AKA Bacterial Quorum Sensing Busters (BQSB)

Research Leader: Prof S Cosa

Background:
This research group (NAPBI_RG) has interest and focus on the potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate bacterial infections via interrupting bacterial communication systems and interactions. This we do by exploring the natural products (medicinal plants/microbes/propolis and other) and their bioactive compounds to attenuate multidrug resistance. The interest is mainly provoked by the existing indigenous knowledge on traditional medicine. In addition, there is a global emerging problem of antibiotic resistance where high levels of tolerance and resistance in bacterial pathogens are prevalent even within the public sector in SA. This research contributes to the increasing knowledge and acknowledgement of traditional medicine and or indigenous knowledge systems, bacterial virulence and multidrug resistance. Some of the techniques employed in successful execution of this research includes the molecular modelling approach, combined with various in vitro, in situ and molecular techniques. The work involves bringing in collaboration expertise from various disciplines such as Bioinformatics, Biomedical, Microbiology, Plant Science and other. What this groups envisages, is the development of these alternative strategies and drug candidates that would possibly repress the expression of cell-to-cell communication regulated phenotypes, which may have great clinical impact in relation to combating MDR infections. As the Principal Investigator, I envision to broaden the research scope to explore proteomics in this area; while training and striving to make a significant positive impact to young upcoming researchers (students) and contributing to the institution and national research interests.

Team 2023

MSc Students
Tahlia Calitz	Perfoy Lumu	Cynthia Mukhanu	Vhangani Mulaudzi	Gugu Ngobese
PhD Students
Idowu Adeosun	Vuyokazi Nongogo	Alphonse Onana

Past MSc Students:

• Tebatso Mashamba
• Ongeziwe Mhlana
• Tenele Mhlanga
• Masego Mokhasi
• Alphonse Onana 

Past PhD Students:

• Itumeleng Baloyi 

Collaborators:

• Prof Oleg Reva, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Prof Yusuf, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Prof Lucy Moleleki, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Prof Tshikalange, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Prof Bovincini, University of Bologna, Italy
• Prof Huan, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital/ Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
• Dr Mandrone, University of Bologna, Italy
• Dr Bassey, Sefako Mokgato University of Health Sciences (SMU), South Africa
• Prof Ibrahim, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
• Prof Soliman, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Recent Publications: 

1. Idowu Jesulayomi Adeosun, Itumeleng Baloyi, Aimen Aljoundi, Elliasu Salifu, Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim and Sekelwa Cosa: “Molecular modelling of SdiA protein by selected flavonoid and terpenes compounds to attenuate virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae”. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2022; https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2022.2148753
2. Idowu Jesulayomi Adeosun, Itumeleng Baloyi and Sekelwa Cosa: Anti-Biofilm and associated anti-virulence activities of selected phytochemical compounds against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Plants 2022, 11(11), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111429
3. Tebatso Mashaba, Idowu J. Adeosun, Itumeleng T. Baloyi, Emmanuel T. Tshikalange and Sekelwa Cosa: “Quorum sensing modulation and inhibition in biofilm forming foot ulcer pathogens by selected medicinal plants”. Heliyon 2022, 8(4), e09303; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09303
4. Baloyi Itumeleng, Idowu J. Adeosun, Abdullahi A. Yusuf and Sekelwa Cosa: In silico and in vitro screeing of antipathogenic properties of Melianthus comosus (Vahl) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics 2021; 10, 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10060679
5. Sekelwa Cosa, Jostina R. Rakoma, Abdullahi A. Yusuf and Thilivhali E. Tshikalange: Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) Benth extracts reduce quorum sensing controlled virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Molecules 2020, 25, 2283; https://doi:10.3390/molecules25102283