ORCiD

Teaching subjects:

BCM368 - Biochemistry of disease (Immunology and Vaccinology)

BTW701 - Biotechnology

GTS351 - Eukaryotic genome control

GTS 700 - Advanced research techniques & Ethics in animal research

 

Overview: 

Professor Christine Maritz-Olivier is a full professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, where she leads the Ticks and Tick-

Borne Diseases research programme. Before starting her current role, she carried out postdoctoral research as a Wellcome Trust-funded fellow in both South Africa and the

Netherlands.

 

Her research is dedicated to advancing integrated platforms for controlling ticks and tick-

borne diseases, and is structured around five strategic pillars, each contributing to a cohesive platform aimed at controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases:

 

1. Tick Vaccine Development:

We have evaluated a broad range of antigens for their potential in tick vaccines. Our leading antigen(s) have demonstrated 80–86% reduction in engorged ticks, and also affect oviposition and viability of offspring. This significant impact highlights their promise in large-scale tick control strategies.

 

2. Immune Response Characterization:

We investigate the immune responses triggered during tick feeding and following vaccination with protective antigen-adjuvant combinations. Techniques such as flow cytometry, cytokine analyses, and RNA sequencing are employed to uncover correlates of protection and inform the rational design and formulation of effective vaccines.

 

3. Vaccine Efficacy under Co-Infection Conditions:

Given the complexity of natural infestations, where hosts are frequently co-infected with ticks and tick-borne pathogens, we assess immune responses under co-infection scenarios using a murine model. Our primary focus is on Babesia and Anaplasma spp., the two most critical diseases transmitted by Rhipicephalus ticks. This work ensures that vaccine efficacy translates to real-world field conditions.

 

4. Phylogeography and Genetic Markers:

We investigate genetic markers of cattle ticks to map their phylogeographical distribution. This research aids in understanding tick population dynamics, the development of protective vaccines for Africa, and the spread of resistance traits.

 

5. Acaricide Resistance Mechanisms:

To monitor acaricide resistance and contribute to the next generation of acaricides, we explore the modes of action underlying resistance mechanisms. Our findings aim to inform the development of rapid diagnostics, enhancing early detection and management of resistance via the rational design of novel acaricides using structural biology.

 

To date, Prof Christine has received several scientific awards such as: Honorary

membership of the International Society of Tropical Veterinary Medicine (Germany), IUBMB

Young Scientist Award (Cananda) as well as the Andrew F Mellon Foundation fellowship award, Bruce and Betty Alberts endowed scholarship, Caswell Grave scholarship and Frankie R Lillie fellowship (all from USA). Nationally, she has been awarded the Best Biotechnology Research Award by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the exceptional achiever award from the University of Pretoria. She serves on a number of editorial boards for international journals. She has published more than 40 articles, two book chapters, numerous invention disclosures and patents. Research findings have been presented at 57 national and 42 international conferences (11 invited speaker). To date, 37 BSc(Hons), 25 MSc and 10 PhD students have graduated under her direct supervision.

 

Scientific awards

• Honorary membership of the Society of Tropical Veterinary Medicine
• City Press Winning Women
• Exceptional Young Researcher University of Pretoria
• Best Biotechnology Research Award Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Young Scientist Award (Canada)
• Andrew F Mellon Foundation fellowships, New York, USA
• Bruce and Betty Alberts endowed scholarship in Physiology, Caswell Grave scholarship and Frankie R Lillie fellowship from MBL, Massachusetts, USA.

 

Recent Publications:

• Baron S, van der Merwe NA, Maritz-Olivier C. The genetic relationship between R. microplus and R. decoloratus ticks in South Africa and their population structure. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2018 Dec;129:60-69.
• Baron S, Barrero RA, Black M, Bellgard MI, van Dalen EMS, Fourie J, Maritz-Olivier C. Differentially expressed genes in response to amitraz treatment suggests a proposed model of resistance to amitraz in R. decoloratus ticks. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2018 Dec;8(3):361-371.
• Robbertse L, Richards SA, Clift SJ, Barnard AC, Leisewitz A, Crafford JE, Maritz-Olivier C. Comparison of the differential regulation of T and B-lymphocyte subsets in the skin and lymph nodes amongst three cattle breeds as potential mediators of immune-resistance to Rhipicephalus microplus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018 May;9(4):976-987.
• Stutzer C, Richards SA, Ferreira M, Baron S, Maritz-Olivier C. Metazoan Parasite Vaccines: Present Status and Future Prospects. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Mar 13;8:67.
• Sungirai M, Baron S, Van der Merwe NA, Moyo DZ, De Clercq P, Maritz-Olivier C, Madder M. Population structure and genetic diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus in Zimbabwe. Acta Trop. 2018 Apr;180:42-46.
• Robbertse L, Richards SA, Maritz-Olivier C. Bovine Immune Factors Underlying Tick Resistance: Integration and Future Directions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol.  2017 Dec 19;7:522.
• Sungirai M, Baron S, Moyo DZ, De Clercq P, Maritz-Olivier C, Madder M. Genotyping acaricide resistance profiles of Rhipicephalus microplus tick populations from communal land areas of Zimbabwe. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018 Jan;9(1):2-9.
• de la Fuente J, Kopáček P, Lew-Tabor A, Maritz-Olivier C. Strategies for new and improved vaccines against ticks and tick-borne diseases. Parasite Immunol. 2016 Dec;38(12):754-769.
• Robbertse L, Baron S, van der Merwe NA, Madder M, Stoltsz WH, Maritz-Olivier C. Genetic diversity, acaricide resistance status and evolutionary potential of a Rhipicephalus microplus population from a disease-controlled cattle farming area in South Africa. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2016 Jun;7(4):595-603.
• Schetters T, Bishop R, Crampton M, Kopáček P, Lew-Tabor A, Maritz-Olivier C, Miller R, Mosqueda J, Patarroyo J, Rodriguez-Valle M, Scoles GA, de la Fuente J. Cattle tick vaccine researchers join forces in CATVAC. Parasit Vectors. 2016 Feb 24;9:105.
• Wyk RDj, Baron S, Maritz-Olivier C. An integrative approach to understanding pyrethroid resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus and R. decoloratus ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2016 Jun;7(4):586-94.
• Baron S, van der Merwe NA, Madder M, Maritz-Olivier C. SNP Analysis Infers that Recombination Is Involved in the Evolution of Amitraz Resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 9;10(7):e0131341.
• Richards SA, Stutzer C, Bosman AM, Maritz-Olivier C. Transmembrane proteins--Mining the cattle tick transcriptome. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2015 Sep;6(6):695-710.
• Rossouw I, Maritz-Olivier C, Niemand J, van Biljon R, Smit A, Olivier NA, Birkholtz LM. Morphological and Molecular Descriptors of the Developmental Cycle of Babesia divergens Parasites in Human Erythrocytes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 May 8;9(5):e0003711.
• van Zyl WA, Stutzer C, Olivier NA, Maritz-Olivier C. Comparative microarray analyses of adult female midgut tissues from feeding Rhipicephalus species. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2015 Feb;6(1):84-90.