京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第21786号 / 工博第4603号 / 新制||工||1717(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科物質エネルギー化学専攻 / (主査)教授 村田 靖次郎, 教授 辻 康之, 教授 小澤 文幸 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

A água exerce papel fundamental nas diferentes fases do processo de fabricação de artigos para saúde (médico-hospitalares, farmacêuticos, e clínicos), exigindo elevado grau de pureza, que certifique a sua inocuidade. Portanto, se faz necessário maior controle dos sistemas de purificação de água e suas etapas de tratamento, onde a formação de biofilmes pode contaminar os artigos para saúde e, consequentemente, causar injúria a pacientes submetidos à aplicação dos mesmos. Embora os artigos médicos sejam esterilizados por óxido de etileno (ETO), seu processo de manufatura deve prever o mínimo acréscimo possível de contaminantes. Considerando que a água purificada e a esterilização dos artigos para saúde são fatores determinantes para o sucesso de sua aplicação, este trabalho foi dividido em duas partes distintas. A primeira parte aborda o controle das etapas de purificação da água, que é destinada à lavagem de componentes termoplásticos, que são utilizados na fabricação de artigos para saúde. Os níveis máximos de carga microbiana (expressos em ciclos de log10 UFC/100mL) encontrados ao longo do sistema de purificação de água foram: 3,48 log10 na água de entrada; 3,57 log10 nos filtros multimeios; 3,75 log10 nos abrandadores; 4,97 log10 no filtro de carvão ativado; 2,53 log10 na osmose reversa; 2,70 log10 no tanque de estocagem e distribuição; 2,56 log10 na lâmpada ultravioleta; 2,53 log10 nos filtros 0,05 µm; 1,98 log10 nos pontos de uso. Flavimonas oryzihabitans e Micrococcus luteus foram as bactérias Gram-negativa e Grampositiva, respectivamente, isoladas e identificadas com maior freqüência na água, em diferentes estágios do sistema, inclusive após a passagem dessa através das membranas de osmose reversa. A segunda parte do estudo teve como objetivo determinar o tempo de aeração necessário para que os oxigenadores de sangue e conjuntos de tubos de PVC, após esterilização por ETO, permaneçam em aeração, para dissipação dos resíduos de ETO. Avaliou-se também a potencialidade da proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) como biossensor no processo de esterilização. O processo de esterilização destes artigos médicos foi monitorado com indicadores biológicos Bacillus atrophaeus, proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) e controles de temperatura, pressão e umidade em ciclos de 2 h (ciclo curto), 4 h (meio ciclo) e 8 h (ciclo longo). As curvas de dissipação, determinadas por cromatografia gasosa, confirmaram níveis residuais menores que 25 ppm para ETO e etileno cloridrina (EC); e inferiores a 250 ppm para etileno glicol (EG), ao final do processo de esterilização para os oxigenadores; e, após 221 horas de aeração, para os conjuntos de tubos de PVC. Nos ciclos de esterilização, as reduções na intensidade de fluorescência da GFP ocorreram em função do tempo de exposição ao ETO; enquanto germinação de esporos e/ou crescimento de B. atrophaeus não foi observado. / The water exerts important paper in different phases of critical items manufacture in the health care units, pharmaceutical industries, hospitals and clinics, becoming necessary a rigorous control of the water purification systems, storage and distribution, in order to prevent biofilms formation and cross-contamination between devices and patients, who are submitted to critical articles and parenteral solution application. The sterilization of critical devices by ethylene oxide (ETO) should predict minimum addition of possible contaminants and residues. Considering that the purified water and the sterilization are crucial factors for medical devices, this work was divided in two parts. The first part evaluated continuously the stages of the system for the purification of the water, which purity level is critical and determines the quality of the washing of thermoplastic components used in the manufacture of critical items. The maximum levels of heterotrophic load (log10 UFC/100mL) found throughout the water purification system were: 3.48 log10 in the water inlet; 3.57 log10 in the multimedium filters; 3.75 log10 in the softeners; 4.97 log10 in the activated carbon filter; 2.53 log10 in the reverse osmosis; 2.70 log10 in the tank of storage and