Page 141 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THIS PROGRAMME

Antiviral Gene Therapy

Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof. Patrick Arbuthnot
Patrick.Arbuthnot@wits.ac.za

Advancing Research Priorities:
Strategic Objectives and Impact
The Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research
Unit (AGTRU) works on developing the use of nucleic
acids to treat and prevent serious viral infections of
public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The
strength of the approach is that it is based on rational
design, which in turn is informed by knowledge
about DNA and RNA sequences. AGTRU has gained
experience in this topic, which has been important
in building vaccine manufacturing and gene therapy
capacity in South Africa. Natasha Killassy, an MSc student in the
Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research
Unit, is working on generating SARS-CoV-2 virus-
Our specific priorities have included the following:
like particles to improve evaluation of vaccines
Lipid nanoparticle formulations made up using bio- and therapies against the virus.
renewable lipids, which can be used for delivery of
mRNA in vaccine formulations.
(LNPs) and are vital for protection and delivery of
mRNA vaccination against Mycobacterium mRNA. A library of approximately 90 compounds
tuberculosis (Mtb); mRNA Vaccination against has been prepared and evaluated for its ability to
HIV, which was part of the now-halted BRILLIANT formulate mRNA, deliver reporter genes and elicit
consortium project; Self-amplifying and conventional an immune response. Results demonstrate that the
mRNA for vaccination against HBV; Recombinant leads are efficient and have properties like the SM-
adenoviral vectors for vaccination against hepatitis B 102 compound used in Moderna mRNA vaccines.
virus; and, Gene therapy using silencing and editing Multidisciplinary collaboration with Prof Charles
to inactivate hepatitis B virus replication.
de Koning (School of Chemistry, Wits) has been
fruitful and the work is being extended to scale up
Key Milestones and Achievements production as a precursor to GMP manufacture and
Lipid nanoparticle formulations. Work on developing use in humans.
the use of bio-renewable material to produce
ionisable lipids has progressed well. These lipids mRNA vaccination against Mycobacterium
are the major component of lipid nanoparticles tuberculosis (Mtb) and HIV. Mtb vaccine development

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