Browsing Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Biotechnology) by Title
Now showing items 15-34 of 98
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Comparative analysis of sugar-biosynthesis proteins of sorghum stems and the investigation of their role in hyperosmotic stress tolerance
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is an important cereal crop currently explored as a potential bio-energy crop due to its stress tolerance and ability to ferment soluble sugars. Physiological studies on sorghum varieties have ... -
Comparison of actinobacterial diversity in Marion Island terrestrial habitats
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)The major aim of this study is to determine and compare the distribution of bacteria and actinobacteria in Marion Island terrestrial habitats. -
A computational framework for transcriptome assembly and annotation in non-model organisms: the case of venturia inaequalis
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)In this dissertation three computational approaches are presented that enable optimization of reference-free transcriptome reconstruction. The first addresses the selection of bona fide reconstructed transcribed fragments ... -
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 ... -
Defining the African green monkey (Chlorocebus Aethiops): expression behaviour of selected lipid metabolism genes in response to niacin
(University of Western Cape, 2012)In this century most major medical advances have resulted in part from research on animals and non-human primates such as the African green monkey and therefore often serve as a critical link between basic research and ... -
The detection of meningococcal disease through identification of antimicrobial peptides using an in silico model creation
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus), the causative agent of meningococcal disease (MD) was identified in 1887 and despite effective antibiotics and partially effective vaccines, Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) ... -
Development of a high throughput cell-free metagenomic screening platform
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)The estimated 5 × 10³⁰ prokaryotic cells inhabiting our planet sequester some 350–550 Petagrams (1 Pg = 1015 g) of carbon, 85–130 Pg of nitrogen, and 9–14 Pg of phosphorous, making them the largest reservoir of those ... -
Development of a novel high throughput method for identifying phage-host pairs in an extreme environment
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)There are approximately 10³¹ bacteriophages in the biosphere, outnumbering bacteria 10:1, hence, the dynamic and specific nature of phage-host interactions exerts significant influence on microbial communities. Bacteriophages ... -
Development of a receptor targeted nanotherapy using a proapoptotic peptide
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The prevalence of obesity amongst South Africans is alarming, with more than 29% of men and 56% of women considered to be obese. Angiogenesis, a process for development of new blood vessels play a major role in growth and ... -
The development of nanotechnology-based detection systems for the diagnosis of breast cancer
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Breast cancer is one of the major causes of death in South Africa. About 1 in 29 South African women are at risk of developing this type of cancer in their lifetime. The global incidence of breast cancer also increases ... -
Development of nanotechnology-based drug delivery and imaging system to the white adipose tissue vasculature using Wistar Rat Model
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)Obesity is a complex metabolic disease of excessive fat accumulation. It is a worldwide epidemic affecting billions of people and its pharmacological management is hampered by drug toxicity and undesirable side effects. ... -
Diversity of Frankia associated with Morella species of the Cape floristic region of Southern Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)Frankia is one of two partners in the globally distributed N2-fixing actinorhizal symbiosis between this filamentous soil-dwelling actinomycete and almost 300 species of host plants from eight diverse angiosperm families. ... -
Engineering Parageobacillus thermoglucosidans as a robust platform for bioethanol production
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Parageobacillus thermoglucosidans is a promising “platform” organism to use in the production ofa range of useful metabolites with demonstrated ability to produce ethanol, isobutanol and polylactic acid for bio-degradable ... -
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, ... -
Expression of recombinant S-locus F-box-S2 protein and computational modeling of protein interaction at the self-incompatibility locus of Rosaceae
(2012)Self-incompatibility (SI) is a major mechanism that prevents inbreeding in ow-ering plants, which was identi ed in Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Scrophulariace. In these families, SI is gametophytic and retains inter-speci ... -
A forensic analysis of genetic variation in the Botswana population
(University of the Western cape, 2016)This thesis has been placed under a long term embargo. Forensic and population genetic parameters were investigated in the Botswana population using autosomal and Y-chromosome short tandem repeat markers. AmpFlSTR Profiler ... -
Functional genomic characterization of fruit quality traits in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh)
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)The domesticated apple (Malus x domestica Borkh), belonging to the Malusgenus of the Rosaceae family, is one of the edible pomaceous fruits. Since it is one of the important commercial fruit crops worldwide, the quality ... -
Genetic mapping of fruit quality traits in apple (malus x domestica borkh.)
(University of the Western Cape, 2011)Apple fruit quality is of utmost importance to apple farmers and breeders in the selection and commercialization of new cultivars. Fruit size, colour, texture, firmness and taste are all traits that affect the quality of ... -
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 ... -
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, ...