In addition to running a multidisciplinary research group, I run experiments that aim to develop novel, intricate and bioactive chemical scaffolds from usual natural sources such as lichens, marine sponges, ascidians and fungi. Pure compounds from these sources are appropriately derivatized, transformed through azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions and ultimately recombined to generate totally novel compounds from which anti-tubercular activity can be probed.

My project in TB drug discovery deals with investigating fungi isolated from fynbos rich in sesquiterpene lactones.

I’m interested in evaluating bioactive constituents of endophytic fungi and their bacterial counterparts isolated from Cannabis sativa as anti-TB drug leads.

My research interests are concerned with the isolation, purification, characterization and assessment of bioactive constituents from fungal symbiotic communities of invasive ascidians and other marine organisms.

I am studying the potential of secondary metabolites produced by fungi associated with foliose, fructicose, and crustose lichens as novel alternative TB drug leads.

My focus is on the use of gold mine tailings as a repository of extremophilic antimycobacterial peptides.