Dr. Zamathombeni Duma is a highly skilled and dedicated Medical Scientist with extensive experience in diagnostic and research laboratories, specializing in clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology, and cytogenetics. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Limpopo, followed by a BSc Honours in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Chemical Pathology from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and later completed her Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Dr. Duma’s career has included roles as Student Assistant at NHLS Cytogenetics Laboratory, Medical Biological Scientist Intern at NHLS, Research Technician at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Medical Scientist at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, where she currently lectures, supervises postgraduate students, and trains intern medical scientists registered with the HPCSA. She made a strong contribution to public health through her laboratory work during the COVID-19 pandemic at Global Health Innovation laboratories, where she validated RNA extraction methods and RT-PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Her research expertise spans parasitology, molecular diagnostics, chromatography, and immunological interactions in infectious diseases, with proficiency in advanced laboratory techniques including PCR, ELISA, HPLC, mass spectrometry, and FTIR. Dr. Duma has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, with works addressing genetic polymorphisms, vitamin D analysis, SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies, helminth co-infections, immunological interactions with tuberculosis, and telomere biology in HIV and helminth co-infection. She has also explored the implications of helminths on viral infections such as HSV-II, contributing to a broader understanding of infectious disease dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, she combines clinical laboratory practice, teaching, and impactful research to advance biomedical sciences and improve healthcare outcomes.
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Duma, Z., & Khine, A. A. (2017). Methyl tetra hydro folate reductase enzyme polymorphism in the mothers with previous autosomal aneuploidy birth in the indigenous African population of Northern Region of South Africa. Journal of Down Syndrome & Chromosome Abnormalities, 3(122).
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Duma, Z., Bekker, L., & Khine, A. A. (2020). Validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous assessment of vitamin D isoforms. Journal of Medical Laboratory Science & Technology of South Africa, 2(2), 36–40.*
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Naidoo, P., Ghazi, T., Chuturgoon, A. A., Naidoo, R. N., Ramsuran, V., Mpaka-Mbatha, M. N., Bhengu, K. N., Nembe, N., Duma, Z., Pillay, R., Singh, R., & Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 and helminth coinfections, and environmental pollution exposure: An epidemiological and immunological perspective. Environment International, 156, 106695.
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Duma, Z., Chuturgoon, A. A., Ramsuran, V., Edward, V., Naidoo, P., Mpaka-Mbatha, M. N., Bhengu, K. N., Nembe, N., Pillay, R., Singh, R., & Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L. (2022). The challenges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing in low-middle income countries and possible cost-effective measures in resource-limited settings. Globalization and Health, 18(1), 5.*
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Duma, Z., Ramsuran, V., Chuturgoon, A. A., Edward, V., Naidoo, P., Mpaka-Mbatha, M. N., Bhengu, K. N., Nembe, N., Pillay, R., Singh, R., & Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L. (2022). Evaluation of various alternative economical and high throughput SARS-CoV-2 testing methods within resource-limited settings. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(22), 14350.*
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Bhengu, K. N., Naidoo, P., Singh, R., Mpaka-Mbatha, M. N., Nembe, N., Duma, Z., Pillay, R., & Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L. (2022). Immunological interactions between intestinal helminth infections and tuberculosis. Diagnostics, 12(11), 2676.*
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Macamo, E. D., Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L., Duma, Z., Mthombeni, J., & Naidoo, P. (2024). Telomere length in a South African population co-infected with HIV and helminths. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 46(7), 6853–6867.*
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Pillay, R., Naidoo, P., Duma, Z., Bhengu, K. N., Mpaka-Mbatha, M. N., Nembe-Mafa, N., & Mkhize-Kwitshana, Z. L. (2024). Potential interactions between soil-transmitted helminths and herpes simplex virus type II: Implications for sexual and reproductive health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Biology, 13(12), 1050.*