Dr. Rebeccah Ayako

PhD

Immunological Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Kenya Investigated humoral immune responses in individuals with different COVID-19 disease severities

Assessed IgG responses and antibody profiles and examined their relationship with disease severity.

Leishmania Vaccine and Immunomodulation Study, Kenya Evaluated the protective and immunomodulatory effects of soluble Leishmania antigen combined with Carissa edulis extract

Assessed parasite burden, IFN-γ, IL-10, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a responses following vaccination and challenge.

Malaria and Leishmania Co-infection Study, Kenya Investigated disease outcomes and immune responses during single and co-infections with Plasmodium berghei and Leishmania major

Evaluated parasitaemia, parasite burden, hematological changes, cytokine responses, organ pathology, and survival.

Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium berghei Co-infection Study Investigated the effects of single and combined Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium berghei infections on disease progression, hematological parameters, cytokine responses, splenic…

Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium berghei Co-infection Study Investigated the effects of single and combined Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium berghei infections on disease progression, hematological parameters, cytokine responses, splenic pathology, and survival.

Macrophage Polarization and Immune Response Studies Investigated macrophage activation and polarization during infectious disease and experimental interventions

Evaluated markers associated with M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes, including CD80, CD86, CD163, and CD206.

SHIV Infection and Immune Response Studies Contributed to research using African green monkey models to investigate SHIV infection, immune responses, disease progression, and host-pathogen interactions.

Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Diagnostic Research Contributed to research focused on improving understanding of Leishmania transmission, diagnosis, immune responses, and disease burden in endemic regions of Kenya.