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07 January 2018 Photo Charl Devenish
Researcher tackling drug-resistant TB through molecular methods
Dr Anneke van der Spoel van Dijk is invested in contributing to the global effort of stopping TB by 2035.

The work of Dr Anneke van der Spoel van Dijk investigates the spread of TB in the Free State population using techniques such as next generation sequencing, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk, a senior medical scientist in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of the Free State (UFS) also looks at drug resistance in her research. This work informs decisions about how best to treat patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). 

She employs rapid molecular techniques to track one of Africa’s most serious diseases, tuberculosis (TB). 

Drug resistance
Scientists assist the National Health Laboratory Service and Department of Health in trying to refine the diagnostic tools to identify these cases earlier. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk explains: “Until recently, it took up to two years to fine-tune treatment decisions for patients with MDR-TB. Patients get a cocktail of anti-TB drugs, but it takes time to find the right combination. Re-infection and relapse (patients stopping treatment for several reasons) add to the diagnostic and treatment management challenges.

Enormous impact
“Now doctors can reduce the time needed for diagnostic certainty to about seven days, while new drugs allow reduction of treatment from more than 18 to nine months. This can have an enormous impact on the life of many patients.”

Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk’s work forms part of research in the faculty looking at resistance development in TB strains. She is currently also doing her doctoral thesis on the differences and incidence of MDR-TB among adolescents versus adults. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says: “It is a complicated picture, but we hope to unravel it to support better diagnostic tools and patient care.”

As part of the National Health Laboratory Service, her department is playing an important role in TB diagnostics and the training of scientists and future pathologists. “Our work is contributing to the global vision to stop TB by 2035,” Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says.

News Archive

UFS Rector participates in National Arbour Day
2011-09-02

 

Gerard Hoogendoorn from Physical Resources at the hole for the jacket plum tree that was planted on our Bloemfontein Campus on National Arbour Day.
Photo: Anja Aucamp

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, planted the jacket plum tree (Pappea capensis) on our Bloemfontein Campus during an event.

According to Mr Gerard Hoogendoorn from our Department of Physical Resources this hardy, evergreen tree, which reaches a height of between two and eight metres, is a worthy addition to any garden; for bird life as well as fauna. “Planting a tree has a positive influence on our green heritage,” he said.

Prof. Jansen, who started his study career as a botanist, said that he loves anything green. “Trees with their roots remind me of our university rooted in a rich past. Trees, with their new leaves once a year, also reminds me of the transformation of our campus and our country. Young people compare with the trunks of the trees that link the past (roots) with the future (leaves). South Africa’s future depends on you young leaders,” he said.

The tree-planting initiative is one of the universities sustainability initiatives to make staff as well as students aware of protecting their environment, amongst others.

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