HOD Microbiology
Microbiology Department
Microbiology is the scientific discipline that studies microbes and microbial diseases. Microbes are small organisms that require microscopic tools for visualization and these include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The discovery of microbes and the realization that they represent causative agents of human, animal and plant diseases has greatly transformed biological sciences. Basic practical skill in research and market driven courses in microbiology offered at the Department of Microbiology emphasizes our strong commitment in eradicating these pathogens.
The Department of Microbiology has established linkages with the University College Leuven Limburg (UCLL), Belgium. The collaboration has seen the two institutions establish an exchange program between the students and Department of Microbiology staff.
During the degree training, students proceed for industrial attachment in leading research institutions and food processing companies. Some of the institutions that our students have been attached include the Centre for Global Health Research of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Research Institute, KEMRI Nairobi campus, the Kenya Government Chemist, KEMRI Alupe Research Centre and the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Academic Profile
PERSONAL STATEMENT
My main areas of research include identification of resistant TB in an area with high incidence of HIV and malaria using molecular and immunological techniques. These techniques will aid in the early detection of both drug susceptible and resistant tuberculosis in western Kenya. Recently I have been an invited participant in leading TB immunology workshops such as the Cyto 2018, IUIS-IDA Immuno-Ethiopia and Immuno-South Africa. In the past, I have worked with scientists focused on vaccine design and development such as the TB-018 and the AERAS- 402 and also the RTS’S malaria candidate vaccines.
PhD University Name, Maseno University January 2013–November 2017
Field of specialization: Biomedical Sciences Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, School of Public Health and Community Development
Thesis: “Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya in 2012-2014”
School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University.
MSc University Name, Maseno University September 2007 – November 2012
Field of specialization; Cell and molecular biology
Faculty of science, Department of Zoology
Thesis: “Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Infected and non- infected pregnant women in Western Kenya”
Supervisor: Prof. Collins Ouma,
School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University.
BSc University Name, Egerton University August 2000 – September 2005
Second class honors
Biomedical sciences and technology
2019 to date | Head of Department, Microbiology, UZIMA University |
2018 to date | Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, UZIMA University |
2018 to 2021 | Associate faculty, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, Department of Zoology, Maseno University |
2018 to 2021 | Associate faculty, School of Science, Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Kaimosi Friends University College |
2015 to 2021 | Associate faculty, School of Public Health and Community Development, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Maseno University |
2013 to 2021 | Associate faculty, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Medical laboratory sciences, Mount Kenya University, Kisumu Campus |
- Travel award from the Kenya Education Network and the International Association for Advancement of cytometry to participate in the Cyto 2018 workshop in Prague from 28th May to 2nd May 2018.
- Awarded a travel scholarship for poster presentation at the eighth EDCTP conference in Lusaka, Zambia, 2016
- Received a 5-year Professional Electronic Laboratory Notebook award for the management of large laboratory data sets from Amount $ 5 000
- Grant award from the Association of African Universities to facilitate the early completion and improving the quality of research undertaken by graduate students in African Universities; Project title: Gene mutations associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya. Amount: $3 500.
- Travel grant award from the Kenya Education Network to attend a Gordon Research Conference in Maine, USA in June Amount: $2 000
- Keystone Symposia Global Health Travel award to participate in a Tuberculosis host response conference at the Santa Fe community center, New Mexico, USA, January 2016
- Awarded a travel scholarship forposter presentation during the seventh EDCTP conference in Dakar, Senegal.
