CSIR
Martella du Preez
Country: South Africa
Institution: CSIR
Email: mdupreez@csir.co.za
w: www.csir.co.za
MS MARTELLA DU PREEZ is a senior scientist with CSIR's operational unit Natural Resources & the Environment Pretoria, South Africa. She has extensive experience in managing a wide range of projects and teams for a variety of projects mostly concerned with water microbiology. Recent projects include the development of national microbial monitoring programmes (surface waters, ground water and eutrophication), development and application of molecular methods for pathogen detection, investigation into emerging pathogens, occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water. She has coordinated field work for an EU project in rural South Africa, investigating the contamination of drinking water from point-of-collection to point-of-use and its association with diarrhea in children.
References:
Theron, J. Morar, D. du Preez, M., Brozel, V.S. Venter, S.N. 2001. A sensitive seminested PCR method for the detection of Shigella in spiked environmental water samples Wat. Res. Vol 35. 4:869-874. 9
Theron J. Morar D. du Preez M, Brozel V.S. Venter, S.N. 2000. Detection of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae from environmental water samples by an enrichment broth cultivation-pit-stop semi-nested PCR procedure. J. Appl Microbiol. 89:539-546. 7
Du Preez M, Venter SN, Theron J. 2003. Detection of viable toxigenic Vibrio cholerae and virulent Shigella spp. in environmental water by pit-stop seminested polymerase chain reaction assays. Water SA 29, 2. 177-182.
Wright JA, Gundry SW, Genthe B, du Preez M, Potgieter Moyo S, Potgieter N, Ndamba. 2004. Technical note. Use of handheld computers for collecting water quality data in developing countries. Water International. 29, 4:17-522.
James A. Wright, Stephen W. Gundry, Ronan Conroy, Daniel Wood, Martella Du Preez, Anna Ferro-Luzzi, Bettina Genthe, Misheck Kirimi, Sibonginkosi Moyo, Charles Mutisi, Jerikias Ndamba (deceased), and Natasha Potgieter 2006. Defining Episodes of Diarrhoea: Results from a Three-country Study in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition. 24 (1) 8-6.
The CSIR
The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is one of the leading R&D, technology and innovation institutions in Africa, with a track record spanning 60 years. Structured to manage the entire research and innovation value chain, the CSIR strives for excellence in all its endeavours in order to improve the quality of life of South Africa's people and to increase the global competitiveness of South African industry.
It comprises 4 Operational units. The CSIR has regional offices in 4 of the nine provinces in South Africa to provide differing technology solutions for the different areas. CSIR is a statutory organisation, which receives approximately 35% of its budget from parliamentary funds.
The Water and Health resource group forms part the operational unit, Natural Resources & the Environment Programme, one of four operational units of the CSIR. The NRE endeavour to conducts world-class, directed inter-disciplinary research and technological innovation, with partners and stakeholders, in the fields of natural resources and the environment to contribute to social, economic and environmental improvement of South Africa and Africa. The Water and Health Programme includes:
- the largest groundwater research group in South Africa
- accredited analytical chemical and microbial laboratories
- drinking water treatment scientists and technicians
- microbiological and health risk assessment expertise
It has experience in water research in South Africa and neighboring African countries. Clients include the Water Research Commission, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, bulk water suppliers along with industry, local government and private companies and persons. It has the critical mass and range of expertise to provide innovative, integrative solutions to water quality problems.
See www.csir.co.za or contact tel +27 12-841-2000
