Person

Background:

I have been trained as a Medical Scientist working in a diagnostic Virology laboratory for the past 10 years. I recently completed my PhD (UKZN) which focused on the development and evaluation of novel peptide inhibitors of HIV integrase using gold nanoparticles and targeted delivery. My Masters research looked at the molecular epidemiology of HIV-2 infection in KZN, SA, and was done under the supervision of Prof. Tulio de Oliveira.

Affiliations:

Post-Doctoral Fellow: College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.

Education:

PhD - Virology

MMedSc - Virology (summa cum laude)

BSc - Hons (Microbiology)

BSc (Genetics and Microbiology)

Continued Emergence and Evolution of Omicron in South Africa: New BA.4 and BA.5 lineages.
Tegally H, Moir M, Everatt J, Giovanetti M, Scheepers C, Wilkinson E, Subramoney K, Moyo S, Amoako D, Althaus C, Anyaneji U, Kekana D, Viana R, Giandhari J, Maponga T, Maruapula D, Choga W, Mayaphi S, Mbhele N, Gaseitsiwe S, Msomi N, Naidoo Y, Pillay S, Sanko T, San J, Scott L, Singh L, Magini N, Smith-Lawrence P, Stevens W, Dor G, Tshiabuila D, Wolter N, Preiser W, Treurnicht F, Venter M, Davids M, Chiloane G, Mendes A, McIntyre C, O'Toole A, Ruis C, Peacock T, Roemer C, Williamson C, Pybus O, Bhiman J, Glass A, Martin D, Rambaut A, Gaseitsiwe S, von Gottberg A, Baxter C, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, medRxiv (2022), MEDRXIV-2022-274406v1-deOliveira:.

Targeted Sanger sequencing to recover key mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variant genome assemblies produced by next-generation sequencing.
Singh L, San JE, Tegally H, Brzoska PM, Anyaneji UJ, Wilkinson E, Clark L, Giandhari J, Pillay S, Lessells RJ, Martin DP, Furtado M, Kiran AM, de Oliveira T, Microb Genom. (2022), doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000774:.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by Abbott molecular, antigen, and serological tests..
Rodgers MA, Olivo A, Harris BJ, Lark C, Luo X, Berg MG, Meyer TV, Mohaimani A, Orf GS, Goldstein Y, Fox AS, Hirschhorn J, Glen WB, Nolte F, Landay A, Jennings C, Moy J, Servellita V, Chiu C, Batra R, Snell LB, Nebbia G, Douthwaite S, Tanuri A, Singh L, de Oliveira T, Ahouidi A, Mboup S, Cloherty GA, J Clin Virol. (2022), 105080. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105080:.

Rapid epidemic expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in southern Africa.
Viana R, Moyo S, Amoako DG, Tegally H, Scheepers C, Althaus CL, Anyaneji UJ, Bester PA, Boni MF, Chand M, Choga WT, Colquhoun R, Davids M, Deforche K, Doolabh D, du Plessis L, Engelbrecht S, Everatt J, Giandhari J, Giovanetti M, Hardie D, Hill V, Hsiao NY, Iranzadeh A, Ismail A, Joseph C, Joseph R, Koopile L, Kosakovsky Pond SL, Kraemer MUG, Kuate-Lere L, Laguda-Akingba O, Lesetedi-Mafoko O, Lessells RJ, Lockman S, Lucaci AG, Maharaj A, Mahlangu B, Maponga T, Mahlakwane K, Makatini Z, Marais G, Maruapula D, Masupu K, Matshaba M, Mayaphi S, Mbhele N, Mbulawa MB, Mendes A, Mlisana K, Mnguni A, Mohale T, Moir M, Moruisi K, Mosepele M, Motsatsi G, Motswaledi MS, Mphoyakgosi T, Msomi N, Mwangi PN, Naidoo Y, Ntuli N, Nyaga M, Olubayo L, Pillay S, Radibe B, Ramphal Y, Ramphal U, San JE, Scott L, Shapiro R, Singh L, Smith-Lawrence P, Stevens W, Strydom A, Subramoney K, Tebeila N, Tshiabuila D, Tsui J, van Wyk S, Weaver S, Wibmer CK, Wilkinson E, Wolter N, Zarebski AE, Zuze B, Goedhals D, Preiser W, Treurnicht F, Venter M, Williamson C, Pybus OG, Bhiman J, Glass A, Martin DP, Rambaut A, Gaseitsiwe S, von Gottberg A, de Oliveira T, Nature (2022), doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-04411-y:.