International Scientific Paper Presentations
- Poster presentation titled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya in 2012-2014” at the Eighth forum European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), Lusaka, Zambia on the 6th to 9th November
- Abstract titled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya in 2014” accepted for poster presentation at the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Epidemiological Transitions meeting to be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, 07 – 08 July
- Abstract titled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in
a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya in 2014” at the Gordon Research Conference in Maine USA, Theme Drug resistance, June 13th – 17th 2016
- Abstract titled “Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance to Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Infected and Non- infected Pregnant Women in Western Kenya” accepted for poster presentation at the Molecular Approaches to Malaria 2016 conference to be held at Lorne, Victoria,
- Presented a poster titled “Challenges in implementation of a Tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trial among infants in an area without prior experience in rural western Kenya; Laboratory perspective at the 1st IUIS-FAIS southern African Immunology workshop combined with the 6th Infectious Diseases in Africa (IDA) Symposium, organized by Clive Gray, University of Cape town and Guide Ferrari, Duke University, which was held in Cape town, South Africa, 21st to 27thOctober2015.
- Presented a poster on the prevalence of TB gene mutations in a HIV-1 endemic population of western Kenya at the second African Biotechnology and Biomedical Conference (AIBBC), Theme; Africa’s Road to Dignity beyond the Millenium Development Goals through Biotechnology and Biomedical Research, 17th to 19thSeptember, 2015, APHRC,
- Abstract accepted for poster presentation entitled “Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Infected and Non-infected Pregnant Women in Western Kenya” at the 27th European Conference on Operational Research, 12 – 15 July 2015, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, Session TC-65, Livingston Room LT206, Level2
- Presented a poster titled “Challenges in implementation of a Tuberculosis (TB) vaccine trial among infants in an area without prior experience in rural western Kenya; Laboratory perspective at the keystone symposium at the Santa Fe community centre, New Mexico, USA, 22-27th January, 2015.
- Abstract accepted for poster presentation titled “Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Infected and Non-infected Pregnant Women in Western Kenya” at Research in Progress meeting on Wednesday 10th December 2014 at the Institute of Education, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Northumberland House 303-306 High Holborn,
- Abstract accepted for poster presentation titled “Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Infected and Non-infected Pregnant Women in Western Kenya” at the 16th International Congress on Infectious Diseases held in Cape Town, South Africa, April,
- Poster accepted for the seventh European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) forum in Dakar Senegal, 21st October to 24thOctober
- Laboratory evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to Dihydroartemisinin and Piperaquine combination in children in Western Kenya. Presented at the East African regional workshop in Morogoro, Tanzania, 20th Jul2011
- In Vitro Monitoring of Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance in French Guiana: a Synopsis of Continuous Assessment from1994 to Presented at the KEMRI Journal club on 14th Jan.2010.
- Performance and reliability of the SYBR Green 1 based assay for the routine monitoring of susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. Presented at the KEMRI Journal club on 10th 2010.
- Role of known molecular markers of resistance in the antimalarial potency of piperaquine and dihydroartemisininin vitro. Presented at the KEMRI Journal club on 9th 2010.
PUBLICATIONS
- Okumu A, Asito S, Omondi I, Ogollah C, Shiluli C, Murithi W, Odero R, Malika T and Wandiga Prevalent non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) species among presumptive MTBDR patients from peripheral health facilities referred for testing at KEMRI TB Laboratory-Kisumu, Kenya. Submitted, BMC Research Notes Journal, December 2020.
- Clement Shiluli, Caroly Achok, Philip Nyaswa, Susan Ogwai, Arthur Aroko, James Obila, George Koigi, Mustafa Ridhwana, Bildad Okwayo, Dorcas Wanjiru, Linda Lukeba, Eline Ryckaert, Arne Van Durme, Verena Walschaerts and Vicky De Preter Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of Staphylococcus species isolated from mobile phones and implications in the health sector. Submitted to the BMC Research Notes Status (Accepted for publication, November, 2020) DOI https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-101995/v1
- Onyango, C. G., Ogonda, L., Guyah, B., Shiluli, C., Ganda, G., Orang’o, O. E., and Patel, K. (2020). Novel biomarkers with promising benefits for diagnosis of cervical neoplasia: a systematic Infectious Agents and Cancer, 15(1), 1-12.
- Clement Shiluli, Ann Waiyaki Nathan Shaviya, and Charles Assessment of CD + T cell counts in HIV-1 and malaria co-infected patients in Kombewa, Western Kenya. Under peer review, Submitted, November 2020. Hindawi, Case reports journal.