distribution; 2.56 log10 in the UV lamp; 2.53 log10 in the 0.05µm filters; 1.98 log10 in the consumption points. Flavimonas oryzihabitans and Micrococcus luteus were the main Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria, respectively found in the purified water after reverse osmosis. The second part of this study had as objective the determination of the needed aeration time for blood oxygenators and sets of PVC tubing must be kept in aeration room for dissipation of ETO residues; and also evaluated the possibility of GFP as biosensor. ETO is used as in a mixture (10% ETO and 90% CO2). Residual levels of ETO and its derivatives, ethylene chloridrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol (EG), which remain in these devices, must be controlled to prevent serious injuries to the patients. The sterilization process of the oxygenators and sets of PVC tubing was monitored with Bacillus atrophaeus and fluorescent green protein (GFP). The temperature, pressure and humidity were controlled in the sterilization cycles of 2 h (short cycle), 4 h (half cycle) and 8 h (long cycle). The dissipation curves of the residues were determined by gaseous chromatography and the residual concentrations were lower than 25 ppm of ETO and ECH and lower than 250 ppm of EG immediately after the sterilization processes for oxygenators and after 221 hours of aeration for the sets of PVC tubing. Reductions in the fluorescence intensity of GFP were observed as a function of the exposition time to the ETO. No growth of B. atrophaeus spores was observed after cycles.

A água exerce papel fundamental nas diferentes fases do processo de fabricação de artigos para saúde (médico-hospitalares, farmacêuticos, e clínicos), exigindo elevado grau de pureza, que certifique a sua inocuidade. Portanto, se faz necessário maior controle dos sistemas de purificação de água e suas etapas de tratamento, onde a formação de biofilmes pode contaminar os artigos para saúde e, consequentemente, causar injúria a pacientes submetidos à aplicação dos mesmos. Embora os artigos médicos sejam esterilizados por óxido de etileno (ETO), seu processo de manufatura deve prever o mínimo acréscimo possível de contaminantes. Considerando que a água purificada e a esterilização dos artigos para saúde são fatores determinantes para o sucesso de sua aplicação, este trabalho foi dividido em duas partes distintas. A primeira parte aborda o controle das etapas de purificação da água, que é destinada à lavagem de componentes termoplásticos, que são utilizados na fabricação de artigos para saúde. Os níveis máximos de carga microbiana (expressos em ciclos de log10 UFC/100mL) encontrados ao longo do sistema de purificação de água foram: 3,48 log10 na água de entrada; 3,57 log10 nos filtros multimeios; 3,75 log10 nos abrandadores; 4,97 log10 no filtro de carvão ativado; 2,53 log10 na osmose reversa; 2,70 log10 no tanque de estocagem e distribuição; 2,56 log10 na lâmpada ultravioleta; 2,53 log10 nos filtros 0,05 µm; 1,98 log10 nos pontos de uso. Flavimonas oryzihabitans e Micrococcus luteus foram as bactérias Gram-negativa e Grampositiva, respectivamente, isoladas e identificadas com maior freqüência na água, em diferentes estágios do sistema, inclusive após a passagem dessa através das membranas de osmose reversa. A segunda parte do estudo teve como objetivo determinar o tempo de aeração necessário para que os oxigenadores de sangue e conjuntos de tubos de PVC, após esterilização por ETO, permaneçam em aeração, para dissipação dos resíduos de ETO. Avaliou-se também a potencialidade da proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) como biossensor no processo de esterilização. O processo de esterilização destes artigos médicos foi monitorado com indicadores biológicos Bacillus atrophaeus, proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) e controles de temperatura, pressão e umidade em ciclos de 2 h (ciclo curto), 4 h (meio ciclo) e 8 h (ciclo longo). As curvas de dissipação, determinadas por cromatografia gasosa, confirmaram níveis residuais menores que 25 ppm para ETO e etileno cloridrina (EC); e inferiores a 250 ppm para etileno glicol (EG), ao final do processo de esterilização para os oxigenadores; e, após 221 horas de aeração, para os conjuntos de tubos de PVC. Nos ciclos de esterilização, as reduções na intensidade de fluorescência da GFP ocorreram em função do tempo de exposição ao ETO; enquanto germinação de esporos e/ou crescimento de B. atrophaeus não foi observado. / The water exerts important paper in different phases of critical items manufacture in the health care units, pharmaceutical industries, hospitals and clinics, becoming necessary a rigorous control of the water purification systems, storage and distribution, in order to prevent biofilms formation and cross-contamination between devices and patients, who are submitted to critical articles and parenteral solution application. The sterilization of critical devices by ethylene oxide (ETO) should predict minimum addition of possible contaminants and residues. Considering that the purified water and the sterilization are crucial factors for medical devices, this work was divided in two parts. The first part evaluated continuously the stages of the system for the purification of the water, which purity level is critical and determines the quality of the washing of thermoplastic components used in the manufacture of critical items. The maximum levels of heterotrophic load (log10 UFC/100mL) found throughout the water purification system were: 3.48 log10 in the water inlet; 3.57 log10 in the multimedium filters; 3.75 log10 in the softeners; 4.97 log10 in the activated carbon filter; 2.53 log10 in the reverse osmosis; 2.70 log10 in the tank of storage and distribution; 2.56 log10 in the UV lamp; 2.53 log10 in the 0.05µm filters; 1.98 log10 in the consumption points. Flavimonas oryzihabitans and Micrococcus luteus were the main Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria, respectively found in the purified water after reverse osmosis. The second part of this study had as objective the determination of the needed aeration time for blood oxygenators and sets of PVC tubing must be kept in aeration room for dissipation of ETO residues; and also evaluated the possibility of GFP as biosensor. ETO is used as in a mixture (10% ETO and 90% CO2). Residual levels of ETO and its derivatives, ethylene chloridrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol (EG), which remain in these devices, must be controlled to prevent serious injuries to the patients. The sterilization process of the oxygenators and sets of PVC tubing was monitored with Bacillus atrophaeus and fluorescent green protein (GFP). The temperature, pressure and humidity were controlled in the sterilization cycles of 2 h (short cycle), 4 h (half cycle) and 8 h (long cycle). The dissipation curves of the residues were determined by gaseous chromatography and the residual concentrations were lower than 25 ppm of ETO and ECH and lower than 250 ppm of EG immediately after the sterilization processes for oxygenators and after 221 hours of aeration for the sets of PVC tubing. Reductions in the fluorescence intensity of GFP were observed as a function of the exposition time to the ETO. No growth of B. atrophaeus spores was observed after cycles.

Les microtubules (MTs) sont des polymères dynamiques essentiels pour de nombreux processus cellulaires tels que la division, la migration et le transport intracellulaire. Leurs propriétés dynamiques et leur organisation spatiale sont régulées par des protéines associées, les MAPs (Microtubule-Associated Proteins). Une des premières MAPs à avoir été identifiée dans les neurones est la protéine tau, connue pour stabiliser les MTs et les organiser en faisceaux au niveau des axones. Du fait de son implication dans la maladie d'Alzheimer, tau a fait l'objet de nombreuses études et son interaction avec les MTs est aujourd'hui relativement bien caractérisée. En revanche, les mécanismes responsables de la formation des faisceaux de MTs par cette protéine restent indéterminés. Le premier objectif de ma thèse a été de définir les bases moléculaires de ce processus, grâce à la reconstitution de faisceaux de MTs in vitro et à leur observation en temps réel par microscopie à onde évanescente. Les résultats montrent que le domaine de projection de tau inhibe la formation des faisceaux, alors que les deux hexapeptides localisés dans le domaine C-terminal de tau et responsables de son agrégation au cours de la maladie d'Alzheimer sont essentiels à l'organisation des MTs en faisceaux. En parallèle, je me suis intéressée à l'effet de tau sur l'interaction MTs/actine. En effet, les filaments d'actine constituent, comme les MTs, un élément majeur du cytosquelette. La coordination entre les MTs et les filaments d'actine est essentielle à la différenciation et à l'activité neuronales. Cependant, les effecteurs responsables de cette coopération MTs/actine restent aujourd'hui très mal caractérisés. La protéine tau a été proposée comme pouvant s'associer directement à l'actine. De plus, elle a été observée dans des compartiments neuronaux riches en actine tels que l'extrémité des axones en croissance et les synapses, dans lesquels les microtubules peuvent entrer transitoirement. Tau est donc un potentiel intermédiaire moléculaire entre les MTs et les filaments d'actine. Grâce à la mise au point d'un système original permettant la visualisation de l'assemblage simultané des MTs et des filaments d'actine, j'ai étudié le rôle de tau dans la coordination des cytosquelettes de MTs et d'actine et également les mécanismes moléculaires sous-jacents. J'ai pu montrer que tau interagit simultanément avec les MTs et l'actine, induit le co-alignement des deux réseaux ainsi que leur croissance couplée. L'utilisation de formes tronquées de tau montre qu'au moins deux de ses quatre motifs répétés, initialement identifiés comme liant la tubuline, sont nécessaires à l'interaction entre les MTs et les filaments d'actine. Nous proposons un modèle selon lequel tau coordonne les deux cytosquelettes via la répartition de ses motifs répétés entre les deux types de polymères. J'ai également participé à une étude dans des neurones en culture, confirmant l'interaction directe de tau avec l'actine et la triple co-localisation tau/MTs/actine. L'ensemble de ces résultats nous ont donc permis d'identifier les bases moléculaires impliquées dans la formation des complexes macromoléculaires MTs/MTs et MTs/actine induits par tau. / Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic polymers involved in fundamental cellular processes such as cell division, migration and intracellular transport. Their dynamic properties and spatial organization are regulated by numerous Microtubule-Associated Proteins (MAPs). Tau is one of the first MAPs identified in neurons and is known to stabilize MTs and organize them into bundles in axons. Due to its involvement in Alzheimer's disease, this protein has been widely studied and its interaction with MTs is now quite well characterized. However, the mechanisms by which tau organizes MTs into bundles remain to be determined. The first aim of my thesis was to define the molecular basis of MT bundling, by using in vitro reconstitution of MT bundles and by monitoring them in real time using evanescent wave microscopy. Results show that tau's projection domain inhibits MT bundling, whereas the two hexapeptides in the tau's C-terminal domain that are involved in tau aggregation during Alzheimer's disease are fundamental for MT organization into bundles. Furthermore I focused on the effect of tau on the crosstalk between MTs and actin. Actin filaments are another major cytoskeletal elements. The coordination between MTs and actin filaments is essential for neuronal differentiation and activity. However, the effectors responsible for MTs/actin cooperation remain poorly characterized. Tau protein has been proposed to directly interact with actin filaments. Besides, tau has been observed in neuronal actin-rich compartments like the extremity of growing axons and synapses, in which MTs can enter transitorily. Thus tau appears as a potential molecular linker between MTs and actin filaments. By developing an original cell-free system to visualize concomitant MTs and actin assembly, I studied the role of tau in the coordination of MTs and actin filaments and characterized the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. I showed that tau is able to interact simultaneously with MTs and actin filaments, inducing the co-alignment of both polymers and their coupled growth. By using truncated tau proteins, I showed that at least two of the four tau's repeat motifs, initially characterized to bind tubulin, are necessary for the MTs/actin interaction. We propose a model in which tau coordinates the two networks through the distribution of its repeat motifs between the two polymers. I also participated to a study in cultured neurons, which confirmed the direct association of tau with actin and a triple co-localization between MTs/actin and tau. Altogether, these results led us to identify the molecular basis involved in the formation of MTs/MTs and MTs/actin macromolecular complexes induced by tau.

Les microtubules sont des éléments clés du cytosquelette impliqué dans de nombreux processus cellulaires. Ce sont des structures dynamiques qui alternent continuellement entre polymérisation et dépolymérisation, un comportement appelé instabilité dynamique. Les microtubules sont particulièrement abondants dans les neurones et sont organisés sous formes de faisceaux dans les axones et les dendrites. Cette organisation particulière leur permet de maintenir la forme de ses cellules hautement spécialisées et d’assurer le transport intracellulaire d’éléments essentiels dans l’ensemble des compartiments neuronaux. De nombreux facteurs participe à la régulation de l’arrangement des microtubules dans les neurones. Parmi ces facteurs, la protéine tau fait partie de la famille des protéines associées aux microtubules (ou MAPs) et est majoritairement neuronale. Tau est un agent pontant majeur des microtubules et est également connue pour stabiliser les microtubules en stimulant leur polymérisation et en inhibant leur dépolymérisation. Malgré de nombreuses études sur l’interaction de tau avec les microtubules, les mécanismes par lesquels cette MAP contrôle leur organisation spatiale restent élusifs. Pour répondre à cette question, nous avons reconstitué in vitro des réseaux de microtubules en présence de divers isoformes, fragments et mutants de tau. La capacité de tau à induire des faisceaux stables de microtubules dépend de deux hexa-peptides localisés dans son domaine de liaison aux microtubules, et est régulée par son domaine de projection N-terminal. Nos résultats montrent que la phosphorylation spécifique de certains sites de tau inhibe soit la formation de faisceaux soit la stabilisation des microtubules, produisant des populations composées de microtubules individuels stable ou de faisceaux dynamiques. De plus, des mutations de tau impliquées dans des démences apparentées à la maladie d’Alzheimer augmentent drastiquement la capacité de tau à former des faisceaux composés de microtubules très dynamiques. Pour finir, des expériences de cryo-microscopie électroniques indiquent que tau génèrent des défauts dans la paroi des microtubules. Ces défauts sont connus pour assouplir les microtubules et pourraient donc constituer un mécanisme structural primaire permettant leur déformation au cours de la formation de faisceaux. En conclusion, nos résultats mettent en évidence un nouveau mécanisme phospho-dépendant par lequel tau régule l’organisation de réseaux de microtubules. De plus, ce travail révèle comment des modifications anormales de tau, telles que des phosphorylations anormales ou des mutations, peuvent altérer l’organisation du cytosquelette dans les maladies neurodégénératives. / Microtubules are key components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and are involved in major cellular events. They undergo constant remodeling through alternative cycles of growth and shrinkage of their extremities, a behavior known as dynamic instability. Microtubules are particularly abundant in neurons; they are organized into bundles within axons and dendrites to maintain the polarized shape of these highly specialized cells and to allow cargo transport. Numerous factors regulate the plasticity of the microtubule network in neurons. Among them, tau is a neuro-specific microtubule-associated protein (MAP). Tau is a major microtubule bundler also known to stabilize microtubules by promoting their growth and inhibiting their shrinkage. Although the interaction of tau with microtubules has been widely studied, the mechanisms by which this protein controls the spatial organization of microtubules remain elusive. To address this question, we reconstitute in vitro microtubule self-organization in presence of various tau isoforms, fragments and mutants. We find that the ability of tau to induce stable microtubule bundles depends on two conserved hexapeptides in tau’s microtubule-binding domain and is modulated by tau’s projection domain. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that site-specific phosphorylation of tau inhibits either microtubule bundling or stabilization generating alternative networks composed of stable single or dynamic bundled microtubules. We also show that some disease-related mutations closed to the hexapeptides strikingly enhance the capacity of tau to form bundles of highly dynamic microtubules. Finally, cryo-EM experiments indicate that tau proteins induce microtubule lattice defects known to soften microtubules, a primary structural change allowing microtubule-bending deformation during bundling. Overall, our results highlight novel phospho-dependent mechanisms by which tau regulates microtubule network organization. This work also reveals how abnormal modifications of tau, such as abnormal phosphorylation or mutations found in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, might alter cytoskeleton organization during neurodegeneration.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24487号 / 医博第4929号 / 新制||医||1063(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 竹内 理, 教授 上野 英樹, 教授 髙折 晃史 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第23794号 / 医博第4840号 / 新制||医||1058(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 河本 宏, 教授 小川 誠司, 教授 江藤 浩之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

