Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit
Director:
Prof Duncan Steele
E-mail: steeled@who.int
The Diarrhoeal Pathogens
Research Unit was established at MEDUNSA in April 1996, and was the first
such MRC unit to be founded at a previously disadvantaged institution.
It is estimated that diarrhoeal
disease is the primary cause of death in infants younger than 5 years, leading
to about 160 - 200 deaths per day in South Africa.
Consequently, the mission
of this Unit is:
- to study viral and
microbial agents associated with diarrhoea in infants and young children
in Southern Africa;
- to investigate the
molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infection in Southern Africa with a
view to optimising the future implementation of a rotavirus vaccine strategy;
and
- to study the molecular
pathogenesis of rotavirus infection, using the vast array of clinical material
available as well as detailed molecular analysis of the associated viruses.
The Unit is also focusing
on:
- the epidemiology and
molecular characterisation of the small round structured viruses which have
emerged as important aetiological agents in other developing countries;
and
- characterisation of
enterotoxin-producing strains of E coli and Shigella spp.
In addition, the Unit
strives:
- to train young researchers,
equipping them to join the local scientific community;
- to support biotechnological
developments in the field of anti-diarrhoeal vaccines, which could have
a dramatic effect on our population; and
- to collaborate actively
with both national and international researchers.
|
