Dr. Aspinas Chapwanya

About

Dr. Chapwanya is interested in fundamental mechanisms of proteomics and host defense immunity in livestock and primates, and the impact of infection in the female genital tract. With a clinical and agricultural background coupled with basic immunology, Dr. Chapwanya investigates reproductive immunobiology themes using proteomics, transcriptomics and microbology.

Dr. Chapwanya has assembled a network of collaborators in Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, St Kitts and Nevis, USA and England to explore innovative ways of improving animal production, welfare and fertility. His postgraduates students are investigating diverse topics in animal and tissue culture models, including proteomics of seasonal weight loss in sheep, invitro protein production by endometrial epithelial cells, uterine proteome of bovine endometritis, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in monkeys, microbiome of the bovine reproductive tract and host defense proteins in the genital tract of ewes. To date at RUSVM, he has successfully supervised and graduated 1 PhD and 4 MSc students. Two other MSc students are nearing completion of their studies. 

Recently he introduced two exciting livestock breeding initiatives in St Kitts and Nevis. These initiatives aim to introduce genetic diversity and improved weaning rates of local cattle and goats. This will translate into higher meat yields, more revenue for farmers and better livelihood of the local community. The projects rely on extensive participation of RUSVM DVM students. In partnership with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, these projects are designed  to guarantee food safety. 

Publications

  1. Miller BA, Brewer A, Nanni P, Lim JJ, Callanan JJ, Grossmann J, Kunz L, Meade KG, de Almeida AM, Chapwanya A. 2019. Proteomic characterization of Dairy Cattle Plasma: Establishment of Biomarkers for Endometritis. J Proteomics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103421 
  2. Miller BA, Chapwanya A, Kilminster T, Scanlon T, Milton J, Osório H, Oldham C, Greeff J, Bergfelt DR, Campos AMO, Almeida AM. 2019. The ovine hepatic mitochondrial proteome: Understanding seasonal weight loss tolerance in two distinct breeds. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212580. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212580 
  3. Miller BA, Selevsek N, Grossmann J, Kilminster T, Scanlon T, Daniels M, Nanni P, Milton J, Oldham C, Greeff J, Chapwanya A, Bergfelt DR, de Almeida AM. 2019. Ovine liver proteome: assessing mechanisms of seasonal weight loss tolerance between Merino and Damara sheep. J Proteomics 191: 180-90 doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.02.018 
  4. Adnane M, Kelly P, Chapwanya A, Meade KG, O'Farrelly C. 2018. Improved detection of biomarkers in cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) from postpartum cattle. BMC Veterinary Research 14(1):297. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1619-5 
  5. Coker KE, Lim JJ, Schleisman RL, Vosloo C, French HM, Samper JC, Callanan JJ, Gilbert RO, Sithole F, Yao C, Chapwanya A. 2018. Freedom from Tritrichomonas foetus infection in St Kitts cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 50(5) 1171-1173 doi: 10.1007/s11250-018-1537-3  
  6. Cheng T, Halper B, Siebert J, Cruz-Martinez L, Chapwanya A, Kelly P, Ketzis, JK, Vessell J, Koster L, Yao C. 2018. Parasites of Small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus in St. Kitts. Parasitology Research 117(4): 989-994 doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5773-2 
  7. Adnane M, Chapwanya A, Kaidi R, Meade KG O’Farrelly C. 2017. Profiling inflammatory biomarkers in cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) postpartum: potential early indicators of bovine clinical endometritis? Theriogenology 103: 117-122  doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.07.039 
  8. Moraes C, Maia L,  Dias Camargos M, de Oliveira E,  Dell´Aqua CPF, Chapwanya A da Cruz Landim F, Oba E. 2017. Shotgun proteomic analysis of the secretome of bovine endometrial mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.03.007. 
  9. Moraes C, Maia L,  Dias Camargos M, Dell´Aqua CPF, da Cruz Landim F, Chapwanya A, Oba E. 2016. Bovine endometrial cells: a source of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells. Cell Biology International doi: 10.1002/cbin.10688 
  10. Chapwanya A, Abubakar YU, Irons PC. 2016. Comparative aspects of immunity and vaccination in human and bovine trichomoniasis: A Review. Tropical Animal Health and Production 48(1):1-7. doi: 10.1007/s11250-015-0909-1 
  11. Moraes C, Maia L , Martins de Queiroz C, Sudano MJ, Chapwanya A, Oba E. 2016. Temporal histologic evaluation of the endometrium of Nelore cows (Bos Taurus Indicus) in Southeast Brazil treated with Cloprostenol Sodium at the postpartum. Brazilian Journal of Hygiene and Animal Sanity 10(3): 351 – 363 
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