Arnold Theiler Memorial Lectures

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Collection of presentations from Collection of presentations from invited speakers on Faculty day, a special, dedicated occasion which focuses on the research activities of the Faculty of Veterinary Science.

	Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lectures



1984	T. Gutsche	Theiler - His Personal Significance Today


1985	Prof HPA De Boom	Vlammende Fakkels, Ou bene, Ivoortorings en Rooi Vlae


1986	Prof BC Jansen	Theiler Gedenklesing

1987		Opening of the Sir Arnold Theiler Building - No Lecture


1988	Dr RD Bigalke	Important Requirements for Future Animal Production-Orientated Research with Particular Reference to Veterinary Science


1989	Dr R Swanepoel	-


1990	Dr A Schutte	The Impact of Controlled Breeding on the Cattle industry in Southern Africa


1991	Prof DM Joubert	Sir Arnold Theilergedenklesing - Theiler en die Fakulteit Veeartsenykunde


1992	Dr CM Cameron	The Environment - Whose Responsibility

1993		Opening of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital - No Lecture

1994	Dr W Plowright	Rinderpest and Cell-Culture Revolution

1995	Prof WL Jenkins	-

1996	Prof PV Tobais	Premature Discoveries in Science

1997	Prof DL Block	Our Universe: Accident or Design

1998	Prof TW Naude	A Stroll Through the Wondrous Garden of South African Toxicology

1999	-	-

2000	Dr DW Verwoerd	The Molecular Revolution in Biology and its Influence on Veterinary Science

2001	Prof H Huismans	Molecular Biology and its Impact on the Study and Control of Viral Diseases such as Bluetongue and African Horse Sickness

2002	Prof I Horak	The Joy of Research

2003	Prof WFO Marasas	Fumonisins: Historical Perspective and Future Objectives

2004	Dr RA Kock	Wildlife/Domestic Animal Disease Interface - Hard of Soft Edge?

2005	Prof SS van den Berg	The Past, Present and Future of the Clinical Departments in the Faculty of Veterinary Science

2006	Dr BD Perry	The Global Poverty Reduction Agenda: What are the Implications for Animal Health Research and Development

2007	Prof Dr AWCA Cornelissen	What Makes and Excellent Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

2008	Dr G Bruckner	New Challenges for the Veterinary Profession in Global Animal Diseases Control and the Trade in Animals and Animal Products

2009	Prof P Doherty	Adventures in Infection and Immunity

2010	Dr R Moerane	The Role of the Veterinary Profession within the Current Development Agenda in the Republic of South Africa
2011		World Veterinary Congress - No Lecture
2012	Prof N James MacLachlan	Emerging viral diseases : the example of bluetongue from Theiler to climate change
2013	Prof Marian C. Horzinek	A Personal Journey Through Coronavirus Evolution
2014	Prof Louis J. Guillette	Predisposition for Health or Disease : the 'new' Genetics of Environmental Health
2015	Prof Graham J. Louw	Mummification – a glimpse into the sociocultural aspects of the preservation of the bodies of domesticated animals
2016	Prof Lucille Blumberg	One Health: a decade of shared experiences and benefits
2017	Prof Robert Gilbert	The Research Imperative
2018	Prof Yoshan Moodley	The Story of Humanity, told by our oldest commensal : Helicobacter pylori
2019	Prof Duncan Mitchell	Large mammals facing climate change
2020	-	No Memorial Lecture
2021	Prof Peter Sutovsky	Male infertility and semen evaluation: andrology in the age of precision medicine and agriculture
2022	Prof Juergen A Richt	In the footsteps of Arnold Theiler: vaccines and diagnostics then, now and in the future

