NEWS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP NEWS

Unethical? Unnecessary? The COVID-19 vaccine booster debate intensifies

As United States reveals its plan to offer an extra dose of COVID-19 vaccine, equity and scientific questions abound

Stellenbosch University 2 Postdoctoral Positions on Pathogen Genomics, Cape Town

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University is seeking to appoint two molecular biologists with great potential and ambition to become leading scientists. These two positions will work with some of the best pathogen and bioinformatics genomics program in the world, which is currently focused on the COVID-19 response. These full-time contract positions are offered for a period of up to three years.

Six Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Bioinformatics at Durban, Cape Town or Stellenbosch

Come work with one of the best pathogen research programs in the world, which is currently focused on the COVID-19 response. Twp positions at KRISP at UKZN & Four at Stellenbosch University.

KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) 2 Postdoctoral Positions on Bioinformatics

KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at UKZN is seeking to appoint 2 Bioinformaticians with great potential and ambition to become leading scientists. Postdoctoral fellows will support researchers with genomic data management and analysis. These full-time contract positions are offered for a period of 3 years and will be affiliated to the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences in the College of Health Sciences.

Stellenbosch University 2 Postdoctoral Positions on Bioinformatics, Cape Town or Stellenbosch

The School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University is seeking to appoint two Bioinformaticians with great potential and ambition to become leading scientists. These two positions will work with some of the best pathogen and bioinformatics genomics program in the world, which is currently focused on the COVID-19 response. These full-time positions are offered for a period of up to three years.

SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing training using Illumina for the Mozambican Instituto Nacional de Saude (INS)

A senior scientist from the Instituto Nacional de Saude (INS) de Mozambique spent two weeks at KRISP labs at UKZN to receive training generating whole genomes of SARS-CoV-2.

Webinar Series on COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance in Africa - In collaboration with Africa CDC and African Union

The Africa Union and Africa CDC, in partnership with KRISP, H3AbioNet, ACEGID and SANBI have started a Webinar series to capacitate African researchers on the generation and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data in Africa.

PUBLICATIONS SPOTLIGHT

KRISP SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

The biological and clinical significance of emerging SARS- CoV-2 variants.
Tao T, Tzou1 PL, Nouhin J, Gupta RK, de Oliveira T, Pond SLK, Fera D, Shafer RW, Nature Reviews Genetics (2021), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-021-00408- x:.

