Research Groups

Biotechnology Development and Transfer

Research Interests and Description

Research Interests

Development of technologies for biogeneric pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes and other bio-molecules with potential industrial applications.

Description of Research

The Biotechnology Development and Transfer Group (BDG) at ICGEB Cape Town focuses on the development and transfer of low-cost technologies for the local industrial production and down-stream processing of recombinant biopharmaceuticals and diagnostic kits that would make significant impact on health care in Africa and in other developing countries.

Developed technologies guarantee the production of biogenerics compliant with the prescriptions of the principal, international Regulatory Authorities as well as those of technology acquiring countries. The presence of this activity in Sub Saharan Africa, a disproportionately disease burdened region, renders more valuable our drive to concentrate efforts on remedies that are effective, efficacious and safe against the plethora of diseases prevalent in countries of the region.

Particular emphasis is placed on developing technologies for the production of generic biopharmaceuticals with high regional demands, such as those for sustaining treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Group is also interested in developing technologies for the production of industrial enzymes and other bio-molecules for commercial exploitation. Significant effort and resources are also dedicated to the issues of capacity building and skills development of the local workforce, in line with the mandate of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

Recent Publications

Ochem, A.E. 2004. Biotechnology and Health - Human and Animal. ABIOTECH Bulletin d’Information pour le Développement des Biotechnologies en Afrique 10

Abdurashidova, G., Danailov, M., Ochem, A., Triolo, G., Vindigni, A., Riva, S., Falaschi, A. 2003. Localization of Proteins Bound to a Replication Origin of Human DNA Along the Cell Cycle. EMBO J 22, 4294-4303

Cui, S., Klima, R., Ochem, A., Arosio, D., Falaschi, A., Vindigni, A. 2003. Characterization of the DNA-unwinding Activity of Human RECQ1, a Helicase Specifically Stimulated by Human Replicaion Protein A. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 1424-1432

Stefanovic, D., Stanojcic, S., Vindigni, A., Ochem, A., Falaschi, A. 2003. In vitro Protein-DNA Interactions at the Human Lamin B2 Replication Origin J. Biol. Chem. 278, 42737-42743