It was a cum laude pass for research fellow in the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Ms Nonsikelelo Ndlela who obtained her Master of Medical Microbiology for her study on The Impact of Point-of-Care Testing and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Bacterial Vaginosis on the Genital Epithelial Barrier Integrity.
She was supervised by Professor Lenine Liebenberg, the support of whom she said she was ever-grateful.
‘I am incredibly proud of myself. It has been two years of learning and growing. This is confirmation that hard work brings success,’ she said.
Currently a PhD candidate at UKZN, Ndlela said genital inflammation and epithelial barrier damage increase the risk of HIV infection in women. ‘Because bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common causes of inflammation in the female genital tract, their effective treatment could potentially reduce this risk. Point-of-care (POC) testing and treatment using a specific targeted POC model has been shown to clear STIs and reduce genital inflammation. The study assessed whether the integrity of the genital epithelial barrier is restored.
‘In sub-Saharan Africa, women and young girls suffer the highest burden of HIV infections. Inflammation of the genital tract causes increased susceptibility to HIV infection, presumably through related epithelial barrier damage and target cell recruitment. Given STIs and bacterial vaginosis’ (BV) direct contribution to such inflammation, their effective treatment could potentially reduce HIV risk in this vulnerable population,’ added Ndlela.
‘It has recently been shown that a POC STI/BV detection model, immediate treatment, and expedited partner therapy (EPT) resolved STIs and reduced concentrations of genital proinflammatory cytokines among South African women. This study investigated an additional impact of the model on the genital epithelial barrier.’
The findings revealed that treating women with STIs or BV with antibiotics is insufficient to reinstate barrier integrity to levels likely to limit HIV risk. Although STIs were cleared after treatment and genital inflammation was reduced, genital epithelial barrier integrity was not restored.
‘This study will benefit society as we propose that following treatment, additional strategies are needed to repair the genital epithelium. Considering the importance of an intact barrier to HIV susceptibility, it is necessary to assess the impact of timely, targeted treatment of other STIs on HIV incidence and the mechanism thereof,’ said Ndlela.
‘Being in the science field has always been my dream and I wanted to be involved in impactful, beneficial research that improves public health. CAPRISA undertakes high-impact, relevant research on HIV, and this is aligned with my passion,’ she commented.
‘My experience at UKZN has been amazing. I gained much experience over the two years of my master’s degree, from technical skills to soft skills like science communication. I was fortunate to be in an environment that not only focuses on academic excellence but also prioritises students’ health and wellbeing, and I had a supervisor who encourages holistic development.
‘My primary goal is to become an impactful research scientist. In the long run, I see myself involved in clinical trials. I have also gained an interest in research that ensures the safety of treatment or drugs for public use.’
Ndlela won the prize for the best research poster presentation at the 11th Infectious Diseases in Africa Symposium in Stellenbosch in September 2022. She also received the prize for the best oral presentation at the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences’ Research Symposium last November.
In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to music, singing and going to church.
Words: Lunga Memela
Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan
