NEWS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP NEWS

27th International Workshop on Virus Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology (VEME2023), Stellenbosch, South Africa

VEME2023 will be organized in Stellenbosch, South Africa, during August 20–25, 2023. The workshop comprises 6 full days of theoretical lectures, practical sessions and keynote presentations. VEME2023 will accept 150 participants in 4 modules.

New grant for HIV prevention research in rural sub-saharan Africa

The multi-institutional research would develop new strategies to combat HIV in vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19.

SU awarded R40 million NIH grant to develop HIV-prevention strategies for rural communities

New funding has been awarded for the development of HIV-prevention strategies in rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year, $2.2 million research grant from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be used to identify vulnerable groups at high risk of contracting the virus, and design appropriate intervention strategies

Leading epidemiologist joins CERI as Director of Population Health Innovation Programme

I am delighted and honoured to be back in South Africa working at Stellenbosch [University] and with CERI and the Department of Global Health. I love this continent and there is no place in the world I would rather be right now – here is where I feel that I can make the biggest impact, Prof. Frank Tanser.

BBC Focus on Africa Special Podcast - African scientist reflects on Omicron discovery

As part of our special edition of Focus on Africa with guest editor, Professor Thuli Madonsela speak to Professor Tulio de Oliveira – one of the South African scientists who helped identify the Omicron variant. He talks about the discrimination African scientists often face.

CNN Inside Africa - Four Minds Inspiring the Continent with Science & Technology

CNN feature including Prof. Tulio De Oliveira, from CERI at Stellenbosch University and KRISP, UKZN as one of the four most inspiring minds in Africa in 2022. The film also includes Dr. Shiulile Moyo, Prof Tulio de Oliveira’s past PhD student, who co-discovered with Omicron variant.

Discovery Channel - Virus Hunt South Africa: CERI leading the world on viral discovery

From the Amazon jungle to village townships of South Africa, to crowded urban centers in India and finally cutting-edge surveillance sites in Chicago, follow a group of Coalition experts as they race the clock to stay one step ahead of the next viral threat.

PUBLICATIONS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Global disparities in SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. .
Brito AF, Semenova E, Dudas G, Hassler GW, Kalinich CC, Kraemer MUG, Ho J, Tegally H, Githinji G, Agoti CN, Matkin LE, Whittaker C; Bulgarian SARS-CoV-2 sequencing group; Communicable Diseases Genomics Network (Australia and New Zealand); COVID-19 Impact Project; Danish Covid-19 Genome Consortium; Fiocruz COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Network; GISAID core curation team; Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA); Swiss SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing Consortium, Howden BP, Sintchenko V, Zuckerman NS, Mor O, Blankenship HM, de Oliveira T, Lin RTP, Siqueira MM, Resende PC, Vasconcelos ATR, Spilki FR, Aguiar RS, Alexiev I, Ivanov IN, Philipova I, Carrington CVF, Sahadeo NSD, Branda B, Gurry C, Maurer-Stroh S, Naidoo D, von Eije KJ, Perkins MD, van Kerkhove M, Hill SC, Sabino EC, Pybus OG, Dye C, Bhatt S, Flaxman S, Suchard MA, Grubaugh ND, Baele G, Faria NR., Nature Communications (2022), 16;13(1):7003. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-33713-y.:.

Ethics and governance challenges related to genomic data sharing in southern Africa: the case of SARS-CoV-2.
Moodley K, Cengiz N, Domingo A, Nair G, Obasa AE, Lessells RJ, de Oliveira T, Lancet Global Health (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2214-109X(22)00417-X:.

