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Preliminary Program
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| M.S.Swaminathan |
Sunday, June 15
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
An Evergreen Revolution
and the Future of Agriculture
M.S.Swaminathan, Chairman of the M
S Swaminathan Research Foundation, President of the
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs;
UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology at the M S Swaminathan
Research Foundation in Chennai, India; and Chairman
of the National Commission on Agriculture, Food and
Nutrition Security of India.
Sunday, June
15
8:00 am – 10:00 am
RNA-based Technologies
and Therapeutics
Conveners: David D. Songstad, Monsanto Company, and
Amy A. Wang, GlaxoSmithKline
RNA-based technologies, namely, antisense oligonucleotides
(ASOs), RNA interference (RNAi), and microRNA (miRNA),
are a relatively new addition to the field of nucleic
acid-based therapeutics. ASOs have been tested in
the clinic for ten years, and have one product on
the market. RNAi is a new preferred technique for
specifically blocking gene expression so cellular
phenotype and gene function can be studied. The pioneers
of RNAi research have been awarded Noble Prize in
2006. The revolutionary breakthrough of RNAi is having
a major impact on drug discovery and development.
The newly emerging technology of miRNAs may have therapeutically
useful links to cancer and other diseases. The speakers
in the plenary symposia will describe the new RNA-based
technologies and their applications in both animal
and plant research fields. They will provide up-to-date
information on RNAi and miRNA products, and review
recent progress in RNA-based drug discovery and development.
Speakers:
Moving from In Vitro to In Vivo RNAi
Chris Cunning, Invitrogen Corporation
New Development of miRNA Research and Role of miR-34
in p53 Tumor Suppressor Network
Caifu Chen, Applied Biosystems
RNAi for Insect Control
Jim Roberts, Monsanto Company
Monday, June 16
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Bioinformatics, Genomics,
Proteomics and Cellomics
Conveners: Colette J. Rudd, XenoPort, Inc., and Mark
C. Jordan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
New technologies with the potential to rapidly increase
our understanding of the complexities within biological
systems are becoming available. These include next
generation sequencing technologies and advances
in tools for rapid analysis of a broad
profile of cellular constituents. As these technologies
come into widespread use it will be essential for cell
biologists to develop strategies to handle, analyze
and integrate large quantities of data.
Speakers:
Peptidomic Profiling of Endocrine Cell Culture
Media for Bioactive Peptide Discovery
Steve Taylor, Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Data Management and Extraction of Biological Information
from Large Data Sets
David Mount, University of Arizona
Next Generation Sequencing Technologies, Their Implications,
and Prospects for Next-next Gen Technologies
Jeffrey Schloss, National Human Genome
Research Institute -National Institutes of Health
Tuesday, June 17
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Large Scale, Cell &
Tissue-based Production of Biopharmaceuticals and
Secondary Metabolites
Conveners: Haruhiko Tsumura, Kirin Pharma Co., and
Pamela J. Weathers, Arkansas Bioscience Institute
This session will cover relevant aspects of production
of biopharmaceutical and secondary metabolites by
animal cells and plant cells and tissues in large
scale. The development of production cell lines,
culture medium, metabolic engineering, the use of
genomic tools, bioreactor design and engineering,
and some case studies of actual commercial production
will be addressed. Where appropriate, speakers will
address issues of economics. Attendees will benefit
by learning about progress made in novel approaches
to making bioproducts less expensive through innovation
and how the correct decisions in large scale culture
can improve downstream processing as illustrated by
some success stories, along with how to avoid some
of the pitfalls.
Speakers:
Animal and Plant Cultures: Production of Biopharmaceuticals
and Secondary Metabolites
Wayne Curtis, Pennsylvania State University
Process Development for mAb Therapeutic Production
in 10,000 L-reactors with CHO Cells
Chikashi Hirashima, Chugai Pharmaceutical
Air Lift Balloon Type Bioreactor: Platform for Commercial
Production of Plant Based Small Molecules and TIssues
Ganapathy Sivakumar, Arkansas State University
Novel Plant Reactors and Scaling Them Up
Chunzhao Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wednesday,
June 18
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Biofuels-
A Ripe Field for Research or Not?
