e-News Home Previous issues SERA Home  IN THIS ISSUE January 2006, Vol 3, No 1 SERA - the Alliance - is actively moving forward :: Local pasteurisation innovation may reduce risk of Avian influenza infection :: Biotechnology partnership set to benefit African scientists and postgraduates :: SERA participants demonstrate commitment to extending the student pipeline SERA - the Alliance - is actively moving forward SERA Relationship Managers recently strongly affirmed the continued vitality of SERA as an inclusive, cooperative relationship between the CSIR and UP in the form of joint Project and Task Teams and technology platforms. Local pasteurisation innovation may reduce risk of Avian influenza infection A CSIR-led R&D consortium has successfully developed a pasteurisation system that greatly reduces the risk of Salmonella enteritidis infections from eggs and may also be effective against the virus that causes Avian influenza.   Biotechnology partnership set to benefit African scientists and postgraduates The African Centre for Gene Technology (ACGT), a SERA technology platform, has recently announced a new partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). SERA participants demonstrate commitment to extending the student pipeline At the SERA Natural Sciences Task Team Seminar held in September last year, Melrose Ramokonyane, an intern at the CSIR, presented the research work she has conducted towards her MSc on the reproductive biology of Eucalyptus tree species. ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES Researchers find traces of modified food in local maize - Researchers at the University of the Free State have found traces of genetically modified organisms in locally sold maize and soya products, which claim to be free of these ingredients. 'African UNESCO' gets go-ahead - The AU has backed plans to create a scientific and cultural branch modelled on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Legal advice on site at CSIR and The Innovation Hub - Top patent attorney firm, Adams and Adams are giving free legal advice this month, three days a week at the CSIR and The Innovation Hub. USEFUL LINKS Biotechnology: South Africa's new opportunity industry The Tshwane consensus on science and development WAITRO 2006 Biennial Congress Top       © 2005 SERA. All rights reserved. Contact the webmaster or the SERA Relationship Managers at tel +27 12 841 2204 / 420 4094