Masters Degrees (Molecular Biology and Human Genetics)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Molecular Biology and Human Genetics) by browse.metadata.advisor "Baatjies, Lucinda"

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    A comparative analysis of fungal agents with anti-glioblastoma properties
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Lai, Daanyaal; Baatjies, Lucinda; Mavumengwana, Vuyo; Mabasa, Lawrence; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. Molecular Biology and Human Genetics.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cancer can be defined as a disease where cells within the body grow uncontrollably and may spread throughout the body. Globally cancers have been found to amass a high mortality rate, with central nervous system (CNS) tumors increasing substantially over the past 30 years more specifically within the elderly. Primary treatment regimens for CNS tumors include but are not limited to chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical resection. However, these treatments carry a lot of toxic side effects, thus highlighting the need to develop alternative treatment strategies. In the current study, fungal crude extracts were evaluated for their anti-glioblastoma (GBM) potential. The fungal crude extracts were derived from different fungal species which were obtained from crustose lichens, plants, and marine vertebrates such as ascidians. A total of 45 different fungi were grown with 15 fungi from each source undergoing sequencing to identify their genus and species. The fungi which were successfully identified via ITS and cultured for metabolite extraction. The metabolites were extracted by soaking the fungal mat in methanol and consequently concentrating using a rotary evaporator. Fungal endophytes Mucor janssenii (P13) and Diaporthe rudis (R3.10) which came from a lichen and a plant respectfully, showed the greatest cell growth inhibitory activity when screened against the GBM cancer cell line. Fungal crude extracts of Mucor janssenii (P13) showed inhibition of 55% at 250 µg/mL and Diaporthe rudis (R3.10) showed a 50% inhibition at 83 µg/mL against the U251 GBM cell line. These extracts showed no cytotoxicity against the Vero cell line, which was used as the normal control cell line. Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized, functionalized with crude extracts Mucor janssenii (P13) and Diaporthe rudis (R3.10) and their inhibitory effects against the GBM cell line assessed. U251 GBM cell line was treated with the functionalized NPs at concentration range of 100 µg/mL to 12.5 µg/mL. The functionalized NPs displayed inhibition only at 100 µg/mL with both Mucor janssenii (P13) and Diaporthe rudis (R3.10) functionalized NPs displaying inhibition of 60% and 65% respectfully. Untargeted metabolite profiling was conducted with both crude extracts P13 and R3.10 along with their “spent” fractions from NP functionalization. The present study has concluded and highlighted the importance of fungi as a reservoir of natural products.