Publications: DR Claire Bourke

Bourke C, Rukobo SR, Mutasa K, Phiri T, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Mwakamui S, Haider T et al. ( 2025 ) . Restoration of anti-bacterial innate immune cell function lags behind nutritional recovery among children convalescing from complicated severe acute malnutrition .

Chasekwa B, Munhanzi F, Madhuyu L, Mbewe G, Mabika V, Chidhanguro D, Kofi T, Munengiwa J et al. ( 2025 ) . A Trial of Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole in Pregnancy to Improve Birth Outcomes . The New England Journal of Medicine vol. 392 , ( 21 ) 2125 - 2134 .

Phiri TN, Weatherill JW, Monford-Sanchez E, Serrano-Contreras J-I, Melvin C, Kunaka M, Chisenga I, Ngalande P et al. ( 2025 ) . Novel gastrointestinal tools (GI Tools) for evaluating gut functional capacity in adults with environmental enteropathy in Zambia and Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional study protocol . F1000Research vol. 13 ,

Phiri TN, Weatherill JW, Monford-Sanchez E, Serrano-Contreras J-I, Melvin C, Kunaka M, Chisenga I, Ngalande P et al. ( 2024 ) . Novel gastrointestinal tools (GI Tools) for evaluating gut functional capacity in adults with environmental enteropathy in Zambia and Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional study protocol . F1000Research vol. 13 ,

Broad J, Robertson RC, Evans C, Perussolo J, Lum G, Piper JD, Loucaides E, Ziruma A et al. ( 2024 ) . Maternal inflammatory and microbial drivers of low birthweight in low- and middle-income countries . Paediatrics and International Child Health vol. 44 , ( 2 ) 79 - 93 .

Evans C, Mutasa K, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Chasekwa B, Majo FD, Tavengwa NV et al. ( 2024 ) . Inflammation and cytomegalovirus viremia during pregnancy drive sex-differentiated differences in mortality and immune development in HIV-exposed infants . Nature Communications vol. 15 , ( 1 )

Sturgeon JP, Tome J, Dumbura C, Majo FD, Ngosa D, Mutasa K, Zyambo K, Besa E et al. ( 2024 ) . Inflammation and epithelial repair predict mortality, hospital readmission, and growth recovery in complicated severe acute malnutrition . Science Translational Medicine vol. 16 , ( 736 ) eadh0673 - eadh0673 .

Phiri TN, Mutasa K, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Mwakamui S, Haider T, Zyambo K et al. ( 2023 ) . Severe acute malnutrition promotes bacterial binding over proinflammatory cytokine secretion by circulating innate immune cells . Science Advances vol. 9 , ( 44 ) eadh2284 - eadh2284 .

Sturgeon JP, Mufukari W, Tome J, Dumbura C, Majo FD, Ngosa D, Chandwe K, Kapoma C et al. ( 2023 ) . Risk factors for inpatient mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia . European Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 77 , ( 9 ) 895 - 904 .

Jones HJ, Bourke CD, Robertson RC ( 2023 ) . Malnourished Microbes: Host–Microbiome Interactions in Child Undernutrition . Annual Review of Nutrition vol. 43 , ( 1 ) 327 - 353 .

Phiri TN, Mutasa K, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Mwakamui S, Haider T, Zyambo K et al. ( 2023 ) . Severe acute malnutrition promotes bacterial binding over pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by circulating innate immune cells .

Sturgeon JP, Njunge JM, Bourke CD, Gonzales GB, Robertson RC, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Berkley JA, Kelly P et al. ( 2023 ) . Inflammation: the driver of poor outcomes among children with severe acute malnutrition? . Nutrition Reviews vol. 81 , ( 12 ) 1636 - 1652 .

Smith LE, Chagwena DT, Bourke C, Robertson R, Fernando S, Tavengwa NV, Cairns J, Ndhlela T et al. ( 2022 ) . Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN): protocol for a randomised controlled trial of improved infant and young child feeding in rural Zimbabwe . BMJ Open vol. 12 , ( 12 )

Gonzales GB, Bourke CD, Sturgeon JP, Njunge JM, Robertson RC, Kelly PM, Berkley JA ( 2022 ) . Commentary: Mechanisms of kwashiorkor-associated immune suppression: Insights from human, mouse, and pig studies . Frontiers in Immunology vol. 13 ,

Mutasa K, Tome J, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Matimba FS, Chiorera CK, Majo FD et al. ( 2022 ) . Stunting Status and Exposure to Infection and Inflammation in Early Life Shape Antibacterial Immune Cell Function Among Zimbabwean Children . Frontiers in Immunology vol. 13 ,

Bwakura‐Dangarembizi M, Dumbura C, Amadi B, Chasekwa B, Ngosa D, Majo FD, Sturgeon JP, Chandwe K et al. ( 2021 ) . Recovery of children following hospitalisation for complicated severe acute malnutrition . Maternal and Child Nutrition vol. 18 , ( 2 )

Thompson AJ, Bourke CD, Robertson RC, Shivakumar N, Edwards CA, Preston T, Holmes E, Kelly P et al. ( 2021 ) . Understanding the role of the gut in undernutrition: what can technology tell us? . Gut vol. 70 , ( 8 ) 1580 - 1594 .

Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Dumbura C, Amadi B, Ngosa D, Majo FD, Nathoo KJ, Mwakamui S, Mutasa K et al. ( 2021 ) . Risk factors for postdischarge mortality following hospitalization for severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 113 , ( 3 ) 665 - 674 .

Nadimpalli ML, Bourke CD, Robertson RC, Delarocque-Astagneau E ( 2020 ) . Can breastfeeding protect against antimicrobial resistance? . BMC Medicine vol. 18 , ( 1 )

Gough EK, Bourke CD, Berejena C, Shonhai A, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Prendergast AJ, Manges AR ( 2020 ) . Strain-level analysis of gut-resident pro-inflammatory viridans group Streptococci suppressed by long-term cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among HIV-positive children in Zimbabwe . Gut Microbes vol. 11 , ( 4 ) 1104 - 1115 .

Bourke CD ( 2019 ) . Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Selects for Antimicrobial Resistance in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Exposed, Uninfected Infants . Clinical Infectious Diseases vol. 71 , ( 11 ) 2869 - 2871 .

Murenjekwa W, Makasi R, Ntozini R, Chasekwa B, Mutasa K, Moulton LH, Tielsch JM, Humphrey JH et al. ( 2019 ) . Determinants of Urogenital Schistosomiasis Among Pregnant Women and its Association With Pregnancy Outcomes, Neonatal Deaths, and Child Growth . Journal of Infectious Diseases vol. 223 , ( 8 ) 1433 - 1444 .

Bourke CD, Prendergast AJ ( 2019 ) . The Anti-inflammatory Effects of Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis for People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa . Journal of Infectious Diseases vol. 222 , ( 3 ) 347 - 350 .

Bourke CD, Jones KDJ, Prendergast AJ ( 2019 ) . Current Understanding of Innate Immune Cell Dysfunction in Childhood Undernutrition . Frontiers in Immunology vol. 10 ,

Bourke CD, Gough EK, Pimundu G, Shonhai A, Berejena C, Terry L, Baumard L, Choudhry N et al. ( 2019 ) . Cotrimoxazole reduces systemic inflammation in HIV infection by altering the gut microbiome and immune activation . Science Translational Medicine vol. 11 , ( 486 )

Sturgeon JP, Bourke CD, PRENDERGAST AJ ( 2019 ) . Children With Noncritical Infections Have Increased Intestinal Permeability, Endotoxemia and Altered Innate Immune Responses . The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal1 - 1 .

Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Amadi B, Bourke CD, Robertson RC, Mwapenya B, Chandwe K, Kapoma C, Chifunda K et al. ( 2019 ) . Health Outcomes, Pathogenesis and Epidemiology of Severe Acute Malnutrition (HOPE-SAM): rationale and methods of a longitudinal observational study . BMJ Open vol. 9 , ( 1 )

Bourke C ( 2019 ) . Health outcomes in Undernutrition: the role of nutrients, gut dysfunction and the gut microbiome (HUNGer) . Imperial College

Freer JB, Bourke CD, Durhuus GH, Kjetland EF, Prendergast AJ ( 2017 ) . Schistosomiasis in the first 1000 days . The Lancet Infectious Diseases vol. 18 , ( 6 ) e193 - e203 .

Bourke CD, Berkley JA, Prendergast AJ ( 2016 ) . Immune Dysfunction as a Cause and Consequence of Malnutrition . Trends in Immunology vol. 37 , ( 6 ) 386 - 398 .

Sanin DE, Prendergast CT, Bourke CD ( 2015 ) . Helminth Infection and Commensal Microbiota Drive Early IL-10 Production in the Skin by CD4+ T Cells That Are Functionally Suppressive . PLOS Pathogens vol. 11 , ( 5 )

Fukushige M, Mitchell KM, Bourke CD ( 2015 ) . A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies of Attenuated Schistosoma mansoni Vaccines in the Mouse Model . Frontiers in Immunology vol. 6 ,

Appleby LJ, Nausch N, Heard F, Erskine L, Bourke CD, Mduluza T ( 2015 ) . Down Regulation of the TCR Complex CD3ζ-Chain on CD3+ T Cells: A Potential Mechanism for Helminth-Mediated Immune Modulation . Frontiers in Immunology vol. 6 ,

Bourke CD, Prendergast CT, Sanin DE, Oulton TE, Hall RJ ( 2015 ) . Epidermal keratinocytes initiate wound healing and pro-inflammatory immune responses following percutaneous schistosome infection . International Journal for Parasitology vol. 45 , ( 4 ) 215 - 224 .

