Biotechnology

Before Biotech: Ariff Bongso, IVF, and the Developmental Context of the Life Sciences in Singapore, 1966-1997

by John P. DiMoia

working draft for "Asian Biopoleis" wokshop, July 26th, 2012

Bats with Aspergillus from Kubah National Park. 2008.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

A preliminary survey of chiropterans (bats) with potential zoonotic fungi was conducted as part of the Sowell-UNIMAS... more A preliminary survey of chiropterans (bats) with potential zoonotic fungi was conducted as part of the Sowell-UNIMAS Expedition 2006. This survey was conducted at Kubah National Park, Matang, Sarawak from 14th to 16th August 2006. The main aim of this survey was to document variety of fungal isolates from bats external (ears) and internal (saliva and anal) swabs. All of the fungi species were subjected to both macroscopic and microscopic observations to characterize their morphology. Out of 23 species of bats observed, 13 (56.5%) species were found to contain 17 fungi isolates of the genus Aspergillus from five subgenera, five sections and six species. The fungi isolates were Aspergillus restrictus, A. sydowii, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. clavatus and A. japonicus. The highest numbers of isolates recorded was for A. restrictus with six isolates followed by A. fumigatus and A. sydowii with two isolates respectively. Where as, A. niger, A. clavatus and A. japonicus each recorded with one isolate only. Aspergillus fumigatus was the first record isolated from bats the samples (n = 64) from Sarawak. It was reported that this isolate is a pathogenic and thermophilic (able to grow up to 65°C) isolate which was found to be on a lesion near ear opening of Hipposideros cervinus. Further work should be done to discover potential mycoflora in wildlife mammals.

Biological Interests, Normative Functions, and Synthetic Biology

by Sune Holm

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS FOR METAL BINDING CAPACITY OF CYSTEINE BY USING UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETER

by Nandita Dasgupta

Co-authored with - Nandita Dasgupta, Gyanendra Gour, Rashmi Dubey, Kumari Amrita.

Journal Name- International Journal Of Applied Biology And Pharmaceutical Technology

The metal binding capacity of cysteine with three different metals Nickel, Copper and Lead was studied using UV-Vis... more The metal binding capacity of cysteine with three different metals Nickel, Copper and Lead was studied using UV-Vis spectrophotometer for which absorbance values were taken after interaction of cysteine with metal salt solutions (10ppm and 100ppm). Before taking above absorbance dilution factor was set using cysteine stock. The increase in peak intensity was observed when metal salt solution and metal saltcysteine solution were compared. Based on peak shift and peak intensity finally it can be concluded that the binding capacity of cysteine with Nickel is more, followed by lead and copper. The normal chromophore activity in cysteine is due to the sulphur in which the transition takes place from non bonding orbital’s to the excited antibonding orbital in the range of 210-215nm range. The binding of the metals with cysteine may affect the chromophore activity and may also lead to structural damage of the chromophore. This can give the decrease in the peak intensity or the complete shift in the peak. These results suggest that cysteine metal binding ability can be used for the removal of the metals in water purification. Also this property can be used in removal of metals from our body considering the fact that cysteine may not show adverse effect in the system. So we can go for designing a new type of drug containing cysteine which helps to prevent the accumulation of such metals and thus prevent us from adverse effect.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS FOR METAL BINDING CAPACITY OF CYSTEINE BY USING UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETER

by Shivendu Ranjan

Co-authored with - Nandita Dasgupta, Gyanendra Gour, Rashmi Dubey, Kumari Amrita.

Journal Name- International Journal Of Applied Biology And Pharmaceutical Technology

The metal binding capacity of cysteine with three different metals Nickel, Copper and Lead was studied using UV-Vis... more The metal binding capacity of cysteine with three different metals Nickel, Copper and Lead was studied using UV-Vis spectrophotometer for which absorbance values were taken after interaction of cysteine with metal salt solutions (10ppm and 100ppm). Before taking above absorbance dilution factor was set using cysteine stock. The increase in peak intensity was observed when metal salt solution and metal saltcysteine solution were compared. Based on peak shift and peak intensity finally it can be concluded that the binding capacity of cysteine with Nickel is more, followed by lead and copper. The normal chromophore activity in cysteine is due to the sulphur in which the transition takes place from non bonding orbital’s to the excited antibonding orbital in the range of 210-215nm range. The binding of the metals with cysteine may affect the chromophore activity and may also lead to structural damage of the chromophore. This can give the decrease in the peak intensity or the complete shift in the peak. These results suggest that cysteine metal binding ability can be used for the removal of the metals in water purification. Also this property can be used in removal of metals from our body considering the fact that cysteine may not show adverse effect in the system. So we can go for designing a new type of drug containing cysteine which helps to prevent the accumulation of such metals and thus prevent us from adverse effect.

Verdächtige Familien. DNA-Abstammungsgutachten in Einwanderungsverfahren

by Torsten Heinemann

Co-authored with Thomas Lemke, published in Forschung Frankfurt 1/2012

Ciencia, neoliberalismo y bioeconomía

by Vincenzo Pavone

Revista Iberoamericana de ciencia y tecnología - Vol. 20, No. 17 Abril 2012

La bioeconomía es un proyecto y al mismo tiempo una visión situada dentro de la narrativa neoliberal del crecimiento... more La bioeconomía es un proyecto y al mismo tiempo una visión situada dentro de la narrativa neoliberal del crecimiento económico y de la competitividad y habla de una nueva economía basada en la manipulación, explotación y apropiación tecnológica de la materia viviente. Este artículo intenta dibujar un mapa del imaginario y de los objetivos de la bioeconomía a través del análisis de los discursos elaborados (y que circulan) por la UE y la OCDE. Más específicamente, explora la relación entre la bioeconomía como narrativa, con sus estrategias de políticas públicas, y el sistema filosófico neoliberal que la inspira. La bioeconomía aparece como un paso más allá de la misma economía del conocimiento en el proceso neoliberal dispuesto a extender ética y practica del mercado a espacios sociales y biológicos antes regulados por otros principios. Mirando a la reproducción asistida y al bio-pharming, intenta sacar a la luz el papel de las biotecnologías en la constitución, institucionalización y regulación de la bioeconomía. En la conclusión, se vislumbran algunas de las implicaciones políticas y sociales de la transición a un sistema económico basado en la bioeconomía, sobre todo con relación al proceso de de-politicización y de restricción de acceso a la naturaleza que las bioeconomías necesitan para consolidarse.

Inter-epistemic Power and Transforming Knowledge Objects in a Biomedical Network

by Gerry McGivern

McGivern, G. & Dopson, S. (2010) ‘Inter-Epistemic Power & Transforming Knowledge Objects in a Biomedical Network’. Organization Studies, 31 (12), 1-20.

We examine a multidisciplinary network established to translate genetics science into practice in the British NHS.... more We examine a multidisciplinary network established to translate genetics science into practice in the British NHS. Drawing on theory about epistemic communities and objects, we describe three stages in their lifecycle (vision/formation, transformation and reincarnation) and epistemic clashes over knowledge objects. Medical academics captured jurisdiction over the network at formation, through their superior knowledge of the nascent genetics discipline, producing epistemic objects reflecting their interests. A governmental community challenged medical academics for jurisdiction but, unable to transform objects by changing their space of representation in performance reporting, ceased funding the network, which then closed. Afterwards, however, a NHS community successfully ‘reincarnated’ a discarded epistemic object into a technical object in NHS practice. We make a theoretical contribution by developing a processual framework for understanding biomedical innovation, focusing on transforming objects situated between different wider knowledge/power structures. This explains how objects were transformed at micro-level through the interaction and relative power of local communities, influenced by macro-level rules about knowledge formation in wider epistemic, organizational and governmental communities.

