https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/3972 2026-05-12T20:24:07Z 2026-05-12T20:24:07Z Tabit, Frederick Tawi https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31167 2025-02-17T00:56:37Z 2022-05-24T00:00:00Z

Addressing food quality and safety chanllenges through food science research Tabit, Frederick Tawi

2022-05-24T00:00:00Z du Plooy, Ilze Mlangeni, Malitaba Christian, Riann TSOTETSI-KHAMBULE, ANA MBOKELENG https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30153 2023-06-12T10:15:58Z 2023-03-20T00:00:00Z

An African perspective on the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii: A systematic review du Plooy, Ilze; Mlangeni, Malitaba; Christian, Riann; TSOTETSI-KHAMBULE, ANA MBOKELENG The study of Toxoplasma gondii genotypes is beneficial for detecting strains linked to increased disease severity and uncovering the processes involved in the transmission and distribution of this zoonotic parasite. A systematic review of literature was conducted to investigate the present status of T. gondii genetic diversity in African countries and among host species on the continent. Data from the results in the included studies were sorted, reviewed and descriptively analysed using tables, graphs and maps. Results indicate that there is a relative amount of genetic diversity with a clear difference in the population structure between geographical regions and the propensity for unique and regional genotypes to be predominant in tropical rainforest biomes, near the equator. From a clinical perspective, connections between specific T. gondii genotypes and disease manifestations were found. Theories are outlined on the dissemination of African T. gondii genotypes to other continents. The overrepresentation of samples from one geographical area and dissimilar genotyping methodologies creates challenges when concluding on the genetic diversity of T. gondii in Africa. The need for uniform genotyping methods with a continent-wide sampling of an extensive host range involving humans, domestic animals and wildlife is emphasized.

2023-03-20T00:00:00Z Lukman, V. Roth, R. L. Mbabala, L. Tshililo, N. Vlok, N. M Dewar, M. J B Kenyon, C. P https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/26685 2020-11-06T08:10:56Z 2020-09-29T00:00:00Z

Novel kinase platform for the validation of the anti-tubercular activities of Pelargonium sidoides (Geraniaceae) Lukman, V.; Roth, R. L.; Mbabala, L.; Tshililo, N.; Vlok, N. M; Dewar, M. J B; Kenyon, C. P Abstract Background Pelargonium sidoides is an important traditional medicine in South Africa with a well-defined history of both traditional and documented use of an aqueous-ethanolic formulation of the roots of P. sidoides (EPs 7630), which is successfully employed for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. There is also historical evidence of use in the treatment of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to develop a platform of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) kinase enzymes that may be used for the identification of therapeutically relevant ethnobotanical extracts that will allow drug target identification, as well as the subsequent isolation of the active compounds. Results Mtb kinases, Nucleoside diphosphokinase, Homoserine kinase, Acetate kinase, Glycerol kinase, Thiamine monophosphate kinase, Ribokinase, Aspartokinase and Shikimate kinase were cloned, produced in Escherichia coli and characterized. HPLC-based assays were used to determine the enzyme activities and subsequently the inhibitory potentials of varying concentrations of a P. sidoides extract against the produced enzymes. The enzyme activity assays indicated that these enzymes were active at low ATP concentrations. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of an aqueous root extract of P. sidoides against the kinases indicated SK has an IC50 of 1.2 μg/ml and GK 1.4 μg/ml. These enzyme targets were further assessed for compound identification from the P. sidoides literature. Conclusion This study suggests P. sidoides is potentially a source of anti-tubercular compounds and the Mtb kinase platform has significant potential as a tool for the subsequent screening of P. sidoides extracts and plant extracts in general, for compound identification and elaboration by selected extract target inhibitor profiling.

2020-09-29T00:00:00Z Phoswa, Wendy N. Khaliq, Olive P. https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/26615 2020-08-13T12:47:41Z 2020-06-27T00:00:00Z

Is pregnancy a risk factor of COVID-19? Phoswa, Wendy N.; Khaliq, Olive P. This review evaluates whether pregnancy is a risk factor for COVID-19 by looking at the expression of immune markers such as immune cells and cytokines in order to have a better understanding on the pathophysiology of the disease, thus reducing maternal deaths. Pregnant women are more at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their weakened immune system. Studies demonstrate that COVID-19 is an immune condition which is marked by reduced lymphocytes and elevated selected proinflammatory cytokines. Similar immune expression has been demonstrated in pregnancy by several studies. In addition, the placenta has been shown to possess ACE2 receptors on the villous cytotrophoblast and the syncytiotrophoblast and findings suggest that the coronavirus enters the host cells via these ACE2 receptors. The immune response in pregnancy increases the risk of contracting COVID-19. Both normal pregnancy and COVID-19 are marked by decreased lymphocytes, NKG2A inhibitory receptors, and increased ACE2, IL-8, IL-10, and IP-10 it therefore safer to conclude that pregnancy is a risk factor for COVID-19 development. Furthermore, the presence of the ACE2 receptors in the placenta may increase the risk of mother to baby transmission of the virus. Therefore, more studies investigating the link between pregnancy and COVID-19 are needed. The full-text of this article can be accessed at https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(20)30433-4/fulltext

2020-06-27T00:00:00Z