Enock Mararo
Researcher In Veterinary Parasitology & Infection Biology
Edinburgh
Summary
Dedicated researcher in veterinary parasitology with expertise in molecular techniques and host-pathogen interactions. Experienced in oxidative stress responses and vector-borne diseases. Skilled in in vitro assays, metabolomics, and genetic analysis. Committed to community engagement and scientific outreach. Published author and conference presenter.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Research Assistant
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
01.2015 - 01.2019
Projects involved:
- Established Endosymbiont isolation from anopheline mosquito project
a) Performed mosquito rearing and identification
b) Conducted DNA extraction using Standard Protein Precipitation Protocol
c) Carried out endosymbiont (Wolbachia) screening using various genes (GroEL, ftsZ, etc.)
d) Utilized confocal microscopy for analysis - Determined Leishmania Parasite Risk Management in Marsabit County, Northern Kenya
a) Conducted systematic entomology fieldwork trips for sample collection
b) Identified sandflies using microscopic keys
c) Executed DNA extraction using Magna PURE-96 robot and Standard Protein Precipitation Protocol
d) Applied PCR-Based Techniques: Standard PCR and RTPCR
e) Performed Viral Assays, including Multiplexes and Singleplexes PCR Approaches
f) Conducted Viral Culturing operations - Maintained open lines of communication with project leads and team members for effective collaboration on common goals
Research Intern
Kenya Medical Research Institute
03.2014 - 03.2014
Experience gained:
Rotated among various sections of the Center for Biotechnology and Research Development, performing the following tasks:
- Executed Molecular Biology Techniques such as DNA Extraction, PCR, and Gel Electrophoresis
- Conducted Microscopy operations for analysis
- Engaged in Immunology tasks, including Flow Cytometry, HIV lab testing, Sample handling, data assessment and analysis, and logistic network of sites
- Practiced Parasitology by culturing and identifying parasites, utilizing Katokatz, Filtration, and ELISA techniques, as well as performing Cell counting and perfusions
- Participated in Entomology activities such as rearing phlebotomine
- Managed Animal care and handling responsibilities
- Adhered to Good Laboratory Practice standards throughout rotations
Education
Ph.D. - Veterinary Parasitology
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom 05.2019 - 05.2023
Master of Science - Infection Biology
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, United Kingdom 05.2016 - 05.2017
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry (Molecular Biology option)
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology
Nairobi, Kenya 09.2011 - 05.2015
Skills
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Grant Writing
Research Project Design
Research and publication
Teamwork and Collaboration
Timeline
Ph.D. - Veterinary Parasitology
University of Edinburgh
05.2019 - 05.2023
Master of Science - Infection Biology
University of Glasgow
05.2016 - 05.2017
Research Assistant
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
01.2015 - 01.2019
Research Intern
Kenya Medical Research Institute
03.2014 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry (Molecular Biology option)
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology
09.2011 - 05.2015
Affiliations
The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
References
1. Professor Liam Morrison
Personal Chair (Immunity and Infection)
Email: Liam.Morrison@roslin.ed.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0) 131 651 9474
2. Professor Neil Mabbott
Personal Chair and Head of Immunology Division (Immunity and Infection)
Email: neil.mabbott@roslin.ed.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0)131 651 9113
3. Dr. Hilary Snaith
Executive Manager Edinburgh Infectious Diseases
Programme Coordinator for Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programmes in Hosts, Pathogens & Global Health and One Health Models of Disease
Programme Administrator for Fleming Fund Fellowship Scheme at the University of Edinburgh
Email: Hilary.Snaith@ed.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0)131 651 3688 / +44 (0)7890 844339
4. Professor Steven Sinkins
Professor in Microbiology and Tropical Medicine
MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
Email: Steven.Sinkins@glasgow.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0) 141 330 2876
5. Dr. Jeremy Herren,
SNSF Fellow, Emerging Infectious Disease Lab, ICIPE, Kenya
Email: jhrerren@icipe.org
Tel.: +254 (0) 716 660 160
Orcid
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1324-7825
Research Grants
Wellcome Trust Master's Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USD 96,532, 09/01/2015, 09/01/2018, To isolate naturally occurring microbes found in Anopheles mosquitoes in Kenya that could be used to block the transmission of Plasmodium
Community Engagement Activities
- Volunteer, Edinburgh Careers Hive + Live 2021 by Edinburgh Science Foundation, 01/01/2021, 01/01/2021, Enlightened school-going kids on the value of taking Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses
