Background
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Mahamat Gadji is a PhD candidate at the University of Yaoundé I, and Research Assistant at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID). He earned his master’s degree in Medical Microbiology from the University of Yaounde I in 2019, where his research focused on the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in infants under six weeks of age. His work demonstrated to the Cameroonian Ministry of Public Health that the first HBV vaccine dose administered at six weeks as part of the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is often too late, as many infants are already infected by that time. Following his master’s degree, Gadji began an exciting PhD journey at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), supported by the Wellcome Trust SFR under the supervision of Professor Charles Wondji. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics, applying whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics to identify key genomic features and microbial signatures driving insecticide resistance escalation in African malaria vectors. During his PhD, Gadji developed a streamlined pipeline for analysing PoolSeq and metagenomic data, which is available on GitHub. While progressing through the final stages required for his PhD defense, he is currently working as a Research Assistant on the AVecGen project. This initiative aims to establish cutting-edge bioinformatics and vector genomics facilities to serve as a regional hub for training young African scientists in both wet and dry lab skills, empowering them to use bioinformatics in solving complex biological challenges. In parallel, he is also developing an automated Snakemake-based pipeline to decentralize and simplify Omics data analysis, making advanced analytical tools accessible to non-bioinformaticians and researchers with limited computational expertise. Looking ahead, Gadji is eager to apply his bioinformatics and genomics skills to uncover and address complex traits in diverse areas such as clinical genomics, crop pest genomics, and beyond. |
Research
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- Areas of interest:
Gadji is interested in using bioinformatics to understand how living organisms evolve in response to biotic and abiotic environmental factors such as biocides, climate change, geography, and pollution, etc.
- Research – an overview of your research areas(s)
Bioinformatics, evolutionary genomics, insecticide resistance, Microbiome, pipeline development
- Other Relevant Expertise, Professional Memberships
Serve as reviewer for various scientific journals such as:
1. Scientific reports;
2. Molecular ecology;
3. BMC medical genomics;
4. World Journal of Clinical Paediatrics;
5. World Journal of Clinical Cases.
Member of scientific and learned societies:
6. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH);
7. American Society of Microbiology (ASM);
8. Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA);
Country representative: SmartSciFrika
- Research groups
Wondji Research Unit (WoRu)
- Supervisor
Prof. Wondji Charles -
Publications
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1. Gadji, M., Kengne-Ouafo, J. A., Tchouakui, M., Wondji, M. J., Mugenzi, L. M., Hearn, J., … & Wondji, C. S. (2025). PoolSeq Genome-wide Association Studies and Microbial Signature Analyses Identify Novel Candidates Associated with Pyrethroid Resistance Evolution in Anopheles funestus in Cameroon. VeriXiv, 2, 56.
2. Gadji, M., Hervé Raoul, T., FM, M. K., Tchouakui, M., Wondji, M. J., Mugenzi, L. M., … & Wondji, S. C. (2025). Genomic drivers of pyrethroid resistance escalation in the malaria vector Anopheles funestus across Africa. VeriXiv, 2, 50.
3. Wondji, C., Ngannang-Fezeu, V., Mangoua, M., Gadji, M., Mugenzi, L., Oruni, A., … & Bigoga, J. (2025). The argininosuccinate lyase gene exacerbates pyrethroid resistance in the major African vectors Anopheles funestus.
4. Gadji, M., Kengne-Ouafo, J.A., Tchouakui, M. et al. Genome-wide association studies unveil major genetic loci driving insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus in four eco-geographical settings across Cameroon. BMC Genomics 25, 1202 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-11148-7.
5. Mugenzi LMJ, Tekoh TA, Ntadoun ST, Chi AD, Gadji M, et al. (2024) Association of a rapidly selected 4.3kb transposon-containing structural variation with a P450-based resistance to pyrethroids in the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus. PLOS Genetics 20(7): e1011344. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011344.
