Primary Supervisor
Co-Supervisor
Professor
My research focuses on the evolutionary processes involved in microbial speciation. These include horizontal gene transfer between unrelated taxa, hybridization, as well as vegetative compatibility and sexual reproduction. Our experiments therefore typically involve conventional genetic and microbiological procedures, as well as contemporary genomics approaches.
At the species-population interface we examine the geographic and ecological distribution of certain microbial groups, primarily to learn more about the factors and mechanisms driving the observed patterns. As these studies are often severely affected by incomplete taxonomic sampling, we also explore the diversity of specific groups of microbes in native environments with the aim of discovering new taxa.
My research activities are closely aligned with the objectives of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP),the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB) and the Grain Research Programme (GRP).
As a member of lecturing staff in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, I also teach at the undergraduate level. Here I am specifically responsible for the 3rd year course on Bacterial Genetics. This module introduces students to the various aspects of the biology of bacteria, with special emphasis on the molecular genetic principles underlying their development, growth and evolution.
Seale T, Brözel VS, Potgieter SC, Rupp O, Blom J, Steenkamp ET, Venter SN. (2025) Diversity of Environmental Escherichia coli in Subtropical Freshwater Systems of South Africa. Current Microbiology 10.1007/s00284-025-04402-y
Maake MM, Beukes CW, van der Nest MA, Avontuur JR, Muema EK, Stepkowski T, Venter SN, Steenkamp ET. (2025) Argyrolobium legumes from an African centre of endemism associate with novel Bradyrhizobium species harbouring unique sets of symbiosis genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108471
Mavima L, Steenkamp ET, Beukes CW, Palmer M, De Meyer SE, James EK, Venter SN, Coetzee MPA. (2025) Estimated timeline for the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixing Paraburkholderia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108447
Kunene S, Mmushi TJ, Steenkamp E, Motaung T. (2025) Pinus-derived membrane vesicles disrupt pathogenic metabolism in fungi. plant biology 10.1111/plb.70069
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2
Dewing, C, Yilmaz, N, Steenkamp, E.T., Wingfield, B.D., Visagie, C.M. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2
Dewing, C, Visagie, C.M., Steenkamp, E.T., Wingfield, B.D., Yilmaz, N. (2025) Three new species of Fusarium (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) isolated from Eastern Cape dairy pastures in South Africa. MycoKeys 10.3897/mycokeys.115.148914
D’Angelo D, Sorrentino R, Nkomo T, Zhou X, Vaghefi N, Sonnekus B, Bose T, Cerrato D, Cozzolino L, Creux N, D’Agostino N, Fourie G, Fusco G, Hammerbacher A, Idnurm A, Kiss L, Hu Y, Hu H, Lahoz E, Risteski J, Steenkamp E T, Viscardi M, van der Nest M A, Wu Y, Yu H, Zhou J, Karandeni Dewage C S, Kotta-Loizou L I, Stotz H U, Fitt B D L, Huang Y, Wingfield BD. (2025) IMA GENOME - F20 A draft genome assembly of Agroathelia rolfsii, Ceratobasidium papillatum, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Neopestalotiopsis macadamiae, Sphaerellopsis filum and genomic resources for Colletotrichum spaethianum and Colletotrichum fructicola. IMA Fungus 10.3897/imafungus.16.141732
Motaung TE, Ratsoma FM, Kunene S, Santana QC, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD. (2025) Harnessing exogenous membrane vesicles for studying Fusarium circinatum and its biofilm communities. Microbial Pathogenesis 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107368
Muema EK, van Lill M, Venter SN, Claassens R, Steenkamp ET. (2025) Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. are symbionts of the dry-land forage legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 10.1007/s10482-025-02063-2
Co-Supervisor
Primary Supervisor
Co-Supervisor
Co-Supervisor