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31 March 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
UFS Covid-19 vaccine research team
Prof Robert Bragg and members of the Veterinary Biotechnology research group believe that finding a vaccine for COVID-19 will not be a ‘quick fix’. From the left are: Prof Bragg, Samantha McCarlie, Liese Kilian, and Dr Charlotte Boucher-van Jaarsveld. The photo was taken during the World Veterinary Poultry Association congress in Thailand in 2019.

On 31 March 2020, there were 804 061 coronavirus cases and 39 064 deaths globally due to the outbreak. According to media reports, there is still no licensed vaccine for COVID-2019 – the cause of our current global health emergency.  

Prof Robert Bragg, researcher at the University of the Free State (UFS), says this is without a doubt the most pressing research need in the world today. 

The Veterinary Biotechnology research group in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology at the UFS recently submitted an article for publication on the design of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, based on work they have done on infectious bronchitis virus (also a coronavirus). The article, authored by the group of which Prof Bragg is a member, is titled: A sub-unit vaccine produced in 'Yarrowia lipolytica' against COVID-19: Lessons learnt from infectious bronchitis virus. 

The research group, consisting of researchers and postgraduate students, is mostly looking at strategies for improved disease control, mainly in avian species, through vaccine development, treatment, and biosecurity.

Prof Bragg says their main aim with this study was to get the research out there so that the bigger pharmaceutical companies could take up the design of a possible COVID-19 vaccine and assist with the development of a vaccine. 

He says the research group’s role in this lengthy process would be to express the protein, which could be used in the development of a possible vaccine. “Thereafter, it will have to be taken up by a vaccine manufacturer to get the vaccine made and to the market.”

Developing a vaccine
Liese Kilian, a member of the research group, finished writing up her MSc thesis in Microbiology in the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology in December 2019 – the same time that COVID-19 originated in China. She has been working on the development of an edible sub-unit vaccine against the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), which is a widespread avian coronavirus. This virus is specific to poultry and is different from COVID-19. 

Kilian’s project was conducted under the supervision of Prof Bragg and Dr Charlotte Boucher-van Jaarsveld. Dr Boucher-van Jaarsveld is a research fellow in the university’s Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.

Kilian, with the assistance of Samantha Mc Carlie, currently a master’s student in the research group, substituted the genetic code of the IBV with the genetic code of the COVID-19 virus, which were already published at that stage. Thus, a gene for the development of a possible sub-unit vaccine against the S1 spike protein of COVID-19 was developed for expression in the same yeast strain used to express the spike protein of IBV. A sub-unit vaccine can be described as part of a pathogen, triggering an immune response against the pathogen from which it is derived.

After Killian successfully developed the gene for this study, she expressed the S1 spike protein of the IBV in a yeast-based expression system developed by the research group. Dr Boucher-van Jaarsveld says this simply means that the yeast takes up the foreign genetic material (viral gene) into its own genetic make-up and makes more of this protein as if it is part of the yeast’s normal material. 

“The images of COVID-19 are being shown constantly in the media and the ‘spikes’ can be seen on all of these images. These spikes are very typical for all coronaviruses and there is some level of similarity between the structure of these spikes in many of the coronaviruses,” Prof Bragg adds.

According to the World Health Organisation, the spike protein is a promising candidate for a sub-unit vaccine due to its immunogenicity and safety, as well as manufacturing and stability considerations during large-scale development.

Prof Bragg says there are many different expression systems that are widely used. Producing the sub-unit vaccine in a yeast species is beneficial for the work they are doing. A yeast expression system is favourable as large-scale production, is less expensive compared to mammalian cell lines, and can be applied as an edible vaccine.

“The technology to grow massive volumes of yeast are also very well established. This, after all, is how beer is made!” Prof Bragg says. Dr Boucher-van Jaarsveld adds: “The expression of an antigen is not necessarily just geared towards vaccines but can also be used in the development of diagnostic tests to screen populations for infections.”

Working with other researchers
“Now that the situation is all but out of control, we maybe need to investigate the possibilities of working with other key researchers at the UFS as well as other universities in South Africa to develop the vaccine or diagnostic reagents locally. Discussions on this aspect are already underway.”

Several other universities in South Africa are also working to find a cure for the virus. Government availed funding for more research on the matter. According to Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister, Blade Nzimande, the University of Cape Town, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, as well as the Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa are working on the development of a vaccine.

