The overarching research focus at the Department of Medical Microbiology is on clinically relevant bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. The following fields of research form the scope of the department’s research focus:

• Adult, neonatal and infant sepsis prevention: screening, diagnosis and management.

• Bacteria, parasites and fungi: molecular investigation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence, epidemiology and public health risks.

• Novel rapid molecular diagnostics: evaluation of performance in local setting.

• One Health Approach: Molecular characterisation and epidemiology using next generation sequencing and metagenomic research recognising the contribution of humans, animals and the environment in the spread of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens.

• Respiratory Diseases: Microbiome and metagenomic investigation of respiratory specimens and pathogens using next generation sequencing.

• Sexually Transmitted Infections: Clinical research investigating antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology in bacteria and some parasites transmitted through sexual contact and the testing/validation of related novel diagnostic platforms.

• Tuberculosis: Clinical research investigating tuberculosis biomarkers, therapy, antibiotic resistance, epidemiology, and testing/validation of diagnostic platforms. Clinical trials and community-based intervention implementation activities linked to the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TB@UP), operationally based at the Stanza Bopape Community Development and Health Centres in Mamelodi.