MSc Candidate

Zach Charles is a master’s student in Medical Virology at Stellenbosch University, following a BHons in Microbiology and a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He is passionate about understanding how enteric infections and gut microbial imbalances contribute to sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), with a particular focus on gastrointestinal pathogens and the infant gut microbiome.

His research investigates gastrointestinal and rectal samples from SUDI cases admitted to Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Mortuary, aiming to detect and characterise enteric viruses and diarrhoeagenic E. coli pathotypes while profiling gut microbiome composition.

His goal is to generate insights into pathogen involvement and microbiome‑linked mechanisms in SUDI, contributing to improved understanding and future prevention strategies.