Appleby LJ, Nausch N, Erskine L, Bourke CD, Mduluza T ( 2014 ) . CD16 Expression on Monocytes in Healthy Individuals but Not Schistosome-Infected Patients Is Positively Associated with Levels of Parasite-Specific IgG and IgG1 . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 8 , ( 8 )

Bourke CD, Nausch N, Rujeni N, Appleby LJ, Trottein F, Midzi N ( 2014 ) . Cytokine Responses to the Anti-schistosome Vaccine Candidate Antigen Glutathione-S-transferase Vary with Host Age and Are Boosted by Praziquantel Treatment . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 8 , ( 5 )

Turner JD, Bourke CD, Meurs L, Mbow M, Dièye TN, Mboup S ( 2014 ) . Circulating CD14brightCD16+ ‘Intermediate’ Monocytes Exhibit Enhanced Parasite Pattern Recognition in Human Helminth Infection . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 8 , ( 4 )

Turner JD, Meurs L, Dool P, Bourke CD, Dièye TN, Polman K ( 2013 ) . Schistosome infection is associated with enhanced whole‐blood IL‐10 secretion in response to cercarial excretory/secretory products . Parasite Immunology vol. 35 , ( 5-6 ) 147 - 156 .

Appleby LJ, Nausch N, Bourke CD, Mduluza T, Mutapi F ( 2012 ) . Chitinase 3-Like 1 Protein Levels Are Elevated in Schistosoma haematobium Infected Children . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 6 , ( 11 )

Bourke CD, Nausch N, Rujeni N, Appleby LJ, Mitchell KM, Midzi N ( 2012 ) . Integrated Analysis of Innate, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Regulatory Cytokines Identifies Changes in Immune Polarisation Following Treatment of Human Schistosomiasis . Journal of Infectious Diseases vol. 208 , ( 1 ) 159 - 169 .

Nausch N, Louis D, Lantz O, Peguillet I, Trottein F, Appleby LJ, Bourke CD ( 2012 ) . Age-Related Patterns in Human Myeloid Dendritic Cell Populations in People Exposed to Schistosoma haematobium Infection . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 6 , ( 9 )

Bourke CD, Mutapi F, Poulsen LK, Kristensen B, Arnved J, Roepstorff A, Thamsborg S ( 2012 ) . Trichuris suis ova therapy for allergic rhinitis does not affect allergen-specific cytokine responses despite a parasite-specific cytokine response . Clinical & Experimental Allergy vol. 42 , ( 11 ) 1582 - 1595 .

Nausch N, Bourke CD, Appleby LJ, Lantz O, Trottein F, Midzi N ( 2012 ) . Proportions of CD4+ memory T cells are altered in individuals chronically infected with Schistosoma haematobium . Scientific Reports vol. 2 , ( 1 )

Rujeni N, Nausch N, Bourke CD, Midzi N, Mduluza T ( 2012 ) . Atopy Is Inversely Related to Schistosome Infection Intensity: A Comparative Study in Zimbabwean Villages with Distinct Levels of Schistosoma haematobium Infection . International Archives of Allergy and Immunology vol. 158 , ( 3 ) 288 - 298 .

Paveley RA, Aynsley SA, Turner JD, Jenkins SJ, Mountford AP ( 2011 ) . The Mannose Receptor (CD206) is an important pattern recognition receptor (PRR) in the detection of the infective stage of the helminth Schistosoma mansoni and modulates IFNγ production . International Journal for Parasitology vol. 41 , ( 13-14 ) 1335 - 1345 .

IMAI N, RUJENI N, NAUSCH N, BOURKE CD, APPLEBY LJ, COWAN G, GWISAI R, CAVANAGH D et al. ( 2011 ) . Exposure, infection, systemic cytokine levels and antibody responses in young children concurrently exposed to schistosomiasis and malaria . Parasitology vol. 138 , ( 12 ) 1519 - 1533 .

Mutapi F, Rujeni N, Bourke C, Mitchell K, Appleby L, Midzi N ( 2011 ) . Schistosoma haematobium Treatment in 1–5 Year Old Children: Safety and Efficacy of the Antihelminthic Drug Praziquantel . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases vol. 5 , ( 5 )

Mutapi F, Imai N, Nausch N, Bourke CD, Rujeni N, Mitchell KM, Midzi N ( 2011 ) . Schistosome Infection Intensity Is Inversely Related to Auto-Reactive Antibody Levels . PLOS ONE vol. 6 , ( 5 )

MUTAPI F, BOURKE C, HARCUS Y, MDULUZA T, TURNER CM ( 2011 ) . Differential recognition patterns of Schistosoma haematobium adult worm antigens by the human antibodies IgA, IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 . Parasite Immunology vol. 33 , ( 3 ) 181 - 192 .

BOURKE CD, MAIZELS RM ( 2010 ) . Acquired immune heterogeneity and its sources in human helminth infection . Parasitology vol. 138 , ( 2 ) 139 - 159 .

Robertson RC, Edens TJ, Baharmand I, Varankovich N, Dumbura C, Panchal M, Mutasa K, Ntozini R et al. . Gut microbiome and plasma metabolic signatures of one-carbon metabolism differentiate oedematous and non-oedematous severe acute malnutrition .