PROMEC Unit
Unit Director:
Prof Wentzel Gelderblom
E-mail: wentzel.gelderblom@mrc.ac.za
The Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis (PROMEC Unit) of the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) is a multidisciplinary research team that has made major contributions in the field of mycotoxins and human health over the past 31 years. From the initial aim to identify causative factors possibly involved in the high prevalence of liver cancer in certain population groups in Southern Africa, the emphasis has shifted to studies on the major toxigenic fungi associated with maize which forms the staple diet of millions of South Africans. Investigations focused on the identification of the toxins and carcinogens produced by Fusarium species which are major contaminants of maize. Fusarium verticillioides (previously F. moniliforme) was shown to be associated with the high risk of oesophageal cancer (OC) in the Transkei region of South Africa and studies are directed to elucidate the role of the mycotoxins produced by this fungus and other dietary risk factors in the development of the disease. Due to the multistep nature and long time period before the onset of OC in humans, aspects concerning the early identification of causative factors, such as mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides, and subsequent prevention by dietary and nutritional means, are also under investigation at a molecular and cellular level. In order to facilitate and coordinate the different research disciplines, the PROMEC Unit has initiated alliances with many research institutes and universities both nationally and internationally. All research at the PROMEC Unit is conducted with the vision of “building a healthy nation through research” in accordance with the principles of Essential National Health Research (ENHR) and in alignment with the MRC Mandate and Strategic Plan 2005 - 2010. PROMEC became the PROMEC Unit in the MRC National Programme for Non-communicable Diseases on 1 January 2001 with Prof WFO Marasas as the Director. Currently Prof WCA Gelderblom was appointed as interim Director as from 1 November 2006.
The PROMEC Unit is committed to excellence in science and conducting world-class research to solve health problems in South Africa with the objective of building a healthy nation through research. The main thrust is to address health issues related to food safety, nutrition and cancer. The PROMEC Unit consisted of a multidisciplinary research team with internationally acknowledged expertise in Microbiology, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Experimental Carcinogenesis.
Research Goals
- To investigate the occurrence of food-borne fungi, toxins and carcinogens and their relationship to human health in South Africa, with emphasis on the production, isolation, characterisation and risk assessment of secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi as well as indigenous medicinal plants.
- To investigate the mechanisms of action of naturally occurring toxins and carcinogens in order to develop biomarkers for assessing human exposure.
- To investigate the incidence, control and prevention of fungal infections in rural communities and the emergence of new medically important fungi.
- To determine cancer incidence in selected areas of the former Transkei by maintaining a population based cancer registry.
- To undertake nutritional and aetiological studies of the risk factors associated with the incidence of oesophageal cancer in South Africa.
- To investigate the modulating role of dietary fatty acids and herbal plants on the development of cancer and identify antimutagenic and anticancer compounds.
- To develop research capacity in the areas of expertise for which the PROMEC Unit is internationally recognised.
- To disseminate information to increase the public awareness, particularly in rural communities, of the importance of the research outputs of the PROMEC Unit.
The PROMEC Unit consists of three sub-programmes, namely:
- Biochemistry,
- Experimental Carcinogenesis,
- Microbiology.
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