UNIVERSIDADE EDUARDO MONDLANE
Centro de Biotecnologia
Biotechnology Centre
The Biotechnology Centre is a multi-faculty, multidisciplinary, and multifunction (research,
education, service) entity of the University Eduardo Mondlane, created in 2005 by a consortium
of four faculties: Agriculture and Forestry, Sciences (department of Biology), Medicine and
Veterinary, and located on the premises of the Veterinary Faculty in the outskirts of Maputo.
Its multifaceted purpose encompasses:
- To develop research activities in animal, plant, human and microbial sciences addressing
problems in a national context
- To promote advanced training in biotechnology and molecular biology/genetics
- To offer research and diagnosis services to other public and private institutions
- To promote and develop scientific and technical collaborations with other national and
international research institutions
- To contribute to the improvement of public awareness on biotechnology issues
- To promote events in benefit of civil society
Human Resources
The Centre workforce is composed by a Director assisted by two international scientific experts
based at the Centre, three senior scientists each heading a working group, five MSc-level and
seven BSc-level junior researchers, backed by three technical assistants and two administrative
assistants, forming a total of 23 people. Scientists of intermediate level, such as postdocs, are
lacking in the set-up to fill the gap between students/junior researchers and senior scientists, the
latter often overwhelmed by administrative and academic tasks.
Collaborations
Over the years, the Centre has developed a strong and varied array of collaborations with
national, regional and international institutions in Research, Education and Training, and
Service. Most notably should be mentioned the tight connections linking the Centre to South
African Universities (Pretoria, Wits, Stellenbosch), Universities and Research Institutions in
Italy (Sardegna Ricerche Agency, Univerties of Rome, Sassari and Pisa), Portugal (UTAD,
UNL, CMDT/INETI), Belgium (FUB, ITM), and Norway, and to CIRAD in France.
As the Centre gains in notoriety, new offers of collaboration are continually being made.
Research activities and capacity building
The research activities are organized in three working groups, namely Diagnosis and Molecular
Epidemiology, Molecular toxicology and Environment, and Population Genetics. Ongoing
funded projects list as:
- Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiology
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o Nannotryp, EU-funded under the FP7 involving trypanosomosis diagnosis and
awareness campaigns
o Epidemiology of drug resistance to trypanocides in Zambesia province,
Mozambique
o Development of strategies for sustainable control of trypanosomoses in Matutuine
district, Maputo Province
o Anti-disease vaccine against trypanosomosis, in terminal phase for a GalvMed
funding
o Coconut Lethal Yellowing Disease, FAO-funded project involving molecular
diagnosis and characterization of phytoplasma subtypes
o Epidemiology and genetic characterization of canine parvovirus in Maputo
Province
o Evaluation of the critical period of Tomato Curly Stunt Virus infection
o Whitefly molecular biotyping sampled in tomato fields
o Molecular diagnostic of prawn viruses (service to Aquapesca Mozambique)
Molecular Toxicology and Environment
o Biomarkers of Clarias gariepinus as indicator of aquatic pollution (NUFUfunded)
o Molecular and Biochemical methods as tools for monitoring harmful
cyanobacteria in water for human consumption (NUFU-funded)
o Survey of Genetically Modified Organisms in products commercialized in
national market
o Establishment of snake venom antiserum for treatment of snakes bites
Population Genetics:
o Genetic characterization of sweet-potato, development of Genetic and Genomic
resources for breeding improved varieties
o Genetic characterization of Miombo in Northern Mozambique in relation to
resistance to bushfires, funded by biodiversity international CGIAR and the MCT
o Genetic characterization of peanut varieties in southern Mozambique
o Genetic characterization of Aflatoxin-producing fungi in drought-tolerant peanuts
o Genetic analysis of drought-tolerance in peanuts
o Genetic characterization of African potatoes (Hypoxis sp.)
o Genetic diversity of rodent in South Mozambique (barcode initiative)
o Genetic variability of “vondo” (Thryonomys swinderianus) in South Mozambique
o Phylogeography of ticks (Amblyomma hebraeum) in South Africa and
Mozambique
o Genetic characterization and geographical distribution of Glossina austeni and G.
brevipalpis populations from the Southern region of Mozambique
Capacity building: Italian Cooperation-funded project on “Strengthening the research
capacity of the Biotechnology Centre”
Teaching activities
The Centre has been involved from its beginning into short to medium-length courses in
Molecular Biology and Molecular Diagnostics techniques, as well as accommodating BSc and
DVet theses. In response to a governmental initiative called the National Program for
Biotechnology (Programa Nacional de Biotecnologia), a Masters of Biotechnology program is
being created, to start for the 2011 intake.
Masters in Biotechnology
Aimed at building a critical mass of qualified professionals in all area of Biotechnology, the
program targets graduates in all biological fields, ranging from Medicine to Agronomy, Forestry,
Ecology, etc, to be in service of different entities involved in the development of the country,
would it be Health Care, Agriculture and Livestock, Industries, but also Universities and
Ministries.
The program will span over two years, the first one being course work organized in 18 modules,
while the second one will be a research project. The curricular part will involve lectures,
classroom activities as well as laboratory sessions, the emphasis being put on technical aspects.
International experts will be invited to assist in given modules where expertise does not exist
within the University, to increase the quality and recognition of the program. The second phase
will be a full time research project, realized in relevant faculties of UEM, in national or regional
research institutions, or in the Centre of Biotechnology, validated through submission and
defense of a dissertation.
Resources needed
The Masters of Biotechnology program will be financed through tuition fees, institutional
funding, and international collaborations. Substantial funding has already been secured from the
Italian Cooperation for the program that will cater for some capital equipments and course
consumables, and for travels of Italian scientists and technical experts, and will also provide a
limited number of bursaries for some of the participating students. Furthermore, UEM will
undertake major refurbishment of the Centre premises as early as 2010.
More resources are being sought from donors to assist in three aspects of the program:
- Postdoc position(s) to conduct research, lifting the pressure off senior researchers, and
offer on-site expertise in the conduct of the Masters program
- Bursaries for students (tuition fees and stipend), the idea behind the request being that all
students enrolled be supported
- Travelling expenses for regional and international contributors to the program