Future Biotechnology Research Articles

Adapting to the Changing World of Biotechnology: Syngenta AG MIR162 Corn Litigation as Regulation-By-Litigation

Agriculture has relied on biotechnology for centuries, but with the rise of recombinant DNA technology, biotechnology's impact on AG has increased dramatically. This article explores the current federal requirements to release new biotechnology on the market, trade associations requirements to release a new technology, and how current and past litigation over releases could impact future biotechnology.

Spermatogonia, Germline Cells, and Testicular Organization in the Characiform Prochilodus lineatus Studied Using Histological, Stereological, and Morphometric Approaches

Prochilodus lineatus is an important representative of the order Characiformes and a species that offers great advantages to fish farming. Therefore, detailed knowledge of its reproductive biology can be applied to various fields of production and biotechnology. In this study, we have identified testicular germ cells during spermatogenesis and have evaluated the volumetric proportion of the testes occupied by structures of the tubular and intertubular compartments. In addition, the individual volume of type A spermatogonia was measured and used to estimate the mean number of these cells per testis. Gonads of adult P. lineatus males were extracted and fixed. Light and transmission electron microscopy were applied to fragments of three testicular regions. Histological, stereological, and morphometric analyses were performed. The stereological data suggest that components of the tubular and intertubular compartments of the P. lineatus testes present a uniform distribution in all three regions and therefore reflect regions with similar distributions of cell types. In addition, P. lineatus testes showed ∼0.6% of type A spermatogonia, as well as a predominance of cysts of primary spermatocytes and spermatids during the reproductive phase evaluated. The results from this study provide a better understanding of the morphology and structure of the testis and of the characterization of the type A spermatogonia in P. lineatus. The nuclear diameter of germ cells also decreases significantly during spermatogenesis. The data presented herein are the first of its kind for the order Characiformes and may be useful for future biotechnology studies on fish reproduction. Anat Rec, 300:589-599, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gold nanocrystals with DNA-directed morphologies.

Precise control over the structure of metal nanomaterials is important for developing advanced nanobiotechnology. Assembly methods of nanoparticles into structured blocks have been widely demonstrated recently. However, synthesis of nanocrystals with controlled, three-dimensional structures remains challenging. Here we show a directed crystallization of gold by a single DNA molecular regulator in a sequence-independent manner and its applications in three-dimensional topological controls of crystalline nanostructures. We anchor DNA onto gold nanoseed with various alignments to form gold nanocrystals with defined topologies. Some topologies are asymmetric including pushpin-, star- and biconcave disk-like structures, as well as more complex jellyfish- and flower-like structures. The approach of employing DNA enables the solution-based synthesis of nanocrystals with controlled, three-dimensional structures in a desired direction, and expands the current tools available for designing and synthesizing feature-rich nanomaterials for future translational biotechnology.

Extreme makeover: Engineering the activity of a thermostable alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhD) from Pyrococcus furiosus.

Alcohol dehydrogenase D (AdhD) is a monomeric thermostable alcohol dehydrogenase from the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily of proteins. We have been exploring various strategies of engineering the activity of AdhD so that it could be employed in future biotechnology applications. Driven by insights made in other AKRs, we have made mutations in the cofactor-binding pocket of the enzyme and broadened its cofactor specificity. A pre-steady state kinetic analysis yielded new insights into the conformational behavior of this enzyme. The most active mutant enzyme concomitantly gained activity with a non-native cofactor, nicotinamide mononucleotide, NMN(H), and an enzymatic biofuel cell was demonstrated with this enzyme/cofactor pair. Substrate specificity was altered by grafting loop regions near the active site pocket from a mesostable human aldose reductase (hAR) onto the thermostable AdhD. These moves not only transferred the substrate specificity of hAR but also the cofactor specificity of hAR. We have added alpha-helical appendages to AdhD to enable it to self-assemble into a thermostable catalytic proteinaceous hydrogel. As our understanding of the structure/function relationship in AdhD and other AKRs advances, this ubiquitous protein scaffold could be engineered for a variety of catalytic activities that will be useful for many future applications.

