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13 September 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Stephen Collett
Prof Trudi O’Neill, Professor in the UFS Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, delivered her inaugural lecture on the topic: Rotavirus: New strategies to outsmart an old foe.
Prof Trudi O’Neill, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS) – whose research over the past 14 years is geared towards the development of a low-cost rotavirus vaccine for use in Africa – recently delivered her inaugural lecture on the Bloemfontein Campus on the topic: Rotavirus: New strategies to outsmart an old foe, a very appropriate topic for the time we live in. Most of her work is funded by the German Research Foundation.

She is a founding member and since 2016 Chairperson of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD). This African-based network aims to empower current and future African researchers to support evidence-based control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases. 

Prof O’Neill, known among her colleagues as being passionate about her work, also investigates rotavirus-host interactions and strain diversity in both humans and animals. 

She obtained her PhD in Molecular Virology at the University of Pretoria in 2001 and started her career at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. In 2012, she joined the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the UFS.

Burden of the disease

“Rotavirus, a zoonotic infection, competes with adenovirus, cholera, and shigella as the biggest cause (27% of diarrhoea cases) of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in children under five,” says Prof O'Neill.

Repeated infections by rotavirus or other diarrhoea-causing pathogens can cause a number of long-term complications, such as intestinal damage and inflammation, nutrient loss, and malabsorption, resulting in malnutrition and subsequently a weak immune system. Malnutrition at a young age can lead to metabolic diseases such as diabetes in the long run.

She says vaccine effectiveness is dependent on many factors. Those suffering from malnutrition in poor countries with inadequate sanitation and who are living in close contact with animals, are most at risk of severe dehydrating diarrhoea caused by rotavirus infections. Low-income countries saw an efficiency rate of less than 50% compared to middle-income countries' 75% efficiency rate. She says, however, that vaccines have had the biggest public health impact in low-income countries due to the high burden of disease. 

Prof O’Neill’s presentation included a review of the research that had been conducted, including diversity studies using genome characterisation (sequencing of more than 100 strains, most of which from Mozambique), lipid studies, and investigations into the use of virus-like particles (VLPs) and subunit proteins as vaccine candidates. Production of VLPs and proteins was explored in insect cells and yeast, exploiting the Biobanks SA Yeast culture collection housed in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry. A subunit vaccine containing parts (proteins) of the virus that causes the disease and broad-spectrum antiviral vaccine candidates are some of the strategies she is investigating to combat the long-term effects of rotavirus infections. 

Cost and safety

Decades of work in the rotavirus field led to the licensing of the first vaccines to fight the infection in the late 2000s. Prof O’Neill says that there has been a 65% decline in rotavirus-related deaths since 2000, with vaccines being a major contributor to this. 

Two of the concerns she pointed out in terms of the vaccine were about safety and cost. For persons with severe immune deficiencies, the vaccine can cause vaccine-derived rotavirus infection.

Addressing the concern about cost, Gavi, a public–private global health partnership that aims to increase access to immunisation in poor countries, has done great work in providing rotavirus vaccine support to low-income countries. 

News Archive

Community of Qwaqwa gives Prof Petersen a warm Basotho welcome
2017-05-16

 

 Description: Prof Petersen with Basotho hat and blanket Tags: Prof Petersen with Basotho hat and blanket

 Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State
Photo: Ian van Straaten

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Various stakeholders pledged their support to the newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Francis Petersen, during the first in a series of welcoming events that was held at the Qwaqwa Campus on Thursday 11 May 2017.

A message of support and welcome from the Paramount Queen of the Bakoena Royal Council, Mofumahadi Mathokoana Mopeli, took everybody in attendance back three decades to the time when the campus was first established.

“The Qwaqwa Campus of the then University of the North was created to swell this area and the broader Eastern Free State with intellectual capacity,” she said.

“It is with this in mind that we encourage you, Prof Petersen, to continue upholding the best of your predecessors. Search for what they could not achieve and learn from that. Traditional leadership in this area will always be a friend to the university,” she added.

Description: Community of Qwaqwa gives Prof Petersen a warm Basotho welcome Tags: Community of Qwaqwa gives Prof Petersen a warm Basotho welcome

Prof Petersen received a warm Basotho
welcome from Morena Thokoana Mopeli and
Paramount Queen Mofumahadi Mathokoana Mopeli of
the Bakoena Royal Council. With them is
Mrs Cheslyn Petersen.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

The Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District was represented by the Acting District Director, Lindiwe Mabaso, who expressed the district’s pride in being associated with the university.

“Our district is excelling in Mathematics and Science, and this can be attributed to the educators that we get from the Qwaqwa Campus. We are proud to say that we are number one nationally when it comes to Mathematics and Science, and this is through the support we get from the campus. Our schools will continue to be centres of excellence under the new leadership of Prof Petersen,” she said.

Staff and students weigh in

Both Nehawu and Uvpersu expressed their optimism in working with Prof Petersen.

Branch chairperson of Nehawu, Teboho Pitso, said the union appreciated the fact that Prof Petersen was taking over the leadership of the institution at a very difficult time, both institutionally and nationally.

“As workers, we are faced with a lot of challenges and we hope that none of us will be retrenched under your leadership,” he said to an appreciative audience consisting of various internal and external stakeholders.

Acting Chairperson of UVPERSU, Khethiwe Biyo, said the workers’ union was happy that Prof Petersen believed in teamwork.

“Your commitment in working with us is appreciated. We look forward to learning from you about institutional innovation,” she said.

Students were represented by the Qwaqwa Campus SRC President, Njabulo Mwali, who expressed the need for a deeper and detailed transformation process.

“Your expertise and skills have set you above all other aspirant applicants for this position, and we hope that we will learn a lot on this journey,” he said.

“We at the UFS are actively, intentionally,
and continuously engaged in promoting
diversity.”

"Ensure fairness" 

In his response, Prof Petersen emphasised the importance of inclusivity and innovativeness. He said, “Staff and students at the three sites of learning must do all they can to ensure that the UFS realises its goal of being an inclusive institution, one that provides equal access and opportunities to everyone, makes a conscious effort to prevent discrimination, and ensure fairness.”

“Being committed to inclusivity means that we at the UFS are actively, intentionally, and continuously engaged in promoting diversity. This diversity is expressed through our people and through the curriculum, and in the way we work with our communities to promote awareness, empathy, and understanding of the complex ways individuals interact. As you know, our ultimate goal as a university is not only to educate young people up to the point that they graduate. What they learn during their time with us should help shape them into people who can think innovatively in order to address the challenges that face us in the 21st century,” he said.

The Qwaqwa Campus Chorale and the award-winning choir from The Beacon Secondary School in Phuthaditjhaba provided the entertainment.

Similar events will respectively be hosted on the South and Bloemfontein Campuses on 18 and 19 May 2017.

 

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