A5046635231- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Travel-related health issues
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Cancer Treatment and Pharmacology
- Synthetic Organic Chemistry Methods
- Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Annonaceae
- Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Neonatal Health and Biochemistry
- Viral Infections and Vectors
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
2016-2025
University of the Witwatersrand
2019-2025
Technikon (Austria)
2025
University of Johannesburg
2025
National Institute of Malaria Research
2024
National Health Laboratory Service
2019-2024
University of Pretoria
1995-2024
Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit
2019-2024
University of California, San Francisco
2020-2021
National Center for Communicable Diseases
2020-2021
Although the Sahara is a major geographical feature of African continent, its role in diversification animal species not well understood. We present here molecular phylogeny for members endemic mammalian order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) with molecular-clock calculations; this provides convincing evidence that genus Elephantulus diphyletic. rozeti , only elephant shrew resides north Sahara, sister group from different ( Petrodromus tetradactylus ), which just south Sahara. The split...
Malaria control is reliant on the use of long-lasting pyrethroid-impregnated nets and/or indoor residual spraying (IRS) insecticide. The rapid selection and spread operationally significant pyrethroid resistance in African malaria vectors threatens our ability to sustain control. Establishing whether technically challenging. Routine monitoring by bioassay inadequate, there are limited data linking with changes disease transmission. default switch insecticides when detected, but insecticide...
With a sustained national malaria incidence of fewer than one case per 1000 population at risk, in 2012 South Africa officially transitioned from controlling to the ambitious goal eliminating within its borders by 2018. This review assesses progress made 3 years since programme re-orientation while highlighting challenges and suggesting priorities for moving towards elimination.National data annual spray coverage 2010 until 2014 were assessed trends. Information on surveillance, monitoring...
Background Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is recommended in Africa several antimalarial preventive regimens including Intermittent Preventive Treatment pregnant women (IPTp), infants (IPTi) and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC). The effectiveness of SP-based treatments are threatened areas where Plasmodium falciparum resistance to SP high. prevalence mutations the dihydropteroate synthase gene ( pfdhps ) can be used monitor effectiveness. IPTi-SP only 540E mutation below 50%. It has...
Abstract Targeted amplicon sequencing is a powerful and efficient tool to interrogate the P . falciparum genome generate actionable data from infections complement traditional malaria epidemiology. For maximum impact, genomic tools should be multi-purpose, robust, sensitive reproducible. We developed, characterized, implemented MAD 4 HatTeR, an panel based on Multiplex Amplicons for Drug, Diagnostic, Diversity, Differentiation Haplotypes using Resequencing, along with bioinformatic pipeline...
The Bioko Island Malaria Control Project was initiated in 2003 to substantially reduce malaria on the island of Equatorial Guinea. intervention consisted generalized indoor residual spraying during first year project. Case management and related measures were introduced second year. Two large household parasitemia surveys children 2 < 15 years age carried out 2004 2005, respectively, assess effect after Patient records collected retrospectively from one district hospital analyzed for a...
Locally specific epidemiological understanding is pivotal to the success of malaria elimination in South Africa. Here, we focus on how host, vector, parasite and environment their interactions have influenced incidence Africa between 1995 2012. Broad environmental considerations are necessary, including physical (temperature humidity), social (migration patterns), economic (quality housing stock) political (regional collaboration).
Regions within eastern and southern Africa (SE-Africa) carry some of the highest malaria burdens. Understanding spatiotemporal changes in emergence spread artemisinin (partial) resistance (ART-R) how to mitigate ART-R is therefore paramount importance these areas. Here, we present a dashboard developed by Mitigating Antimalarial Resistance Consortium for SE-Africa collaboration with nineteen national control programs (NCMPs) their partners. The supports NCMPs' decision-making providing...
Artemisinin-based combination therapies are a cornerstone of Namibias efforts to eliminate malaria, which has had an over 90% reduction in cases since their introduction 2005. However, efficacy not been routinely monitored, with malaria outbreaks regularly reported 2016. The recent emergence artemisinin partial resistance Africa highlighted the role molecular surveillance complementing studies. This cross-sectional genomic study was nested within routine system and aimed determine prevalence...
Antimalarials are central to Zambia′s strategies for malaria control and elimination. Antimalarial drug resistance poses a significant threat the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapies preventive such as sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine chemoprevention in pregnant women. In this genomic surveillance study, dried blood spots epidemiological data were collected from confirmed Plasmodium falciparum cases at 61 health facilities across all 10 Zambian provinces March July 2023. A total...
Targeted amplicon sequencing is a powerful and efficient tool for interrogating the Plasmodium falciparum genome, generating actionable data from infections to complement traditional malaria epidemiology. For maximum impact, genomic tools should be multi-purpose, robust, sensitive, reproducible. We developed, characterized, implemented MAD4HatTeR, an panel based on Multiplex Amplicons Drug, Diagnostic, Diversity, Differentiation Haplotypes using Resequencing, along with bioinformatic...
South Africa is one of 25 countries identified by the World Health Organization as having potential to eliminate malaria in near future. In response emerging threat antimalarial resistance, enhanced its surveillance programs enable mapping resistance markers prevalence down facility level. A total 4 471 samples, collected between January 2022 and August 2024 from healthcare facilities, during active malaria-eliminating districts KwaZulu-Natal Mpumalanga provinces, were assessed for drug...
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a leading cause of mortality in Angola, with emerging antimalarial resistance threatening treatment and prevention strategies. Efficacy artemether-lumefantrine, one the country's preferred treatments, has been reported below 90% two provinces, underscoring need for routine surveillance efficacy monitoring to guide policy decisions. Between March July 2023, dried blood spots demographic data were collected from P . -positive participants at 16 health...
Following the last major malaria epidemic in 2000, incidence South Africa has declined markedly. The decrease been so emphatic that now meets World Health Organization (WHO) threshold for elimination. Given Millennium Development Goal of reversing spread by 2015, is being urged to adopt an elimination agenda. This study aimed determine appropriateness implementing a programme present day Africa.An assessment progress made terms integrated control across three malaria-endemic provinces was...
KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa's three malaria endemic provinces, is nearing elimination, reporting fewer than 100 locally-acquired cases annually since 2010. Despite sustained implementation essential interventions, including annual indoor residual spraying, prompt case detection using rapid diagnostics tests and treatment with effective artemisinin-based combination therapy, low-level focal transmission persists in the province. This prevalence entomological survey was therefore...
BackgroundIncreasing insecticide costs and constrained malaria budgets could make universal vector control strategies, such as indoor residual spraying (IRS), unsustainable in low-transmission settings. We investigated the effectiveness cost-effectiveness of a reactive, targeted IRS strategy.MethodsThis cluster-randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial compared with standard practice northeastern South Africa over two seasons (2015–17). In clusters, programme managers conducted annual...
Abstract Background South Africa set a target to eliminate malaria by 2023, with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province the malaria-endemic province closest achieving this goal. Objective two of National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (NMESP) focused on strengthening surveillance systems support country’s elimination efforts. Regular evaluations against targets NMESP objective are crucial in improving their performance and impact. This study aimed assess whether system meets goals. Methods A...
Abstract Background South Africa aims to eliminate malaria transmission by 2023. However, despite sustained vector control efforts and case management interventions, the Vhembe District remains a hotspot. To better understand Plasmodium falciparum dynamics in area, this study characterized genetic diversity of parasites circulating within District. Methods A total 1153 falciparum-positive rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were randomly collected from seven clinics district, over three...
Accumulation of mutations in dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthetase (dhps) is strongly associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) treatment failure. Routine surveillance for these resistance markers was conducted annually at 26 sentinel sites Maputo Province, Mozambique, before after the phased deployment artesunate plus SP (AS-SP), 15,758 children sampled between 2004 2008. Mean asexual parasite prevalence, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) corrected, decreased from...
Antimalarial drug resistance is a major obstacle to malaria control and eventual elimination. The routine surveillance for molecular marker of an efficient way assess efficacy, which remains feasible in areas where interventions have succeeded substantially reducing transmission. Community based asexual parasite prevalence surveys were conducted annually sentinel sites Gaza Province, Mozambique from 2006 until 2010, before, during after antimalarial policy changes artesunate plus...