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Male infertility and semen evaluation : andrology in the age of precision medicine and agriculture
(2021-10-21) Sutovsky, Peter
Infertility has been considered a chronic disease for millennia, and remedies have been sought, both holistic/spiritual and medicinal. Infertility testing is not a modern concept either, with the first test method on record being described over 900 years ago, attributed to female physician Trota of Salerno (1050-1097). This, by today’s standard amusing testing “protocol” predated the first observation of human spermatozoon by van Leeuwenhoek and Hamm by nearly 500 years, though it was hardly a forerunner of contemporary andrology, which emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century. In those times, the sperm count and appearance/morphology were the gold standards. Ironically, despite recent advances in precision andrology and fundamental spermatology research, sperm count, concentration, morphology, and often but not always, sperm motility, remain the guiding parameters of semen analysis in humans and livestock animals. Male fertility is of paramount importance in animal health, veterinary medicine and reproductive management. Artificial insemination (AI) of livestock has been a staple technology for producers across various species worldwide for over sixty years. This technology allows for greater overall livestock production through enhanced livestock genetic selection while also experiencing an increase in efficiency over the past decades. Though much work has been done to improve the efficiency of AI, there are still many areas in need of advancement including semen analysis protocols, sperm selection techniques, semen sexing technologies, and semen storage methods. These improvements are driven by new technologies and fueled by a deeper understanding of reproductive physiology. Our laboratory has been at the forefront of sperm quality biomarker discovery, validating proteins involved in protein turnover by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, ligands and receptors involved in fertilization, and sperm redox system enzymes defending spermatozoa from damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species within the male and female reproductive tract. We have contributed to these areas of improvement in several ways including increasing the capabilities of semen analysis using image-based flow cytometry (IBFC) in combination with new biomarker probes, such as those that reflect spermatozoas’ zinc ion content and localization. Furthermore, we have explored the role of zinc ions in sperm function and their impact on sperm capacitation and sperm storage. We have also investigated sperm mitochondrial sheath length and its association with boar and bull AI fertility, which may provide a new flow cytometry-based semen analysis method coupled with machine learning to ultimately develop an automated, label-free sperm phenotyping pipeline. As a proof of concept, we have used IBFC to phenotype the sperm quality of commercially available beef and dairy bulls carrying rare, detrimental single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutations within the sperm quality/output influencing genes that contribute to reduced AI fertility. Our laboratory was able to link these fertility issues to identifiable sperm phenotypes and is conducting similar studies on bulls with compromised fertility. Regarding new sperm selection technologies, our laboratory was among the first to explore the use of nanopurification. Peanut agglutinin lectin (PNA) probe coated nanoparticles have been used to cleanse semen samples of damaged/abnormal spermatozoa and tested in field AI trials with favorable results. Our lab also heavily investigates post-fertilization sperm mitophagy and its roles in fertilization, which is becoming ever more important as the recent reports of human heteroplasmy continue to be published. As such, the possibility of naturally occurring and somatic cell nuclear transfer -related livestock heteroplasmy continues to increase. The use of basic research to shift the understanding of paradigms within reproductive physiology, such as is outlined above, will continue to impact the field of andrology, lead to the development of new technologies and increase the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies such as AI.
Large mammals facing climate change
(2019-08-22) Mitchell, Duncan; Hetem, Robyn; Maloney, Shane; Meyer, Leith Carl Rodney; Snelling, Ned; Strauss, Maartin; Fuller, Andrea
The fossil record reveals that it has been the largest mammals that have been the mammals most at risk in previous major global warming events, and they are likely to also be most at risk in the current anthropogenic event, in which global temperature is rising much faster than it has in previous events. The large mammals may succumb to heat disease in what will be increasingly frequent and intense heat waves, or may die of dehydration from the diminishing availability of dietary water (especially in the southern hemisphere), or from the disappearance of their sources of food, or from disease caused by pathogens emerging during global warming. However, what is likely to be more pernicious will be failure of reproduction in the face of warming, drought and food reduction. How cattle are affected by heat stress was a topic of research at Onderstepoort in the days of Sir Arnold Theiler. That ambient warming causes failures of conception, teratogenesis, intra-uterine growth retardation and failure of lactation is now well known to the production animal community, but has yet to make an impact on the wildlife community. If they are to prosper, large mammals faced with global warming in their current environments will have to move, or be moved, to more benign environments, or will have to adjust genetically or phenotypically to their new circumstances. Although some species of large mammal have the capacity to move thousands of kilometres within a year, anthropogenic land fragmentation will prevent migration being the solution to threats of local warming that it has been in the past, when polar bears migrated to the Canadian mainland, for example. Some charismatic large wild mammals with low population numbers, like the rhinoceros, may be able to be rescued by assisted colonisation. Valuable livestock, like racehorses, could be relocated to higher latitudes or altitudes. However, the scale (and therefore cost) required of the operations is unprecedented, and the demand for financial resources will compete with those that will be required to move humans. While it is a viable option for taxa with rapid reproduction like bacteria (although potentially catastrophic for host species), genetic adaptation is an unlikely stay-put solution for large mammals. With large body size comes increased longevity, slower reproduction and reduced offspring numbers. Large mammal species will not be able to go through sufficient generations for genetic adaptation to result in speciation occurring within the 50- or 100-year horizon of current global warming. However, there is some room for optimism arising from the genetic process of micro-evolution, which is much faster than speciation. For more than two decades, my research team has been investigating the feasibility of large mammals employing the other stay-put option, namely phenotypic flexibility. Do large mammals have latent physiological talents, autonomic or behavioural, that they do not necessarily require in their current environments, which could be recruited when their environments become warmer and drier? Exploring that question has required the development of a new experimental approach to conservation physiology. It requires the long-term measurement of physiological variables, including behaviour, in identified individual large mammals that are exposed to natural or induced stress, simulating those that will occur with global warming. In the case of wild mammals, at least, studies need to be conducted in free-living mammals in their natural habitats in the absence of human observers, the presence of whom inevitably distorts the mammals’ autonomic and behavioural functions. Such studies have been made possible by the new technology of biologging, which uses onboard instrumentation to measure variables such as location, orientation, movement and temperature in large mammals living free in their natural habitats. We have used seasonal changes in the environment as a proxy for global warming and drying, but have also explored those physiological variables in large antelope in the current extremes of heat and aridity, the Saudi Arabian desert. We have discovered evidence for latent physiological talents, such as switching foraging from day to night, and implementing processes for reducing evaporative water loss, but these are not distributed uniformly across taxa. Among ungulates, perissodactyls show less flexibility than do artiodactyls. Within the scope of the wild mammalian taxa that we have studied, myrmecophages are the most vulnerable to the consequences of global warming. Biologging has been employed for studying livestock physiology under ambient thermal stress, for example by ourselves with Angora goats, but not yet nearly to the extent that it should be. The future of livestock under global warming is a hot topic, literally and figuratively, with cattle farming being the main focus. Meteorologists point to the surprisingly large contribution of cattle to greenhouse gases via the eructation of methane and generation of nitrous oxide from mismanaged manure, and to the profligate water requirements of beef production. Cows’ milk production is heavily compromised by ambient warming, as is conception. Economists point to the diminishing capacity to grain-feed cattle in the face of increasing human food requirements. Agronomists point to the compounding effect of a massive decline in cereal crop production, which is anticipated under global warming, including in the “maize belt” of South Africa. The attractiveness of cattle farming is waning. Yet, there are huge increases in demand for beef, as well as for cows’ milk, in developing countries. Meteorology, conservation and economics argue for a reduction in red meat consumption, at least in developed countries, and for a switch from ruminants to monogastric mammals for meat production. Climate change biology argues for a switch within ruminants from cattle to goats for milk and meat.
The research imperative
(2017-09-07) Gilbert, Robert O.
Human population growth continues unabated and is expected to reach about 11 billion by the end of the century, of whom about 4 billion will live in Africa. The pressure to feed the population in a sustainable way is challenged by limited and decreasing land availability, severely constrained water sources, political instability and unique disease challenges. Currently over 2 billion people lack food security, 6 million children die of malnutrition every year and over a quarter of children in the developing world are malnourished. Meeting the demand for food in Africa will require all the creative talent of our scientists in the coming decades and will place special demands on veterinary scientists to enhance animal health and productivity and especially to do so within prevailing resource constraints and without contaminating air, soil or water. These expectations may appear overwhelming but if we all contribute in our own areas of expertise I remain confident that innovation and creativity in the profession will prevail to meet these challenges. My own investigation of uterine disease was rooted in my frustration by the lack of commonly accepted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that prevailed 25 years ago; some people argued that endometritis was not detrimental to reproduction and the evidence on both sides was poor. We set out to define the condition and measure its impact, establishing that, amongst dairy cows in North America it was both highly prevalent and severely detrimental. We went on to examine the epidemiology of the condition and investigate bacterial pathogens that played a role, culminating in the development of a vaccine that reduced incidence of metritis and improved reproduction. We also focused on periparturient immune and metabolic status in the pathogenesis of uterine disease. Apart from the obvious benefit of research in enhancing animal health, welfare or productivity and adding to the arsenal of veterinary diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative tools, research is personally and intellectually satisfying. Research enriches the educational environment by encouraging a deeper understanding of subject material, by developing enthusiasm for discovery and a sense of excitement. However, research is not the exclusive preserve of academia – veterinary practitioners should be an integral part of the overall research effort and the barriers between practice and academia for research collaboration should be removed. Practitioners often have access to more cases of a specific kind than academic hospitals, and the advent of electronic records and the ability to manipulate and analyze vast databases has facilitated investigations involving many patients, herds or veterinary practices. Some practicing veterinarians find participation in research provides an outlet for their creative faculties. The vital ingredient is curiosity and an enthusiasm for the subject. Our ability to advance veterinary practice, to feed a growing population in a healthy and sustainable way, to advance health, welfare and productivity of animals, and indeed whole populations and ecosystems, and to educate veterinarians able to adapt and flourish for 50 years after they graduate, depends on a vigorous and productive research enterprise that engages the whole profession.