- James Onyuro Oketch, Daniel Onguru, Sydney Ogolla and Clement Shiluli (Submitted Oct 2020). Low Level Viraemia In Antiretroviral Treated Patients: Associated Factors and Virologic Outcome Among HIV-1 Infected Patients at Nyakach County Hindawi Journals, AIDS Research and Treatment.
- James Emisiko, Nathan Shaviya, Clement Shiluli, Nathan Kiboi, Ronald Wamalwa, Bernard Jumba, Jeremiah Zablon, Fidelis Mambo and Mustafa Barasa. Comparison of Microscopy and PCR for Detection of Giardia Lamblia and Entamoeba Histolytica in Human Stool Specimens in a Resource Limited Setting in Western Sci.2017;29(5):447.doi:http://dx.doi.org/ 10.4314/ejhs.v29i5.2
- Clement Shiluli, Collins Ouma, Jeremiah Khayumbi, Wilfred Murithi, Albert Ochieng’ and Susan Musau. (2019) Investigating treatment response of patients with confirmed drug- resistant tuberculosis in an HIV-1-endemic population in western BMJ Global Health, Volume 4, Issue Suppl 3
- Onyango, G., Ogonda, L., Guyah, B., Okoth, P., Shiluli, C., Humwa, F., Opollo, V. (2018). Seroprevalence and determinants of transfusion transmissible infections among voluntary blood donors in Homa bay, Kisumu and Siaya counties in western Kenya. BMC Res. Notes. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3276-y 11. Issue 171 Page 1 – 6
- Shiluli, C., Ouma, C., Vulule, J., Khayumbi, J., Murithi, W., Musau, S., Okumu, A. (2016). Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in a HIV-1 endemic population in western Kenya in 2012-2014. J. Med. Sci. Clnl. Res. JMSCR 04.Issue12. Page 14605-14612.
- Shiluli, C., Ouma, C., Vulule, J., Khayumbi, J., Murithi, W., Musau, S., Okumu, A. (2016) Sputum smear conversion time of HIV infected and uninfected patients with rifampicin and isoniazid Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene Mutations in Western J. Med. Sci. Clnl. Res. JMSCR Vol.04.Issue12. Page 14463-14470.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
Full member of the Christian Scientific Association of Kenya (CSAK), Member No. KCSA/16/0063 – April 2015 to date
Member of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS) – February 2017 to Present.
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
2020- Sub Editor, African Journal of Respiratory Medicine
2020- Reviewer, African Health Science Journal 2017- Member, Federation of African
PROFESSIONALTRAINING
- INTRODUCTION TO GOOD CLINICAL PRACTICE (GCP) FOR INVESTIGATORS AND STUDY Facilitated by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel. 24th November 2020.
- Trained on biostatistical methods used in medical research at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH), Durban, South Africa, May 2014. Organizer, Lori Chibnik, Harvard University. The course was co-sponsored by K-RITH and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Victor Daitz Information
- Trained on Peripheral Blood Mono nuclear cells separation, storage and shipping by the
Imperial College London and the International AIDS Vaccine initiative, March 2014
- Attended the annual East African Regional workshop in Morogoro, Tanzania Seattle Biomedical Research Institute/Sokoine University
- ISO 9001:2008 TRAINING KEMRI/CDC research and public health collaboration, Kisumu, 2011
- Integrated core training on malaria immunity KEMRI/CDC research and public health collaboration, Kisumu, Jul. 2010
- Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training KEMRI/CDC research and public health collaboration, Kisumu, Jun. 2010
- Training on GCLP, Quality system standard for clinical laboratories version 0. KEMRI/CDC research and public health collaboration, Kisumu, Mar. 2010.
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BSc. Microbiology, regular class (Self or Government sponsored students), 4 yearsBSc. Microbiology, Upgrading Class, Jan, May and Sept Intakes, 3 years
BSc. Microbiology and Immunology (Self or Government sponsored students), 4 years, proposed.