Fidelis Manyanga


Professional Details

Title Associate Professor
Department Chemistry and Physics
Office Meier Hall 540
Phone 978.542.2774
Email fidelis.manyanga@salemstate.edu

Recent and Upcoming Courses

CHE 130 General Chemistry I
CHE 131 General Chemistry II
CHE 212 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 213 Organic Chemistry II
CHE 309 Biochemistry
CHE 419 Advanced Biochemistry

Professional Biography

(1). Ph.D. Chemistry (Nucleic Acids Biophysics). Portland State University, Oregon, USA. 

(2). B.S Chemistry (Major) & Biochemistry (Major). 

Professional Interests

Nucleic Acids, Proteomics, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Human Serum Albumin (HSA),  Biomarkers of Diseases, and Medication Interactions. 

 There are three main areas of research in our laboratory;

(a) First, we investigate the thermodynamics of macromolecular binding of proteins and nucleic acids using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). 

(b) Second, we investigate Human Serum Albumin (HSA), a major fatty acid (FA) binding protein in plasma that is responsible for the transport and utilization of many biological adducts. 

(c) Lastly, we research on new drug discovery strategies and  therapeutics aimed at delivering personalized medicine. Isatins (synonyms: 1H-Indole-2, 3-dione, Indole-2, 3-dione) are a heterocyclic aromatic compounds that possess a broad range of biological and pharmacological properties. An active area of research in our laboratory involves synthesis of pharmaceutically active Isatin derivatives that display antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and other inhibitory properties.

4). Special Topics Research        

 Medication Interactions and Role of Cytochrome P450 Family in Medications. 

Responsibilities

(5). Selected Past Research Students

(1). Isra S. Malik. (2019). Green Microwave Reactions of Halogenated Isatins with 4-Methyl - Acetophenone to Form Pharmacologically Active Compounds. Graduated 

(2). Amber L. Howington. (2019). Investigations of Friedel-Crafts Acylation of Methyl-Benzene Using Alternative Catalysts. Graduated 

(3). Steve E. Sam. ( 2019). Multi-Step Synthesis: Modified Friedel - Crafts Acylation Reaction, Grignard Reaction, and Pfizinger Reaction to form Compounds with Potential Cytotoxic Activity. Graduated 

(4). Angelina M. Calnan: Medication Interactions I. (Spring, 2018). Graduated

(5). Hayley Davis: Calorimetry Studies of DNA Sequences I. (Fall, 2018).  Graduated         

(6). Ronald Cuellar Rivera - Faculty Learning Community (FLC) Project: Innovative Teaching Methodologies. Graduated

(7). Ronald Cuellar Rivera & Nedim Karamehmedovic - Studies of Short DNAs

(8). Courtney Leblanc - Microwave Isatins Synthesis. Graduated. 

(9). Jesse D. Moreira - A Survey of Heterocyclic Compounds -  Focus on Isatin. Graduated.  Now Dr. Jesse Moreira.

(6). Responsibilities (Professional & Editorial Board)

(a) Grant Reviewer: The National Science Foundation (NSF), USA.

(b) Board Member: Journal of Biophysical Chemistry (JBPC), USA.

(c) Board Member: Management Teaching Review (MTR), USA

(7). Grants, Funding and University Wide Activities (AY 2014 - AY2016)

(a). Funded - Salem State University (SSU) Research Advisory Committee Grant. Project TitleStudies of DNA Hybridization Reactions. Grant  No - 0639.

(b). Participated in Faculty Learning Community (FLC) Grant  on Innovative STEM Pedagogies. Massachusetts STEM Retention and Completion Grant - (Fall 2015 - Spring 2016).

(8). Service and Community 

(a) Member of the Student Affairs Committee (Current)

(b) Member of the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (Current)

(c). Member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Affirmative Action, Diversity, Equity and Social Justice (2015 - Current).

(d). Member of  Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC).

(e). Member of Council on Teaching and Learning (CTL). (2015 - 2017).

(f).  Member of University Wide Assessment Advisory (UWAAC) Committee (2015 - 2017).

(g).  Library Liaison for Science & Technology for Chemistry and Physics Department - (2014 - 2015). 

Selected Publications

SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

(1). Koslen, Megan M., Matthew W. Eskew, Vincent Pinkert, Huyen Hoang, Fidelis Manyanga, William L. Dean, Jonathan B. Chaires, and Albert S. Benight. (2019). "Capture Reagent and Strategy for Retrieving Albumin-Bound Ligands from Plasma." Advances in Biological Chemistry 9, no. 3 (2019): 110-134.