The Strong Influence of Structure Polymorphism on the Conductivity of Peptide Fibrils

AbstractPeptide fibril nanostructures have been advocated as components of future biotechnology and nanotechnology devices. However, the ability to exploit the fibril functionality for applications, such as catalysis or electron transfer, depends on the formation of well‐defined architectures. Fibrils made of peptides substituted with aromatic groups are described presenting efficient electron delocalization. Peptide self‐assembly under various conditions produced polymorphic fibril products presenting distinctly different conductivities. This process is driven by a collective set of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and π‐stacking interactions, and as a result it can be directed towards formation of a distinct polymorph by using the medium to enhance specific interactions rather than the others. This method facilitates the detailed characterization of different polymorphs, and allows specific conditions to be established that lead to the polymorph with the highest conductivity.

The Strong Influence of Structure Polymorphism on the Conductivity of Peptide Fibrils.

Peptide fibril nanostructures have been advocated as components of future biotechnology and nanotechnology devices. However, the ability to exploit the fibril functionality for applications, such as catalysis or electron transfer, depends on the formation of well-defined architectures. Fibrils made of peptides substituted with aromatic groups are described presenting efficient electron delocalization. Peptide self-assembly under various conditions produced polymorphic fibril products presenting distinctly different conductivities. This process is driven by a collective set of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and π-stacking interactions, and as a result it can be directed towards formation of a distinct polymorph by using the medium to enhance specific interactions rather than the others. This method facilitates the detailed characterization of different polymorphs, and allows specific conditions to be established that lead to the polymorph with the highest conductivity.

Study of bio-fabrication of iron nanoparticles and their fungicidal property against phytopathogens of apple orchards.

Current research trends on iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) are extensively focused because of their unique magnetic and electrical properties mostly applicable in essential medical devices. However, their fungicidal property against plant pathogens is very less known until date. Present study demonstrates a green technique for blending of FeNPs by utilising aqueous extract of neem leaf (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) as reducing agent. Various characterisation techniques such as ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were performed for FeNPs. The authors' results demonstrate the more cluster formation of FeNPs with size distribution of 20-80 nm. The bio-fabricated FeNPs showed enhanced biocidal activity against economically important phytopathogens of apple such as Alternaria mali, Botryosphaeria dothidea and Diplodia seriata. From the obtained results, it can be suggested that further delve into green synthesis of FeNPs can address future biotechnology concerns to limit the synthesis of FeNPs by conventional methods. Furthermore, the field study on pathogenic fungi can be an effective step to verify their agricultural applications.

Complete genome sequence of probiotic Bacillus coagulans HM-08: A potential lactic acid producer

Bacillus coagulans HM-08 is a commercialized probiotic strain in China. Its genome contains a 3.62Mb circular chromosome with an average GC content of 46.3%. In silico analysis revealed the presence of one xyl operon as well as several other genes that are correlated to xylose utilization. The genetic information provided here may help to expand its future biotechnology potential in lactic acid production.

Part I: Another World Congress of Bioethics, To What Avail?

Part I: Another World Congress of Bioethics, To What Avail?

Wide pH range tolerance in extremophiles: towards understanding an important phenomenon for future biotechnology.

Microorganisms that inhabit the extreme pH environments are classified as acidophiles and alkaliphiles. A number of studies emerged from extreme high (hot springs, hydrothermal vents) as well as low temperature (arctic and antarctic regions, sea water, ice shelf, marine sediments, cold deserts, glaciers, temperate forests, and plantations) environments have highlighted the occurrence of microorganisms (thermophiles/psychrophiles) with the ability to tolerate wide pH range, from acidic to alkaline (1.5-14.0 in some cases), under laboratory conditions. However, the sampling source (soil/sediment) of these microorganisms showed the pH to be neutral or slightly acidic/alkaline. The aim of the present review is to discuss the phenomenon of wide pH range tolerance possessed by these microorganisms as a hidden character in perspective of their habitats, possible mechanisms, phylogeny, ecological and biotechnological relevance, and future perspectives. It is believed that the genome is a probable reservoir of the hidden variations. The extremophiles have the ability to adapt against the environmental change that is probably through the expression/regulation of the specific genes that were already present in the genome. The phenomenon is likely to have broad implications in biotechnology, including both environmental (such as bioremediation, biodegradation, and biocontrol), and industrial applications (as a source of novel extremozymes and many other useful bioactive compounds with wide pH range tolerance).

