Dr. Natasha R. Mavengere

Education

Ph.D. 2012 Microbial Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, South Africa    

M.S. 2009 Biotechnology,  University of the Western Cape, South Africa

B.Sc. (Honors) 2006, Biology 2nd Class Upper, University of Zimbabwe

B.Sc. 2003, Biology and Biochemistry double major, University of Zimbabwe

Professional Positions Held

2024 – Present             Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Research, Department of Biological Science, Hampton University

2021 – 2024                 Senior Lecturer, Biotechnology Department, Harare Institute of Technology

2019 – 2021                 Senior Lecturer, Biochemistry Department, University of Zimbabwe

2015 – 2018                 Chief Scientist, Quorus Biotech, South Africa

2012 – 2014                 Post Doctoral Fellow, Stellenbosch University

Awards and Recognitions

Fulbright Fellowship Award – University of Wisconsin-Madison
TechWomen Fellowship Award – USA Department of State
Women in Science Higher Education Excellence Award – Association of African Universities

Curricula Development and Teaching Assignments

BIO 105 – Introduction to Biology I
BIO 304 – Microbiology
BIO 408 – Research Problems

 Areas of specialization

1. Microbiology: Isolation, cultivation, identification and characterization of microorganisms.
2. Natural product discovery: Screen for small compounds with antimicrobial activity against human pathogens
3. Fermentation technology: Optimization of growth conditions to obtain optimum production of desired compounds from microorganisms
4. Molecular Biology: Advanced genomic techniques including whole genome sequence analysis.
5. Science Education: Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses including Microbiology. Environmental Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology and Fermentation Technology. Supervision of research projects and assisting with manuscript preparation for publication.
6. Science Policy and Regulation: UN-EP CBD Multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Expert Group on Synthetic Biology. The group reports to the UN SABSSTA and advises on trends and issues concerning synthetic biology.

Current Research Interest

Antibiotic discovery – Engaging undergraduates in active research to discover antibiotics from soil bacteria in their own backyards. As I help students to culture bacteria from soil test bacteria for antibiotic activity against safe relatives of pathogens, extract chemicals from bacteria with possible antibiotic activity and carry out genomic and metabolic testing of antibiotic profiles, students gain valuable research experience with real-world relevance.

Selected Publications

• Tafadzwa S. Mutanga, Natasha R. Mavengere (2020) Design and Development of a constructed wetland for the remediation of water pollutants along perennial rivers. Journal of Environmental Management Zimbabwe
• Mavengere NR, Mavenger WN. (2020) Factors hindering women from successful STEM entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe. AAU WoLPHE Conference Papers. 2020
• Johannes J. Le Roux, Natasha R. Mavengere, Allan G. Ellis (2016) The structure of legume rhizobium interaction networks and their response to biological invasions. AOB Plants: 8: plw038: doi10.1093/aobpla/plw038.
• Natasha R Mavengere, Ellis A.G and Le Roux J.J (2014) Burkholderia aspalathi sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of the South African legume Aspalathus abietina Thunb. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology; 64(Pt 6):1906-12. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.057067-0.
• Johannes J. Le Roux , Marguerite Blignaut, Enelge Gildenhuys , Natasha Mavengere, and Cecile Berthouly-Salazar (2013) The molecular ecology of biological invasions: what do we know about non-additive genotypic effects and invasion success? Biological invasions; 15 (10): doi 10.1007/s10530-013-0568-y.
• Sjirk Geerts, Pieter Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, Johannes J. Le Roux, Natasha R. Mavengere, John R Wilson (2013) Why do French (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish brooms (Spartium junceum) not sweep across South Africa? South African Journal of Botany. 86:165 DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.02.102

Professional Affiliations

• American Society of Microbiology
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Society
• Organization for Women Scientists in Developing Countries
• Natural Products Research Network for East and Central Africa (NAPRECA)
• Society of Microbiology

Student Project

Antibiotic discovery research holds profound significance for public health and medicine. Before the discovery of antibiotics in 1928 by Alexander Fleming’s serendipitous discovery of penicillin, bacterial infections were often fatal. However, as antibiotics became more widely used, pathogens with mechanisms for antibiotic resistance began to emerge. The past three decades have seen an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extreme multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which poses significant challenges to public health because standard treatments become ineffective, leading to higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This continual evolution of pathogens and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria underscore the necessity of ongoing research in this field. Antibiotic discovery research is crucial for developing new drugs that can overcome these resistant strains. By identifying novel compounds and mechanisms of action, researchers can create antibiotics that target resistant bacteria, ensuring that we stay ahead of evolving microbial threats.

In this project, Students are tasked with collecting soil from diverse environments such as gardens, forests, and urban areas, and isolating microorganisms from these samples. The microorganisms are then cultured and tested for their ability to produce substances that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. This process involves a series of steps, including:

Sample Collection: Students collect soil samples from any location of their choice
Isolation and Culturing: Soil samples are processed to isolate microorganisms. These are then cultured in controlled environments to encourage growth.
Antibiotic Screening: The cultured microorganisms are tested against known bacterial pathogens to identify those producing potentially useful antibiotics.
Characterization: Promising antibiotic-producing strains are further analyzed to understand their properties, effectiveness, and potential applications.

This hands-on project will not only teach students fundamental microbiological techniques but will also engage them in the scientific process of discovery.