Drug & Biocide Discovery
?Beukes Group?
Birkholtz Group??
The Birkholtz lab (B-lab) is a dynamic, collaborative group working at the interface of biology and drug discovery to address health problems relevant to Africa. We mainly work on malaria parasites. In light of emerging infectious diseases, the ability to eliminate age-old scourges like malaria is even more important. Malaria is still the most lethal tropical infectious disease and is particularly devastating on the African continent. Our work focuses on solution-oriented research to create health innovations for malaria elimination and to address the societal challenges associated with the disease in South Africa and globally.
We focus on the most deadly of the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum. We work at the interface between parasite biology and drug discovery and use the new biological insights we gain from studying different life cycle forms of the malaria parasite as a catalyst for drug discovery. We focus on the pathogenic processes driving the proliferation and differentiation of malaria parasites. Our expertise lies in identifying chemical entities that block malaria parasite transmission between humans and mosquitoes. If we can achieve this, we will be able to stop the spread of the disease and, as such, contribute new tools to malaria elimination strategies.
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BIOPEP Peptide Group
The Biopep Peptide group investigates resistance towards, mechanism of action and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of antimicrobial peptides and membrane active antibiotics, using both natural and novel synthetic compounds. These antimicrobials are directed against a number of targets such as resistant bacterial pathogens in particular Listeria monocytogenes, fungal plant pathogens, as well as parasites causing malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) and African sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei).??
De Villiers Group
The De Villiers group focuses on
investigating Coenzyme A biosynthesis and utilization as an
anti-parasitic drug target. Our main focus at the moment is on Plasmodium spp. with an interdisciplinary approach utilizing Chemical Biology.
Strauss Group??
The Strauss Lab's core research efforts are in the multidisciplinary field of Chemical Biology. We mainly focus on the chemistry and biology of the ubiquitous metabolic cofactor Coenzyme A, and on low molecular weight thiol-dependent redox biology. We also apply the expertise we gain in this manner to the design and development of new antibiotic agents – especially those that target diseases relevant in the African health context.?
Zininga Group
The Zininga Group focuses on investigating the role of molecular chaperones in protein folding in cells under stress. Our main focus is on the malaria agents Plasmodium spp. The parasites are dependent on a robust protein folding machinery for their survival in stressful environments. We hope to understand the parasite protein folding system and we intend to apply the knowledge to other diseases.