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lantana camara flower extract and its application

Search of new pigment for the green synthesis of nanoparticles has emerged new scope for the chemist. In this report, we describe the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using notorious weed, Lantana camara L. flower extract. The AgNPs were characterized by visual, UV–visible spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV–visible spectroscopy showed surface plasmon resonance at 470 nm clearly reveals the formation of AgNPs. TEM analysis confirmed that the AgNPs are spherical and 33 ± 5 nm average sized. XRD analysis reveals the formation of pure silver metal with face-centered cubic symmetry and confirms crystalline nature. The AgNPs showed significant antioxidant efficacy at different time intervals against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and photocatalytic activities by the degradation of the methylene blue. From the results obtained, it is suggested that surface-modified AgNPs could be used effectively in future biotechnology concerns.

곤충생물공학의 현재와 전망

Insects are the most successful organisms on earth in terms of their diversity and adaptability. Insect biotechnology using this insect resource is an emerging area for future biotechnology with various applications. Insect resources have long been used to make food and/or functional food, feed, cosmetics as well as medicine and industrial ingredients. Recently, one of the most well-known industrial material from insect is spider silk that could be commercialize in near future. The insect cell lines have been used to express recombinant proteins that were difficult to be functional expression. For public purpose, while, the insect could be good amenity source and plant farming, so leisure resource. Only the interdisciplinary research will guarantee the successful story for insect biotechnology. And biochemical engineers should used insect as a bioresource for new products with applications in medicine, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology in near future. This review will cover state-of-the art of this field and the research and application areas of insect biotechnology and the possible role of biochemical engineer for the development of the future biotechnology using this bioresource.

Editorial: Doubled Haploidy in Model and Recalcitrant Species.

Doubled haploid (DH) technology is a powerful tool in plant breeding to reduce the time and costs needed to produce pure lines, the cornerstone of hybrid seed production. This biotechnological alternative to classic methods allows for a reduction of the typical 7–8 inbreeding generations needed to fix a hybrid genotype to only one in vitro generation. It is therefore much faster and cheaper, being the principal advantage of DH technology in plant breeding, but not the only. Indeed, DHs are also useful for genetic mapping of complex qualitative traits, for linkage studies and estimation of recombination fractions, to unmask recessive mutants, to avoid transgenic hemizygotes, or for reverse breeding, among others (Forster et al., 2007; Dunwell, 2010; Dwivedi et al., 2015). These are some of the advantages that make DH technology one of the most exciting fields of present and future plant biotechnology.

Navigating Bioethical Waters: Two Pilot Projects in Problem-Based Learning for Future Bioscience and Biotechnology Professionals.

We believe that the professional responsibility of bioscience and biotechnology professionals includes a social responsibility to contribute to the resolution of ethically fraught policy problems generated by their work. It follows that educators have a professional responsibility to prepare future professionals to discharge this responsibility. This essay discusses two pilot projects in ethics pedagogy focused on particularly challenging policy problems, which we call "fractious problems". The projects aimed to advance future professionals' acquisition of "fractious problem navigational" skills, a set of skills designed to enable broad and deep understanding of fractious problems and the design of good policy resolutions for them. A secondary objective was to enhance future professionals' motivation to apply these skills to help their communities resolve these problems. The projects employed "problem based learning" courses to advance these learning objectives. A new assessment instrument, "Skills for Science/Engineering Ethics Test" (SkillSET), was designed and administered to measure the success of the courses in doing so. This essay first discusses the rationale for the pilot projects, and then describes the design of the pilot courses and presents the results of our assessment using SkillSET in the first pilot project and the revised SkillSET 2.0 in the second pilot project. The essay concludes with discussion of observations and results.