Prof Bragg expressed the hope of obtaining funding for this work. “Because without funding, we will not be able to do anything with this data,” he says. They are currently investigating different funding options. 

“The sooner we start on the development of a vaccine, the sooner there will be one, but it will not be a ‘quick fix’. It must be stressed that, even if vaccine development is fast-tracked through the regulatory bodies, it will take many months (if not years) to move from the laboratory to the first human experimentation. It will take even longer before any human vaccine can be rolled out,” says Prof Bragg.



News Archive

2015/2016 SRC candidates announced
2015-08-19


Ledimo Nthejane, Independent Electoral Commission Provincial Manager, announcing the contenders for SRC elections at the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux

Congratulations to the successful 2015/2016 Student Representative Council (SRC) nominees. We wish you all the best with your campaigning.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has been appointed by the UFS to take responsibility for the operational aspects of the upcoming SRC elections on the Bloemfontein campus.  Their involvement spans over the period from the nomination process up to the announcement of the election results on 3 September 2015.

Bloemfontein Campus:

  • Edward de Wet (President)
  • Lindokuhle Ntuli (President)
  • Mpho Khati (Vice-President)
  • Nigel Marchall Masalla (Vice-President)
  • Nicola King (First-generation students)
  • Brand Louw (First-generation students)
  • Dineo Khotso Mashile (Transformation)
  • Katleho Mmolayeng Letube (Transformation)
  • Jeanne-Mari McDonald (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Lesley-Anne Terblanche (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Luke Harrold Small (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Nomathamsanqa Nomvula Kraai (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Victor Sejane (Student Accessibility)
  • Sam-Maree Rooi (Student Accessibility)
  • Rememberance Rohula Kgabu (Student Accessibility)
  • Delia Moumakwe (Culture)
  • Mohau Moses Lesebo (Culture)
  • Kabelo Elijah Noosi (Sport)
  • Neo Gift Thebe (Sport)
  • Peo Morwesi Segano (Media and Marketing)
  • Gali Moticoe (Media and Marketing)
  • Mafelleng Itumeleng Matla (Student Development and Environment)
  • Karabo Pheko (Student Development and Environment)
  • Shaun Grobler (Treasurer)
  • Cornel Vermaak (Treasurer)
  • Katleho Masheane (Treasurer)
  • Thulani Babeli (Treasurer)
  • Nothando Hlophe (Secretary)
  • Tsietso Mafaso (Secretary)
  • Mihlali Matanzima (Secretary)

Qwaqwa Campus:

  • Tseko Masoeu (President)
  • Ntokozo Mbele (President)
  • Paseka Sikhosane (President)
  • Ntandoyenkosi Mndebele (President)
  • Zethu Mhlongo (Deputy President)
  • Limpho Mape (Deputy President)
  • Mpho Pooe (Deputy President)
  • Langelihle Mzobe (Deputy President)
  • Bannetse Mokhatla (Secretary General)
  • Londiwe Shezi (Secretary General)
  • Nondumiso Langa (Secretary General)
  • Palesa Selepe (Treasurer General)
  • Sabelo Vilakazi (Treasurer General)
  • Sinenhlanhla Mfeka (Treasurer General)
  • Solomuzi Khathi (Treasurer General)
  • Busisiwe Nkosi (Politics and Transformation)
  • Banele Mndwaweni (Politics and Transformation)
  • Nthabiseng Mokoena (Politics and Transformation)
  • Sibusiso Nyambose (Media and Publicity)
  • Nonkululeko Shabalala (Media and Publicity)
  • Khulani Mhlongo (Media and Publicity)
  • Bongiwe Buthelezi (Media and Publicity)
  • Nhlanhla Shabalala (Student Development and Environmental Affairs)
  • Thulane Dubazane (Student Development and Environmental Affairs)
  • Lindokuhle Ngubane (Student Development & Environmental Affairs)

Nominations for the Secretary and Treasurer portfolios are still open until 12:00 noon on Friday 21 August 2015.

Important dates to note:

18 August 2015 - Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campus campaigning commences

27 August 2015 - Qwaqwa campaigning ends

30 August 2015 - Bloemfontein campaigning ends

28 August 2015 - Qwaqwa Election Day

31 August 2015 - Bloemfontein Election Day

1 September 2015 - Qwaqwa SR handover and establishment sitting

4 September 2015 - Bloemfontein SRC handover and establishment sitting

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