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Sikhulile Moyo

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Sikhulile Moyo
Born
Alma materUniversity of Zimbabwe
University of Botswana
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Stellenbosch University
Known forMoyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Children3
Scientific career
FieldsImmunology, infectious diseases
InstitutionsBotswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
ThesisHIV-1C Dynamics and Evolutionary Trends in Botswana
Doctoral advisorSusan Engelbrecht
Tulio de Oliveira

Sikhulile M. Moyo is a Zimbabwean virologist working as the laboratory director of the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in Gaborone.[1][2] He is a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.

Early life and education

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Moyo was born in Zimbabwe.[1] He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1996.[3] He completed a master's degree in applied microbiology at the University of Botswana in 2000.[3][4] In 2006, Moyo completed a M.P.H. at the University of Limpopo (MEDUNSA-campus). His thesis was titled Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic.[5] Moyo completed a Ph.D. in medical virology at Stellenbosch University in 2016. Tulio de Oliveira was one of his professors.[1] His dissertation was titled Evolutionary trends and dynamics of HIV-1C in Botswana.[3]

Career

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Moyo joined the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in 2003 as a lab assistant. He later became the laboratory coordinator, deputy manager, and then lab manager in 2016.[3] As of November 2021, Moyo is the laboratory director. He is also a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.[6]

In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.[7] Upon discovery, they alerted the Botswanan Ministry of Health on November 22, 2021.[8] In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.[9]

Personal life

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Moyo is married and has two sons and a daughter.[3] He is a gospel singer and composer.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Associated Press (December 4, 2021). "Scientist Says Omicron Was a Group Find". VOA. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. ^ Viana R, Moyo S, Amoako DG, Tegally H, Scheepers C, Althaus CL, et al. (March 2022). "Rapid epidemic expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in southern Africa". Nature. 603 (7902): 679–686. Bibcode:2022Natur.603..679V. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04411-y. PMC 8942855. PMID 35042229.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Sikhulile Moyo". Harvard AIDS Initiative. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. ^ "Sikhulile Moyo". The Conversation. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  5. ^ Moyo, Sikhulile (2006). Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic (M.P.H. thesis). University of Limpopo. OCLC 190866981.
  6. ^ "Harvard Catalyst Profiles: Sikhulile Moyo". Harvard Catalyst. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. ^ Kew, Janice (December 4, 2021). "Omicron's speed of change worries director of Harvard lab in Botswana". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  8. ^ Schrieber, Melody (2021-12-16). "The scientist in Botswana who identified omicron was saddened by the world's reaction". NPR. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  9. ^ Nkengasong, John (May 23, 2022). "Tulio de Oliveira and Sikhulile Moyo: The 100 Most Influential People of 2022". Time. Retrieved 2022-05-23.