Dr Adriano Mendes

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2282

Dr Adriano Mendes has been with the ZARV group since 2018 and focuses on 'Acute febrile diseases of unknown origin'. Before joining the ZARV team, Dr Mendes pursued his MSc degree in 'A baculovirus-mediated expression system for the analysis of HaSV RNA packaging' at Rhodes University (2006-2012).  He was also the recipient of the Fullbright Scholarship in 2012, which allowed him to do his PhD in the USA.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0135-5535
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriano-mendes-18259636/

Thopisang Motlou

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2287

Project: Investigation of zoonotic origins of novel Covid-19 variants and other emerging zoonotic pathogens

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4157-4126
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thopisang-motlou-135265138/

Gadean Brecht

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2287

Project:  Respiratory pathogens associated with sudden unexpected deaths secondary to neurological effects in Gauteng.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-7024
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gadean-brecht-06253b179/

Matshepo Rakaki

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2287

Project:  Molecular and serological investigation of Shuni virus in South Africa.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6896-3757
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matshepo-rakaki-44971a151/

Rebecca Jeal

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2282

Project:  Development and application of a Taqman array card for vector-borne and zoonotic infections associated with febrile and neurological disease in South Africa.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9146-1950
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-jeal-774746114/

Dorcus Omoga

Email address: [email protected]

Project:  Assessment of animal and human health risk of a novel sandfly-borne virus and other
co-circulating arboviruses in diverse ecologies in Kenya.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1624-5283
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorcusomoga/

Masters Students

Miné van der Walt

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2287

Project:  Evaluation of molecular and serological assays for improved detection of orthobunyavirus infections in humans and animals in South Africa.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8122-721X
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/min%C3%A9-van-der-walt-0a12091a3/

Carla Lourens

Email address: [email protected]
Tel: 012 319 2329

Project:  Establishment of serological assays to investigate the incidence of West Nile and Wesselsbron flavivirus infections in Africa.

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2349-8265
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-lourens-bb7023211/