Masters Degrees (Medical Microbiology)
Recent Submissions
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A descriptive analysis of the routine use of genotype MTBDRsl in a high HIV/TB prevalent region in South Africa.
(2020)Background. Since the implementation of shortened drug regimens for the management of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB), there is a growing need for rapid detection of resistance to second line antimycobacterial drugs. The ... -
The impact of the introduction of direct first and second-line reflex testing in the management of drug-resistant Tuberculosis at Greytown Hospital, Umzinyathi District, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2020)Background Drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a serious public health issue both globally and nationally, with South Africa and Kwazulu-Natal, in particular, being among the regions with the highest burden of DR-TB. ... -
Mycobacterium tuberculosis pili (MTP) modulates pathogen and host metabolomic changes in an A549 epithelial cell model of infection.
(2020)Background/Aim: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of tuberculosis, continues to drive research efforts in the quest to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics. The complexities associated with drug-resistant ... -
Transepithelial migration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and their affinity for glial cells in vitro.
(2019)Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus M. tuberculosis. It is a disease that mainly infects the lungs, however, almost any other organ of the body can be infected. Central nervous system ... -
Systemic lymphocyte trafficking markers in TB and TB/HIV co-infections.
(2019)Background. Several studies demonstrate that immune inflammation and trafficking of immune cells to affected tissues plays a major role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ... -
The cytotoxic effects of fumonisin B1 in human kidney cells and the ability of allicin to ameliorate these effects.
(2019)Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a widespread contaminant of crops and is produced as a secondary metabolite of fungi. It has been found to disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, cause epigenetic modifications and induce cellular toxicity ... -
Methyl picolinic acid plays a role in epigenetic modifications in Human HepG2 liver cells.
(2019)Picolinic Acid (PA) is an endogenous catabolite synthesized from L-Tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway. PA has been reported to possess immunological, neuroprotective, and anti-proliferative properties; however, its most ... -
In vitro effects of intravaginal insertion products (IVIPs) on biomarkers of inflammation and immune cellular activation in the era of HIV.
(2019)The use of vaginal products is associated with increased HIV acquisition risk, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Vaginal practices entail the use of a wide variety of products which can alter the vaginal environment ... -
Aflatoxin B1 modulates oxidative stress and apoptosis in human embryonic kidney cells.
(2019)Introduction: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by filamentous fungal strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus that infect field crops, therefore AFB1 is a frequent contaminant of dietary staples such as ... -
The development of a stratified keratinocyte model for chlamydia trachomatis pathogenesis studies.
(2017)A number of different methods to generate stratified keratinocyte layers have been published. These involved the use of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs/NEKS), which have a better ability to stratify compared ... -
Cytokine production by ME-180 cells and VK2 E6/E7 cells on exposure to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, HIV, N. gonorrhoeae and HIV.
(2018)Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Women are more at risk in developing secondary complications due to asymptomatic infections. In 2001, a study was done on the different responses ... -
Norovirus in children 5 years and below presenting with diarrhoea in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2017)Background - NoVs are single stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family Caliciviridae. They cause gastroenteritis in all age groups but mostly in young children and the elderly. They are classified into seven genogroups ... -
Proliferation of klebsiella pneumoniae in medication containing vials for multiple dose medication and intravenous fluids.
(2019)Background and objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae is frequently implicated in healthcare associated infections. This organism is non–fastidious and easily transmitted in a healthcare environment. Medication fluids are an ... -
The effect of antimicrobials used for genital discharge disease on trichomonas vaginalis.
(2017)Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted infection caused by the protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis. T. vaginalis infection is often asymptomatic. This infection causes vaginal discharge in women and urethritis ... -
Spatial analysis of HIV infections in high burden sub-districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2017)Background: Substantial spatial variations in HIV prevalence and incidence at a global, national and district levels have been shown to occur. However, only a few studies have assessed variability of these infections at a ... -
Invasive pneumococcal disease in neonates prior to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use in South Africa : 2003-2008.
(2018)Abstract not available. -
The development and application of a high throughput methodology to determine MICs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates against antimicrobial agents.
(2014)Chapter 1 of this dissertation entails the introduction, aims, objectives and the literature review. Drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is time consuming and expensive. Multi-point inoculation offers ... -
Role of local or systemic Schistosoma infections in driving inflammation and HIV risk in women enrolled in the CAPRISA 004 cohort.
(2016)Female genitourinary schistosomiasis (FGS) has been associated with increased HIV susceptibility, presumably through lesions secondary to parasitic eggs in situ in the female genital tract. We determined the prevalence of ... -
The effect of genital tract inflammation on HIV-specific binding antibodies, IgG subclass and Isotype transudation.
(2019)Abstract available in PDF file.