Project Summary
Schistosoma mansoni infection is associated with induction of strong type two and regulatory immune response profiles, and this could have an immune modulation effect that influence immune responses to non-schistosome antigens. Immune modulation and childhood immunization (IMoChI) study is a study conducted in schistosomiasis endemic fishing communities along shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe and based at UVRI.
This study aims to explore and elucidate the effect of S. mansoni infection and its treatment on the efficacy of childhood immunization focusing on responses to measles and HPV immunization with a hypothesis that vaccine immunogenicity is impaired in S. mansoni infected individuals compared to uninfected individuals in Uganda.
The study seeks to understand the mechanisms by which S. mansoni infection may exert such effects on immune responses to non-schistosome antigens with the following objectives:
- To determine the effects of S. mansoni infection and treatment on antibody and cellular responses to measles booster immunization in children aged three to five years.
- To determine the effects of S. mansoni infection on antibody and cellular responses to HPV primary immunization in children aged 9-14 years.
- To correlate immune responses to measles and HPV immunization to schistosome-specific immune responses.
