Miss Sanelisiwe Duze

Sanelisiwe Duze is a microbiology researcher whose work centers on genomic epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and infectious disease surveillance in South Africa and beyond. Her scholarship integrates whole-genome sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and bioinformatics to address public health threats posed by bacterial and fungal pathogens across clinical, environmental, food, and One Health contexts.

A major focus of her research is the evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis, examining global and regional population structures, plasmid dynamics, and resistance determinants. She has also contributed to genomic characterization of Vibrio cholerae in aquatic environments, highlighting virulence profiles and resistance genes relevant to community risk. This work demonstrates strength in translating genomic data into actionable public health insights.

Her portfolio further spans Listeria monocytogenes diagnostics and biocide tolerance, Candida auris environmental persistence, carbapenemase detection, and host epigenetic responses in TB–HIV co-infection. Collectively, these studies underscore expertise in pathogen detection, infection prevention, and laboratory systems strengthening, reinforcing her role in advancing molecular microbiology and outbreak preparedness in resource-limited settings.