PhD defence W. (Wilson) Lim

Managing Mycetoma: Improving Identification and The Search For New Treatment Options
Promotor
Prof. dr. A. Verbon
Co-promotor
Dr. W.W.J. van de Sande
Date
Wednesday 12 Apr 2023, 15:30 - 17:00
Type
PhD defence
Space
Professor Andries Querido room
Building
Education Center
Location
Erasmus MC
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Candidate defends his thesis on Wednesday 12 April 2023, entiteld: Managing Mycetoma: Improving Identification and The Search For New Treatment Options

Summary: Mycetoma is an infectious and inflammatory neglected tropical disease endemic in counties in the tropics and subtropics. This disease is characterised by tumorous swellings and discharge of pus and grains. Mycetoma can be caused by bacteria (actinomycetoma) and fungi (eumycetoma). 

To better manage the disease, improvements in the diagnosis and treatment process needs to be done. Here, we have improved the diagnosis of mycetoma by creating a new identification tool for its most common fungal causative agent. This identification tool now allows us to identify causative agents within a few hours. Treatment of mycetoma is disappointing. It involves a treatment duration of more than >1 year, with recurrences being common. We searched for novel drugs to treat mycetoma by using an open-access drug repurposing approach. We have identified 4 promising drug classes for further research after screening >1300 drugs and compounds in vitro and in vivo. We next explored inhibiting melanin as an alternative treatment approach. The combination of melanin inhibition and antifungal treatment shows promise in vitro.

More information

The public defence will start exactly at 15.30 hrs. The doors will be closed once the public defence starts, latecomers can access the hall via the fourth floor. Given the solemn nature of the event, we advise that children under the age of 6 not be brought to the first part of the ceremony.

A livestream link has been provided to candidate.

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