. Gary Napier, Susana Campino, Yared Merid, Markos Abebe, Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel, Abraham Aseffa, Martin L. Hibberd, Jody Phelan, Taane G. Clark. Robust barcoding and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages for epidemiological and clinical studies. Genome Med. 2020; 12: 114. doi: 10.1186/s13073-020-00817-3
  10. Getnet Abie Mekonnen, Adane Mihret, Mekdes Tamiru, Elena Hailu, Abebe Olani, Abde Aliy, Melaku Sombo, Matios Lakew, Balako Gumi, Gobena Ameni, James L. N. Wood, Stefan Berg. Genotype Diversity of Mycobacterium bovis and Pathology of Bovine Tuberculosis in Selected Emerging Dairy Regions of Ethiopia. Front Vet Sci. 2020; 7. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.553940

MDRD publications Jan- Dec, 2019

  1. Mekonnen B, Mihret A, Getahun M, Hailu T, Sidiki S, V Kelley H, Scordo JM,Hunt WG, Pan X, Balada-Llasat JM, Gebreyes W, Evans CA, Aseffa A, Torrelles JB,Wang SH, Abebe T. Evaluation of the tuberculosis culture color plate test for rapid detection of drug susceptible and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a resource-limited setting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2019 May 28;14(5):e0215679. doi: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0215679. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31136575.
  2. Olsson O, Björkman P, Jansson M, Balcha TT, Mulleta D, Yeba H, Valfridsson C, Carlsson F, Skogmar S. Plasma Profiles of Inflammatory Markers Associated WithActive Tuberculosis in Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Individuals. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Jan 31;6(2):ofz015. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofz015. eCollection 2019 Feb. PubMed PMID: 30800697; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6379652.
  3. Birhanu AG, Yimer SA, Kalayou S, Riaz T, Zegeye ED, Holm-Hansen C, Norheim G, Aseffa A, Abebe M, Tønjum T. Ample glycosylation in membrane and cell envelope proteins may explain the phenotypic diversity and virulence in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 27;9(1):2927. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39654-9. PubMed PMID: 30814666; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC6393673.
  4. Amogne MD, Balcha TT, Agardh A. Prevalence and correlates of physical violence and rape among female sex workers in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study with respondent-driven sampling from 11 major towns. BMJ Open. 2019 Jul 30;9(7):e028247. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028247.
  5. Mekonnen D, Derbie A, Chanie A, Shumet A, Biadglegne F, Kassahun Y, Bobosha K,Mihret A, Wassie L, Munshea A, Nibret E, Yimer SA, Tønjum T, Aseffa A. Molecular epidemiology of M. tuberculosis in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2019 Sep;118:101858. doi:10.1016/j.tube.2019.101858.
  6. Molie T, Teklemariam Z, Klinkenberg E, Dessie Y, Kumsa A, Mohammed H, Debebe A, Assefa D, Habte A, Bedru A, Fiseha D, Seyoum B. Intensive phase treatment outcome and associated factors among patients treated for multi drug resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 18;19(1):818. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4411-7.
  7. Merid Y, Mulate YW, Hailu M, Hailu T, Habtamu G, Abebe M, Datiko DG, Aseffa A. Population-based Screening for Pulmonary Tuberculosis utilizing Community Health Workers in Ethiopia. Int J Infect Dis. 2019 Oct 19. pii: S1201-9712(19)30405-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.10.012.
  8. Desalegn G, Tsegaye A, Gebreegziabiher D, Aseffa A, Howe R. Enhanced IFN-γ,but not IL-2, response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in HIV/latent TBco-infected patients on long-term HAART.
  9. Getnet F, Demissie M, Worku A, Gobena T, Seyoum B, Tschopp R, Andersen CT. Determinants of Patient Delay in Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Somali Pastoralist Setting of Ethiopia: A Matched Case-Control Study.
  10. Teles RMB, Lu J, Tió-Coma M, Goulart IMB, Banu S, Hagge D, Bobosha K,Ottenhoff THM, Pellegrini M, Geluk A, Modlin RL. Identification of a systemic interferon-γ inducible antimicrobial gene signature in leprosy patients undergoing reversal reaction.
  11. Tió-Coma M, van Hooij A, Bobosha K, van der Ploeg-van Schip JJ, Banu S, Khadge S, Thapa P, Kunwar CB, Goulart IM, Bekele Y, Hagge DA, Moraes MO, Teles RMB, Pinheiro RO, van  Zwet EW, Goeman JJ, Aseffa    A, Haks MC, Ottenhoff THM, Modlin RL, Geluk A. Whole  blood RNA signatures in leprosy patients     identify reversal reactions before clinical  onset: a prospective, multicenter study
  12. Chloe ́ Loiseau, Fabrizio Menardo, Abraham Aseffa, Elena Hailu, Balako Gumi, Gobena Ameni, Stefan Berg, Leen Rigouts, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Jakob Zinsstag, Sebastien Gagneux, and Daniela Brites. An African origin for Mycobacterium bovis. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health [2020] pp. 49–59

