Dr Nicholas Kagimu
South Africa
University of Pretoria
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
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My research aims to extract, identify and characterise novel bioactive compounds, isolated from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria of local strains of insect killing worms, and to investigate their potential to control key agricultural and forestry pests. The nematodes belong mainly to the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis and their associated mutualistic bacteria to the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus produce an array of metabolites that facilitate both interactions capable of inhibiting the insect immune response and kill or prevent other microorganisms from invading or decomposing the insect cadaver. The metabolites are broad-spectrum compounds active against bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes and with pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agri-forestry applications.