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=93329

(2)  Fidelis Manyanga et. al., (Spring 2017).  Comparison of Student Retention Models in Undergraduate Education From the Past Eight Decades. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education (JALHE), Spring 2017, Volume 7, Missouri Western State University, USA. https://www.missouriwestern.edu/appliedlearning/wp-content/uploads/sites/206/2017/03/JALHE-17.pdf

(3). Sithole, Alec, Davison M. Mupinga, Joachim S. Kibirige, Fidelis Manyanga, and Brian K. Bucklein. (2019). "Expectations, Challenges and Suggestions for Faculty Teaching Online Courses in Higher Education." International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design (IJOPCD) 9, no. 1 (2019): 62-77.

https://www.igi-global.com/article/expectations-challenges-and-suggestions-for-faculty-teaching-online-courses-in-higher-education/216932

(4). Edward T. Chiyaka,  Alec Sithole, Fidelis Manyanga, Peter McCarthy, and Brian K. Bucklein. (2016).  Institutional Characteristics and Student Retention: What Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Reveals About Online Learning. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Volume XIX, Number 2, Summer 2016. University of West Georgia, Distance Education Center. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1106655

(5). Huyen Hoang, Fidelis Manyanga,  Moshood K. Morakinyo, Vincent Pinkert, Ferdous Sarwary, Daniel J.Fish Greg P. Brewood, and Albert S. Benight. (2016). Effects of Selective Biotinylation on the Thermodynamic Stability of Human Serum Albumin. Journal of Biophysical Chemistry Vol. 7 No. 1. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=63325

(6).  Dickman, R., Manyanga, F., Brewood, G. P., Fish, D. J., Fish, C. A., Summers, C., & Benight, A. S. (2012). Thermodynamic Contributions of 5’-and 3’-Single Strand Dangling-Ends to the Stability of Short Duplex DNAs. Journal of Biophysical Chemistry, 3(01), 1. http://file.scirp.org/Html/17173.html

(7).  Manyanga, F., Horne, M. T., Brewood, G. P., Fish, D. J., Dickman, R., & Benight, A. S. (2009). Origins of the “Nucleation” Free Energy in the Hybridization Thermodynamics of Short Duplex DNA. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 113(9), 2556-2563. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp809541m

(8).  Manyanga, F. (2009). Dissertation: Studies of DNA Hybridization Reactions and Applications in Genetic Assays. ISBN: 9781109179217.

(9).  Alemayehu, S., Fish, D. J., Brewood, G. P., Horne, M. T., Manyanga, F., Dickman, R.,& Benight, A. S. (2009). Influence of Buffer Species on the Thermodynamics of Short DNA Duplex Melting: Sodium Phosphate Versus Sodium Cacodylate. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 113(9), 2578-2586. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp809310w

 

Selected Presentations

(10).  Fidelis Manyanga. (August 2016). Analysis of Human Serum Albumin (HSA) as a Diagnostic Tool. Division of Biological Sciences, BIOL 217. Pennsylvania Convention Center. 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

(11). Fidelis Manyanga, Jesse Moirera, Courtney LeBlank, and Yatin Mustafa (August 2016). Microwave Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Isatin-Derivatives to Yield Substituted Quinolone-4-Carboxylic Acids. Division of Chemical Education, CHED 76. Pennsylvania Convention Center. 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

(12). Manyanga, F. (December 2015). Undergraduate Research Experience - The Power of Collaborative Research. Faculty Retreat, Salem State University, Salem, MA.

(13). Manyanga, F. (August 2015). Alternative Interpretation of the “Nucleation” Complex in DNA Primer-Probe Hybridization Based Reactions. 250th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, USA.

(14). Manyanga, F. and Jamie Iara M. Tin. (May 2015). Salt Concentration Dependence on DNA Melting Part I. Undergraduate Research Symposium, SSU, Central Campus, Salem, MA, USA.

(15). Manyanga, F., Horne, M. T., Brewood, G. P., Fish. (2007). Biological Microarray Hybridization Reactions and Evaluation of Sequence Dependent Thermodynamic Parameters." Biophysical Society Meeting. pp. 45A-46A. Rockville Pike, Bethesda, USA.

(16). Manyanga, F. (2006). Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs), Novel DNA Analogs for Optimal Design of Hybridization Probes. Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Oregon, USA.

Personal Interests

(a) American Chemical Society (ACS),   (b) American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB),  (c) National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), (d) The Journal of Biophysical Chemistry (JBPC), and (e)The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC).