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FLORA STEPHANO

Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, College Of Natural And Applied Sciences
Education:

• PhD in (Zoophysiology), 2009-2013 – University of Kiel Germany • Master’s Degree of Science in Zoology, 2002-2006-University of Dar es Salaam • Bachelor’s Degree in Science General (Majoring Zoology and Wildlife Conservation)-Hons-1998-2002-

Teaching:

  • Dr. Stephano is currently involved in teaching the following courses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students:
  • Vertebrate anatomy and physiology I and II
  • Developmental biology
  • Molecular physiology
  • Advance physiology
  • Environmental physiology
  • Environmental Toxicology

Research:

  • Pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases particularly Parkinson’s disease using Drosophila as a model
  •  In-vivo testing for safety of natural products from plant using rats and Drosophila.
  • Neurotoxicology in relation to environmental contaminants
  • Gut physiology and Metabolic disorders (Diabetes using rat model)
  • Insect physiology with relations to control of cassava vectors; Bemisia tabaci.

Projects:

  1. Principal investigator (PI) on Investigation of anti-neurodegenerative activities of selected natural products in Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease
  2. Co- PI on safety, therapeutic and prophylactic of herbal extract in normal and inflammatory pregnancy using rat model
  3. Co-PI on Search for Anticancer Compounds from Croton Plant Species (Euphorbiaceae) Occurring in Tanzania.
  4. Co-PI on combating anemia using avocado (persea americana mill) and guava (psidium guajava linn) leaf extracts in Tanzania
  5. Co-PI on the Eco-toxicity and farmers’ agricultural practices assessment in the Kilombero Ramsar site: Implication to food safety, environmental and human risk assessments
  6. Unravelling The Molecular Therapeutic Mechanisms of Resveratrol Rescue-Driven in Drosophila melanogaster Models of Parkinson`s Disease
  7. Co-PI in the evaluation of the bio-efficacy of selected essential oils and entomopathogens against the cassava whitefly Bemissia tabacci. The work which is under collaboration with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Publications:

  1. Adedara A.O, Balalola A.D, Stephano F, Awogbindin I.O, Olopade J.O, Rocha J.B.T, Whiworth A.J, Abolaji A.O (2022). An assessment of the rescue action of resveratrol in parkin loss of function induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster. Scientific Reports 12:3922
  2. Mwakisunga B, Pratap H.B, Machiwa J.F, Stephano F (2021). Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Ecological Risks in Surface Sediments along Dar es Salaam Harbour Channel. Tanzania Journal of Science 47(5): 1606-1621.
  3. Stephano, F. (2021). Baphia macrocalyx leaf extract attenuates rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster model of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Education, Humanities and Sciences. Vol. 10 (1): 125-136. https://jehs.duce.ac.tz/index.php/jehs/article/view/100
  4. Lugata. K.J, Stephano F, Harishchandra B.P. (2021). Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Fiddler Crabs (Austruca occidentalis) along the Coastal Mangrove Areas of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 47(1): 296-307 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/203616
  5. Siima, A.A, Stephano F, Munissi, J.J.E, Nyandoro, S.S. (2020). Ameliorative effects of flavonoids and polyketides on the rotenone induced Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease. Journal of NeuroToxicology.81: 209-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2020.09.004
  6. Malekela. R.S, Mwakalinga, J.J, Antony, R.M, Stephano, F. (2020). Anti-diarrhoeal, Anti-oxidative stress and Acute Toxicity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Baphia macrocalyx in Mice. Tanzania Journal of Science 46(2): 216-227 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/196278
  7. Stephano F, Nolte S, Hoffmann J, El-Kholy S, von Frieling J, Bruchhaus I, Fink C, Roeder T. (2018). Impaired Wnt signaling in dopamine containing neurons is associated with pathogenesis in a rotenone triggered Drosophila Parkinson’s disease model. Scientific Reports 8:2372 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-20836-w
  8. Li Y, Tiedemann L, von Frieling J, Nolte S, El-Kholy S, Stephano F, Gelhaus C, Bruchhaus I, Fink C, Roeder T. (2017). The role of Monoaminergic Neurotransmission for Metabolic Control in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster. Front. Syst. Neurosci: 11:60. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2017.00060
  9. Li Yong, Hoffmann J, Li Yang, Stephano F, Bruchhaus I, Fink C, Roeder T (2016). Octopamine controls starvation resistance, life span and metabolic traits in Drosophila. Scientific Reports :35359 https://www.nature.com/articles/srep35359
  10. El-Kholy S, Stephano F, Li Y, Bhandari A, Fink C, Roeder T. (2015). Expression analysis of octopamine and tyramine receptors in Drosophila. Cell & Tiss Res. 361(3): 669-684 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00441-015-2137-4
  11. Stephano F. (2013). Formation of cell masses in the myelencephalon of the clawed frog, Xenopus muelleri. Tanzania Journal of Science 39 (1):73-80.

Membership and Registration:

  1. Member of International Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA)-2020 to Date
  2. Member of International Society for Neurochemistry from October 2015 to Date
  3. Member of African Society of Drosophilists from March 2018 to Date
  4. A committee member for Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) at University of Dar es Salaam February 2014-2016.
  5. Tanzanian contact person for Teaching and research in Neuroscience for Development in Africa (TReND) http://trendinafrica.org/who-are-we/people/ 2013-2015