“The impact of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor plasma levels and human milk oligosaccharide content on the gut microbiota of HIV exposed infants”
Country of Study
Zimbabwe
Institution
University of Zimbabwe
Expected Year of Completion
2024
Thematic Area
Life and Health Sciences
Education
Taona is pursuing a PhD in Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, besides being a Senior Lecturer at Midlands State University. She is an MSc holder in Clinical Biochemistry also from the same university where she is to complete her studies in 2024.
Research Summary
According to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care, one in every three children in Zimbabwe suffers stunted growth due to malnutrition. Furthermore, stunted growth claims the lives of 12,000 children before they reach the age of five annually, with the majority of them HIV-exposed. Studies show stunted growth is associated with gut microbiota imbalance from an early age. This is why Taona’s research on the gut microbiota of HIV-exposed breastfed infants is vital. The study will take nevirapine prophylaxis and compare them with breastfed HIV-unexposed infants. The results of this study have the potential to identify the impact of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor prophylaxis drug exposure, and whether certain levels and compositions of Human Milk Oligosaccharides found in breast milk, are beneficial in creating a healthy microbiota and healthy nutritional status of infants.
Publications:
1. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition in Breast Milk Plasma of HIV-infected and Uninfected Mothers in Relation to Infant Clinical Outcomes
