2013-2015 - MSc - Department of Plant Science - UFS  

2015-2018 - PhD -Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology - Rhodes University
 
2019 - Post-Dotoral Fellow - School of Molecular and Cell Biology - Protein Structure-Function Research Unit (PSFRU) - Wits University 
 
2020 - Current - Lecturer

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals 

Castelyn HD, Appelgryn JJ,Mafa MS, Pretorius ZA and Visser B, 2015. Volatiles emitted by leaf rust infected wheat induce a defence response in exposed uninfected wheat seedlings. Australasian Plant Pathology 44: 245 - 254. DOI 10.1007/s13313-014-0336-1.

Mafa MS, Castelyn HD, Kemp G and Visser B, 2020. Delineating induced defense responses in wheat seedlings exposed to volatiles emitted by Puccinia triticina infected wheat. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 112: 101538. doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2020.101538.

Malgas S, Mafa MS, Mkabayi L, Pletschke BI, 2019. A mini review of xylanolytic enzymes with regards to their synergistic interactions during hetero-xylan degradation. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 35 (12): 187. doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2765-z.

Mafa MS, Dirr HW, Malgas S, Krause RWM, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. A Novel Dimeric Exoglucanase (GH5_38): Biochemical and Structural Characterisation towards its Application in Alkyl Cellobioside Synthesis. Molecules 25 (3): 746. doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030746.

Mafa MS, Malgas S, Bhattacharya A, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. The Effects of Alkaline Pretreatment on Agricultural Biomasses (Corn Cob and Sweet Sorghum Bagasse) and Their Hydrolysis by a Termite-Derived Enzyme Cocktail. Agronomy 10 (8): 1211. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081211.

Mafa MS, Malgas S, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. Delineating functional properties of a cello-oligosaccharide and ß-glucan specific cellobiohydrolase (GH5_38): Its synergism with Cel6A and Cel7A for ß-(1,3)-(1,4)-glucan degradation. Carbohydrate Research 495: 108081. doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2020.108081.

Published Patents

Pletschke BI,Mathibe BN, Mafa M, Malgas S, Chindipha, SD,2020. WO2020261164 - XYLANASE ADDITIVES FOR FOOD OR FEEDS. International Application No. PCT/IB2020/056003.https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020261164.

Published Book-Chapters 

Malgas S, Mafa MS, Pletschke BI, 2020. The Effects of Xylanase Synergistic Interactions During Lignocellulose Degradation and Their Significance for Industry.  In: Shrivastava S. (eds) Industrial Applications of Glycoside Hydrolases. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4767-6_9.

Malgas S, Mkabayi L, Mathibe BN, Thoresen M, Mafa MS, Le Roes-Hill M,  van Zyl WHE, Pletschke BI,2020.Enzymatic path to bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. In: Recent Advances in Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Biofuels and Value Added Chemicals Within the Biorefinery Concept. Elsevier.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818223-9.00002-3.

Published Conference Proceedings.

Pletschke BI, Malgas S, Bhattacharya A, Bhattacharya-Shrivastava A, Clarke MD, Mafa MS, Morake S, Thoresen M, 2016. Enzyme Synergism: A Powerful Tool for Decreasing Enzyme Loading for Efficient Biomass Conversion. 24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition.10.5071/24thEUBCE2016-1BO.5.4.

Bhattacharya A, Mafa M, RASHAMUSE K, Pletschke BI, 2016. A bi-functional xylanase/ xyloglucanase, GH 5H, from termite metagenome improves the hydrolysis of pretreated biomass. International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology 4(3): 213-216.

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals 

Castelyn HD, Appelgryn JJ,Mafa MS, Pretorius ZA and Visser B, 2015. Volatiles emitted by leaf rust infected wheat induce a defence response in exposed uninfected wheat seedlings. Australasian Plant Pathology 44: 245 - 254. DOI 10.1007/s13313-014-0336-1.

Mafa MS, Castelyn HD, Kemp G and Visser B, 2020. Delineating induced defense responses in wheat seedlings exposed to volatiles emitted by Puccinia triticina infected wheat. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 112: 101538. doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2020.101538.

Malgas S, Mafa MS, Mkabayi L, Pletschke BI, 2019. A mini review of xylanolytic enzymes with regards to their synergistic interactions during hetero-xylan degradation. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 35 (12): 187. doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2765-z.