A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa .
Wilkinson E, Giovanetti M, Tegally H, San EJ, Lessells R, Abdoul K. Sangare, Abdoul-Salam Ouedraogo, Abdul K. Sesay, Abechi Priscilla, Adedotun-Sulaiman Kemi, Adewunmi M. Olubusuyi, Adeyemi O.O. Oluwapelumi, Adnène Hammami, Adrienne A. Amuri, Ahmad Sayed, Ahmed E.O. Ouma, Aida Elargoubi, Ajayi N. Anthony, Ajogbasile F. Victoria, Akano Kazeem, Akpede George, Alexander J. Trotter, Ali A. Yahaya, Alpha K. Keita, Amadou Diallo, Amadou Kone, Amal Souissi, Amel Chtourou, Ana V. Gutierrez, Andrew J. Page, Anika Vinze, Arash Iranzadeh, Arnold Lambisia, Arshad Ismail, Audu Rosemary, Augustina Sylverken, Ayoade Femi, Azeddine Ibrahimi, Baba Marycelin, Bamidele S. Oderinde, Bankole Bolajoko, Beatrice Dhaala, Belinda L. Herring, Berthe-Marie Njanpop-Lafourcade, Bronwyn Kleinhans, Bronwyn McInnis, Bryan Tegomoh, Cara Brook, Catherine B. Pratt, Cathrine Scheepers, Chantal G. Akoua-Koffi, Charles N. Agoti, Christophe Peyrefitte, Claudia Daubenberger, Collins M. Morang’a, D. James Nokes, Daniel G. Amoako, Daniel L. Bugembe, Danny Park, David Baker, Deelan Doolabh, Deogratius Ssemwanga, Derek Tshiabuila, Diarra Bassirou, Dominic S.Y. Amuzu, Dominique Goedhals, Donwilliams O. Omuoyo, Dorcas Maruapula, Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko, Eddy K. Lusamaki, Edgar Simulundu, Edidah M. Ong'era, Edith N. Ngabana, Edwin Shumba, Elmostafa El Fahime, Emmanuel Lokilo, Enatha Mukantwari, Eromon Philomena, Essia Belarbi, Etienne Simon-Loriere, Etilé A. Anoh, Fabian Leendertz, Faida Ajili, Fakayode O. Enoch, Fares Wasfi, Fatma Abdelmoula, Fausta S. Mosha, Faustinos T. Takawira, Fawzi Derrar, Feriel Bouzid, Folarin Onikepe, Fowotade Adeola, Francisca M. Muyembe, Frank Tanser, Fred A. Dratibi, Gabriel K. Mbunsu, Gaetan Thilliez, Gemma L. Kay, George Githinji, Gert van Zyl, Gordon A. Awandare, Grit Schubert, Gugu P. Maphalala, Hafaliana C. Ranaivoson, Hajar Lemriss, Happi Anise, Haruka Abe, Hela H. Karray, Hellen Nansumba, Hesham A. Elgahzaly, Hlanai Gumbo, Ibtihel Smeti, Ikhlas B. Ayed, Ikponmwosa Odia, Ilhem Boutiba-Ben Boubaker, Imed Gaaloul, Inbal Gazy, Innocent Mudau, Isaac Ssewanyana, Iyaloo Konstantinus, Jean B. Lekana-Douk, Jean-Claude C. Makangara, Jean-Jacques M. Tamfum, Jean-Michel Heraud, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Giandhari J, Jingjing Li, Jiro Yasuda, Joana Q. Mends, Jocelyn Kiconco, John M. Morobe, John O. Gyapong, Johnson C. Okolie, John T. Kayiwa, Johnathan A. Edwards, Jones Gyamfi, Jouali Farah, Joweria Nakaseegu, Joyce M. Ngoi, Joyce Namulondo, Julia C. Andeko, Julius J. Lutwama, Justin O’Grady, Katherine Siddle, Kayode T. Adeyemi, Kefentse A. Tumedi, Khadija M. Said, Kim Hae-Young, Kwabena O. Duedu, Lahcen Belyamani, Lamia Fki-Berrajah, Lavanya Singh, Leonardo de O. Martins, Lynn Tyers, Magalutcheemee Ramuth, Maha Mastouri, Mahjoub Aouni, Mahmoud el Hefnawi, Maitshwarelo I. Matsheka, Malebogo Kebabonye, Mamadou Diop, Manel Turki, Marietou Paye, Martin M. Nyaga, Mathabo Mareka, Matoke-Muhia Damaris, Maureen W. Mburu, Maximillian Mpina, Mba Nwando, Michael Owusu, Michael R. Wiley, Mirabeau T. Youtchou, Mitoha O. Ayekaba, Mohamed Abouelhoda, Mohamed G. Seadawy, Mohamed K. Khalifa, Mooko Sekhele, Mouna Ouadghiri, Moussa M. Diagne, Mulenga Mwenda, Mushal Allam, My V.T. Phan, Nabil Abid, Nadia Touil, Nadine Rujeni, Najla Kharrat, Nalia Ismael, Ndongo Dia, Nedio Mabunda, Nei-yuan Hsiao, Nelson B. Silochi, Ngoy Nsenga, Nicksy Gumede, Nicola Mulder, Nnaemeka Ndodo, Norosoa H Razanajatovo, Nosamiefan Iguosadolo, Oguzie Judith, Ojide C. Kingsley, Okogbenin Sylvanus, Okokhere Peter, Oladiji Femi, Olawoye Idowu, Olumade Testimony, Omoruyi E. Chukwuma, Onwe E. Ogah, Onwuamah Chika, Oshomah Cyril, Ousmane Faye, Oyewale Tomori, Pascale Ondoa, Patrice Combe, Patrick Semanda, Paul E. Oluniyi, Paulo Arnaldo, Peter K. Quashie, Philippe Dussart, Phillip A. Bester, Placide K. Mbala, Reuben Ayivor-Djanie, Richard Njouom, Richard O. Phillips, Richmond Gorman, Robert A. Kingsley, Rosina A.A. Carr, Saâd El Kabbaj, Saba Gargouri, Saber Masmoudi, Safietou Sankhe, Salako B. Lawal, Samar Kassim, Sameh Trabelsi, Samar Metha, Sami Kammoun, Sanaâ Lemriss, Sara H.A. Agwa, Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, Stephen F. Schaffner, Seydou Doumbia, Sheila M. Mandanda, Sherihane Aryeetey, Shymaa S. Ahmed, Siham Elhamoumi, Soafy Andriamandimby, Sobajo Tope, Sonia Lekana-Douki, Sophie Prosolek, Soumeya Ouangraoua, Steve A. Mundeke, Steven Rudder, Sumir Panji, Sureshnee Pillay, Susan Engelbrecht, Susan Nabadda, Sylvie Behillil, Sylvie L. Budiaki, Sylvie van der Werf, Tapfumanei Mashe, Tarik Aanniz, Thabo Mohale, Thanh Le-Viet, Tobias Schindler, Ugochukwu J. Anyaneji, Ugwu Chinedu, Ramphal U, Uwanibe Jessica, Uwem George, Fonseca V, Vincent Enouf, Vivianne Gorova, Wael H. Roshdy, William K. Ampofo, Wolfgang Preiser, Wonderful T. Choga, Yaw Bediako, Yeshnee Naidoo, Yvan Butera, Zaydah R. de Laurent, Amadou A. Sall, Ahmed Rebai, Anne von Gottberg, Bourema Kouriba, Carolyn Williamson, Daniel J. Bridges, Ihekweazu Chikwe, Jinal Bhiman, Madisa Mine, Matthew Cotten, Sikhulile Moyo, Simani Gaseitsiwe, Ngonda Saasa, Pardis C. Sabeti, Pontiano Kaleebu, Yenew K. Tebeje, Sofonias K. Tessema, Happi Christian, John Nkengasong, de Oliveira T, Science (2021), DOI: 10.1126/science.abj4336:.

