Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Immunology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Prof A Theron and Dr G Ramafi have identified novel mechanisms by which exposure to heavy metals in the workplace and environment may contribute to chronic and acute diseases of the airways. This is a component of our research programme designed to identify interactions between diet, lifestyle, environment and occupation in determining susceptibility to acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma and tuberculosis.
Contact person: Prof R Anderson.
Our second research programme is targeted at the development of preventive/ therapeutic strategies to tackle infectious diseases which remain major killers – particularly in children – in developing countries. Dr MC Cholo is working on potential vaccine strategies, as well as therapeutic strategies, for tuberculosis. She has generated targeted gene knockout mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis which are particularly useful for drug and vaccine research. Dr R Cockeran's research programme is focused on pneumococcal pneumonia, a major threat to HIV-infected individuals. She has developed strategies which have the potential to limit the spread within the body of the pneumococcus. In addition to these, members of the Department have identified a compound which shows considerable promise as an anti-malaria agent.
Contact person: Prof R Anderson.
Finally, research into the mechanisms by which the cells of the immune system store, mobilize and regain calcium during activation has enabled members of the Department to identify potential novel targets which are amenable to pharmacological manipulation. These are of potential importance in the chemotherapy of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders of both infective (HIV, tuberculosis, pneumococcal infection) and non-infective (bronchial asthma) origin.
Contact person: Prof R Anderson.
|