Conveners: Sylvia A. Mitchell, University of
the West Indies and David D. Songstad, Monsanto
Obtaining fuels from living plants, rather than plants
turned into to fuel many eons ago, appears to have
become necessary if we are going to continue to fuel
development and prosperity. Some of the issues to
consider include: what is the historical background
to biofuel production?, what plant species to use?,
do we limit the plant species used to non-food plants?,
how do we obtain economical levels of biofuel from
plant species?, which countries should be involved
and how?, do we use prime land or can we use marginal
land?, what are the best practices at present and
how can we learn from them?, what is the best way
forward?. The speakers have been chosen from a variety
of backgrounds and will present recent data to allow
for discussion of these considerations and identify
some ways forward – for research and for development.
Speakers:
The Impact of Improved Traits and Genetics on Biofuel
Production
Michael Edgerton, Monsanto Company
70 Years of Lessons on Biofuel Production from Brazil
Luciano Nass, National Center for Genetic
Resources Preservation, and David Ellis,
USDA-ARS
Biofuel Development in the Caribbean - The Pros
and Cons
Sylvia Mitchell, University of the West
Indies
Sunday, June 15
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Global Issues on Alternatives
to Animal Toxicology Testing
Conveners: John Harbell, Mary Kay, Inc., and Guy Smagghe,
University of Ghent
Toxicology has traditionally relied on the use of
surrogate species to predict the impact of chemicals
on the species of interest (e.g. man). Generally,
the surrogate species (i.e., rodents and lagomorphs)
were chosen for convenient manipulation in the laboratory
rather than a demonstrated physiological match to
the human. Most regulatory toxicology follows this
pattern and it is the response in the surrogate species
rather than the expected response in humans that drives
regulatory decisions. Over the past few decades, there
has been a strong interest in replacing the surrogate
animal tests with physiologically relevant in vitro
assays. This process has begun slowly but is now gaining
momentum. There is now a general consensus on how
in vitro methods should be validated and formal review
processes are in place. A number of new methods have
approved for regulatory use and some are incorporated
into international guidelines. This symposium will
focus on three areas: 1) validation, review and acceptance
procedures for new in vitro methods; 2) post approval
application and improvements of these methods; and
3) the future paradigm proposed by the National Academy
of Sciences to shift from surrogate species to identification
of toxic pathways using human cells.
Speakers:
Japanese Collaboration on Alternative to ANimal
Toxicology Testing
Hajime Kojima, Japanese Center for the Validation
of Alternative Methods
Critical Review of the Test Pardigm to Predict Human
Hepatotoxicity
Phillippe Vanparys, Altoxicon
In Vitro Alternatives in Toxicology: A Current
and Future Science Perspective
Eugene Elmore, University of California -
Irvine
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Virus-Cell Interactions
in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Systems
Conveners: Cynthia L. Goodman, USDA/ARS, and Guido
F. Caputo, Natural Resources Canada
The interactions between viruses and cells are quite
complex and can be studied from many different angles.
How are viruses able to overcome the cells' defenses
and/or utilize host cell resources to proliferate?
What are some of the ways that cells attempt to combat
viral invasion? Insights from these questions can
lead to improved treatments for human/livestock diseases
or to novel means of controlling pest insects employing
biocontrol agents. Additionally, our understanding
of virus-cell interactions can be used to develop
innovative tools in areas such as gene transfer technology
that are important for studying physiological aspects
of biomedical and agricultural research. Our session
will focus on how viruses specifically interact with
host systems and how these viral platforms can be
used in the gene transfer arena.
Speakers:
Baculovirus Genes Affecting Host Functions
Suzanne M. Thiem, Michigan State University
Coronavirus Assembly at Internal Cellular Membranes
Brenda G. Hogue, Arizona State University
William T. Gerthoffer, University of South
Alabama
Monday, June 16
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Good Cell Culture Laboratory
Practices
Conveners: John W. Harbell, Mary Kay, Inc., and Tetsuji
Okamoto, Hiroshima University
Cell and tissue-based bioassays have been a mainstay
for drug development, cancer research and basic cell
physiology research for several decades. With the
growth of molecular biology, genomics, and predictive
in vitro toxicology, in vitro systems are being used
by researchers of diverse backgrounds. Some researchers
may see the cell cultures as simply another reagent.