- Writer, The ScienceBreaker| Science meets Society, 01/01/2021, 01/01/2021, The Trojan mosquito: an in-house parasite defends against malaria
Institutional Responsibilities
- Treasurer , Easter Bush Society, 2021-2022
- Teaching assistant (Tutor) , Cell Biology for 1st year Veterinary school student, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, 2022
Professional Memberships
British Society of Parasitology (BSP), 01/01/2019 to date
Talks and Seminars
a) Talks (presented)
- In-person presentation of my final year PhD findings at the Roslin Institute Research Student Day, 2023
- I gave an in-person presentation of my PhD work at IIIR PostGraduate 3rd year talk at the School of Biological Sciences, Kings Buildings, 2023
- Presented a 3-minute lightening talk at the 10th Annual Edinburgh Infectious Disease Symposium – Keeping Connected, organised by Edinburgh Infectious Disease, 2021
b) Seminars and Conferences (attended)
- In-person British Society of Parasitology Spring Meeting in Edinburgh organised by the University of Edinburgh, 2023
- In-person School of Biological Sciences Research Symposium organised by SBS-Edinburgh, 2023
- In-person Livestock Epigenomic Workshop organised by CTLGH-Roslin Institute, 2023
- Online Edinburgh One Health Symposium organised by Edinburgh Infectious Disease, 2023
- Hybrid attendance (online & in person) of seminars at the Easter Bush Campus, 2021-23
- Hybrid attendance of the 10th -12th Annual Edinburgh Infectious Disease Symposium, 2021-23
- In-person Edinburgh Disease Transmission Workshop organised by Edinburgh Infectious Disease, 2021
Institutional Website
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/enock-mararo
Publications
- Dermal bacterial LPS-stimulation reduces susceptibility to intradermal Trypanosoma brucei infection, Omar A. Alfituri, Enock M. Mararo, Pieter C. Steketee, Liam J. Morrison, Neil A. Mabbott, Scientific Reports, 11, 1, 2021, 9856, Generated and analysed macrophage-trypanosome interaction data in vitro.
- High temperature cycles result in maternal transmission and dengue infection differences between Wolbachia strains in Aedes aegypti, Maria Vittoria Mancini, Thomas H. Ant, Christie S. Herd, Julien Martinez, Shivan M. Murdochy, Daniel D. Gingell, Enock Mararo, Paul CD Johnson, Steven P. Sinkins, Mbio, 12, 6, 2021, e00250-21, Designed and generated data for the heat treatment experiments focussing on maternal transmission between Wolbachia strains in Aedes aegypti
- A microsporidian impairs Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, Jeremy K. Herren, Lilian Mbaisi, Enock Mararo, Edward E. Makhulu, Victor A. Mobegi, Hellen Butungi, Maria Vittoria Mancini, Nature Communications, 11, 1, 2020, 2187, Designed and gathered all data from mass screening of wild Microsporidia infections, setting up of lab-controlled infections and subsequent transmission-blocking challenges
- Horizontal transmission of the symbiont Microsporidia MB in Anopheles arabiensis, Godfrey Nattoh, Tracy Maina, Edward E. Makhulu, Lilian Mbaisi, Enock Mararo, Fidel G. Otieno, Tullu Bukhari, Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 2021, 647183, Developed the experimental design to determine the route of symbiont transmission
- The fungus Leptosphaerulina persists in Anopheles gambiae and induces melanisation, Godfrey Nattoh, Joel L. Bargul, Gabriel Magoma, Lilian Mbaisi, Hellen Butungi, Enock Mararo, Evan Teal, Jeremy Keith Herren, PLoS ONE, 16, 2, 2021, e0246452, Screened infected mosquito samples upon positive fungal melanisation
- Tsetse blood-meal sources, endosymbionts and trypanosome-associations in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a wildlife-human-livestock interface, Edward Edmond Makhulu, Jandouwe Villinger, Vincent Owino Adunga, Maamun M. Jeneby, Edwin Murungi Kimathi, Enock Mararo, Joseph Wang'ang'A. Oundo, Ali Abdulahi Musa, Lillian Wambua, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15, 1, 2021, e0008267, Performed diagnostic PCRs for the presence/absence of endosymbionts and different host-preference bloodmeals
- A survey of root knot nematodes and resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in sweet potato varieties from Kenyan fields, Hannah W. Karuri, Daniel Olago, Roy Neilson, Enock Mararo, Jandouwe Villinger, Crop Protection, 92, 2017, 114-121, Optimised diagnostic PCRs to improve specificity and sensitivity in the screening of different Meloidogyne field isolates
- Identification of Spiroplasma insolitum symbionts in Anopheles gambiae, Sharon T. Chepkemoi, Enock Mararo, Hellen Butungi, Juan Paredes, Daniel Masiga, Steven P. Sinkins, Jeremy K. Herren, Wellcome Open Research, 2, 2017, Coordinated fieldwork sampling and post-fieldwork screening of samples for Spiroplasma, alongside attempts to start a lab-infected colony of mosquitoes for further studies
- Rapid and high throughput molecular identification of diverse mosquito species by high resolution melting analysis, Yvonne Ukamaka Ajamma, Enock Mararo, David Omondi, Thomas Onchuru, Anne WT Muigai, Daniel Masiga, Jandouwe Villinger, F1000Research, 5, 2016, Optimised and ran diagnostic PCRs to assess the robustness of the HRM analysis