A Lab of Their Own: Genomic sovereignty as postcolonial science policy

by Ruha Benjamin

Investigation of Shelf Life of Potency and Activity of the Lactobacilli Produced Bacteriocins Through Their Exposure to Various Physicochemical Stress Factors

by Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof

published in Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
2012, DOI: 10.1007/s12602-012-9102-2 by Springer

Three Lactobacilli strains, Lactobacillus casei NCIMB 11970, Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8014, Lactobacillus lactis... more Three Lactobacilli strains, Lactobacillus casei NCIMB 11970, Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8014, Lactobacillus lactis NCIMB 8586 have been used for the production of bacteriocins. Though, their production phase, their biochemical nature, their mode of activity even their genetic structure have been widely investigated, there are hardly any studies investigating their potency and activity in depth of time, in other words their shelf life under several physicochemical conditions that may occur during their production in large scale. As such, the effect of several factors influencing the activity and the potency of bacteriocins when produced in large scale was examined as due to bacteriocins peptide nature degradation or denaturation might occur, under extreme physicochemical conditions. During scale-up process, differences between the output data may occur, such as concerning biomass, metabolic by-products and limiting substrate concentrations. These may affect negatively the activity and the potency of the bacteriocins. For investigating these effects and minimizing them, numerous studies were conducted, which were related to the exact phase of the production of these substances, the effect of dilution and temperature changes. These studies could be used in order to minimize the scaling-up effect when decided to produce these peptides in large scale.

Somatic Embryogenesis in Recalcitrant Plants

by Antonio Andrade-Torres

Laura Yesenia Solís-Ramos, Antonio Andrade-Torres, Luis Alfonso Sáenz Carbonell, Carlos M. Oropeza Salín and Enrique Castaño de la Serna. 2012. 25. Somatic Embryogenesis in Recalcitrant Plants. In: Ken-ichi Sato (Ed). Embryogenesis. InTech Open. Pp. 597-618. ISBN 978-953-51-0466-7.
FREE online.

Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which somatic cells, under induction conditions, generate embryogenic cells,... more Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which somatic cells, under induction conditions, generate embryogenic cells, which go through a series of morphological and biochemical changes that result in the production of bipolar structure without vascular connection with the original tissue. Somatic embryogenesis with a low frequency of chimeras, a high number of regenerates and a limited level of somaclonal variation is more attractive than organogenesis as a plant regeneration system (e.g., in genetic transformation, in vitro mutagenesis and selection). However there are several factors that influence the initiation of somatic embryogenesis in plants. Most of the important crops and grasses are recalcitrant for in vitro culturing, which hampers the development of reliable regeneration techniques. This document is focused in the somatic embryogenesis of recalcitrant plants, showing the particular cases of two plant species: habanero chili (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) and coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.).

EFECTO DE LOS EXTRACTOS DE ORGANOS HEMATOPOYETICOS DEL TIBURON NODRIZA, Ginglymostoma cirratum (BONNATERRE, 1788) EN UN CULTIVO in vitro DE CELULAS TUMORALES

by Leonardo Mantilla Aldana

Memorias X Seminario Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnologías del Mar. Octubre 28 – 31, 1996.

A preliminary study of the effects of the aquoses extracts of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) haematopoietic... more A preliminary study of the effects of the aquoses extracts of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) haematopoietic organs (liver, epigonadal organ, kidney, cartilage and plasma), on the culture of the tumorals cells producer of specific antibodies with the A blood group (hibridomas) was carried out. The experiments were complemented with a control of specifity using the liver and cartilage extracts of the skate Rhinobatos percellens. The monitoring of the growth and metabolism showed that the
epigonal organ extract caused apoptosis in the hibridomas, the liver extract and the plasma provoked cell necrosis and the other extracts as the liver and cartilage of the skate caused inhibition on the growth and cell metabolism.

Ne İklim Koruması Ne de Enerji Güvenliği: Biyoyakıtlar Biyoşaşkınlar için mi?

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Joachim H. Spangenberg, Josef Settele, " Ne İklim Koruması Ne de Enerji Güvenliği: Biyoyakıtlar Biyoşaşkınlar için mi? ", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 5, Sayı 20 (Kış), 2009

