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Despite their heightening popularity and potential individual and societal implications, little scientific attention has been given to the news coverage of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) kits (e.g. 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage). To accommodate, this study leverages the Analysis of Topic Model Networks to inductively develop a comprehensive overview of how major U.S. news media framed DTC-GT kits between 2009 and 2022, and then explicates the relationship of such coverage with kit sales between 2012 and 2019. We find four frames through which the news media talk about the kits: Utility, Scientific, Political-Economic, and Commercial. Further, as kit sales increase over time, news media maintain a strong emphasis on the utility of kits in their coverage, but also increasingly promote kits through product reviews. We find that this news coverage is influenced by―but does not influence―kit sales, and discuss implications pertaining to the DTC-GT industry and to biotechnology more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Despite the progress in gene editing platforms like CRISPR/Cas9 with the potential to transform the standard of care for haemophilia, the language used to explain and discuss gene editing is not aligned across the haemophilia community. Here, we present the objective and rationale for developing a clear, consistent, and globally aligned gene editing lexicon to address these communication gaps.Effectively communicating complex gene editing concepts requires a clear and consistent vocabulary. Through collaboration with a diversity of haemophilia stakeholders, our main goal is to develop an accurate, informative lexicon which avoids overpromising or highly technical terminology. Using an innovative process, representatives from several patient and scientific haemophilia organizations and select biotechnology companies will develop and refine language concepts to be tested with approximately seventy participants across the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Germany. Participants will include lived experience experts (LEEs) and haematologists. The process will be overseen by the Lexicon Steering Committee of global experts from leading scientific and patient organizations in the haemophilia and gene editing fields.Initial feedback provided a robust foundation and rationale for building clear, consistent language around gene editing. This lexicon development framework will allow for increased understanding across the haemophilia community, including the development of valid informed consent and shared decision‐making materials.Results provide important building blocks for stimuli development and highlight the need for a novel gene editing lexicon. In the next phase, language stimuli will be tested with LEEs and haematologists to better understand audience preferences and help shape the final lexicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA and protein‐based therapeutics constitute almost half of recent drug approvals and receive considerable attention within biotechnology industries. Ensuring their stability and longevity in the context of heat, freezing, and lyophilization processes are paramount to a successful deployment. However, the advancement of formulations designed to achieve this goal is still in its nascent phase. To address these challenges, a new class of semi‐dendritic hydrophilic polymer with extended linear units is reported, which showcase very high hydration. These novel polymers demonstrated exceptional efficacy in preserving messenger RNA‐ (mRNA‐) and self‐amplifying RNA‐ (saRNA‐) lipid nanoparticles during freezing and lyophilization. Additionally, they have been found to protect therapeutic proteins against external stressors such as freezing, heat, and lyophilization. These polymers are non‐toxic, which enables their utilization at high concentrations and eliminates the requirement for removal prior to administration. It is found that their unique topology contributes to the high hydration. These excipients are anticipated to create new prospects in biotechnology, food science, and cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the ways in which the intellectual and political history of AIDS can assist in the chronological conceptualization of a pandemic such as COVID-19 as it is unfolding. It problematizes the idea of pandemic "beginnings" and "ends" to show that such definitions are shaped by the disciplinary location and thematic foci of relevant scholars. Central to this analysis is the notion that ethical and political contexts affect research on a pandemic in different ways at national and global levels at various points in its trajectory. The article develops this argument in relation to two main themes: firstly, with reference to the history of AIDS research in South Africa; secondly, with the philosophical concept of bioagency to understand the ways in which viruses and humans co-shape the course of epidemics over time. I first make the case for the development of historically informed, long-term ethnographic studies of COVID-19. Using bioagency as a point of departure to consider viruses as social actors, the essay then critiques the notion of bioinformationalism as catalyzing the widening accessibility of biomedical research. Instead, I discuss the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as protagonists in the operation of biocapital. I argue that the history of AIDS in South Africa can provide methodological and theoretical insights into how to interpret an unfolding epidemic, outlining an ambitious transdisciplinary research agenda for thinking about the temporality of a pandemic spanning the different, interconnected, scales of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-L-rhamnosidase (Rha) is ubiquitous in nature and has high feasibility in the food and biotechnology industries. A green and environmentally friendly method was used to improve the activity of Rha. Here, we show that the effects of ultrasound treatment on the Rha. Ultrasonic treatment at 80 W for 10 min yielded the highest enzyme activity. Treatment increased enzyme activity by 26.3% and half-life by 124 min. Further, treatment increased the catalytic efficiency of Rha and increased the substrate conversion rate by 33.88%. These results demonstrate that ultrasound increases the catalytic activity and stability of Rha. Thus, ultrasonic treatment of Rha is cost-effective on the industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma contamination of continuous cell cultures and collection viral strains remains a serious problem in the biotechnology industry and experimental research. The frequency of mycoplasma contamination of cultured cell lines and viruses is 15–35%, and in some cases up to 80%. Mycoplasmas cause various changes in cultures contaminated by them, including cell death. They have immunomodulatory properties and affect the yield of certain viruses propagated in cell cultures. Mycoplasmas do not have a cell wall, are able to pass through a bacterial filter, have the smallest genome (≈580 kb) among bacteria, and are capable of independent reproduction and existence. These microorganisms are resistant to most antibiotics commonly used in cell culture. Derivative groups of tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones (BM-Cyclin®, Ciprobay®, Baytril®, Plasmocin®, MRA) have shown certain effectiveness in decontaminating viral strains and cell cultures from mycoplasmas. Timely, highly sensitive detection and prevention of mycoplasma