HIV-1 drug resistance in adults and adolescents on protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
Chimukangara B, Lessells RJ, Sartorius B, Gounder L, Manyana S, Pillay M, Singh L, Giandhari J, Govender K, Samuel R, Msomi N, Naidoo K, de Oliveira T, Moodley P, Parboosing R, J Glob Antimicrob Resist. (2021), S2213-7165(21)00249-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2021.10.023. :.

Acquired HIV drug resistance and virologic monitoring in a HIV hyper-endemic setting in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa..
Chimukangara B, Lessells RJ, Singh L, Grigalionyte I, Yende-Zuma N, Adams R, Dawood H, Dlamini L, Buthelezi S, Chetty S, Diallo K, Duffus WA, Mogashoa M, Hagen MB, Giandhari J, de Oliveira T, Moodley P, Padayatchi N, Naidoo K., AIDS Res Ther. (2021), 18(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s12981-021-00393-5:.

Track Omicron’s spread with molecular data.
Scott L, Hsiao NY, Moyo S, Singh L, Tegally H, Dor G, Maes P, Pybus OG, Kraemer MUG, Semenova E, Bhatt S, Flaxman S, Faria NR, de Oliveira T, Science (2021), DOI: 10.1126/science.abn4543 :.

Rapid replacement of the Beta variant by the Delta variant in South Africa.
Tegally H, Wilkinson E, Althaus C, Giovanetti M, San J, Giandhari J, Pillay S, Naidoo Y, Ramphal U, Msomi N, Mlisana K, Amoako D, Everatt J, Mohale T, Nguni A, Mahlangu B, Ntuli N, Khumalo Z, Makatini Z, Wolter N, Scheepers C, Ismail A, Doolabh D, Joseph R, Strydom A, Mendes A, Davids M, Mayaphi S, Ramphal Y, Maharaj A, Karim W, Tshiabuila D, Anyaneji U, Singh L, Engelbrecht S, Fonseca V, Marais K, Korsman S, Hardie D, Hsiao N, Maponga T, van Zyl G, Marais G, Iranzadeh A, Martin D, Alcantara L, Bester P, Nyaga M, Subramoney K, Treurnicht F, Venter M, Goedhals D, Preiser W, Bhiman J, vonGottberg A, Williamson C, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, medRxiv (2021), MEDRXIV-2021-264018v1:.