Fosil yakıtlardan biyotemelli yakıtlara geçiş, petrolün tavan yaptığı dönemin petrole bağımlı ülkeler nezdinde... more Fosil yakıtlardan biyotemelli yakıtlara geçiş, petrolün tavan yaptığı dönemin petrole bağımlı ülkeler nezdinde yarattığı baskılarla baş etmede kullanılan bir strateji olarak belirmektedir. Buna karşın, biyokütle enerji kompozisyonunun değerli bir unsuru olmasına rağmen, (i) enerji tüketiminde önemli bir düşüş olmadan katkısının son derece sınırlı kalacağı, ile (ii) enerji sisteminde yapısal değişiklikler olmadan (karbon temelinden uzakta) başta biyolojik çeşitlilik olmak kaydıyla çevre güvenliğine ve gıda güvenliğine riskler yüklediği hususları göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır. Bu durum gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülkeler arasındaki ilişkilerde önemli değişikliklere dahi yol açabilir. İkinci nesil ekimlerin fakir topraklardan dış girdi olmadan yüksek verim sağladığı hususu gerçekçi değildir. Karbon birikimi açısından biyokütlenin daha akılcıl kullanımı en iyi toprak içinde gerçekleşmektedir.

RACE AFTER THE INTERNET by Lisa Nakamura and Peter Chow-White (eds.) from Routledge Press

by Peter Chow White

http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780203875063/

Extract powder from the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis (AMPEP): a “vaccine-like” effect on Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P.C. Silva

by Rafael Loureiro

Co-authored with Renata Perpetuo Reis; Flavia Diniz Berrogain and Alan T. Critchley

The benefits of using Acadian Marine Plant
Extract Powder (AMPEP), obtained from the brown algae
Ascophyllum... more The benefits of using Acadian Marine Plant
Extract Powder (AMPEP), obtained from the brown algae
Ascophyllum nodosum, for improving growth of the red
alga Kappaphycus alvarezii has been demonstrated by
authors in the Philippines and Brazil, particularly for
increasing daily growth rate and mitigation of epiphytes.
However, the processes which occur have not been
discussed. This study examined in vitro the relationship
between those red algal defense mechanisms and K.
alvarezii responses using AMPEP treatments. The administration
of the extract reduced the effects of the
oxidative burst (production of hydrogen peroxide) which
may be extremely aggressive for an individual and its
epiphyte. The bleaching of the non-corticated portions
of Polysiphonia subtilissima thalli that were cultivated as
simulated epiphytes with AMPEP samples confirmed that
the reaction was evident in which AMPEP protected
K. alvarezii from the hydrogen peroxide effects. It is
proposed that the use of the brown seaweed powder
AMPEP acts as a potential vaccine, eliciting activation of
the red seaweed K. alvarezii natural defenses against
pathogens and ameliorating the negative effects of longterm
exposure to oxidative bursts.

Efficient CRM197-mediated drug targeting to monocytes

by Nicolas Legrand

G.J. Schenk et al.; Journal of Controlled Release (2012)

Efficient delivery of drugs to specific cellular reservoirs is of particular importance for therapeutics that are not... more Efficient delivery of drugs to specific cellular reservoirs is of particular importance for therapeutics that are not able to pass cellular barriers and that may have unwanted side effects in off-target tissues. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) is expressed on leukocytes and may be targeted for specific drug delivery using cross-reacting material (CRM)197, a non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin and exogenous substrate for HB-EGF. We used fluorescently labeled CRM197 and CRM197-coated liposomes to investigate their potential use for drug delivery to leukocytes. We demonstrate that CRM197-guided systems are efficiently taken up by human leukocytes in vitro. CRM197 was also found to specifically target leukocytes in vivo in mice with components of the human immune system (HIS mice) and hamsters. Monocytes represent the most prominent subset of leukocytes that showed highly specific CRM197-mediated uptake. We therefore propose the application of CRM197 as a novel targeting approach in diseases that require the selective treatment of monocytes.

Monitoring the effect of gene silencing by RNA interference in human CD34+ cells injected into newborn RAG2-/- {gamma}c-/- mice: functional inactivation of p53 in developing T cells