The study of cells in isolation provides many advantages
and also considerable challenge. Often cited advantages
include precise control over exposure conditions (concentration
and duration), greater freedom in selection of the
test species, use of well characterized cell types,
and the ability to handle a large number of samples
at a reasonable cost. The potential advantages can
be realized only with a full understanding of the
challenges. The initial characterization of the test
system and maintenance of its homeostasis and consistency
must be designed into the assay. The endpoints of
the assay are necessarily indirect and often focus
on the early cellular changes that precede the macroscopic
changes in the whole organ or organism. This symposium
will focus on assuring the validity of the test system
as free from occult contamination and consisting of
the cell type expected based on experience from several
perspectives. In addition, it will address experimental
design and the training required for proper execution
of the studies.
Speakers:
Results of a Mass Survey of Major Institutions in
Japan about the Microplasma Contamination and Cross
Contamination Issues
Arihiro Kohara, National Institute of Biomedical
Innovation
Assuring Cell-based Assay Quality by Design and
Execution: A Contract Research Laboratory Perspective
Hans A. Raabe, Institute for In Vitro Sciences
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
LEONARD J. SCHIFF MEMORIAL
SYMPOSIUM
Current Status of Tissue-engineered Product Regulation:
A Global View on the Relationship of Science and Practicality
Conveners: Sandra L. Schneider, Research & Clinical
Laboratory Systems, and Tohru Masui, JCRB Cell Bank
Development of tissue-engineered cells, cellular
products and therapeutic biologics requires an understanding
of current regulatory issues. Numerous mandate and
guideline changes have occurred in United States (U.S.),
European and Japanese law governing clinical studies.
As in vitro scientists, it is important to understand
the key regulatory issues when conducting global pre-clinical
and biologic research that have public interest and
response. The symposium objective is to build on previous
Congress presentations related to regulatory pathways
in discovery and development of biopharmaceuticals
and cellular therapies. This includes research design
and other practical considerations associated with
bench to bedside translational biologics. The symposium
outcome is to gain a global understanding of the essential
US, European and Japanese regulatory process related
to cellular products and transplantation of cultured
cells.
Speakers:
The Regulation of Cultured Cells and Cellular Products
for Transplantation: Current View of the Japanese
Regulatory Process
Tohru Masui, JCRB Cell Bank
Research Strategy & Navigating Clinical Integrity
and Current Global Regulatory Compliance
Sandra L. Schneider, Research & Clinical
Laboratory Systems
The Challenge of Developing Decision Making and
Practical Scientific Procedures Supporting Bench
to Market Translational Biologics
Experts Panel and Roundtable Discussion (Moderator:
Sandra L. Schneider)
John W. Harbell, Mary Kay, Inc
Tohru Masui, JCRB Cell Bank, Division of Bioresources,
National Institute of Biomedical Innovation
Colette J. Rudd, Xenoport, Inc
EXPERTS PANEL AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: The Challenge
of Developing Decision Making and Practical Scientific
Procedures Supporting Bench to Market Translational
Biologics
Moderator: Sandra L. Schneider
Panelists:
-John W. Harbell, Mary Kay, Inc
-Tohru Masui, JCRB Cell Bank, Division of Bioresources,
National Institute of Biomedical Innovation
-Colette J. Rudd, Xenoport, Inc
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Workshop: Effect of
Medium Constituents on Cells
Conveners: Paul J. Price, D-Finitive Cell Technologies
Eukaryotic cell culture media contain a diverse mixture
of nutrient constituents, particularly formulations
designed for serum-free culture. Optimization of nutrient
additives to cultivate specific cell types or to produce
high yields of biological product requires consideration
beyond intermediary metabolism of the independent
nutrients. This workshop explores interdependencies
of nutrient constituents and external factors that
impact stability or efficacy.
Speakers:
Hydrolysates
Matt Caple, SAFC Biosciences
Nutrient feeding
Tom Fletcher, Irvine Scientific
Factorial design made easy
Steve Peppers, Invitrogen
Effect of temperature and light on medium constituents
Paul Price, D-Finitive Cell Technologies
Panel discussion
Tuesday, June 17
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Stem Cells, Plasticity,
and Remedial Medicine
Conveners: Paul J. Price, D-Finitive Cell Technologies,
and Raziel S. Hakim, Howard University
Stem cells have long been recognized as the source
of mature differentiated cells in embryonic as well
as mature organ systems. While the terms totipotent,
pleuripotent and multipotent have been used to describe
stem cells by the number of different mature cell
types they can become, evidence is accumulating that
the culture environment in which cells are held can
not only affect the range of cell types that stem
cells can become, but can even cause reprogramming
of mature cells. The term transdifferentiation refers
to mature cells which have been reprogrammed by environmental
factors to new fates. Current research indicates that
stem and even mature cells of post-natal origin can
play a key role in cell-based therapies. The 3 speakers
will discuss their research results with different
sources of post-natal stem cells.
