Publications by authors named "E D du Toit"
Article Synopsis
- Depletion of species in the vaginal tract leads to bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is linked to poor reproductive health and higher risk of STIs; current antibiotic treatments have low success rates.
- A study conducted in Cape Town explored blood donors' knowledge and attitudes toward vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) as a potential alternative treatment for BV through a questionnaire.
- Results showed a significant majority (86%) of women were open to donating vaginal samples, with willingness increased by a belief in helping others and prior knowledge of healthy vaginal microbiomes; concerns about discomfort and embarrassment affected those unwilling to donate.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in which microbes adapt to and resist current therapies, is a well-recognised global problem that threatens to reverse gains made by modern medicine in the last decades. AMR is a complex issue; however, at its core, it is driven by the overuse and inappropriate use of antimicrobials. Socioeconomic factors have been identified as significant contributors to the emergence and exacerbation of AMR, especially in populations facing inadequate access to healthcare, poor sanitation services and high morbidity and mortality rates.
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- A study was conducted in South Africa to assess the feasibility of establishing a stool donor bank in collaboration with WCBS and UCT, focusing on the willingness of blood donors to donate stool samples for microbiome research.
- The survey, conducted with 209 blood donors, revealed that compensation and the perceived societal benefits significantly influenced the willingness to donate, while age also played a minor role.
- The findings highlight important factors for potential donors and mark the first investigation into the perspectives of participants for a stool microbiome biobank in South Africa, which is crucial for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).
Early life stress (ELS) and a Western diet (WD) promote mood and cardiovascular disorders, however, how these risks interact in disease pathogenesis is unclear. We assessed effects of ELS with or without a subsequent WD on behaviour, cardiometabolic risk factors, and cardiac function/ischaemic tolerance in male mice. Fifty-six new-born male C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to a control group (CON) undisturbed before weaning, or to maternal separation (3h/day) and early (postnatal day 17) weaning (MSEW).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Elevations in the gut metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) have been linked to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Whether elevated TMAO levels reflect early mechanistic involvement or a sequela of evolving disease awaits elucidation. The purpose of this study was to further explore these potential associations.
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