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APTAMER RESEARCH TACKLES CONTINENT’S WORST DISEASES In brief The CSIR’s research in the development of aptamer-based products for the diagnosis, prevention, target drug delivery and treatment of dreaded diseases facing South Africa and the entire continent endorses the maxim that ‘the first wealth is health’, (Ralph Waldo Emerson). This research is also positioning South Africa to compete successfully within the dynamic knowledge economy and the burgeoning bio-economy. The challenge HIV and TB are two major public health challenges facing South Africa. HIV exacerbates the TB epidemic and vice versa. A need therefore exists to interface HIV and TB research programmes and to develop new tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these infectious diseases. The researcher is incubating Mycobacterium tuberculosis solid cultures in a containment level-3 laboratory. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has identified the aptamer (synthetic nucleic acid molecules) technology field as one of the emerging research areas in South Africa, which could play a role in expanding the base knowledge creation and develop commercial opportunities. To drive this, the DST has formed a steering committee with members from relevant government departments, science councils, universities, health care and pharmaceutical industries. The steering committee will develop a strategic research agenda for the National Aptamer Technology Platform as well as devise a strategic approach that the DST could follow for developing this area for South Africa. CSIR research In response to these health challenges, the CSIR has established a world-class containment level-3 facility with state-of-theart equipment for HIV and TB research. Furthermore, the CSIR is exploiting aptamers to help solve the HIV and TB health problems facing our nation and the world. Samples are loaded on a Biacore instrument to measure binding kinetics between HIV-1 gp120 and the aptamer ligand in real time. Aptamers rival antibodies in function and their applications range from diagnostics; target validation; and targeted drug delivery to therapeutics. In particular, the CSIR is currently exploiting aptamers for targeted delivery of TB and HIV first line drugs; development of novel entry inhibitor drugs against HIV; eradication of cells latently infected with HIV; prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breast feeding; development of aptamerbased point-of-care TB diagnostics; development of aptamer-based multiplex point-of-care diagnostic kits for HIV and TB; and studying and understanding the pathogenesis of HIV and TB co-infection. Outputs Solid skills have been developed in aptamer technology. Some highlights include: • One PhD and two MSc students have graduated. • Two MSc and five PhD students are currently doing full time research. Two PhD students will graduate in the 2011 calendar year. • Two PhD students were seconded to the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA. • One PhD student is currently seconded to the Scripps Research Institute, USA. • The aptamer technology research 32
health group has hosted and trained six visiting scientists and PhD students from universities over the past three years. In the past year, researchers have presented their work at seven international conferences in countries including Canada, Italy, South Korea, China and France. Research was published in the following journals: Drug Discovery Today, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, the Journal of Clinical Pathology, and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. The group also holds one patent. Products under development include: • Aptamer-based point-of-care TB diagnostic kit • Aptamer-based microbicide • Aptamer-based HIV entry inhibitor drugs • Aptamer-based breastfeeding nipplecap to inactivate HIV in milk. Funders • Department of Science and Technology • Technology Innovation Agency • The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • Canadian Grand Challenges • Fogarty Collaborators • University of Pretoria • University of the Witwatersrand • University of Johannesburg • University of KwaZulu-Natal • Rhodes University • University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital • University of Oxford, UK • Harvard University, USA • The Scripps Research Institute, USA • Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA Dr Makobetsa Khati specialises in aptamer technology and leads the aptamer technology research group. 33 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11
Page 3 and 4: 5AUDIT REPORT 106 Report of the Aud
Page 5 and 6: contribution to the pursuit of scie
Page 7 and 8: engagement with all its stakeholder
Page 9 and 10: focuses on establishing new develop
Page 11 and 12: Nanotechnology, specifi cally nanos
Page 13 and 14: Infrastructure and associated opera
Page 15 and 16: uilt environment Getting to grips I
Page 17 and 18: uilt environment The Port of Doha,
Page 19 and 20: uilt environment Locally, the South
Page 21 and 22: The changing security environment p
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Page 29 and 30: The demand for energy in South Afri
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405(12), p.2659-2663. Mishra SB, Mi
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Phasha MJ, Ngoepe PE, Chauke HR, Pe
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Van den Bergh F, Engelbrecht AP. 20
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J John MJ, Thomas S. 2010. Cellulos
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Wright C. 2010. Children’s sight
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 93
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are fairly presented in conformity
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CSIR. All subsidiary companies are
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CSIR Board Members (1 April 2010 -
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CSIR leadership team The CSIR manag
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Meetings 7 October 2010 24 March 20
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Report of the Audit and Risk Commit
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the fi nancial position of the Coun
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Role in the National System of Inno
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to accessing each other’s researc
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Table 2: Building and transforming
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The CSIR achieved outstanding perfo
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Significant progress was made in 20
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B Five-year review of income and ex
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121 EXECUTIVE REPORT
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ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 123
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Statements of financial position as
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Statements of cash flows for the ye
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1 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (co
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1PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (con
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3OPERATING PROFIT GROUP The net ope
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6PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 2011
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6PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (con
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8INTEREST IN JOINT VENTURES AND ASS
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13 DEFERRED TAx ASSET GROUP Balance
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18 RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEES
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19 REMUNERATION OF BOARD MEMBERS, D
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20 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND FACIL
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22 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued
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23 RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROF
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25 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont
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26 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS 26.1 Satellite
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Interests of the CSIR Net indebtnes
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169 2010 FIFA SOCCER WORLD CUP
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ACCESS Applied Centre for Climate a
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Printed on Hi-Q Titan Plus environm
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