Speakers:
Aesenchymal Progenitors Able to Differentiate into
Osteogenic, Chondrogenic, and/or Adipogenic Cells
In Vitro are Present in Most Primary Fibroblast-like
Cell Populations
Kazuhiro Sudo, Riken Cell Bank
Induction of Hepatocyte-like Cells from Mesenchymal
Stem Cells and the Transplantation into Liver-injured
Rats
Kiyohito Yagi, Osaka University
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Stem Cells in Cancer
Research and Therapy
Conveners: Eugene Elmore, University of California
– Irvine and Monika Schmelz, University of Arizona
Health Sciences Center
One hypothesis of cancer suggests that it arises
from “cancer stem cells” that have the ability,
similar to all stem cells, to self-renew and to differentiate
into multiple cell types. Cancer stem cells could
persist in cancers and would be the likely cause of
the tumor resistance and relapse. The cancer stem
cell theory is one of many explanations have been
offered for the resistance of various cancers to therapy.
Cancer stem cells that survive therapy are potentially
able to give rise to new cancers. Cells from cancer
tissues are generally characterized by their rapid
growth rates compared to cells from normal tissues,
while stem cells tend to have much slower growth rates
in vivo and would be more resistant to therapies that
depend upon cell division for efficacy. Cancer stem
cells would therefore survive therapy at doses that
would kill most of the cells in a tumor, which would
explain the resistance and potential for relapse.
Progress in stem cell biology has permitted the isolation
of stem cells from various embryonic and adult tissues,
including cancer tissues. If cancer stem cell-specific
biomarkers can be identified that are distinct from
normal stem cell biomarkers, research could then target
the differences in normal and cancer stem cell populations
to identify specific therapies to target the cancer
stem cells. This would allow the development of specific
combination therapies to kill both the cancer and
the cancer stem cells. This could ultimately result
in better cancer survival rates and better quality
of life for cancer patients. The speakers in this
session will address the cancer stem cell issue and
provide a critical update on the progress towards
understanding the biology and future applications.
Speakers:
Stem Cells: Ancestors in a Somatic Cell Tree
Darryl K. Shibata, University of Southern
California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles,
CA
Brain Tumor Stem Cells - Current knowledge and the
Clinical Implication
Ichiro Nakano, UCLA School of Medicine
Prostate Tissue Homeostasis
Monika Schmelz, University of Arizona
Health Sciences Center
Wednesday, June 18
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Emerging Technologies
Convener: Linda B. Jacobsen, Berit Biotech, LLC
Functional assays are measured on cultured cells
at one or a few time points after some precipitating
event such as transfection with a nucleic acid, addition
of drug, or time after plating. The assay time (4
hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 week etc.) is often selected
empirically based on the results of the functional
assay in treated and control cultures. The time selected
may be when there is maximal difference between treated
and control cultures without regard for other biological
changes occurring in the cells. This session will
present new non-invasive technologies that permit
measurement of the biological state of the living
cells before, during and after the treatment to aid
in better selecting time points for analysis, and
understanding the other events happening in the cells
during the experiments. Additionally these technologies
can be used for direct study of effects of drugs and
other biological materials. The technologies to be
presented are distinctly different, one measuring
electrical impedance, and the other measuring oxygen
consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate.
The third presentation in this session will be a new
micro-incubator concept in which living cells can
be viewed and tested without effects caused by removal
from an incubator. Attend this session to learn how
measurements in living cells in 24-well, 96-well cultures
and in micro-incubators can provide you new understandings
of the kinetics in your cultures during the experiment
resulting in better experiments and data interpretation.
Speakers:
Using Cell Sensor Impedance Technology for Label-free
and Real-time Cell-based Assays
Yama Abassi, ACEA Biosciences Inc.
Extracellular Flux Measurements Provide a New Window
on Cellular Bioenergetics
George Rogers, Seahorse BioScience
A Hybrid CMOS/PDMS Microsystem for Autonomous Cell
Culture and Incubation
Jennifer Blain Christian, Arizona State
University
Saturday,
June 14
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Non-Technical Skills
for the Working Scientist
Conveners: Jerry Ranch, Pioneer Hi-Bred; Nancy Jean
Engelmann, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Our goal in this session is to educate students and
their advisors about the non-technical skills they
need to be marketable to industry, academia, and government.
Rationale: Prospective employers expect graduating
students and post-docs to be technically qualified.
It is generally straightforward to assess this capacity
in the applicant. For the employer, it is not so simple
to identify applicants that have the necessary business
management skills to be effective leaders and team
members, especially if they possess no work experience.
Business management skills can be considered the effective
use of resources to develop a product or commodity,
ranging from a tangible product from industry or a
successful curriculum that produces qualified students
from academia. For the applicant, the path to acquiring
these skills is not so apparent. Most frequently these
skills are acquired though on-the-job experience,
or in-house learning solutions. A more competitive
and knowledgeable labor pool can be developed by communicating
to faculty and students (undergraduate, graduate,
and post-doc) information on valued business skills
and knowledge about business operations. These skills
can be applied in both academic and corporate environments.
Speakers:
Contrasting Academic and Corporate Culture
Dave Somers, Monsanto Company
Skills for Effective Leadership and Team Effectiveness
Paul Dredge, Organizations Unlimited
Understanding Intellectual Property
David Adelman, University of Arizona
The Recipe for Success in Business
Jim Jindrick, University of Arizona
Managing the Business of Research
Sunday, June 15
7:30 pm – 9:00pm
Student Professional
Development – CV/Resume Writing and Interviewing
Skills
Convener: Nancy Jean Engelmann, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign,
and Phillip J. Kauth, University of Florida
Bring your resume or CV and questions. Our
evening will consist of a brief formal program followed
by interactive activities. We will begin with two
presentations:
- Having the Right Stuff: when to prepare a CV
vs Resume, what makes an outstanding CV or Resume,
what supporting documents you should have with
it.
- Interviewing Basics and the Differences between
Academia vs. Industry: what you should be prepared
to talk about and what skills may be expected
of you.
We will then breakout for multiple interactions focused
at several stations around the room. These will
include:
- Opportunities for resume and CV review:
have the experts look at your CV or resume
for critiquing and tips for improvement.
- Mock interviewing: Practice answering the types
of questions you may be asked at an interview
within academia, industry or a government setting.
We will limit these to 10-15 min per person
in order to allow time for multiple mock interviews
per participant. Academic, industry and
government representatives will be available so
that you can explore the differences between the
different environments. Multiple mock interview
sessions will also expose you to more than one
interviewer’s style.
Speakers:
Having the Right Stuff: Outstanding Resumes and
CV's for Outstanding Career Opportunities
Alaina Levine, University of Arizona
Interviewing Basics and the Differences between
Academia vs. Industry
Gregory C. Phillips, Arkansas State University,
and Jerry Ranch, Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Monday, June 16
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Student Networking Luncheon
Conveners: Nancy Jean Engelmann, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign,
and Phillip J. Kauth, University of Florida
Young scientists and their advisors are invited to
attend this luncheon to discuss what they learned
from Saturday and Sunday’s workshops. This
will also be an excellent opportunity for attendees
to further network with the speakers and mock interviewers
from Sunday night. A final goal is to determine
what other areas of career development are necessary
to the young SIVB scientist and could be focused on
for the 2009 Student Committee hosted session.
Speaker:
David D. Songstad, Monsanto Company
Sunday,
June 15
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Biotech Approaches Toward
Improved Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops
Conveners: Melissa E. Hinga, RiceTec, Inc., and David
D. Songstad, Monsanto Company
The UN predicts that the world’s population
will be approaching 8.5 billion by 2030 while the
number of people living in rural areas will decrease
to 40% of the world’s population (source: UN
Dept Eco. and Soc. Affairs). The increasing
number of dwellers will put more pressure on fresh
water supplies. Higher crop yields will be required
to feed the largely urban population. Crops
that are capable of using water more efficiently while
maintaining or increasing grain or biomass yield must
be developed. Biotechnology provides one of
the tools to assist in developing these water use
efficient plants. Identification of pathways
responsible for increased stress tolerance will ultimately
result in the transfer of novel genes for improved
water use efficiency leading to improved crop performance.
In conjunction with the discovery of new traits via
biotechnology, conventional breeding and molecular
breeding provide additional tools to deliver these
new traits in elite germplasm to provide a new generation
of stress tolerant crops for farmers. Today’s
progress toward drought tolerant plants will lay the
foundation for continuing to feed the world.