by Nicolas Legrand

R. Gimeno et al.; Blood (2004)

Tumor suppressor p53 plays an important role in regulating cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Here we applied RNA... more Tumor suppressor p53 plays an important role in regulating cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Here we applied RNA interference to study the role of p53 in human hematopoietic development in vivo. An siRNA construct specifically targeting the human tumor-suppressor gene p53 was introduced into human CD34+ progenitor cells by lentivirus-mediated gene transfer, which resulted in more than 95% knockdown of p53. We adapted the human-SCID mouse model to optimize the development of hematopoietic cells, particularly of T cells. This was achieved by the intraperitoneal injection of CD34+ precursor cells into newborn Rag2-/- {gamma}c-/- mice that lack T, B, and NK cells. Robust development of T cells was observed in these mice, with peripheral T-cell repopulation 8 weeks after injection of the precursor cells. Other lymphocyte and myeloid subsets also developed in these mice. Injecting p53 siRNA-transduced CD34+ cells resulted in stable expression and down-modulation of p53 in the mature T-cell offspring. Inactivating p53 did not affect the development of CD34+ cells into various mature leukocyte subsets, including T cells, but it conferred resistance to {gamma}-irradiation and other p53-dependent apoptotic stimuli to the T cells.

Experimental Models to Study Development and Function of the Human Immune System In Vivo

by Nicolas Legrand

N. Legrand et al.; The Journal of Immunology (2006)

The study of development and function of the immune system in vivo has made intensive use of animal models, but... more The study of development and function of the immune system in vivo has made intensive use of animal models, but performing such work in humans is difficult for experimental, practical, and ethical reasons. Confronted with this scientific challenge, several pioneering groups have developed in the late 1980s mouse models of human immune system development. Although these experimental approaches were proven successful and useful, they were suffering from limitations due to xenograft transplantation barriers. By reviewing the characteristics of the successive models over the last 20 years, it becomes apparent that screening of potentially interesting mouse strains and usage of combinations of genetic deficiencies has led to major advances. This is particularly true for human T cell development in the murine thymus. This review will focus on these advances and the potential future improvements that remain to be accomplished.

Transient accumulation of human mature thymocytes and regulatory T cells with CD28 superagonist in "human immune system" Rag2-/-{gamma}c-/- mice

by Nicolas Legrand

N. Legrand et al.; Blood (2006)

Efficient and quick reconstitution of T-cell compartments in lymphopenic patients is of great importance to prevent... more Efficient and quick reconstitution of T-cell compartments in lymphopenic patients is of great importance to prevent opportunistic infections, but remains difficult to achieve. Human T-cell proliferation in a T-cell-receptor (TCR)-independent manner is possible in vitro with superagonist anti-CD28 antibodies, and such molecules are therefore promising therapeutic tools. Here, we investigated the in vivo effects of superagonist anti-CD28 treatment on human developing and mature T cells, in the recently developed model of "human immune system" BALB/c Rag2-/-{gamma}c-/- mice. Our results show that superagonist anti-CD28 treatment transiently induces a 7-fold increase in thymocyte numbers and up to 18-fold accumulation of mature thymocytes. The increased thymic production lead to transient accumulation of mature T cells in the periphery at the peak of treatment effect (day 6). In addition, long-term peripheral T-cell depletion was induced. Furthermore, the concomitant selective expansion and accumulation of suppressive CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells was induced in a transient manner. Superagonist anti-CD28 therapy could therefore be of clinical interest in humans, both for beneficial effect on thymic T-cell production as well as regulatory T-cell accumulation.

Functional Human Antigen-Specific T Cells Produced In Vitro Using Retroviral T Cell Receptor Transfer into Hematopoietic Progenitors

by Nicolas Legrand

A.U. van Lent et al.; The Journal of Immunology (2007)

In vitro production of human T cells with known Ag specificity is of major clinical interest for immunotherapy against... more In vitro production of human T cells with known Ag specificity is of major clinical interest for immunotherapy against tumors and infections. We have performed TCR{alpha}beta gene transfer into human hemopoietic progenitors from postnatal thymus or umbilical cord blood, and subsequently cultured these precursors on OP9 stromal cells expressing the Notch human ligand Delta-like1. We report here that fully mature, functional T cells with controlled Ag specificity are obtained from such cultures. Using vectors encoding TCR{alpha}beta-chains directed against melanoma (MART-1), viral (CMV), and minor histocompatibility (HA-2) Ags, we show that the obtained Ag-specific T cells exert cytolytic activity against their cognate Ag and expand in vitro upon specific TCR stimulation. Therapeutic applications may arise from these results because they provide a way to produce large numbers of autologous mature Ag-specific T cells in vitro from undifferentiated hemopoietic progenitors.