Biography

I am a Researcher at the Wits Medical School, South Africa. My research focuses on improving the lives of people living with HIV through accurate diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB). Over the years, I have been investigating immunoregulatory molecules, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as a diagnostic biomarker for TB in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). We have detected IDO activity by using a product-to-substrate ratio (i.e. Kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio). So far, IDO activity has demonstrated a striking clinical significance as a tool to detect and even predict TB onset in PLWHIV ahead of TB symptoms.

Expertise

TB Diagnostics
Public Health

Key Impacts

Kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio is a suitable blood-based screening tool for active tuberculosis in pregnant women living with HIV

Our results show no variation in plasma K/T ratio during pregnancy but significant decreases in postpartum period among PwLHIV. Plasma K/T ratio should be further evaluated as an initial TB screening test to assess its impact on patient care.

Source: Conference 2024