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…
Representations of COVID-19 by the Mapula Embroidery Project
We have commissioned 14 embroidered panels from the Mapula Embroidery Project in the Winterveld, just north of Pretoria. The idea is that the making of the works will provide project members with opportunities to convey their observations about the impact of the disease on their lives and community…