A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa .
Wilkinson E, Giovanetti M, Tegally H, San JE, Lessells R, Cuadros D, Martin DP, Rasmussen DA, Zekri AN, Sangare AK, Ouedraogo AS, Sesay AK, Priscilla A, Kemi AS, Olubusuyi AM, Oluwapelumi AOO, Hammami A, Amuri AA, Sayed A, Ouma AEO, Elargoubi A, Ajayi NA, Victoria AF, Kazeem A, George A, Trotter AJ, Yahaya AA, Keita AK, Diallo A, Kone A, Souissi A, Chtourou A, Gutierrez AV, Page AJ, Vinze A, Iranzadeh A, Lambisia A, Ismail A, Rosemary A, Sylverken A, Femi A, Ibrahimi A, Marycelin B, Oderinde BS, Bolajoko B, Dhaala B, Herring BL, Njanpop-Lafourcade BM, Kleinhans B, McInnis B, Tegomoh B, Brook C, Pratt CB, Scheepers C, Akoua-Koffi CG, Agoti CN, Peyrefitte C, Daubenberger C, Morang'a CM, Nokes DJ, Amoako DG, Bugembe DL, Park D, Baker D, Doolabh D, Ssemwanga D, Tshiabuila D, Bassirou D, Amuzu DSY, Goedhals D, Omuoyo DO, Maruapula D, Foster-Nyarko E, Lusamaki EK, Simulundu E, Ong'era EM, Ngabana EN, Shumba E, El Fahime E, Lokilo E, Mukantwari E, Philomena E, Belarbi E, Simon-Loriere E, Anoh EA, Leendertz F, Ajili F, Enoch FO, Wasfi F, Abdelmoula F, Mosha FS, Takawira FT, Derrar F, Bouzid F, Onikepe F, Adeola F, Muyembe FM, Tanser F, Dratibi FA, Mbunsu GK, Thilliez G, Kay GL, Githinji G, van Zyl G, Awandare GA, Schubert G, Maphalala GP, Ranaivoson HC, Lemriss H, Anise H, Abe H, Karray HH, Nansumba H, Elgahzaly HA, Gumbo H, Smeti I, Ayed IB, Odia I, Ben Boubaker IB, Gaaloul I, Gazy I, Mudau I, Ssewanyana I, Konstantinus I, Lekana-Douk JB, Makangara JC, Tamfum JM, Heraud JM, Shaffer JG, Giandhari J, Li J, Yasuda J, Mends JQ, Kiconco J, Morobe JM, Gyapong JO, Okolie JC, Kayiwa JT, Edwards JA, Gyamfi J, Farah J, Nakaseegu J, Ngoi JM, Namulondo J, Andeko JC, Lutwama JJ, O'Grady J, Siddle K, Adeyemi KT, Tumedi KA, Said KM, Hae-Young K, Duedu KO, Belyamani L, Fki-Berrajah L, Singh L, Martins LO, Tyers L, Ramuth M, Mastouri M, Aouni M, El Hefnawi M, Matsheka MI, Kebabonye M, Diop M, Turki M, Paye M, Nyaga MM, Mareka M, Damaris MM, Mburu MW, Mpina M, Nwando M, Owusu M, Wiley MR, Youtchou MT, Ayekaba MO, Abouelhoda M, Seadawy MG, Khalifa MK, Sekhele M, Ouadghiri M, Diagne MM, Mwenda M, Allam M, Phan MVT, Abid N, Touil N, Rujeni N, Kharrat N, Ismael N, Dia N, Mabunda N, Hsiao NY, Silochi NB, Nsenga N, Gumede N, Mulder N, Ndodo N, Razanajatovo NH, Iguosadolo N, Judith O, Kingsley OC, Sylvanus O, Peter O, Femi O, Idowu O, Testimony O, Chukwuma OE, Ogah OE, Onwuamah CK, Cyril O, Faye O, Tomori O, Ondoa P, Combe P, Semanda P, Oluniyi PE, Arnaldo P, Quashie PK, Dussart P, Bester PA, Mbala PK, Ayivor-Djanie R, Njouom R, Phillips RO, Gorman R, Kingsley RA, Carr RAA, El Kabbaj S, Gargouri S, Masmoudi S, Sankhe S, Lawal SB, Kassim S, Trabelsi S, Metha S, Kammoun S, Lemriss S, Agwa SHA, Calvignac-Spencer S, Schaffner SF, Doumbia S, Mandanda SM, Aryeetey S, Ahmed SS, Elhamoumi S, Andriamandimby S, Tope S, Lekana-Douki S, Prosolek S, Ouangraoua S, Mundeke SA, Rudder S, Panji S, Pillay S, Engelbrecht S, Nabadda S, Behillil S, Budiaki SL, van der Werf S, Mashe T, Aanniz T, Mohale T, Le-Viet T, Schindler T, Anyaneji UJ, Chinedu U, Ramphal U, Jessica U, George U, Fonseca V, Enouf V, Gorova V, Roshdy WH, Ampofo WK, Preiser W, Choga WT, Bediako Y, Naidoo Y, Butera Y, de Laurent ZR, Sall AA, Rebai A, von Gottberg A, Kouriba B, Williamson C, Bridges DJ, Chikwe I, Bhiman JN, Mine M, Cotten M, Moyo S, Gaseitsiwe S, Saasa N, Sabeti PC, Kaleebu P, Tebeje YK, Tessema SK, Happi C, Nkengasong J, de Oliveira T, Science (2021), DOI: 10.1126/science.abj4336:.

The emergence and ongoing convergent evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 N501Y lineages .
Martin DP, Weaver S, Tegally H, San EJ, Shank SD, Wilkinson E, Lucaci AG, Giandhari J, Naidoo S, Pillay Y, Singh L, Lessells RJ; NGS-SA; COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK), Gupta RK, Wertheim JO, Nekturenko A, Murrell B, Harkins GW, Lemey P, MacLean OA, Robertson DL, de Oliveira T, Kosakovsky Pond SL. , Cell (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.003:.

Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing. .
Singh L, Anyaneji UJ, Ndifon W, Turok N, Mattison SA, Lessells R, Sinayskiy I, San EJ, Tegally H, Barnett S, Lorimer T, Petruccione F, de Oliveira T. , Scientific Reports (2021), 11(1):17793. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96934-z:.

Multiplex qPCR discriminates variants of concern to enhance global surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.
Vogels CBF, Breban MI, Ott IM, Alpert T, Petrone ME, Watkins AE, Kalinich CC, Earnest R, Rothman JE, Goes de Jesus J, Morales Claro I, Magalhaes Ferreira G, Crispim MAE, Brazil-UK CADDE Genomic Network, Singh L, Tegally H, Anyaneji UJ; Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, Hodcroft EB, Mason CE, Khullar G, Metti J, Dudley JT, MacKay MJ, Nash M, Wang J, Liu C, Hui P, Murphy S, Neal C, Laszlo E, Landry ML, Muyombwe A, Downing R, Razeq J, de Oliveira T, Faria NR, Sabino EC, Neher RA, Fauver JR, Grubaugh ND, PLoS Biology (2021), DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001236:.

Transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity in two major hospital outbreaks in South Africa.
San JE, Ngcapu S, Kanzi AM, Tegally H, Fonseca V, Giandhari J, Wilkinson E, Nelson CW, Smidt W, Kiran AM, Chimukangara B, Pillay S, Singh L, Fish M, Gazy I, Martin DP, Khanyile K, Lessells R, de Oliveira T., Virus Evolution (2021), 7(1):veab041. doi: 10.1093/ve/veab041. eCollection 2021 Jan:.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection and intra-host evolution in association with advanced HIV infection.
Karim F, Moosa MYS, Gosnell BI, Cele S, Giandhari J, Pillay S, Tegally H, Wilkinson E, San JE, Msomi N, Mlisana K, Khan K, Bernstein M, Manickchund N, Singh L, Ramphal U, COMMIT-KZN Team, Hanekom W, Lessells RJ, Sigal A, de Oliveira T, medRxiv (2021), submitted, available on KRISP website.:.

A novel variant of interest of SARS-CoV-2 with multiple spike mutations detected through travel surveillance in Africa.
de Oliveira T, Lutucuta S, Nkengasong J, Morais J, Paixao JP, Neto Z, Afonso P, Miranda J, David K, Ingles L, Amilton P A P R R C, Freitas H R, Mufinda F, Tessema K S , Tegally H, San E J, Wilkinson E, Giandhari J, Pillay S, Giovanetti M, Naidoo Y, Katzourakis A, Ghafari M, Singh L, Tshiabuila D, Martin D, Lessells R, medRxiv (2021), :.

High Resolution analysis of Transmission Dynamics of Sars-Cov-2 in Two Major Hospital Outbreaks in South Africa Leveraging Intrahost Diversity.
San EJ, Ngcapu S, Kanzi A, Tegally H, Fonseca V, Giandhari J, Wilkinson E, Chimukangara B, Pillay S, Singh L, Fish M, Gazy I, Khanyile KS, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, medRxiv (2020), https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.15.20231993:.

Whole Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2: Adapting Illumina Protocols for Quick and Accurate Outbreak Investigation During a Pandemic.
Pillay S, Giandhari J, Tegally H, Wilkinson E, Chimukangara B, Lessells R, Mattison S, Moosa Y, Gazy I, Fish M, Singh L, Khanyile KS, Fonseca V, Giovanetti M, Alcantara LCJ, de Oliveira T, Genes (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11080949:11(8), 949.

Early transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa: An epidemiological and phylogenetic report.
Giandhari J, Pillay S, Wilkinson E, Tegally H, Sinayskiy I, Schuld M, Lourenço J, Chimukangara B, Lessells R, Moosa Y, Gazy I, Fish M, Singh L, Khanyile KS, Fonseca V, Giovanetti M, Alcantara LCJ, Petruccione F, de Oliveira T, IJID (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.128:.

Southern African Treatment Resistance Network (SATuRN) RegaDB HIV drug resistance and clinical management database: supporting patient management, surveillance and research in southern Africa.
Manasa J, Lessells R, Rossouw T, Naidu K, Van Vuuren C, Goedhals D, Van Zyl G, Bester A, Skingsley A, Stott K, Danaviah S, Chetty T, Singh L, Moodley P, Iwuji C, McGrath N, Seebregts CJ, de Oliveira T, Database (Oxford) (2014), Vol. 2014 :bat082. doi: 10.1093/database/bat082.

High Level of HIV-2 False Positivity in KwaZulu-Natal Province: A Region of South Africa With a Very High HIV-1 Subtype C Prevalence.
Singh L, Parboosing R, Manasa J, Moodley P, de Oliveira T, Journal of Medical Virology (2013), Advanced Access:doi: 10.1002/jmv.23716.