Schistosomiasis vaccine trials

The overall goal is to analyse data from vaccine trials on baboons, rodents and mice in order to assess the impact of vaccination on the dynamics of the schistosomes within the mammalian host. Deterministic and stochastic mathematical models for both the human and the parasite population dynamics are developed, after a vaccination programme is applied within a community. The focus is on the analysis of the parasite’s transmission dynamics when a partially protective vaccine acts on worm mortality, fecundity and establishment. The host population dynamical model is generic such that it can easily be adopted to various vaccine delivery strategies. The case of joint interventions, vaccination and Mass Drug Administration, is investigated as well. There is a collaboration with the scientists at Texas Tech University, where the experimental work is underway.