Research Projects
In vitro Molecular RNA-seq data for rapid diagonostic testing and validating RT-qPCR reference genes for studying respiratory specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUIs), with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The SARS coronavirus (SCoV) appears to be zoonotic and to have originated in wild mammals in southern China. A coronavirus comprises single-stranded RNA inside a lipid envelope. Coronaviruses cause a substantial fraction of human colds and a number of common respiratory infections in other animals…
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Covid-19 Detection
The concept of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been used extensively for the detection of drug use patterns and disease incidence from a population perspective. Recently researchers have proposed SARS-CoV-2 sewage-monitoring plan as a form of an early warning system. It can have an…
Health facility-based observational studies to investigate interaction and overlap between SARS- CoV2, HIV-1 and M. tuberculosis infections (HIATUS)
This programme of projects is focused on understanding and providing information on the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of COVID-19 in the South African population.
Researchers in the HIATUS programme of four related projects will invite hospitalised COVID-19 patients to…
Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Endothelialitis
In the era of the global COVID-19 pandemic, questions remain about the pathophysiology, and the severity markers and potential treatment targets. In high HIV prevalence settings, the burden of COVID-19 is yet to be documented, and how these two pandemics will collide and interact remains to be seen…