This master thesis explored washing with water grades and lipase as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional detergents containing surfactants. On hydrophilic surfaces, purified water can remove fat through roll-up mechanism, initiated by electrostatic repulsion forces. On hydrophobic surfaces, purified water alone cannot remove fat as there are no electrostatic repulsion forces. However, addition of lipase might promote degreasing through solubilization. Lipases are only activated when encountering an oil-water interface. Once activated, lipases can hydrolyze carboxylic ester bonds in fats. The aim of this project was to evaluate if addition of lipase from Rhizopus niveus (RNL) to water grades (such as ultrapure water, DIRO, and tap water) can enhance their cleaning efficiency to remove fat-based stains from hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. An interesting phenomenon was observed in contact angle measurements. On hydrophilic surface, some solutions with high RNL concentration caused the oil droplet to divide into several droplets. The involved mechanisms are yet unknown. Gravimetric analysis showed a significant increase in cleaning efficiency in most samples (except tap water) after addition of RNL. Also, the effect of interfacial changes became significant. Multiple cycle washing, with repeated interfacial changes and high rate of fat removal, was more efficient than single cycle washing. In the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements, RNL had a significant effect on the frequency and dissipation data. Observed changes when washing with RNL, suggest that apart from the cleaning promoted by interfacial changes, also enzymatic cleaning was occurring. Unfortunately, the calculated cleaning efficiencies reveal that addition of RNL did not increase the cleaning efficiency in this specific washing test. To obtain extensive understanding of RNL’s behavior and activity in water grades, as well as the effect of RNL on different surfaces (without or with fats involved), further experiments are necessary.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Dicerocaryum senecioides is a crawling herb that is found growing mostly in sandy areas of southern and south-eastern Africa and its small, hairy leaves have been used over the years as food, shampoo, and for treatment of various ailments. In this study, the dichloromethane (D2) fraction was prepared from a crude methanol extract of D. senecoides leaves, and its effect on the proliferation of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was investigated. Treatment of the macrophages with the extract resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability as determined by the MTT assay and real time cell analysis. Cytotoxicity of the D2 fraction on the macrophages was demonstrated to be due to apoptosis by staining the cells with DAPI nucleic acid stain. Anti-inflammatory activity of D2 fraction on RAW cells was determined by evaluating intracellular ROS production by the DCFH-DA fluorescent assay. Cells treated with the D2 fraction and stimulated with PMA were found to have a lower fluorescence intensity compared to untreated, stimulated cells; thus mimicking the response observed in the resting cells. The percentage fluorescence in untreated, stimulated cells doubled, while no significant change was observed in the D2-treated cells. The effect of the D2 fraction on iNOS activity was also assessed. The fraction reduced the NO synthesised by iNOS in cells treated with the D2 fraction and stimulated with LPS dose-dependently. The D2 fraction was further fractionated by semi-preparative HPLC; and thin layer chromatography was used to analyse phytocompounds of the 96 HPLC sub-fractions as well as to screen these sub-fractions for anti-oxidative activity. Sub-fractions 1-7 and 33-39 showed an intensely pronounced DPPH-scavenging compound and this scavenging ability was confirmed by a quantitative DPPH assay that provided parallel results. The reducing potential of the sub-fractions was assessed by evaluating their Fe3+-reducing ability through the FRAP assay. Sub-fractions 1-7 and 33-39 displayed remarkable reducing potential. Taken together with the DPPH-scavenging activity, these findings suggest that HPLC sub-fractions 1-7 and 33-39 possess a compound(s) with impressive antioxidant activity. These findings merit the D2 fraction as an extract that can be used to control chronic inflammation as it does not only inhibit free radical production, but also scavenges excessive ROS and has the ability to induce apoptosis in the macrophages responsible for dysregulated production of the free radicals. The extract also has commendable chemoprotective and chemotherapeutic potential as it demonstrated pro-apoptotic activity along with prevention of excess free-radical production. / National Research Foundation and the University of Limpopo Research Office

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry )) --University of Limpopo, 2007 / Refer to document / The Cannon Collins Trust Fund and the National Research Foundation