Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Biotechnology)
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Recent Submissions
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Metagenome sequencing and in silico gene discovery: From genetic potential to function
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)In a previous study, metagenomic DNA extracted from Antarctic Dry Valley soils was used to construct a large contig bacterial shotgun fosmid library (Anderson, 2008). In the current study, clones were selected based on ... -
Cloning, expression and characterization of novel lipase and esterases from burkholderia multivorans UWCIO
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)An esterase and lipase producing Burkholderia multivorans strain was isolated by culture enrichment strategies. A shotgun library of Burkholderia multivorans genomic DNA (prepared in E. coli/pUC18) was screened for lipase ... -
Actinobacteria associated with two diverse soil environments and their multicopper oxidase diversity
(University of the Western Cape, 2024)The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is a biodiverse region boasting unique plant diversity with a rich concentration of endemic plants. Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) is an indigenous plant that grows in the Clanwilliam region ... -
The molecular characterization of trichoplusia ni single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus: a study on early regulatory features
(University of the Western Cape, 2003)With the development of biological insecticides, many research efforts have been made in baculoviruses to investigate fundamental molecular aspects of these viruses, such as the function and regulation of genes, genome ... -
Genome-wide identification and comprehensive analysis of transcriptionsl desert regions
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)The initiation of transcription in mammalian genomes predominatly occurs at 5' promoter regions, however increasingly initiation events have been observed within introns, coding exons and 3' UTRs. Nevertheless there ... -
Mitigation of salinity stress using exogenously applied molybdenum in sorghum bicolor
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)The agricultural sector is the main producer of food throughout the world. However, the constant changes in environmental conditions, such as extreme weather, droughts, and salinity have impacted this sector negatively ... -
Inter-individual genetic variation and the development of hypertension in a Xhosa African population of Eastern Cape, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally, accounting for 18.6 million deaths. Hypertension (HTN) drives the global burden of CVD and is a leading cause of cardiovascular-related mortality with ... -
The interactive effects of salt stress and Fusarium proliferatum infection on maize seedlings
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Field crops are often subjected to multiple co-occurring stress factors, and they evolved specific mechanisms to counteract the effects of these stress factors. Most studies explore the fundamental molecular mechanisms ... -
Identification of sub-clinical biomarkers that predict the risk of developing diabetic cardiomyopathy
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death of people with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). According to a statistical report from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 17.9 million people ... -
Deciphering the determinants of molecular physiological responses to drought and heat stress in sorghum lines contrasting in stress tolerance via a proteomics approach
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Sorghum is an important crop in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The predicted rise in global temperatures will increase the probability of exposing sorghum to heat waves in combination with drought. Thus, production ... -
Molecular detection and characterisation of RNA viruses of honeybees
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)Honeybees have evolved through the centuries to inhabit most parts of the world except for the extreme Polar Regions. These insects have also been susceptible to pathogens and disease which has always been part of the ... -
A proteomic analysis of drought and salt stress responsive proteins of different sorghum varieties
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)Sorghum (Sorghum bicolorï, a drought tolerant cereal crop, is not only an important food source in the semi arid/arid regions but also a potential model for studying and gaining a better understanding of the molecular ... -
Evaluation of the capacity of hydrogen sulfide to reduce infection of maize
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)Maize (Zea mays L.) is grown globally as an important grain crop in South Africa, United States, China and Brazil and plays a major role in the worldwide economy. In South Africa, the grain is utilised for food consumption, ... -
Genomic and proteomic analysis of drought tolerance in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Drought is the most complex phenomenon that remained to be a potential and historic challenge to human welfare. It affects plant productivity by eliciting perturbations related to a pathway that controls a normal, ... -
Cloning, expression and characterization of Novel Lipase and Esterases from Burkholderia multivorans UWC10
(2005)An esterase and lipase producing Burkholderia multivorans strain was isolated by culture enrichment strategies. A shotgun library of Burkholderia multivorans genomic DNA (prepared in E. coli/pUC18) was screened for lipase ... -
New genetic tools to engineer starch production in crops
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Starch is a major carbohydrate reserve in many plants, providing energy during heterotrophic growth and it is contained in large amounts in staple foods such as potatoes, wheat, maize, rice, sorghum and cassava. Apart from ... -
Respiratory and photosynthetic C and N metabolism of nodulated Lupin roots during phosphorus deficiency
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)Growth of symbiotic legume hosts is P limited, because of the high energetic requirements associated with N2 fixation. Attempts to overcome P deficiency in soils where legumes are grown involve addition of P-based fertilisers. ... -
Bioactive actinobacteria associated with two South African medicinal plants, Aloe ferox and Sutherlandia frutescens
(University of Western Cape, 2021)Actinobacteria, a Gram-positive phylum of bacteria found in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, are well-known producers of antibiotics and other bioactive compounds. The isolation of actinobacteria from unique ... -
Massively-Parallel Computational Identification of Novel Broad Spectrum Antivirals to Combat Coronavirus Infection
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Given the significant disease burden caused by human coronaviruses, the discovery of an effective antiviral strategy is paramount, however there is still no effective therapy to combat infection. This thesis details the ... -
The C-economy, nutritional benefits and symbiotic performance of dual inoculated Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) plants, under variable nutrient conditions
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)The tripartite symbiosis between Phaseolus vulgaris, arbuscular-mycorrhiza and the nodule bacteria, Rhizobia have been the focus of many studies ranging over a number of decades, however these studies have failed to answer ...