Staff Faculty: Biology and Biotechnology

Ms. Ramotsoto is a Demonstrator in the Department of Biology, supervising First years Laboratory sessions.

Miss Mokhochane is a Demonstrator in Biology, she supervises in the first year students in the laboratory, grades them and facilitates their learning. She is interested in Medicinal Plants use, Sustainable use of resources and Conservation. She is also interested in the Pathophysiology of the diseases and Microbiology. In addition, she is the member of the Global Shapers Community in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.

Mr. Ntuli teaches Introduction to Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Principles. His research interests are in Microbiological Food & Water Safety aspects and Risk Analysis. Molecular characterization of food & water pathogens and effect that food processing has on the adaptation of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria.

Prof. Mekbib is a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, the National University of Lesotho. He teaches Microbiology, Growth and Death of Microorganisms, Microbial Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is working in various related areas of his expertise including solid and liquid waste management, bioenergy, food safety, soil microbiology and water quality. He has published several articles in refereed journals and a book on citrus postharvest bio-control using plant extracts and microbial antagonists. He supervised two MSc and more than 21 honours Biotechnology research projects in collaboration with other faculties. The current pilot scale biofuel project on sewage water microalgae lead by him is about to be completed. The facility will generate a good deal of ideas in action to be implemented using our resources in Lesotho. His research interests are in Applied Microbiology in Agriculture, Environment, Biofuel, Wastewater treatment and Health, Biological control (pre-and postharvest fruit crop diseases), rhizosphere soil microorganisms, biological nitrogen fixation, microbial waste treatment, water quality and food safety.

Dr. Benard O. Abong’o is a senior lecturer in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology. He teaches Introductory Cell Biology and Microbiology, Microbiology and Water and Industrial Microbiology and coordinates Biotechnology program. He has research interest in quantitative microbial risk assessment of food and food products; water and wastewater quality analysis as well as molecular fingerprinting of microbial pathogens. Dr. Abong’o has expertise in Molecular Diagnostics, DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) and Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). He has published more than 25 articles in the field of Microbiology; Molecular Microbiology and Public Health. He is also actively involved in the exploration of antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and their application in the formulation of personal care products such as soaps and cosmetics. He is a member of Kenya Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Magama teaches Biochemistry; Primary and Secondary metabolism, Cell Biology and Methods in Biotechnology. His research interests are in Biological activity of traditional medicinal plants. Selected plant species are assessed for the following bioactivities: antinociceptive, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antiedematogenic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and for toxicity. Phytochemical compositions of extracts are also studied.

Assoc. Prof. Chatanga teaches Pre-Entry Science Programme– Biology; Introductory Plant Diversity; Introductory Ecology; Lower Plants; Advanced Ecology. His research interest are in Biodiversity, plant-animal interactions, systems ecology, biological resources management, structure and dynamics of ecological communities, ecosystem ecology, landscape ecology, conservation plant ecology, alien plant species ecology, climate change, ecosystem services, sustainable development.

Dr. Asita is a professor in Biology and he teaches Introduction to genetics and Animal development, Biotechnological methods, and Genetics. He research interest are in Genetic Effects of Environmental Chemicals and pesticides and the modulatory effects of extracts of medicinal plants on the mutagenicity of direct and indirect acting mutagens in meristem cells of onion root tips and the micronucleus assay in mice. Studies on agents that modulate carcinogen-induced genotoxicity in genotoxicity assay systems provide end points that can be used to assess the anti-mutagenic properties of putative chemopreventive compounds. Antioxidant properties of medicinal plants because antioxidants decrease mutagenesis, and thus carcinogenesis by decreasing oxidative DNA damage and by decreasing cell division. Much of the protective effect of fruits and vegetables has been attributed to phytochemicals.

Mrs. Taole is a lecturer in Biology, teaching in Microbiology, Biotechnological methods and Microbial physiology. Her research interests include Identification and characterization of pathogens that cause diseases of crops for effective control and treatment of plant diseases; isolation and identification of endophytic fungi and bacteria associated with medicinal plants. Such microorganisms that live inside plants could be potentially important in producing pharmaceutical compounds found in the plants.

Dr. Phalatsi is a lecturer in Biology, teaching in Animal development, Zoology, and Parasitology. His research interests are in Parasitology.