“Molecular characterization and transmission dynamics of Chikungunya and Dengue viruses in Kenya, 2011-2022”
Country of Study
Kenya
Institution
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Expected Year of Completion
2026
Thematic Area
Life and Health Sciences
Education
Caroline is a PhD student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya focusing in Health Sciences She works as a Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute. She holds an MSc in Molecular medicine from JKUAT and is scheduled to complete her studies in 2026.
Research Summary
Despite numerous dengue and chikungunya fever outbreaks in Kenya, there is very limited pathogen whole genome sequence data available, and the majority of available sequences are partial (providing limited information on transmission dynamics). Caroline’s research will generate data and insights into the transmission dynamics of arboviruses, in a setting where the Dengue virus DENV and Chikungya virus CHIKV are considered endemic. The findings will be of general and specific interest to a wide range of academic researchers besides helping increase the capacity for this type of work in Kenya where the field is now taking root. In addition, the models and techniques employed in this research will extend to the study of other vector-borne diseases other than DENV and CHIKV. The project will generate viral sequence datasets, which are of considerable interest to bioinformaticians and molecular epidemiologists, as it helps to place infections in other parts of the world in context.
Publications:
1. Development of a TaqMan Array Card for Acute-Febrile-Illness Outbreak Investigation and Surveillance of Emerging Pathogens, Including Ebola Virus
2. Seroprevalence of Infections with Dengue, Rift Valley Fever and Chikungunya Viruses in Kenya, 2007
3. Mosquito-borne arbovirus surveillance at selected sites in diverse ecological zones of Kenya
