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Post Graduate template Please fill in details below: Farzeen Kader (PhD Candidate) BSc Microbiology and Biochemistry (UKZN Westville), BSc Hons Microbiology (UKZN Westville), MSc Genetics (UKZN Westville) Email: [email protected] Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words) Research topic focuses on validating previously reported tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (tDMRs) for body fluid identification, as well as testing the effect of age, ethnicity, & disease on methylation patterns of the tDMRs. Once validated, the tDMRs may be applicable in forensics. Supervisor(s) Dr Meenu Ghai Prof AO Olaniran Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words) Methylation Profiling and validation of candidate tDMRs for identification of human blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid and its application in forensics Body fluids found at crime scenes Please fill in the information for the headings below. Only once you have all the information, please send to
Transcript of lifesciences.ukzn.ac.zalifesciences.ukzn.ac.za/Files/Postgard profiles SLS/PG... · Web viewPost...
Post Graduate template
Please fill in details below:
Farzeen Kader (PhD Candidate)
BSc Microbiology and Biochemistry (UKZN Westville),BSc Hons Microbiology (UKZN Westville),MSc Genetics (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Research topic focuses on validating previously reported tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (tDMRs) for body fluid identification, as well as testing the effect of age, ethnicity, & disease on methylation patterns of the tDMRs. Once validated, the tDMRs may be applicable in forensics.
Supervisor(s)Dr Meenu GhaiProf AO Olaniran
Please fill in the information for the headings below.
Only once you have all the information, please send to [email protected]
Natalie Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics and Cell Biology (UKZN- Westville),BSc Hons Genetics (UKZN- Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Methylation Profiling and validation of candidate tDMRs for identification of human blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid and its application in forensics
Body fluids found at crime scenes provide important information that link the evidence and the crime, however, the type and origin cannot be determined. Epigenetic analyses identified tDMRs (tissue-specific differentially methylated regions) which showed different DNA methylation profiles according to type of cell/tissue. The present study determines the potential of tissue specific differential DNA methylation for body fluid identification using three genes (HPCAL1, PTPRS & ZNF282) expected to show differential methylation profiles in blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid using BSP, MSP, and MSRE-PCR. The validated tDMRs will be used to develop markers for body fluid identification, providing an efficient analysis for forensic casework.
Supervisor(s)Dr. M. GhaiDr. A. J. Niehaus (Co-supervisor)
Velosha Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
BSc Cell Biology and Genetics (UKZN Westville),BSc Hons Forensic Genetics (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Research Project Title:DNA methylation regulation of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines in type 2 diabetes.
Brief description:Type 2 diabetes (T2M) is currently one of largest global health concerns. T2D has shown evidence to be accompanied by chronic inflammation which can lead to cardiovascular complications. The increase or decrease in the expression of chronic inflammatory genes in T2D may be affected by environmental factors (epigenetics) such as age, diet, lack of exercise etc. For this study gene expression and DNA methylation profiles of genes associated with chronic inflammation in T2D are measured in healthy and diabetic mice models in whole blood and components of leukocytes.
Supervisor(s)Dr Meenu GhaiDr Bongani Nkambule (Co-supervisor)
Merusha Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Cellular Biology (UKZN Westville),BSc Hons Biological Sciences (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Leah Maharaj (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Cellular Biology (UKZN Westville),BSc Hons Forensic Genetics (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
My masters research project is titled ‘Tissue specific DNA methylation indicators of inflammation in type two diabetes’. It has been found that type 2 diabetic individuals develop chronic systemic inflammation, which further accelerates progression of disease by destroying insulin-producing β-cells. It has also been suggested that saturated fat consumption, sedentary lifestyle and obesity lead to chronic inflammation. Current type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment is not effective in treating sterile inflammation. The epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation connects the genome to external factors, allowing for a better understanding of chronic inflammation in T2DM, and possible development of more effective treatments.
Supervisor(s)Dr. Meenu GhaiDr. Hlengiwe Mbongwa
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Characterisation of acetolactate synthase gene in crop families and for herbicide resistance in sugarcane
Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors are commonly used as herbicides in agriculture, however the current variety of sugarcane in use is susceptible to it – less efficient methods of weed control are therefore used. This study will involve screening sugarcane mutants (of ALS gene) to identify mutations conferring the resistance trait for use in planning future breeding programmes.
Characterization of the gene across different plant families will add to plant genetic resources to aid in future plant crosses and to understand conservation of the gene across plant families.
SupervisorsDr. Meenu Ghai
Dr. Shailesh Joshi
Sayuri Gounden (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Microbiology(UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Analysis of Specificity of lm00753-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification assay for detection of Virulent
lineages of Listeria monocytogenes
Listeria monocytogenes is pathogenic and infectious, causing diseases among animals and human beings. A LAMP method targeting lmo0753 gene of L.monocytogenes has been developed at UKZN. The assay is sensitive and specific for detection of L.monocytogenes. However the specificity of the LAMP primers to amplify various strains of L.monocytogenes from different lineages needs to be tested. This study aims to determine the specificity of lmo0753-LAMP assay to detect virulent serotypes of L. monocytogenes, which will particularly aid in the detection of this pathogen in treated wastewater.
SupervisorDr. Meenu Ghai
Kimera Naicker (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Biochemistry (UKZN Westville)
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Identification of allele-specific methylation in gene-based tDMRs among South African ethnic groups
Tissue-specific differential methylation was observed at CpG sites of HPCAL1 and PTPRS genes in the South African White ethnic group compared to the other South African ethnic groups by MSP (methylation-specific PCR) analysis of blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid.The aim of this study is to determine if the same pattern of methylation is observed among different ethnic groups, with the purpose of identifying allele-specific methylation in the South African ethnic groups at tDMRs of HPCAL1 and PTPRS genes and identifying SNPs associated with allele-specific methylation. Bisulphite-specific PCR will be used to analyze the methylation status of saliva samples from South African ethnic groups.
SupervisorDr. Meenu Ghai
Sharren Denell Peter (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics and Cell Biology (UKZN-Westville),
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
“Analysis of the stability of methylation profile of ZNF282 tDMR marker for human body fluid identification, by
simulation of forensic conditions.’’
Body fluid identification during forensic investigation is crucial however difficult, hence when linking biological evidence and crimes reliable methods are required. Tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (tDMRs) differ in levels of methylation according to cell and tissue type. The present study aims to validate the methylation profiles of ZNF282 tDMR as a reliable method of identification or differentiation of semen from blood, saliva and vaginal fluid. Focusing on the effect of forensic environments on the stability of ZNF282 as a tDMR body fluid marker.
SupervisorDr. Meenu Ghai
Supervisor(s)Dr. Name SurnameProf Name Surname
Name Surname (Hons/MSc/PhD Candidate)
BSc Genetics (University),BSc Hons Biochemistry (University)MSc Zoology (University),
Telephone: 031 000 0000
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Supervisor(s)Dr. Name SurnameProf Name Surname
Name Surname (Hons/MSc/PhD Candidate)
BSc Genetics (University),BSc Hons Biochemistry (University)MSc Zoology (University),
Telephone: 031 000 0000
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Supervisor(s)Dr. Name SurnameProf Name Surname
