Ed Rybicki | Biopharming Research Unit
| Research | Publications | Patents | Collaborations | Lab members |
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| Research |
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Vaccinology / protein expression Marine Viromics / Virus Diversity  |
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| Selected publications |
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I have authored or co-authored over 120 articles and 19 reviews in peer-reviewed journals, and about 20 book chapters, as well as a number of popular or opinion articles and conference report-backs in journals. A comprehensive and up-to-date list is available via Google Scholar citations. Books Sadly, neither is available on the South African store, so if you would like one, go to the US/UK stores via iTunes. If you would like a promotional code in order to assess the books for recommendation to students or colleagues, please contact me directly. Online Additionally, I maintain a university-level Virology teaching resource called ViroBlogy, as well as a general public information site called Virology News. I also run the International Society for Plant Molecular Farming site, co-curate an information page on aquatic viruses and another on virology and bioinformatics, and tweet on virology topics (and other things) under @edrybicki. I have also written a number of stories, essays and songs for the Web over the last 20 years. |
| Patents |
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I am listed as an inventor on some 17 patent families, with around 44 country patents published (see Google Scholar). |
| Collaborations |
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Prof Vernon Coyne, MCB |
| Lab members |
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 Prof Ed RybickiPrincipal Investigator Office 303A Tel +27 21 650 3265 Fax +27 21 650 2646 ed.rybicki@uct.ac.za |
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 Assoc. Prof. Inga HitzerothSenior Research Officer Lab 304 | Tel +27 21 650 5712 inga.hitzeroth@uct.ac.za Own website |
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Dr Ann Meyers Research Officer Lab 304 | Tel +27 21 650 5712 ann.meyers@uct.ac.za Own website |
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 Dr Renate LamprechtHonorary Research Affiliate renate.lamprecht@afrigen.co.za |
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Dr Megan Hendrikse Post-doctoral fellow megan.hendrikse@uct.ac.za |
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Dr Sue Dennis Post-doctoral fellow sue.dennis@uct.ac.za |
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Dr Alta van Zyl Post-doctoral fellow alta.vanzyl@uct.ac.za |
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Sandiswa Mbewana Post-doctoral fellow mbwsan001@myuct.ac.za |
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Emmanuel Margolin Post-doctoral fellow emmanuel.margolin@gmail.com |
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Aleyo Chabeda Post-doctoral fellow aleyo.chabeda@uct.ac.za |
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Corrie Gunter Scientific officer Corrie.Gunter@alumni.uct.ac.za |
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Matt Verbeek Scientific officer vrbmat001@myuct.ac.za |
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Buyani Ndlovu PhD student ndljos005@myuct.ac.za |
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Jennifer Stander PhD student jennifer-wayland@hotmail.com |
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Phindile Ximba PhD student xmbphi001@myuct.ac.za |
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Dylan Stevens PhD student d.s.troy@icloud.com |
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Ayesha Adams MSc student admaye004@myuct.ac.za |
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Shelley Fearon MSc student smtshe005@myuct.ac.za |
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Hendrik Els MSc student Hendrik.Els@alumni.uct.ac.za |
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Inge Pietersen MSc student Inge.Pietersen@alumni.uct.ac.za |
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Asanda Matiso MSc student asandamatiso0@gmail.com |
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Siphomelele Ndlovu MSc student ndlsip021@myuct.ac.za |
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Paulina Naupa MSc student npxpau002@myuct.ac.za |
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Frances Lees MSc student lsxfra001@myuct.ac.za |
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Tim Plasket MSc student plstim001@myuct.ac.za |
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Aune Angobe MSc student angaun001@myuct.ac.za |
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Gloria Luhanga MSc student lhnglo001@myuct.ac.za |
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Munyaradzi Tinarwo MSc student tnrmun002@myuct.ac.za |
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Jason Naude MSc student ndxjas006@myuct.ac.za |
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Mulondo Goodman NRF intern goodmanprince59@gmail.com |
| Assoc. Prof. Inga Isabel Hitzeroth Senior Research Officer |
