Patents Assigned to The University of Pretoria
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Patent number: 10228371Abstract: A liposomal composition comprising a sterol-modified lipid and a purified mycobacterial lipid cell wall component or analog or derivative thereof is described. The composition is useful as a lipid antigen-presenting vehicle for the detection of lipid antigen specific biomarker antibodies in antibody containing biological samples in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. The purified lipid cell wall component is typically a purified mycolic acid or a mixture of mycolic acids from a mycobacterium that produces mycolic acids. The sterol-modified lipid is typically a phospholipid.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Carl Baumeister, Walter Allen Shaw, Jan Adrianus Verschoor
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Patent number: 10041003Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus which consists of two fluidized beds 1 and 2 separated by a vertical divides' 5. A positive displacement device such as an auger 3 moves the bed material from the reduction side to the combustion side of the device below the fluidization zone. The height of the two fluidized beds is equalized by movement of the bed material through a hole 4 In the vertical divider, from the high temperature side 1 (zone 1) to the tow temperature side 2 (zone 2). The bed material that moves through the hole 4 provides energy to drive reactions that may occur on the reduction side. Energy may also be provided to zone 2 by means of conductive and radiative heat transfer through the dividing wall 5. Energy is provided to zone 1 by means of an exothermic reaction, typically combustion of a fuel 13 using air 12.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: University of PretoriaInventor: Michael David Heydenrych
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Patent number: 9682114Abstract: This invention relates to an antimicrobial and antihelminthic agent comprising a compound of formula (I), to a process for extracting the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent from plant material, to a composition containing the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent, and to a plant extract containing the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Candice van Wyk, Francien Botha, Jacobus Nicolaas Eloff, Thanyani Emelton Ramadwa
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Patent number: 9580657Abstract: A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidized beds, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the fluidized beds contains a combustion zone. A bio-oil production process is also provided, including pyrolysis of a carbonaceous bio-mass using two or more fluidized beds, including a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidized beds in which a particulate material is fluidized and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidized beds in which the hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignees: University of Pretoria, The United States, as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Michael David Heydenrych, Stephen David Swart, Akwasi Acheampong Boateng
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Patent number: 9556433Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules are provided that form hair pin structures and can be used to down-regulate gene expression. For example, a nucleic acid molecule can comprise a flanking and lower stem loop sequence from a mir-16 gene; an antisense target sequence; a mir-30 loop sequence; a complement of the anti-sense target sequence; and a lower stem loop complementary to the mir-16 sequence. Methods for down regulating gene expression in a cell using such recombinant nucleic acid molecules are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignees: Université de Genève, University of PretoriaInventors: Karl-Heinz Krause, Renier Myburgh, Patrick Salmon
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Patent number: 9506913Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting an active tuberculosis infection in a serum sample from an individual. More specifically, the disclosed method uses a single chain variable fragment from a monoclonal immunoglobulin specific for mycolic acids of mycobacterial origin to detect surrogate markers, the presence of which indicate the individual has an active tuberculosis infection. Markers useful for practicing the disclosed method can be serum mycolic acid antigen, serum anti-mycolic acid antibodies or both. In a preferred embodiment, the method is practiced using a lateral flow assay format.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Jan Adrianus Verschoor, Mervyn Beukes
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Publication number: 20160279185Abstract: This invention relates to an antimicrobial and antihelminthic agent comprising a compound of formula (I), to a process for extracting the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent from plant material, to a composition containing the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent, and to a plant extract containing the antimicrobial and/or antihelminthic agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: September 29, 2016Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIAInventors: Candice van Wyk, Francien Botha, Jacobus Nicolaas Eloff
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Patent number: 9438455Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation method, which includes phase modulating both the real and imaginary components of an OFDM signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Kahesh Dhuness, Bodhaswar Tikanath Jugpershad Maharaj
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Publication number: 20160010094Abstract: Methods for selecting transgenic cells comprising two or more drug resistance genes with a combination of cytotoxic drugs (e.g., trimetrexate (TMTX) and hydroxyurea (HU)). Such selection can be completed in vitro or in vivo. Transgenic cells and vectors comprising combinations of resistance genes are also provided. Transgenic cells of the embodiments can be used as cell based therapeutics, such as for treatment of HIV infection.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEInventors: Karl-Heinz Krause, David Suter, Patrick Salmon, Renier Myburgh, Michael Pepper
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Patent number: 9109253Abstract: A method for detecting a genetic polymorphism associated with Lavender Foal Syndrome or a predisposition thereto in a subject, the method including screening a genomic material sample from the subject for the presence of at least one polymorphism in a MYO5A gene.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Alan John Guthrie, Cindy Kim Harper, Anandi Bierman
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Publication number: 20150176006Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules are provided that form hair pin structures and can be used to down-regulate gene expression. For example, a nucleic acid molecule can comprise a flanking and lower stem loop sequence from a mir-16 gene; an antisense target sequence; a mir-30 loop sequence; a complement of the anti-sense target sequence; and a lower stem loop complementary to the mir-16 sequence. Methods for down regulating gene expression in a cell using such recombinant nucleic acid molecules are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEInventors: Karl-Heinz Krause, Renier Myburgh, Patrick Salmon
