Division of Molecular Biology & Human Genetics
?Animal TB Research Group
ALUMNI?
Dr Debbie Cooke
Degree/Position: PhD (2025)
Thesis/Project Title: Investigation of Tuberculosis in Domestic Goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) in KwaZulu-Natal.
Leka Mhlophe
Degree/Position: MSc (2025)
Thesis/Project Title: Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) DNA in Historically Mycobacterium bovis Free African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) Herds in South Africa
(17) Sinegugu (Leka) Mhlophe | LinkedIn
Dr Abisola Okunola
Degree/Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2022-2024)
Thesis/Project Title: Whole genome sequencing of M. bovis isolates from South African wildlife
(17) Abisola Okunola, PhD | LinkedIn
Dr Rebecca Dwyer-Leonard
Degree/Position: PhD (2024)
Thesis/Project Title: The Application of Immunological Biomarkers and Enhanced Pathogen Detection for the Epidemiological Characterisation of Bovine Tuberculosis in African Rhinoceros
(17) Rebecca Dwyer-Leonard | LinkedIn
Dr Léanie Kleynhans
Degree/Position: Senior Researcher (2017-2023)
Role: Léanie, supervised the daily operations of the Animal TB Research Group. She served as co-supervisor on student projects and lead the optimization of the retrieval of immune cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from wildlife species for downstream immunological investigations.
(20) Léanie Kleynhans | LinkedIn
Shanae Meadows
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2023)
Thesis/Project Title: Evaluation of Salorn Stabilization Transport Medium? (SSTM) for animal samples used in downstream enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applications
(17) Shanae Meadows | LinkedIn
Dr Charlene Clarke
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2014); MSc (2017); PhD (2023)
Thesis/Project Title: Investigation of temporal changes in immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis in cattle and African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) and Investigating host and pathogen biomarkers of Mycobacterium bovis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer).
(17) Charlene Clarke | LinkedIn
Dr Christina Meiring
Degree/Position: PhD (2022)
Thesis/Project Title: Investigating genome variation within a South African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) population: Towards understanding their susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection.
(19) Christina (Tina) Meiring | LinkedIn
Dr Josephine Chileshe
Degree/Position: PhD (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: Identification of immunological biomarkers for detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in African rhinoceros
(17) Josephine Chileshe, PhD | LinkedIn
Samantha Goldswain
Degree/Position: MSc (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: Characterisation of lesions and associated immune cell populations in the lung of African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) infected with Mycobacterium bovis
(17) Samantha Goldswain | LinkedIn
Kat Smith
Degree/Position: MSc (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: The evaluation and validation of cell-mediated immunological responses for the improved detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer)
Candice de Waal
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2017); MSc (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: Characterization of Biomarkers of Immunological Activation in African Elephants (Loxodonta africana)
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Aidan Swartz
Degree/Position: MSc (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: Proteogenomics of the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Jana van Heerden
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2021)
Thesis/Project Title: Detection of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) in free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Dr Netanya Bernitz
Degree/Position: PhD (2019)
Thesis/Project Title: Novel approaches to the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer)
(17) Netanya Bernitz | LinkedIn
Sune Mostert
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2019)
Thesis/Project Title: Characterisation of the Temporal Response of Cytokine Gene Expression and Protein Release in African Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer)
Dr Taime Sylvester
Degree/Position: PhD (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: The immunology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in feline immunodeficiency virus-infected African lions (Panthera leo).
(17) Dr Taime Sylvester | LinkedIn
Dr Eduard Roos
Degree/Position: PhD (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: Detection and characterization of mycobacterial infections occurring in Phacochoerus africanus(Gmelin, 1788) (Common Warthog)
(17) Eduard (Otto) Roos | LinkedIn
Roxanne Higgitt
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2015); MSc (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: Characterization of Mycobacterium bovis specific immune responses in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)
(17) Roxanne Higgitt | LinkedIn
Yessica Fitzermann
Degree/Position: MSc (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: Genomic characterisation of Mycobacterium mungi, the dassie bacillus and Mycobacterium suricattae
(17) Yessica (Fitzermann) Wucherer | LinkedIn
Sedzani Ndou
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: Investigation of RNA stabilization techniques in wildlife and domestic animal species
(17) Sedzani Ndou. MSc | LinkedIn
Leere Scott
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2018)
Thesis/Project Title: Characterising CXCL10 expression and IP-10 production in whole blood from Holstein cattle (Bos taurus)
Prof Sven Parsons
Degree/Position: Senior Researcher (Founding Member - 2017)
Role: Sven was a founding member and supervised the daily operations of the Animal TB Research Group.
Manana Dlangalala
Degree/Position: BSc Hons (2017)
Thesis/Project Title: Development of a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for feline immunodeficiency virus of African lions (Panthera leo)
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Ignatius Viljoen
Degree/Position: PhD (2017)
Thesis/Project Title: The effects of a Mycobacterium bovis infection on the metabolic and reproductive systems of African lions (Panthera leo) in Kruger National Park.
(20) Ignatius Viljoen | LinkedIn
Ross McFadyen
Degree/Position: MSc (2016)
Thesis/Project Title: Immunological tools for the characterization of the humoral immune response to Mycobacterium bovis infection in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer)
