Prof Marcia Terezinha Baroni de Moraes de Souza from Instituto Oswaldo Cruz in Brazil visits the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology under the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture from 02 August to 31 October 2024.
On the photo: Prof Marcia Terezinha Baroni de Moraes de Souza (2nd from right) with Prof Traore, Dr Kabue and Dr Khumela from the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
The visit of Prof Marcia to the University of Venda encompasses sharing scientific protocols amongst the researchers/institutions. She is part of a collaboration between Prof Natasha Potgieter and Prof Afsatou Traore on diarrhoeal viruses from humans and animals under the ONE HEALTH umbrella. She is working with postgraduate students on two projects to produce unique results for the Limpopo Province in South Africa. Project 1 includes amplification of fucosyltransferase genes (FUT1, 2 and 3) that are involved in the genetic sustainability of Noroviruses in Humans.
The protocols for FUT-3 have been optimised and amplification was successful. Human Norovirus will also be amplified using protocols adopted from FIOCRUZ. Project 2 includes full genome amplification of Animal noroviruses. Samples collection has been done and further identification of noroviruses is underway. Several publications from this collaboration will see the light. In addition, a MoU is prepared to strengthen the collaboration and provide further opportunities for staff and students from the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture. Prof Marcia gave a public lecture on 15 October “Research and surveillance of enteric diseases caused by viruses: contributions from the Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Regional Rotavirus Reference Laboratory (LVCA-RRRL), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation-FIOCRUZ-Rio de Janeiro-Brazil”.
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