Postdoctoral fellow shares research highs and lows under lockdown

18 March 2021 | Story Niémah Davids. Photo Supplied. Read time 7 min.
Dr Steven Makatsa is grateful for the challenges and the opportunities 2020 brought.
Dr Steven Makatsa is grateful for the challenges and the opportunities 2020 brought.

Who can forget that first lockdown announcement in March 2020? For many, it meant the dining room would be converted into an office space; for others (depending on the sector), the shutdown meant little to no work at all. But for a select few, working behind the scenes to understand SARS-CoV-2, its transmissibility and its effects on the immune system, working from home was not an option. Their research into the virus during a time when very little was known about it was absolutely crucial.

And in light of this, the University of Cape Town (UCT) opened some of its laboratories to ensure scientists could continue this essential work. Dr Steven Makatsa, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Medical Virology in the Department of Pathology in UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, was one of a handful of researchers in the labs at the time.

Dr Makatsa shared his experience with UCT News.

Research focus area

Makatsa’s research focused on developing an antibody assay – a biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of antibodies in a patient’s blood, recognises the virus and signals that an infection has occurred and an immune response has formed.

The research involved collecting COVID-19 samples from infected volunteers in Cape Town and Johannesburg, recruited by the National Health Laboratory Service. Once scientists received participants’ samples, they measured their antibody responses to the virus.

 

“It has always been my dream to contribute significantly to improving global health.”

To conduct this important work, Makatsa said, scientists used plant-derived recombinant viral proteins, because they are cost-effective and are considered important tools in under-resourced settings. The research findings were presented in a research paper last year.

A significant contribution

For Makatsa, being part of a team responsible for providing an essential service during a pandemic – a challenging and uncertain time – was a dream come true.

“It has always been my dream to contribute significantly to improving global health. Being on the ground doing this work during those early days felt like I was living that dream – and that was so fulfilling,” he said.

He admitted that it wasn’t always easy, especially since only a handful of his colleagues had received essential-service permits and were able to work with him in the lab. The rest, he explained, worked from home and provided much-needed support from their home offices. It was during this time that Makatsa and his colleagues learned to appreciate technology, which he said played a fundamental role in ensuring messages were communicated succinctly.

“Technology was our friend. We relied a lot on Zoom calls, emails and even WhatsApp. We had no choice, and really had to adapt fast.”

Time was of the essence

According to Makatsa, one of the biggest challenges was the time constraint they were under; they had to produce important results under tough circumstances – and in record time.

“We needed to generate the data, write the paper and send it for review within a very short space of time. It’s very important to note that this wasn’t only physically and mentally taxing, but emotionally taxing as well,” he said.

“Even though we had to give our best work, the pandemic was putting strain on our personal lives too. I lost two loved ones as a result of COVID-19.”

He said that researchers developed a close community of care in the labs, supported one another on all levels, and “checked up” on one another regularly. Because work was conducted under stressful circumstances, it was always cross-checked – not because there was a lack of trust, but because colleagues’ well-being was central to the research project.

Lessons learned

Makatsa said he learned to appreciate the insight of his supervisor, Associate Professor Wendy Burgers. She took time to understand everyone’s strengths, he said, and assigned roles and responsibilities to researchers to ensure “effective and expeditious outcomes”.

But the most important lesson he learned was the importance of financial savings. “We never know what can happen, so it’s very important to save money,” he said.

 

“We had so much to do, and so little time.”

More than that, he said, he also learned the true value of time, and of using it wisely.

“We had so much to do, and so little time. I think my colleagues would agree – this statement encompasses our stresses. We always wanted to do more, and sometimes we needed to do more. But there simply were not enough hours in the day to accomplish all our tasks,” Makatsa said.

A delayed trip

As a result of lockdown, Makatsa was forced to put his academic plans on the back burner. Late in 2019 he had accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle in the United States. But when lockdown was initiated, his plans came to a grinding halt.

“Before lockdown, I spent two months with my family in Bloemfontein without an income, and this was the most stressful time. I was very excited when my supervisor contacted me to let me know that there was a postdoc position available that required research into COVID-19,” he said.

 

“I’m grateful for the challenges and the opportunities 2020 brought.”

“I had no idea how long the hard lockdown would last, and how long travel bans would be in place, and therefore I was grateful when Wendy [Burgers] offered me this opportunity. I accepted it with both hands.”

Makatsa arrived in Washington in October 2020 to begin his postdoctoral research fellowship. His work forms part of a project called Immune Mechanisms of Protection Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Centers (IMPAc-TB). The project aims to identify mechanisms of protection against mycobacterium TB in various animal and human hosts, to aid the development of interventions for effective TB control globally. This work is part of a global collaboration between scientists from the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) at UCT, Stellenbosch University, Imperial College London and Harvard University.

“It’s been quite a journey to get to this point. But nothing comes without a sacrifice, and I’m grateful for the challenges and the opportunities 2020 brought. I’m also grateful to commence this exciting step in my career as a researcher – albeit a bit later than initially expected,” Makatsa said.


Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Please view the republishing articles page for more information.


UCT’s response to COVID-19 in 2021

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020.

UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Thank You UCT Community

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.



If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

The University of Cape Town in partnership with the Western Cape Government (WCG) have reinforced our commitment to bringing hope to the residents of the Mother City with the launch of the world‑class Community of Hope Vaccination Centre that opened its doors on Monday, 30 August 2021.

The site is located on Main Road in Mowbray – in the Forest Hill Residence – and access is from Broad Street. The site is open every Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:00 and on Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00. Please allow time for attending to COVID-19 protocols and arrive as early as possible at the vaccination centre.



Frequently asked questions

 

News and views


Campus communications

 
2021

 

Media releases



Read more  
 

UCT statements related to COVID-19 vaccinations

This is a space created for all formal bodies and structures within the university community to share their opinions on the need for a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. Please note that some editorial judgement may be applied if the received statements go against any constitutional rights, and that no correspondence will be entered into, statements will be posted unedited and as received. Statements can be sent to opinions@uct.ac.za.


 

Commemorating a year of COVID-19

At midnight on 26 March 2020, South Africa went into the first nationwide hard lockdown. A year later, we remember those who have died and those who have been affected by COVID-19, as well as the pandemic’s effects across society and campus. We are especially grateful for the front-line health workers who have done so much for so many.

#UCTCOVIDPledge – social media elements


Customised Facebook frames and Instagram stickers are now available on those social media platforms. Watch the tutorial videos here to see how easily you can show your support for the #UCTCOVIDPledge.

 
 

In an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”

 

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

TOP