Rotavirus infection causes gastroenteritis, specifically severe gastroenteritis, affecting children younger than five globally, regardless of hygiene and water quality. Current licensed, live, attenuated vaccines do not contain the G9 genotype, which is a prevalent rotavirus strain circulating in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that carries a high rotavirus disease burden. Rotavirus-like particles (RV-VLPs) is an attractive non-live vaccine candidate, which has shown promising results in animal studies. Previously, dsRNA was extracted from a stool sample containing a South African human G9P[6] neonatal strain, and amplified cDNA using a sequence-independent procedure. The consensus sequence was obtained for the genome segments using 454® pyrosequencing. The insect-cell-codon-optimized genome segments 2 (VP2), 4 (VP4), 6 (VP6) and 9 (VP7) were cloned into a modified pFASTBACquad vector (pFBq). Several combinations of the genome segments were cloned to produce double-layered particles (DLP; pFBqVP2VP6) or triple-layered particles (TLP; pFBqVP2VP6VP7). In the current study, a ΔTLP (pFBqdVP2-VP8*VP6VP7) construct was generated. The first 92 amino acids of VP2 are not necessary for the conformation of recombinant RV-VLPs. The ORF of VP8*, which contains immune important epitopes, was fused to the 5’ end of the dVP2 coding region resulting in a dVP2-VP8* fused protein which was expressed in the presence of VP6 and VP7 to produce ΔTLPs. The Bac-to-Bac® Baculovirus Expression System and Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf) 9 insect cells were used for expression. All the proteins were successfully expressed. VP2, VP6, VP4 and the dVP2-VP8* fused protein were visible on Coomassie stained SDS-PAGE. Expression of VP7 could only be confirmed with western blot analysis. Particle formation, as assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was observed for DLPs. No TLPs of dVP2-8*/6/7 or VP2/6/7 were visualized due to the lower expression level of VP7 and the lack of calcium supplements during the assembly process. In conclusion, it was possible to produce RV-DLPs derived from the consensus sequence determined for a G9P[6] rotavirus directly from stool without prior propagation in cell culture or virus isolation. This strain contains both the G9 and P[6] genotypes that are currently prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. / Thesis (MSc (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing getiteld 'n Ontwikkelingsperspektief van vakleerlingskappe in Suid-Afrika: implikasies vir die onderwysstelsel ondersoek die wortels van die vakleerlingskap stelsel sedert antieke tye, deur die koloniale tydperk in Suid-Afrika, die "armblankevraagstuk"1922-1960, voor-demokrasie 1950-1980, 1980-1993 en post-demokrasie 1994-2014. Die studie konsentreer op die kronologiese verloop van gebeure wat gelei het tot die formalisering van die vakleerlingskapstelsel in Suid-Afrika in 1922 asook die evolusie tot in sy huidige vorm. Spesifieke aandag is geskenk aan wetgewing, beide provinsiaal en nasionaal, wat bygedra het tot die vorming van die stelsels. Die vakleerlingskapstelsel van Amerika is ook ondersoek vanaf sy wortels tot die huidige era met al sy vorme van tegniese beroepsonderwys asook vakleerlingopleiding. Daar is gekyk na al die verskillende Amerikaanse kolleges en tegniese skoolstelsel. ‘n Vergelykende studie tussen Amerika en Suid-Afrika se vakleerlingskapstelsel is gemaak met spesifieke aanbevelings vir die Suid-Afrikaanse stelsel. / This research, entitled A developmental perspective of apprenticeships in South Africa: Implications for the education system, examined the origins of the apprenticeship system from its roots in pre-history, through colonial time in South Africa, the "armblanke-vraagstuk" 1922-1960, pre-democracy 1950-1980, 1980-1993 and postdemocracy 1994-2014. This study concentrated on chronicling the events leading to the establishment of formalized apprenticeship training in South Africa in 1922 and its evolution to its present form. Particular attention was paid to the legislation, both provincial and national, that provided for the establishment of the present system. The apprenticeship system of the USA was also examined from its roots up to the present time in all its forms of technical, vocational and artisan training. Looking at the different college systems and technical training schools of the USA. Comparisons between USA and South Africa‘s apprenticeship systems was made with specific recommendations for South Africa‘s system. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing getiteld 'n Ontwikkelingsperspektief van vakleerlingskappe in Suid-Afrika: implikasies vir die onderwysstelsel ondersoek die wortels van die vakleerlingskap stelsel sedert antieke tye, deur die koloniale tydperk in Suid-Afrika, die "armblankevraagstuk"1922-1960, voor-demokrasie 1950-1980, 1980-1993 en post-demokrasie 1994-2014. Die studie konsentreer op die kronologiese verloop van gebeure wat gelei het tot die formalisering van die vakleerlingskapstelsel in Suid-Afrika in 1922 asook die evolusie tot in sy huidige vorm. Spesifieke aandag is geskenk aan wetgewing, beide provinsiaal en nasionaal, wat bygedra het tot die vorming van die stelsels. Die vakleerlingskapstelsel van Amerika is ook ondersoek vanaf sy wortels tot die huidige era met al sy vorme van tegniese beroepsonderwys asook vakleerlingopleiding. Daar is gekyk na al die verskillende Amerikaanse kolleges en tegniese skoolstelsel. ‘n Vergelykende studie tussen Amerika en Suid-Afrika se vakleerlingskapstelsel is gemaak met spesifieke aanbevelings vir die Suid-Afrikaanse stelsel. / This