Center for
Global Health

Scholar

Languages: English (Proficient), Sinhalese (Proficient)

BIO STATEMENT

I have conducted extensive research studies on the molecular epidemiology of various influenza strains in humans, domestic/peri-domestic animals, and birds while working with one of the World Health Organization (WHO) Reference Centers for nearly two decades. My work has significantly contributed to understanding of the prevalence of different influenza strain transmission and the factors affecting the efficacy of vaccines across different age groups and populations, the efficacy of various vaccine formulations and the level of protective role of different maternal antibodies against influenza infections in the first year of life. During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic(mortality 36%), I investigated the molecular epidemiology of MERS-CoV in humans across Saudi Arabia and African Peninsula.

My work is one of the first two studies that identified camels as the origins or the direct source of human MERS-CoV infections. In collaboration with WHO , Pasteur global network and other global health partners, we conducted molecular epidemiological, seroepidemiological and pathological studies that detailed MERS-CoV infection rates in both camels and camel workers globally. Findings from these studies informed the WHO to implement preventive measures to mitigate MERS-CoV transmission among humans. Currently, we are investigating the prevalence and pathological differences of different MERS-CoV strains in humans, camels, and bats across the Arabian Peninsula and African continent. For this body of work, I was invited to the WHO expert panel on MERS-CoV where I designed and conducted one health education and training workshops in Saudi Arabian Peninsula and Africa. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I studied the kinetics of live SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding across different age groups and populations that highlighted the need for revised quarantine guidelines. 

Recent Global Health Projects

(1) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in humans are currently occurring in the Arabian Peninsula. During the initial MERS-CoV outbreak, I investigated immune responses in humans and found that those with delayed neutralizing antibody responses were more likely to succumb to the virus. Subsequently, we focused on identifying the origins of MERS-CoV in humans, and my work was among the first to identify camels as the source of the virus. In collaboration with others, I then mapped the geographic spread of MERS-CoV in camels and reported our findings to the World Health Organization to help mitigate human infections.

(2) During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked to culture and isolate the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the first reported patients in early 2020. This allowed us to study the virus's tropism, replication competence, and the innate immune responses of SARS-CoV-2 in the human respiratory tract and conjunctiva of infected patients. Then we characterized the antibody responses of asymptomatic, mild and severely infected individuals

Select Publications

1. Systems biological assessment of immunity to mild versus severe COVID-19 infection in humans. (Co-First Author) Science, Aug 2020. (IF= 48.8). https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/08/10/science.abc6261

2. Serological assays for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), (First Author), Mar 2020. Euro Surveill (IF = 21.2). https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.16.2000421

3. SARS-CoV-2 Virus Culture and Subgenomic RNA for Respiratory Specimens from Patients with Mild Coronavirus Diseases. (First Author), Aug 2020. Emerg Infect Dis (IF= 16.1). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3219_article

4. Seroepidemiology for MERS coronavirus using microneutralisation and pseudoparticle virus neutralization assays reveal a high prevalence of antibody in dromedary camels in Egypt. (First Author), Sep 2013. Euro Surveill (IF = 21.2). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24079378

5. MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity. (Co-First Author), Mar 2018. Proc Natl Acad Sci (IF = 12.7). https://www.pnas.org/content/115/12/3144

6. T-cell responses to MERS coronavirus infection in people with occupational exposure to dromedary camels in Nigeria. (Co-Author), Mar 2021. Lancet (IF= 202.7). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30599-5/fulltext

7. Neutralizing antibody titres in SARS-CoV-2 infections. (Co-Author), Jan 2021, Nature Comm (IF 17.6). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20247-4

8. ORF8 and ORF3b antibodies are accurate serological markers of early and late SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Co-Author). Aug 2020. Nature Immunology (IF = 31.5). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-0773-7

9. Canine SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Co-Author), May 2020. Nature (IF = 69.5). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2334-5

10. Pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in golden Syrian hamsters. (Co-Author), May 2020. Nature (IF = 69.5). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2342-5

11. Tropism, replication competence, and innate immune responses of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in human respiratory tract and conjunctiva: an analysis in ex-vivo and in-vitro cultures. (Co-Author), Lancet Respir Med (IF = 102.6). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30193-4/fulltext

12. Cross-reactive antibody response between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infections. (Co-Author), Cell Reports (IF = 10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107725

13. Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions. (Co-Author), Apr 2020. Lancet microbe (IF = 86.2). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext

14. Influenza hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titer as a mediator of vaccine-induced protection for influenza B. (Co-Author), May 2019. Clin Infect Dis (IF = 21). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30202873

15. Age-specific differences in the dynamics of protective immunity to influenza. (Co-Author), J. S. Peiris, B.J. Cowling, S. Cobey. Apr 2019. Nature Comm (IF = 17.6). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09652-6

16. Indirect protection from vaccinating children against influenza in households. (Co-Author), Jan 2019 Nature Comm (IF = 17.6). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-08036-6

Last Updated: 16 September 2024