Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology): Recent submissions
Now showing items 161-180 of 264
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Identification of microRNAs as a class of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer : an in silico and molecular approach
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common form of cancer in men around the world. In many parts of Africa, data on prostate cancer is sparse. This is attributed to poor access to testing and diagnostics. The ... -
Identification of potential biomarkers in lung cancer as possible diagnostic agents using bioinformatics and molecular approaches
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with the majority of cases attributed to non-small cell lung carcinomas. At the time of diagnosis, a large percentage of patients present with advanced stage ... -
Proteomic and SNP analysis of the Cadherin 10 type-II (CDH10) gene, in the South African autistic population
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a very diverse neurological disorder that manifests specifically in children and infants between the ages of two to three years of age. An individual suffering is deemed as ... -
Matrix comparison of isolation conditions for secondary metabolite producing marine sponge associated bacteria
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The discovery of novel secondary metabolites has declined significantly in recent years whereas there is a rise in the number of multi-drug resistant pathogens and other types of diseases. The decline in natural product ... -
Development of an actinobacteria based in vitro transcription and translation systems
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Heterologous metagenomic screening strategies have relied largely on the construction of DNA libraries and screening in Escherichia coli to access novel enzymes. There is an increased demand for the identification of novel ... -
The isolation and characterisation of novel natural products from marine bacterial symbionts
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Drug-resistant infections are a global health crisis and drastically hinder the treatment options to effectively combat disease. Today, natural products remain an important source of novel drug candidates. Micro-organisms, ... -
The effects of nitric oxide on soybean superoxide dismutase activity during osmotic stress
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule involved in mediating plant responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Major abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, cold) induce common cellular responses, causing osmotic ... -
Identification and validation of micrornas for diagnosing type 2 diabetes : an in silico and molecular approach
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, is the most prevalent form of diabetes globally, affecting approximately 95 % of the total number of people with diabetes i.e. ... -
Isolation and preliminary characterization of bacteriophages of thermophilic Bacillus and Geobacillus species
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Thermophilic bacteriophages provide simple model systems for understanding biochemical and biological adaptation mechanisms at elevated temperatures. The essential objectives of this study were to characterise the ... -
Identification and characterization of microorganisms associated with marine macroalgae Splachnidium rugosum
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Marine macroalgae are known to carry diverse bacterial communities which interact with their hosts in both harmful and beneficial ways. Algae hosts provide the bacteria with a rich source of carbon in the form of carbohydrate ... -
The degradation of the endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol-A : a comparative study between fungal and bacterial laccases
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a topic of high importance and one that research efforts are continually being focused on. These harmful chemicals are known to cause adverse health effects in ... -
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles and investigating their antimicrobial effects
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Water is essential for life, yet access to safe drinking water is still a major concern worldwide due to waterborne diseases. The current study proposes silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antibacterial agent. Silver ... -
Evaluation of insertion-deletion polymorphisms with the kit Qiagen Investigator® DIPplex for forensic application in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Insertion-deletion polymorphisms (indels) have been underutilized in forensic identification of individuals in comparison with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeat (STRs) systems. The use of ... -
Characterisation of a novel soybean candidate glutathione peroxidase/thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase in soybean exposed to osmotic/drought stress
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Drought stress is a major contributor to reduced soybean crop yield and quality, this can however be mitigated by the plant’s antioxidant defence mechanisms. One group of antioxidant enzymes that are active in these defence ... -
Effects of nitric oxide on novel soybean cystatin gene expression under salt stress in soybean
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to orchestrate multiple defense responses to both abiotic and biotic stress. Importantly, elevation of nitric oxide content in plants by using nitric oxide generating compounds has been ... -
Comparative analysis of sorghum and other South African grains for sustainable bioethanol production
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)The depletion of oil reserves and the constant discharge of greenhouse gasses (GHG) that are associated with global warming have forced both political and scientific sectors to pursue alternative, renewable and sustainable ... -
Identification of rhizospheric microorganisms associated with sorghum
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Approximately 50% of sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench) produced globally is used as human food, with 95% of its total consumption occurring in Africa. Unfortunately, sorghum crops are prone to pathogenic attack, notably ... -
Isolation and characterisation of a xylanase producing isolate from straw-based compost
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Lignocellulosic biomass, a waste component of the agricultural industry, is a promising source for use in bioethanol production. Due to a complex structure, the synergistic action of lignocellulosic enzymes is required to ... -
Engineering bacterial magnetic nanoparticles
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)Magnetosomes, produced by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), are the most attractive alternative source of non-toxic biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). A magnetosome contains Fe2O4 magnetite with properties superior ... -
Cloning and characterization of three compost metagenome-derived α‑L‑Arabinofuranosidases with differing thermal stabilities
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Second generation biofuels production requires a suite of lignocellulolytic enzymes, acting synergistically to liberate the fermentable monosaccharides contained within agricultural waste materials. The use of thermostable ...