8Jul

Denis ZOFOU,Ph.D

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ZofouFACULTY:                   Science
DEPARTMENT:          Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
NAME OF STAFF:      Denis ZOFOU,Ph.D
E-mail:                      ofou.denis@ubuea.cm / zofden@yahoo.com
Tel:                           +237 67718 3510
GRADE:                     Instructor

BRIEF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Denis Zofou studied biochemistry in the Universities of Dschang, Yaounde I and Buea,all in Cameroon, where he obtained his BSc (1999) and Postgraduate Diploma (2001),MSc (2005) and PhD (2011)degrees, respectively. He has been working with the University of Buea as Senior Instructor of Biochemistry and Researcher, actively involved in both undergraduates and postgraduates programmes in Biochemistry, Molecular Parasitology and Pharmacology, since 2010. Dr. Zofou has equally been collaborating with the Faculty of Health Sciences, as part-time lecturer for the past three years.

RESEARCH INTEREST AREA
Drug Discovery and Development, especially targeting Neglected Tropical Diseases (Malaria, Trypanosomiasis and Filaria) and Diabetes.

MASTER DESSERTATIONS SUPERVISED
I have supervised 02 MSc students:
1. “Optimizationof in vitro maintenance of microfilariae and infective larvae of Loa loa and its relevance for drug screening for loiasis”, by Mr. Gandjui Tchamatchoua Victor Narcisse, Faulty of Science, 2015.

2. “Evaluation of myocardial manifestation in HIV infected patients on anti-retroviral treatment and their correlation to CD4+ T cells count in the Buea Regional Hospital Annex”, by Njiomene Fabrice, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2015

PhD THESES SUPERVISED
None

PUBLICATIONS
1. Kopa TK, Tane P, Wabo HK, Tala MF, Tchinda AT, Zofou D and Ning-Hua T. In vitro antiplasmodial activity of the isolated compounds from the stem bark of Vitex thyrsiflora. Comptes rendus Chimie 2016. doi:10.1016/j.crci.2015.10.007

2. Nyasa RB, Zofou D, Kimbi HK, Mbei Kum K, Roland C Ngu RC, and Titanji VPK.The current status of malaria epidemiology in Bolifamba, atypical Cameroonian rainforest zone: an assessment of intervention strategies and seasonal variations. BMC Public Health 11/2015; 15(1):1105. DOI:10.1186/s12889-015-2463-1

3. Kowa, TK, Zofou D, Mbouangouere R, Tala MF, Wabo HK, Ning-Hua Tan, Titanji VPK, Tane P. ntiplasmodial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Isolated Compound from the Stem Bark of Anthocleistaliebrechtsiana.Records ofNatural Products 03/2015; 10(3):287-293.

4. Nondo ROS, Moshi MJ, Erasto P, Zofou D Njouendou AJ, Wanji S, Moses N, Ngemenya, Kidukuli AW, Masimba PJ, Titanji VPK. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of extracts from medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Kagera and Lindi regions, Tanzania.Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science; April, 2015, 5 (04):007-012.

5. Nondo ROS, Zofou D, Moshi MJ, Erasto P, Wanji S, Ngemenya MN, Titanji VPK, Kidukuli AW, Masimba PJ.Ethnobotanical survey and in vitro antiplasmodial activity of medicinal plants used to treat malaria in Kagera and Lindi regions, Tanzania.Journal of medicinal plant research 03/2015; 9(6):179-192.

6. Ngemenya MN, Metuge HM, Zofou D, Mbah JA, Babiaka SB, Nubed LN, Titanji VPK. Isolation of natural product hits from Peperomia species with synergistic activity against resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. European Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2014, 5(1): 77-87.

7. Kopa KT, Tchinda TA, Tala FM, Zofou D, Jumbam R, Wabo KH, Titanji VPK, Frederich M, Ning-Hua Tan and Tane P (2014). Antiplasmodial anthraquinones and hemisynthetic derivatives from the leaves of Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae). Phytochemistry Letters 8 (2014) 41–45.

8. Zofou D, Nyasa RB, Nsagha DS, Ntie-Kang F, Meriki HD, Assob JC and Kuete V (2014) Control of malaria and other vector-borne protozoan diseases in the tropics: enduring challenges despite considerable progress and Achievements.Infectious Diseases of poverty 2014, 3:1

9. Zofou D, Tematio EL, Ntie-Kang F, Tene M, Moses N. Ngemenya, Tane P and Vincent P.K. Titanji (2013) New antimalarial hits from Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae) – Part I: Isolation, in vitro activity, in silico “drug-likeness” and Pharmacokinetic profiles. PLoS ONE. 10/2013.

10. Zofou D, Ntie-Kang F, Sippl W, Efange SMN (2013) Bioactive natural products derived from the Central African flora against Neglected Tropical Diseases and HIV.Natural Product Reports. 05/2013; 2013, 30, 1098–1120.

11. Ntie-Kang F, Zofou D, Smith B Babiaka, Rolande Meudom, Michael Scharfe, James A Mbah, Lydia L Lifongo, Luc M Mbaze, Wolfgang Sippl, Simon MN Efange (2013). AfroDb: A Select Highly Potent and Diverse Natural Product Library from African Medicinal Plants. PLoS ONE. 08/2013

12. Zofou D, Kuete V and VPK Titanji (2013) Antimalarial and Other Antiprotozoal Products from African Medicinal Plants. 07/2013; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-405927-6.00017-5 ISBN: 9780124059276 In book:Medicinal Plant Research in Africa: Pharmacology and Chemistry, Edition: first edition, Chapter: 17, Publisher: Elsevier, Editor: Victor Kuete, pp.602-709.

13. Nsagha DS, Ngowe Ngowe M, Assob NJC, Zofou D, Njunda AL, Djombe BA (2013) Malaria Prevention in mother of children of 0-5 years in Bependa, Douala. African Journal f Integrated Health 2:4-9.

14. Zofou D (2012) Seven Tips for Aspiring Biomedical Scientists in a Developing Country.Journal Biotechnol Biomater 2:e114. doi:10.4172/2155- 952X.1000e114.

15. Zofou D (2011). A diversity of approaches to address the challenge of drug-resistance in malaria.Journal of Biotechnol Biomaterial 2011, 1:7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-952X.1000e108.

16. Zofou D., Tene M., Tane P. and Titanji V.P.K. (2012). Antimalarial drug interactions of compounds isolated from Kigelia africana (Bignoniaceae) and their synergism with artemether, against the multidrug-resistant W2mef Plasmodium falciparum strain.Parasitology Research 2012 Feb;110(2):539-44 – DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2519-9

17. Zofou D.,Kowa T.K., Wabo H.K.,Ngemenya M.N., Tane P. and Titanji V.P.K. (2011).Hypericum lanceolatum (Hypericaceae) as a potential source of new antimalarial agents: a bioassay-guided fractionation of the stem bark.Malaria Journal 2011, 10:167.doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-167.

18. Zofou D.,Kengne A.B.O., Tene M., Ngemenya M.N., Tane P. and Titanji V.P.K. (2011).In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of crude extracts and compounds from the stem bark of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth (Bignoniaceae) ParasitologyResearch 108(6): 1383 – 1390.

19. Zofou D.,Tene M., Ngemenya M.N., Tane P. and Titanji V.P.K. (2011). In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers of Western Cameroon.Malaria Research and Treatment2011, Article ID 561342, 6 pages.

20. Teugwa CM, Boudjeko T, Tchinda TB, Mejiato CP and Zofou D (2013). Anti-hyperglycaemic globulins from selected Cucurbitaceae seeds used as antidiabetic medicinal plants in Africa.BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 13:63 doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-63.

21. Teugwa CM, Mejiato CP, Zofou D, Tchinda TB and Boyom FF(2013). Antioxidant and antidiabetic profiles of two African medicinal plants: Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) and Sonchus oleraceus (Asteraceae).BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013, 13:175 doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-175.

22. Titanji V.P.K., Zofou D. and Ngemenya M.N. (2008). The anti-malarial potential of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Cameroonian Folk Medicine. African Journal Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines 5 (3): 302 – 321.

