Professor Muazzam Jacobs
Affiliations
- Full Member, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT)
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) Medical Scientist.
- Member, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa)
Key Expertise
Co-Infection, Omics, Pathogenesis, TB, Vaccine Development
Main Research Focus
Research areas of interest include understanding basic mechanisms of host immune function against tuberculosis (TB); and the evaluation of anti-TB therapy and therapeutic approaches. The group has significant skills and expertise in the application of in vitro cell culture and in vivo murine experimental models of TB, making extensive use of genetically modified mouse strains in which loss or gain of function studies can be performed. Research projects include investigating immune responses during pulmonary TB and central nervous system TB, investigating efficacy of anti mycobacterial lead compounds and drug delivery systems, as well as vaccine development.
Most Significant Paper Authored in 2024
Machine Learning Demonstrates Dominance of Physical Characteristics over Particle Composition in Coal Dust Toxicity.
Kamanzi, Conchita & Becker, Megan & von Holdt, Johanna & Hsu, Nai-Jen & Konečný, Petr & Broadhurst, J.L. & Jacobs, Muazzam. (2024)
This study reveals that the physical characteristics of micro- and nanoplastics—such as size, shape, and surface structure—play a more critical role in driving toxicity than their chemical makeup. Using machine learning, the researchers analyzed a broad dataset and found that physical traits consistently predicted biological harm across organisms. This challenges the current emphasis on polymer chemistry in risk assessments and underscores the need to shift regulatory focus. The findings provide a new framework for evaluating plastic pollution, highlighting the urgency of addressing not just what plastics are made of, but how they are shaped and sized in the environment.