This exceptional woman, a finalist (see end of article)* in this year’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (DSTI) South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA) is a Full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria (UP).
She obtained her PhD in Plant Pathology in 2007 from Dundee University in Scotland. Her academic journey began in 2008 at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and in 2009, she joined the UP as a Senior Lecturer where she currently is Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2015 and Full Professor in 2022.
Lauded by the DSTI, she is a 2025 finalist for the prestigious SAWISA award for excellence, leadership and transformative impact in research and innovation in Natural and Engineering Sciences. SAWISA celebrates the outstanding contributions of women researchers across disciplines, inspiring future generations and advancing equity in science, technology, and innovation. (See end of article)*
Prof Moleleki’s research focuses on potato-pathogen interactions. It focusses particularly on understanding molecular virulence mechanisms of plant pathogens and how these interact with their hosts and one another. Her work contributes significantly to plant disease management and food security.
She has an impressive supervision and mentorship record – having mentored five postdoctoral fellows and supervised 10 PhD and 16 master’s students. She currently supervises four postdoctoral fellows and several PhD and master’s students. To date, she has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and five book chapters. Her research impact is evidenced by an h-index of 28 (Google Scholar), over 3 000 citations and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact score of 1, 75. A score of 1.0 is the global average. Any score above 1.0 is indicates greater citation impact. (For example, a score of 1.44 means publications are cited 44% more often than expected for their field and age.)
She has presented her work at global conferences, giving keynote addresses and has co-authored review articles and book chapters with leading scientists from different countries. These collaborations demonstrate the global relevance and interdisciplinary reach of her work. Prof Moleleki also serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals, including mSystems, Frontiers in Plant Science and BioMed Central Microbiology.
In 2024, she served on the Local Organising Committee of the 19th International Society for Microbial Ecology as session chair and convenor. In 2018, she served on the Scientific Committee for the International Congress of Plant Pathology. In the regional context, she has played an active role in advancing plant pathology and microbiology. She currently serves as a Council Member of the Southern African Society for Microbiology. In addition, she is a Fellow of the Pan African Scientific Research Council, where she serves on the executive committee.
Prof Moleleki has been recognised for her contributions to research and capacity building. In 2015, she was a finalist for the prestigious TW Kambule-NSTF Award in the Emerging Researcher category.
Her published journals articles, books and highly cited papers include:
- Pectobacterium brasiliense: Genomics, Host Range and Disease Management 2021-01
- Transcriptome Profiling of Potato / Responses to Root-Knot Nematode Infestation during A Compatible Interaction 2020-09
- Organize, Don’t Agonize: Strategic Success of Phytophthora Species
2020-06
Susceptible and tolerant potato leaf-responses post challenge with Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense 1692 2018 - anscriptome profiling reveals the eanI/R quorum sensing regulon in pantoea ananatis LMG 2665 2018
- A quorum sensing-defective mutant of Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. brasiliense 1692 is attenuated in virulence and unable to occlude xylem tissue of susceptible potato plant stems
Evidence for salicylic acid signalling and histological changes in the defence response of Eucalyptus grandis to Chrysoporthe austroafricana
2017
Global gene expression analysis of cross-protected phenotype of Pectobacterium atrosepticum 2017 - Influence of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein on pathogenicity in Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Brasiliense 2017
- Characterization of two LuxI/R homologs in Pantoea ananatis LMG 2665
2016 | Journal-article
Discovery and profiling of small RNAs responsive to stress conditions in the plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum 2016 - Draft genome sequence of a virulent Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense isolate causing soft rot of cucumber 2016
Genome-wide identification of potato long intergenic noncoding RNAs responsive to Pectobacterium carotovorum subspecies brasiliense infection 2016
Localization and transcriptional responses of Chrysoporthe austroafricana in Eucalyptus grandis identify putative pathogenicity factors 2016
RNA-seq profiling reveals defense responses in a tolerant potato cultivar to stem infection by Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. Brasiliense
2016 - Pantoea ananatis utilizes a type VI secretion system for pathogenesis and bacterial competition 2015
The effect of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on root knot nematode and soft rot pathogen disease complexes in Solanum tuberosum plants
2015 - Characterization of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and brasiliense from diseased potatoes in Kenya 2014
Comparative genomics of type VI secretion systems in strains of Pantoea ananatis from different environments 2014
First report of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense causing soft rot and blackleg of potatoes in Kenya 2014
Stress response in Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 under starvation conditions: Adaptive reactions at a low population density
2014 - The threat of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Africa: A review 2014
- Characterisation of Pectobacterium wasabiae causing blackleg and soft rot diseases in SA 2013
Colonization patterns of an mcherry-tagged Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense strain in potato plants 2013
Corrigendum: Distribution and genetic diversity of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in potatoes from SA 2013
Detection of Meloidogyne enterolobii in potatoes in SA and phylogenetic analysis based on intergenic region and the mitochondrial DNA sequences 2013
Distribution and genetic diversity of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in potatoes from SA
The use of fluorescent reporter protein tagging to study the interaction between Root-Knot Nematodes and Soft Rot Enterobacteriaceae 2013 - Development of a novel rDNA based plasmid for enhanced cell surface display on Yarrowia lipolytica 2012
- A translocation signal for delivery of oomycete effector proteins into host plant cells 2007
- In vitro storage of Eucalyptus grandis germplasm under minimal growth conditions
- Core RxLR Effectors in Phytopathogenic Oomycetes: A promising Way to Breeding for Durable Resistance in Plants? Working-paper
BOOKS: - The role of secretion systems and small molecules in soft-rot Enterobacteriaceae pathogenicity 2012
- What will a genome sequence do for fire blight research? Pectobacterium atrosepticum and potato – A case study
2008
Prof Lucy Moleleki, University of Pretoria (UP) was first runner-up in the category Natural and Engineering Sciences of 2025’s SAWISA on 21 August.
