Edward Edmond Makhulu

Edward Edmond Makhulu

Research project title: Transmission dynamics of African trypanosomiasis in Narok County, Kenya.

Edward is a PEER-BUSHMEAT MSc fellow supervised by Dr. Wambua Lilian and Dr. Adunga Vincent from University of Nairobi and Egerton University, Kenya respectively. Edward’s research interests include Biochemistry of the cell, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Protein interaction and Host-vector-pathogen relationship research. Currently, Edward is trying to unravel the transmission dynamics for African Trypanosomiasis (AT) in Narok County, Kenya, a region onces classified as non-endemic.  The WHO efforts to eradicate AT by 2020 have really yielded success with current statistics showing low prevalence of AT infection in Kenya of even lower than 0.01 in major AT foci. However, the disease is spreading to new localities previously categorized as non-endemic, as in the case of two tourist who were infected by AT after visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County, Kenya. To understand the reasons for emergence of this disease in the new localities a comprehensive study on the host – vector – parasite interaction in the area is crucial to get a clear picture on the transmission dynamics favoring the disease emergence. Tsetse fly, the    vector of the disease, provides a better platform in understanding the host – vector – parasite interplay as far as African trypanosomiasis transmission dynamics is concern.  Therefore, this study aims to check on the African trypanosome species circulating in Maasai Mara National Reserve, the host blood preferences for the tsetse flies in the area and finally correlation of the fly infection with endosymbionts present in the collected flies (namely Wolbachia, Sodalis glossinidus and salivary hypertrophy virus) to infer on the vector competence. Edward completed his undergraduate degree in BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Egerton University.