 I grew up in Namibia and studied in South Africa at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town from 1980 - 1986. I did my undergraduate studies in Microbiology and Biochemistry and my PhD on hake population genetics while working for Sea Fisheries in Cape Town. My post-doctoral years I spent at medical school at UCT working on gonadotropin releasing hormone. In 2000 I started to work in Prof Rybicki’s group in a then very new and novel field of expression of viral proteins in plants.We are specifically working on production of vaccine candidates against Human papillomavirus (HPV) and development of second generation vaccines that will be cheaper by production in plants and will protect against more than one type of HPV. HPV is the cause of cervical cancer the second most prevalent cancer in women in developing countries. Other diseases that we are working on are: rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhoea in children; Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) which causes Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) in all psittacine birds (parrots); and Avian influenza. The research that I have been involved in over the last thirteen years has come a long way from just being an idea to produce viral proteins in plants to becoming a reality with proteins being expressed in high enough levels to make it feasible to produce them as vaccines. Go to Dr Hitzeroth's webpage |
| Dr Ann Meyers Research Officer |
 I grew up in Pietermaritzburg and came to UCT to study a BSc in 1983. I graduated in 1985 and then did a BSc Hons at UCT in 1987. After travelling overseas for 2 years and subsequently working as a Scientific Officer in the Department of Microbiology at UCT I enrolled for my PhD in the department in 1996 where I investigated the bacterial pathogens of the red macroalga Gracilaria gracilis and its response to bacterial infection. I obtained my PhD in 1999 and took up a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UWC for a year working on marker assisted selection of disease-resistance apples. In 2000, I took up a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Prof Ed Rybicki’s research group where I worked on the development of a HIV-1 Gag virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine in plants. In 2010 I was appointed as a Research Officer and embarked on a new project involving the production of Bluetongue virus (BTV) particles in plants as a potential animal vaccine. My research interests lie in the expression of recombinant proteins, diagnostics and subunit vaccines (particularly veterinary vaccines) in plants. I am currently focussing on the production of second generation VLP vaccines against BTV as well as the related African horse sickness virus (AHSV). In addition, I am working on the production of AHSV antigens which can potentially be used as diagnostic reagents in ELISA. Since 2000 I have supervised and co-supervised a total of 10 MSc students and 7 PhD students as well as 14 honours students.Go to Dr Meyers' webpage |
I received my PhD in Genetics at Stellenbosch University in 2013, where I constructed a synthetic version of a commonly found grapevine virus to be used as a biotechnological tool for various applications in the grapevine industry. I did my Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Biopharming Research Unit between 2013 and 2016, where I was involved in the production of various HPV-related proteins. I was part of the team that have for the first time successfully produced plant-based HPV-16 pseudovirions in plants, and I demonstrated that these plant-based pseudovirions could be used in virus neutralisation assays in mammalian cells.
I am originally from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape where I completed my MSc at NMMU (Formerly UPE). After moving to Cape Town, I undertook my PhD in Medical Biochemistry in the receptor biology group (UCT Medical Campus).
I have been a member of the Biopharming Research Unit (BRU) since starting my PhD in 2009. My PhD was focussed on the development of plant-based vaccine candidates for Bluetongue virus. My research interests focus on the expression of recombinant proteins in plants, particularly proteins that can be used as potential vaccine candidates in humans and animals. As a Post-doctoral fellow in the BRU I have worked on the development of a platform for the expression of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine candidates in plants. My current research project focuses on the production of candidate vaccines against Lassa fever virus (LASV), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV).
My Bsc Biotechnology degree was obtained at the University of the Western Cape in 2005. My post graduate studies (BSc Hons and MSc in Wine biotechnology) were completed at Stellenbosch University. My MSc was on the analysis of possible fungal resistance phenotype in transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing the native cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene. The key study area was Grapevine biotechnology focusing on disease resistance. I pursued my PhD at the University of Cape Town in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology from 2012 to 2017. My PhD was on the development of a candidate vaccine for Rift valley fever virus as well as diagnostic reagent in plants.
I am from Nairobi, Kenya. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and a BSc (Hons) in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Cape Town (UCT). On completion of my Honours, I remained at UCT to do a MSc in the Biopharming Research Unit and upgraded to PhD. My PhD research focused on the development of potentially broadly protective prophylactic virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidates for Human papillomaviruses (HPV), and the production of synthetic HPV viruses for the delivery of a DNA vaccine.