6. Carlos S Djoko Tagne, Mersimine F M Kouamo, Magellan Tchouakui, Abdullahi Muhammad, Leon J L Mugenzi, Nelly M T Tatchou-Nebangwa, Riccado F Thiomela, Mahamat Gadji, Murielle J Wondji, Jack Hearn, Mbouobda H Desire, Sulaiman S Ibrahim, Charles S Wondji, A single mutation G454A in the P450 CYP9K1 drives pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus reducing bed net efficacy, Genetics, Volume 229, Issue 1, January 2025, iyae181, https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyae181.
7. Boddé, M., Nwezeobi, J., Korlević, P., Makunin, A., Akone-Ella, O., Barasa, S., Gadji, M., Hart, L., Kaindoa, E. W., Love, K., Lucas, E. R., Lujumba, I., Máquina, M., Nagi, S., Odero, J. O., Polo, B., Sangbakembi, C., Dadzie, S., Koekemoer, L. L., Kwiatkowski, D., … Lawniczak, M. K. N. (2024). Genomic diversity of the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2024.12.14.628470. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.14.628470.
8. Tazokong, H. R., Tchamga, S. N., Tchouakui, M., Assatse, T., Djova, S. V., Mugenzi, L. M. J., Mahamat, G., Boyomo, O., & Wondji, C. S. (2024). Nationwide assessment of pyrethroid resistance escalation and investigation of its molecular basis in Anopheles funestus from Cameroon. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4710893/v1.
9. Kouamo, M. F. M., Ibrahim, S. S., Muhammad, A., Gadji, M., Hearn, J., & Wondji, C. S. (2025). Allelic variation in a cluster of epsilon glutathione S-transferase genes contributes to DDT and pyrethroid resistance in the major African malaria vector Anopheles funestus. BMC genomics, 26(1), 452. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11637-3.
10. Tchatchouang S, Andre Mbongue Mikangue C, Kenmoe S, Bowo-Ngandji A, Mahamat G, Thierry Ebogo-Belobo J, Serge Mbaga D, Rodrigue Foe-Essomba J, Numfor H, Irma Kame-Ngasse G, Nyebe I, Bosco Taya-Fokou J, Zemnou-Tepap C, Félicité Yéngué J, Nina Magoudjou-Pekam J, Gertrude Djukouo L, Antoinette Kenmegne Noumbissi M, Kenfack-Momo R, Aimee Touangnou-Chamda S, Flore Feudjio A, Gael Oyono M, Paola Demeni Emoh C, Raoul Tazokong H, Zeukeng F, Kengne-Ndé C, Njouom R, Flore Donkeng Donfack V, Eyangoh S. Systematic review: Global host range, case fatality and detection rates of Mycobacterium ulcerans in humans and potential environmental sources. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis. 2024 Jun 21;36:100457. doi: 10.1016/j.jctube.2024.100457. PMID: 39026996; PMCID: PMC11254744
11. Mahamat G, Kenmoe S, Akazong EW, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Mbaga DS, Bowo-Ngandji A, Foe Essomba JR, Amougou-Atsama M, Monamele CG, Mbongue Mikangue CA, Kame-Ngasse GI, Magoudjou-Pekam JN, Zemnou-Tepap C, Meta-Djomsi D, Maïdadi-Foudi M, Touangnou-Chamda SA, Daha-Tchoffo AG, Selly-Ngaloumo AA, Nayang-Mundo RA, Yéngué JF, Taya-Fokou JB, Fokou LKM, Kenfack-Momo R, Tchami Ngongang D, Atembeh Noura E, Tazokong HR, Demeni Emoh CP, Kengne-Ndé C, Bigna JJ, Boyomo O, Njouom R. Global prevalence of hepatitis B virus serological markers among healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Hepatol. 2021 Sep 27;13(9):1190-1202. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i9.1190. PMID:34630885; PMCID: PMC8473496.
12. Bonanno Ferraro G, Veneri C, Mancini P, Iaconelli M, Suffredini E, Bonadonna L, Lucentini L, Bowo-Ngandji A, Kengne-Nde C, Mbaga DS, Mahamat G, Tazokong HR, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Njouom R, Kenmoe S, La Rosa G. A State-of-the-Art Scoping Review on SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage Focusing on the Potential of Wastewater Surveillance for the Monitoring of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Food Environ Virol. 2022 Dec;14(4):315-354. doi: 10.1007/s12560-021-09498-6. Epub 2021 Nov 2. PMID: 34727334; PMCID: PMC8561373.
