Short Biography

Dr Julius Mulindwa is a senior lecturer and researcher in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. Humans especially in the tropics are predisposed to a number of pathogens (bacteria, parasites, helminths), which result in immunopathology and disease. Therefore, his research interests in the field of genomics, transcriptomics and metagenomics with the goal of understanding host-parasite interaction. An understanding of the host-parasite response during the course of infection would lead to identification of targets that can be used identifying diagnostics, drug targets and vaccine candidates that can be used to negate pathogenesis.

Education Background

PhD – Heidelberg University, Germany, Molecular Biology – 2010 to 2013
MSc – Heidelberg University, Germany, Cell biology – 2008 to 2010
MSc – Makerere University, Uganda, Molecular biology – 2004 to 2008
BSc Makerere University, Uganda, Biochemistry and Chemistry – 2000 to 2003

Publications

1. Zass L, Mwapagha ML, Louis-Jacques AF, Allali I, Mulindwa J, Kiran A, Hanachi M, Souiai O, Mulder N, Oduaran OH. Advancing microbiome research through standardized data and metadata collection: introducing the Microbiome Research Data Toolkit, Database, Volume 2024, 2024, baae062, https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baae062

2. Nambala P, Noyes H, Namulondo J, Nyangiri O, Alibu VP, Nerima B, MacLeod A, Matovu E, Musaya J, Mulindwa J; TrypanoGEN+ Research Group as Members of the H3Africa Consortium. Transcriptome profiles of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in Malawi reveal focus specific gene expression profiles associated with pathology. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 May 3;18(5):e0011516. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011516. PMID: 38701067; PMCID: PMC11095692.

3. Rutaro K, Hawumba J, Nakimuli J, Mulindwa J, Malinga GM, Baingana R. Value chain hygiene practices and microbial contamination of street and market vended ready-to-eat grasshopper, Ruspolia differens in Uganda: Implications for food safety and public health. Heliyon. 2024 Feb 8;10(4):e25614. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25614. PMID: 38375279; PMCID: PMC10875366.

4. Nambala P, Mulindwa J, Noyes H, Alibu VP, Nerima B, Namulondo J, Nyangiri O, Matovu E, MacLeod A, Musaya J; TrypanoGEN+ Research Group as Members of the H3Africa Consortium. Differences in gene expression profiles in early and late stage rhodesiense HAT individuals in Malawi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Dec 6;17(12):e0011803. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011803. PMID: 38055777; PMCID: PMC10727365.

5. Nyangiri OA, Mulindwa J, Namulondo J, Kitibwa A, Nassuuna J, Elliott A, Kimuda MP, Boobo A, Nerima B, Adriko M, Dunton NJ, Madhan GK, Kristiansen M, Casacuberta-Partal M, Noyes H, Matovu E; TrypanoGEN+ Research group of the H3Africa consortium. Variants of IL6, IL10, FCN2, RNASE3, IL12B and IL17B loci are associated with Schistosoma mansoni worm burden in the Albert Nile region of Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Nov 30;17(11):e0011796. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011796. PMID: 38033168; PMCID: PMC10715658.

6. Namulondo J, Nyangiri OA, Kimuda MP, Nambala P, Nassuuna J, Egesa M, Nerima B, Biryomumaisho S, Mugasa CM, Nabukenya I, Kato D, Elliott A, Noyes H, Tweyongyere R, Matovu E, Mulindwa J; TrypanoGEN+ research group of the H3Africa consortium. Transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood of Schistosoma mansoni infected children from the Albert Nile region in Uganda reveals genes implicated in fibrosis pathology. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Nov 15;17(11):e0011455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011455. PMID: 37967122; PMCID: PMC10686515.

7. Mulindwa J, Namulondo J, Kitibwa A, Nassuuna J, Nyangiri OA, Kimuda MP, Boobo A, Nerima B, Busingye F, Candia R, Namukuta A, Ssenyonga R, Ukumu N, Ajal P, Adriko M, Noyes H, de Dood CJ, Corstjens PLAM, van Dam GJ, Elliott AM, Matovu E; TrypanoGEN+ Research group. High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul 27;16(7):e0010570. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010570.

8. Nambala P, Mulindwa J, Chammudzi P, Senga E, Lemelani M, Zgambo D, Matovu E, MacLeod A and Musaya J (2022) Persistently High Incidences of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Sleeping Sickness With Contrasting Focus-Dependent Clinical Phenotypes in Malawi. Front. Trop. Dis 3:824484. doi: 10.3389/fitd.2022.824484

9. Kazibwe A., Bwesigye T., Mulindwa J (2022) Diversity of Pumpkins from Uganda Based on Phenotypic and Repeat DNA Markers. Arch Crop Sci 5(2):175-184

10. Banzubaze E., Mulindwa J., Wampande E. and Silver Ochwo S. (2022). Enhancing Effect of Epigallocatechin- 3-Gallate (EGCG) on Liver Antioxidant Activity in Mice Exposed to Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Int J Diabetes MetabDisord, 7(3), 79-92.