research, entitled A developmental perspective of apprenticeships in South Africa: Implications for the education system, examined the origins of the apprenticeship system from its roots in pre-history, through colonial time in South Africa, the "armblanke-vraagstuk" 1922-1960, pre-democracy 1950-1980, 1980-1993 and postdemocracy 1994-2014. This study concentrated on chronicling the events leading to the establishment of formalized apprenticeship training in South Africa in 1922 and its evolution to its present form. Particular attention was paid to the legislation, both provincial and national, that provided for the establishment of the present system. The apprenticeship system of the USA was also examined from its roots up to the present time in all its forms of technical, vocational and artisan training. Looking at the different college systems and technical training schools of the USA. Comparisons between USA and South Africa‘s apprenticeship systems was made with specific recommendations for South Africa‘s system. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde)

This historical study analyses the holistic dynamics of Ethiopia, taking into account political, social, economic, cultural, religious, and media development aspects, with a focus on the three most recent governments (1930–2014), in relation to freedom of expression. The analysis indicates that the Feudalist-Imperial system was clearly the extension of centuries-old imperial hegemony which had used religious, cultural and patriotic hegemony to stifle freedom of expression. During the Socialist-Military regime every sphere of society, including acts of expression, were oriented towards the revolution and socialist political ideology. During the current ethnically based so-called Revolutionary-Democratic regime, freedom of expression has been stifled by means of legislation, government and party structures, complex surveillance, and social networks. While the instruments of repression have differed, relatively speaking, from government to government, the extent of repression has remained similar over a number of centuries. Threats to freedom of expression derive from rulers or governments, in which instances they are entrenched through policies, laws and bureaucracies, from religious and cultural hegemonies, from poverty and a related lack of education and access to information, and from conflicts, rivalry and wars. These threats have their origins in three main interrelated causal or determining factors, namely the Certainty–Uncertainty Dilemma, Ethno-Luminary Thought and Narcissism, which together form a pyramid beneath which freedom of expression in Ethiopia has been trapped. This pyramid is identified in the study as the Social Pyramid, or the Pyramid of Repression Instruments, and it in turn gives rise to an overall web of suppression, that is, the Pyramid Trap of Repression. The study concludes that the repression of freedom of expression in Ethiopia is likely to remain intact, insofar as the threats to freedom of expression and the factors giving rise to those threats persist. While limited gains concerning the right to freedom of expression are achieved periodically, these are routinely undone and rolled back, since the Pyramid Trap of Repression is not dismantled. / In hierdie historiese studie word die holistiese dinamika van Etiopië ontleed, met inagneming van politieke, sosiale, ekonomiese, kulturele, religieuse, en media-ontwikkelingsaspekte. Daar word op die drie mees onlangse regerings (1930–2014) gefokus, ten opsigte van vrye meningsuiting. Die ontleding dui daarop dat die feodalisties-imperialistiese stelsel duidelik die uitbreiding van eeue-oue imperialistiese hegemonie was wat religieuse, kulturele en patriotiese hegemonie gebruik het om vrye meningsuiting te onderdruk. Gedurende die sosialisties-militêre regime was elke sfeer van die samelewing, insluitende dade van uitdrukking, georiënteer tot die revolusie en sosialisties-politieke ideologie. Tydens die huidige, etnies gebaseerde sogenaamde revolusionêr-demokratiese regime, is vrye meningsuiting onderdruk deur wetgewing, regering- en partystrukture, komplekse bewaking, en sosiale netwerke. Hoewel die instrumente van onderdrukking relatief gesproke verskil het van regering tot regering, het die mate van onderdrukking oor ʼn aantal eeue heen soortgelyk gebly. Bedreigings vir vrye meningsuiting is afkomstig van heersers of regerings (en in sulke gevalle word hulle beveilig deur beleide, wette en burokrasieë), van religieuse en kulturele hegemonieë, van armoede en ʼn verwante gebrek aan opvoeding en toegang tot inligting, en van konflikte, mededinging en oorloë. Hierdie bedreigings het ontstaan vanweë drie vernaamste kousale of bepalende faktore wat onderling verwant is, naamlik die sekerheid-onsekerheid-dilemma, etno-voorligter-denke en narsisme, wat gesamentlik ʼn piramide vorm waaronder vrye meningsuiting in Etiopië vasgevang is. Hierdie piramide word in die studie as die sosiale piramide, of die piramide van onderdrukkingsinstrumente, geïdentifiseer, en dit lei op sy beurt tot ʼn algehele web van onderdrukking – die piramidelokval van onderdrukking. Die gevolgtrekking van die studie is dat die onderdrukking van vrye meningsuiting in Etiopië waarskynlik onaangeroer gaan bly, so lank as wat die bedreigings vir vrye meningsuiting en die faktore wat tot daardie bedreigings aanleiding gee, onveranderd bly. Hoewel beperkte suksesse van tyd tot tyd behaal word rakende die reg tot vrye meningsuiting, word sulke prestasies dikwels ongedaan gemaak, omdat die piramidelokval van onderdrukking nie afgebreek word nie. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)