13. Wobessi JNS, Kenmoe S, Mahamat G, Belobo JTE, Emoh CPD, Efietngab AN, Bebey SRK, Ngongang DT, Tchatchouang S, Nzukui ND, Modiyinji AF, Simo REG, Ka’e AC, Tazokong HR, Ngandji AB, Mbaga DS, Kengne-Nde C, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Njouom R. Incidence and seroprevalence of rabies virus in humans, dogs and other animal species in Africa, a systematic review and meta-analysis. One Health. 2021 Jun 26;13:100285. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100285. PMID: 34258372; PMCID: PMC8254041.
14. Kenmoe S, Bowo-Ngandji A, Kengne-Nde C, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Mbaga DS, Mahamat G, et al. (2021) Association between early viral LRTI and subsequent wheezing development, a metaanalysis and sensitivity analyses for studies comparable for confounding factors. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0249831. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249831.
15. Mbaga DS, Kenmoe S, Kengne-Ndé C, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Mahamat G, Foe-Essomba JR, Amougou-Atsama M, Tchatchouang S, Nyebe I, Feudjio AF, Kame-Ngasse GI, Magoudjou-Pekam JN, Fokou LKM, Meta-Djomsi D, Maïdadi-Foudi M, Touangnou-Chamda SA, Daha-Tchoffo AG, Selly-Ngaloumo AA, Nayang-Mundo RA, Yéngué JF, Taya-Fokou JB, Kenfack-Momo R, Atembeh Noura E, Demeni Emoh CP, Tazokong HR, Bowo-Ngandji A, Sake CS, Atenguena Okobalemba E, Njiki Bikoi J, Njouom R, Riwom Essama SH. Hepatitis B, C and D virus infections and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Africa: A meta-analysis including sensitivity analyses for studies comparable for confounders. PLoS One. 2022 Jan 21;17(1):e0262903. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262903. PMID: 35061846; PMCID: PMC8782350.
16. Fall A, Kenmoe S, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Mbaga DS, Bowo-Ngandji A, Foe-Essomba JR, Tchatchouang S, Amougou Atsama M, Yéngué JF, Kenfack-Momo R, Feudjio AF, Nka AD, Mbongue Mikangue CA, Taya-Fokou JB, Magoudjou-Pekam JN, Noura EA, Zemnou-Tepap C, Meta-Djomsi D, Maïdadi-Foudi M, Kame-Ngasse GI, Nyebe I, Djukouo LG, Kengne Gounmadje L, Tchami Ngongang D, Oyono MG, Demeni Emoh CP, Tazokong HR, Mahamat G, Kengne-Ndé C, Sadeuh-Mba SA, Dia N, La Rosa G, Ndip L, Njouom R. Global prevalence and case fatality rate of Enterovirus D68 infections, a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Feb 8;16(2):e0010073. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010073. PMID: 35134062; PMCID: PMC8824346.
17. Kenmoe S, Tchatchouang S, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Ka’e AC, G Mahamat, Guiamdjo Simo RE, et al. (2020) Systematic review and meta-analysis of the epidemiology of Lassa virus in humans, rodents and other mammals in sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 14(8): e0008589.
18. Foe-Essomba JR, Kenmoe S, Tchatchouang S, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Mbaga DS, Kengne-Ndé C, Mahamat G, Kame-Ngasse GI, Noura EA, Mbongue Mikangue CA,Feudjio AF, Taya-Fokou JB, Touangnou-Chamda SA, Nayang-Mundo RA, Nyebe I, Magoudjou-Pekam JN, Yéngué JF, Djukouo LG, Demeni Emoh CP, Tazokong HR, Bowo-Ngandji A, Lontchi-Yimagou E, Kaiyven AL, Donkeng Donfack VF, Njouom R, Mbanya JC, Mbacham WF, Eyangoh S. Diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis, a systematic review and meta-analysis with sensitivity analysis for studies comparable for confounders. PLoS One. 2021 Dec 10;16(12):e0261246. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261246. PMID: 34890419; PMCID: PMC8664214.
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