Predisposition for health or disease : the 'new' genetics of environmental health
(2015-07-20) Guillette, Louis J.
The curriculum vitae of Prof. Louis J. Guillette. He delivered the Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on September 4th, 2014 at Onderstepoort. Louis J Guillette Jr is professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Medical University of South Carolina, USA, as well as Professor of Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences at the same institution. Prof Guillette Jr is also Director of the Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Science Center and an Extraordinary Professor of Toxicology and Pharmacology at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
A personal journey through coronavirus evolution
(2013-09-13) Horzinek, Marian C.
For companion animal medicine, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is an important disease - it is fatal, and prevention is a challenge. FIP is a sporadic viral condition - a contradiction in terms. The explanation: mutants of a coronavirus (CoV) that is endemic in most feline populations, arise in individual cats, change their tropism from enterocyte to macrophage and cause a polyserositis with pyogranulomas. The FIP causing variants are usually not transmitted, and there is no epidemic spread.
Emerging viral diseases : the example of bluetongue from Theiler to climate change
(2012-10-31) MacLachlan, N.J. (James)
The role of the veterinary profession within the current development agenda in the Republic of South Africa
(2010-08-18) Moerane, Rebone
Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on September 2, 2010, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Important requirements for future animal production-orientated research with particular reference to veterinary science
(South African Veterinary Association., 1989) Bigalke, R.D.
Presentation of Dr R.D. Bigalke. This 5th Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on October, 5th 1988 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Adventures in infection and immunity
(2009-08-31T08:12:42Z) Doherty, Peter C.; University of Melbourne. Dept. of Microbiology and Immunolgy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on August 27, 2009, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
New challenges for the veterinary profession in global animal disease control and the trade in animals and animal products
(2008-09-05T10:31:39Z) Bruckner, Gideon K.; University of Pretoria. Faculty of Veterinary Science
Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on 4 September 2008 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Our universe : accident or design?
(2007-10-17T07:57:26Z) Block, David L.
The curriculum vitae of Prof. David L. Block. He delivered the Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 26 September 1997 at Onderstepoort, South Africa. Professor Block is the author of the books Starwatch and Our universe: accident or design?
Vlammende fakkels, ou bene, ivoortorings en rooi vlae
(South African Veterinary Association, 1985-12) De Boom, H.P.A.
Presentation of Dr H.P.A. de Boom. This 2nd Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 25 September 1985 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
What makes an excellent Faculty of Veterinary Medicine?
(2007-10-16T08:48:31Z) Cornelissen, Albert W.C.A.
An abstract of the presentation and curriculum vitae of Prof. dr. Albert W.C.A. Cornelissen. This Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 6 September 2007 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
The environment : whose responsibility?
(South African Veterinary Association, 1993) Cameron, Colin McKenzie
Presentation and curriculum vitae of Dr Colin M. Cameron. This Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 1 October 1992 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
The molecular revolution in biology and its influence on veterinary science
(2007-10-15T07:27:13Z) Verwoerd, Daniel Wynand
Presentation and curriculum vitae of Dr D.W. Verwoerd. This Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 29 September 2000 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Theiler gedenklesing
(South African Veterinary Association, 1986-12) Jansen, B.C.
Address delivered at the 3rd Faculty Day of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria on 1 October 1986
Theiler - his personal significance today
(South African Veterinary Association, 1985-03) Gutsche, Thelma
Delivered on the occasion of the First Faculty day of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria on 5 September 1984.
Premature discoveries in science
(2007-09-03T07:34:41Z) Tobias, Philip V.
The curriculum vitae of Prof. Philip V. Tobias. He delivered the Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 27th September 1996 at Onderstepoort, South Africa. An article with a similar title appeared in The Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 140, No. 1. (Mar., 1996), pp. 49-64. Click on the link to view the full text article. Access may be restricted to affiliated members of JSTOR.
Fumonisins : historical perspectives and future objectives
(2007-09-03T06:52:27Z) Marasas, Walter F.O. (Walter Friedrich Otto)
An abstract of the presentation and curriculum vitae of Professor Walter Marasas. This Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 25th September 2003 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Wildlife domestic animal disease interface – hard or soft edge?
(2007-08-31T08:32:55Z) Kock, Richard A.
An abstract of the presentation and curriculum vitae of Dr Richard A. Kock. This Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered during Faculty Day, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science on the 16th September 2004 at Onderstepoort, South Africa.

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