Johnson Matowo

Background

Johnson Matowo is a Tanzanian medical entomologist and Lecturer in Medical Parasitology and Entomology, based at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo). He did his Bachelor of Science training at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and obtained his Masters degree in Medical Parasitology and Entomology at the KCMUCo in 2007.  Matowo has been working with IVCC-PAMVERC Moshi site where he has participated in the evaluation of new insecticides and long-lasting treatments for nets and other materials used in malaria vector control and personal protection, he has also conducted insecticide resistance studies in Lower Moshi and Muleba District.

Matowo has submitted his PhD thesis to KCMUCo, and his research project is “Characterization of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l, the principal malaria vectors in Northern Tanzania”.  He received report from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), UK, supported his microarrays and quantitative real-time (qPCR) training for identifying genes that are involved in insecticide resistance in Anopheles arabiensis from Tanzania.  His project will contribute to malaria control through informing better management of insecticide resistance which is emerging in malaria vectors in several regions of the country.

Matowo's main research interest is the understanding of the molecular basis of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and he primarily works on Anopheles arabiensis, which is becoming more important as a malaria vector following recent studies that have revealed replacement of An. gambiae s.s with An. arabiensis in many areas including Tanzania.

On the 30th September 2014, Matowo successfully defended his PhD thesis.

Supervisors

Prof Franklin Mosha, KCMC

Dr Mark Rowland, LSHTM