MISC: Mucosal injury from sexual contact
Young South African women and adolescent girls are at exceptionally high risk of HIV infection. We have previously shown that genital tract inflammation is a key risk factor for HIV acquisition and that younger South African women have higher levels of inflammation than older women. The aim of the MISC study is to identify the socio-behavioural and biological causes of inflammation in these young women.
Objective
Each woman is asked to visit the clinic for a baseline visit, followed by four follow-up visits that are timed around sexual activity. Demographic, sexual behaviour, contraceptive use and vaginal hygiene practice data is collected.
Biological factors investigated include the microbiome, HIV target cell phenotype, and activation and inflammatory cytokine profiles in the female reproductive tract.
Timeline
2017–ongoing.
Featured publications
Differences in HIV risk factors between South African adolescents and adult women and their association with sexually transmitted infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Pamela Mkhize et al
Exploring the relationship between established HIV risk factors and depressive symptoms amongst young women without HIV in two sites in South Africa
PLoS ONE
Zanenhlanhla Gumbi et al
Funding partners
Funding partners
- National Institutes of Health
- Carnegie Corporation of New York
- NHMRC
- ACH4
Collaborators
- Seattle Children’s Hospital
- University of Cape Town
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
- Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Human Sciences Research Council
Project contacts
Project team
Dr Lindi Masson
Clinical Site Principal Investigator
Dr Nina Radzey
Research Officer
Jenna Wilson
PhD student
Heather Jaspan
Principal Investigator
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Jo-Ann Passmore
Co-Principal Investigator
University of Cape Town
Pamela Mkhize
Co-Investigator
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Hilton Humphries
Co-Investigator
Human Sciences Research Council
Celia Mehou-Loko
Co-Investigator
University of Cape Town
Nokuthula Maphumulo
Study nurse
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
Funeka Busakwe
Counsellor
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
Noluthando Mqaba
Nurse
University of Cape Town
Rushil Harryparsad
Scientific Officer
University of Cape Town
Andrea Abrahams
PhD student
University of Cape Town
Monalisa Manhanzva
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Cape Town
Bahiah Meyer
PhD student
University of Cape Town
Linda-Gail Bekker
Co-Investigator
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
Sinaye Ngcapu
Co-Investigator
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
Quarraisha Abdool Karim
Co-Investigator
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
Sengeziwe Sibeko
Co-Investigator
Human Sciences Research Council
Lenine Liebenberg
Co-Investigator
University of Stellenbosch
Nadia Ahmed
Co-Investigator
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
Derseree Archary
Co-Investigator
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
Aida Sivro
Co-Investigator
Centre for the Aids Programme of Research In South Africa
Jonathan Blackburn
Co-Investigator
University of Cape Town