Mafa MS, Dirr HW, Malgas S, Krause RWM, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. A Novel Dimeric Exoglucanase (GH5_38): Biochemical and Structural Characterisation towards its Application in Alkyl Cellobioside Synthesis. Molecules 25 (3): 746. doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030746.

Mafa MS, Malgas S, Bhattacharya A, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. The Effects of Alkaline Pretreatment on Agricultural Biomasses (Corn Cob and Sweet Sorghum Bagasse) and Their Hydrolysis by a Termite-Derived Enzyme Cocktail. Agronomy 10 (8): 1211. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081211.

Mafa MS, Malgas S, Rashamuse K, Pletschke BI, 2020. Delineating functional properties of a cello-oligosaccharide and ß-glucan specific cellobiohydrolase (GH5_38): Its synergism with Cel6A and Cel7A for ß-(1,3)-(1,4)-glucan degradation. Carbohydrate Research 495: 108081. doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2020.108081.

Published Patents

Pletschke BI,Mathibe BN, Mafa M, Malgas S, Chindipha, SD,2020. WO2020261164 - XYLANASE ADDITIVES FOR FOOD OR FEEDS. International Application No. PCT/IB2020/056003.https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020261164.

Mafa MS, Bhattacharya A, Rashamuse K, and Pletschke, BI, 2015. Synergistic associations between termite metagenome derived plant cell wall degrading enzymes during the hydrolysis of complex substrates. 26th Annual Conference of the Catalysis Society Of South Africa (CATSA) 2015. Arabella Hotel & Spa, Kleinmond, 15-18 November 2015.

Mafa MS, Rashamuse K, and Pletschke BI, 2016. Synergism: Development of a termite derived core enzyme set for sweet sorghum and corncob depolymerisation 25th South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) Congress. 40th Anniversary-2016. East London ICC, East London, 10- 14th July 2016.

Mafa MS, Rashamuse K, and Pletschke BI, 2016. Termite metagenome derived novel multifunctional bio-catalysts with potential applications in biofuel and biochemical production. 27th Annual Conference of the Catalysis Society of South Africa (CATSA) 2016. Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa 6-9 December 2016.

Pletschke BI, Malgas S, Bhattacharya A, Bhattacharya-Shrivastava A, Clarke MD, Mafa MS, Morake S, and Thoresen M, 2016.  Enzyme Synergism: A Powerful Tool for Decreasing Enzyme Loading for Efficient Biomass Conversion EUBCE 2016. 24th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition, RAI Amsterdam Exhibition and Convention Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 6-9, 2016.

Bhattacharya A, Mafa MS, Rashamuse K, and Pletschke BI, 2020. A bi-functional xylanase/xyloglucanase, GH5H from termite metagenome improves the hydrolysis of pretreated biomass IRF International Conference. Nagpur, India, 19th June 2016

Mafa MS, Malgas S, Bhattacharya A, Rashamuse K, and Pletschke BI, 2019. Termite metagenome derived enzymes and their synergistic interactions for the hydrolysis of pretreated agricultural feedstocks. Second Joint Workshop: South Africa-Germany Bilateral Program. 13-15^TH FEBRUARY 2019. Tala Collection Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

Mafa MS, and Dirr HW, 2019. Novel Exoglucanase: Functional and Biochemical Characterization Towards its Application for Alkyl Cellobioside Synthesis 30th Annual Concference of the Catalysis Society of South Africa (CATSA) 2019. Langebaan Western Cape, South Africa 10-13 November 2019.

My research interest includes:

1. Bioprospecting, biochemical and biophysical characterisation of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) and their application in Agrobiorefinery sector for production of the value-added chemicals and complex-oligosaccharides. In particular, I focus on the Cazymes such as glycoside hydrolases, Esterases and Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.

2. Role of complex-oligosaccharides [i.e. Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMPs)] toward signalling plant defence responses against the pests and pathogens. DAMPs are produced from the degraded plant cell wall and apoplastic region carbohydrates after secretion of CAZymes during plant-pathogen and plant-pest interaction.

BLGY1643 - The interdependence of plants and life on earth – Practical for Theme 2

BTNY3744 - Plant defence and biotechnology

BTNY6884 - Plant analytical biochemistry