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About Prof Lenine Liebenberg

liebenbergl@sun.ac.za
Prof Lenine Liebenberg is an Associate Professor in Medical Virology at Stellenbosch University and Chief Researcher in Immunology at CERI. She leads the Immunology Research Programme, focused on mucosal immunity and host–pathogen interactions at the tissue level, integrating immunology, microbiome science, and multi-omics approaches to understand the biological mechanisms that underpin infection susceptibility, persistence, and clearance.
Her programme is fundamentally mechanistic and translational—aimed at uncovering the immunological and microbial determinants of disease to inform the development of next-generation prevention and therapeutic strategies. A central focus of her work is the role of the vaginal microbiome and mucosal immune environment in shaping women’s risk of infection and response to interventions, including vaccines and live biotherapeutic products.
Prof Liebenberg is also deeply committed to capacity development and African-led scientific leadership, mentoring early-career researchers and building interdisciplinary networks that bridge basic science, clinical research, and innovation.

PUBLICATIONS

Faecal Coliforms and Escherichia coli Contamination in Drinking Water Sources in Cholera Hotspot Areas of Lusaka District, Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ng’ombe H, Luchen C, Phiri B, Ngosa D, Kapikila R, Sakanya S, Sakala C, Mbewe N, Liswaniso F, Chilengi R, Wilkinson E, Liebenberg L, Khan W, Thomson N, Sack D, Bosomprah S, Chisenga C, Microorganisms (2026), 14:420.

Faecal Coliforms and Escherichia coli Contamination in Drinking Water Sources in Cholera Hotspot Areas of Lusaka District, Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ng’ombe H, Luchen C, Phiri B, Ngosa D, Kapikila R, Sakanya S, Sakala C, Mbewe N, Liswaniso F, Chilengi R, Wilkinson E, Liebenberg L, Khan W, Thomson N, Sack D, Bosomprah S, Chisenga C, Microorganisms (2026), 14:420.

Differences in HIV risk factors between South African adolescents and adult women and their association with sexually transmitted infections.
Mkhize P, Mehou-Loko C, Maphumulo N, Radzey N, Abrahams A, Sibeko S, Harryparsad R, Manhanzva M, Meyer B, Radebe P, Liebenberg L, Ngcapu S, Ahmed N, Busakwe F, Mqaba N, Archary D, Sivro A, Samsunder N, Potloane D, Horsnell W, Jordan C, Abdool Karim Q, Bekker L, Passmore J, Jaspan H, Humphries H, Masson L, Sexually Transmitted Infections (2025), 101:174-182.

Effect of the vaginal live biotherapeutic LACTIN-V (Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05) on vaginal microbiota and genital tract inflammation among women at high risk of HIV acquisition in South Africa: a phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
Hemmerling A, Mitchell C, Demby S, Ghebremichael M, Elsherbini J, Xu J, Xulu N, Shih J, Dong K, Govender V, Pillay V, Ismail N, Casillas G, Moodley J, Bergerat A, Brunner T, Liebenberg L, Ngcapu S, Mbano I, Lagenaur L, Parks T, Ndung’u T, Kwon D, Cohen C, The Lancet Microbe (2025), 6:101037.

Circulating Short-Chain Fatty Acids: Association with Vaginal Microbiota, Genital Inflammation, and HIV Acquisition.
Shivakoti R, Letsoalo M, Lewis L, Mckinnon L, Passmore J, Karim S, Liebenberg L, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses (2025), 41:559-566.

Advancing the course of HIV genomics research in Africa.
Agamah F, Arbuthnot P, Tindana P, Munung N, Kasule M, Ghansah A, Mosepele M, Gaolathe T, Kekitiinwa A, Nduati E, Jumare J, Gómez-Olivé F, Liebenberg L, Dandara C, Osawe S, Julius R, Muzambi T, Natus T, Omumbo J, Mayne E, Abimiku A, Richardson S, Matshaba M, Skelton M, BMJ Global Health (2025), 10:e019094.

Randomized trial of multi-strain Lactobacillus crispatus vaginal live biotherapeutic products after antibiotic therapy for bacterial vaginosis: study protocol for VIBRANT (vaginal lIve biotherapeutic RANdomized trial).
Chetty C, Mafunda N, Happel A, Khan A, Cooley Demidkina B, Yende-Zuma N, Saidi Y, Mahabeer Polliah A, Lewis L, Osman F, Radebe P, Passmore J, Kwon D, Ravel J, Ngcapu S, Liebenberg L, Symul L, Holmes S, Mitchell C, Potloane D, Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications (2025), 48:101554.

Genomic analysis and antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio cholerae isolated during Zambia’s 2023 cholera epidemic.
Ng'ombe H, Luchen C, Bote L, Kasonde M, Musonda K, Mwape K, Kuntawala D, Silwamba S, Chibuye M, Chibesa K, Mbewe N, Bosomprah S, Khan W, Liebenberg L, de Oliveira T, Wilkinson E, Dorman M, Coghlan A, Simuyandi M, Chilengi R, Chisenga C, Thomson N, Microbial Genomics (2025), 11:.

Temporal Changes in Vaginal Microbiota and Genital Tract Cytokines Among South African Women Treated for Bacterial Vaginosis.
Mtshali A, San JE, Osman F, Garrett N, Balle C, Giandhari J, Onywera H, Mngomezulu K, Mzobe G, de Oliveira T, Rompalo A, Mindel A, Abdool Karim SS, Ravel J, Passmore JS, Abdool Karim Q, Jaspan HB, Liebenberg LJP, Ngcapu S, Front Immunol. (2021), 12:730986. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.730986.:.