Ms Nour Mostafa used her postgraduate journey at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) to explore innovative approaches to treating one of the world’s most widespread bacterial infections – Helicobacter pylori (H pylori).
The bacterium infects more than half the world’s population and is the leading risk factor for gastric cancer, one of the most common cancers worldwide.
Mostafa, supervised by Professor Matthew Adeleke, completed her MSc in Genetics with a dissertation titled: ‘Computational Design of Integrated Therapeutic Interventions Against Oncogenic Helicobacter pylori’.
Having completed her BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics and BSc Honours in Genetics through UKZN, pursuing her MSc was a natural progression as she had established strong relationships within the Department and saw an opportunity to build on the bioinformatics foundation of her honours year.
Mostafa’s research involved a computational biology approach to designing two innovative treatment strategies.
The first used a gene silencing technology known as CRISPR interference, which uses specifically designed guide RNA molecules to “switch off” genes that the bacterium needs to survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. Silencing these genes disables its ability to neutralise stomach acid, making it far more vulnerable without relying on antibiotics.
The second was a therapeutic vaccine candidate designed to help the immune system recognise and eradicate the infection. This was important because H pylori is particularly skilled at evading the immune system and causing repeat infections.
“Both treatment candidates were designed and validated computationally, providing a strong foundation for future lab-based development,” Mostafa explained.
“Current treatment relies on a complicated regimen of multiple antibiotics, while its effectiveness is declining due to rising antibiotic resistance, with new treatment approaches urgently needed.”
Her focus on this research area developed from two converging interests – gene regulation and immunology. Her interest in gene regulation grew from her broader interest in fundamental mechanistic molecular biology, while her interest in immunology began during her second year through BIOL233 (Immune Systems), and developed further when she worked as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader for the module.
Mostafa said the significance of her research lay in providing “a proof of concept and a computationally validated design ready to move into lab-based experimentation”. Bioinformatics approaches cut down significantly on the time, cost and resources typically required in early-stage research, giving future laboratory work an evidence-backed starting point rather than beginning from scratch.
She also highlighted the broader potential of the research, particularly the exploration of gene silencing through CRISPR interference as a treatment direction for bacterial infection at a time when antibiotic resistance was making conventional treatment increasingly difficult.
Mostafa credited her family and friends for supporting her throughout her academic journey.
She enjoys photography and serves as the photographer for the social club she co-founded, the Sunday Social Club. She also enjoys watching Formula 1, football and building Lego sets.
Mostafa is currently working as a research intern at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) within the Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response team. Next year she plans to begin a PhD in molecular biology, where she hopes to explore her recently developed interest in cell fate decisions alongside her existing focus on gene regulation.
“I am grateful to be closing this chapter of my academic life at the Institution where it all began, as I now look ahead to the next one,” she said.
“To any student considering research, particularly in a field that feels unconventional or still developing, I would say to trust that curiosity is enough of a starting point.”
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini