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Name: Prof Paul A Kappo
Location: C2 Lab 426 Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Biochemistry Staff Staff Members
Contact Details:
Tel: +27 (0) 11 559 3182
Email: akappo@uj.ac.za
About Prof Abidemi Paul Kappo
Prof Abidemi Paul Kappo’s broad research niche is Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology (macromolecular X-ray crystallography, biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and bioinformatics) applications in the discovery, design and development of biopharmaceuticals. My immediate research endeavour is centred around molecular and cell biology, computational biology and mathematical modelling in rational drug discovery and development for communicable and non-communicable diseases. More so, aptamer technology and nanobiotechnology are applied in the fabrication of point-of-care diagnostics (especially in developing lateral flow devices) for disease diagnosis in non-clinical settings. Another area of expertise in my group revolves around cancer biology as it relates to nanotechnology and plant natural products. Neglected tropical diseases have been at the core of our research initiatives, but studies are often conducted on diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, obesity and diabetes. Mathematical modelling is used to model the spread of disease and co-infection between diseases and as a tool for biocontrol measures. My research endeavour can be summarised under this title: Development of biotherapeutic and diagnostic tools in treating communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Links
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2521-8957
Recent Publications:
- Kagiso Motlhatlhedi, Naledi Pilusa, Tshepang Ndaba, Mary George, Priscilla Masamba and Abidemi Paul Kappo(2024). Unraveling the therapeutic and vaccinomic potential of moonlighting proteins for the discovery and design of new drugs and vaccines against schistosomiasis. American Journal of Translational Research 16(9): 4279 – 4300.
- Viola Onyinye Okechukwu, Patrick Berkah Njobeh, Abidemi Paul Kappo and Messai Mamo (2024). Room temperature detection of Aspergillus flavus Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) under simulated conditions using Graphene Oxide and Tin Oxide Nanorods (SnO2 NRs-GO). Food Chemistry 456: 140068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140068
- Muzi Nicolas Buthelezi, Vhahangwele Grace Tshililo, Abidemi Paul Kappo and Mthokosizi B.C. Simelane (2024). Phytochemical evaluation of Ziziphus mucronata and Xyslomabium undulutum towards the discovery and development of antimalarial drugs. Malaria Journal 23: doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-04976-1
- Motseoa Mariam Lephatsi, Mpho Susan Choene, Abidemi Paul Kappo, Ntakadzeni Edwin Madala and Fidele Tugizimana (2023). An integrated molecular networking and docking approach to characterize the metabolome of Helichrysum splendidum and its pharmaceutical potentials. Metabolites 13: 1104 https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13101104.
- Priscilla Masamba, Brandon William Weber, Bryan Trevor Sewell and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2022). Crystallization and Preliminary Structural Determination of the Universal Stress G4LZI3 Protein from Schistosoma mansoni. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked (IMU) 32: 101057. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2022.101057
- Lloyd Mabonga, Priscilla Masamba and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2022). Inhibitory potential of a benzoxazole derivative, 4FI against SNRPG~RING finger domain protein complex as a lead compound in the discovery of anti-cancer drugs: A molecular dynamics simulation approach. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked 31: doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2022.100993
- Abiola Fatimah Adenowo, Priscilla Masamba, Ndibonani Kebonang Qokoyi, Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2022). Recombinant Expression and Biophysical Characterization of a Druggable mansoni Universal stress G4LZI3 protein. Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin 12(2): 366 – 374. doi: https://doi.org/10.34172/apb.2022.035
- Lloyd Mabonga, Priscilla Masamba, Albert Kotze Basson and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2021). Microscale thermophoresis analysis of the molecular interaction between small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide G and the RING finger domain of RBBP6 towards anti-cancer drug. American Journal of Translational Research 13(11): 12775 – 12785.
- Priscilla Masamba, Geraldene Munsamy and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2021). Closing the gap: an atomistic structural and functional perspective of mansoni Universal stress G4LZI3 protein in complex with phenolic compounds. Current Drug Discovery Technologies (CDDT) 18(5): 10-23. doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570163817666201001122436
- Ahmed Adebayo Ishola, Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye, Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye and Abidemi Paul Kappo (2021). Molecular docking of flavonoids from Andrographis paniculata as potential acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitors towards the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry 11(3): 9871 – 9879. doi: https://doi.org/10.33262/BRIAC113.98719879