Dr
Alta
van Zyl
I received my PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town in 2014. My PhD focused on the development of plant-based vaccine candidates for Bluetongue virus. Currently I’m a Junior Research Fellow in the Biopharming Research Unit (BRU). My research interests center around the expression of recombinant proteins in plants and in cell culture, particularly proteins that can be used as potential vaccine candidates for humans and animals.
I have a keen interest in papillomavirus (PV) vaccine research and have worked on the development of a platform for the expression of HPV vaccine candidates in plants. I have extensive experience in the production and purification of papilloma virus-like particles (VLPs) and pseudovirions (PsVs) in plants. Other projects I am involved in include the production of VLPs and recombinant proteins for bovine papillomavirus, porcine circovirus and beak and feather disease virus; all of these are of great interest in the animal health sector.
My research focuses on the production of recombinant proteins, particularly vaccine candidates, in plants and in cell culture. I have a keen interest in the development of vaccines for oncolytic (Bovine papillomavirus) and emerging viruses.
Projects I have been involved in include the production of virus-like particles (VLPs) and recombinant proteins for both vaccine and diagnostic purposes for human papillomavirus, bovine papillomavirus, Bluetongue virus, Foot and mouth disease virus, porcine circovirus and beak and feather disease virus; all of these of great interest in the animal sector.