Cervical cancer microbiome analysis: comparing HPV 16 and 18 with other HPV types.

Differences in the cervicovaginal microbiome may influence the persistence of HPV and therefore, the progression to cervical cancer. We aimed to analyze and compare the metatranscriptome of cervical cancers positive for HPV 16 and 18 with those positive for other HPV types to understand the microbiome's influence on oncogenicity. RNA sequencing data from a total of 222 invasive cervical cancer cases (HPV16/18 positive (n=42) and HPV "Other types" (n=180)) were subjected to taxonomy classification (Kraken 2) including bacteria, virus and fungi to the level of species.

Impact of donor genotype on pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in South African paediatric liver transplant patients.

Background: In the paediatric liver transplant programme in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA), tacrolimus is the calcineurin inhibitor of choice, comprising an essential component of the immunosuppression regimen. It is characterised by a narrow therapeutic index and wide interpatient variability, necessitating therapeutic drug monitoring of whole-blood concentrations. Pharmacogenetic research, although not representative of SA population groups, suggests that single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) gene contribute to the variability in tacrolimus dosing requirements.

Overcoming barriers to single-cell RNA sequencing adoption in low- and middle-income countries.

The advent of single-cell resolution sequencing and spatial transcriptomics has enabled the delivery of cellular and molecular atlases of tissues and organs, providing new insights into tissue health and disease. However, if the full potential of these technologies is to be equitably realised, ancestrally inclusivity is paramount. Such a goal requires greater inclusion of both researchers and donors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The Case for Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenetic Screening in South Africa.

Lack of equitable representation of global genetic diversity has hampered the implementation of genomic medicine in under-represented populations, including those on the African continent. Data from the multi-national Pre-emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing for Preventing Adverse Drug Reactions (PREPARE) study suggest that genotype guidance for prescriptions reduced the incidence of clinically relevant adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by 30%. In this study, hospital dispensary trends from a tertiary South African (SA) hospital (Steve Biko Academic Hospital; SBAH) were compared with the drugs monitored in the PREPARE study.

Analysis of data and common mutations encountered during routine parentage testing in Zimbabwe.

We analyzed parentage data collected over a ten-year period in a Zimbabwean DNA testing laboratory. Parentage case types, prevalence, exclusion data, mutations rates and observed genotyping irregularities were analyzed. We report analysis results from 1303 cases.