11. Banzubaze E., Mulindwa J., Wampande E. and Silver Ochwo S. (2022). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a potential therapeutic against cardiovascular disease risk in mice. J Anesth & Pain Med. Volume 7/Issue 3/87, 79-90.

12. Rutaro, K., Mulindwa, J., Ampeire, K., Ssegawa, F., Isanga, J., Gumisiriza, R., Kyambadde, J., Vuzi, P., & Baingana, R. (2022). An Undergraduate Biosciences Internship Program in a Low-Resource Setting: Opportunities and Challenges. East African Journal of Education Studies, 5(1), 126-143. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.5.1.598

13. Nyangiri OA, Edwige SA, Koffi M, Mewamba E, Simo G, Namulondo J, Mulindwa J, Nassuuna J, Elliott A, Karume K, Mumba D, Corstjens PLAM, Casacuberta-Partal M, van Dam GJ, Bucheton B, Noyes H, Matovu E; TrypanoGEN+ Research Group of the H3Africa Consortium. Candidate gene family-based and case-control studies of susceptibility to high Schistosoma mansoni worm burden in African children: a protocol. AAS Open Res. 2021 Dec 15;4:36. doi: 10.12688/aasopenres.13203.2. PMID: 35252746; PMCID: PMC8861467.

14. Mulindwa J, Ssentamu G, Matovu E, Marucha KK, Aresta-Branco F, Helbig C, Clayton C. In vitro culture of freshly isolated Trypanosoma brucei brucei bloodstream forms results in gene copy-number changes. 2021, September. PLoS NTD. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009738

15. Mwesigwa S, Williams L, Retshabile G, Katagirya E, Mboowa G, Mlotshwa B, Kyobe S, Kateete DP, Wampande EM, Wayengera M, Mpoloka SW, Mirembe AN, Kasvosve I, Morapedi K, Kisitu GP, Kekitiinwa AR, Anabwani G, Joloba ML, Matovu E, Mulindwa J, Noyes H, Botha G; Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN); TrypanoGEN Research Group, Brown CW, Mardon G, Matshaba M, Hanchard NA. Unmapped exome reads implicate a role for
Anelloviridae in childhood HIV-1 long-term non-progression. NPJ Genom Med. 2021 Mar 19;6(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41525-021-00185-w. PMID: 3374199

16. Tushabe P, Howard W, Bwogi J, Birungi M, Eliku JP, Kakooza P, Bukenya H, Namuwulya P, Gaizi J, Tibanagwa M, Kabaliisa T, Mulindwa J, Muhanguzi D, Suchard M, Gumede N, Bakamutumaho B. Molecular Characterization of Non-Polio Enteroviruses Isolated from Acute Flaccid Paralysis Patients in Uganda. J Med Virol. 2021 Jan 17. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26804. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33458840.

17. Mulindwa, J., Noyes H., Ilboudo, H., Pagani, L., Nyangiri O, Kimuda MP, Kabore JW, Ahouty B, Asina OF, Ofon E, Kamoto K, Koffi M, Mumba D, Simo G, Chisi J, Simuunza M, Alibu VP, Enyaru J, Jamonneau V, Camara M, Sidibe I, MacLeod A, Bucheton B, Tait A, Hall N, Hertz-Fowler C, Matovu E. (2020). High Levels of Genetic Diversity within Nilo-Saharan Populations: Implications for Human Adaptation and disease. The American Journal of Human Genetics. Published: August, 10 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.07.007

18. Nyangiri OA, Noyes H, Mulindwa J, Ilboudo H, Kabore JW, Ahouty B, Koffi M, Asina OF, Mumba D, Ofon E, Simo G, Kimuda MP, Enyaru J, Alibu VP, Kamoto K, Chisi J, Simuunza M, Camara M, Sidibe I, MacLeod A, Bucheton B, Hall N, Hertz-Fowler C, Matovu E; TrypanoGEN Research Group, as members of The H3Africa Consortium. (2020). Copy number variation in human genomes from three major ethno-linguistic groups in Africa. BMC Genomics. 2020 Apr 10;21(1):289. doi: 10.1186/s12864-020-6669-y.

19. Mulindwa J, Matovu E, Enyaru J, Clayton C. (2020). Blood signatures for second stage human African trypanosomiasis: a transcriptomic approach. BMC Med Genomics.;13(1):14. Published 2020 Jan 30. doi:10.1186/s12920-020-0666-5.

20. Olal S, Bitalo DN, Olango ND, Mulindwa J, Ochwo S, Opiyo SO, Arinaitwe G, Ogwok E. (2019). De Novo Genome Sequence of a Fusarium xylarioides Race Pathogenic to Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora) in Uganda. Microbiol Resour Announc.;8(31):e00520-19. Published 2019 Aug 1. doi:10.1128/MRA.00520-19

21. Mulindwa, J., Leiss, K., Ibberson, D., Kamanyi Marucha, K., Helbig, C., Melo do Nascimento, L., et al. (2018). Transcriptomes of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense from sleeping sickness patients, rodents and culture: Effects of strain, growth conditions and RNA preparation methods. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(2), e0006280. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006280

22. Kimuda, M. P., Noyes, H., Mulindwa, J., Enyaru, J., Alibu, V. P., Sidibe, I., et al. (2018). No evidence for association between APOL1 kidney disease risk alleles and Human African Trypanosomiasis in two Ugandan populations. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(2), e0006300. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006300

23. Ahouty, B., Koffi, M., Ilboudo, H., Simo, G., Matovu, E., Mulindwa, J., et al. (2017). Candidate genes-based investigation of susceptibility to Human African Trypanosomiasis in Cote d’Ivoire. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(10), e0005992.

