Mukhethwa Michael Mphephu

Mr. Mukhethwa Michael Mphephu

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2025 in African Journal of Laboratory Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
COChikwelu L. Obi
Chikwelu L. Obi
NMNqobile Monate Mkolo
Nqobile Monate Mkolo
LMLiziwe Lizbeth Mugivhisa
Liziwe Lizbeth Mugivhisa
Modupe Modupe Ogunrombi OgunrombiModupe Modupe Ogunrombi Ogunrombi
Modupe Modupe Ogunrombi Ogunrombi
MMMukhethwa Michael Mphephu
Mukhethwa Michael Mphephu
Clarissa Marcelle NaidooClarissa Marcelle Naidoo
Clarissa Marcelle Naidoo
The World Health Organization identified mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), as a resurgent zoonotic epidemic caused by the mpox virus. It is an emerging and re-emerging pathogen with a range of hosts and geographical distribution worldwide. Peer-reviewed scientific articles from 1958 to 29 August 2024 related to global mpox research were extracted from Web of ScienceTM Core Collection and Google Scholar Databases to gauge the extent of the infection. Mpox is marked by a recent resurgence of infections across continents, with Africa being the hardest-hit region. The mpox re-emergence has shown a new mechanism of transmission, with several causes such as a rise in the number of unvaccinated individuals, behaviour risk factors, waning immunity, genetic evolution, and environmental circumstances. Preventive and control measures of mpox include vaccination and patient isolation, while treatment involves antivirals and antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. Laboratory diagnosis entailing polymerase chain reaction can be effective for routine purposes, but results of serological tests must be interpreted with caution, because of cross-reacting determinants among orthopoxviruses. The structure and classification of the mpox virus, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, epidemiology, historical antecedent, therapeutics, vaccines, and laboratory diagnosis of the disease are explicated, showcasing mpox as an emerging or re-emerging infection with a potential colossal burden on healthcare, and its classification as an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization. What this study adds: This review provides the global situation of mpox as an emerging or re-emerging infection, warranting its designation as an international public health emergency.

21 April 2025 in Applied Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNong National Malefo
Nong National Malefo
Clarissa Marcelle NaidooClarissa Marcelle Naidoo
Clarissa Marcelle Naidoo
MMMukhethwa Michael Mphephu
Mukhethwa Michael Mphephu
MMMmei Cheryl Motshudi
Mmei Cheryl Motshudi
NMNqobile Monate Mkolo
Nqobile Monate Mkolo
Exercise is one of the main challenges to the body’s homeostasis since it needs an immediate, substantial rise in ATP re-synthesis, which leads to the prevention of response capacity and performance of players. Therefore, it is vital to monitor sweat metabolites in soccer players during vigorous exercise to comprehend their functional variations. This flagged the requirement metabonomic approaches for the determination of the distinct metabolic pathways and signature metabolites that are involved in soccer players pre- and post-exercise. In this study, metabolomics and chemometrics approaches were integrated to accelerate and unravel signature-altered metabolites involved pre- and post-exercise. Metabolites profiling revealed a total of 57 signatures and the identified signature altered metabolites belonging to carboxylic acids, ketone, alcohols, aldehydes, aromatics, alkenes, hexoses, hydroxy fatty acids, tetracyclic N-heterocycles, aldopentose, benzenes, alkanes, phenols, and heterocyclic. Niacin is the most downregulated and abundant pre-induced exercise, which can employ its effects through energy metabolism as a precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Significant alterations were also specifically observed in the Alanine, aspartate and glutamate, Valine, leucine and isoleucine, Pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and Galactose metabolisms following exercise.