MDRD publications Jan to Dec 2018

  1. Weiner J 3rd, Maertzdorf J, Sutherland JS, Duffy FJ, Thompson E, Suliman S, McEwen G, Thiel B, Parida SK, Zyla J, Hanekom WA, Mohney RP, Boom WH, Mayanja-Kizza H, Howe R, Dockrell HM, Ottenhoff THM, Scriba TJ, Zak DE, Walzl G, Kaufmann SHE; GC6-74 consortium. Metabolite changes in blood predict the onset of tuberculosis. Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 6;9(1):5208. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07635-7. PubMed PMID: 30523338; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6283869.
  2. Mekonnen A, Collins JM, Aseffa A, Ameni G, Petros B. Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among students in three eastern Ethiopian universities. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Oct 1;22(10):1210-1215. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.18.0029. PubMed PMID: 30236190; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6271438.
  3. Mekonnen A, Merker M, Collins JM, Addise D, Aseffa A, Petros B, Ameni G, Niemann S. Molecular epidemiology and drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from university students and the local community in Eastern Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2018 Sep 17;13(9):e0198054. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198054. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30222743; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6141063.
  4. Negash M, Tsegaye A, Wassie L, Howe R. Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of peripheral γδ T cells in pulmonary TB and HIV patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 15;18(1):464. doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3361-9. PubMed PMID: 30219039; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6139120.
  5. Habtamu M, Abebe M, Aseffa A, Dyrhol-Riise AM, Spurkland A, Abrahamsen G. In vitro analysis of antigen induced T cell-monocyte conjugates by imaging flow cytometry. J Immunol Methods. 2018 Sep;460:93-100. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2018.06.014. Epub 2018 Jul 4. PubMed PMID: 29981305.
  6. Abdissa S, Abebe T, Ameni G, Teklu S, Bekuretsion Y, Abebe M, Mihret A.Endometrial tuberculosis among patients undergoing endometrial biopsy at Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Jul 5;18(1):304. doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3202-x. PubMed PMID: 29976147; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6034314.
  7. Ashenafi S, Mazurek J, Rehn A, Lemma B, Aderaye G, Bekele A, Assefa G, Chanyalew M, Aseffa A, Andersson J, Bergman P, Brighenti S. Vitamin D₃ Status and the Association with Human Cathelicidin Expression in Patients with Different Clinical Forms of Active Tuberculosis. Nutrients. 2018 Jun 4;10(6). pii: E721. doi: 10.3390/nu10060721. PubMed PMID: 29867045; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6024873.
  8. Bekele A, Gebreselassie N, Ashenafi S, Kassa E, Aseffa G, Amogne W, Getachew M, Aseffa A, Worku A, Raqib R, Agerberth B, Hammar U, Bergman P, Aderaye G, Andersson J, Brighenti S. Daily adjunctive therapy with vitamin D(3) and phenylbutyrate supports clinical recovery from pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized controlled trial in Ethiopia. J Intern Med. 2018 Apr 25. doi: 10.1111/joim.12767. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29696707; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6202271.
  9. Merid Y, Woldeamanuel Y, Abebe M, Datiko DG, Hailu T, Habtamu G, Assefa G,Kempker RR, Blumberg HM, Aseffa A. High utility of active tuberculosis case finding in an Ethiopian prison. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 May 1;22(5):524-529. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.17.0635. PubMed PMID: 29663957; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6208132.
  10. Suliman S, Thompson E, Sutherland J, Weiner Rd J, Ota MOC, Shankar S, Penn-Nicholson A, Thiel B, Erasmus M, Maertzdorf J, Duffy FJ, Hill PC, Hughes EJ,Stanley K, Downing K, Fisher ML, Valvo J, Parida SK, van der Spuy G, Tromp G, Adetifa IMO, Donkor S, Howe R, Mayanja-Kizza H, Boom WH, Dockrell H, Ottenhoff THM, Hatherill M, Aderem A, Hanekom WA, Scriba TJ, Kaufmann SH, Zak DE, Walzl G; and the GC6-74 and ACS cohort study groups. Four-gene Pan-African Blood Signature Predicts Progression to Tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 Apr 6. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201711-2340OC. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29624071; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6019933.
  11. König Walles J, Tesfaye F, Jansson M, Tolera Balcha T, Winqvist N, Kefeni M, Garoma Abeya S, Belachew F, Sturegård E, Björkman P. Performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus for detection of latent tuberculosis infection in pregnant women living in a tuberculosis- and HIV-endemic setting. PLoS One. 2018 Apr 4;13(4):e0193589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193589. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29617458; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5884484.
  12. Tiberi S, Petersen E, Maeurer M, Ntoumi F, Yeboa-Manu D, Mwaba P, Vilaplana C, Dar O, Bates M, Corrah T, Rao M, Kapata N, Azhar EI, Memish ZA, Mfinanga S, Aseffa A, Ippolito G, Migliori GB, Zumla A. Taking forward the Stop TB Partnership and World Health Organization Joint Theme for World TB Day March 24th 2018 - "Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free World. You can make history. End TB". Int J Infect Dis. 2018 Mar;68:122-124. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.03.002. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PubMed PMID: 29571578.
