Sian Floyd

TL;DR: This study demonstrates that genome-wide association studies can identify new susceptibility loci for infectious diseases, even in African populations, in which levels of linkage disequilibrium are particularly low.

TL;DR: The magnitude of the BCG-attributable increase in IFN-gamma responsiveness to M tuberculosis PPD, from before to 1 year post-vaccination, correlates better with the known levels of protection induced by immunisation with BCG than does the absolute value of the IFN -gamma or DTH response after vaccination.

TL;DR: The findings of a reduction in mortality in adults aged between 15 and 59 years, with no change in those older than 60 years, suggests that deaths from AIDS were averted by the rapid scale-up of free antiretroviral therapy in rural Malawi, which led to a decline in adult mortality that was detectable at the population level.

TL;DR: Heterozygosity for a newly studied CAAA insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of solute carrier family 11, member 1 was associated with protection against TB in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative TB cases, suggesting that the SLC11A1 protein may have a role in innate TB immune responses that influence susceptibility even in immunocompromised individuals.

TL;DR: The Karonga HDSS provides a structure for surveys of socio-economic status, HIV sero-prevalence and incidence, sexual behaviour, fertility intentions and a sampling frame for other studies, as well as evaluating the impact of interventions, such as antiretroviral therapy and vaccination programmes.