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.
Tegally H, San JE, Cotten M, Moir M, Tegomoh B, Mboowa G, Martin DP, Baxter C, Lambisia AW, Diallo A, Amoako DG, Diagne MM, Sisay A, Zekri AN, Gueye AS, Sangare AK, Ouedraogo AS, Sow A, Musa AO, Sesay AK, Abias AG, Elzagheid AI, Lagare A, Kemi AS, Abar AE, Johnson AA, Fowotade A, Oluwapelumi AO, Amuri AA, Juru A, Kandeil A, Mostafa A, Rebai A, Sayed A, Kazeem A, Balde A, Christoffels A, Trotter AJ, Campbell A, Keita AK, Kone A, Bouzid A, Souissi A, Agweyu A, Naguib A, Gutierrez AV, Nkeshimana A, Page AJ, Yadouleton A, Vinze A, Happi AN, Chouikha A, Iranzadeh A, Maharaj A, Batchi-Bouyou AL, Ismail A, Sylverken AA, Goba A, Femi A, Sijuwola AE, Marycelin B, Salako BL, Oderinde BS, Bolajoko B, Diarra B, Herring BL, Tsofa B, Lekana-Douki B, Mvula B, Njanpop-Lafourcade BM, Marondera BT, Khaireh BA, Kouriba B, Adu B, Pool B, McInnis B, Brook C, Williamson C, Nduwimana C, Anscombe C, Pratt CB, Scheepers C, Akoua-Koffi CG, Agoti CN, Mapanguy CM, Loucoubar C, Onwuamah CK, Ihekweazu C, Malaka CN, Peyrefitte C, Grace C, Omoruyi CE, Rafaï CD, Morang'a CM, Erameh C, Lule DB, Bridges DJ, Mukadi-Bamuleka D, Park D, Rasmussen DA, Baker D, Nokes DJ, Ssemwanga D, Tshiabuila D, Amuzu DSY, Goedhals D, Grant DS, Omuoyo DO, Maruapula D, Wanjohi DW, Foster-Nyarko E, Lusamaki EK, Simulundu E, Ong'era EM, Ngabana EN, Abworo EO, Otieno E, Shumba E, Barasa E, Ahmed EB, Ahmed EA, Lokilo E, Mukantwari E, Philomena E, Belarbi E, Simon-Loriere E, Anoh EA, Manuel E, Leendertz F, Taweh FM, Wasfi F, Abdelmoula F, Takawira FT, Derrar F, Ajogbasile FV, Treurnicht F, Onikepe F, Ntoumi F, Muyembe FM, Ragomzingba FEZ, Dratibi FA, Iyanu FA, Mbunsu GK, Thilliez G, Kay GL, Akpede GO, van Zyl GU, Awandare GA, Kpeli GS, Schubert G, Maphalala GP, Ranaivoson HC, Omunakwe HE, Onywera H, Abe H, Karray H, Nansumba H, Triki H, Kadjo HAA, Elgahzaly H, Gumbo H, Mathieu H, Kavunga-Membo H, Smeti I, Olawoye IB, Adetifa IMO, Odia I, Ben Boubaker IB, Mohammad IA, Ssewanyana I, Wurie I, Konstantinus IS, Halatoko JWA, Ayei J, Sonoo J, Makangara JC, Tamfum JM, Heraud JM, Shaffer JG, Giandhari J, Musyoki J, Nkurunziza J, Uwanibe JN, Bhiman JN, Yasuda J, Morais J, Kiconco J, Sandi JD, Huddleston J, Odoom JK, Morobe JM, Gyapong JO, Kayiwa JT, Okolie JC, Xavier JS, Gyamfi J, Wamala JF, Bonney JHK, Nyandwi J, Everatt J, Nakaseegu J, Ngoi JM, Namulondo J, Oguzie JU, Andeko JC, Lutwama JJ, Mogga JJH, O'Grady J, Siddle KJ, Victoir K, Adeyemi KT, Tumedi KA, Carvalho KS, Mohammed KS, Dellagi K, Musonda KG, Duedu KO, Fki-Berrajah L, Singh L, Kepler LM, Biscornet L, de Oliveira Martins L, Chabuka L, Olubayo L, Ojok LD, Deng LL, Ochola-Oyier LI, Tyers L, Mine M, Ramuth M, Mastouri M, ElHefnawi M, Mbanne M, Matsheka MI, Kebabonye M, Diop M, Momoh M, Lima Mendonça MDL, Venter M, Paye MF, Faye M, Nyaga MM, Mareka M, Damaris MM, Mburu MW, Mpina MG, Owusu M, Wiley MR, Tatfeng MY, Ayekaba MO, Abouelhoda M, Beloufa MA, Seadawy MG, Khalifa MK, Matobo MM, Kane M, Salou M, Mbulawa MB, Mwenda M, Allam M, Phan MVT, Abid N, Rujeni N, Abuzaid N, Ismael N, Elguindy N, Top NM, Dia N, Mabunda N, Hsiao NY, Silochi NB, Francisco NM, Saasa N, Bbosa N, Murunga N, Gumede N, Wolter N, Sitharam N, Ndodo N, Ajayi NA, Tordo N, Mbhele N, Razanajatovo NH, Iguosadolo N, Mba N, Kingsley OC, Sylvanus O, Femi O, Adewumi OM, Testimony O, Ogunsanya OA, Fakayode O, Ogah OE, Oludayo OE, Faye O, Smith-Lawrence P, Ondoa P, Combe P, Nabisubi P, Semanda P, Oluniyi PE, Arnaldo P, Quashie PK, Okokhere PO, Bejon P, Dussart P, Bester PA, Mbala PK, Kaleebu P, Abechi P, El-Shesheny R, Joseph R, Aziz RK, Essomba RG, Ayivor-Djanie R, Njouom R, Phillips RO, Gorman R, Kingsley RA, Neto Rodrigues RMDESA, Audu RA, Carr RAA, Gargouri S, Masmoudi S, Bootsma S, Sankhe S, Mohamed SI, Femi S, Mhalla S, Hosch S, Kassim SK, Metha S, Trabelsi S, Agwa SH, Mwangi SW, Doumbia S, Makiala-Mandanda S, Aryeetey S, Ahmed SS, Ahmed SM, Elhamoumi S, Moyo S, Lutucuta S, Gaseitsiwe S, Jalloh S, Andriamandimby SF, Oguntope S, Grayo S, Lekana-Douki S, Prosolek S, Ouangraoua S, van Wyk S, Schaffner SF, Kanyerezi S, Ahuka-Mundeke S, Rudder S, Pillay S, Nabadda S, Behillil S, Budiaki SL, van der Werf S, Mashe T, Mohale T, Le-Viet T, Velavan TP, Schindler T, Maponga TG, Bedford T, Anyaneji UJ, Chinedu U, Ramphal U, George UE, Enouf V, Nene V, Gorova V, Roshdy WH, Karim WA, Ampofo WK, Preiser W, Choga WT, Ahmed YA, Ramphal Y, Bediako Y, Naidoo Y, Butera Y, de Laurent ZR; Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI), Ouma AEO, von Gottberg A, Githinji G, Moeti M, Tomori O, Sabeti PC, Sall AA, Oyola SO, Tebeje YK, Tessema SK, de Oliveira T, Happi C, Lessells R, Nkengasong J, Wilkinson E, Science (2022), eabq5358. doi: 10.1126/science.abq5358:.

