MSc student
I started my academic journey in 2018 when I enrolled for a BSc degree in microbiology and biochemistry at the University of Pretoria. In 2020 I completed my degree, and in 2021 I started my honours under the supervision of Dr. David Read and professor Brenda Wingfield.
My honours research project focused on the identification and characterization of mycoviruses associated with plant pathogenic fungi in the genera Fusarium, Huntiella, and Ceratocystis. As part of my master's program this year, I will continue researching mycoviruses associated with plant pathogenic members of the Ceratocystidaceae family. I will also design a culture-based detection method that will be used as a preliminary screening tool for mycoviruses in fungal cultures.
van Dijk A, Wilson AM, Marx B, Hough B, Swalarsk-Parry BS, De Vos L, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Steenkamp ET. (2025) CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing reveals that the Pgs gene of Fusarium circinatum is involved in pathogenicity, growth and sporulation.. Fungal Genetics and Biology 10.1016/j.fgb.2025.103970
Hough B, Wingfield B, Read DA. (2024) Identification and characterization of mycoviruses in transcriptomes from the fungal family Ceratocystidaceae. Virus Genes 10.1007/s11262-024-02112-4
Hough B, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield B, Read DA. (2023) Fungal viruses unveiled: A comprehensive review of Mycoviruses. Viruses 10.3390/v15051202