Senior Lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Dr. Nontobeko Eunice Mvubu is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), specializing in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bioinformatics. She completed her PhD in Microbiology in 2016 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2023. With over five years of teaching and research experience, she has supervised numerous students, including 11 Honours, 6 Masters, and 1 PhD. Dr. Mvubu has published 12 research articles in prestigious international journals and has been a reviewer for scientific publications for five years. Her commitment to research is demonstrated through national and international collaborations, alongside funding received for her projects. Dr. Mvubu’s expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics, and immunology, alongside her strong academic leadership, positions her as a key figure in the field of tuberculosis research.
Profile
Education
Dr. Mvubu completed her PhD in Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2013-2016). Before that, she earned a Master of Science in Microbiology, which was converted to a PhD. She also holds a BSc Honours in Microbiology (2010) from the same university. She began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Medical Science in Physiology from UKZN (2007-2009). Throughout her academic career, Dr. Mvubu has pursued various professional development courses, including a University Education Induction Programme, Supervising Research in Higher Education, and Bioinformatics Training at the University of the Western Cape, equipping her with the skills for higher education teaching and research.
Experience
Dr. Mvubu’s academic career spans roles from Lecturer (2017) to Senior Lecturer (2023) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her teaching experience covers diverse subjects, including Genetics, Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, and Human Physiology, where she has coordinated and lectured several undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Her research and teaching roles extend to the supervision of students at various levels, including Honours, Masters, and PhD students. With a strong background in research, Dr. Mvubu has contributed to national and international research funding and has collaborated with various institutions. She has been involved in a range of high-level grants, including the National Research Foundation Thuthuka and South African Medical Research Council’s Self-Initiated Research Grants.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Mvubu has received recognition for her outstanding research and academic contributions, including being the principal investigator for the National Research Foundation’s Thuthuka Funding instrument (2018 and 2021). She has also played a co-investigator role in significant projects such as the Afrocentric Precision Approach to Control Health Epidemics (APACHE) in 2019. Her research has earned her publication in prominent journals like BMC Genomics and International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Through these contributions, she has gained recognition as a key researcher in her field. Dr. Mvubu’s academic and research achievements position her as a promising candidate for further research leadership and awards.
Research Focus
Dr. Mvubu’s research primarily focuses on the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with an emphasis on bioinformatics and molecular networks. She explores the role of lipid metabolism, immune response, and transcriptome regulation in tuberculosis infections. Her research has extended to studying the differential behavior of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, particularly how they affect cellular environments, immune responses, and gene regulation. She is also exploring the potential of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds in regulating inflammasome pathways to combat tuberculosis. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining microbiology, bioinformatics, and immunology, aims to provide new insights into tuberculosis treatment and vaccine development.
Publication Top Notes
- A review of documented antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of ethnomedicinal plants 🌿
- Reclassification of Bacillus tropicus phage 🔬
- Exploiting inflammasomes in tuberculosis therapy 🧬
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis molecular networks 🦠
- Protocol for RNA extraction from Mycobacterium tuberculosis 🔬
- Differential lipid metabolism in tuberculosis strains 🧪
- Exploring bioactive derivatives as inflammasome regulators 🌱
- Neuroinflammation caused by tuberculosis in mice 🧠
- Maternal immune activation and autism-like phenotype 👶
- Lipid metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains 🧬
- Pulmonary epithelial cell infection by tuberculosis 🫁
- Strain-specific immune response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis 🧫