Molecular Epidemiology and Trends in HIV-1 Transmitted Drug Resistance in Mozambique 1999-2018.
Ismael N, Wilkinson E, Mahumane I, Gemusse H, Giandhari J, Bauhofer A, Vubil A, Mambo P, Singh L, Mabunda N, Bila D, Engelbrecht S, Gudo E, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, Viruses (2022), 14(9):1992. doi: 10.3390/v14091992:.

Clinical evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests during the Omicron wave in South Africa.
Samsunder N, de Vos M, Ngcapu S, Giandhari J, Lewis L, Kharsany AB, Carwood C, de Oliveira T, Karim QA, Karim SA, Naidoo K, Escadafal C, Sivro A, J Infect Dis. (2022), jiac333. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac333:.

Impact of intra-host immune adaptations on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 S protein among individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infections in South Africa, 2020 to 2022..
Subramoney K, Mtileni N, Davis A, Giandhari J, Naidoo Y, Ramphal Y, Pillay S, Ramphal U, Tegally H, Wilkinson E, Simane A, Reddy B, Mashishi B, Mbenenge N, de Oliveira T, Fielding B, Treurnicht F, Authorea Preprints (2022), DOI: 10.22541/au.166305249.90395426/v1 :.

Urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing nomenclature for monkeypox virus.
Happi C, Adetifa I, Mbala P, Njouom R, Nakoune E, Happi A, Ndodo N, Ayansola O, Mboowa G, Bedford T, Neher RA, Roemer C, Hodcroft E, Tegally H, O'Toole Á, Rambaut A, Pybus O, Kraemer MUG, Wilkinson E, Isidro J, Borges V, Pinto M, Gomes JP, Freitas L, Resende PC, Lee RTC, Maurer-Stroh S, Baxter C, Lessells R, Ogwell AE, Kebede Y, Tessema SK, de Oliveira T, PLoS Biology (2022), doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001769.:.

KRISP VIDEOS

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

KRISP BIOINFORMATICS TOOLS