Clinical Mycobacteriology and Epidemiology Group

Welile Nwamba (PhD student) had the opportunity to represent the South Africa team at the SeroSelectTB National Meeting hosted by Armaure Hassen Research Institute (Ahri) in Hawaasa, Ethiopia. SeroSelectTB is a European & Development Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)  funded multi-centered (South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia) parallel, randomized study which evaluates the feasibility and effects of a rapid point of care sereologic triage test for active TB in high burden African settings.
 
Day 1: Presentations from all three sites: South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Welile presented on “Reducing diagnostic delays with SeroSelectTB: Insights from South Africa”
 
Day 2: Site visits at primary level:Level 1- Health posts and Level 2 - Health centers

Want to join our awesome Microbiome Team who are looking at the effects of antibiotics on the microbiome in people with TB?🦠

We have a PhD position available! Deadline is 1st of October 2024. 📆

You will be based at CLIME in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences!

Candidates are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the field (e.g. https://rb.gy/tfrbvn) 🧫

To apply, visit https://forms.gle/AGTvJz9B8odmkwXo7

See the below ad for more information!

Enquiries: Enquiries: Dr Charissa Naidoo ([email protected])

Dr Anna Okonula also presented her research on a new TB LAM urine based assay, with high specificity, in people living with -and -without HIV in South Africa and Uganda 🥼🧪👩‍🔬

Availability of non-sputum based assays are vital to improve diagnosis of TB, as not everyone can produce sputum.

First day of the 68th Annual Academic Day! 📄

PhD student, Welile Nwamba, presented her poster entitled “Who, what, and how much: Sputum scarcity amongst people requiring tuberculosis testing”! 👩‍🔬

Pictured here next to her co-supervisor, Dr Anna Ojo-Okunola 🥼

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🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

Applications are now open for the STEMConnect Job Shadow Programme at the Stellenbosch University Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI)! 🧪🔬

Happening from 23 and 25-27 September, this programme offers high school learners a chance to experience life as a biomedical researcher. Dive into interactive sessions and explore various scientific careers firsthand.

Applications close on 25 August. For more information and to apply see 🔗 in bio

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity!

Dr Rouxjeane Venter represented CLIME at this year's ESM conference in Brugge, Belgium!

Amazing picture that captured most attendees at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Society of Mycobacteriology ( ).

The challenge is... Are you able to find us? 😊

Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics was nicely represented by TB Genomics and SU Animal TB Research Group!

Who of us can you find 🧐🕵🏿‍♀️🕵🏻?

Next year the conference will happen in Lisbon, Portugal. Already looking forward to it!

Dr Rouxjeane Venter shared some of our latest research on measuring the infectiousness of people with TB at the European Society of Mycobacteriology conference in Bugge, Belgium!

Also published in The Lancet Global Health, research done by CLIME and collaborators at University College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London: Blood RNA biomarkers show promise for screening for TB in ART-initiators, but do not exceed CRP’s accuracy. Discover how they fare against traditional symptom screening and their clinical utility

🔗 https://lnkd.in/deHGwBjN (link in bio)



*In memory of Dr Byron Reeve, who played an essential part in concluding this study

Research done in our group and published in The Lancet Global Health looked at tuberculosis diagnosis in HIV-positive individuals and revealed promising results! CRP triage test outperforms traditional symptom screening, reducing unnecessary testing. Plus, sputum induction boosts accuracy of confirmatory tests like Xpert Ultra. Learn more about these game-changing findings! 📊

🔗https://lnkd.in/d_qWuW6t (link in bio)

*In memory of Dr Byron Reeve, who played an essential part in concluding this study.*

We are looking for postdocs to join our group! See below for more info!

🔬 Exciting alert!

Join our Clinical Mycobacteriology and Epidemiology Group within as a Scientist! 🌟 We’re seeking candidates with a in the last 5 years to optimize new diagnostic tests.

If you’re ready to lead projects, analyze data, and co-author publications while co-supervising students, apply now! ✨

For more details please visit our website using the QR codes or 🔗 in bio

Delve into the groundbreaking world of AI-driven healthcare with Engela Duvenhage’s latest article on our CAGE-TB project in Nature Africa! 🎉 Discover how innovative technology is revolutionizing TB diagnosis using cough audio analysis. Link below to read more about this journey into the future of medicine!

https://www.nature.com/articles/d44148-024-00107-9

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by identifying and overcoming stigma, discrimination and other gender and human rights barriers to ensure everyone can access the TB services they need.

🎓🎉 Exciting News! 🎉🎓

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of Dr Zama Mahlobo and Dr Gcobisa Ndlangalavu on their PhD graduation and Rencia Alberts on their MSc graduation!! Also celebrating CLIME member, Dr Raeesa Hussan, who completed her PhD in the 🌟👩‍🎓

Proud supervisor Prof Grant Theron and co-supervisor to Zama and Rencia, Dr Rouxjeane Venter was there to celebrate! Not in pictures was co-supervisor to Rencia, Dr Brigitta , co-superiors to Zama, Dr Hridesh Mishra and the late Dr Byron Reeve who we remember today and who was co-superior to Gcobisa 🖤

🎉🎓🎊

Work being led by CLIME is using cough audio to diagnose TB! Read more about the CAGE-TB study in link in bio!

