Senior Lecturer | University of Johannesburg | South Africa
Dr. Thendo Mafuna is a bioinformatics researcher whose work integrates antimicrobial resistance surveillance, pathogen genomics, and transcriptomics to address global health and food safety challenges. His academic foundation in bioinformatics, microbiology, and genomics underpins his expertise in developing computational pipelines, performing next-generation sequencing, and conducting large-scale genomic and metagenomic analyses. Dr. Mafuna’s research focuses on comparative genomics, microbial community profiling, and resistome characterization, contributing to understanding the evolution, virulence, and resistance mechanisms of bacterial pathogens across environmental and food-related systems. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology, Scientific Reports, Genomics, and Microorganisms, advancing knowledge in molecular epidemiology and microbial genomics. In addition to his active research, he mentors postgraduate students and contributes to scientific committees that promote innovation in bioinformatics and microbial genomics. His achievements include multiple research grants and fellowships from the National Research Foundation and recognition for advancing genomics-based surveillance frameworks in Africa. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and computational innovation, Dr. Mafuna continues to make significant contributions to bioinformatics and microbial genomics research aimed at improving public health outcomes. His scientific influence is reflected in his 135 citations, 14 published documents, and an h-index of 7, demonstrating his growing impact within the global research community.
Profiles : Scopus | ORCID
Featured Publications
Mafuna, T., Matle, I., Magwedere, K., Pierneef, R. E., & Reva, O. N. (2021). Whole genome-based characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates recovered from the food chain in South Africa. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 669287.
Matle, I., Mafuna, T., Madoroba, E., Mbatha, K. R., Magwedere, K., & Pierneef, R. (2020). Population structure of non-ST6 Listeria monocytogenes isolated in the red meat and poultry value chain in South Africa. Microorganisms, 8(8), 1152.
Mafuna, T., Matle, I., Magwedere, K., Pierneef, R. E., & Reva, O. N. (2022). Comparative genomics of Listeria species recovered from meat and food processing facilities. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(5), e01189-22.
Mafuna, T., Soma, P., Tsotetsi-Khambule, A. M., Hefer, C. A., Muchadeyi, F. C., & others. (2021). Bacterial profiling of Haemonchus contortus gut microbiome infecting Dohne Merino sheep in South Africa. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 5905.
Mmotla, K., Sibanyoni, N. R., Allie, F., Sitole, L., Mafuna, T., Mashabela, M. D., & others. (2025). Exploring the intricacies of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria interactions: An omics review. Annals of Microbiology, 75(1), 5.
Dr. Thendo Mafuna advances food safety and public health through genomic surveillance of foodborne pathogens. His research deciphers microbial evolution, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance within Africa’s food systems, providing critical insights into pathogen behavior and transmission. By integrating bioinformatics and comparative genomics, he drives innovation in microbial monitoring, outbreak prevention, and sustainable food security across the region.