Mr Lenny Mashavha

MSc Student
Bacteria Genomics and Plant Pathogen Interactions

Research Interests

I completed a BSc. degree in Human Life Sciences in 2007 at the University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.  Subsequently  (2008) I graduated with an Honours degree in Biochemistry at the same institution.  My honours project was supervised by Prof D.U Bellstedt and was focused on using Bioinformatic tools to close gaps (contigs) within the recently sequenced mycoplasma MS01 genome. This project was undertaken to characterizing candidate genes suitable for  the development of DNA vaccine against mycoplasmas (pathogens  affecting South African Ostriches in the Western Cape). In 2009 I moved to the University of Pretoria were I am currently enrolled for my second year (2010) of an MSc. Biotechnology degree under the Supervision of Dr L.N. Moleleki.

My MSc project is focused on the newly identified economically important bacterial pathogen of potato which causes the soft-rot-blackleg disease complex, namely; Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis (Pbcb).  The overall goal of my MSc project is to use molecular tools in characterizing virulence mechanisms utilised by Pbcb in its pathogenecity.  For example, Gram-negative bacteria such as Pbcb are known to mediate their pathogenecity through secretion of virulence factors using secretion systems. A newly identified secretion system, the type VI secretion system (T6SS) has been described  in pectobacteria and is implicated in bacterial pathogenesis, Therefore, by using the mutagenesis approach we seek to investigate the role of T6SS in Pbcb pathogenecity.