I completed my undergraduate studies in the Molecular and Cell Biology department at UCT before moving to Medical School for postgraduate training. I am currently working for the HIV Vaccine Development Group at Medical School on a MRC- funded project which aims to develop next generation HIV vaccines, for the induction of neutralizing antibodies. During the course of the project I was responsible for the development of a transient expression system for the production of HIV-1 Envelope glycoprotein trimers in plants and their immunogenicity testing in animals. This aspect of the project is hosted in the Biopharming research unit where I work closely with Dr Ann Meyers and Prof Ed Rybicki. 
I completed my undergraduate studies at Stellenbosch University in 1985 followed by an Honours degree in Molecular Biology in 1986. I moved to Pretoria in 1987 to work on Bluetongue Virus at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute and while there, obtained an MSc degree in 1990 from the University of Pretoria. The next 25 years were spent assisting my husband, David, with the administration of his medical practice and being a Mom to our four children.
During my undergraduate studies I became fascinated with virology and biotechnology and was naturally attracted to the Biopharming Research Unit to master both disciplines. My MSc project was on the development of a novel plant-made dual component vaccine against porcine circovirus (PCV). The project aimed to combine PCV-like particles and reporter plasmid DNA in plants to produce pseudovirions capable of delivering DNA into mammalian cells. After completing my MSc, I continued working in the unit to successfully publish in the Plant Biotechnology Journal and this work was used to secure an additional research grant to develop diagnostic assays for PCV. As scientific officer I have continued working on vaccine and diagnostic assay development providing support and regularly interacting with MSc and PhD students especially with the production of antigens for immunogenicity studies. I’m responsible for general consumable control, laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration as well as maintaining the unit’s plant growth rooms and mammalian tissue culture. I am a very dynamic and keen learner with a passion for expanding my skill set working independently or within a team.
I am a typical Joburg boy having grown up in the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg. I moved down to Cape Town in 2012 to start my undergrad degree at UCT and seem to have fallen in love with the mother city. I completed my BSc in Chemistry and Biochemistry as well both my Honours and MSc in Molecular and Cell Biology, the latter within the BRU.
I grew up in Gauteng and completed my BSc, BSc Honours and MSc in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria. My studies focused on establishing a high-throughput sequencing-based diagnostic system for the detection of grapevine viruses. My fascination with viruses and their diagnosis led me to BRU at the University of Cape Town, with their new and exciting approaches to serological reagent and vaccine development.
I am a Belgian Vet. I completed my Masters in Veterinary Science at Ghent University 2010. I then went on to open my own veterinary practice. After 4 years of running my own business I decided I wanted to further my studies and embark on obtaining my PhD.
I am originally from the small town in the Northern side of KZN. I completed my B.Sc in Biochemistry and Chemistry at University of KwaZulu Natal in 2011. I then completed MSc in Biochemistry in 2014, also at UKZN. My MSc project focused on recombinant expression and characterisation of trypanosomal cysteine proteases for the development of point-of-care diagnostic tests for animal trypanosomiasis.
I obtained my undergraduate degrees in human genetics and phylogenetics from the University of Pretoria. I did a master’s degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
I was born and raised in Ladysmith, a small town in northern KwaZulu-Natal. I completed a BSc (Biological Science) and BSc Hons (Cell Biology) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and later obtained an MSc (Wine Biotechnology) at Stellenbosch University.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Genetics at UCT in 2015. I then did my Honours degree in Molecular and Cell biology in the Biopharming Research Unit (BRU) and I am now doing my masters in the BRU under the supervision of Dr. Megan Hendrikse, Dr. Inga Hitzeroth and Prof Ed Rybicki. My Master’s project focuses on producing high yields of Human papillomavirus (HPV) pseudovirions in tobacco plants.
I completed my BSc in Genetics and Ecology and BSc (Hons) in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town.
Originally from Johannesburg, I have done a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Stellenbosch followed by Honours in Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town. My honours research entailed the production of recombinant Rotavirus virus-like particles in tobacco at the Biopharming Research Unit.
I am currently a DST-NRF intern in the Biopharming Research Unit at the University of Cape Town.