Experiments on and Numerical Modeling of the Capture and Concentration of Transcription-Translation Machinery inside Vesicles.

Synthetic or semi-synthetic minimal cells are those cell-like artificial compartments that are based on the encapsulation of molecules inside lipid vesicles (liposomes). Synthetic cells are currently used as primitive cell models and are very promising tools for future biotechnology. Despite the recent experimental advancements and sophistication reached in this field, the complete elucidation of many fundamental physical aspects still poses experimental and theoretical challenges. The interplay between solute capture and vesicle formation is one of the most intriguing ones. In a series of studies, we have reported that when vesicles spontaneously form in a dilute solution of proteins, ribosomes, or ribo-peptidic complexes, then, contrary to statistical predictions, it is possible to find a small fraction of liposomes (<1%) that contain a very large number of solutes, so that their local (intravesicular) concentrations largely exceed the expected value. More recently, we have demonstrated that this effect (spontaneous crowding) operates also on multimolecular mixtures, and can drive the synthesis of proteins inside vesicles, whereas the same reaction does not proceed at a measurable rate in the external bulk phase. Here we firstly introduce and discuss these already published observations. Then, we present a computational investigation of the encapsulation of transcription-translation (TX-TL) machinery inside vesicles, based on a minimal protein synthesis model and on different solute partition functions. Results show that experimental data are compatible with an entrapment model that follows a power law rather than a Gaussian distribution. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of origin of life, highlighting open questions and possible future research directions.

Prawo do życia w zdrowym i bezpiecznym środowisku naturalnym

The environment determines the existence of a man who nowadays is considered to be the main, sometimes the only protagonist of transformations. Man tied its existence with nature, depends upon it, but at the same time conditioned its existence from his good or ill will. He possess the tools and knowledge about the possibilities of its transformation and even annihilation. That is why he occupies a unique position in the universe. Efforts to protect the living environment must be multidirectional and coordinated. It is possible that in future modern biotechnology will be the solution for balanced development, which provides the possibility to exercise control over the economy and scientific research. Decision-making in this area involves the responsibility of international institutions, governments and citizens. Ergo, it is important that the development and use of modern technology, knowledge and skills, are performed in conditions which ensure maximum safety and without any rebounds to humans and their living environment.

Clonagem molecular do oncogene EZH2 de leucemia mieloide crônica e perspectivas terapêuticas

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasia, caused in 95 % of the cases by a cytogenetic abnormality characterized by the reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 t(9; 22) (q34; q11), resulting in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph).Considering that CML cure is only possible with a successful bone marrow transplantation and that there are resistance cases to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib Mesylate, prescribed in first line drug treatment; it is important to know in detail the genes and proteins that are possibly altered in CML, favoring effective therapeutic strategies, optimized diagnosis and minimal residual disease detection. Among the new therapeutic approaches to CML is gene therapy, which, depending on the target gene, can be efficient to other neoplasms treatment. In this context, the aims of this work were: to proceed the molecular cloning of a DNA fragment from EZH2 gene, potential target for gene therapy, that promotes epigenetic alteration in CML and in many neoplasms; as well as to contribute to studies related to interspecies gene transfer that have high contribution to health. For this reason, the EZH2 gene was isolated from peripheral blood genomic DNA from CML patients and cloned in prokaryotic systems. Therefore, in this study, we proceed, defined and proved the interspe-cies gene transfer procedures and discussed the future of biotechnology in researches and treatments, especially in CML.

Complete genome sequence, metabolic model construction and phenotypic characterization of Geobacillus LC300, an extremely thermophilic, fast growing, xylose-utilizing bacterium

We have isolated a new extremely thermophilic fast-growing Geobacillus strain that can efficiently utilize xylose, glucose, mannose and galactose for cell growth. When grown aerobically at 72°C, Geobacillus LC300 has a growth rate of 2.15h−1 on glucose and 1.52h−1 on xylose (doubling time less than 30min). The corresponding specific glucose and xylose utilization rates are 5.55g/g/h and 5.24g/g/h, respectively. As such, Geobacillus LC300 grows 3-times faster than E. coli on glucose and xylose, and has a specific xylose utilization rate that is 3-times higher than the best metabolically engineered organism to date. To gain more insight into the metabolism of Geobacillus LC300 its genome was sequenced using PacBio׳s RS II single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing platform and annotated using the RAST server. Based on the genome annotation and the measured biomass composition a core metabolic network model was constructed. To further demonstrate the biotechnological potential of this organism, Geobacillus LC300 was grown to high cell-densities in a fed-batch culture, where cells maintained a high xylose utilization rate under low dissolved oxygen concentrations. All of these characteristics make Geobacillus LC300 an attractive host for future metabolic engineering and biotechnology applications.

On-chip 3D rotation of oocyte based on a vibration-induced local whirling flow

We propose a novel on-chip 3D cell rotation method based on a vibration-induced flow. When circular vibration is applied to a microchip with micropillar patterns, a highly localized whirling flow is induced around the micropillars. The direction and velocity of this flow can be controlled by changing the direction and amplitude of the applied vibration. Furthermore, this flow can be induced on an open chip structure. In this study, we adopted a microchip with three micropillars arranged in a triangular configuration and an xyz piezoelectric actuator to apply the circular vibration. At the centre of the micropillars, the interference of the vibration-induced flows originating from the individual micropillars induces rotational flow. Consequently, a biological cell placed at this centre rotates under the influence of the flow. Under three-plane circular vibrations in the xy, xz or yz plane, the cell can rotate in both the focal and vertical planes of the microscope. Applying this 3D cell rotation method, we measured the rotational speeds of mouse oocytes in the focal and vertical planes as 63.7 ± 4.0° s−1 and 3.5 ± 2.1° s−1, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated the transportation and rotation of the mouse oocytes and re-positioned their nuclei into a position observable by microscope. Three-dimensional cell observation and manipulation, required during cellular surgery, rely on proper orientation of the target cell. Conventional cell rotation techniques using microscopic hand-like devices demand sophisticated equipment and highly skilled operators. Additionally, existing on-chip approaches exploiting electric, magnetic and optical forces involve intricate structures that are complex to fabricate. To simplify these systems, Takeshi Hayakawa and co-workers from Nagoya University, Japan, have developed a microfluidic chip that controls cell rotation through vibration. The chip consists of a glass surface decorated with three small pillars in a triangular arrangement. To achieve stable motion, the researchers apply in-plane and vertical circular vibrations, creating local vortexes around the pillars that cause a cell placed at their centre to rotate. This simple, high-performance method is expected to play a central role in future biotechnology research.

Do Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) gravid females discriminate between Bt or multivitamin corn varieties? Role of olfactory and visual cues.

The Mediterranean corn borer, Sesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre, is a key pest of corn and a main target of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn in Northeast Spain. Trends for future biotechnology crops indicate that Bt, non-Bt, and stacked corn varieties with metabolic pathways for vitamin-increased traits could coexist in same region. Knowledge of the oviposition response of gravid females of S. nonagrioides to these different varieties could be extremely important for managing strategies aimed for delaying resistance development. In dual-choice assays, we examined the host preference of gravid females of S. nonagrioides for four corn varieties: a new transgenic corn with increased vitamin levels, its near isogenic counterpart (M37W), a Bt corn plant, and its near isogenic counterpart. Olfactory cues were the predominant ones when gravid females looked for a suitable host to lay eggs, and no synergistic effects were observed when both visual and olfactory cues were present. When the plant was visible, the females preferred the odors emitted by the nontransgenic to its multivitamin transgenic counterpart and when they only could detect the volatiles they also preferred the nontransgenic M37W variety to the Bt corn variety. If gravid females are less attracted to corn with an increased level of vitamins, this could impact insect resistance management and the value of refuge plants, if such traits are stacked with an insect resistance trait.