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Biography
Sylvia is a post-doctoral fellow in the Host Genetic Factors group led by Professor Thomas Williams. She joined the programme in 2016 broadly interested in the genetic architecture of complex traits, specifically identifying genetic factors associated with disease susceptibility. Her doctoral thesis work at the University of Chicago involved endophenotype mapping to identify novel genetic polymorphisms associated with complex traits such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and vitamin D response in the immune system. Her post-doctoral work at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme involves functional validation of genetic polymorphisms that confer substantial protection against severe malaria.
Current Work
She has focused on functional validation of the Dantu blood group variant, a complex structural polymorphism in the glycophorin gene cluster that confers strongly protective effects against severe malaria. This work has led to the discovery that the Dantu variant confers its protective effects against Plasmodium falciparum parasite invasion by impacting red blood cell membrane tension, establishing a clear link between red blood cell membrane tension and P. falciparum invasion efficiency.Collaborations
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Project Research
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Publications
Dantu Blood Group Erythrocytes Form Large Plasmodium falciparum Rosettes Less Commonly.
Carlier, M. S. A., Nyamu, W., Makale, J., Williams, T. N., Rowe, J. A., Kariuki, S. N.
Am J Trop Med Hyg, (2024). 110:436-443
The Dantu blood group prevents parasite growth in vivo: Evidence from a controlled human malaria infection study.
Kariuki, S. N., Macharia, A. W., Makale, J., Nyamu, W., Hoffman, S. L., Kapulu, M. C., Bejon, P., Rayner, J. C., Williams, T. N.
Elife, (2023). 12:e83874
BIRC6 modifies risk of invasive bacterial infection in Kenyan children.
Gilchrist, J. J., Kariuki, S. N., Watson, J. A., Band, G., Uyoga, S., Ndila, C. M., Mturi, N., Mwarumba, S., Mohammed, S., Mosobo, M., Alasoo, K., Rockett, K. A., Mentzer, A. J., Kwiatkowski, D. P., Hill, A. V. S., Maitland, K., Scott, J. A. G., Williams, T. N.
Elife, (2022). 11:e77461
The impact of malaria-protective red blood cell polymorphisms on parasite biomass in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Uyoga, S., Watson, J. A., Wanjiku, P., Rop, J. C., Makale, J., Macharia, A. W., Kariuki, S. N., Nyutu, G. M., Shebe, M., Mosobo, M., Mturi, N., Rockett, K. A., Woodrow, C. J., Dondorp, A. M., Maitland, K., White, N. J., Williams, T. N.
Nat Commun, (2022). 13:3307
The erythrocyte membrane properties of beta thalassaemia heterozygotes and their consequences for Plasmodium falciparum invasion.
Introini, V., Marin-Menendez, A., Nettesheim, G., Lin, Y. C., Kariuki, S. N., Smith, A. L., Jean, L., Brewin, J. N., Rees, D. C., Cicuta, P., Rayner, J. C., Penman, B. S.
Sci Rep, (2022). 12:8934
Red blood cell tension protects against severe malaria in the Dantu blood group.
Kariuki, S. N., Marin-Menendez, A., Introini, V., Ravenhill, B. J., Lin, Y. C., Macharia, A., Makale, J., Tendwa, M., Nyamu, W., Kotar, J., Carrasquilla, M., Rowe, J. A., Rockett, K., Kwiatkowski, D., Weekes, M. P., Cicuta, P., Williams, T. N., Rayner, J. C.
Nature, (2020). 585:579-583
Human genetics and malaria resistance.
Kariuki, S. N., Williams, T. N.
Hum Genet, (2020). 139:801-811