Members

Principal Investigat​or

Prof. Samantha Sampson

Prof Sampson is a tuberculosis (TB) researcher with expertise in mycobacterial genetics, microbiology, immunology and animal models of TB. Prof. Sampson obtained her PhD from Stellenbosch University, and undertook post-doctoral training at the Harvard University School of Public Health and Imperial College London (where she held a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship). Upon being awarded a SARChI Chair in Mycobactomics, she returned to South Africa to establish a research group focused on TB host-pathogen interactions within the  SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research (www.samrc.ac.za/research/intramural-research-units/tuberculosis) ​in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics. She chairs the Institutional Research Ethics committee for Biological and Environmental Safety (ethics commitee for biological and environmental safety​)  and is Director of the VALIDATE network. (www.validate-network.org)
 

​​​ Email:  ​ssampson@sun.​ac.za

Linkedin: www​.linke​din.com/in/samantha-s​ampson-47b5634/

Life outside the lab Dogs and dog sports!​

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Researchers ​

Dr. Nastassja Kriel  

The isolation and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis persister cells 

Dr. Kriel's research centers around understanding the genes and pathways associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis persister formation. Persister infections prevent the sterilization of infections and have the potential to reactivate following treatment and cause disease. Using a variety of omics technologies, Dr Kriel's research aims to provide a global overview of persister regulatory pathways required for persister formation. 
 

D​​​r. Zimvo Obasa 

Nanoparticle-based host-directed therapies for eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice​

Zimvo's post-doctoral research project focuses on assessing in vivo responses to and efficacy of novel nanoparticle (NP) formulations as a host-directed therapy for the eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in C3HeB/FeJ (Kramink) mice. Utilizing the Kramnik mouse strain provides a valuable opportunity to assess the influence of NPs on immuno-pathology (and vice versa). Knowledge gained from this project could ultimately contribute to improved TB control strategies, specifically more effective drug treatment regimens.

Dr Liezel Smith Nanomedicine strategies for communicable and non-communicable brain disorders
Dr Smith is a distinguished researcher dedicated to addressing the critical gap in treatments for brain disorders. Her research focuses on the utilization of phytomedicines and phytochemicals, delivered via nanoparticles, as potential therapies for both communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis meningtis, and non-communicable diseases, including gliobastoma and Parkinson's disease. By emphasizing the enhancement of drug delivery to the brain and incorporating murine studies. Dr Smith employs a diverse array of molecular techniques. Her work is poised to make a significant impact on the field of drug delivery and therapeutics for brain disorders.

 

PhD Stude​​​​nts​
 

Su-Mari du Plessis​

Biomimetic nanoparticle-based host-directed therapy (HDT) for the eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Su-Mari's PhD aims at investigating the immune-stimulating effects of polymer-based and metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with curdlan and mycolic acids. Curdlan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide known to stimulate an antibacterial response and mycolic acids are the dominant class of lipids found on the surface of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Curdlan and mycolic acids are added to the surface of MOF NPs, where they are able to alter the shape of MOF NPs, allowing the NPs to closely mimic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This will allow Su-Mari to investigate the biomimetic ability of NPs by investigating the stimulated antibacterial immune response. By upregulating the immune response, Su-Mari intends to create a host-directed therapeutic anti-TB approach that focuses on the processes that contribute to mycobacterial killing, instead of killing the bacteria itself.​                                                                 
 

​Esther Uwimaana
Functional characterization of T-cell immunogenicity of PPE_MPTR proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 

Esther obtained her Master of Science in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology at Makerere University, Uganda. Esther joined the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics in 2021 as a PhD student where she intends to characterize the T-cell immune response to PPE_MPTR proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 

Julian Coetzee 
Investigating heterogene​ity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis as related to clinical outcomes

​Julian obtained his BSc and BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology from the University of Western Cape and his MSc from Stellenbosch University in 2017, 2018 and 2021 respectively. His research currently aims to develop and validate models reporting on clinically relevant Mycobacterium tuberculosis phenotypic heterogeneity. There is anecdotal evidence of bacterial heterogeneity, but the importance hereof for TB treatment response, immune responses, and disease outcomes remains unknown. Julian will investigate this by utilizing bone marrow-derived macrophage stress models, flow cytometry and omics to measure the heterogeneity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis populations. This work provides insight into heterogeneity with Mycobacterium tuberculosis populations, with the ultimate goal of helping identify markers related to treatment response and improved treatment approaches. ​ 
 

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Pamela Ncube

Pamela completed her BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, BSc Honours in Microbiology, and MSc in Molecular Biology through Stellenbosch University in 2015, 2016, and 2021 respectively. In her honours, she investigated the diversity of Cladosporium (a fungus believed to exacerbate asthma and upper respiratory infections) in indoor environments in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. In 2019, she was a shared MSc student with the Host-Pathogen and Animal TB research groups, and her research focused on the characterization of Mycobacterium bovis persister formation in the South African wildlife population from 6 different locations including Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. As a PhD student, she is further building more knowledge of her MSc work. Her PhD project aims to validate the in vitro acid stress model applied to M. bovis during her MSc, explore the macrophage infection models, and examine molecular mechanisms involved during these stress conditions. Understanding M. bovis persister formation will build a foundation in understanding whether latency (an asymptomatic state of tuberculosis) exists in animals.
 

Raadhiya Mathee
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MSc Stude​nts​

Diana Maritim
Identification of genes associated with Mycobacterium smegmatis persister formation 

Diana obtained her bachelor's degree in forensic science at Kenyatta University, Kenya, and joined the division in 2023 as a master's student. Her research project seeks to identify genes associated with Mycobacterium smegmatis persister formation using Himar1 transposon mutagenesis. The project will improve our understanding of bacterial persistence and provide possible targets to guide the future development of TB treatment strategies.​
 

Supervisor: Dr. Nastassja Kriel
Co-supervisor: Prof. Sam Sampson 

Email: [email protected]​
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/diana-mar…
Life outside the lab: A scout / Football (Chelsea) fan / Nature lover  
 

Llewellyn Buys
Investigating the formation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) persisters in macrophages and their destruction using drug-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles 

Llewellyn did his undergraduate degree at UWC (University of the Western Cape) in biotechnology from 2020 - 2022. This was followed by his Hons (2023) at Stellenbosch within the Division of Immunology. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree that aims to assess the clearance of Mtb persisters using drug functionalised magnetic nanoparticles.​​
 

​Supervisor                           Dr Zimvo Obasa ​​
Co-supervisor                     Dr. Liezel Smith / Dr. Kudzanai Tapfuma  

Email                                     [email protected]​
LinkedIn                                    www.linkedin.com/in/llewellyn…​
Life outside the lab              Spending time watching sport (preferably swimming, cricket) / Spending time with family   
 

Chipo M​anda

​Elre Taai

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Past Students

 Angelique Heyneke

 Diana Maritim

 Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma'aruf   

 Tayla Juliet Smith 
 

LABORATORY
 

Caitlyne McMurchie

 Email                                        [email protected]

LinkedIn                                    https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlyne-young-4b144a148/            

 Life outside the lab              My son, Kai / being in nature / doing anything active / arts & crafts
 

Tayla Juliet Smith 
Efficacy of biomimetic nanoparticles against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ΔleuDΔpanCD persister populations​Tayla joined the Host-Pathogen Mycobactomics Research group as an honours student in 2021. In 2022, Tayla started her MSc degree where she intends to use a macrophage infection model to assess whether treatment with biomimetic nanoparticles will lead to the elimination of persister cells within the macrophage. She is also exploiting the nature of the double auxotroph Mycobacterium tuberculosis ΔleuDΔpanCD using a nutrient deprivation model to assess its ability as an in vitro persister model.

Email                                      tsmith@sun.ac.za​
Linkedin                                 linkedin.com/in/tayla-smith-697690167                                                           
Life outside the lab              Reading / Casual video gaming / Trying new foods  ​

Erin McMaster
 

VALIDATE Programme Manager

​Dr Suereta Fortuin

Programme Coordinators

Sune Dyers

​Providing administrative support for The African Bioinformatics training program, the DAAD scholarship program as well as the Genomic Surveillance to control Pathogen infections in Africa  (GenPath) project.

Email                                       [email protected]a​                                   
Life outside the lab           Enjoy hikes, visiting wine farms, spending time with family and friends
 

Zahn de Bruyn

Providing administrative support for the  NIH-funded project : Nanoparticle-based host-directed therapies for eradication of Mtb (Sampson, Reineke, Dube)​​ and Validate programme.
 

Email                                       [email protected]                           
Life outside the lab           Enjoy ​cycling, hiking, art and reading