The emergence and ongoing convergent evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 N501Y lineages .
Martin DP, Weaver S, Tegally H, San EJ, Shank SD, Wilkinson E, Lucaci AG, Giandhari J, Naidoo S, Pillay Y, Singh L, Lessells RJ; NGS-SA; COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK), Gupta RK, Wertheim JO, Nekturenko A, Murrell B, Harkins GW, Lemey P, MacLean OA, Robertson DL, de Oliveira T, Kosakovsky Pond SL. , Cell (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.003:.

Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing. .
Singh L, Anyaneji UJ, Ndifon W, Turok N, Mattison SA, Lessells R, Sinayskiy I, San EJ, Tegally H, Barnett S, Lorimer T, Petruccione F, de Oliveira T. , Scientific Reports (2021), 11(1):17793. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96934-z:.

Two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination induce robust immune responses to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Skelly DT, Harding AC, Gilbert-Jaramillo J, Knight ML, Longet S, Brown A, Adele S, Adland E, Brown H, Medawar Laboratory Team, Tipton T, Stafford L, Mentzer AJ, Johnson SA, Amini A, OPTIC, Tan TK, Schimanski L, Huang K-Y A, Rijal P, PITCH Study Group, C-MORE/PHOSP-C Group, Frater J, Goulder P, Conlon CP, Jeffery K, Dold C, Pollard AJ, Sigal A, de Oliveira T, Townsend AR, Klenerman P, Dunachie SJ, Barnes E, Carroll MW, James WS, Nature Communications (2021), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25167-5:.

West Nile Virus in Brazil.
Costa WE, Giovanetti M, Silva Catenacci L, Fonseca V, Aburjaile FF, Chalhoub FLL, Xavier J, Campos de Melo Iani F, da Cunha E Silva Vieira MA, Freitas Henriques D, Medeiros DBA, Guedes MIMC, Senra Álvares da Silva Santos B, Gonçalves Silva AS, de Pino Albuquerque Maranhão R, da Costa Faria NR, Farinelli de Siqueira R, de Oliveira T, Ribeiro Leite Jardim Cavalcante K, Oliveira de Moura NF, Pecego Martins Romano A, Campelo de Albuquerque CF, Soares Feitosa LC, Martins Bayeux JJ, Bertoni Cavalcanti Teixeira R, Lisboa Lobato O, da Costa Silva S, Bispo de Filippis AM, Venancio da Cunha R, Lourenco J, Alcantara LCJ, Pathogens (2021), 10(7):896. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10070896:.

Short Report: Early genomic detection of SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant in Northeast Brazil.
Tosta S, Giovanetti M, Brandão Nardy V, Reboredo de Oliveira da Silva L, Kelly Astete Gomez M, Gomes Lima J, Wanderley Cardoso C, Oliveira Silva T, Sao Pedro Leal de Souza M, Presta Dia PH, Fonseca V, de Oliveira T, Lourenco J, Carlos Junior Alcantara L, Pereira F, Leal A, PLoS Negl Trop Dis. (2021), 15(7):e0009591. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009591:.

KRISP VIDEOS

Genomics in Africa: KRISP, Africa CDC & Illumina support INS Mozambique with hands-on lab training
By: Nalia Ismael, Tulio de Oliveira and Jennifer Giandhari

KRISP BIOINFORMATICS TOOLS