Sep

September to Remember

Special greetings everyone!

September always reminds us to be courageous enough to plant a new seed and to trust the magic of new beginnings. In the spirit of new beginnings, our very own Kgalaletso Othibeng (PhD candidate) and Dr. Motseoa Lephatsi have spread their wings-visiting our collaborators in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria respectively. This is part of the CropPrime, an EU Horizon funded project we are involved in. On the 10th of September, Miss Othibeng excitedly embarked on a journey to the Biology Centre CAS in České Budějovice to conduct research on investigating the effects of priming agents on plants, particularly at the molecular level. Dr. Lephatsi shortly followed her as she made her way to the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) in Plovdiv. At the CPSBB, she will be performing transcriptomics studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the priming effects of Laminaria spp. in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. This opportunity and international experience, for both Miss Othibeng and Dr. Lephatsi, will not only expand their technical skills but will also deepen their understanding of plant resilience, allowing them to make significant strides in their research endeavours. We wish them all the best!

Kgali
Miss Othibeng on the streets of České Budějovice
Mots
Dr. Motseoa Lephatsi in Plovdiv

The Tugizimana lab recently attended the two-day Metabolomics South Africa (MSA) Symposium held on the 17th-18 September at UNISA, Florida Campus. The event brought together scientists, researchers, and students to share groundbreaking developments in metabolomics and related science. It was an enriching experience for our lab, with a chance to engage with leading experts and explore the latest innovations in the field. A highlight for us was the MSc poster presentations by Miss Innocentia Selepe, presenting her study titled “Computational metabolomics to characterize the metabolic maps of three Artemisia spp.” and Mr. Samuel Mulaudzi presenting his work titled “Computational metabolomics to profile the metabolome of microbial consortia.” This symposium expanded our scientific network and provided inspiration for future research directions. At the end of the symposium, our PI, Dr. Tugizimana, who is the current president of MSA, led the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MSA, which provides MSA members with an important platform to discuss and vote on key actions for the organization.

TTL at MSA
The Tugugizimana Lab at the MSA symposium 2024
Dr Fidele
Dr. Fidele Tugizimana leading the MSA AGM

On the 26th of September, we were delighted to learn that Miss Othibeng was one of the winners of the sixth edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science for her groundbreaking research on computational metabolomics. She was recognized and awarded for her current PhD research focusing on computational metabolomics to elucidate the bioactive natural products in South African medicinal plants, particularly anti-inflammatory and anti-venom properties.

Kgali
Miss Othibeng - winner of the sixth edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science
L’Oréal-UNESCO
L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award

Miss Othibeng’s research aims to connect computational biology with natural product studies, providing new perspectives on the bioactive compounds found in South African medicinal plants.

Spring is regarded as the best time for plant growth, and we often make full use of this season as the Tugizimana Lab. On the 30th of September, we visited Random Harvest plant nursery in Krugersdorp to begin plant cultivation for Miss Myoli’s PhD study. Her project focuses on investigating the effect of plant-promoting rhizobacteria on the production of bioactive natural products in medicinal plants that are indigenous to South Africa. This visit began an exciting chapter for her research and our group learned a thing or two from the plant caretakers.

Random harvest

To close off September, we are thrilled to celebrate our PI’s recognition, marking significant milestones in his distinguished career. Dr Tugizimana was featured in the prestigious Stanford-Elsevier Ranking of the world’s top 2% scientists, a testament to his impactful contributions to metabolomics and plant biochemistry. This recognition reflects his dedication to advancing science and his influential role in global research. Adding to this remarkable achievement, Dr Tugizimana has been appointed as a Visiting Professor (VP) at the University of Messina, in Italy. This international recognition highlights his expertise and leadership in metabolomics, offering him the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed researchers in Europe and further expand his scientific impact. These awards not only honour Dr Tugizimana’s personal accomplishments but also spotlight The Tugizimana lab’s contributions to cutting-edge research. We are proud to be part of his journey and look forward to even more groundbreaking discoveries and innovations under his guidance.

That’s a wrap!! To stay updated with our science endeavours and socials, follow us on social media. We are excited to have you join us on this dynamic digital space.

Written by: Faith Phahlane and Thuso Mudau