Kapambwe Mwape

PhD Overview

Genomic characterization of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli isolated from under five children in Lusaka, Zambia. Stool samples were tested using phenotypic and molecular methods. A high burden of diarrhoeagenic E. coli in was observed, emphasizing its major role in pediatric diarrhea and identifying various prevalent and hybrid strains. All strains showed multidrug resistance with one third of the isolates being extensively resistant. For the first time, the study examined the cross-reactivity of the ETVAX vaccine, originally targeting enterotoxigenic E. coli, using a proteomic microarray. The vaccine showed strong reactivity to other E. coli pathotypes, suggesting broader protective potential—an important finding for sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease burden is high.