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Publication number: 20150174059Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments relate to oral care are presented. In particular, one embodiments includes to an oral care composition for inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic oral microorganisms, said composition comprising an extract of Heteropyxis natalensis. Another embodiment further includes an oral care composition which comprises Heteropyxis natalensis in combination with other essential oils and plant extracts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIAInventors: Cynthia Joan HENLEY-SMITH, Namrita LALL, Francina Susanna BOTHA, Ahmed Abdel-fattah HUSSEIN
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Publication number: 20150118337Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation, and use of a plant extract in the treatment of skin hyper-pigmentation. More particularly, this invention relates to the isolation of a tyrosinase inhibitor in an extract of plant material from the Greyia radlkoferi (G. radlkoferi) plant, the extract including 5,7-dihidroxyflavone[(2S)-pinocembrin]; 2?, 6?-dihydroxy-4?-methoxydihydrochalcone; 2?,4?,6?-trihydroxyhydrochalcone; 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone and 4?,5?7-thhydroxyisoflavone.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: University of PretoriaInventors: Marco Nuno De Canha, Namrita Lall, Ahmed Hussein, Elizabeth Mogapi, lndres Moodley
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Publication number: 20150111219Abstract: A liposomal composition comprising a sterol-modified lipid and a purified mycobacterial lipid cell wall component or analog or derivative thereof is described. The composition is useful as a lipid antigen-presenting vehicle for the detection of lipid antigen specific biomarker antibodies in antibody containing biological samples in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. The purified lipid cell wall component is typically a purified mycolic acid or a mixture of mycolic acids from a mycobacterium that produces mycolic acids. The sterol-modified lipid is typically a phospholipid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: University of PretoriaInventors: Carl Baumeister, Walter Allen Shaw, Jan Adrianus Verschoor
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Publication number: 20140120133Abstract: The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo the genes encoding VP2 and VP5 of African Horse Sickness Virus or an epitope thereof that elicits an immune response in a horse against African horse sickness virus, compositions comprising said vectors, methods of vaccination against African horse sickness virus, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicants: MERIAL LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jules Maarten Minke, Jean Christophe Audonnet, Alan John Guthrie, Nigel James Maclachlan, Jiansheng Yao
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Publication number: 20140008205Abstract: A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidised beds, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the fluidised beds contains a combustion zone. A bio-oil production process is also provided, including pyrolysis of a carbonaceous bio-mass using two or more fluidized beds, including a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidized beds in which a particulate material is fluidized and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidized beds in which the hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIAInventors: Michael David Heydenrych, Stephen David Swart, Akwasi Acheampong Boateng
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Patent number: 8541040Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing protein microparticles in dilute organic acid solutions and in the absence of an alcohol such as ethanol. The microparticles are formed by dissolving a cereal prolamin protein in a concentrated organic acid solution with agitation and then diluting the solution with an aqueous solution. Protein microparticles having vacuoles are thus formed. The protein microparticles may be used to form powders, films, coatings, matrices, scaffolds and the like. Complete films can be formed from the protein microparticles of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Janet Taylor, John Reginald Nuttall Taylor
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Publication number: 20130150461Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing protein microparticles in dilute organic acid solutions and in the absence of an alcohol such as ethanol. The microparticles are formed by dissolving a cereal prolamin protein in a concentrated organic acid solution with agitation and then diluting the solution with an aqueous solution. Protein microparticles having vacuoles are thus formed. The protein microparticles may be used to form powders, films, coatings, matrices, scaffolds and the like. Complete films can be formed from the protein microparticles of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2013Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIAInventor: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
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Publication number: 20130137598Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting surrogate markers for active tuberculosis in a serum sample. The surrogate markers are selected from serum mycolic acid antigen, serum anti-mycolic acid antibodies or both. The method includes the steps of combining the serum sample with a labelled monoclonal immunoglobulin antibody or fragment thereof to mycolic acids to produce a combined serum sample, the antibody or fragment thereof not substantially cross-reacting with cholesterol and the label being selected so that binding of the labelled antibody to immobilized mycolic acid antigen of mycobacterial origin produces a detectable signal and combining a blank sample with the labelled monoclonal immunoglobulin antibody or fragment thereof to mycolic acid to produce a combined blank sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIAInventors: Jan Adrianus Verschoor, Mervyn Beukes
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Patent number: 8389004Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing protein microparticles in dilute organic acid solutions and in the absence of an alcohol such as ethanol. The microparticles are formed by dissolving a cereal prolamin protein in a concentrated organic acid solution with agitation and then diluting the solution with an aqueous solution. Protein microparticles having vacuoles are thus formed. The protein microparticles may be used to form powders, films, coatings, matrices, scaffolds and the like. Complete films can be formed from the protein microparticles of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: University of PretoriaInventors: Janet Taylor, John Reginald Nuttall Taylor