The Eradicator - Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala
Dr Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala: Investigator - Africa Health Research Institute, Assistant Professor - University College London, Next Einstein Forum Fellow
His Superpowers:
Developing Host-directed therapies: Host-directed therapies are medical treatments that target a person’s body rather than the bacteria or virus that is causing an illness. To fight tuberculosis, scientists study what a TB bacterium does during infection and how the human, or host, reacts to the bacterium. Host-directed therapies target a person’s biology to fight an infection. Therapies include reducing inflammation in the lung, supercharging the immune system to eradicate the bacteria and making it harder for the bacteria to use the body to grow.
Exploring Granulomas: Granulomas are spheres of immune cells that form around an infection or site of inflammation. Mohlopheni’s group explores granulomas to identify biomarkers, the chemical signature of an infection. If they find biomarkers that signal that an infection has just started, it could, one day, lead to a clinic test that catches TB earlier.
His Life and Education: Mohlopheni grew up in Mosesetjane village in Mokopane, a town in Limpopo province, during apartheid. He studied at home by kerosene lamp before his village had electricity. He often had to walk about 10km to attend school and take his exams.
Needless to say, he did very well in his studies and went on to attended the University of Limpopo (BSc and Honours - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), University of Cape Town (PhD - Chemical Pathology, post-doctoral fellowship - Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine) and Harvard University (Post-doctoral fellowship - laboratory of Eric Rubin).
In isiZulu
U-Dr Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala: Uyi-Investigator - Africa Health Research Institute, Uyi-Assistant Professor - University College London, Next Einstein Forum Fellow
Ama-superpowers akhe:
Ukwakha ukwelapha okuqonde ngqo esifweni: Ama-Host-directed therapies izindlela zokwelapha eziqonde emzimbeni womuntu kunokuhlasela isifo esikuwona. Ukulwa ne-TB, ososayensi batadisha ukuthi i-bacterium ye-TB ukuthi yenzani ngenkathi ingena emzimbeni nokuthi umzimba uzivikela kanjani kuleyo-bacterium.
Ukuhlola ama-Granulomas: Granulomas angamabhola ama-immune cells akheka endaweni lapho isifo singene khona. Iqembu lika-Mohlopheni licwaninga ama-granulomas ukuze bathole ama-biomarkers, okuyi-chemical signature yokutheleleka. Uma bewathola ama-biomarkers asho ukuthi umuntu usanda kutheleleka, mhlawumbe ngolunye usuku lokho kungaholela ekutholeni i-TB isanda kungena emzimbeni.
Impilo nemfundo yakhe: U-Mohlopheni wakhulela esigodini sase-Mosesetjane e-Mokopane, okuyindawo esesifundazweni sase-Limpopo, okulapho okhulela khona ngesikhathi sobandlululo. Wayetadisha ekhaya esebenzisa ilambu likaphethiloli ngaphambi kokuthi isigodi sangakubo sithuthuku sibe nogesi.