Patents Assigned to The University of Pretoria
  • Publication number: 20130022972
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
    Inventors: Alan John Guthrie, Cindy Kim Harper, Anandi Bierman
  • Publication number: 20120128779
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Janet Taylor, John Reginald Nattall Taylor
  • Patent number: 8168200
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Merial Limited, The Regents of the University of California, University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Jules Maarten Minke, Jean-Christophe Audonnet, Alan John Guthrie, Nigel James MacLachlan, Jiansheng Yao
  • Publication number: 20110251289
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing the stereoisomers of 1,11-diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicants: CSIR, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
    Inventors: Moira Bode, Robert Vleggaar, Paul J. Gates, R. Anitra Schultz, Dharmaral Naicker, Nel Fourie
  • Patent number: 7851166
    Abstract: A method of detecting a surrogate marker for active tuberculosis involves obtaining first, second and third samples from a subject suspected of having active tuberculosis, diluting the first sample and exposing part of it to an immobilized mycolic acid antigen in a test vessel and part of it to an immobilized mycolic antigen in a control vessel. The second sample is exposed to mycolic acid antigen-containing liposomes and the third sample is exposed to liposomes not containing mycolic acid antigens. The second sample is added to the test vessel and the third to the control vessel and binding of antibodies to the mycolic acid and antigen in both the test and control vessel is detected. The degree of binding between the test and control vessels is compared and lesser binding in the test vessel is an indicator of the presence of antibodies to the mycolic acid antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Jan Adrianus Verschoor, Dismore Gilbert Ramathudi Siko, Sandra Van Wyngaardt
  • Patent number: 7063824
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process of treating a zirconium containing product such as zircon. The process comprises providing an alkali fusion decomposed zircon product (AFDZ) formed from reading zircon with a source of alkali metal at elevated temperatures, and treating the AFDZ to form a solid containing hydrated zirconium oxide and/or hydrated zirconium basic carbonate (hereinafter referred to as the hydrated zirconium product). The process further comprises treating the solid hydrated zirconium product to obtain in situ formation of basic zirconium sulphate as a solid thereon. The invention also relates to such a process for producing zircon derived material suitable for pigments and to such a process to produce opacifier material. The invention also relates to products of such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Gert Hendrik Jacobus Coetzee, legal representative, Willem Johannes De Wet, deceased
  • Patent number: 6835755
    Abstract: Naphthoquinone derivatives of Formula (1): wherein R, represents an OH group, methyl ether, ethyl ether or a similar ether, R1 represents a methyl, ethyl or similar aliphatic hydrocarbon derivative: R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen or a group selected from: (A), (B), or (C) wherein R5 represents an PH group, methyl ether, ethyl ether or a similar ether and R6 represents a methyl, ethyl or similar aliphatic hydrocarbon derivative: R4 represents hydrogen or a group selected from: (D), (E) or (F) wherein R7 represents an OH group, methyl ether, ethyl ether or a similar ether and R8 represents a methyl, ethyl or similar aliphatic hydrocarbon derivative: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for the treatment and/or control of a tuberculosis in a patient caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignees: University of Pretoria, South African Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Jacobus Johannes Marion Meyer, Namrita Lall
  • Patent number: 6744807
    Abstract: An n-dimensional direct sequence spread spectrum modulator (10) comprises a spreading sequence generator (21) for generating a set of n/2 substantially mutually orthogonal spreading sequences. The spreading sequences each comprises combinations of the real and imaginary parts of complex sequences. A first frequency spreading arrangement (24,26) comprises a first input (24.1,26.1) for a first set of n/2 parallel input data streams (d1(t) d2(t)), a second input (24.2, 26.2) for the set of spreading sequences and an output (24.3, 26.3). Respective input data streams are associated with respective spreading sequences in the set of spreading sequences. A second frequency spreading arrangement (28,30) comprises a first input (28.1, 30.1) for a second set of n/2 parallel input data streams (d3(t), d4(t)), a second input (28.2, 30.2) for the set of spreading sequences and an output (28.3, 30.3). Respective input data streams being associated with respective spreading sequences in the set of spreading sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Louis Philippus Linde, Frans Engelbertius Marx
  • Patent number: 6111271
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device (10) formed in a chip of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon is disclosed and claimed. The device comprises a visibly exposed highly doped n.sup.+ region (16) embedded at the surface of an oppositely doped epitaxial layer (14), to form a first junction region (15) closed to the surface of the epitaxial layer. When the junction region is reverse biased to beyond avalanche breakdown, the device acts as a light emitting device to the external environment. When it is reversed biased to just below avalanche breakdown it acts as a light detector. The device may further include a further junction region for generating or providing additional carriers in the first junction region, thereby to improve the performance of the device. This further junction can be multiplied to facilitate multi-input processing functions where the light emission from the first junction is a function of the electrical signals applied to the further junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Lukas W. Snyman, Herzl Aharoni, Monuko DuPlessis
  • Patent number: 5994720
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device (10) formed in a chip of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon is disclosed and claimed. The device comprises a visibly exposed highly doped n.sup.+ region (16) embedded at the surface of an oppositely doped epitaxial layer (14), to form a first junction region (15) closed to the surface of the epitaxial layer. When the junction region is reverse biased to beyond avalanche breakdown, the device acts as a light emitting device to the external environment. When it is reversed biased to just below avalanche breakdown it acts as a light detector. The device may further include a further junction region for generating or providing additional carriers in the first junction region, thereby to improve the performance of the device. This further junction can be multiplied to facilitate multi-input signal processing functions where the light emission from the first junction is a function of the electrical signals applied to the further junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: University of Pretoria
    Inventors: Lukas W. Snyman, Herzl Aharoni, Monuko DuPlessis