TEAM
Nikita Sitharam
CERI Team

Nikita
Sitharam

PhD candidate: Bioinformatics
// Affiliations
Primary
CERI - Stellenbosch University
// Education
Master of Science (Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Stellenbosch University, 2024
Bachelor of Science Honours (Biological Science)
University if KwaZulu-Natal, 2022
Bachelor of Science (Biological Science)
University if KwaZulu-Natal, 2021

Nikita Sitharam is a Bioinformatics and Computational Biology PhD candidate at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, Stellenbosch University. Her research focuses on understanding the transmission dynamics of endemic and re-emerging viruses on the African continent using advanced genomic epidemiology methods. She aims to investigate the evolutionary and geographic histories of viruses, for example Mpox virus, which could then help address the challenges of disease control and prevention on the continent.

// Research Output

Publications

2025
Identifying genomic surveillance gaps in Africa for the global public health response to West Nile virus: a systematic review

Moir M, Sitharam N, Hofstra L, Dor G, Mwanyika G, Ramphal Y, Reichmuth M, San J, Gifford R, Wilkinson E, Tshiabuila D, Preiser W, Konou A, Bitew M, Onoja A, Paganotti G, Abera A, Maror J, Kayiwa J, Abuelmaali S, Lusamaki E, de Oliveira T, Alcantara L, Holmes E, Padane A, Musa A, Abera A, Campbell A, Ssemaganda A, Ahouidi A, Muianga A, Samson A, Onoja A, Alemu B, Foka C, Baxter C, van Zyl D, de Castro Silva D, Martin D, Wilkinson E, Kouma E, Simo F, Mwanyika G, Godebo G, D’or G, Tegally H, Omara I, Maror J, Poonagavan J, Juma J, Oludele J, Xavier J, Lourenco J, Fokam J, Maeka K, Singh L, Chabuka L, Issaka M, Hofstra M, Giovanetti M, Faye M, Koffi M, Owusu M, Dikongo M, Alimohamed M, Bitew M, Moir M, Kraemer M, Sitharam N, Jerome N, Mbhele N, Miantsatian Andry N, Tomori O, Magalutcheemee R, Guimaraes R, Oyola S, Abuelmaali S, Golubchik T, Fonseca V, Preiser W, Ramphal Y, Venter M, Burt F, Baxter C, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, Tegally H

The Lancet Microbe
6:101176
2025
Identifying genomic surveillance gaps in Africa for the global public health response to West Nile Virus

Moir M, Sitharam N, Hofstra M, Dor G, Mwanyika G, Ramphal Y, Reichmuth M, James S, Gifford R, Wilkinson E, Tshiabuila D, Preiser W, Konou A, Bitew M, Onoja B, Paganotti G, Abera A, Maror J, Kayiwa J, Abuelmaali S, Lusamaki E, , Venter M, Burt F, Baxter C, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, Tegally H

doi: 10.1101/2024.12.18.629123.
2024
“The COVID-19 pandemic in BRICS: Milestones, interventions, and molecular epidemiology”

van Wyk S, Moir M, Banerjee A, Bazykin G, Biswas N, Sitharam N, Das S, Ma W, Maitra A, Mazumder A, Karim W, Lamarca A, Li M, Nabieva E, Tegally H, San J, Vasconcelos A, Xavier J, Wilkinson E, de Oliveira T

PLOS Global Public Health
4(12):e0003023. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003023.
2024
SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Epidemiology Dashboards: A Review of Functionality and Technological Frameworks for the Public Health Response

Sitharam N, Tegally H, Silva DC, Baxter C, de Oliveira T, Xavier JS

Genes
15(7):876. doi: 10.3390/genes15070876
2023
SARS-CoV-2 Africa dashboard for real-time COVID-19 information

Xavier JS, Moir M, Tegally H, Sitharam N, Abdool Karim W, San JE, Linhares J, Wilkinson E, Ascher DB, Baxter C, Pires DEV, de Oliveira T

Nature Microbiology
8(1):1-4. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01276-9
2022
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

Tegally H, San JE, Cotten M, Moir M, Tegomoh B, Mboowa G, Martin DP, Baxter C, Lambisia AW, Diallo A, Amoako DG, Diagne MM, Sisay A, Zekri AN, Gueye AS, Sangare AK, Ouedraogo AS, Sow A, Musa AO, Sesay AK, Abias AG, Elzagheid AI, Lagare A, Kemi AS, Abar AE, Johnson AA, Fowotade A, Oluwapelumi AO, Amuri AA, Juru A, Kandeil A, Mostafa A, Rebai A, Sayed A, Kazeem A, Balde A, Christoffels A, Trotter AJ, Campbell A, Keita AK, Kone A, Bouzid A, Souissi A, Agweyu A, Naguib A, Gutierrez AV, Nkeshimana A, Page AJ, Yadouleton A, Vinze A, Happi AN, Chouikha A, Iranzadeh A, Maharaj A, Batchi-Bouyou AL, Ismail A, Sylverken AA, Goba A, Femi A, Sijuwola AE, Marycelin B, Salako BL, Oderinde BS, Bolajoko B, Diarra B, Herring BL, Tsofa B, Lekana-Douki B, Mvula B, Njanpop-Lafourcade BM, Marondera BT, Khaireh BA, Kouriba B, Adu B, Pool B, McInnis B, Brook C, Williamson C, Nduwimana C, Anscombe C, Pratt CB, Scheepers C, Akoua-Koffi CG, Agoti CN, Mapanguy CM, Loucoubar C, Onwuamah CK, Ihekweazu C, Malaka CN, Peyrefitte C, Grace C, Omoruyi CE, Rafaï CD, Morang'a CM, Erameh C, Lule DB, Bridges DJ, Mukadi-Bamuleka D, Park D, Rasmussen DA, Baker D, Nokes DJ, Ssemwanga D, Tshiabuila D, Amuzu DSY, Goedhals D, Grant DS, Omuoyo DO, Maruapula D, Wanjohi DW, Foster-Nyarko E, Lusamaki EK, Simulundu E, Ong'era EM, Ngabana EN, Abworo EO, Otieno E, Shumba E, Barasa E, Ahmed EB, Ahmed EA, Lokilo E, Mukantwari E, Philomena E, Belarbi E, Simon-Loriere E, Anoh EA, Manuel E, Leendertz F, Taweh FM, Wasfi F, Abdelmoula F, Takawira FT, Derrar F, Ajogbasile FV, Treurnicht F, Onikepe F, Ntoumi F, Muyembe FM, Ragomzingba FEZ, Dratibi FA, Iyanu FA, Mbunsu GK, Thilliez G, Kay GL, Akpede GO, van Zyl GU, Awandare GA, Kpeli GS, Schubert G, Maphalala GP, Ranaivoson HC, Omunakwe HE, Onywera H, Abe H, Karray H, Nansumba H, Triki H, Kadjo HAA, Elgahzaly H, Gumbo H, Mathieu H, Kavunga-Membo H, Smeti I, Olawoye IB, Adetifa IMO, Odia I, Ben Boubaker IB, Mohammad IA, Ssewanyana I, Wurie I, Konstantinus IS, Halatoko JWA, Ayei J, Sonoo J, Makangara JC, Tamfum JM, Heraud JM, Shaffer JG, Giandhari J, Musyoki J, Nkurunziza J, Uwanibe JN, Bhiman JN, Yasuda J, Morais J, Kiconco J, Sandi JD, Huddleston J, Odoom JK, Morobe JM, Gyapong JO, Kayiwa JT, Okolie JC, Xavier JS, Gyamfi J, Wamala JF, Bonney JHK, Nyandwi J, Everatt J, Nakaseegu J, Ngoi JM, Namulondo J, Oguzie JU, Andeko JC, Lutwama JJ, Mogga JJH, O'Grady J, Siddle KJ, Victoir K, Adeyemi KT, Tumedi KA, Carvalho KS, Mohammed KS, Dellagi K, Musonda KG, Duedu KO, Fki-Berrajah L, Singh L, Kepler LM, Biscornet L, de Oliveira Martins L, Chabuka L, Olubayo L, Ojok LD, Deng LL, Ochola-Oyier LI, Tyers L, Mine M, Ramuth M, Mastouri M, ElHefnawi M, Mbanne M, Matsheka MI, Kebabonye M, Diop M, Momoh M, Lima Mendonça MDL, Venter M, Paye MF, Faye M, Nyaga MM, Mareka M, Damaris MM, Mburu MW, Mpina MG, Owusu M, Wiley MR, Tatfeng MY, Ayekaba MO, Abouelhoda M, Beloufa MA, Seadawy MG, Khalifa MK, Matobo MM, Kane M, Salou M, Mbulawa MB, Mwenda M, Allam M, Phan MVT, Abid N, Rujeni N, Abuzaid N, Ismael N, Elguindy N, Top NM, Dia N, Mabunda N, Hsiao NY, Silochi NB, Francisco NM, Saasa N, Bbosa N, Murunga N, Gumede N, Wolter N, Sitharam N, Ndodo N, Ajayi NA, Tordo N, Mbhele N, Razanajatovo NH, Iguosadolo N, Mba N, Kingsley OC, Sylvanus O, Femi O, Adewumi OM, Testimony O, Ogunsanya OA, Fakayode O, Ogah OE, Oludayo OE, Faye O, Smith-Lawrence P, Ondoa P, Combe P, Nabisubi P, Semanda P, Oluniyi PE, Arnaldo P, Quashie PK, Okokhere PO, Bejon P, Dussart P, Bester PA, Mbala PK, Kaleebu P, Abechi P, El-Shesheny R, Joseph R, Aziz RK, Essomba RG, Ayivor-Djanie R, Njouom R, Phillips RO, Gorman R, Kingsley RA, Neto Rodrigues RMDESA, Audu RA, Carr RAA, Gargouri S, Masmoudi S, Bootsma S, Sankhe S, Mohamed SI, Femi S, Mhalla S, Hosch S, Kassim SK, Metha S, Trabelsi S, Agwa SH, Mwangi SW, Doumbia S, Makiala-Mandanda S, Aryeetey S, Ahmed SS, Ahmed SM, Elhamoumi S, Moyo S, Lutucuta S, Gaseitsiwe S, Jalloh S, Andriamandimby SF, Oguntope S, Grayo S, Lekana-Douki S, Prosolek S, Ouangraoua S, van Wyk S, Schaffner SF, Kanyerezi S, Ahuka-Mundeke S, Rudder S, Pillay S, Nabadda S, Behillil S, Budiaki SL, van der Werf S, Mashe T, Mohale T, Le-Viet T, Velavan TP, Schindler T, Maponga TG, Bedford T, Anyaneji UJ, Chinedu U, Ramphal U, George UE, Enouf V, Nene V, Gorova V, Roshdy WH, Karim WA, Ampofo WK, Preiser W, Choga WT, Ahmed YA, Ramphal Y, Bediako Y, Naidoo Y, Butera Y, de Laurent ZR; Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI), Ouma AEO, von Gottberg A, Githinji G, Moeti M, Tomori O, Sabeti PC, Sall AA, Oyola SO, Tebeje YK, Tessema SK, de Oliveira T, Happi C, Lessells R, Nkengasong J, Wilkinson E

Science
eabq5358. doi: 10.1126/science.abq5358