Antibody dynamics
This work aims to understand the dynamic nature of antibodies
Post infection, individuals develop antibodies which vary in their concentration and specificity over time. This dynamic nature of antibodies has important consequences in both the clinical diagnosis of infections and the level of protection provided to the individual.
Optimising the sensitivity and specificity of serological tests
Serological assays are central to clinicians to epidemiologists' toolkits. We work with collaborators at Institut Pasteur, icddr,b among others who have collected blood from individuals with PCR-confirmed infections. We develop models that characterise antibody measurements at different points in time, to both the true infecting pathogen as well as related pathogens. This allows us to explore the performance of assays over time and to optimise their use.
Characterizing the changing risk profile of individuals
In collaboration with AFRIMS, Walter Reed, University of Florida, University of Rhode Island among others, we work with longitudinal dengue cohorts. Individuals are followed up over time and have regular blood draws, which are then tested for the presence of different antibodies. Using these sequential antibody measurements, we develop mathematical models that reconstruct antibody levels over time. We can then assess how antibody measurements change and how the levels at any point in time are linked to protection and/or risk.