Jenske graduated with her PhD in Microbiology at Nelson Mandela University’s recent Summer Graduation.
TB in Africa remains a serious concern, and infections are becoming difficult to treat, because the bacteria causing it, are becoming resistant to many drugs, and people often have latent infections or are co-infected with HIV, which complicates treatment further.
Jenske’s research focuses on finding new agents with inhibitory activity for TB and contributes new knowledge to our understanding of the toxicity profiles of the active compounds and the potential of macrofungi species as a resource of antimycobacterial compounds, her supervisor Dr Sharlene Govender said.
Although some toxicity was observed, the findings highlighted the potential of mushrooms to identify compounds that may eventually contribute to the development of new drugs.
“One promising area of research involves natural substances that could help combat TB, and I specifically explored compounds derived from certain mushrooms. While mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine, their potential to fight TB has not been extensively studied”, Jenske said.
She investigated two types of mushrooms, namely Gymnopilus junonius and Rhodofomitopsis lilacinogilva, which she isolated and tested compounds from to assess their ability to kill TB bacteria.
One compound from Gymnopilus junonius, called gymnopilene, showed significant effectiveness in inhibiting bacterial growth. In laboratory tests, she observed that gymnopilene damaged the bacteria’s cell walls.
She also evaluated the safety of these compounds by examining their potential harmful effects on in vitro cell lines and zebrafish.
Jenske has been a part-time lecturer at Mandela University since 2018, initially teaching microbiology to second- and third-year students in the Medical Laboratory Science Department.
And thereafter also lecturered microbiology modules for the Nursing, Pharmacy, and Environmental Health departments, as well as a biochemistry module for Nursing students.
Her research interests are primarily in microbiology, exploring natural products, such as medicinal fungi, to develop new treatments for infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis.
“I am particularly interested in discovering novel antimicrobial compounds and advancing our understanding of how these can help address global health challenges.”
Currently, her postdoctoral research focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically investigating the presence of AMR bacteria and genes in wastewater from communities that feed into wastewater treatment plants, currently very newsworthy in South Africa.
This research aims to use wastewater as a surveillance tool for tracking and controlling the spread of multi-drug-resistant microbes.
Jenske’s dream job would be to continue working in a research-based environment, particularly in microbiology, where she can contribute to addressing and advancing scientific solutions for current global health challenges. She hopes to lead a research team, focusing on collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to solving pressing health issues.
“Although lecturing can be trying at times, what I love about it is that I am able to act as a mentor and try to make a positive impact in the students’ academic journey.”
The journey towards earning a PhD is rarely without its challenges, but for many, like Jenske, it became even more difficult in the face of the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr Govender.
Jenske started her research and proposal writing in 2019 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the ensuing national lockdown, disrupted both her research and the steady progress of her experiments. As laboratories closed and social distancing protocols took effect, she was forced to rethink her research strategies.
Also, there were delays in acquiring essential research supplies. Supply chains were severely disrupted, and critical consumables were often unavailable or arrived weeks after they were needed, further stalling her work. Technical issues also emerged, with equipment malfunctions preventing execution of experiments.
Jenske commented about her PhD journey, “Throughout this journey, I have been incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and guidance of my supervisors (Dr Govender and Professor Maryna van de Venter), whose encouragement and expertise have been instrumental in helping me navigate these challenges.
“Although the journey has been difficult, it has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of adaptability in research. I hope my experience can inspire others facing similar challenges.”