Prof Marietjie Venter

Marietjie Venter is a South African virologist and professor at the University of Pretoria, where she leads research in zoonotic, arboviral, and respiratory virus infections. Her work bridges molecular virology, genomic surveillance, and public health, with a strong focus on pathogens affecting Africa and other global regions. She is widely recognized for contributions to virus taxonomy and outbreak preparedness initiatives.

Her publications highlight leadership in respiratory syncytial virus phylogenetics, advancing standardized global classification frameworks that strengthen molecular epidemiology. She has also contributed to ICTV taxonomy reports and major discussions within the international virology community, reflecting expertise in virus evolution, genomics, and cross-species transmission dynamics.

Venter’s research further addresses arbovirus surveillance, hantavirus discovery, antimicrobial use in African health settings, and the seasonality of respiratory pathogens. Through collaborative networks and capacity-building efforts, her work supports One Health approaches, enhances regional diagnostic capability, and informs evidence-based responses to emerging and re-emerging viral threats.