Biography

Thabang Msimango holds a BSc Biotechnology degree and a BSc Biotechnology honours degree both obtained from the University of Pretoria. She is currently completing her MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Pretoria. Her research project investigated the microbiological safety of fresh produce grown and supplied to schools to prepare feeding programme meals. This entailed also investigating the quality of the water as well as looking into the soil, surfaces in the kitchen and the hands of the food handlers. In 2018, Thabang was awarded the Student Travel Scholarship Award by the International Association for Food Protection which allowed her to attend the 2018 annual meeting and present her work.

For her PhD studies, Thabang will focus on the microbiological risk assessment of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus in leafy green production in South Africa.

Discipline/s:

Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food Safety

Research description

The One Health approach involves animal, plant, and human health.  Extended-spectrum and/or AmpC producing Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli detected on the hands of food handlers will be subjected to whole-genome sequencing, allowing us further characterise these organisms in terms of antibiotic resistance and virulence. The One Health approach is critical for managing zoonosis and antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organisation has identified antibiotic resistance as a huge threat and challenge to public health. Therefore, determining the link and relatedness of the Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli multidrug isolates will contribute positively to food safety as well as the public health system in South Africa.