MRC PhD student

Level of study: PostDoc

Title: Isolation, characterisation and mechanisms of action of high-molecular-weight cider tree proteins pharmacologically active as antimalarial choroquine potentiating and/or resistance reversing agents in Plasmodium falciparum”!

Study Institution: University of KwaZulu-Natal

Research Question: The alcoholic and water extracts of some plant extracts have been reported to be effective against malaria. However numerous research done both in vitro and in vivo, including our own research, has failed to show any antiplasmodial and antimalarial activities of any parts of this plant. The plant, also known to have both male and female plants, both showed no activity against the Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent for malaria. However, previous work done at the MRC IKS Lead Programme and UCT Division of Pharmacology has shown that some non-organic plant extracts reverse resistance of the plasmodium parasite to chloroquine. This activity is caused by a high molecular weight protenaceous fraction.

Project Summary: In vitro evaluations of the aqueous extracts of the plant have been evaluated for their chloroquine potentiation and chloroquine resistance reversal effects. The HPLC methods and solid phase methods for the separation and identification of the active extracts have been achieved. The amino acid analysis of the extracts has been completed and amino acid content of the bark described. The task is to purify the protein and therefore plant protein or tannin-associated protein extract methods are being developed. The identification and eventual characterisation of these proteins will enable us to test them for other conditions such as cancer chemotherapy, antiretroviral resistance in HIV and AIDS and other infectious diseases such as extreme tuberculosis resistant strains.

Mentor: Dr MG Matsabisa
Support: MRC/DST Professional Development Programme (PDP)
MRC Lead Programme: Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)