24. Ofon, E., Noyes, H., Mulindwa, J., Ilboudo, H., Simuunza, M., Ebo’o, V., et al. (2017). A polymorphism in the haptoglobin, haptoglobin related protein locus is associated with risk of human sleeping sickness within Cameroonian populations. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(10), e0005979.

25. Ilboudo, H., Noyes, H., Mulindwa, J., Kimuda, M. P., Koffi, M., Kaboré, J. W., et al. (2017). Introducing the TrypanoGEN biobank: A valuable resource for the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(6), e0005438. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005438

26. Sente C, Erume J, Naigaga I, Mulindwa J, Ochwo S, Magambo PK, Namara BG, Kato CD, Sebyatika G, Muwonge K, Ocaido M. (2016) Prevalence of pathogenic free-living amoeba and other protozoa in natural and communal piped tap water from Queen Elizabeth protected area, Uganda. Infect Dis Poverty 2016.. 5(1):68.

27. Sente C, Erume J, Naigaga I, Magambo PK, Ochwo S, Mulindwa J, Namara BG, Kato CD, Sebyatika G, Muwonge K, Ocaido M. (2016). Occurrence and genetic characterisation of Acanthamoeba spp. from environmental and domestic water sources in Queen Elizabeth Protected Area, Uganda. Parasit Vectors. 9:127

28. Mulindwa J, Merce C, Matovu E, Enyaru J, Clayton C. (2015). Transcriptomes of newly-isolated Trypanosome brucei rhodesiense reveal hundreds of mRNAs that are co-regulated with stumpy form markers. BMC Genomics;16(1):1118.

29. Mulindwa J, Fadda A, Merce C, Matovu E, Enyaru J, Clayton C. (2014). Methods to determine the transcriptomes of trypanosomes in mixtures with mammalian cells: the effects of parasite purification and selective cDNA amplification; PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 17;8(4)

30. Benz C, Mulindwa J, Ouna B, Clayton C. (2011). The Trypanosoma brucei zinc finger protein ZC3H18 is involved in differentiation. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 177(2): 148-51

31. Manful T, Mulindwa J, Frank FM, Clayton CE, Matovu E. (2010). A Search for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Diagnostic Antigens by Proteomic Screening and Targeted Cloning. PLoS ONE 5(3): e9630.

Projects /Grants

1. DFG (German Research Fund), Project No. 444811942: Understanding cell to cell heterogeneity in African trypanosome field isolates (2023 to 2025). Role: Co-PI
2. ACENTDFB Workshop Grant: Parasite Genetics of Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9th – 13th May 2022. Role: PI
3. Mak-Rif3: Influence of Gut Microbiome on Nutritional and Disease status of children in Schistosomiasis endemic region of Albert Nile, Pakwach district, Uganda (2021-2022). Role: PI
4. Presidential Initiative on Epidemics – PRESIDE: Subunit vaccine against Covid-19 in Uganda. (2020 To 2023). Role: Research Scientist
5. Mak-Rif: Identification of the Genetic Markers of Trypanotolerance in Indigenous cattle (2020 To 2022). Role: Co-PI
6. TrypanoGEN+ (AESA-Wellcome Trust): The genetic determinants of two neglected tropical diseases, reference No. H3AFull/17/004 (2019-2022). Role: Senior post doc
7. TrypanoGEN (Wellcome trust): an integrated approach to the identification of genetic determinants of susceptibility to trypanosomiasis (2014-2019). Role: Post doc
8. DFG (German Research Fund): CL112/28-1: Differentiation of Trypanosoma brucei: the master regulator RBP10 and its targets (2016-2019). Role: Co-PI
9. DFG (German Research Fund): CL112/15: Transcriptome of Human Sleeping sickness (2010-2016). Role: PhD student, Junior post doc

Mentorship / Supervision

1. Kiconco Jocelyn, CONAS, Makerere University. Viral and Bacterial co-infections in COVID19 patients in Uganda (PhD in progress)
2. Joyce Namulondo, COVAB, Makerere University. Differential gene expression in S. mansoni infected children along L. Albert. (PhD completed 2024)
3. Peter Nambala, CONAS, Makerere. Mechanisms of Trypanosome host gene expression and genotype variation in determining phenotype of T. b. rhodesiense HAT in Malawi (PhD completed 2024)
4. Geoffrey Sentamu, CONAS, Makerere. Understanding cell to cell heterogeneity in Animal African Trypanosome field isolates, (PhD In progress)
5. Okol Moses, CHS, Makerere University. Association between transport related pollution (TRAP) and lung function among motorcyclists in Kampala city (PhD In progress).

To view full CV, please follow the link here: