?Division of Immunology
SU Immunology Research Group
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?ABOUT US
The Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 Immunology Research Group (SU-IRG)??? comprises several research focus areas, each investigating a different immunological aspect of TB disease. Our main focus areas include tuberculosis biomarkers, clinical TB research, and site-of-disease immunity. We work with several international consortia and with several US, European and African partners on large cohorts of participants with well-characterized TB infection and disease phenotypes to search for biomarkers of TB infection and disease. In addition to research, and excellence, SU-IRG is passionate about education in Immunology and produces several doctoral, masters and honours graduates annually.
Our laboratory team processes a range of sample types from participants, including serum, urine, saliva, sputum, exhaled breath condensate, broncho-alveolar lavage, stool, pleural fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, depending on specific studies. Sample storage takes place in minus 80?C freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks and sample management is performed through customized, open-source databases with a laboratory data management system. We have recently obtained a Hamilton BiOS which will be used for all future -80?C sample storage.
We routinely perform the following assays:
- Quantiferon TB Gold Plus
- GeneXpert Ultra
- PBMC Isolation and Cryopreservation
- Whole blood stimulation
- Flow cytometric analyses
- RNA Extraction
- Multiplex cytokine arrays (Luminex platform)
Our Quality Statement
SU-IRG is committed to good professional practice through quality in research and service. This commitment to quality is realized throughout the research process, from sample collection to the publication and reporting of results. We are ISO 15189 accredited (M0498) by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), which proves our commitment to establishing and maintaining a quality research laboratory capable of conducting excellent research, including clinical trials. As part of this commitment to quality standards, our laboratory has enrolled in external proficiency schemes for specialized immunological procedures, including Quantiferon, as well as Luminex, GeneXpert, Flow Cytometry and PBMC isolation and cryopreservation.
