Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics
DRUG DISCOVERY AND METABOLOMICS
VUYO LAB TEAM MEMBERS
Dr. Vuyo Mavumengwana
Head of VuyoLab
vuyom@sun.ac.za
Dr. Vuyo Mavumengwana is a senior specialist scientist of the SA Medical Research Council. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cape Town, Division of Chemical Pathology, focusing on the synthesis and subsequent evaluation of subversive substrates as anti-TB potential drug leads. Dr.
Mavumengwana's research interests revolve around the generation (through bioprospecting and chemical synthesis) of biopharmaceuticals from microbes associated with marine sponges to apply in drug development strategies targeting pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. Efforts are directed at utilizing organoboron chemistry to generate pseudo-natural products with enhanced bioactivity as novel anti-mycobacterial agents. These products are utilised by other members of the group and applied in the treatment of various Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected cells including brain cells.
Dr. Lucinda Baatjies
Scientist
lbaatjies@sun.ac.za
Dr. Lucinda Baatjies is a senior scientist of the SA Medical Research Council. She obtained her Ph.D. from Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, investigating the regulation and immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1460. Dr. Baatjies' research interest is in the recovery and evaluation of novel antimycobacterial compounds obtained from marine invertebrate and 3D plant cell culture models. These compounds are used to explore the efficacy and mode of action in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected liver, heart, kidney, and brain cells.
Dr. Kudzanai Tapfuma
Postdoctoral Researcher
kudzanait@sun.ac.za
Isolation, purification, characterization, and assessment of antimycobacterial metabolites from fungal symbionts of invasive ascidians and other marine organisms. Active metabolites are used in the modification of magnetite nanoparticles to create magnetic nano-metabolites. These agents are then evaluated for bioactivity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv in vitro and infected THP1-macrophages ex vivo.
Dr. Lauren Julius
Postdoctoral Researcher
Utility of Magnetic Ion Nanoparticles decorated with novel and repurposed drugs as alternative anti-TB agents.
Ms. Ricquelle Williams
Masters candidate
Rdw@sun.ac.za
The discovery of anti-mycobacterial agents from fungal endophytes isolated from Cannabis sativa, which are screened against M. tuberculosis (M.tb). As the current treatment procedure possesses adverse effects, along with the emergence of drug-resistant strains, my project focuses on M.tb-infected macrophages as targets for TB therapy.
Mr. Kudakwashe Nyambo
Doctoral candidate
knyambo@sun.ac.za
My project involves isolation, purification, characterization, and evaluating antimycobacterial efficacy of small molecules extracted from bacteria isolated from South African gold mine tailings. In addition, the research involves creating a machine learning (QSAR) model for screening small molecules against selected Mycobacterial
tuberculosisessential protein targets. The compounds filtered by the machine learning model are virtually screened (via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations) against essential protein targets of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Ms. Nicole Botha
Masters candidate
nicolebotha@sun.ac.za
Isolation and characterization of extremophilic soil bacteria derived from gold mine tailings in Johannesburg, South Africa. Anti-mycobacterial activity of crude and pure proteins isolated from these bacteria is assessed using M. tuberculosis -infected macrophages. Transcriptomics are also utilized to assess which genes (linked to potential druggable targets) are turned on or off during treatment with antimicrobial peptides.
Ms. Erin McMaster
Masters candidate
emcmaster@sun.ac.za
Synthesis and study of new (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-aminoethyl-sulfonamide derivatives as antimycobacterial agents and application in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages and other cell lines.
Ms. Candice Februarie
Masters candidate
februariec@sun.ac.za
The project explores TB-drug induced cardiotoxicity.
Ms. Raeesa Hussan
Doctoral candidate
rhussan@sun.ac.za
My research project entails the isolation, identification, and evaluation of antimicrobial compounds from endophytic fungi found within Fynbos species against mycobacterial models (
M. smeg and
M. tuberculosis H37Rv) and ThP-1 macrophage cells. In addition, the project includes the synthesis of magnetic dendrimer nanoparticles and its application as a bio-separation tool to further enhance the bioactivities of the antimicrobial compounds.
Ms. Vivette Soko
Masters candidate
vsoko@sun.ac.za
My project is titled Evaluation of Apoptotic Agents as Repurposed Anti-TB Drug Leads: the project assesses the anti-mycobacteria activity of apoptotic inducers (API) as mediators of
M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. We envisage that these molecules will enhance host cells’ response to clear the infection, unlike the current TB-treatments which target mostly actively replicating
M.tb and take six to twelve months to complete.
Mr. Francis Adu-Amankwaah
Doctoral candidate
24133434@sun.ac.za
Effect of selected fynbos phytochemicals as potential triple-negative breast cancer drug leads.
Mr. Daanyaal Lai
Masters candidate
daanyaal101@gmail.com
Fungi bioactive agents associated with lychens are characterized and assessed for feasibility as producers of antineoplastic agents with a more specific focus on glioblastoma .