infection is of great importance. For routine scanning of mycoplasma infection of continuous cell cultures and viral strains, the methods of indicator cell culture (cytochemical) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are recommended, or for more accuracy, microbiological analysis of mycoplasma colonies on a special medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biotechnology company Grail developed a non-invasive blood test (Galleri test) which is claimed to detect 50 types of cancer at early and potentially curable stages. The initially promising results from prospective studies, and the anticipated financial success of Grail led the sequencing giant Illumina to purchase Grail for $8 billion (2021). Following this event, Grail collaborated with the UK National Health System to further clarify the test’s capability, in a 3-year prospective trial, along with the standard of care. At the end of the first year, UK-NHS announced that they will suspend the trial due to unsatisfactory clinical performance and until they analyze the data for the first year (which already enrolled 140,000 participants). Legal and financial issues between the interested parties are currently in flux. We previously expressed concerns about the sensitivity and specificity of the Galleri test. In this opinion paper, we revisit the hyped technology, and we provide new suggestions on the use of this test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of commercial autologous cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells requires complex manual manufacturing processes. Skilled labor costs and challenges in manufacturing scale-out have contributed to high prices for these products. We present a robotic system that uses industry-standard cell therapy manufacturing equipment to automate the steps involved in cell therapy manufacturing. The robotic cluster consists of a robotic arm and customized modules, allowing the robot to manipulate a variety of standard cell therapy instruments and materials such as incubators, bioreactors, and reagent bags. This system enables existing manual manufacturing processes to be rapidly adapted to robotic manufacturing, without having to adopt a completely new technology platform. Proof-of-concept for the robotic cluster's expansion module was demonstrated by expanding human CD8+ T cells. The robotic cultures showed comparable cell yields, viability, and identity to those manually performed. In addition, the robotic system was able to maintain culture sterility. Such modular robotic solutions may support scale-up and scale-out of cell therapies that are developed using classical manual methods in academic laboratories and biotechnology companies. This approach offers a pathway for overcoming manufacturing challenges associated with manual processes, ultimately contributing to the broader accessibility and affordability for personalized immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current hybrid work context, the significance of employee well-being and the enduring concern over job insecurity have become increasingly emphasised. However, our understanding of how the intricate interplay among the technology environment, individual behaviour, and personal characteristics impacts employee well-being and job insecurity remains incomplete. To bridge this knowledge gap, we have proposed a moderated mediation model grounded on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). This study delves into the impact of ubiquitous connectivity feature of technological environment (encompassing compatibility and presenteeism) on employee well-being and job insecurity. Additionally, we explore the mediating role of individual behaviour (i.e. Enterprise social media (ESM) enabled embeddedness), and the moderating role of personal characteristics (i.e. ESM self-efficacy) within these associations. By collaborating with a large biotechnology company in China, we conducted a two-wave survey. 189 responses from both study waves are used for final analysis using Partial Least Square (PLS) approach. The results revealed noteworthy mediation effects of ESM-enabled embeddedness and significant moderated mediation effects of ESM self-efficacy. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCyclodextrin-glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) is a multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes many enzymatic reactions including cyclization, binding, disproportionation and hydrolysis reactions, playing an important role in the enzymatic synthesis of compounds that are widely used in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food, chemical and biotechnology industries. The present research is aimed to optimize the purification protocol for the extracellular CGTase of alkaliphilc bacterial strain Caldalkalibacillus mannanilyticus IB-OR17-B1 guaranteeing the enzyme homogeneity and its high yield. The improved combination of ultrafiltration and corn-starch (5% w/v) affinity sorption techniques resulted to mild and rapid isolation of electrophoritically homogenic enzyme at 18 × increase of its specific activity and yield 56%. The developed two-step procedure instead the practiced tree-step one using commonly ion-exchange chromatography as final purification technique highly contributes in advance of cost-effectiveness for industrial production and isolation of valuable CGTases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a personal account of one academic scientist who founded two biotechnology companies. Both companies were initially incubated within the walls of the university under a creative student incubator program whereby biology students could pursue their graduate academic degrees while gaining valuable biotechnology experiences. After the companies transitioned out of the university environment, the professor and his students pursued diagnostic and therapeutic drug development resulting in the completion of several clinical trials. The value of international scientific collaborations with colleagues at the University of Padova (Italy) is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on bioactive compounds is essential to improve human health; promote adequate nutrition; drive innovation in the food, agricultural and biotechnology industries; and contribute to the preservation of the environment. The genus Diplotaxis (Brassicaceae) currently comprises around forty species, some of which are edible, particularly Diplotaxis tenuifolia (wild rocket), Diplotaxis erucoides (wall rocket), Diplotaxis muralis (annual wall rocket), Diplotaxis viminea (perennial wall rocket), and Diplotaxis simplex. The leaves of these species are rich in fiber and essential minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Thirteen species have been characterized for their phenolic compounds, predominantly kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin glycosides. Furthermore, glucosinolate compounds were identified in nineteen species of the genus Diplotaxis. Many of the phytochemicals identified in Diplotaxis spp. demonstrated interesting biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, as well as cytotoxicity and antiproliferative properties. This article provides a review of the phytochemistry of the Diplotaxis genus, highlighting its importance in food, its biological properties, potential pharmacological applications, and the dearth of research on many of these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through its fermentative capacities, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was central in the development of