Off to Canada

UKZN Postgraduate Medical Bio-chemistry student Leshern Karamchand, 24, will be under-taking a three-month HIV Pilot Project in Canada. He has received a scholarship from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and will be based at the University of Guelph in Ontario as part of an exchange programme facilitated by UKZN?’s International Office.

Mr Karamchand?’s research, under the supervision of Professor Anil Chuturgoon and Dr Halima Dawood, investigates whether HIV directly influences the formation of ?‘lipid rafts?’ in the membrane of CD4 cells in infected patients. Previously, the occurrence of this process had not been investigated in HIV-infected patients. Lipid rafts are structures in the cell membrane, which HIV utilises as ?‘portals?’ of entry into and exit from its host CD4 cell. The information generated from this study will enhance the understanding of how HIV manipulates its host to further its propagation.

He will be working with research groups, headed by Dr Frances J Sharom and Dr Marc Coppolino who are currently involved in lipid raft-related studies and confocal microscopy respectively, at Guelph?’s Molecular and Cellular Biology Facility. He hopes to gain expertise in various techniques which he will then apply upon his return to South Africa. ?“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from and discuss ideas first-hand with scientists that share my interest?”.

Mr Karamchand departed for Canada on 4 June and returns at the end of August to complete his Masters degree.