Category Archives: Biotechnology

Background:
Cost-effective production of lignocellulosic biofuels remains a major financial and technical challenge at the industrial scale. A critical tool in biofuels process development is the techno-economic (TE) model, which calculates biofuel production costs using a process model and an economic model. The process model solves mass and energy balances for each unit, and the economic model estimates capital and operating costs from the process model based on economic assumptions. The process model inputs include experimental data on the feedstock composition and intermediate product yields for each unit. These experimental yield data are calculated from primary measurements. Uncertainty in these primary measurements is propagated to the calculated yields, to the process model, and ultimately to the economic model. Thus, outputs of the TE model have a minimum uncertainty associated with the uncertainty in the primary measurements.
Results:
We calculate the uncertainty in the Minimum Ethanol Selling Price (MESP) estimate for lignocellulosic ethanol production via a biochemical conversion process: dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn stover followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and co-fermentation of the resulting sugars to ethanol. We perform a sensitivity analysis on the TE model and identify the feedstock composition and conversion yields from three unit operations (xylose from pretreatment, glucose from enzymatic hydrolysis, and ethanol from fermentation) as the most important variables. The uncertainty in the pretreatment xylose yield arises from multiple measurements, whereas the glucose and ethanol yields from enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, respectively, are dominated by a single measurement: the fraction of insoluble solids (fIS) in the biomass slurries.
Conclusions:
We calculate a $0.15/gal uncertainty in MESP from the TE model due to uncertainties in primary measurements. This result sets a lower bound on the error bars of the TE model predictions. This analysis highlights the primary measurements that merit further development to reduce the uncertainty associated with their use in TE models. While we develop and apply this mathematical framework to a specific biorefinery scenario here, this analysis can be readily adapted to other types of biorefining processes and provides a general framework for propagating uncertainty due to analytical measurements through a TE model.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

Background:
Cellulose, which is the most abundant renewable biomass on earth, is a potential bio-resource of alternative energy. The hydrolysis of plant polysaccharides is catalyzed by microbial cellulases, including endo-beta-1,4-glucanases, cellobiohydrolases, cellodextrinases, and beta-glucosidases. Converting cellobiose by beta-glucosidases is the key factor for reducing cellobiose inhibition and enhancing the efficiency of cellulolytic enzymes for cellulosic ethanol production.
Results:
In this study, a cDNA encoding beta-glucosidase was isolated from the buffalo rumen fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum W5 and is named NpaBGS. It has a length of 2,331 bp with an open reading frame coding for a protein of 776 amino acid residues, corresponding to a theoretical molecular mass of 85.1 kDa and isoelectric point of 4.4. Two GH3 catalytic domains were found at the N and C terminals of NpaBGS by sequence analysis. The cDNA was expressed in Pichia pastoris and after protein purification, the enzyme displayed a specific activity of 34.5 U/mg against cellobiose as the substrate. Enzymatic assays showed that NpaBGS was active on short cello-oligosaccharides from various substrates. A weak activity in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) digestion indicated that the enzyme might also have the function of an endoglucanase. The optimal activity was detected at 40oC and pH 5~6, showing that the enzyme prefers a weak acid condition. Moreover, its activity could be enhanced at 50oC by adding Mg2+ or Mn2+ ions. Interestingly, in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) experiments using Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 or Kluyveromyces marxianus KY3 as the fermentation yeast, NpaBGS showed advantages in cell growth, glucose production, and ethanol production over the commercial enzyme Novo 188. Moreover, we showed that the KY3 strain engineered with the NpaNGS gene can utilize 2 % dry napiergrass as the sole carbon source to produce 3.32 mg/ml ethanol when Celluclast 1.5L was added to the SSF system.
Conclusion:
Our characterizations of the novel beta-glucosidase NpaBGS revealed that it has a preference of weak acidity for optimal yeast fermentation and an optimal temperature of ~40oC. Since NpaBGS performs better than Novo 188 under the living conditions of fermentation yeasts, it has the potential to be a suitable enzyme for SSF.Keywordsendoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, Neocallimastix patriciarum, rumen fungi, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that Governor Jon Huntsman, former U.S. Ambassador to China and Governor of Utah, will provide a keynote address at the BIO Convention in China to be held October 24-25, 2012 in Shanghai. The event will bring together a global audience of biotechnology executives, pharmaceutical companies and investment firms to meet and explore business opportunities within Chinas emerging biotech sector.

Governor Huntsmans vast experience with international policy and business, specifically in China, will allow him to provide a unique perspective on best practices in business development between eastern and western companies, said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president of Emerging Companies and Business Development at BIO.

From 2009 through April 2011, Governor Huntsman served as an Ambassador to China when he stepped down to run for the 2012 Republican nomination for President of the United States. Prior to serving as Ambassador to China, Huntsman was twice elected as Governor of Utah. During his tenure as Governor, Utah was named by the Pew Center as the Best Managed State in America.

Governor Huntsman began his public service career as a White House staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan and enjoyed such appointments as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. As a U.S. Trade Ambassador, Governor Huntsman has successfully negotiated free trade and investment agreements for the United States with China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, India, Vietnam, West Africa, South Africa and other Sian and African nations.

He is a founding director of the Pacific Council on International Policy and has served on such boards as the Brookings Institute Asia Policy Board, the Center for Strategic and International Studies Pacific Forum, the Asia Society in New York and the National Bureau of Asian Research.

The BIO Convention in China will feature plenary sessions and workshops on health and regulatory issues, intellectual property, business development and vaccines, and global health. The conference also will feature company presentations, partnering meeting opportunities, and an Exhibition. The convention will include biopharmaceutical industry leaders from North America, Europe and Asia.

BIO brings to China more than 16 years of experience in organizing international conferences for the biotech industry, including the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest annual biotech conference. BIO is renowned for its successful business development, partnering and investor meetings in North America, Europe and Asia. Partnering at this conference will be powered by BIO One-on-One Partnering, an interactive environment to intelligently search, contact and schedule private meetings with potential partners and investors.

BIO China is organized by BIO and co-organized by Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. For more information on BIO China, please visit here.

Upcoming BIO Events

Read more here:
BIO Announces Governor Jon Huntsman as Keynote Speaker for the BIO Convention in China

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -04/20/12)- Mergers and Acquisitions have been a hot topic in the Biotechnology Industry recently. According to a recent report by Dealogic, pharmaceutical deals totaled $18.5 billion globally this year, an increase of 5% from the same period last year. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI - News) and Complete Genomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNOM - News).

Access to full reports can be found at:

http://www.ParagonReport.com/HGSI http://www.ParagonReport.com/GNOM

As larger companies reduce spending on research and development they are looking at smaller biotech companies to diversify their product lines. M&A allows bigger companies to acquire products and technology that are already proven in the market place, avoiding the many risks associated with research and development.

On Thursday Biotechnology Company Human Genome Sciences rejected a $2.59 billion takeover bid from GlaxoSmithKline. The announcement comes just a day after Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche announced that it was abandoning its bid for U.S. biotech firm Illumina.

Paragon Report releases regular market updates on the Biotechnology Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.ParagonReport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. recently announced that it will sponsor a conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. These results are expected to be disclosed on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, before the capital markets open. The conference call will be hosted by senior management and will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Complete Genomics is the whole human genome sequencing company that has developed and commercialized an innovative DNA sequencing service. The Complete Genomics Analysis Platform (CGA Platform) combines Complete Genomics' proprietary human genome sequencing technology with advanced informatics and data management software.

Paragon Report provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.ParagonReport.com/disclaimer

Read more:
Mergers and Acquisitions Continue to Grow in the Biotechnology Industry

Consumers of canned beef and swine can now stay assured of the quality of the food and relish the taste without any fear of contamination courtesy ‘IdentiGEN’. IdentiGEN has developed TraceBack, the first-ever commercial DNA-fingerprinting technology for meat. The process starts at the farm or slaughterhouse, where animals are given are tested for pathogens. After receiving a clean bill of health, a worker takes a sample of the cow’s blood, meat or hair, analyzes it for genetic identifiers known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and stores the information in a central database. Before packaging is done at supermarket, the butchers take another DNA sample and checks it with the database to be sure of a 100% healthy packaged meat. And if there is trace of any errant pathogen found, the source can be traced back within hours thus making it possible for food-safety officials to nail down the source of the outbreak. According to Ronan Loftus, IdentiGEN’s director of business development: Each product has its own inherent label. It’s like nature’s bar code. Once this system is in place, you can pull a package of meat off the shelves and access its entire history. And the consumers have to pay a negligible premium to get 100% healthy meat.

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

A better hope for thousands of women suffering from the ‘often resistant to chemotherapy’ ovarian cancer at its advanced stage. A new cancer vaccine therapy is on its way to launch expanding treatment options to such women. Thanks to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The vaccine is developed by AVAX Technologies, Inc. Dr. Edgar Staren, Chief Medical Officer of Cancer Treatment Centers of America said, Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s number one priority is to help our patients win the battle against cancer. This vaccine therapy represents a promising new chapter in the fight against this devastating disease and brings hope to women everywhere. Interestingly, this treatment method creates a patient-specific vaccine, using the patient’s own tumor tissues. The method also combines chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdominal cavity along with it. Dr. Staren said, To win the fight against cancer, it is absolutely vital we do everything we can to make innovative new treatments like this available to patients as soon as possible. It’s inconceivable that treatments like these – that give hope to patients – are often left on the laboratory bench, while cancer patients are told there is nothing more that can be done for them.

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml