Bioscience

Bio

Francis did his PhD in immunology at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK (NIMR). He then took up a post-doctoral training position at NIMR and was successful at implementing a new programme of research in quantifying antigen-specific memory B cells in a mouse model of malaria. He moved back to KWTRP (Kenya) in 2008 as a post-doctoral researcher to start and build a research group.

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Current Work

His main areas of interest are: (i) immunological memory to malaria parasites in historically infected individuals, (ii) host factors responsible for increased susceptibility to malaria in a small proportion of children that experience excessively more malaria than expected, and iii) the mechanisms responsible for controlling parasite growth and inflammation in semi-immune adults following experimental infections. These studies are providing the much-needed insight into how we can induce protective immune responses to P. falciparum malaria by vaccination in the background of the immune-regulatory state induced by natural exposure in endemic areas. Upon the introduction of Covid-19, he was quick to use his experience and skills to initiate a project on Covid-19 immunology - understanding Sars-CoV-2 immunology in the African population. Furthermore, his group has been involved in the response to the pandemic in Kenya with involvements in Covid-19 testing, and sequencing of Sars-CoV-2 viruses.

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Recent publications

Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Association with Iron Deficiency in African Children.
Mogire, R. M., Muriuki, J. M., Morovat, A., Mentzer, A. J., Webb, E. L., Kimita, W., Ndungu, F. M., Macharia, A. W., Cutland, C. L., Sirima, S. B., Diarra, A., Tiono, A. B., Lule, S. A., Madhi, S. A., Prentice, A. M., Bejon, P., Pettifor, J. M., Elliott, A. M., Adeyemo, A., Williams, T. N., Atkinson, S. H.
Nutrients, (2022). 14:1372

Plasmodium falciparum-Specific Memory B-Cell and Antibody Responses Are Associated With Immunity in Children Living in an Endemic Area of Kenya.
Jahnmatz, P., Nyabundi, D., Sundling, C., Widman, L., Mwacharo, J., Musyoki, J., Otieno, E., Ahlborg, N., Bejon, P., Ndungu, F. M., Farnert, A.
Front Immunol, (2022). 13:799306

TRUE-1: Trial of Repurposed Unithiol for snakebite Envenoming phase 1 (safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in healthy Kenyan adults).
Abouyannis, M., FitzGerald, R., Ngama, M., Mwangudzah, H., Nyambura, Y. K., Ngome, S., Riako, D., Babu, L., Lewa, F., Else, L., Dily Penchala, S., Orindi, B., Mumba, N., Kalama, B., Ndungu, F. M., Adetifa, I., Khoo, S., Lalloo, D. G., Casewell, N. R., Hamaluba, M.
Wellcome Open Res, (2022). 7:90

Transcriptomic signatures induced by the Ebola virus vaccine rVSVDeltaG-ZEBOV-GP in adult cohorts in Europe, Africa, and North America: a molecular biomarker study.
Vianello, E., Gonzalez-Dias, P., van Veen, S., Engele, C. G., Quinten, E., Monath, T. P., Medaglini, D., VSV-EBOVAC Consortium., VSV-EBOPLUS Consortium., Santoro, F., Huttner, A., Dubey, S., Eichberg, M., Ndungu, F. M., Kremsner, P. G., Essone, P. N., Agnandji, S. T., Siegrist, C. A., Nakaya, H. I., Ottenhoff, T. H. M., Haks, M. C.
Lancet Microbe, (2022). 3:e113-e123

10-year longitudinal study of malaria in children: Insights into acquisition and maintenance of naturally acquired immunity.
Addy, J. W. G., Bediako, Y., Ndungu, F. M., Valetta, J. J., Reid, A. J., Mwacharo, J., Ngoi, J. M., Wambua, J., Otieno, E., Musyoki, J., Said, K., Berriman, M., Marsh, K., Bejon, P., Recker, M., Langhorne, J.
Wellcome Open Res, (2021). 6:79