Daniel Snzile Ndima

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Daniel Senzile Ndima is a South African structural biologist of infectious diseases and bio-entrepreneur. His specialty is in genetic/protein engineering and protein crystallography. He is the founding CEO of CapeBio. He is an Allan Gray Orbis fellow and The Mandela Rhodes Scholar. The CapeBio company has developed a coronavirus testing kit. The kit is called qPCR. The Coronavirus test kits produce results in 65 minutes. [1] [2] [3] Ndima says, “Our kits help pathologists isolate and identify a virus’s DNA or genetic material from an infected person. This makes it possible to detect the virus accurately in a laboratory.” [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Early life and education

Ndima was born in Eastern Cape and grew up in Cape Town. He earned a bachelor's degree in biotechnology from University of the Western Cape. [8] In 2016, he earned a master's degree in biochemistry from the University of Pretoria; his thesis was Investigating the Potentially Expanded Target Repertoire of Murinized Internalin of Listeria Monocytogenes [9]

Career

Following graduation, he joined the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as a researcher and business developer for CapeBio Initiative which ultimately became CapeBio Technologies. Ndima is an Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellow, and the founding CEO of CapeBio Technologies. The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation was founded by Allan Gray (investor). Ndima worked with a group of researchers at CSIR that developed reagents enzymes as business developer of the start-up and product developer. The company produces molecular biology reagents, enzymes and kits which are used at universities, research councils, and companies in South Africa and United States. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Species of pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis

Listeria monocytogenes is the species of pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis. It is a facultative anaerobic bacterium, capable of surviving in the presence or absence of oxygen. It can grow and reproduce inside the host's cells and is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens. Twenty to thirty percent of foodborne listeriosis infections in high-risk individuals may be fatal. In the European Union, listeriosis continues an upward trend that began in 2008, causing 2,161 confirmed cases and 210 reported deaths in 2014, 16% more than in 2013. In the EU, listeriosis mortality rates also are higher than those of other foodborne pathogens. Responsible for an estimated 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths in the United States annually, listeriosis ranks third in total number of deaths among foodborne bacterial pathogens, with fatality rates exceeding even Salmonella spp. and Clostridium botulinum.

<i>Listeria</i> Genus of bacteria

Listeria is a genus of bacteria that acts as an intracellular parasite in mammals. By 2024, 28 species had been identified. The genus is named in honour of the British pioneer of sterile surgery Joseph Lister. Listeria species are Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and facultatively anaerobic, and do not produce endospores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listeriosis</span> Medical condition

Listeriosis is a bacterial infection most commonly caused by Listeria monocytogenes, although L. ivanovii and L. grayi have been reported in certain cases. Listeriosis can cause severe illness, including severe sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis, sometimes resulting in lifelong harm and even death. Those at risk of severe illness are the elderly, fetuses, newborns and those who are immunocompromised. In pregnant women it may cause stillbirth or spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth is common. Listeriosis may cause mild, self-limiting gastroenteritis and fever in anyone.

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Victoria Girls' High School is a state (public) school in Grahamstown, South Africa with a 100% pass rate and 94% endorsement. It is a girls-only school that caters for learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Victoria Girls' High School is a leading school in the province. It has repeatedly produced the top matric pupil in its educational district of Cacadu. VGHS has twice, in 2007 and again in 2011, been the winner of the PetroSA Proudly South African HomeGrown Awards, "Educational Institute of the Year." The school is also a member of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation's "Circle of Excellence. Victoria Girls' High has also been placed sixth in the Eastern Cape based on its outstanding Mathematics and Science results. Victoria Girls' High School also offers boarding facilities ranging from small and homely to large and social. Victoria Girls' High offers a wide range of facilities including the Johan Carinus Art Centre, computer centres, three science labs and a ninety-seat audio-visual presentation venue. Currently under construction is a new music centre.

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Events in the year 2020 in South Africa.

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References

  1. ↑ "South Africans develop COVID-19 test kits that give results in an hour". 21 April 2020.
  2. ↑ "CapeBio creates breakthrough fast result coronavirus tests". 21 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "South African entrepreneurs to transform COVID-19 testing process". 21 April 2020.
  4. ↑ "South Africa: Entrepreneurs Pioneer Rapid COVID-19 Test Kit". 20 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "Meet the team – CapeBio". Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Testing innovation from SA entrepreneurs". 17 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "CapeBio (Daniel Ndima and Dineo Lioma) Creates Breakthrough Fast Result Coronavirus Tests".
  8. ↑ "Daniel Snzile Ndima". Africans in STEM. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  9. ↑ Ndima, Daniel Snzile (2016). Investigating the Potentially Expanded Target Repertoire of Murinized Internalin of Listeria Monocytogenes.
  10. ↑ "Daniel Ndima".
  11. ↑ "Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellows at the frontline in South Africa's fight against COVID-19". 14 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Entrepreneurs Pioneer Rapid COVID-19 Test Kit".[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ "COVID-19 | CapeBio Technologies develops COVID-19 test kit: Daniel Ndima".
  14. ↑ "CapeBio creates breakthrough fast result coronavirus tests".
  15. ↑ "UWC alumnus claims new COVID-19 test can cut waiting times by 64%". 22 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Head and Shoulders Above the Rest | Allan Gray Orbis Foundation".
  17. ↑ "BYM 2016 Summit Reflections by Daniel Ndima".
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