Understanding trachoma

In trachoma, the infection triggers a poorly understood inflammatory response, which leads to conjunctival scarring and blinding complications. We are studying the way that the human immune system reacts to chlamydial infection in order to define biomarkers for progressive disease and to identify potential therapeutic targets for progressive scarring. We have conducted large scale cohort studies in Tanzania and Ethiopia that have regularly assessed people for disease and infection and corelated this with a number of immunological responses.

DjinniChip: Evaluation of a novel molecular rapid diagnostic device for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in trachoma-endemic areas

Tamsyn R Derrick, Natalia Sandetskaya, Harry Pickering, Andreas Kölsch, Athumani Ramadhani, Elias Mafuru, Patrick Massae, Aiweda Malisa, Tara Mtuy, Matthew J Burton, Martin J Holland, Dirk Kuhlmeier
Parasites & Vectors, 2020, In Press

The conjunctival transcriptome in Ethiopians after trichiasis surgery: associations with the development of eyelid contour abnormalities and the effect of oral doxycycline treatment

Tamsyn Derrick, Esmael Habtamu, Zerihun Tadesse, E. Kelly Callahan, Abebaw Worku, Bizuayehu Gashaw, David Macleod, David C.W. Mabey, Martin J. Holland, Matthew J Burton

Wellcome Open Research, 2019, 4:130

Progression of scarring trachoma in Tanzanian children: a four-year cohort study

A.M.Ramadhani, T.Derrick, D.Macleod, P.Massae, E.Mafuru, A.Malisa, K.Mbuya, C.h.Roberts, W.Makupa, T.Mtuy, R.L.Bailey, D.C.W.Mabey, M.J.Holland and M.J.Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019, 13(8):e0007638

Ocular Immune Responses, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and Clinical Signs of Trachoma Before and After Azithromycin Mass Drug Administration in a Treatment Naïve Trachoma-Endemic Tanzanian Community

A.M.Ramadhani, T.Derrick, D.Macleod, P.Massae, A.Malisa, K.Mbuya, T.Mtuy, W.Makupa, C.Roberts, R.L.Bailey, D.C.W.Mabey, M.J.Holland and Matthew J. Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019, 13(7):e0007559

Evaluation of a Chlamydia trachomatis specific, commercial, real-time PCR for use with ocular swabs

H.Pickering, M.J.Holland, A. R.Last, M.J.Burton and S.E.Burr

Parasites & Vectors, 2018, 11:102

Clinical signs of trachoma are prevalent among Solomon Islanders who have no persistent markers of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.

R.Butcher, O.Sokana, K.Jack, L.Sui, C.Russell, A.Last, D.L.Martin, M.J.Burton, A.W.Solomon, D.C.W.Mabey, C.h.Roberts

Wellcome Open Research, 2018, 3:14

Immunofibrogenic Gene Expression Patterns in Tanzanian Children with Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis Infection, Active Trachoma and Scarring: Baseline Results of a Four-Year Longitudinal Study
A.Ramadhani, T.Derrick, D.Macleod, P.Massae, T.Mtuy, D.Jeffries, C.h.Roberts, R.L.Bailey, D.W.C.Mabey, M.J.Holland, M.J.Burton

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2017, 7:406

miRNAs that associate with conjunctival inflammation and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection do not predict progressive disease.

T.Derrick, A.Ramadhani, K.Mtengai, P.Massae, M.J.Burton and M.J.Holland

Pathogens and Disease, 2017, 72(2):ftx016

The relationship between Active Trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection before and after mass antibiotic treatment

A.Ramadhani, T.Derrick, D.Macleod, M.J.Holland and M.J.Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016, 10 (10):e0005080

Fibroblasts profiling in scarring trachoma identifies IL6 as a functional component of a fibroblast-macrophage pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory feedback loop

Z.Kechagia, D.Ezra, M.J.Burton and M.Bailly

Scientific Reports, 2016, 6:28261

Increased epithelial expression of CTGF and S100A7 with elevated subepithelial expression of IL-1β in trachomatous trichiasis.

T.Derrick P.Luthert, H.Jama, V.H.Hu, P.Massae, D.Essex, M.J.Holland and M.J.Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016, 10(6):e0004752

Immunohistochemical analysis of scarring trachoma indicates infiltration by Natural Killer and undefined CD45 negative cells.

V.H.Hu, P.Luthert, T.Derrick, J.Pullin, H.A.Weiss, P.Massae, T.Mtuy, W.Makupa, D.Essex, D.C.W.Mabey, R.L.Bailey, M.J.Holland and M.J.Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016, 10(5):e0004734

Pathogenesis of Progressive Scarring Trachoma in Ethiopia and Tanzania and its Implications for Disease Control: Two Cohort Studies

M.J.Burton, S.N.Rajak, V.H.Hu, A.Ramadhani, E.Habtamu, P.Massae, Z.Tadesse, K.Callahan, P.M.Emerson, P.T.Khaw, D.Jeffries, D.C.W.Mabey, R.L.Bailey, H.A.Weiss and M.J.Holland

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2015; 13;9(5):e0003763.

Estimating the future impact of a multi-pronged intervention strategy on the ocular disease sequelae caused by trachoma: a modelling study 

M.Gambhir, N.C.Grassly, M.J.Burton, A.W.Solomon, H.R.Taylor, D.C.Mabey, I.M.Blake and, M.G.Basáñez

Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 2015; 22(6): 394-402

Trachoma

H.R.Taylor, M.J.Burton, D.Haddad, S.K.West and H.Wright

Lancet, 2014; 384(9960):2142-52

Trachoma: protective and pathogenic ocular immune responses to Chlamydia trachomatis

V.H.Hu, M.J.Holland and M.J.Burton

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2013; 7(3):e2020