  13. Teklu T, Legesse M, Medhin G, Zewude A, Chanyalew M, Zewdie M, Wondale B, Haile-Mariam M, Pieper R, Ameni G. Latent tuberculosis infection and associated risk indicators in pastoral communities in southern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2018 Feb 17;18(1):266. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5149-7. PubMed PMID: 29454325; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5816385.
  14. Tilahun M, Ameni G, Desta K, Zewude A, Yamuah L, Abebe M, Aseffa A. Molecular epidemiology and drug sensitivity pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in and around Ambo Town, Central Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 15;13(2):e0193083. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193083. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29447273; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5814086.
  15. Chegou NN, Sutherland JS, Namuganga AR, Corstjens PL, Geluk A, Gebremichael G, Mendy J, Malherbe S, Stanley K, van der Spuy GD, Kriel M, Loxton AG, Kriel B, Simukonda F, Bekele Y, Sheehama JA, Nelongo J, van der Vyver M, Gebrexabher A,Hailu H, Esterhuyse MM, Rosenkrands I, Aagard C, Kidd M, Kassa D, Mihret A, Howe R, Cliff JM, Crampin AC, Mayanja-Kizza H, Kaufmann SHE, Dockrell HM, Ottenhoff THM, Walzl G; AE-TBC consortium. Africa-wide evaluation of host biomarkers in QuantiFERON supernatants for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 8;8(1):2675. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20855-7. PubMed PMID: 29422548; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5805775.
  16. Adelman MW, McFarland DA, Tsegaye M, Aseffa A, Kempker RR, Blumberg HM.Cost-effectiveness of WHO-Recommended Algorithms for TB Case Finding at Ethiopian HIV Clinics. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017 Dec 23;5(1):ofx269. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofx269. eCollection 2018 Jan. PubMed PMID: 29399596; PubMed Central  PMCID: PMC5788063.
  17. Villarreal-Ramos B, Berg S, Whelan A, Holbert S, Carreras F, Salguero FJ, Khatri BL, Malone K, Rue-Albrecht K, Shaughnessy R, Smyth A, Ameni G, Aseffa A, Sarradin P, Winter N, Vordermeier M, Gordon SV. Experimental infection of cattle with Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates shows the attenuation of the human tubercle bacillus for cattle. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 17;8(1):894. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18575-5. PubMed PMID: 29343690; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5772528.
  18. Hussein J, Zewdie M, Yamuah L, Bedru A, Abebe M, Dagnew AF, Chanyalew M, Yohannes AG, Ahmed J, Engers H, Doherty TM, Bang P, Kromann I, Hoff ST, Aseffa A. A phase I, open-label trial on the safety and immunogenicity of the adjuvanted tuberculosis subunit vaccine H1/IC31® in people living in a TB-endemic area. Trials. 2018 Jan 10;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2354-0. PubMed PMID: 29321075; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5764015.
  19. van Hooij A, Tjon Kon Fat EM, Batista da Silva M, Carvalho Bouth R, Cunha Messias AC, Gobbo AR, Lema T, Bobosha K, Li J, Weng X, Salgado CG, Spencer JS, Corstjens PLAM, Geluk A. Evaluation of Immunodiagnostic Tests for Leprosy in Brazil, China and Ethiopia. Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 18;8(1):17920. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36323-1. PubMed PMID: 30560920.
  20. Girma S, Avanzi C, Bobosha K, Desta K, Idriss MH, Busso P, Tsegaye Y, Nigusse  S, Hailu T, Cole ST, Aseffa A. Evaluation of Auramine O staining and conventional PCR for leprosy diagnosis: A comparative cross-sectional study from Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Sep 4;12(9):e0006706. doi: 21.1371/journal.pntd.0006706. eCollection 2018 Sep. PubMed PMID: 30180155; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6138420.
  21. Negera E, Walker SL, Lema T, Aseffa A, Lockwood DN, Dockrell HM. Complement C1q expression in Erythema nodosum leprosum. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Mar 2; 12(3):e0006321.doi: 10.1371/ journal.pntd.0006321. eCollection 2018 Mar. PubMed PMID: 29499046; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5851649.
  22. Negera E, Walker SL, Bobosha K, Bekele Y, Endale B, Tarekegn A, Abebe M, Aseffa A, Dockrell HM, Lockwood DN. The Effects of Prednisolone Treatment on Cytokine Expression in Patients with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum Reactions. Front Immunol. 2018 Feb 9;9:189. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00189. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29479352; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5811481.
  23. Benjak A, Avanzi C, Singh P, Loiseau C, Girma S, Busso P, Fontes ANB, Miyamoto Y, Namisato M, Bobosha K, Salgado CG, da Silva MB, Bouth RC, Frade MAC, Filho FB, Barreto JG, Nery JAC, Bührer-Sékula S, Lupien A, Al-Samie AR, Al-Qubati Y, Alkubati AS, Bretzel G, Vera-Cabrera L, Sakho F, Johnson CR, Kodio M, Fomba A, Sow SO, Gado M, Konaté O, Stefani MMA, Penna GO, Suffys PN, Sarno EN, Moraes MO, Rosa PS, Baptista IMFD, Spencer JS, Aseffa A, Matsuoka M, Kai M, Cole ST.Phylogenomics and antimicrobial resistance of the leprosy bacillus Mycobacterium  leprae. Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 24;9(1):352. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02576-z. PubMed PMID: 29367657; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5783932.
  24. Negera E, Tilahun M, Bobosha K, Lambert SM, Walker SL, Spencer JS, Aseffa A,Dockrell HM, Lockwood DN. The effects of prednisolone treatment on serological responses and lipid profiles in Ethiopian leprosy patients with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum reactions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Dec 28;12(12):e0007035. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007035. eCollection 2018 Dec. PubMed PMID: 30592714.

