NEWS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP NEWS

Genomics Sequencing Services with no profit motive to advance Africa's scientific research, biotech, vaccine, therapy and diagnostics

We're committed to providing affordable genomics sequencing in Africa, with no profit motive. We aim to unleash genomics' potential, support scientific research, and foster biotech, vaccine, therapy, and diagnostics development in Africa.

Training Opportunity: Genomics & Bioinformatics,15-26 July 2024, CERI, South Africa

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), based at Stellenbosch University, and the KwaZulu Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform, based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, are offering 15 short-term fellowships for training in genomics and bioinformatics. The 2-week fellowship will cover travel, accommodation, meals, and ground transfers in South Africa.

Celebrating Academic Excellence: Congratulations to Our Graduates!

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the remarkable individuals from the CERI team who recently graduated from Stellenbosch University. Their achievements mark not only personal milestones but also significant contributions to the academic and scientific community. Among these bright stars, we celebrate the accomplishments of Lucious Chabuka, Maambele Khosa, Nikita Sitharam, Somila Ntsiyane, and Yandisa Ntatiso.

Why Africa is facing an uphill battle to make its own vaccines

The continent – in dire need of its own production capabilities – could once again be at the back of the vaccine queue in the next pandemic

CERI FC Hits the Field for a Friendly Clash with CubeSpace!

On Friday, April 19th, our newly formed soccer team, CERI FC, played its very first friendly match. The game was held in Stellenbosch, and it was much more than just a soccer match; it was about building a sense of team and community among our research group.

Bird flu virus has been spreading among US cows for months, RNA reveals

Genomic analysis suggests that the outbreak probably began in December or January, but a shortage of data is hampering efforts to pin down the source. By Smriti Mallapaty

EVENT: HPV, HIV, and Cancer: Bridging the Biological Links, 6 March 2024

Seminar presentation by Prof Lenine Liebenberg 6 March 2024, 1-2 pm, University of Cape Town (UCT), IDM, Wolfson Pavilion Lecture Theatre, Health Sciences, Anzio Road, Observatory.

PUBLICATIONS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Tracing the spatial origins and spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages in South Africa.
Dor G, Wilkinson E, Martin DP, Moir M, Tshiabuila D, Kekana D, Ntozini B, Joseph R, Iranzadeh A, Nyaga MM, Goedhals D, Maponga T, Maritz J, Laguda-Akingba O, Ramphal Y, MacIntyre C, Chabuka L, Pillay S, Giandhari J, Baxter C, Hsiao NY, Preiser W, Bhiman JN, Davies MA, Venter M, Treurnicht FK, Wolter N, Williamson C, von Gottberg A, Lessells R, Tegally H, de Oliveira T, Nature Communications (2025), 28;16(1):4937. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60081-0:.

Genomic Surveillance of Climate-Amplified Cholera Outbreak, Malawi, 2022–2023.
Chabuka L, Choga W, Mavian C, Moir M, Morgenstern C, Tegaly H, Sharma A, Wilkinson E, Naidoo Y, Inward R, Bhatt S, WilliamWint G, Khan K, Bogoch I, Kraemer M, Lourenço J, Baxter C, Tagliamonte M, Salemi M, Lessells R, Mitambo C, Chitatanga R, Bitilinyu-Bango J, Chiwaula M, Chavula Y, Bukhu M, Manda H, Chitenje M, Malolo I, Mwanyongo A, Mvula B, Nyenje M, de Oliveira T, Kagoli M, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2025), 31(6):. doi: 10.3201/eid3106.240930.:.

Importance of outbreak response research in bridging knowledge gaps on emerging infectious diseases.
Breiman R, Osoro E, Reithinger R, Wang D, Diamond M, Van Voorhis W, Wasserheit J, Rabinowitz P, Mboup S, Hemingway-Foday J, de Oliveira T, Boon A, Schieffelin J, Sempowski G, Moody M, Vasilakis N, Hanley K, Nasimiyu C, Situma S, Ngere I, Kyobe Bosa H, Nyakarahuka L, Bakamutumaho B, Woodson S, Njenga M, BMJ Global Health (2025), 10(6):e018297. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018297.:.

Artificial intelligence for modelling infectious disease epidemics.
Kraemer M, Tsui J, Chang S, Lytras S, Khurana M, Vanderslott S, Bajaj S, Scheidwasser N, Curran-Sebastian J, Semenova E, Zhang M, Unwin H, Watson O, Mills C, Dasgupta A, Ferretti L, Scarpino S, Koua E, Morgan O, Tegally H, Paquet U, Moutsianas L, Fraser C, Ferguson N, Topol E, Duchêne D, Stadler T, Kingori P, Parker M, Dominici F, Shadbolt N, Suchard M, Ratmann O, Flaxman S, Holmes E, Gomez-Rodriguez M, Schölkopf B, Donnelly C, Pybus O, Cauchemez S, Bhatt S, Nature (2025), :.

Spatiotemporal disease suitability prediction for Oropouche virus and the role of vectors across the Americas.
Poongavanan J, Dunaiski M, D’or G, Kraemer M, Giovanetti M, Lim A, Brady O, Baxter C, Fonseca V, Alcantara L, de Oliveira T, Tegally H, medRxiv (2025), doi: 10.1101/2025.02.28.25323068.:.

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 intrahost genetic evolution in vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients from the Kenyan population.
Lugano D, Mwangi K, Mware B, Kibet G, Osiany S, Kiritu E, Dobi P, Muli C, Njeru R, de Oliveira T, Njenga M, Routh A, Oyola S, medRxiv (2025), doi: 10.1101/2025.03.03.25323296.:.

Unveiling novel features and phylogenomic assessment of indigenous Priestia megaterium AB-S79 using comparative genomics.
Adeniji A, Chukwuneme C, Conceição E, Ayangbenro A, Wilkinson E, Maasdorp E, de Oliveira T, Babalola O, Microbiology Spectrum (2025), doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01466-24.:.

KRISP VIDEOS

COVID-19 | News sub-variant being monitored closely
By: Tulio De Oliveira and CERI and KRISP teams

KRISP BIOINFORMATICS TOOLS