MRC PhD students

Academic qualifications
BSc (Microbiology and Biochemistry) with the University of Venda for Science and Technology.
BSc Hons (Microbiology) with the University of Venda for Science and Technology.

Current studies
MSc (MED) IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY with the MRC Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus).

Research topic
Molecular characterization of enteric viral infections in children below the age of 5 years in Pretoria, South Africa.

In South Africa, diarrhoeal disease is still a major cause of mortality in infants and children under the age of 5 years, and different viruses can be associated with gastroenteritis. The most important viruses cause gastroenteritis include rotaviruses, caliciviruses and  astroviruses. Rotavirus infection has been estimated to result in 611 000 deaths of young children in the developed and developing parts of the world annually. In South Africa rotaviruses were found to be responsible for 20-30% of diarrhoeal diseases in children younger than 5 years of age.

Aim of the study
The study aims at investigating genetic diversity of enteric diarrhoeal causing viruses (i.e. rotavirus and calicivirus) among children under the age of 5 years in the Pretoria region of South Africa.

Objectives of the study

• To detect rotaviruses, caliciviruses and in stool specimens using commercially available enzyme immunoassays. 
• To perform molecular characterization and genotyping of rotavirus-positive samples, nested reverse trancriptase PCR typing and sequencing.

Supervisor:       Dr N Potgieter (University of Venda)
Co-supervisor: Dr N Page (National institute for communicable diseases), Mrs M De Beer (MRCDPRU, UL)
Mentor:            Prof: J Mphahlele (UL)