Graduate Student

Tsehaynesh Lema
A PhD student at Medical Microbiology Department, AAU in a BSPP program
Project : Active case detection of leprosy and household contact tracing at Kokosa Woreda, West Arsi Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.
Email: rbpt21@yahoo.com

Kedir Urgesa
A PhD student at Haramaya University-AHRI joint program in Medical microbiology program. Project: Epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae infection among Household Contacts’ of previously undiagnosed leprosy patients in Fedis Woreda, Eastern Ethiopia: Community     Based Study
Email: kedirbofe@gmail.com

Alem Alemayehu
A PhD student working on Genetic Diversity and Drug Resistance Pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates among Sputum Smear Negative Tuberculosis Patients.
Email: alemalemayehu@yahoo.com

Fregenet Tesfaye
A PhD student at Lund University, Sweden
Project : Dynamics of immune control of tuberculosis infection in relation to pregnancy. 
Email: fregenet_tesfaye.tegegn.5168@med.lu.se

Adugna Negussie
A PhD student at Lund University, Sweden  
Project : The effect of traditional Ethiopian foods and microbiota composition on the inflammatory disease; celiac disease among genetically risk pediatric population. 
Email: adugnalab@gmail.com

Ephrem Mamo
PhD student in PEP4LEP project
Chemoprophylaxis  for leprosy: comparing the effectiveness and feasibility of a skin camp intervention to a health centre based intervention; An implementation trial in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Email: ephremmamo2015@gmail.com

Contact

Dr. Kidist Bobosha (MSc, PhD)
Senior researcher and Director of MDRD
Email: kidist.bobosha@ahri.gov.et
Tel: +251 911 672286
Skype: boboshak   

MDRD Staff List