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UFS scientists part of international COVID-19 study published in peer-reviewed scientific journal

31 July 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied

Burt and Grobler_web read more — Prof Felicity Burt and Prof Paul Grobler from the UFS.

Three scientists from the University of the Free State (UFS), together with authors from other institutions, are part of an international COVID-19 study published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal recently.

Prof Paul Grobler, Academic Head of Department: Genetics; Prof Felicity Burt, researcher from the Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences and the NHLS, and SARChI (South African Research Chairs Initiative) Research Chair in vector-borne and zoonotic diseases; as well as Prof Trudy Turner from the University of Wisconsin-Milwauwkee, but also an affiliated professor in the Department of Genetics at the UFS, are co-authors of the paper that appeared in Plos One. The study is titled: ACE2 and TMPRSS2 variation in savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.): Potential risk for zoonotic/anthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and a potential model for functional studies.

The paper follows an initiative of Prof Chris Schmitt at Boston University with researchers affiliated to the University of California, Los Angeles, Rutgers University, the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the University of Antwerp, the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The team used the opportunity presented by previously sequenced genomes to screen for variation in the genes associated with susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Concerns about animal welfare and conservation issues

Prof Grobler, who has been studying vervet monkeys from a conservation perspective for two decades, says considering the impact of COVID-19 on the country, he feels that any aspect that might potentially help to understand the progression and transmission of the disease, as well as unexpected risks – however small – should be investigated.

“Since wildlife management is my field, I am of course also concerned about the potential animal welfare and conservation issues involved. It should, however, be emphasised that while SARS-CoV-2 infection in vervet monkeys has now been shown to be genetically possible, there is no proof of it actually happening in the wild yet.”

“I am sure that much work on COVID-19 and vervets will follow internationally, but this is the first study to describe variation at the genes linked to susceptibility,” says Prof Grobler.

Because of his previous work with vervet monkeys in South Africa and further afield, Prof Grobler was invited by Prof Schmitt to contribute to the manuscript.

“I made some suggestions from a conservation perspective, based on my interpretations and also recent international work that have shown that many primate species may be at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and are potentially vulnerable to COVID-19. I also felt that some aspects of the paper would be greatly improved with input from a South African expert in zoonotic disease to add to the genetic and conservation perspectives, and I therefore requested that Prof Burt also be approached.”

Potential for non-human primates infection

Prof Burt, whose research interests and expertise include the investigation of viruses of zoonotic origin, and/or those transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks that impact human and/or animal well-being – using a One Health approach – says the study was a collaborative effort between scientists with expertise in a wide range of disciplines, including biological anthropology, genetics, primatology, molecular biology, and virology.

“The concept of One Health encourages collaboration between multiple disciplines, promoting the concept that the interaction between humans, animals, and the environment has an impact on the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. The outcome is an exciting study that incorporates knowledge from each discipline to investigate the potential susceptibility of non-human primate populations to SARS-CoV-2.”

“The research suggests that there is potential for novel SARS-CoV-2 to infect non-human primates, and that surveillance of non-human primates living in close proximity to human populations is not only warranted, but is actually important for defining risk to both humans and animals,” says Prof Burt.

According to her, the majority of recently emerged viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, were zoonotic in origin. The close proximity of humans and wild non-human primates provides potential for cross-species transmission of pathogens; for some endangered species, this could have devastating effects. Similarly, identifying if non-human primates have the potential to act as intermediate hosts for pathogens with significant public health implications, would be important for understanding zoonotic transmission.

“Novel viruses are continually emerging, and we need to be prepared. A multidisciplinary approach to understanding interactions at the wildlife-human interface will be essential for the prevention of future outbreaks.”

News Archive

UFS Communication and Brand Management receives two prestigious international awards

2015-07-07

Lelanie de Wet, Lacea Loader and Leonie Bolleurs

The Department of Communication and Brand Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) received two of the six Gold Quill Awards – that were awarded to South African companies and institutions - at the International Association of Business Communicator’s (IABC) Excellence Gala ceremony in San Francisco, US on 15 June 2015.

The awards ceremony formed part of the 2015 IABC World Conference, which took place from 14-17 June 2015. The department received a Gold Quill Excellence Award for its social media campaign, UFS #FaceOfFacebook and a Gold Quill Merit Award for the B Safe Take Action campaign.

From the 15 countries that entered, a total of 120 Gold Quill Excellence awards and 189 Gold Quill Merit awards were awarded. Other South African award winners included Barclays Africa Group Limited, Mediclinic and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

This is the second year in a row that the UFS has been recognised by the IABC for its communication projects. In 2014, the department was awarded the Jake Wittmer Research Award for a Stakeholder Perception Audit conducted in February 2014. The audit was considered – by the IABC - as one of the best breakthrough strategies used by a university to measure the perceptions of its stakeholders.This made the UFS the first tertiary institution in Africa to receive the research award. The stakeholder perception audit also received an Africa Gold Quill in 2014.

"Being recognised by a global association such as the IABC for the second time, is a great honour and I am very proud of what my colleagues have achieved by entering the two campaigns. Winning the awards is a true indication of what can be done when a team of expert communicators is committed towards engaging their target audiences with campaigns that speak of quality and innovation. The fact that the UFS is one of only two tertiary education institutions in the country to receive these prestigious awards, makes it even more special," said Lacea Loader, Director: Communication and Brand Management at the UFS.

IABC World and Africa conferences 2015

The IABC is a global membership association with a network of 12 000 members in more than 80 countries, representing many of the Global Fortune 500 companies. It serves professionals in the field of business communication, bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines.

With the theme: Changing landscape: Informing the future, the 2015 world conference was attended by over 1 200 delegates from across the world. Delegates were offered an opportunity for learning, discovering, and connecting. Loader also made a presentation entitled ‘Award-winning measurement endorses sound reputation management strategy’ at the world conference.

The department will also be receiving two Africa Gold Quill Awards from the Africa chapter of the IABC for the same campaigns on 30 July 2015 in Johannesburg.

UFS #FaceOfFacebook Campaign

The university received a Gold Quill Excellence Award for its social media campaign, UFS #FaceOfFacebook. This initiative originated in the university’s commitment to its Human Project, which sets the standard for good behaviour and care.

Lelanie de Wet, Manager: Social Media and Website Content and project leader of UFS #FaceOfFacebook, said the project was born from the need to communicate with students. Thus a virtual friend, #FaceOfFacebook, was created. “Yearly auditions are being held to choose the new face representing the UFS on Facebook. Short video clips of the #FaceOfFacebook – whether it is attending events or communicating important messages - are posted on the UFS Facebook page. The successful candidate holds the title #FaceOfFacebook for 12 months.

“When I look at a campaign such as #FaceOfFacebook, from the time it took its first tentative steps in 2013, and see how it inspired staff and students alike, my heart swells with pride. Often you can see the impact you have made only in retrospect. The ripples you send into the world will inevitably create waves,” she said.

B Safe Take Action Campaign

The B Safe Take Action campaign of the university received a Gold Quill Merit award from the IABC.

The campaign was activated in September 2013. “It targeted on- and off-campus students and staff, aiming to create social ownership of personal safety, and to raise awareness of the safety measures put in place by the university,” said Leonie Bolleurs, Manager: Internal Communication and project manager of the campaign.

The campaign looked at a number of safety aspects, focusing not only on crime but also on being safe from road accidents and stress/burnout.

It is the second time this year that the BSafe campaign has been recognised for its innovative strategy. Earlier this year it received a PRISM Award (Gold) from the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA). The annual PRISM Awards are about recognising and celebrating great public relations campaigns.

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