Rate My Professor Bertie Fielding

Fielding's research centers on the molecular biology of human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, with emphasis on virus-host interactions, pathogenicity mechanisms, and antiviral drug development. His contributions supported diagnostics and surveillance efforts for earlier SARS-CoV outbreaks, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he engaged publicly to combat misinformation. Ongoing investigations include the antiviral and antibacterial properties of the South African plant geelbos, integrated with nanoparticles for treating infections and enhancing immune responses. He has authored over 88 publications, garnering more than 7,700 citations. Notable works include "Alkaloids: Therapeutic Potential against Human Coronaviruses" (2020), "Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant using spike gene target failure and genotyping assays, Gauteng, South Africa, 2021" (2022), "The Flexible, Extended Coil of the PDZ-Binding Motif of the Three Deadly Human Coronavirus E Proteins Plays a Role in Pathogenicity" (2022), and "Molecular Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 during Five COVID-19 Waves and the Significance of Low-Frequency Lineages" (2023). In April 2025, he delivered his inaugural lecture at Stellenbosch University titled "From pandemic to pandemic, and everything in between." He supervises PhD, MSc, and BSc students and contributes as a guest editor for scientific journals.