civilisation during the Neolithic period, and the yeast remains of importance in industry and biotechnology, giving rise to bona fide domesticated populations. Here, we conduct a population genomic study of domesticated and wild populations of S. cerevisiae. Using coalescent analyses, we report that the effective population size of yeast populations decreased since the divergence with S. paradoxus. We fitted models of distributions of fitness effects to infer the rate of adaptive (ωa) and non‐adaptive (ωna) non‐synonymous substitutions in protein‐coding genes. We report an overall limited contribution of positive selection to S. cerevisiae protein evolution, albeit with higher rates of adaptive evolution in wild compared to domesticated populations. Our analyses revealed the signature of background selection and possibly Hill–Robertson interference, as recombination was found to be negatively correlated with ωna and positively correlated with ωa. However, the effect of recombination on ωa was found to be labile, as it is only apparent after removing the impact of codon usage bias on the synonymous site frequency spectrum and disappears if we control for the correlation with ωna, suggesting that it could be an artefact of the decreasing population size. Furthermore, the rate of adaptive non‐synonymous substitutions is significantly correlated with the residue solvent exposure, a relation that cannot be explained by the population's demography. Together, our results provide a detailed characterisation of adaptive mutations in protein‐coding genes across S. cerevisiae populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods for the enrichment of microorganisms rely on growth in a selective liquid medium or on an agar plate, followed by tedious characterization. Droplet microfluidic techniques have been recently used to cultivate microorganisms and preserve enriched bacterial taxonomic diversity. However, new methods are needed to select droplets comprising not only growing microorganisms but also those exhibiting specific properties, such as the production of value-added compounds. We describe here a droplet microfluidic screening technique for the functional selection of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms, which are of great interest in the bioremediation and biotechnology industries. Single bacterial cells are first encapsulated into picoliter droplets for clonal cultivation and then passively sorted at high throughput based on changes in interfacial tension in individual droplets. Our method expands droplet-based microbial enrichment with a novel approach that reduces the time and resources needed for the selection of surfactant-producing bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the impact of information on biopharmaceutical stock prices via an event study encompassing 503,107 news releases from 1,012 companies. We distinguish between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and apply three asset pricing models to estimate their abnormal returns. Acquisition-related news yields the highest positive return, while drug-development setbacks trigger significant negative returns. We also find that biotechnology companies have larger means and standard deviations of abnormal returns, while the abnormal returns of pharmaceutical companies are influenced by more general financial news. To better understand the empirical properties of price movement dynamics, we regress abnormal returns on market capitalization and a sub-industry indicator variable to distinguish biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and find that biopharma companies with larger capitalization generally experience lower magnitude of abnormal returns in response to events. Using longer event windows, we show that news related to acquisitions and clinical trials are the sources of potential news leakage. We expect this study to provide valuable insights into how diverse news types affect market perceptions and stock valuations, particularly in the volatile and information-sensitive biopharmaceutical sector, thus aiding stakeholders in making informed investment and strategic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel mass spectrometry (MS) based analytical platforms have enabled scientists to detect and quantify molecules within biological and environmental samples more accurately. Novel MS instrumentation starts as a prototype and, after years of development, can become a commercial product to be used by the larger MS community. Without the initial prototype, many MS‐based instruments today would not be produced. Additionally, biotechnology companies are the main drivers for research, development, and production of novel instruments, but the tools for prototyping instrumentation have never been more accessible. Here, we present a tutorial on prototyping instrumentation through the case study of developing the Next Generation IR‐MALDESI source to show that an engineering degree is not required to design and construct a prototype instrument with modern hardware and software. We discuss the prototyping process, the necessary skills required for efficient prototyping, and information about common hardware and software used within initial prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives set in the European Green Deal constitute the starting point of this review, which then focuses on the current implementation gap between agro-industrial wastes as resources for large-scale bioprocesses (e.g., baker's yeast, bioethanol, citric acid, and amino acids). This review highlights the current lack of sustainability of the post-harvest processing of grapes and apples. In light of the European Green Deal, industrial biotechnology often lacks sustainability as well. We reviewed the recent progress reported in the literature to enhance the valorization of grape and apple pomace and the current failure to implement this research in technical processes. Nevertheless, selected recent papers show new perspectives to bridge this gap by establishing close collaborations between academic teams and industrial partners. As a final outcome, for the first time, we drew a circular flow diagram that connects agriculture post-harvest transformation with the industrial biotechnology and other industries through the substantial valorization of apple and grape pomace into renewable energy (solid biofuels) and sugar extracts as feedstock for large-scale bioprocesses (production of baker's yeast industry, citric acid, bioethanol and amino acids). Finally, we discussed the requirements needed to achieve the successful bridging of the implementation gap between academic research and industrial innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2022 the first Dark Genome Symposium was held in Boston, USA. The meeting was hosted by Rome Therapeutics and Enara Bio, two biotechnology companies working on translating our growing understanding of this vast genetic landscape into therapies for human disease. The spirit and ambition of the meeting was one of shared knowledge, looking to strengthen the network of researchers engaged in the field. The meeting opened with a welcome from Rosana Kapeller and Kevin Pojasek followed by a first session of field defining talks from key academics in the space. A series of panels, bringing together academia and industry views, were then convened covering a wide range of pertinent topics. Finally, Richard Young and David Ting gave their views on the future direction and promise for patient impact inherent in the growing understanding of the Dark Genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rise of global population, pollution, and the limitation of natural resources, sustainability is now becoming a fundamental requirement of industries. Sustainable processes support all the dimensions of ecological, social, and economic parameters. Industry 4.0 concept originated from the German industry, and the main aspect is the use of advanced technology for efficient production. Industry 4.0 comprises technologies such as digital technology, machine learning, robotics, Internet of Things, and cyber-physical systems etc. Industry 4.0 is capable to transform the traditional manufacturing units into smart factories. The biotechnology industry uses the principles of molecular biology, genetic engineering, and fermentation technology etc to produce a variety of products. Similar to the industrial revolution, the biotechnology industry also underwent a similar revolution. Biotechnology industry uses technologies like recombinant DNA technologies, metabolic engineering, and fermentation technologies. Biotechnological processes have certain limitations, like instability of biological catalysts, complex biological systems, and difficulties in upstream and downstream processes. Biotechnological processes are environment friendly and are considered, creating less harm to nature as compared to chemical industrial processes. In this article authors have discussed the role of Industry 4.0 technologies in the production of environmentally sustainable biotechnology products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I consider Judy Malloy's durational performance and multimedia artwork, OK Genetic Engineering (OKGE) , 1983–86, in relation to evolving intellectual property laws in the United States and the progression of neoliberalism in the San Francisco Bay Area. Scholars across disciplines have considered the myriad implications of the landmark decisions that allowed for the patenting of genetically engineered lifeforms. These new laws paved the way for the creation of the biotechnology industry, challenged existing conceptions of what constitutes a lifeform, and extended the neoliberal privatization of all things public. Malloy's imagined biotech company, OKGE , incorporated patents, trademarks, and copyright into its many iterations. Thus, the artwork critiqued not only new patent laws, but also intellectual property at large. I argue that Malloy's OKGE relied on the ephemerality of performance, the distribution of materials through the mail-art network, and the cheapness of her chosen materials to reject intellectual property and the harmful effects it had on creative expression and the public good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bill known as the Biosecure Act, which has been approved by the House of Representatives, could hinder science collaborations and limit the purchase of sequencers by U.S. drug companies. The bill aims to prevent federal funds from going to biotech companies linked to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. It specifically bans purchases from five Chinese firms and could impact projects that rely on sequencing in China or involve Chinese scientists. Proponents argue that the named biotech companies are stealing intellectual property or directing data to centers affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. However, critics worry about the potential negative effects on research collaborations and competition in the lab instrument market. The bill is likely to pass and have a significant impact on the industry. [Extracted from the article]

Rachel King, the CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), discusses her career and her new role at BIO in an interview. She shares her passion for biotech and the life sciences, as well as her experiences with mergers and changes in the industry. King also talks about the challenges of being a female executive in a male-dominated industry and the evolving relationship between biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The biotech sector has faced challenges in the financial markets, but remains valuable and critical. BIO advocates for a strong and flexible FDA, innovation, affordable access to drugs, and diversifying talent in the industry. They also engage with legislation, strengthen the FDA, and collaborate with state bioscience associations to support the industry. [Extracted from the article]

Formate is a promising energy carrier that could be used to transport renewable electricity. Some acetogenic bacteria, such as Eubacterium limosum, have the native ability to utilise formate as a sole substrate for growth, which has sparked interest in the biotechnology industry. However, formatotrophic metabolism in E. limosum is poorly understood, and a system-level characterisation in continuous cultures is yet to be reported. Here, we present the first steady-state dataset for E. limosum formatotrophic growth. At a defined dilution rate of 0.4 d-1, there was a high specific uptake rate of formate (280 ± 56 mmol/gDCW/d; gDCW = gramme dry cell weight); however, most carbon went to CO2 (150 ± 11 mmol/gDCW/d). Compared to methylotrophic growth, protein differential expression data and intracellular metabolomics revealed several key features of formate metabolism. Upregulation of phosphotransacetylase (Pta) appears to be a futile attempt of cells to produce acetate as the major product. Instead, a cellular energy limitation resulted in the accumulation of intracellular pyruvate and upregulation of pyruvate formate ligase (Pfl) to convert formate to pyruvate. Therefore, metabolism is controlled, at least partially, at the protein expression level, an unusual feature for an acetogen. We anticipate that formate could be an important one-carbon substrate for acetogens to produce chemicals rich in pyruvate, a metabolite generally in low abundance during syngas growth. Key points: First Eubacterium limosum steady-state formatotrophic growth omics dataset High formate specific uptake rate, however carbon dioxide was the major product Formate may be the cause of intracellular stress and biofilm formation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gracilariaceae are important in the biotechnology industry and microbiology research. Some Gracilaria species are difficult to identify morphologically and molecular phylogenetic data hold a key role in species level identification. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of G. changii and G. salicornia from the Peninsular Malaysia were sequenced to compare with the published taxa in order to gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic questions regarding the red algae, particularly G. changii and G. firma. Phylogenetic analysis for 66 plastid genes showed that G. changii from Malaysia formed a sister lineage with G. firma with a genetic distance of 0.43 %. However, there was a genetic distance of p = 4.32 % between the Malaysian and Philippine samples of G. changii, indicating they are genetically distinct. Five chloroplast genes (petF, rps12, rps14, rpl18 and petB) showed higher variation of genetic distance between Malaysian G. changii and G. firma (p = 1.23–2.00 %) and the intraspecific variation in G. salicornia from Peninsular Malaysia and Hawaii varies from p = 0–0.31 %. The lack of overlap between the intraspecific genetic distance of Malaysian G. changii and interspecific genetic distance of Malaysian G. changii-G. firma indicates that G. changii and G. firma are not conspecific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 21st century has seen a substantial increase in the industrial applications of glycolipid biosurfactant technology. The market value of the glycolipid class of molecules, sophorolipids, was estimated to be USD 409.84 million in 2021, with that of rhamnolipid molecules projected to reach USD 2.7 billion by 2026. In the skincare industry, sophorolipid and rhamnolipid biosurfactants have demonstrated the potential to offer a natural, sustainable, and skin-compatible alternative to synthetically derived surfactant compounds. However, there are still many barriers to the wide-scale market adoption of glycolipid technology. These barriers include low product yield (particularly for rhamnolipids) and potential pathogenicity of some native glycolipid-producing microorganisms. Additionally, the use of impure preparations and/or poorly characterised congeners as well as low-throughput methodologies in the safety and bioactivity assessment of sophorolipids and rhamnolipids challenges their increased utilisation in both academic research and skincare applications. This review considers the current trend towards the utilisation of sophorolipid and rhamnolipid biosurfactants as substitutes to synthetically derived surfactant molecules in skincare applications, the challenges associated with their application, and relevant solutions proposed by the biotechnology industry. In addition, we recommend experimental techniques/methodologies, which, if employed, could contribute significantly to increasing the acceptance of glycolipid biosurfactants for use in skincare applications while maintaining consistency in biosurfactant research outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy is one of the most innovative treatments in the current field of oncology and consists of stimulating the immune system to eliminate tumoral cells. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are glycoproteins secreted by B-cells capable of recognizing and neutralizing foreign organisms or antigens. Structurally, they are composed of two heavy and two light chains. The generation of therapeutic mAbs is one of the most developed and fastest-growing areas of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries and is an important adjunct to cancer therapy. Several antibodies have been approved for human administration and can be mouse-derived, chimeric, humanized, or fully human. mAbs main mechanism of action includes the lysis of the tumoral cells through inducing apoptosis, phagocytosis, complement activation, or signaling inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. biotechnology industry got its start and grew to maturity over roughly three decades, beginning in the 1980s. During this period genes were patentable, and many gene patents were granted. University researchers performed basic research-- often funded by the government--and then patented the genes they discovered with the encouragement of the Bayh-Dole Act, which sought to encourage practical applications of basic research by allowing patents on federally funded inventions and discoveries. At that time, when a researcher discovered the function of a gene, she could patent it such that no one else could work with that gene in the laboratory without a license. She had no right, however, to control genes in nature, including in human bodies. Universities licensed their researchers' patents to industry, which brought in significant revenue for further research. University researchers also used gene patents as the basis for obtaining funding for start-up enterprises spun out of university labs. It was in this environment that many of today's biotechnology companies started. In 2013, the Supreme Court held that naturally occurring genes could no longer be patented. This followed a 2012 decision that disallowed patents on many diagnostic processes. These decisions significantly changed the intellectual property protections in the biotechnology industry. Nevertheless, the industry has continued to grow and thrive. This Article investigates two questions. First, if some form of exclusive rights still applied to genes, would the biotech industry be even more robust, with more new entrants in addition to thriving, well-established companies? Second, does the current lack of protection for gene discoveries incentivize keeping such discoveries secret for the many years that it can take to develop a therapeutic based thereon--to the detriment of patients who could benefit from knowledge of the genetic associations, even before a treatment is developed? The Article concludes by analyzing what protection for discovering genetic associations, if any, will most increase social welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is deemed possible in the wake of failure? The global biotech industry's failure to develop affordable diagnostic devices for use in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) has inspired a generation of humanitarian entrepreneurs to launch their own diagnostic start‐up companies. This essay traces the rise and fall of one such start‐up in Boston in the United States, Daktari, which developed a portable HIV testing device in the 2010s. I show how the alignment of humanitarian and economic valuations in a single diagnostic device depended on the ability of the start‐up's founders and employees to synchronize the distinct tempos of financial capital, humanitarian design, and global health standards. Yet their failure to achieve this synchronization does not simply offer another story of biotech hype and speculation, the generation of promissory value at the expense of actual things. Instead, the essay examines the hopes and expectations that the firm's employees invested in the device's material qualities, manufacture, and distribution. What, I ask, is the meaning of failure, and its material remains, when it is measured against humanitarian rather than solely commercial expectations? The essay concludes with some reflections on the aftermath of failure in humanitarian entrepreneurship, examining the questions that Daktari's demise poses for understandings of what is possible and desirable in global health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) is a red pigment present in algae with potential application in the biotechnology industry. This study aims the physical-chemical characterization and antioxidant activity of R-phycoerythrin from Gracilaria birdiae (CE-Gb). The spectroscopic stability of the pigment against different additives was also evaluated. The results showed antioxidant activity dependent on pigment concentration. Furthermore, the degradation of R-PE was maximum in CE-Gb without preservatives, and the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) reduced the color loss of the pigment during storage. G. birdiae proved to be a potential source of R-PE, which can be used as a dye in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pichia kudriavzevii is an emerging non-conventional yeast which has attracted increased attention for its application in food and biotechnology areas. It is widespread in various habitats and often occurs in the spontaneous fermentation process of traditional fermented foods and beverages. The contributions of P. kudriavzevii in degrading organic acid, releasing various hydrolase and flavor compounds, and displaying probiotic properties make it a promising starter culture in the food and feed industry. Moreover, its inherent characteristics, including high tolerance to extreme pH, high temperature, hyperosmotic stress and fermentation inhibitors, allow it the potential to address technical challenges in industrial applications. With the development of advanced genetic engineering tools and system biology techniques, P. kudriavzevii is becoming one of the most promising non-conventional yeasts. This paper systematically reviews the recent progress in the application of P. kudriavzevii to food fermentation, the feed industry, chemical biosynthesis, biocontrol and environmental engineering. In addition, safety issues and current challenges to its use are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Support services are very significant for the correct performance of key processes; in the case of the biotechnology industry, this type of services is not frequently analyzed in their excellence performance. The purpose of this work is to suggest a model for the development of Support Services Management, which highlights the impacts over the level of customer satisfaction with the logistics system of biotechnology companies in the specific conditions of Cuba; however it can be applied to other contexts. For this, the basic elements of the management and service models are clarified as a theoretical basis for this research. As a methodology, experimentation and case studies are chosen, including the development of a production support service in the biotechnology industry. The level of customer satisfaction and the costs incurred are determined; In addition, the influence of the level of integration of support services on the results of the model is taken into account. The document provides the results of the model and its application in the biotechnology industry in Cuba, through a procedure designed for its implementation. This research satisfies the identified need to improve internal customer satisfaction based on quality and timely delivery of resources. At the same time, the costs of the logistics system are reduced or maintained, because the main cost must be in the key services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have proven to have multiple applications in the biotechnology industry. Porphyridium cruentum is a microalgae that exhibits a wide content of polysaccharides and proteins with potential pharmacological activity. This work evaluates the antimicrobial activity of the P. cruentum biomass against the parasites Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma brucei through the microdilution method in plates, as well as the cytotoxicity in leukocyte cell lines, using as a drug reference Tamoxifen. The biomass showed inhibitory activity against the parasites T. brucei, T. rhodesiensis, and T. cruzi. The study also demonstrated that the biomass does not exert cytotoxic activity on THP-1 human monocytes and RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The results obtained indicate that the active compounds present in Porphyridium cruentum could be considered as possible antimicrobial candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serum level of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota metabolite associated with diabetes, cancer, inflammatory and neurological diseases, can be determined by the micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. However, we had problems obtaining accurate standard curves with the original kit protocol from Bioassay Technology Laboratory. We aimed to acquire proper standard curves by modifying the kit protocol in this study. First, we evaluated the human TMAO ELISA kit protocols and other human ELISA kits. We maintained the incubation times longer and increased the wash cycle. Moreover, we incubated the standards containing biotinylated antibody in the wells alone. Then we washed the wells and added streptavidin-HRP for the second incubation step. The data of original and modified ELISA kit protocol were analyzed with Student's t-test. We measured higher absorbance with lower standard solution concentration in experiments that followed the original kit protocol. After investigating other human TMAO ELISA kits, we noticed that the SunRed Biotechnology Company and MyBioSource companies suggested similar protocols to the Bioassay Technology Laboratory company. The ELK Biotechnology ELISA protocol was different from others. However, since there is no biotinylated antibody in the standard solution in the ELK biotechnology kit, we changed some steps by examining other human ELISA protocols from different companies. After performing the modified protocol, we found that the absorbances of the standard solutions were consistent with their concentrations, and we obtained an accurate standard curve. Higher R2 values and lower absolute difference of standard concentrations were found in the modified kit protocol. The human TMAO ELISA protocol, which we modified in this study, will enable researchers to obtain more reliable results and prevent them from failing time and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over forty years, a sugar of rare configuration known as trehalose (two molecules of glucose linked at their 1-carbons), has been recognised for more than just its roles as a storage compound. The ability of trehalose to protect an extensive range of biological materials, for instance cell lines, tissues, proteins and DNA, has sparked considerable interest in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, trehalose is now being investigated as a promising therapeutic candidate for human use, as it has shown potential to reduce disease severity in various experimental models. Despite its diverse biological effects, the precise mechanism underlying this observation remain unclear. Therefore, this review delves into the significance of trehalose biosynthesis pathway in the development of novel drug, investigates the inhibitors of trehalose synthesis and evaluates the binding efficiency of T6P with TPS1. Additionally, it also emphasizes the knowledge about the protective effect of trehalose on modulation of autophagy, combating viral infections, addressing the conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases based on the recent advancement. Furthermore, review also highlight the trehalose's emerging role as a surfactant in delivering monoclonal antibodies that will further broadening its potential application in biomedicines. [Display omitted] • Trehalose protects biomaterials, sparking biotech and pharmaceutical interest. • Examines trehalose biosynthesis, inhibitors, T6P-TPS1 binding for drug development. • Shows therapeutic potential, reducing disease severity in experimental models. • Highlights role in autophagy, viral infections, cancer, neuro diseases, and mAbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identifying good-quality start points is essential for small-molecule drug discovery. • There are an increasing number of challenging targets entering drug discovery portfolios. • Many different screening paradigms might be used to attempt to identify hits. • Combining these appropriately for each new target allows an integrated strategy to facilitate high-quality hit identification. Identification of high-quality hit chemical matter is of vital importance to the success of drug discovery campaigns. However, this goal is becoming ever harder to achieve as the targets entering the portfolios of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are increasingly trending towards novel and traditionally challenging to drug. This demand has fuelled the development and adoption of numerous new screening approaches, whereby the contemporary hit identification toolbox comprises a growing number of orthogonal and complementary technologies including high-throughput screening, fragment-based ligand design, affinity screening (affinity-selection mass spectrometry, differential scanning fluorimetry, DNA-encoded library screening), as well as increasingly sophisticated computational predictive approaches. Herein we describe how an integrated strategy for hit discovery, whereby multiple hit identification techniques are tactically applied, selected in the context of target suitability and resource priority, represents an optimal and often essential approach to maximise the likelihood of identifying quality starting points from which to develop the next generation of medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of laccases in biotechnology and industry is an expanding research field. Laccases derived from Cerrena unicolor (C. unicolor) exhibit notable potential in the food and industrial sectors. However, generating sufficient yields of this laccase through heterologous expression to meet commercial demands remains a challenge. Therefore, we heterologously expressed LACCASE2 (Lac2), a laccase gene from C. unicolor , in Aspergillus niger. By incorporating strategies such as codon optimization, molecular chaperone-assisted expression, and atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis, we successfully screened the strain OPT-HacA-M10 with the highest laccase yield, which exhibited a remarkable enzymatic activity of 416.8 U/mL in a 50-L fermenter. We further assessed the enzymatic properties of the recombinant laccase rLac2, focusing on its capabilities in dye decolorization and mycotoxin degradation. In the absence of a mediator, rLac2 exhibited extremely high degradation efficiency for Remazol Brilliant Blue R and indigo. Impressively, outstanding results were achieved with this laccase in denim bleaching. In mycotoxin degradation tests, with methyl syringate as a mediator, rLac2 achieved degradation rates of over 94% for aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone. In summary, due to its heightened laccase activity and versatile applications, our enhanced strain is highly suitable for industrial and food sectors. • This is the first report in which laccase yield was enhanced in A. niger through this strategy. • The findings of this study delineate an efficient method for the heterologous expression of laccase in A. niger. • The findings of this study furnish insights for amplifying protein production within heterologous platforms. • Our optimized strain is exceptionally suited for applications in the industrial and food sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have collected and used hallucinogenic mushrooms for ethnic medicinal, recreational, and religious purposes since before recorded history. Currently, the use of these mushrooms is illegal in most countries, but where their use is legal they are applied as self medication. Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive alkaloids, are naturally synthesized by hallucinogenic mushrooms. The chemical structure of these compounds are similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Activation of this system by psilocybin and psilocin may produce temporary changes in the brain that induce hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. Adjustment of the serotonin system in this way can moderate symptoms of related mental disorders. This review summarizes relevant and current information regarding the discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their contained psychoactive compounds, the events that lead to their criminalization and decriminilization, and the state of knowledge of psilocybin, psilocin, and derivatives. Last, research on the psychoactive properties of these mushrooms is placed in perspective to possible applications for human dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of regenerative medicine, cell therapy is often used to regenerate organs or tissue that can be widely applied to several diseases. In recent years, the Taiwanese government has listed the biotechnology industry as a key developmental objective and has enacted laws to regulate cell therapy. This has led to substantial change and has necessitated a reliable direction of management in the cell therapy industry. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new method to explore the key success factors in three dimensions of relevant biotechnology company management. It adopts a qualitative method combined with a quantitative analysis method. The study uses Gwo Xi Stem Cell Company, a qualified cell therapy company in Taiwan, as a case study. It adopts a literature analysis method and conducts interviews with cell therapy experts to develop an innovative assessment framework. The analytic hierarchy process is combined with decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory to establish the key success factors in the management of the cell therapy industry. Thus, the study offers strategic recommendations for the development of domestic stem-cell-related industries. The results demonstrate technical characteristics as the most important direction for successful management. Moreover, due to the substantial change in Taiwan's cell therapy industry, technical characteristic-related key success factors, including product development strategy (technical characteristic 1) and technological mastery (technical characteristic 2), are currently considered to be crucial key success factors in decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of lactic acid (LA) through the microbial conversion of agro-industrial residuals is an important process in the biotechnology industry. The growth kinetics of 30 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from agro-industrial residues were determined and nine strains were selected for microbioreactor fermentation. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus_70-1 (1.662) and L. pentosus_19-2 (1.563) showed the highest OD600 values, whereas the highest growth rates were observed for L. pentosus_19-2 (0.267 h−1) and Weissella soli_31 (0.256 h−1). The production of LA and acetic acid (AA), glucose consumption, and metabolic profiles were determined, without finding significant differences in the production of LA; however, W. soli_29 produced the highest amount of LA (20.833 gL−1) and was able to metabolize most of the studied carbohydrates. Based on these results, W. soli_29 was chosen for a 20 h fermentation in a 7 L bioreactor using both standard medium and milk whey supplemented medium. W. soli_29 produced 16.27 gL−1 and 7.21 gL−1 of LA in each of these mediums, respectively. These results show the underlying potential of Weissella strains for biotechnological applications. Additional analysis which should contemplate different agro-industrial residues and other conditions in bioreactors must be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of bioprocesses is a challenge in designing modern systems for control. In the biotechnology industry, the lack of reliable hardware sensors for key variables related to the metabolism of microorganisms is a topical problem. This predetermines the progress of a scientific field that relies on the development of software sensors for immeasurable variables. In this paper, a new approach for the monitoring of class-controllable bioprocesses that evolve through various physiological states (metabolic regimes) is proposed. At the core of the approach is the potential to present total biomass as a sum of the biomass concentrations obtained during each of the metabolic regimes. Algorithms for estimation of immeasurable variables and their kinetics are here derived and applied using real experimental data. As a case-study, a fed-batch process for phytase production by E. coli is considered. Effectiveness of the method is proven by using two sets of real experiments. One is used to tune the software sensors and the other to verify the approach. The stability analyses are provided, as well. The obtained results and successful verification confirm the adaptive properties of the approach. The considered software sensors will be further built into an interactive system for training specialists/students of biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circumcised donut benzenoid systems are a class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from planar benzenoid networks by strategically eliminating a few hexagons. The study of donut benzenoid systems has been gaining ground because of their neoteric and fascinating characteristics like superaromaticity, ascribed to their unique structure. The distinct nature and properties of donut benzenoids open the door for applications in several industries such as biotechnology, electronics, pharmaceuticals and so on. The investigation of the properties of circumcised donut benzenoids and their relationship to the underlying molecular structures using graph-theoretical techniques is advantageous in the design and synthesis of new donut benzenoid compounds. Studies on topological indices have conclusively proved that they have a strong correlation to various properties of chemical compounds. They also provide a mathematical representation of the molecular structure for QSPR/QSAR techniques. In this paper, the degree-based molecular structural descriptors are calculated for two circumcised donut benzenoid structures using M-polynomial and edge partition techniques, effectively doubling the number of known topological indices for these structures. Also, the numerical values of these indices are computed and compared pictorially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-liquid-solid three-phase fluidized bed has been widely used in chemical, biotechnology and environmental industries for its advantages of large inter-phase contact area, high heat/mass transfer efficiency and intense reaction process. In this work, the bidirectional sinusoidal liquid pulsed GLS fluidized bed was proposed to improve the interphase relative velocity and reaction efficiency. The effects of particle properties and pulsed liquid amplitude/frequency on the flow characteristics were studied by numerical simulations and experiments. In a complete circulation period, the average axial solids holdup is larger near the middle region of the fluidized bed and gradually decreases along the upper and lower inlets. With the increase of pulsation amplitude or period, the axial average gas holdup distribution uniformity and the liquid-solid relative velocity increase significantly. Compared with the conventional upward gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed, the bidirectional fluidized bed can further improve the liquid-solid relative velocity and reaction efficiency. The obtained studies have important implications for better design, scale-up and operation of gas-liquid-solid multiphase fluidization systems. [Display omitted] • The bidirectional sinusoidal liquid pulsed GLS fluidized bed is investigated. • The flow characteristics are studied by simulations and experimental measurements. • A good agreement is achieved between the numerical and experimental results. • The liquid-solid relative velocity is more affected by pulsation amplitude/period. • The special fluidized bed can further improve the liquid-solid relative velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical workflow applications' necessities have increased with the progress of the biotechnology industry and it involves large volumes of data which require large-scale computation. Due to the upcoming data deluge of biomedical data, processing and scheduling of the same in computing resources have presented many challenges. A biomedical workflow application requires heterogeneous resources for execution. Thus, it utilizes the advantage of cloud computing, as a cloud provides scalable high-performance computing resources. Scheduling of these workflows in the cloud is a crucial problem for which the proposed solution contributes greatly towards execution improvement. The proposed algorithm provides optimal and effective utilization of computational resources by novel scheduling of algorithms. Least Execution Time Cloud Workflow Scheduling (LETCWS) and Revised Heterogeneous Earliest Finish Time (RHEFT) algorithms are proposed and implemented in two distinct levels to schedule the biomedical workflow applications in such a way that it reduces the execution time while reducing the cost. The proposed algorithms are evaluated using the Workflowsim tool with real-world biomedical workflow applications. Experimental results illustrate the performance of scheduling workflow applications over the other existing approaches. The result shows that the proposed algorithm achieves better performance in terms of execution time and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recombinant proteins are widely used in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, improving their solubility and stability is often a challenging issue. We recently discovered a class of highly unstructured heat-resistant obscure (Hero) proteins, which function to protect other "client" proteins in trans from various stresses in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that fusion of Hero proteins in cis can enhance the molecular property of recombinant proteins. Fusion with Hero11 improved the otherwise challenging production of TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) in Escherichia coli. Moreover, fusing with Hero9 strongly protected the activity of firefly luciferase bearing destabilizing mutations against heat and other stress conditions. These data suggest that Hero proteins have the potential to be used as versatile stabilization tags for recombinant protein production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a class of biotherapeutics combining antibody specificity with the targeted delivery of payloads for the treatment of both cancer and noncancer diseases. • Thirteen ADCs have now been approved for oncological application with over 200 candidate ADCs in clinical trials to meet clinical challenges. • Advanced technologies from biopharmaceutical companies lead to the development of multi-formats of ADCs including bispecific ADCs, acidic pH-responsive ADCs, target-degrader ADCs, and immunostimulatory ADCs. • The prosperity of biopharmaceutical ADC industries benefits patients suffering from cancer and other medical diseases. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), from prototypes in the 1980s to first- and second-generation products in the 2000s, and now in their multiformats, have progressed tremendously to meet oncological challenges. Currently, 13 ADCs have been approved for medical practice, with over 200 candidates in clinical trials. Moreover, ADCs have evolved into different formats, including bispecific ADCs, probody–drug conjugates, pH-responsive ADCs, target-degrading ADCs, and immunostimulating ADCs. Technologies from biopharmaceutical industries have a crucial role in the clinical transition of these novel biotherapeutics. In this review, we highlight several features contributing to the prosperity of bioindustrial ADC development. Various proprietary technologies from biopharmaceutical companies are discussed. Such advances in biopharmaceutical industries are the backbone for the success of ADCs in development and clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]