Post Graduate template
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Only once you have all the information, please send to [email protected]
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Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Research topic focuses on validating previously reported
tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (tDMRs)
for body fluid identification, as well as testing the effect of
age, ethnicity, & disease on methylation patterns of the
tDMRs. Once validated, the tDMRs may be applicable in
forensics.
Farzeen Kader (PhD Candidate)
Supervisor(s)
BSc Microbiology and Biochemistry (UKZN Dr Meenu Ghai
Westville),
Prof AO Olaniran
BSc Hons Microbiology (UKZN Westville),
MSc Genetics (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Methylation Profiling and validation of candidate tDMRs
for identification of human blood, saliva, semen and
vaginal fluid and its application in forensics
Natalie Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics and Cell Biology (UKZN- Westville),
BSc Hons Genetics (UKZN- Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Body fluids found at crime scenes provide important
information that link the evidence and the crime, however,
the type and origin cannot be determined. Epigenetic
analyses identified tDMRs (tissue-specific differentially
methylated regions) which showed different DNA
methylation profiles according to type of cell/tissue. The
present study determines the potential of tissue specific
differential DNA methylation for body fluid identification
using three genes (HPCAL1, PTPRS & ZNF282) expected to
show differential methylation profiles in blood, saliva,
semen and vaginal fluid using BSP, MSP, and MSRE-PCR.
The validated tDMRs will be used to develop markers for
body fluid identification, providing an efficient analysis for
forensic casework.
Supervisor(s)
Dr. M. Ghai
Dr. A. J. Niehaus (Co-supervisor)
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Research Project Title:
DNA methylation regulation of pro and anti-inflammatory
cytokines in type 2 diabetes.
Velosha Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
BSc Cell Biology and Genetics (UKZN Westville),
BSc Hons Forensic Genetics (UKZN Westville)
Email: [email protected]
Brief description:
Type 2 diabetes (T2M) is currently one of largest global
health concerns. T2D has shown evidence to be
accompanied by chronic inflammation which can lead to
cardiovascular complications. The increase or decrease in
the expression of chronic inflammatory genes in T2D may
be affected by environmental factors (epigenetics) such as
age, diet, lack of exercise etc. For this study gene
expression and DNA methylation profiles of genes
associated with chronic inflammation in T2D are measured
in healthy and diabetic mice models in whole blood and
components of leukocytes.
Supervisor(s)
Dr Meenu Ghai
Dr Bongani Nkambule (Co-supervisor)
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Merusha Naidoo (MSc Candidate)
My masters research project is titled ‘Tissue specific DNA
methylation indicators of inflammation in type two
diabetes’. It has been found that type 2 diabetic individuals
develop chronic systemic inflammation, which further
accelerates progression of disease by destroying insulinproducing β-cells. It has also been suggested that
saturated fat consumption, sedentary lifestyle and obesity
lead to chronic inflammation. Current type 2 diabetes
mellitus (T2DM) treatment is not effective in treating
sterile inflammation. The epigenetic mechanism of DNA
methylation connects the genome to external factors,
allowing for a better understanding of chronic
inflammation in T2DM, and possible development of more
effective treatments.
BSc Genetics & Cellular Biology (UKZN
Westville),
Supervisor(s)
BSc Hons Biological Sciences (UKZN Westville)
Dr. Meenu Ghai
Dr. Hlengiwe Mbongwa
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Characterisation of acetolactate synthase gene in crop
families and for herbicide resistance in sugarcane
Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors are commonly used
as herbicides in agriculture, however the current variety of
sugarcane in use is susceptible to it – less efficient methods
of weed control are therefore used. This study will involve
screening sugarcane mutants (of ALS gene) to identify
mutations conferring the resistance trait for use in
planning future breeding programmes.
Leah Maharaj (MSc Candidate)
Characterization of the gene across different plant families
BSc Genetics & Cellular Biology (UKZN will add to plant genetic resources to aid in future plant
Westville),
crosses and to understand conservation of the gene across
BSc Hons Forensic Genetics (UKZN Westville)
plant families.
Email: [email protected]
Supervisors
Dr. Meenu Ghai
Dr. Shailesh Joshi
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Analysis of Specificity of lm00753-Loop-Mediated
Isothermal Amplification assay for detection of Virulent
lineages of Listeria monocytogenes
Sayuri Gounden (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Microbiology(UKZN Westville)
Listeria monocytogenes is pathogenic and infectious,
causing diseases among animals and human beings. A
LAMP method targeting lmo0753 gene of L.monocytogenes
has been developed at UKZN. The assay is sensitive and
specific for detection of L.monocytogenes. However the
specificity of the LAMP primers to amplify various strains of
L.monocytogenes from different lineages needs to be
tested. This study aims to determine the specificity of
lmo0753-LAMP assay to detect virulent serotypes of L.
monocytogenes, which will particularly aid in the detection
of this pathogen in treated wastewater.
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor
Dr. Meenu Ghai
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Identification of allele-specific methylation in gene-based
tDMRs among South African ethnic groups
Kimera Naicker (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics & Biochemistry (UKZN Westville)
Tissue-specific differential methylation was observed at
CpG sites of HPCAL1 and PTPRS genes in the South African
White ethnic group compared to the other South African
ethnic groups by MSP (methylation-specific PCR) analysis
of blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid.
The aim of this study is to determine if the same pattern of
methylation is observed among different ethnic groups,
with the purpose of identifying allele-specific methylation
in the South African ethnic groups at tDMRs of HPCAL1 and
PTPRS genes and identifying SNPs associated with allelespecific methylation. Bisulphite-specific PCR will be used to
analyze the methylation status of saliva samples from
South African ethnic groups.
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor
Dr. Meenu Ghai
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
“Analysis of the stability of methylation profile of ZNF282
tDMR marker for human body fluid identification, by
simulation of forensic conditions.’’
Body fluid identification during forensic investigation
is crucial however difficult, hence when linking
biological evidence and crimes reliable methods are
required. Tissue-specific differentially methylated
regions (tDMRs) differ in levels of methylation
according to cell and tissue type. The present study
aims to validate the methylation profiles of ZNF282
tDMR as a reliable method of identification or
differentiation of semen from blood, saliva and vaginal
fluid. Focusing on the effect of forensic environments
on the stability of ZNF282 as a tDMR body fluid
marker.
Supervisor
Dr. Meenu Ghai
Sharren Denell Peter (Hons Candidate)
BSc Genetics and Cell Biology (UKZN-Westville),
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Dr. Name Surname
Prof Name Surname
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Name Surname (Hons/MSc/PhD Candidate)
BSc Genetics (University),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (University)
MSc Zoology (University),
Telephone: 031 000 0000
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Dr. Name Surname
Prof Name Surname
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Name Surname (Hons/MSc/PhD Candidate)
BSc Genetics (University),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (University)
MSc Zoology (University),
Telephone: 031 000 0000
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Dr. Name Surname
Prof Name Surname