Professor Emerita Valerie Mizrahi

UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research

Affiliations

  1. Full Member, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine
  2. Director, UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit (MMRU)
  3. Emeritus Member, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa)

Key Expertise

Drug discovery, Drug resistance, Pathogenesis, TB

Main Research Focus

My research focuses on studying aspects of mycobacterial physiology and metabolism relevant to TB drug discovery.

Most Significant Paper Authored in 2024

Modulation of riboflavin biosynthesis and utilization in mycobacteria.

Chengalroyen, Melissa & Mehaffy, Carolina & Lucas, Megan & Bauer, Niel & Raphela, Mabule & Oketade, Nurudeen & Warner, Digby & Lewinsohn, Deborah & Dobos, Karen & Mizrahi, Valerie. (2024.)


This paper describes the characterisation of the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in mycobacteria and identification of RibA2 and RibF as the most vulnerable steps therein. This wok has underpinned new TB drug discovery efforts targeting this pathway.

Departments