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Dr Alex Keeley

Clinical Research Fellow in Training

United Kingdom

I am a Wellcome Trust PhD Fellow in Global Health and an Infectious Diseases and General Medicine doctor in training. My research focuses on the epidemiology and immunology of Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) in high-burden, resource-limited settings, with the ultimate goal of informing vaccine strategies to combat Strep A associated diseases including rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and severe invasive infections.

Affiliations

Department of Clinical Research
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Research

My research focuses on the epidemiology and immunology of Strep A. I aim to understand the role of natural immunity to Strep A to guide the development of effective vaccine strategies. My research investigates naturally occurring immune responses to candidate vaccine antigens in populations with high disease burdens, particularly in The Gambia.

Selected Publications

Evaluating clinical decision rules and rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis in Gambian children: A diagnostic accuracy study
Armitage, EP; Senghore, E; Camara, FE; Jarju, S; Jagne, S; Ceesay, E; Darboe, FF; De Crombrugghe, G; KEELEY, AJ; Hall, JN; Angyal, A; Jammeh, M; DARBOE, S; KUCHARSKI, A; Smeesters, PR; De Silva, TI; MARKS, M;
2025
Journal of Infection
Household Molecular Epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes Carriage and Infection in The Gambia
De Crombrugghe, G; Armitage, EP; KEELEY, AJ; Senghore, E; Camara, F; Jammeh, M; Bittaye, A; Ceesay, H; Ceesay, I; Samateh, B; Manneh, M; Botquin, G; Lakhloufi, D; Delforge, V; Bah, SY; Hall, JN; Schiavolin, L; Turner, CE; MARKS, M; De Silva, TI; Botteaux, A; Smeesters, PR; Sesay, AK; Bah, S; Kampmann, B; ... Antonio, M.
2025
The Journal of infectious diseases
Prevalence and risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonisation among healthy individuals in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Locke, TE; KEELEY, AJ; Laundy, N; Keil, C; Hamilton, J; Pandor, A; I de Silva, T; Darton, TC;
2025
The Journal of infection
Early life serological profiles and the development of natural protective humoral immunity to<i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i>in a high burden setting
KEELEY, A; Camara, F; Armitage, E; De Crombrugghe, G; Sillah, J; Fofana, ML; Rollinson, V; Senghore, E; Jammeh, M; Whitcombe, A; Bittaye, A; Ceesay, H; Ceesay, I; Samateh, B; Manneh, M; Carducci, M; Rovetini, L; Boero, E; Massai, L; Sanyang, C; Camara, O; Cessay, E; Iturriza, M; Gomes, DM; Kucharski, A; ... De Silva, T.
2025
medRxiv
Characterization of an IL-8 cleavage inhibition assay to determine the functionality of anti-SpyCEP antibodies in human sera.
Massai, L; Carducci, M; Rovetini, L; Paterson, A; Whitcombe, A; McGregor, R; Lorenz, N; KEELEY, AJ; DE SILVA, TI; Bennett, J; Berlanda Scorza, F; Iturriza, M; Moreland, NJ; Moriel, DG; Rossi, O;
2024
Journal of immunological methods
Molecular Methods Enhance the Detection of Pyoderma-Related Streptococcus pyogenes and emm-Type Distribution in Children.
Hall, JN; ARMITAGE, EP; Senghore, E; DARBOE, S; Barry, M; Camara, J; Bah, S; KEELEY, AJ; McCarthy, JS; Smeesters, P; Turner, CE; Darton, TC; MARKS, M; Angyal, A; DE SILVA, TI;
2024
The Journal of infectious diseases
Streptococcus pyogenes carriage and infection within households in The Gambia: a longitudinal cohort study.
ARMITAGE, EP; De Crombrugghe, G; KEELEY, AJ; Senghore, E; Camara, FE; Jammeh, M; Bittaye, A; Ceesay, H; Ceesay, I; Samateh, B; Manneh, M; KAMPMANN, B; Turner, CE; KUCHARSKI, A; Botteaux, A; Smeesters, PR; DE SILVA, TI; MARKS, M; MRCG StrepA Study Group,;
2024
The Lancet. Microbe
Interview transcripts for: "Health-seeking behaviour and beliefs around sore throat in The Gambia: A qualitative study"
Suau Sans, M; Manneh, M; Ceesay, I; Bittaye, A; De Crombrugghe, G; KEELEY, AJ; De Silva, TI; PALMER, J; ARMITAGE, E; MARKS, M;
2024
PLOS Global Public Health
Health-seeking behaviour and beliefs around sore throat in The Gambia: A qualitative study.
Suau Sans, M; Manneh, M; Ceesay, I; Bittaye, A; De Crombrugghe, G; KEELEY, AJ; DE SILVA, TI; PALMER, J; ARMITAGE, EP; MARKS, M; MRCG Strep A Study Group,;
2024
PLOS Glob Public Health
A flow cytometry-based assay to determine the ability of anti-Streptococcus pyogenes antibodies to mediate monocytic phagocytosis in human sera.
Boero, E; Carducci, M; KEELEY, AJ; Berlanda Scorza, F; Iturriza-Gómara, M; Moriel, DG; Rossi, O;
2024
Journal of immunological methods
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