Phenotype - Sheila Balinda
Dr Sheila Balinda: Post-doctoral fellow MRC/Uganda Virus Research Institute, IAVI Fellow, SANTHE fellow, Honorary Lecturer Makerere University, Chevening Scholar (2004), DANIDA fellow (2007-2013)
Her Research: Medical studies that involve people are very important for testing: medicines, ways to prevent diseases, and medical devices. They are also used to understand how a disease changes over time. One of the questions that scientists want to answer about HIV, is what happens early in an infection and how does it change as an infection is established. The more we know about the early stages of infection and the viruses that are able to get past defenses and infect a person, the more likely we are able to stop or slow the infection.
An important study for understanding early HIV infections, is called Protocol C. Over 600 Volunteers from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and South Africa were followed over time starting in 2006. They began the study HIV- but, because of the high rate of HIV infection, some of them unfortunately became HIV+. Blood samples from this study have been used by researchers around the world and to this day.
Sheila uses blood samples from this study to look at the transmitter/founder viruses - the viruses that get past a person’s defenses and make the initial infection. She clones (copies) the genetic material of the virus and then infects cells in the lab. She runs assays to see the characteristics of the viruses. This is the phenotype of the viruses. She can then sequence the genes of the viruses to see what causes these phenotypes. The sequence is the genotype. Understanding the genotype and phenotype of these viruses helps us understand what causes viruses to do what they do and could help with vaccine design.
Her Heroes: Friedrich Miescher, James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin for opening the door to research in the field of Molecular Biology
Her Top Tip: Science requires dedication and consistent hard work. Having a passion for it makes the journey a lot easier.
What does it take to succeed in science? We asked everyone to rank the following from most important to least: Curiosity, hard work, creativity, communication.
What else do you need? Regular discussion and consultation with senior scientists, life balance - play sports, have hobbies!
Her Superpowers! Single Genome Amplification: to identify transmitted founder viruses, Cloning: To generate Infectious molecular clones for characterization, Tissue culture: For phenotypic characterizations
Her Scientific Strengths: Collaboration, mentorship, scientific presentations and talks
Connect: Twitter @SheilaNina3
Outside of the lab: Sheila is the mother of three, a 5, 7, and 8 year old!
In isiZulu
UDkt Sheila Balinda: Uzakwethu we-MRC/Uganda Virus Research Institute, uZakwethu we-IAVI, uzakwabo we-SANTHE, Umfundisi Ohloniphekile wase-Makerere University, Isazi se-Chevening (2004), umlingani we-DANIDA (2007-2013)
Ucwaningo Lwakhe: Izifundo zezokwelapha ezibandakanya abantu zibaluleke kakhulu ekuhlolweni: imithi, izindlela zokuvimbela izifo, kanye nemishini yezokwelapha. Zibuye zisetshenziselwe ukuqonda ukuthi isifo sishintsha kanjani ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Omunye wemibuzo ososayensi abafuna ukuwuphendula nge-HIV, ukuthi kwenzekani ekuqaleni kokutheleleka futhi kushintsha kanjani njengoba ukutheleleka kutholakala. Lapho sazi okwengeziwe ngezigaba zokuqala zokutheleleka kanye namagciwane akwazi ukuthola izivikelo ezidlule futhi athelele kumuntu, maningi amathuba okuba sikwazi ukukumisa noma ukubambezela ukutheleleka.
Ucwaningo olubalulekile lokuqonda ukutheleleka nge-HIV kusenesikhathi, lubizwa ngeProtocol C. Amavolontiya angaphezu kuka-600 avela eKenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia naseNingizimu Afrika alandelwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kusukela ngo-2006. Baqala ucwaningo nge-HIV- kodwa, ngenxa yezinga eliphezulu Ukutheleleka nge-HIV, abanye babo ngeshwa baba yi-HIV+. Amasampula egazi asuka kulolu cwaningo asetshenziswe abacwaningi emhlabeni wonke kuze kube namuhla.
U-Sheila usebenzisa amasampula egazi asuka kulolu cwaningo ukuze abheke amagciwane omthumeli/umsunguli - amagciwane adlula izivikelo zomuntu futhi enze ukutheleleka kokuqala. Uhlanganisa (amakhophi) izakhi zofuzo zegciwane bese ethelela amaseli elebhu. Usebenzisa izivivinyo ukuze abone izici zamagciwane. Lesi yi-phenotype yamagciwane. Angakwazi ke ukulandela izakhi zofuzo zamagciwane ukuze abone ukuthi yini ebangela lezi phenotypes. Ukulandelana kuyi-genotype. Ukuqonda uhlobo lwe-genotype kanye ne-phenotype yalawa magciwane kusisiza siqonde ukuthi yini ebangela amagciwane ukuthi enze abakwenzayo futhi kungasiza ekwakhiweni komgomo.
Amaqhawe Akhe: UFriedrich Miescher, uJames Watson, uFrancis Crick noRosalind Franklin ngokuvula umnyango wokucwaninga emkhakheni we-Molecular Biology
Ithiphu Lakhe Eliphezulu: Isayensi idinga ukuzinikela nokusebenza kanzima okungaguquki. Ukuba nothando lwayo kwenza uhambo lube lula kakhulu.
Yini edingekayo ukuze uphumelele kwisayensi? Sicele wonke umuntu ukuthi aklelise okulandelayo kusukela kokubaluleke kakhulu kuye kokuncane: Ilukuluku, ukusebenza kanzima, ukusungula izinto, ukuxhumana.
Yini enye oyidingayo? Ukuxoxisana njalo nokubonisana nososayensi abaphezulu, ibhalansi yempilo - dlala ezemidlalo, yiba nezinto zokuzilibazisa!
Amandla Akhe Amakhulu! I-Single Genome Amplification: ukuhlonza amagciwane abasunguli asakazwayo, i-Cloning: Ukukhiqiza ama-clone e-molecular athathelwanayo ukuze kubonakale umlingiswa, isiko lezicubu: Ngezimpawu ze-phenotypic
Amandla Akhe Esayensi: Ukusebenzisana, ukweluleka, izethulo zesayensi nezinkulumo
Xhuma: Twitter @SheilaNina3
Ngaphandle kwelebhu: USheila ungumama wezingane ezintathu, 5, 7, kanye 8 ubudala!