I'm originally from King William's Town in the Eastern Cape. I completed my National diploma in Biotechnology (2010 - 2012) and BTech degree in Biomedical Technology (2013 - 2014) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I first joined BRU in April 2016 as a NRF intern. I am currently pursuing my MSc under the supervision of Dr Ann Meyers, Dr Inga Hitzeroth and Prof Ed Rybicki. My project focuses on the use of a mouse phage display library to generate single chain variable fragments (scFvs) antibodies against Ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase or RuBisCO which is regarded as the main potential contaminant in plant produced proteins.
I am originally from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Pretoria. I then did my honours in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town, as part of the BRU. I am currently doing my masters under the supervision of Prof Ed Rybicki, Dr Ann Meyers and Dr Rosemary Meggersee. My project focuses on the expression of Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) and Alkaline phosphatase fused anti-rabbit single variable chain fragments (scFvs), derived from a mouse phage display library, in N. benthamiana.
I was born and raised in the northern part of Namibia. In 2013 I started my undergraduate studies in Bsc Microbiology (honours) at the University of Namibia, which I completed in 2016. My honours project focused on the antibacterial properties of plants. I then moved to South Africa to pursue MSc with the biopharming research unit at the University of Cape Town under the supervision of Dr Inga Hitzeroth, Dr Alta van Zyl and Dr Megan Hendrickse. My Master’s project focuses on the production of Human papillomavirus (HPV) universal L2-based pseudovirions in tobacco plants.
I completed my BSc in Genetics and Biochemistry at UCT. I then completed a BSc (Hons) in Molecular and Cell Biology department at UCT under the supervision of Prof. Nicola Illing, and my project focused on the extraction of ancient DNA from bones that have been excavated from South African archaeological sites. 
I grew up in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. I moved to Cape Town to study at UCT in 2014. I completed my BSc with majors in Biochemistry and Genetics in 2016, which I then followed with a BSc(Hons) in Molecular and Cell Biology in 2017.
I grew up in the northern part of Namibia and moved to Windhoek to pursue BSc in Microbiology (honours) at the University of Namibia. My honours project focused on Anti-plasmodium activities in Selected Namibian herbs. In 2019 I moved to Cape Town to pursue Masters at the University of Cape Town. My project focuses on developing a plant-made immunoassay for the detection of porcine circovirus antibodies in South African Swine herds.
I’m originally from Malawi. I acquired my undergraduate degree in Biomedicine (2015-2017) at Pearson Institute of Higher education in Midrand, South Africa. I later proceeded to do my Honours degree at the University of Cape Town and graduated with a BMedSc (Hons) in Medical Cell Biology (2018).
I am currently an MSc student with interests in biopharming and virology. I am a holder of B.Tech (Hons) in Biotechnology from Chinhoyi University of Technology (Zimbabwe) and a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from North-West University (South Africa). I am currently working on the African horse sickness virus for my MSc research. Previously, I have worked on Optimization of the Isolation and Cloning Techniques of the Kinase Domain of the Triphosphate Tunnel Metalloenzyme (TTM) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. I also worked on the reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in distillery effluent by bioaugmentation techniques.
I completed my BSc in Genetics and Biochemistry and joined the Biopharming Research Unit in my honours year. My research, which I took into Masters, involves the expression of two variants of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) envelope 2 glycoprotein in tobacco plants for the development of a diagnostic reagent and a candidate vaccine. CHIKV is a rapidly re-emerging arbovirus that is responsible for the largest epidemic for an alphavirus in the world. There is neither a licensed vaccine against CHIKV nor a rapid diagnostic assay to screen for CHIKV infection. CHIKV infection displays identical symptoms to that of dengue, Ebola, Zika and yellow fever viruses. This is a problem as prognosis, treatment and patient care are very different between these similarly-symptomatic viruses.
I am currently a DST-NRF intern in the Biopharming Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. I grew up in Malamangwa village in Limpopo province. I completed my Honours and Masters degree at the University of Venda. My honours project was based on the evaluation of the Qiagen DNA mini kit (commercial) against a standardized in-house extraction method for E. coli DNA from water samples, while my MSc project was based on the Characterization of human norovirus in Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa.