Salome Charalambous
Associate Professor AdjunctCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Differentiated HIV Service Delivery vs Conventional Care: Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy Outcomes for People Living With HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa
Johnson A, Chimoyi L, Charalambous S, Kawaza N, Hoffmann C, Davis J, Chihota V. Differentiated HIV Service Delivery vs Conventional Care: Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy Outcomes for People Living With HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2026, 101: 760-767. PMID: 41812010, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003864.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study found that differentiated HIV care models—community-based approaches to HIV care that have gained popularity in sub-Saharan Africa—achieved similar tuberculosis preventive therapy initiation rates as conventional clinic-based care but similarly low completion rates.Deep learning approach for probabilistic pulmonary function estimation from chest X-ray and peak expiratory flow rate
Killing C, Wekerle M, Sutherland J, Rassool M, Zurba L, Ivanova O, Charalambous S, Khosa C, Wallis R, Hoelscher M, Calderwood C, Allwood B, Castelletti N, Rachow A. Deep learning approach for probabilistic pulmonary function estimation from chest X-ray and peak expiratory flow rate. Communications Medicine 2026, 6: 330. PMID: 42265327, PMCID: PMC13249966, DOI: 10.1038/s43856-026-01702-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEnsemble of neural networksProbabilistic machine learning frameworkDeep learning modelsDeep learning approachMachine Learning FrameworkLearning frameworkNeural networkProbabilistic reasoningLearning approachLearning modelsFunction estimationTest setProbabilistic modelDecision thresholdVolumetric informationArea under curveChest X-rayForced Vital CapacityPeak expiratory flow rateX-rayNetworkSafety of Short-course Weekly Rifapentine and Isoniazid (3HP) for TB Preventive Treatment at Conception and During First Trimester in Women With HIV: A Secondary Analysis of the WHIP3TB trial
Chihota V, Waggie Z, Cardenas V, Mngadi K, Ndebele F, Brumskine W, Sebe M, Martinson N, Wang S, Yimer G, Nguenha D, Garcia-Basteiro A, van den Hof S, Grant A, Charalambous S, Fielding K, Chaisson R, Churchyard G, Lebina L, Moloantoa T, Variava E, Holele I. Safety of Short-course Weekly Rifapentine and Isoniazid (3HP) for TB Preventive Treatment at Conception and During First Trimester in Women With HIV: A Secondary Analysis of the WHIP3TB trial. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2026, ciag315. PMID: 42142877, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciag315.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchComposite adverse pregnancy outcomeAdverse pregnancy outcomesSpontaneous abortionPregnancy outcomesAntiretroviral treatmentLive birthsRate of composite adverse outcomesHIV-positive pregnant womenMedian ART durationMedian CD4 countMonths of isoniazidComposite adverse outcomeFirst-trimester exposureLow birth weightUnexposed groupTB preventive treatmentART durationPreterm deliveryCD4 countWeekly rifapentineFirst-trimesterStudy drugLast doseMedian ageCongenital anomaliesCorrection: A study protocol to co-develop and evaluate interventions that strengthen healthcare resilience to extreme weather events in three African countries: the ASTRA study
Mabuto T, Orievulu K, Bond V, Simwinga M, Grapsa E, Khoza T, Khan-Gillmore S, Nzimande L, Craig M, Khagayi S, Chirwa T, Chiau R, Ossemane E, Hoffmann C, Seeley J, Kniveton D, Babashahi S, Rangunwala A, Mthembu N, Oberholzer C, Charalambous S, Iwuji C. Correction: A study protocol to co-develop and evaluate interventions that strengthen healthcare resilience to extreme weather events in three African countries: the ASTRA study. Frontiers In Climate 2026, 8: 1867599. DOI: 10.3389/fclim.2026.1867599.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWhole genome sequencing precision medicine strategy to shorten treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (SMARTT): a pragmatic, randomised, single-blind phase 4 trial
Van Rie A, Conceição E, Ndebele F, Wells F, Paulse A, Mekonnen E, Ngarega M, Trang T, Bohlela S, Sibeko Z, Segwaba P, Verboven L, Heupink T, Fuertes M, Rennie V, Dippenaar A, Rigouts L, Setlhare L, Ogunbayo A, VanderSpoel Van Dyk A, Conradie F, Maartens G, Potgieter S, Black J, Fanampe B, Abrams S, Churchyard G, Warren R, Charalambous S. Whole genome sequencing precision medicine strategy to shorten treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (SMARTT): a pragmatic, randomised, single-blind phase 4 trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2026, 14: 521-532. PMID: 42026006, DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(26)00095-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRifampicin-resistant tuberculosisMultidrug-resistant tuberculosisDrug-resistant tuberculosisPhase 4 trialStandard of careRifampicin resistancePre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosisSingle-blindShortened duration of treatmentShort courseMedian treatment durationShortened durationRelapse-free cureFrequency of serious adverse eventsSuperior clinical efficacySerious adverse eventsCulture-positive individualsNon-linear mixed-effects modellingUnfavourable treatment outcomesAnalysis of clinical effectivenessDuration of treatmentPrecision medicine strategiesFour-drugIndividualised regimensBacteriological responseDynamics of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Results in a Large TB Preventive Treatment Trial Across 3 High-Burden HIV/TB Countries
Saavedra-Cervera B, Nguenha D, Chihota V, Yimer G, Fernández-Escobar C, Mngadi K, Brumskine W, Martinson N, Wang S, Masilela L, Waggie Z, Martínez L, van den Hof S, Charalambous S, Cobelens F, Chaisson R, Grant A, Fielding K, Churchyard G, Garcia-Basteiro A. Dynamics of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Results in a Large TB Preventive Treatment Trial Across 3 High-Burden HIV/TB Countries. Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2026, jiag165. PMID: 41843759, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiag165.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTuberculosis preventive treatmentQuantiFERON Gold PlusQFT-PlusRifapentine-isoniazidTB/HIV burden countriesQFT-Plus testLongitudinal analysisPreventive treatment trialsDaily isoniazidQuantiferon GoldQFT-positiveIGRA resultsPLHIVSerial changesProportion of conversionClinical trialsStudy armsPreventive treatmentBurden countriesTreatment trialsStudy periodParticipantsMonthsBaselineTrialsQualitative Identification of HIV Care Engagement Challenges and Preferences for Differentiated Care Service Delivery Models Post-Incarceration in South Africa
Mqedlana-Ntombela N, Mabuto T, Owczarzak J, Charalambous S, Hoffmann C. Qualitative Identification of HIV Care Engagement Challenges and Preferences for Differentiated Care Service Delivery Models Post-Incarceration in South Africa. INQUIRY The Journal Of Health Care Organization Provision And Financing 2026, 63: 00469580261421077. PMID: 42273995, PMCID: PMC13261031, DOI: 10.1177/00469580261421077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDifferentiated service delivery modelsSouth AfricaCommunity-based carePost-incarcerationPrison environmentHIV care linkageService delivery modelsHIV treatmentIncarcerationDegree of enthusiasmDelivery modelsLinkage to treatmentClinic-based carePost-releaseInadequate accessTreatment collectionQualitative studyCare linkageEngagement challengesAfricaQuantitative evidenceHIV carePeopleSouthAntiretroviral therapypanTB-HM: a multi-arm clinical trial of a pan-TB regimen targeting both host and microbe
Mudzengi D, Mashatole S, Xiang Q, Adrion C, Glover N, Ngwanto T, Mdluli J, Boniface S, Rassool M, Matome B, Paramo L, Svensson E, Fasanmi A, Angelo S, Moyo M, Marx C, Khosa C, Mokaba L, Mofokeng N, Lalashowi J, Nacy C, Charalambous S, Fumane E, Maphossa V, Beattie T, Brumskine W, Venter C, Mapamba D, Heinrich N, Rajaram S, Kooverjee S, Botha L, Nell M, Easton A, Foraida S, Warren R, Sabi I, Ntinginya N, Wallis R. panTB-HM: a multi-arm clinical trial of a pan-TB regimen targeting both host and microbe. Trials 2026, 27: 271. PMID: 41749341, PMCID: PMC13049951, DOI: 10.1186/s13063-026-09568-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHost response biomarkers of tuberculosis recurrence and treatment failure
Bauer B, Ahmed M, Baranov O, Bakuli A, Lin L, Kisinda A, Chachage M, Ntinginya N, Khosa C, Hoelscher M, Rassool M, Charalambous S, Sutherland J, Held K, Rachow A, Geldmacher C. Host response biomarkers of tuberculosis recurrence and treatment failure. Communications Medicine 2026, 6: 184. PMID: 41691044, PMCID: PMC13047042, DOI: 10.1038/s43856-026-01424-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHost response biomarkersTreatment failureTB recurrenceRecurrent TBTranscriptomic signaturesT cell activation markersSputum Mycobacterium tuberculosisTB treatment failureT cell activationCase-control studyMycobacterium tuberculosisTuberculosis recurrenceNon-conversionCD38 expressionSmear resultsActivation markersPeripheral bloodTreatment initiationHIV statusMonth 2MTB cultureDetection of tuberculosisTB diseaseRecurrenceMonth 9Insights on the implementation strategies for a potential new tuberculosis vaccine in South Africa
Thomas K, Okoro C, Ntshiqa T, Damovsky V, Goldberg D, Ramokhoase O, Clark R, Jassat W, Churchyard G, Abdullah F, Kubjane M, Seeley J, Charalambous S, White R. Insights on the implementation strategies for a potential new tuberculosis vaccine in South Africa. PLOS Global Public Health 2026, 6: e0005047. PMID: 41616046, PMCID: PMC12858010, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTB vaccinesHigh-risk groupThematic content analysisIntegrated service deliveryPopulation-based approachClinical trialsPublic health impactSemi-structured interviewsTB household contactsHigher disease burdenCost-effectivePriority populationsTB infection prevalenceLate-stage clinical trialsHealthcare workersHigh-burden areasImplementation logisticsStrong advocacyTB vaccine researchImplementation strategiesService deliverySouth AfricaSuccessful implementationDisease burdenDeductive analysis