Graduates from the Institute for Wine Biotechnology

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Graduates from the Institute for Wine Biotechnology

The Hons class of 2003. In front are Sandile Ndimande and Jan-Nico Coetzee. At the back are Nelia Goetze, Kim Trollope and Jackie Rabé.

Nine students have completed their projects and graduated from the Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT), Stellenbosch University during December 2003. They participated in the Grapevine and Wine Biotechnology program of Winetech. This program co-ordinates research that is conducted to improve grapevine, wine yeast and bacteria and aims to promote environmentally friendly, quality driven, sustainable and cost-effective production of grapes, wine, brandy and other grape-derived products. The IWBT's yeast and bacteria related research is directed towards improving fermentation, wine processing and preservation efficiencies and the wholesomeness and sensorial quality of wine. The grapevine research is focussed on improving the disease resistance and stress tolerance of grapevine and also improving the quality factors associated with grapes.
HonsBSc in Wine Biotechnology
Jan-Nico Coetzee
Project title: Expansion of the range of fermentable substrates: developing pectinolytic yeasts. Production of recombinant wine yeast secreting polygalacturonase during winemaking. Supervisor: Dr P van Rensburg.
Nelia Goetze
Project title: Expansion of the range of fermentable substrates: developing pectinolytic yeasts. Understanding the regulation of the yeast PGU1 gene. Supervisor: Dr P van Rensburg.
Sandile Ndimande
Project title: Cloning and over expression of the Botrytis cinerea endopolygalacturonase one (Bcpg1) gene. Supervisor: Prof MA Vivier.
Jackie Rabé
Project title: Characterisation of the Neurospora crassa gene coding for gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase and expression studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Supervisor: Prof FF Bauer.

The MSc and PhD graduates for 2003 are, from the left: Hentie Swiegers, Christo Muller and Michael-John Freeborough. (Absent: Johan Kriel)

Kim Trollope
Project title: Increasing antioxidant levels in wine. Supervisor: Dr M du Toit.
MSc in Wine Biotechnology
Johan Kriel
Project title: Development of synthetic signal sequences for heterologous protein secretion from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Supervisor/co-supervisors: Dr P van Rensburg/Prof IS Pretorius & Dr RR Cordero Otero.
Christo Muller
Project title: Monitoring the spreading of commercial wine yeasts in vineyards. Supervisor/co-supervisors: Prof IS Pretorius/Prof MG Lambrechts, Dr P van Rensburg & Dr M Manley.
PhD in Wine Biotechnology
Hentie Swiegers
Project title: Cloning of genes involved in carnitine metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Promoter/co-promoter: Prof FF Bauer/Prof IS Pretorius.
Michael-John Freeborough
Project title: A pathogen derived resistance strategy for the broad-spectrum control of grapevine leafroll associated virus infection. Promoter/co-promoter: Prof IS Pretorius/Prof JT Burger.
- Karin Theron

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