Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Immunology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The major research programmes of the Department of Immunology progressed extremely well in 2009. These are infectious diseases research and research focused on the immunopathogenesis and therapy of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of non-infective origin.
Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and severe pneumococcal disease are the major research focus areas in infectious diseases research. Tuberculosis research is focused on the potassium (K+) transporters of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), especially their role in bacterial virulence, and potential to serve as novel targets for drugs and vaccines. The primary objective of HIV/AIDS research is to establish the effects of HIV infection on regional T-lymphocyte colonisation and macrophage activation in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the effects of antiretroviral therapy on the reconstitution of various sub-populations of T-lymphocytes, macrophage activation status and privileged viral reservoirs, especially in relation to anatomical site and drug resistance. Novel insights into HIV immunopathogenesis of this type are essential for discerning approaches to drug and vaccine design. Pneumococcal diseases research continues to focus on pneumolysin, the major protein virulence factor of this microbial pathogen, by using strategies that target the production and/or cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory activities of the toxin.
In the case of acute or chronic inflammatory diseases of non-infective origin, the department’s efforts are targeted primarily at identifying the mechanisms that initiate mobilisation of calcium during receptor-mediated activation of inflammatory cells, particularly the neutrophil, as well as those that restore Ca2+ homeostasis to the cells. This research has identified several novel Ca2+-handling-based targets for anti-inflammatory therapy. The second component in this research programme involves the identification of the mechanisms by which heavy metals of environmental or industrial significance (cobalt, manganese, palladium and platinum) trigger and/or potentiate harmful inflammatory responses.
For the past few years, the Pharmacogenetics Group has focused on the ability to predict patients’ responses to the medications they take through the assessment of activity of the cytochrome P450 drug metabolising system. Its particular interest is to relate this ability as determined by measuring the metabolism of a test drug (phenotype) to the genetic make-up (genotype) of the patient, a so-called genotype-phenotype correlation. Researchers have discovered several very interesting variations in the African population, which may assist in understanding why different groups of individuals respond differently to the medications they receive. This will lead to the emergence of personalised medicine, which will assist the clinician to optimise the choice and dosage of medications prescribed in order to avoid non-response or serious adverse effects.
The Stem Cell Research Group has an interest in three areas in the stem cell field. First, the creation of a public cord blood stem cell bank, which is a much-needed resource on the subcontinent, aimed at providing genetically-compatible stem cells for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). BMT is used to treat a wide spectrum of blood cancers and other disorders. This form of treatment is currently denied to the majority of the population due to the lack of genetically compatible stem cells. Its second interest lies in the generation of haematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells that are resistant to HIV. The objective is to be able to use these stem cells to treat an HIV-infected individual. Finally, the group has an interest in inherited disorders of the muscle, namely muscular dystrophy. Its objective is to be able to treat this disorder using muscle stem cells.
Contact person: Prof R Anderson.
The major research programmes of the Department of Immunology progressed extremely well in 2009. These are infectious diseases research and research focused on the immunopathogenesis and therapy of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of non-infective origin.
Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and severe pneumococcal disease are the major research focus areas in infectious diseases research. Tuberculosis research is focused on the potassium (K+) transporters of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), especially their role in bacterial virulence, and potential to serve as novel targets for drugs and vaccines. The primary objective of HIV/AIDS research is to establish the effects of HIV infection on regional T-lymphocyte colonisation and macrophage activation in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the effects of antiretroviral therapy on the reconstitution of various sub-populations of T-lymphocytes, macrophage activation status and privileged viral reservoirs, especially in relation to anatomical site and drug resistance. Novel insights into HIV immunopathogenesis of this type are essential for discerning approaches to drug and vaccine design. Pneumococcal diseases research continues to focus on pneumolysin, the major protein virulence factor of this microbial pathogen, by using strategies that target the production and/or cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory activities of the toxin.
In the case of acute or chronic inflammatory diseases of non-infective origin, the department’s efforts are targeted primarily at identifying the mechanisms that initiate mobilisation of calcium during receptor-mediated activation of inflammatory cells, particularly the neutrophil, as well as those that restore Ca2+ homeostasis to the cells. This research has identified several novel Ca2+-handling-based targets for anti-inflammatory therapy. The second component in this research programme involves the identification of the mechanisms by which heavy metals of environmental or industrial significance (cobalt, manganese, palladium and platinum) trigger and/or potentiate harmful inflammatory responses.
For the past few years, the Pharmacogenetics Group has focused on the ability to predict patients’ responses to the medications they take through the assessment of activity of the cytochrome P450 drug metabolising system. Its particular interest is to relate this ability as determined by measuring the metabolism of a test drug (phenotype) to the genetic make-up (genotype) of the patient, a so-called genotype-phenotype correlation. Researchers have discovered several very interesting variations in the African population, which may assist in understanding why different groups of individuals respond differently to the medications they receive. This will lead to the emergence of personalised medicine, which will assist the clinician to optimise the choice and dosage of medications prescribed in order to avoid non-response or serious adverse effects.
The Stem Cell Research Group has an interest in three areas in the stem cell field. First, the creation of a public cord blood stem cell bank, which is a much-needed resource on the subcontinent, aimed at providing genetically-compatible stem cells for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). BMT is used to treat a wide spectrum of blood cancers and other disorders. This form of treatment is currently denied to the majority of the population due to the lack of genetically compatible stem cells. Its second interest lies in the generation of haematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells that are resistant to HIV. The objective is to be able to use these stem cells to treat an HIV-infected individual. Finally, the group has an interest in inherited disorders of the muscle, namely muscular dystrophy. Its objective is to be able to treat this disorder using muscle stem cells.
Contact person: Prof MS Pepper.
|
