Department of Microbiology
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Interaction Between Micropollutants and Degradative Biofilm Communities : Basis for a Biomimetic Approach to Water Treatment
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The remediation and reclamation of water has become a critically important issue, as the use of water as a conduit of waste has resulted in the contamination of a resource that life on Earth cannot ...
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Application of solar pasteurization for the treatment of harvested rainwater
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rainwater harvesting has been earmarked by South African governmental authorities as an intervention strategy that could alleviate the pressures on existing centralised water distribution systems, especially ...
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Identifying the primary microbial and chemical source tracking markers in harvested rainwater for the detection of faecal contamination
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rainwater harvesting has been earmarked as an additional source of fresh water. However, research has indicated that the microbiological quality is substandard as pathogens have been detected in this water ...
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Bioprospecting for novel biosurfactants and biosurfactant producing bacteria in wastewater
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Biosurfactants are surface active amphiphilic compounds, synthesised by numerous bacteria, fungi and yeast. They are known to exhibit broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and are currently applied as ...
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Legionella species persistence mechanisms in treated harvested rainwater
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The persistence of Legionella spp. at high pasteurization temperatures poses a threat to human health as a number of Legionella spp. are known to cause Legionnaires’ disease. Research has then indicated ...
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Combined cell‑surface displayand secretion‑based strategies for production of cellulosic ethanol with Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(BioMed Central, 2015-09-26)Background: Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce heterologous cellulases is considered as a promising strategy for production of bioethanol from lignocellulose. The production of cellulase is usually pursued ...
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Diguanylate cyclase null mutant reveals that C-Di-GMP pathway regulates the motility and adherence of the extremophile bacterium acidithiobacillus caldus
(Public Library of Science, 2015)An understanding of biofilm formation is relevant to the design of biological strategies to improve the efficiency of the bioleaching process and to prevent environmental damages caused by acid mine/rock drainage. For this ...
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Co-detection of virulent escherichia coli genes in surface water sources
(Public Library of Science, 2015)McNemar’s test and the Pearson Chi-square were used to assess the co-detection and observed frequency, respectively, for potentially virulent E. coli genes in river water. Conventional multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ...
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50 years of Emmonsia disease in humans : the dramatic emergence of a cluster of novel fungal pathogens
(Public Library of Science, 2015)New species of Emmonsia-like fungi, with phylogenetic and clinical similarities to Blastomyces and Histoplasma, have emerged as causes of systemic human mycoses worldwide. They differ from classical Emmonsia species by ...
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Fruit waste streams in South Africa and their potential role in developing a bio-economy
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2015)Current and previous studies on bio-based (fruit) wastes and wastewaters, with a particular emphasis on research in South Africa, were reviewed. Previous studies have focused predominantly on the beneficiation and ...
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Heterologous expression of cellulase genes in natural Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regularly chosen for the heterologous production of industrial and medically relevant proteins, due to its rapid growth rate, high cell density fermentation capabilities, ...
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Novel Streptomycete antimicrobial compounds: activity against pathogens from domestic rainwater harvesting systems
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to increased urbanisation, frequent droughts and poor water sources in rural communities, the scarcity of water has become a major concern. Water is an essential part of life – in order to meet the ...
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Detection, identification and quantitation of Cryptosporidium parvum in water samples and Ascaris lumbricoides in sludge samples using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction coupled with the high-resolution melt curve assay
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The intestinal parasites Ascaris lumbricoides and Cryptosporidium parvum are highly resistant to traditional water treatment processes and adverse health effects in individuals that come into contact with ...
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Determination of the bacterial diversity of a natural freshwater wetland impacted by acid mine drainage.
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Freshwater resources in semi-arid countries, such as South Africa, are under constant threat from pollution. One of the major pollutants is acid mine drainage, which not only lowers the pH of the water, ...
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Crossbreeding of natural Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for enhanced bio-ethanol production
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The fluctuating fuel prices, possible future shortage of fossil fuels, the increasing demand and the negative impacts on the ecosystem have all contributed to the search and development of alternatives ...
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Ciprofloxacin-eluting nanofibers inhibits biofilm formation by pseudomonas aeruginosa and a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(Public Library of Science, 2015-04)Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are commonly associated with hospital- acquired infections and are known to form biofilms. Ciprofloxacin (CIP), which is normally used to treat these infections, is seldom ...
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Bioenergy and African transformation
(BioMed Central, 2015-02)Among the world’s continents, Africa has the highest incidence of food insecurity and poverty and the highest rates of population growth. Yet Africa also has the most arable land, the lowest crop yields, and by far the ...
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Synthetic domestic wastewater sludge as electron donor in the reduction of sulphate and treatment of acid mine drainage
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is wastewater generated by mine and industrial activity with typically high heavy metal and sulphur content potentially resulting in toxic wastewater upon exposure to dissolved ...
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Engineering a fungal β-fructofuranosidase
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: β-fructofuranosidases are hydrolytic enzymes that act on sucrose to yield the products glucose and fructose. Under high substrate conditions these enzymes display fructosyltransferase activity which results ...
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In vitro and In vivo characterization of Amyloliquecidin, a novel two-component lantibiotic produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major problems faced by the medical industry today. The ability of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance against antibiotics and the over prescription and inappropriate ...
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Fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging of the intestinal colonization of Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA and Lactobacillus plantarum 423 in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes EGde
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are common inhabitants of the human gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). Some LAB, especially lactobacilli, are well known for their application in fermented foods and probiotic ...
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The biology, diversity and evolution of the broad host-range, promiscuous INCQ plasmids, with an emphasis on the INCQ2 sub-family
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plasmids belonging to the IncQ family have an exceptionally broad host-range and are highly mobilizable in the presence of the self-transmissible IncP plasmids. All IncQ plasmids identified to date have ...
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Architecture and gene repertoire of the flexible genome of the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus caldus
(Public Library of Science, 2013-11-08)Background: Acidithiobacillus caldus is a sulfur oxidizing extreme acidophile and the only known mesothermophile within the Acidithiobacillales. As such, it is one of the preferred microbes for mineral bioprocessing at ...
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Quality assessment of domestic harvested rainwater in the peri-urban region of Kleinmond, Western Cape and the optimisation of point-of-use treatment systems
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) refers to the collection and storage of rainwater for domestic purposes and in an effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MGD), the South African government ...
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Identification of the gene for β-fructofuranosidase from Ceratocystis moniliformis CMW 10134 and characterization of the enzyme expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(BioMed Central, 2013-11)Background: β-Fructofuranosidases (or invertases) catalyse the commercially-important biotransformation of sucrose into short-chain fructooligosaccharides with wide-scale application as a prebiotic in the functional foods ...
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Comparative secretome analysis of Trichoderma asperellum S4F8 and Trichoderma reesei Rut C30 during solid-state fermentation on sugarcane bagasse
(BioMed Central, 2013-11)Background: The lignocellulosic enzymes of Trichoderma species have received particular attention with regard to biomass conversion to biofuels, but the production cost of these enzymes remains a significant hurdle for ...
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Raw starch conversion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing Aspergillus tubingensis amylases
(BioMed Central, 2013-11)Background: Starch is one of the most abundant organic polysaccharides available for the production of bio-ethanol as an alternative transport fuel. Cost-effective utilisation of starch requires consolidated bioprocessing ...
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Evaluation of a nisin-eluting nanofiber scaffold to treat Staphylococcus aureus-induced skin infections in mice
(American Society for Microbiology, 2013-08)Staphylococcus aureus is a virulent pathogen and a major causative agent of superficial and invasive skin and soft tissue infections (SSSTIs). Antibiotic resistance in S. aureus, among other bacterial pathogens, has rapidly ...
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Development of a ZnO nanowire-array biosensor for the detection and quantification of immunoglobulins
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop a ZnO nanowire-array biosensor that would detect immunoglobulins and record changes in the concentration of an antibody. Early detection of disease-causing agents is ...
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Characterization of Leucocin B-KM432Bz from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides isolated from Boza, and comparison of its efficiency to Pediocin PA-1
(PLoS, 2013-08)A bacteriocin-producing bacterium was isolated from boza and identified as Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides KM432Bz. The antimicrobial peptide was purified and shown to be identical to other class IIa bacteriocins: leucocin ...
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