Research leader: Prof. Armanda Bastos

Biography 

 Armanda Bastos is a Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology and a research associate within the Mammal Research Institute. Prior to joining the University of Pretoria, she held a Senior Veterinary Researcher position (1994-2000) at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) where she worked on foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever (ASF) molecular epidemiology and diagnosis. The p72 genotyping method, developed at the OVI is internationally prescribed for typing ASF viruses. She has published 77 scientific papers, five book chapters and numerous conference proceedings on a wide range of viral and bacterial diseases in wildlife has an h-index of 26 (Scopus and ISI), and is on the editorial board of BMC Genetics (2010-present). The post-graduate research projects of 12 PhD and 25 Masters level students have been supervised to completion and 4 MSc and 5 PhD students are currently registered for degrees under her supervision. 

 Research description 

My research programme focuses on wildlife infectious disease epidemiology and incorporates molecular and phylogenetic approaches to determine origin, persistence and spread of viral and bacterial pathogens, against the backdrop of host diversity and structuring. Integral to many projects is the custom development of assays that address the high levels of host and pathogen diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, allowing for enhanced detection and characterisation of regional strains. In addition, baseline data on prevalence and diversity of pathogens are used to guide the formulation of regionally-relevant, conservation-cognisant disease control policies.

 Orchid ID

 orcid.org/0000-0002-9223-4204