🔗 https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/coughs-of-cape-patients-used-to-develop-tb-detection-app-d1fbb0b5-2bc5-4871-ac86-f4124909dd1a

group head of CLIME, Prof Grant Theron was part of the editorial team to bring out the Global TB Dictionary! Read more about it below and in the blog post!

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Exciting Announcement! Introducing the Global Dictionary

📢We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Global , a comprehensive glossary designed to unify terms and definitions, promoting clearer communication in research and control efforts.

Prof Grant Theron, head of the at , was part of the editorial team who put together this dynamic resource in collaboration with researchers, public health officials, and TB survivors 🔬🫁🩺

💪🏾Join us as we provide stakeholders with a unified language to drive progress in the fight against TB!

For more information check out our blog post at 🔗 bit.ly/tb-dictionary

Discover the dictionary now at 🔗tbdictionary.org.

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if the world mobilizes $5 billion annually to accelerate research and development of new TB diagnostics, medicines and vaccines.

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by ensuring we deliver the funding and actions for the development and availability of safe and effective new TB vaccines by 2028.

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🙌 by using digital technology 📲 and AI to diagnose and treat the 45 million people living with TB by 2027!

We’re excited 😃 to be part of the MAGMA MICK platform project as part of the TORCH consortium in collaboration with the Universiteit Antwerpen.

Together, we’re are proposing a novel approach by enhancing TB control through genomic innovation 💡 .

Interested in learning more 😍 ? Visit the EPCON website for details: https://www.epcon.ai/post/magma-mick-enhancing-tb-control-through-genomic-innovation.

- Stellenbosch University
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - South African Medical Research Council - Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics

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by ensuring that all children with TB are reached with quality assured diagnosis and treatment by 2027.



Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics
Stop TB Partnership
SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research

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Join us 🗣 !!!
One week remains until the World TB Day on March 24th.
While Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health concern
💪 by tackling the challenges.
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Let’s examine four key challenges we face today:

- Increase investments: Funding research & treatment is crucial.
- Fast-track missing cases: Everyone deserves access to prevention & care.
- Improve TB/HIV response: Scale up HIV treatment and latent TB tracking.
- Stop MDR-TB spread: Improve detection of MDR cases.

Let’s break down the barriers and end TB for good!

How can you contribute? Sharing this post and promoting the campaign 👍 .

Our PhD student, Welile Dube, had the opportunity to attend the national meeting of SeroSelectTB: Evaluation of the feasibility, accuracy, and effect of a rapid point-of-care serological triage test for active TB in high burden, HIV-endemic African settings: a multi-centre, parallel-group, randomised study which is funded by European & Development Countries Clinical Trails Partnership (EDCTP). The meeting was hosted by the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Moshi, Tanzania. She presented on the updates on TB and the SeroSelectTB activities in South Africa. 🇿🇦 🇹🇿

Dr. Rouxjeane Venter recently joined DELGEME plus faculty and participated in the annual meeting held in Ibadan, Nigeria. Postdocs and PhD fellows presented their projects, received valuable feedback, and showcased their updated protocols. A productive meeting showcasing remarkable research on Antimicrobial resistance in Africa. 🌍

Congratulations to Rencia , our incredible MSc student, for successfully completing their MSc journey! 🎓🌟 Today, they presented their important research looking at resistance to new TB drugs and methods for testing resistance to all drugs including new drugs like Bedaquiline! Well done on coming to the end of long and arduous journey! You did it! Present today were their supervisors Prof Theron, Dr Derendinger and Dr Venter

Dr Rouxjeane Venter presented at the annual The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN) meeting last week in Dar es Salaam! She presented on the prototype she and her team developed to speed up DR-TB diagnostics, a crucial step in improving healthcare in low- and middle-income countries, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS. “It was an honor to network with leaders in the tech and development field for TB, HIV, and cancer diagnostics, as part of the scientific consortium assembled by C-THAN. Exciting times ahead for Point-of-Care Technologies and healthcare advancements!” ”

Yesterday, we celebrated the graduation of two new Docs on the Block!

🎓🎓Congratulations to Dr Minnies and Dr Nyawo on this remarkable achievement! 🎓🎓

Their hard work and dedication have paid off, and they are now officially recognized as doctors in their field.

During the graduation ceremony, Prof Theron, their supervisor, stood proudly by their side. It was a bittersweet moment as they also remembered Dr Byron Reeve, their co-supervisor and unwavering supporter throughout their academic journey.

In the coming days, we will delve deeper into the fascinating research conducted by these newly minted doctors. Stay tuned to learn more about their amazing research!