Ngwane Andile H

Andile H. Ngwane is a junior molecular biologist in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics of the University of Stellenbosch. This has been achieved through MRC-DST research career development (RCD). His interests span safety, tuberculosis, and infection control. His main research interest lies with the molecular biology of tuberculosis (TB) with the focus on unique mechanisms of nitrogen metabolism as possible targets for antituberculosis drug development. His training activities include undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and include honours. His research involves the evaluation of a novel compounds, (furanones, atimisinin, isoniazid based derivatives, rifampicin based derivatives, plant derived extracts/compound) for TB drug development. The assays involved include but not limited (cytotoxicity, drug susceptibility, synegism, macrophage derived drug activity). Another areas of focus is immune based therapy modulation (TB) where immune factors from mouse bone marrow derived macrophages are studied at genetic and proteomic level. Furthermore as health challenges increase, the platform of drug discovery spans to other disease including breast cancer therapy from where I am gaining technical skills. Through the Fogarty and Novartis development scholarships, Andile acquired much international experience and in this way completed part of his research in the USA and developed his cell handling skills in Switzerland. He is an investigator on a number of publications in the peer reviewed journals.