A5082956060- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
- Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
- Renal cell carcinoma treatment
- Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- Blood groups and transfusion
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Research
- Acute Kidney Injury Research
- Neutropenia and Cancer Infections
University of Cape Town
2018-2025
University of Zambia
2016-2024
University Teaching Hospital
2018
Abstract Given that the biological processes governing oncogenesis of pancreatic cancers could present useful therapeutic targets, there is a pressing need to molecularly distinguish between different clinically relevant cancer subtypes. To address this challenge, we used targeted proteomics and other molecular data compiled by The Cancer Genome Atlas reveal tumours can be broadly segregated into two distinct Besides being associated with substantially clinical outcomes, belonging each these...
Abstract The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are crucial regulators of the cellular processes that fuel malignant transformation normal cells. molecular aberrations which lead to cancer involve mutations in, and transcription variations of, various MAPK pathway genes. Here, we examine genome sequences 40,848 patient-derived tumours representing 101 distinct human cancers identify cancer-associated in signalling We show patients with have within genes ERK-1/2 pathway, p38...
Abstract The genetic mutations that contribute to the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous have been subject extensive research. molecular aberrations lead cancer development are often characterised by gain-of-function or loss-of-function in a variety oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. In this study, we investigate genomic sequences 20,331 primary tumours representing 41 distinct human types identify catalogue driver present 727 known Our findings reveal significant variations...
Abstract Malignant cells reconfigure their metabolism to support oncogenic processes such as accelerated growth and proliferation. The mechanisms by which this occurs likely involve alterations genes that encode metabolic enzymes. Here, using genomics data for 10,528 tumours of 32 different cancer types, we characterise the involved in various pathways. We find mutations copy number variations are pervasive across all human cancers. Based on frequencies gene alterations, further there two...
One of the most frequently utilized cancer stem cell markers in human cancers, including colorectal and breast cancer, is CD44. A glycoprotein, CD44, traverses membrane binds to many ligands, hyaluronan, resulting activation signaling cascades. There are conflicting data, however, on expression CD44 relationship subtypes cancers. Moreover, associations with drug resistance, immune infiltration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, clinical prognosis several types not clear...
<div>Abstract<p>Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women globally, and it remains a health burden due to poor therapy response, cell drug resistance, debilitating side effects associated with most therapies. One approach addressing need improve breast therapies has been elucidate mechanism(s) underpinning this disease identify key drivers that can be targeted molecular The T-box transcription factor, TBX3, upregulated cancer, which contributes important...
<p>Figure S2. Hsc70 binds and colocalises with TBX3 in FLAG-TBX3 (1,2) overexpressing parental MCF-7 cells vivo.</p>
<p>Figure S1: Establishment of FLAG-TBX3 ER+ breast cancer cells for mass spectrometry.</p>
Abstract Background Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections, a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, increased HIV susceptibility. CT-induced genital inflammation disrupts mucosal barriers activates target cells, compounding reproductive immunological risks. We investigated the impact CT infection AGYW from two South African regions, focusing on immune activation. Methods...
Lynch syndrome (LS) is a hereditary disorder that increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) due to constitutional pathogenic variants in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. When coupled with somatic mutations same gene, MMR deficiency occurs. However, mechanisms driving development remain unclear. This study aimed identify distinct molecular drivers LS‐associated and sporadic CRC. We found PI3K–Akt signalling dysregulated CRC, while Wnt predominates Moreover, our findings highlight therapeutic...
Abstract Pulmonary function is an indicator of well-being, and pulmonary pathologies are the third major cause death worldwide. We analysed UK Biobank genome-wide association summary statistics for Europeans individuals recent African descent to identify variants associated with trait in two ancestries. Here, we show 627 3 Africans three parameters. In addition 110 previously reported be phenotypes related function, 279 novel loci, including ISX intergenic variant rs369476290 on chromosome...
The malignant phenotype of tumour cells is fuelled by changes in the expression various transcription factors, including some well-studied proteins such as p53 and Myc. Despite significant progress made, little known about several other ELF4, how they help shape oncogenic processes cancer cells. To this end, we performed a bioinformatics analysis to facilitate detailed understanding variations ELF4 human cancers are related disease outcomes cell drug responses. Here, using mRNA data 9,350...
Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and unintended pregnancies. Observational studies suggest that injectable hormonal contraceptives (HCs) increase the HIV risk, although their effects on genital inflammation, particularly HIV-susceptible T-helper 17 (Th17) cells, unknown. In a randomized crossover study, effect of norethisterone oenanthate (NET-EN), combined contraceptive vaginal rings (CCVR; NuvaRing), oral pills (COCPs) cervical...
Abstract Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women globally and 99% cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV oncoproteins E6 E7 establish phenotype cooperating host proteins identifying them may have important therapeutic benefits. T-box transcription factor 3 (TBX3) critical developmental regulator, when it overexpressed postnatally, contributes to several cancers, but little known about its expression...
Despite modern therapeutic advances, the survival prospects of pancreatic cancer patients have remained poor. Besides being highly metastatic, is challenging to treat because it caused by a heterogeneous array somatic mutations that impact variety signaling pathways and cellular regulatory systems. Here we use publicly available transcriptomic, copy number alteration mutation profiling datasets from together with data on disease outcomes show three major subtypes each display distinctive...
Recent technological developments allow us to measure the status of dozens proteins in individual cells. This opens way understand heterogeneity complex multi-signaling networks across cells and cell types, with important implications treat diseases such as cancer. These technologies are, however, limited for which antibodies are available fairly costly, making predictions new markers existing under conditions a valuable alternative. To assess our capacity make boost further methodological...
Investigating the human genome is vital for identifying risk factors and devising effective therapies to combat genetic disorders cancer. Despite extensive knowledge of "light genome", poorly understood "dark genome" remains understudied. In this study, we integrated data from 20,412 protein-coding genes in Pharos 8,395 patient-derived tumours The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) examine pharmacological dependencies cancers their treatment implications. We discovered that dark exhibited high...
Breast cancer responds variably to anticancer therapies, often leading significant off-target effects. This study proposes that the variability in tumour responses and drug-induced adverse events is linked transcriptional profiles of cell surface receptors (CSRs) breast tumours normal tissues. We analysed multiple datasets compare CSR expression with non-cancerous human Our findings correlate drug lines levels their targeted CSRs. Notably, we identified distinct differences between primary...
Pancreatic cancer remains a significant public health problem with an ever-rising incidence of disease. Cancers the pancreas are characterised by various molecular aberrations, including changes in proteomics and genomics landscape tumour cells. Therefore, there is need to identify proteomic pancreatic specific genomic alterations associated disease subtypes. Here, we carry out integrative bioinformatics analysis The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, whole-exome sequencing data collected from...
The diagnosis and evaluation of impaired renal function remains a challenge owing to lack reliable biomarker for assessment kidney function. existing panel biomarkers currently displays several limitations, recently injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) has been suggested as sensitive proposed enter clinical practice.This study was conducted determine the diagnostic value serum creatinine, urea, microalbuminuria (MAU) in relation novel biomarker, KIM-1.Serum MAU, KIM-1 were measured forty individuals...
Sickle cell disease is a group of hemoglobin (Hb) disorders resulting from the inheritance sickle β-globin gene. It most common pathological Hb mutation worldwide with 75% being born in Sub-Saharan Africa.This study aims to determine if dried blood spots (DBSs) can be used for diagnosis newborns. In Zambia, there no neonatal screening program anemia (SCA), yet it has been proved that early by newborn (NBS) using DBSs and access comprehensive care results survival adulthood over 96%...
The ECHO trial randomized women to intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), levonorgestrel implant (LNG-implant), or copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD). In a substudy of the trial, we tested hypothesis that contraceptives influence genital inflammation by comparing cervicovaginal cytokine changes following contraception initiation. addition, compared profiles in who acquired HIV (cases) versus those remaining negative (controls).Women (n = 251) from South Africa and Kenya...
Abstract Since the earliest reports of Coronavirus disease - 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China December 2019, has rapidly spread worldwide, attaining pandemic levels early March 2020. However, COVID-19 differed African setting compared to countries on other continents. To predict Africa and within each country continent, we applied a Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered mathematical model. Here, our results show that, overall, is currently (July 24, 2020) at peak pandemic, after which number cases...