College of Sciences staff by location (campus)

Contact details +6492136655

Dr Tony Mutukumira MSc, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Food and Advanced Technology

Professional

Qualifications

  • Master of Science - Agricultural University of Norway (1990)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Agricultural University of Norway (1996)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Supervisor, Massey University

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Understanding Rewena Tuatahi - a traditonal Maori product

Date Range: 2019 - 2022

Funding Body: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Project Team:

Completed Projects

Project Title: CAPA - Sadia Seemeen - Effects of high pressure processing & ethyl Lauroyl arginate in ready -to- eat poultry products

Date Range: 2010 - 2011

Funding Body: Foundation for Research, Science & Technology

Project Team:

Project Title: CAPA Scholarship - Joanna (Qiong) Wu - Masters - Antimicrobial effects of Manuka Honey on Propionbacterium acnes

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous follicle. The Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) play a key role in inflammation and the formation of comedones. P. acnes has been reported to develop antibiotic resistance, which has generated some interest in developing natural antimicrobial compounds which forms the subject matter of this study. Recently, Manuka honey (leptospermum scoparium) has demonstrated strong antibacterial activities against a wide range of pathogens with distinct non-peroxide activity. Kanuka honey has also shown to be effective against many bacterial species. Many natural bioactives were reported to possess strong antibacterial activities, a few of which were studied against P. acnes. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the antibacterial activity of Manuka honeys and Kanuka honey with and without catalase against the growth of P. acnes alone and to screen the antibacterial activities of five selected nature bioactives alone and in combination with honey against P. acnes in vitro.
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Date Range: 2010 - 2012

Funding Body: Foundation for Research, Science & Technology

Project Team:

Teaching and Supervision

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • 2023 - Jia Sun - Doctor of Philosophy
    A study to optimise the fermentation and production of Parāroa Rēwena: a traditional Māori bread

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2013 - Geevika Ganegama Arachchi - Doctor of Philosophy
    A study of natural lytic Listeria phages with decontaminating properties for use in seafood processing plant
  • 2012 - Francis Amagloh - Doctor of Philosophy
    Sweetpotato-based complementary food for infants in Ghana
  • 2012 - Qian Zhao - Doctor of Philosophy
    An immobilised cell system for the delivery of functional Lactobacillus reuteri DPC 16 cells to their target site in a simulated gastrointestinal tract