23. Mbah AJ, Ndikum G,Zofou D, Ngemenya NM and Efange MNS (2011):Antiplasmodial Triterpenes from the Stem Bark of Baillonella Toxisperma.ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology; 7 (12) November 2011 (84-87)

24. Zofou D, Teugwa MC and Amvam Zollo P.H Socio-epidemiological study of malaria in Mbouda district (West Cameroon). Médecine d’Afrique Noire 2008, 56 (1).

25. Zofou D, Abimbola S, Norice NT, Samje S, Zoumana IT, Oyediran OA, Oraka C, Kadigi DM (2011). The needs of Biomedical Science Training in Africa: Perspectives from the experience of young scientists.African Journal of Health Professions Education, Vol 3, No 2 (2011)

26. Gichora NN, Fatumo SA, Ngara MV, Chelbat N, Ramdayal K, Opap KB, Siwo GH, Adebiyi MO, El Gonnouni A, Zofou D, Maurady AAM, Adebiyi EF, De Villiers EP, Masiga DK, Bizzaro JW, Suravajhala P, Ommeh SC and Hide W (2010) Ten Simple Rules for Organizing a Virtual Conference—Anywhere. PLoS Comput Biol. e1000650. doi:10.1371/journal. pcbi.1000650. www.ploscompbiol.org

27. Teugwa TM, Zofou D and Amvam-Zollo PH (2006). Effects of Vitamin A and Iron Supplementation on the treatment of Malaria in Cameroonian preschool children. The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine 3 (1)

28. Ane-Anyangwe I, Meriki HD, Silum SP, Nsongomanyi FR and Zofou D; Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles and Risk Factors of Vaginal Candidiasis Amongst Female University Students in Southwest Region, Cameroon. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology 2015, 16(1): 67-72.

29. Nsagha DS, Zofou D, Jules Assob FCN, Njunda AL, Nchang CD, Ngum NM, Weledji EP, and Ngowe Ngowe M. The Epidemiology of Trichomonasvaginalis, Gardnerellavaginalis and Candida albicans Co- Infections in Women Attending the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital.American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease, vol. 3, no. 2 (2015): 28-31. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-3-2-2.

Personal Summary

Dr Denis Zofou is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher and Senior Instructor, working with the University of Buea, Cameroon. His research focuses mainly on drug discovery and development against major tropical diseases and Diabetes, especially from natural products.
At the Biotechnology Unit (University of Buea, Cameroon), Dr. Zofou and collaborators have been working towards optimizing the quality of plant products both as standardized phytomedicines or source of new drug candidates. He is currently leading two research projects: 1) an TWAS / IFS-Sponsored malaria drug discovery project hosted by the University of Buea, focusing on lead development for malaria treatment from medicinal plants, 2) A Research Grant awarded by the African Organization for Intellectual Property co-hosted by the Cameroon Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM, Yaounde) and the University of Buea, to design two improved phytomedicines from locally used medicinal plants. Mapping drug resistance patterns through molecular epidemiology of malaria is part of their future goals. Dr. Zofou has co-authored one book chapter and more than 20 scientific articles in internationally renowned journals.
Dr. Zofou is laureate of the 2014 TWAS-ROSSA Young Scientists Prize in Applied Sciences; awarded by The World Academy of Sciences, in recognition of Dr. Zofou’s studies on anti-malarial products for the treatment of drug resistant malaria.
He has also been working closely with traditional healers through the Non-governmental organization, Nature & Health initiative, promoting Good Practice of Traditional Medicines and optimizing the repertoire of medicinal plants in Cameroon. Dr. Zofou has contributed as reviewer in several international journals. He is member of editorial board of the Journal of Biotechnology and Biomaterials, OMICS Publishing Group, USA, and Corresponding Editor, International Journal of Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, MICHAEL JOANNA PUBLICATIONS, Nigeria.
Dr. Zofou is fellow/member of some national and international learned organizations including the following: International Foundation for Science (Grantee fellow), The World Acadethe Cameroon Society of Biosciences, Medécins d’Afrique, the African Network for Drug Discovery and Diagnosis Innovation (ANDI), International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID).

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