Fidelis Manyanga

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

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

 Metabolic Pathways, Regulation and Disorders, Nucleic Acids, Proteomics, Human Serum Albumin (HSA), Biomarkers of Diseases, and Medication Interactions. 

 There are Four main areas of research in our laboratory

(a) We investigate  macromolecular binding of proteins and nucleic acids to Adducts/Xenobiotics using DSC.

(b) 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)  We research on new drug discovery strategies and  therapeutics aimed at delivering personalized medicine. 

(d) We are interested in Medication Interactions, Disease, and Role of Cytochrome P450 Family in Medications (Inhibitors, Inducers, and Substrates). 

(e) Lastly, we prepare senior students for professional careers and graduate school by  exposing them to Standardized Examinations-Biochemistry Section e.g. ACS Biochemistry Examination and  the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)-Biochemistry Section)..

Directed Study Students Opportunities

Our Laboratory is looking for Research Students - Directed Study (1 - 3 Credits)  focusing on ONE of the following topics below.  At the end of your study, you need to write a 15-20 page review paper, present a PowerPoint, and Poster on: (1). Metabolic Pathways, (2). Key Enzymes, Regulation, and Disorders, (3) Genes Involved, (4). Pathophysiology & Clinical Features,(5 ) Medication Strategies.

Directed Study Topics

(A) Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), (B) Glycogen Storage Disorders (GSDs), (C) Vitamin D Disorders - Hypovitaminosis  & Hypervitaminosis, (D) Lipid Metabolism Disorders - (LDL, HDL, and TG), (E) Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Disorders (TREDs)  - Neurological Disorders, (F) The Biochemistry of Conditionally Essential Amino Acids (CEAAs).

Selected Past Research Students

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

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

(3). Courtney Leblanc - Microwave Isatins Synthesis. Graduated. Now Dr. Courtney LeBlanc

(4). Jesse D. Moreira - A Survey of Heterocyclic Compounds -  Graduated. Now  Dr. Jesse Moreira.

Responsibilities (Professional & Editorial Board)

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

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

Funding and University Wide Activities (AY 2014 - AY2016)

(a). Funded - Salem State University (SSU) Research Advisory Committee Grant. Project Title:  Studies 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).

Service and Community 

(a) Member of the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee - Past

(b) Member of  Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) - Past

(c) Member of the Student Affairs Committee - Past

(d). Member of Council on Teaching and Learning (CTL). Past

(e). Member of University Wide Assessment Advisory (UWAAC) Committee - Past

(f). Library Liaison for Science & Technology for Chemistry and Physics Department - Past

SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

(1).Chen, Changqing, and Fidelis Manyanga (2025). "Integrating “Molecule of the Week” as a Teaching Tool in an Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Course." Journal of Chemical Education (2025).

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00649

2. 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

(3)  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

(4). 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

(5). 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

(6). 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

(7).  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

(8).  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

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

(10).  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

 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

(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).