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Lecturer of Medical Microbiology

Obila, James

Dr. James Onyango Obila is a Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, at the United States University-Africa. He has extensive experience in teaching and research which spans back over 10 years when he was a Research scientist at the Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI - ICR) in the University of Nairobi. The consortium at the University of Nairobi had diverse background in HIV prevention research which culminated in integrated prevention trials and becoming one of the major HIV vaccine trials in Africa. In this endeavors, his focused mainly on the immunological and genetic correlates of immunity that promoted susceptibility among sex-workers. Other related experience includes a RCT of azithromycin prophylaxis for STI and HIV among sex-workers. He left the University of Nairobi and subsequently joined USIU-AFRICA, where he continues to teach basic science courses for Pharmacy.
Location

Nairobi, Kenya

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

  • Mucosal factors influencing HIV-1 transmission
  • Innate immune mediators in HIV-1 transmission
  • HIV-1 transmission among females of reproductive age

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD candidate at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, KENYA
  • MSc. Medical Microbiology – Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, KENYA
  • BSc. Medical Microbiology – Jomo-Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

TEACHING

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Biological courses

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles:

  1. Joag, V. R., Obila, J. O., Gajer, P., Scott, M. C., Dizzell, S., Humphrys, M., Shahabi, K., Huibner, S., Shannon, B., Tharao, W., Mureithi, M., Oyugi, J., Kimani, J., Kaushic, C., Ravel, J., Anzala, O., & Kaul, R. (2018). Impact of standard bacterial vaginosis treatment on the genital microbiota, immune milieu, and ex vivo human immunodeficiency virus susceptibility. Clinical Infectious Diseases, XX(XX), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy762
  2. Joag, V. R., McKinnon, L. R., Liu, J., Kidane, S. T., Yudin, M. H., Nyanga, B., Kimwaki, S., Besel, K. E., Obila, J. O., Huibner, S., Oyugi, J. O., Arthos, J., Anzala, O., Kimani, J., Ostrowski, M. A., & Kaul, R. (2015). Mucosal immunology. Mucosal Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2015.28
  3. Mohamed, O. A., Cohen, C. R., Kungu, D., Kuyoh, M. A., Onyango, J. I., Bwayo, J. J., Welsh, M., & Feldblum, P. J. (2001). Urine proves a poor specimen for culture of Trichomonas vaginalis in women. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 77, 78–79.
  4. Kaul, R., Rutherford, J., Rowland-Jones, S. L., Kimani, J., Onyango, J. I., Fowke, K. R., MacDonald, K. S., Bwayo, J. J., McMichael, A. J., & Plummer, F. A. (2001). New insights into HIV-1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in exposed, persistently seronegative Kenyan sex workers. Immunology Letters, 79, 3–13.
  5. Kaul, R., Rutherford, J., Rowland-Jones, S. L., Kimani, J., Onyango, J. I., Fowke, K. R., MacDonald, K. S., Bwayo, J. J., McMichael, A. J., & Plummer, F. A. (2004). HIV-1 Env-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in exposed, uninfected Kenyan sex workers: A prospective analysis. AIDS, 18(15), 2087–2089.
  6. Kaul, R., Kimani, J., Nagelkerke, N., Fonck, K., Ngugi, E., Keli, F., MacDonald, K. S., Maclean, I. W., Bwayo, J. J., Temmerman, M., Ronald, A. R., Moses, S., & The Kibera HIV Study Group. (2004). Monthly antibiotic chemoprophylaxis and incidence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV-1 infection in Kenyan sex workers: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 291, 2555–2562.
  7. Farah, B., Ogola, S., Indangasi, J., Oyaro, M., Anzala, O., Omosa-Manyonyi, G., Jaoko, W., Gilmour, J., Bwayo, J., & Onyango, J. I. (2004). The use of viral peptides as a quality control for ELISPOT assays in HIV-1 vaccine trials in Kenya. 15th International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.
  8. Yadav, G., Saskin, R., Ngugi, E. N., Kimani, J., Keli, F., Fonck, K., MacDonald, K. S., Bwayo, J. J., Temmerman, M., Moses, S., Kaul, R., & The Kibera HIV Study Group. (2005). Associations of sexual risk-taking among Kenyan sex workers after enrolment in an HIV-1 prevention trial. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 38(3), 329–334.
  9. Jaoko, W., Manyonyi, G. O., Bhatt, K., Anzala, A. O., Ogutu, H., Ndambuki, R., Wakasiaka, S., Farah, B. M., Ogola, S., Indangasi, J., Onyango, J., Nyange, J., Ndinya-Achola, J., Thomson, H., Gilmour, J., Than, S., Komaroff, W., Kambili, C., Fast, P., & Bwayo, J. J. (2006). Out-of-range laboratory values: A major reason for exclusion from a phase 1 HIV vaccine clinical trial. AIDS Vaccine 2006, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  10. Ngugi, E. N., Chakkalackal, M., Sharma, A., Bukusi, E., Njoroge, B., Kimani, J., Fonck, K., MacDonald, K. S., Bwayo, J. J., Temmerman, M., Cohen, C., Moses, S., & The Kibera HIV Study Group. (2007). Sustained changes in sexual behavior by female sex workers after completion of a randomized HIV prevention trial. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 45(5), 588–594.
  11. Kaul, R., Nagelkerke, N., Rebbapragada, A., Bossen, B., MacDonald, K. S., Kimani, J., Fonck, K., Ngugi, E., Maclean, I. W., Bwayo, J. J., Temmerman, M., Ronald, A. R., Moses, S., & The Kibera HIV Study Group. (2007). Prevalent herpes simplex virus type 2 infection is associated with altered vaginal flora and increased susceptibility to multiple sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 196, 1692–1697.
  12. Hirbod, T., Kaul, R., Kimani, J., Ngugi, E., Bwayo, J. J., Nagelkerke, N., Moses, S., MacDonald, K. S., Broliden, K., & The Kibera HIV Study Group. HIV-neutralizing IgA and HIV-specific immune responses.