When we think of microbes, one of the first things that come to mind is that they can cause disease. Although the minority of microbes are pathogenic, they significantly impact our lives regarding our well-being and economic activities involving animals. Understanding the pathogenic microbes and the biochemistry of certain non-infectious diseases will undoubtedly improve treatment and lead to a better quality of life.
INFECTIOUS HUMAN DISEASES
Rotavirus infection causes diarrhoea in many species, including birds and livestock. In young children and infants, rotavirus infection can be fatal. Current research focuses on:
- Understanding host-pathogen interactions, primarily how the virus interacts with cellular lipids
- Virus strain diversity to inform vaccine development and monitoring
- Diverse vaccine development approaches for potential application in Sub-Saharan Africa
Yeasts belonging to Candida and Cryptococcus are essential pathogens in immunocompromised persons. Current research focuses on:
- The role of oxylipins in host-microbe interactions and mixed infections
- Yeast lipid metabolism as a potential control target
STEROL METABOLISM
Cholesterol is a sterol found in all animals and is the precursor from which the steroid hormones are derived. Cholesterol and plant sterols are structurally very similar. Plant sterols are included in functional foods and can lower serum cholesterol, but the exact mechanism of action is not yet fully elucidated. Current studies are focused on:
- Determining how different animals metabolise plant sterols
- Determining faecal steroid hormone levels as indicators of animal well-being and reproductive status
Prof Carolina Pohl-Albertyn
Bioactive lipids
Pathogenic yeasts
Biofilms
PohlCH@ufs.ac.za