December 2004
Contributions of biotechnology to the control and prevention of brucellosis in Africa
Zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis have a major impact on the health and economic prosperity of the developing world. Recent advances in our understanding of brucellosis and new developments in diagnostics and vaccine technology provide unique opportunities for biotechnology companies in developing countries to make an essential contribution to the control of this disease. Key words: Brucellosis,...
December 2004
Developments in the use of Y-chromosome markers in forensic genetics
Sexual assault is a significant problem facing South African society. The South African Police service indicates that between April 2003 and March 2004 over 52 733 rapes were reported. Our research focuses on the development and implementation of genetic identity testing systems for use in sexual assault cases. Genetic identity testing is achieved by examining polymorphic regions of DNA. Typically sets of...
December 2004
Mosquitocidal toxins of spore forming bacteria: recent advancement
Mosquito borne diseases form a major component of vector borne diseases from all over the world. Several control strategies have been adopted to control diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. The discovery of highly potential bacteriocides like Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) have revolutionized over conventional insecticides in mosquito control...
December 2004
Diet-related cancer and prevention using anticarcinogens
Compelling evidences indicate that dietary factors can contribute to human cancer risk and as such many of the cancers common in the third world countries and the western world, including liver, colon, prostate and breast cancers have been related to dietary behaviors. Dietary carcinogens identified to date include the mycotoxins, heterocyclic amines formed from heat treatment of meat, N-nitroso compounds and the...
December 2004
Nucleic acid drugs: a novel approach
Nucleic acid base sequence of proteins plays a crucial role in the expression of gene. The gene is responsible for the synthesis of proteins and these proteins, which are synthesized, are responsible for the biological process and also for dreadful diseases as well. Once if the nucleic acid sequence is altered, we would be able to block or transfer the message for protein synthesis, there by preventing the particular...
December 2004
Microalgal toxin(s): characteristics and importance
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microalgae produce a wide array of compounds with biological activities. These include antibiotics, algicides, toxins, pharmaceutically active compounds and plant growth regulators. Toxic microalgae, in this sense, are common only among the cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. The microalgal toxins is either important as material for useful drugs or one of the great mysteries in the world...
December 2004
Chloroethenes contaminants in the environment: Still a cause for concern
Prior to 1980, chloroethenes were generally believed to be recalcitrant to degradation. Efforts to remediate sites polluted by this group of compounds were thus limited to the ineffective and tedious pump-and-treat method. The environmental significance of chloroethenes and the absence of effective alternative physical remediation methods have warranted intense scientific investigation into the role of microorganisms...
December 2004
In vitro propagation: A biotechnological tool capable of solving the problem of medicinal plants decimation in South Africa
South Africa has a very rich plant biodiversity, many of which are medicinally useful. The rich resource is decreasing at an alarming rate as a result of over- exploitation. Plant in vitro regeneration is a biotechnological tool that offers a potential solution to this problem as it provides a means of putting the plants onto the market at lower prices. We present in this paper a review of micro propagation...
December 2004
Strategies for resistance to bacterial wilt disease of bananas through genetic engineering
The livelihoods of millions of Ugandan farmers have been threatened by current outbreak of a banana bacterial wilt disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.musacearum, which is very destructive and rapidly spreading in Uganda. Bananas are the highest value staple food and source of income for millions of people in this region.Economic impact of the disease is clear as a result of...
December 2004
Evidence for an association in corn between stress tolerance and resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination
Aflatoxins are carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus during infection of susceptible crops, such as corn. A. flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination is a serious issue in the southern US, especially during a drought. Field studies demonstrate that reduction of drought stress by irrigation reduces aflatoxin contamination in corn and peanut. Drought...
December 2004
Status of conservation of the indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits of Africa
The diversity of indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits of Africa is being seriously eroded as a result of multiplicity of environmental, political and socio-economic factors. This paper discusses some new development-related and crises factors that have interacted in concert to amplify the spate of loss of the indigenous leaf vegetables and fruits genetic resources in Africa. The paper also suggests urgent steps that...
December 2004
Mining the essential oils of the Anthemideae
Numerous members of the Anthemideae are important cut-flower and ornamental crops, as well as medicinal and aromatic plants, many of which produce essential oils used in folk and modern medicine, the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These oils and compounds contained within them are used in the pharmaceutical, flavour and fragrance industries. Moreover, as people search for alternative and herbal forms of...
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