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17 February 2025 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied
Prof Carolina Pohl-Albertyn
Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn is the NRF SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts at the UFS.

A new study by researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS), the National Health Laboratory Service, and the University of Venda has confirmed for the first time that common brown locusts are carriers of pathogenic yeasts that can cause severe infections in humans – especially in people with compromised immune systems or who are seriously ill.

The study, ‘South African brown locusts, Locustana pardalina, hosts fluconazole resistant, Candidozyma (Candida) auris (Clade III)’, highlights for the first time the presence of the pathogenic (disease-producing) fungal yeast C. auris in the digestive tract of the locusts, and shows their potential in disseminating this emerging pathogen. The research started in April 2022, when 20 gregarious (swarming) adult locusts were collected during a large locust outbreak which occurred from September 2021 to May 2022 in the semi-arid Eastern Karoo region in the Eastern Cape. The study is still under peer review.

According to Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn, National Research Foundation (NRF) SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts, three C. auris strains were isolated from three different adult locusts, two of which also harboured strains of another potentially pathogenic yeast, Candida orthopsilosis. “The fact that we were able to isolate C. auris from 15% of the sampled locusts, using non-selective media and a non-restrictive temperature of 30°C, may indicate that C. auris is abundant in the locusts and that specific selective isolation is not mandatory,” Prof Pohl-Albertyn said.

“Interestingly, C. auris was isolated from the fore- and hindgut of the locusts. Isolation from the foregut, which is dedicated to food intake and storage, filtering and partial digestion, indicates that C. auris was probably obtained by the locusts via feeding activities. Isolation from the hindgut confirms that C. auris can survive the digestive processes in the midgut and is likely to be released back into the environment via faeces.”

Healthy humans are not at great risk

One of the C. auris strains was studied in more detail. This strain was not resistant to disinfectants but showed decreased susceptibility to the common antifungal drug fluconazole. This is a characteristic of this yeast species and thus not surprising. Most of the emerging pathogenic yeasts show this intrinsic resistance. This highlights the urgent need to discover and develop new antifungal drugs.

Prof Pohl-Albertyn, also a Professor of Microbiology in the UFS Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, says, “Healthy humans are not at great risk for infection by this yeast and there is currently no proof that ingestion may be harmful to them. This is unfortunately not the case for people with compromised immune systems or who are seriously ill. However, few susceptible people come into direct contact with the locusts in South Africa.”

She added that there are treatment options available, using other antifungal drugs, but C. auris can become resistant to all the currently available antifungal drugs.

Importance of the study

“The fact that locusts are a food source for other animals, such as birds, could lead to eventual distribution of the yeast to people. In other countries, wild locusts are a food source for humans and there more direct transmission may be possible,” Prof Pohl-Albertyn said.

She explained that this study tries to answer questions regarding the natural hosts of this emerging pathogen and how it may facilitate the spread of the pathogen to the rest of the environment. The study is one part of the puzzle regarding how new pathogens may emerge from the environment and spread to people.

“One of the questions in the field of pathogenic yeasts is how C. auris was able to emerge as a pathogen in several different countries in a relatively short period. It is well known as a hospital-acquired pathogen, but it is not known where in the environment it occurs naturally, and which environmental factors may have shaped its evolution and ability to cause human infections. This has implications for the prevention of the spread of this specific yeast species, as well as our preparedness for new pathogenic yeasts that may be emerging from the environment.”

News Archive

UFS hosts first International Congress on Calvin Research in Africa
2010-08-31

Present at the Calvin Research Conference were, from the left: Dr Frank Ewerszumrode (OP), Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Mainz in Mainz, Germany; Prof. Dr Herman Selderhuis, President of the International Congress on Calvin Research; Prof. Dolf Britz, Director of the Jonathan Edwards Centre Africa at the UFS; and Ntabanyane Tseuoa, Masters student in the Jonathan Edwards Centre at the UFS.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The first International Congress on Calvin Research in Africa was this week presented on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. This was the tenth Calvin Research Conference presented. The conference is presented every four years.

The theme of the congress was: Reconciliation in the Theology of Calvin. Presentations were made about, amongst others, Calvin’s viewpoint regarding slavery and social justice. There was also a discussion about the extraordinary interest to record the original Calvin texts in databases and to make it available to researchers worldwide.

According to Prof. Dolf Britz, Director of the Jonathan Edwards Centre at the UFS, the objective of the congress was to study original Calvin sources critically. “An important part of the congress’ work is to publish an important part of Calvin’s work in a comprehensive text critical edition. This process is already well advanced and includes a number of unknown texts,” said Prof. Britz.

With its research on Calvin, the UFS emphasises the study of original theological sources. “This approach makes the Faculty of Theology part of the UFS’s strategy towards internationalisation. This is also one of the reasons why the UFS was selected by Yale University in America as partner in the recent establishment of the Jonathan Edwards Centre Africa,” said Prof. Britz, whose brainchild it was to also include young upcoming researchers with the study of original sources and classical languages such as Latin.

The congress was attended by researchers and academics from across the world. Twenty young, emerging researchers formed part of this group that was invited by the UFS. According to Prof. Britz, these young researchers are the top achievers at their respective universities, such as the North-West University, Stellenbosch University, Mukanyo Theological College in the Pretoria area and the UFS.

At this event, attended by more than 70 world-renowned Calvin scholars from countries like, amongst others, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Finland, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, America, Germany and Hungary; UFS academics like Prof. Eric de Boer, Extraordinary Professor in Classical and Reformed Theology and students like Rev. Ntabanyane Tseuoa from Lesotho, read and presented papers as well.

According to Prof. Britz this congress was a very good opportunity to introduce the UFS to the rest of the world.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
31 August 2010
 

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