Biotechnology Research Articles

U-shaped association between serum IGF2BP3 and T2DM: A cross-sectional study in Chinese population.

To clarify the expression of N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) modulators involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We further explored the association of serum insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins 3 (IGF2BP3) levels and odds of T2DM in a high-risk population. The gene expression data set GSE25724 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus, and a cluster heatmap was generated by using the R package ComplexHeatmap. Differential expression analysis for 13 m6 A RNA methylation regulators between nondiabetic controls and T2DM subjects was performed using an unpaired t test. A cross-sectional design, including 393 subjects (131 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, 131 age- and sex-matched subjects with prediabetes, and 131 healthy controls), was carried out. The associations between serum IGF2BP3 concentrations and T2DM were modeled by restricted cubic spline and logistic regression models. Two upregulated (IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP3) and 5 downregulated (methyltransferase-like 3 [METTL3], alkylation repair homolog protein 1 [ALKBH1], YTH domain family 2 [YTHDF2], YTHDF3, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein [HNRNPC]) m6 A-related genes were found in islet samples of T2DM patients. A U-shaped association existed between serum IGF2BP3 levels and odds of T2DM according to cubic natural spline analysis models, after adjustment for body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglyeride. Multivariate logistic regression showed that progressively higher odds of T2DM were observed when serum IGF2BP3 levels were below 0.62 ng/mL (odds ratio 3.03 [95% confidence interval 1.23-7.47]) in model 4. Seven significantly altered m6 A RNA methylation genes were identified in T2DM. There was a U-shaped association between serum IGF2BP3 levels and odds of T2DM in the general Chinese adult population. This study provides important evidence for further examination of the role of m6 A RNA methylation, especially serum IGF2BP3 in T2DM risk assessment.

Activity‐Based Protein Profiling – Celebrating the Groundbreaking Contributions of Benjamin Cravatt

Activity‐Based Protein Profiling – Celebrating the Groundbreaking Contributions of Benjamin Cravatt

Tag‐Free Antibody Modification Mediated by Lipoic Acid Ligase A: Application to Antibody‐Drug Conjugates Production

AbstractEnzymatic modifications of proteins are of great interest in the pharmaceutical industry as it enables the production of homogeneous protein conjugates such as antibody‐drug conjugates, which are considered to be promising for cancer medicine. Several biotechnology companies have established proprietary conjugation technologies using specific enzymes. Most enzymatic modifications require the use of tags and enzyme‐recognition moieties. Therefore, site‐specific and “tag‐free” modifications are required to avoid the time‐consuming process of installing tags on proteins. Lipoic acid ligase A (LplA), is a recently reported enzyme having the potential to be used for the site‐specific modification of native antibodies without requiring a tag moiety. In this manuscript, investigations focused on the optimization of this enzymatic modification applied to antibody‐drug conjugates (ADCs) production. First, an analysis of the pH dependency was performed. Next, the effects of excess adenosine mono‐ and di‐phosphate were also examined to show that these by‐products from LplA modification did not have a significant impact on inhibiting the reaction efficiency. Furthermore, ADC syntheses by LplA‐mediated tag‐free modification followed by click reaction were achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of actual ADC synthesis produced by LplA modification of tag‐free antibodies. A stability assessment of the resulting ADCs indicated that this enzymatic approach is a promising tool for installing biorthogonal groups to native antibodies for the next generation of ADC manufacturing.

Correction to: Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis of KNOW-CKD Data.

HomeJournal of the American Heart AssociationAhead of PrintCorrection to: Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis of KNOW‐CKD Data Open AccessCorrectionPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toOpen AccessCorrectionPDF/EPUBCorrection to: Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis of KNOW‐CKD Data Originally published21 Feb 2023https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.027609Journal of the American Heart Association. 2023;0:e027609This article corrects the followingClinical Outcomes of Rhythm Control Strategies for Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation According to the Quality‐of‐Life Score: The CODE‐AF (Comparison Study of Drugs for Symptom Control and Complication Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation) RegistryIn the article Eunjeong Kang et al, “Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis of KNOW‐CKD Data,” which published online June 29, 2022 (J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11:e025956. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.025956) and was included in the July 5, 2022 issue of the journal, a correction was needed.The authors mistakenly provided an incorrect grant number in their Sources of Funding statement. The correct grant number from the Bio and Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation, funded by the Korean government is 2017M3A9E4044649.The Sources of Funding statement now reads:“This study was supported by a Research Program funded by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011E3300300, 2012E3301100, 2013E3301600, 2013E3301601, 2013E3301602, 2016E3300200, 2016E3300201, 2016E3300202, 2019E320100, 2019E320101, 2019E320102, and 2022‐11‐007) and the Bio and Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation, funded by the Korean government (No. 2017M3A9E4044649).”The authors regret the error.The online version of the article has been updated and is available here: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.025554. Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRelated articlesClinical Outcomes of Rhythm Control Strategies for Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation According to the Quality‐of‐Life Score: The CODE‐AF (Comparison Study of Drugs for Symptom Control and Complication Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation) RegistryJu Youn Kim, et al. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2022;11 Article InformationMetrics Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley BlackwellThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.027609PMID: 36802852 Originally publishedFebruary 21, 2023 PDF download

Application of Embedded Voice And Digital Forensics System In Financial Cost Management In Biotech Companies.

Financial cost management is a critical component of business operations in the biotech industry. Embedded voice and digital forensics systems are emerging technologies that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of financial cost management. This abstract explores the application of embedded voice and digital forensics systems in financial cost management in biotech companies. The study highlights the potential of these technologies to enable real-time monitoring and analysis of financial transactions, enhance fraud detection and prevention, and optimize financial cost management. The study reviews the various applications of embedded voice and digital forensics systems in biotech companies, such as invoice processing, expense tracking, and vendor management. The study examines the benefits of using these technologies in financial cost management, such as improved accuracy and efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced data security. The study also discusses the challenges of implementing embedded voice and digital forensics systems in biotech companies, such as data integration, system interoperability, and organizational resistance to change. The study concludes that embedded voice and digital forensics systems are valuable tools for financial cost management in biotech companies, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of financial transactions, enhancing fraud detection and prevention, and optimizing financial cost management. The integration of these technologies in biotech companies can improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance data security, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of the biotech industry.

Analysis of Non-Compulsory Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination among Polish Soldiers.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges in epidemiology, health care, and vaccinology. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies had to develop effective vaccines as soon as possible in order to halt the spread of infection outbreaks and enable the start of the National Vaccination Program. Firstly, medical services and security services (the army, fire brigade, and police), i.e., those most involved in the fight against the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, were included in the aforementioned program. The presented publication analyzes the amount and type of vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza among Polish soldiers. Influenza, like COVID-19, is a viral disease that can vary in its course (from mild to acute and life-threatening). Both coronaviruses and influenza viruses are characterized by high genetic variability, resulting in the need for repeated vaccination during each autumn and winter season. Acquired data comes from the Central Register of Vaccination of Professional Soldiers. The collected material was statistically processed. The average level of the phenomenon was presented as a time series using a chronological average. In the analyzed period (December 2020-December 2021), the lowest vaccinations against COVID-19 were performed in December 2020, which is due to the schedule of the National Vaccination Program in Poland. In contrast, the highest number of vaccinations were administered between April and June 2021, or approximately 70.5% of all vaccines administered. In the case of influenza, there is a clear increase in the number of vaccinations during the autumn and winter seasons, which coincides with peaks in disease during these periods. Between August 2020 and January 2021, there is a noticeable increase in the number of flu injections given, nearly 50% compared to the previous period, which may be related to the simultaneous persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and greater attention to one's own health. Non-mandatory vaccination is an important point in the vaccination schedule for soldiers. Numerous public campaigns combating misinformation and raising awareness of the need for immunization will help convince even more people, not only among soldiers but also the civilian population, to vaccinate.

Targeting RNA with small molecules-A safety perspective.

RNA is a major player in cellular function, and consequently can drive a number of disease pathologies. Over the past several years, small molecule-RNA targeting (smRNA targeting) has developed into a promising drug discovery approach. Numerous techniques, tools, and assays have been developed to support this field, and significant investments have been made by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. To date, the focus has been on identifying disease validated primary targets for smRNA drug development, yet RNA as a secondary (off) target for all small molecule drug programs largely has been unexplored. In this perspective, we discuss structure, target, and mechanism-driven safety aspects of smRNAs and highlight how these parameters can be evaluated in drug discovery programs to produce potentially safer drugs.

Using automated patent landscaping and legal geography analysis to spot biopiracy activities in the island of Hispaniola

This paper reports on an automated patent landscaping and legal geography analysis to scrutinize the biopiracy of endemic plants in the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). My analysis relies on shrubs and flowers that may be reaped without a fair and equitable distribution of benefits. My findings highlight that Western pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies' innovations may overlap sovereign states’ intellectual property rights, implying that regulatory gaps must be filled to empower local communities to benefit from biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, I suggest that the island adopt effective and consistent access and benefit-sharing policies, including mechanisms that encourage environmental protection and require prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms for utilizing genetic resources. I also suggest the introduction of disclosure of origin and/or source of genetic resources in their respective patents regime to ensure that Convention on Biological Diversity regulations and other related international frameworks can be followed.

Environmentally Conscious Technologies Using Fungi in a Climate-Changing World

Fungi are a diverse and fascinating group of organisms that play an important role in various ecosystems, e.g., in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling. However, climate change poses a significant threat to these ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause shifts in the distribution of fungi and negatively impact the ecosystems they inhabit. Yet fungi have the potential to play a role in mitigating the effects of climate change. With the use of biotechnology, fungi can help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and their properties make them useful organisms in addressing the urgent challenges that humanity faces. For example, industrial biotechnology using fungi can lead to the production of goods that are more biodegradable, use less energy and produce less waste. Fungi have long been used in the production of enzymes, alkaloids, detergents, acids, and biosurfactants on an industrial scale. Recent research in the field of white biotechnology has made significant progress, and further advances are expected in the near future, especially in agricultural and environmental biotechnology. With this in mind, it is crucial to explore the use of fungi in novel and environmentally conscious technologies, as well as in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Does Usage of ERP Systems in Biotechnology Firms Improve their Financial Performance? Role of Business Model Innovation and Top Management Support.

The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system’s role in managing business processes has become more pronounced with time. The study aimed to assess whether using an ERP system impacts the performance of biotechnologies firms (FP). The study undertook Business Model Innovation (BMI) and Top Management Support (TMS) as mediators. Data was collected from managers in Biotechnology companies in Malaysia through purposive sampling. A sample of 276 respondents was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling for evaluating the model fitness and structural linkages. The results showed no significant association between the ERP system and FP. Nevertheless, it was found that BMI and TMS significantly mediate the relationship between ERP systems and FP. The findings of the study have added empirical evidence to the existing literature on ERP systems. They are useful in helping managers and decision-makers in organizations to take the necessary steps to implement and use ERP systems. Business model innovation and top management support are important practices in using ERP systems to boost financial performance.

Biologically Active Supplements Affecting Producer Microorganisms in Food Biotechnology: A Review.

Microorganisms, fermentation processes, and the resultant metabolic products are a key driving force in biotechnology and, in particular, in food biotechnology. The quantity and/or quality of final manufactured food products are directly related to the efficiency of the metabolic processes of producer microorganisms. Food BioTech companies are naturally interested in increasing the productivity of their biotechnological production lines. This could be achieved via either indirect or direct influence on the fundamental mechanisms governing biological processes occurring in microbial cells. This review considers an approach to improve the efficiency of producer microorganisms through the use of several types of substances or complexes affecting the metabolic processes of microbial producers that are of interest for food biotechnology, particularly fermented milk products. A classification of these supplements will be given, depending on their chemical nature (poly- and oligosaccharides; poly- and oligopeptides, individual amino acids; miscellaneous substances, including vitamins and other organic compounds, minerals, and multicomponent supplements), and the approved results of their application will be comprehensively surveyed.

Tips and Tricks: Starting Your Own Continuing Medical Education Course

Tips and Tricks: Starting Your Own Continuing Medical Education Course

ExpressInHost: A Codon Tuning Tool for the Expression of Recombinant Proteins in Host Microorganisms

ExpressInHost (<a href="https://gitlab.com/a.raguin/expressinhost" target="_blank">https://gitlab.com/a.raguin/expressinhost</a>) is a GTK/C++ based user friendly graphical interface that allows tuning the codon sequence of an mRNA for recombinant protein expression in a host microorganism. Heterologous gene expression is widely implemented in biotechnology companies and academic research laboratories. However, expression of recombinant proteins can be challenging. On the one hand, maximising translation speed is important, especially in scalable production processes relevant to biotechnology companies, but on the other hand, solubility problems often arise as a consequence, since translation ‘pauses’ might be key to allow the nascent polypeptide chain to fold appropriately. To address this challenge, we have developed a software that offers three distinct modes to tune codon sequences using the genetic code redundancy. The tuning strategies implemented take into account the specific tRNA resources of the host and that of the native organism. They balance rapid translation and native speed mimicking, which might be important to allow proper protein folding, thereby avoiding protein solubility problems.

Salad Days: Pairwise Gene Edits Food to Topple Nutrition Barriers

Salad Days: Pairwise Gene Edits Food to Topple Nutrition Barriers

Health Equity in Sickle Cell Research and Access to Therapy

Health Equity in Sickle Cell Research and Access to Therapy

Patient Advocacy Leads to Synthetic Antibodies for Mycobacteria

Patient Advocacy Leads to Synthetic Antibodies for Mycobacteria

Industry update, December 2022.

Industry update, December 2022.

Comparison of Financial and Operating Conditions of Companies in The Biomedical Industry Before and after COVID-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought various influences to the Biological Medicine industries. any biomedical companies have been fighting on the front lines from beginning to end. This essay uses Mingde Biotechnology Company as the classical case to analyze and compare the Biological Medicine industry’s corporate finance and state of operation before and after COVID-19. Through research, Mingde Biotechnology Company experienced a dramatic profit. Therefore, the conclusion is that COVID-19 gives additional benefits to Biological Medicine industries due to the increasing demand for Nucleic acid tests and some other medical supplies. Nevertheless, because of the wane of the pandemic, the demand for the Nucleic acid test which is also the main business of the Biological Medicine industry, so the meaning of the research is to give more ways for this enterprise to continue to gain profits in the post-pandemic era. Companies benefiting from the epidemic should take advantage of this opportunity to develop more cutting-edge medical products, realize domestic substitution, and better serve the people.

Assessing the value determinants of biotechnology sector firms

Subject. This paper examines the relationship between financial indicators and the value of 1054 biotech firms in the period from 2011 to 2020. Objectives. The aim is to build a model, using the econometric analysis, and on its basis to assess the impact of financial factors on the value of companies operating in the biotechnology industry. Methods. The study consists of several stages. At the first stage, we scrutinized the existing materials on the topic and selected factors for constructing an econometric model. At the second stage, we performed a regression analysis and tested the resulting model according to the prerequisites of the least squares method. At the last stage, we selected the optimal model based on tests for the specification of the model, and interpreted the results. Results. We established that the costs of research activities, return on equity are positively and significantly related to the cost, while the coefficient of financial dependence significantly negatively affects the value of companies. Revenue growth and dividend yield are not significant in the case of biotech companies. Conclusions. For the biotech sector companies, the coefficient of financial dependence, on the average in the sample, is very important. This suggests that most biotech companies are at the stage of growth. With a decrease in the coefficient of financial dependence, there is an increase in own funds, which undoubtedly has a positive effect on the value of biotech companies.

Review on Formulation and their Development

A crucial area of development that could determine a pharmaceutical product's success in the long run is formulation development. There are numerous different ways that businesses include pre - formulation functions and individuals into their development cycle. Specific departments may exist in fully integrated, sizable pharmaceutical companies to address issues with formulation and physical characterization of medicinal ingredients in these fields. Several times, diagnosis tasks like animal testing could be handled by different departments, frequently in different buildings or places. To fully comprehend its unique drug material, these departments should collaborate closely. Formulation development is typically a departmental responsibility for smaller, growing businesses as well as some biotechnology companies.