Academic Qualifications PhD (2017, University of Pretoria, South Africa); MSc (2013, University of Pretoria, South Africa); BSc Honours (2009, University of Limpopo, South Africa); BSc (2008, University of Limpopo, South Africa)
Brief Biography (English)
Dr Mabotse Tjale is a Senior Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), based in the Biophotonics Department within the Photonics Center. She holds a BSc and BSc Honours in Microbiology from the University of Limpopo. She completed her MSc in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, where she focused on evaluating molecular techniques for the detection of zoonotic pathogens in bats and their ectoparasites. Dr Tjale earned her PhD in Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria, employing next-generation sequencing technologies to conduct transcriptomic profiling of Ehrlichia ruminantium in both the host and vector. Her research aimed to identify novel vaccine candidates for the development of a subunit vaccine. Her postdoctoral research included in silico screening of novel vaccine targets at the University of Pretoria, quantification of latently infected HIV-1 cells in vitro at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and vaccine development for veterinary diseases at Onderstepoort Biological Products. Currently, she leads research at the CSIR’s Biophotonics division focused on the development of optical biosensing platforms for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) at the point of care. Dr Tjale uses advanced optical techniques such as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) to design innovative photonics-based biosensors. Through her work, she aims to make a significant contribution to the field of TB diagnostics, advancing both scientific understanding and public health interventions
Brief Biography (Alternative language) Dr Mabotse Tjale is a Senior Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), based in the Biophotonics Department within the Photonics Center. She holds a BSc and BSc Honours in Microbiology from the University of Limpopo. She completed her MSc in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, where she focused on evaluating molecular techniques for the detection of zoonotic pathogens in bats and their ectoparasites. She earned her PhD in Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria, employing next-generation sequencing technologies to conduct transcriptomic profiling of Ehrlichia ruminantium in both the host and vector. Her research aimed to identify novel vaccine candidates for the development of a subunit vaccine. Her postdoctoral research included in silico screening of novel vaccine targets at the University of Pretoria, quantification of latently infected HIV-1 cells in vitro at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and vaccine development for veterinary diseases at Onderstepoort Biological Products. Currently, she leads research at the CSIR’s Biophotonics division focused on the development of optical biosensing platforms for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) at the point of care. Dr Tjale uses advanced optical techniques such as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) to design innovative photonics-based biosensors. Through her work, she aims to make a significant contribution to the field of TB diagnostics, advancing both scientific understanding and public health interventions