Speakers:
Improved Yield Stability of Maize Under Drought
Stress
Michael Luethy, Monsanto Company
Genetic and Chemical Approaches to Abiotic Stress
Tolerance in Crops
Lynne Reuber, Mendel Biotechnology
Transgenic Approaches Towards Improved Drought
Tolerance in Turf and Forage Grass (Paspalum notatum
Flugge)
Fredy Altpeter, University of Florida
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
In Vitro Ecology
Conveners: Michael E. Kane, University of Florida,
and Scott L. Stewart, PhytoTechnology Laboratories,
LLC
In vitro ecology is a new concept in the study
and use of in vitro techniques, which focuses on the
use of in vitro technologies in the propagation,
evaluation, improvement, and identification of unique
plants and plant characteristics. These characteristics
can include ecotypic and genotypic differentiation,
mass propagation and transgenic improvement of plants
for habitat restoration, and the in vitro use
of plants as tools for bioassays and ecological studies.
The study of in vitro ecology can lead to a better
understanding the roles plant micropropagation, plant
selection, and plant improvement play in our understanding
of habitat restoration, plant mass propagation, habitat
and plant ecology, and other in vitro technologies.
This session will define in vitro ecology by presenting
topics current to the application of this research
area, as well as help to define the potential future
for in vitro ecological studies. A short open discussion
period will follow speaker presentations.
Speakers:
Stable Transformation of Freshwater Wetland Monocots
and Its Ecological Implications
Suzanne Rogers, Fairmont State University
Using In Vitro Techniques as Tools to Differentiate
Ecotypes of Calopogon tuberosus, a North American
Native Orchid
Philip Kauth, University of Florida
Applications of Underwater Grass Cultures for Bioassays
and Chemical Ecology Studies
Stephen Ailstock, Anne Arundel Community
College
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Gene Targeting/Homologous
and Site Specific Recombination
Conveners: David Gidoni, The Volcani Center and Avraham
A. Levy, The Weissman Institute of Sciences
The precise integration of transgenes into plant
genomes is critical for the controlled and stable
expression of genes of interest. It is necessary
to avoid undesirable effects, such as gene silencing,
mutation of host genes and position effects which
may affect the specificity and stability of gene expression.
The ability to integrate DNA into a known site can
also facilitate issues of GMOs regulation. The
integration of delivered DNA into a chromosomal sites
can occur via three main pathways: 1- illegitimate,
or non-homologous end joining, the most prominent
pathway in plants; 2- via gene targeting,
the homologous recombination between the delivered
DNA and a host chromosomal sequence; and 3- via recombinase-mediated
site-specific recombination between a specific recognition
site, present or introduced into the genome, and a
delivered vector containing the compatible recognition
sites. This session will cover recent advances
in all these fields. For example, the engineering
of nucleases (Zinc Finger Nucleases, or meganucleases)
that can induce a DNA double strand break at any desired
site, is an active field of research that will be
addressed. The induced break can then become
a hotspot for DNA integration via homologous or non-homologous
recombination with the delivered vector. In
addition, this session will emphasize novel sophisticated
schemes of positive and negative selections that have
been devised to select the targeted insertion of the
delivered vector, via homologous or site-specific
recombination.
Speakers:
Paul Hooykaas, Leiden University
Towards Zinc Finger Nucleases-mediated Gene Transfer
in Plants
Tzvi Tzfira, University of Michigan
Zinc Finger Nuclease-mediated Gene Targeting in
Plants
Joseph F. Petolino, Dow AgroSciences
Plant Genome Manipulation Using Cre/lox Technology
Vibha Srivastava, University of Arkansas
Monday, June 16
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Biodiversity for Improving
Human Health
Convener: Argelia Lorence, ABI/Arkansas State University
Nature is regarded as a main source of remedies throughout
history. Nowadays many cultures still rely on the
large diversity, particularly of plants, as a source
of medicines. Importantly, more than 50% of small-molecule
drugs introduced in the last years have been inspired
or derived from a natural source. The advances in
cell and tissue culture techniques applied to this
rich biodiversity offer possibilities for the production
and discovery of novel bioactive natural products
with importance on human health. In this session we
will combine presentations that explore nature's biodiversity,
plant cell/tissue culture and novel in vivo biological
assays for the production of natural products with
applications as medicines and nutraceuticals.
Speakers:
Searching for New Antiviral Agents from Brazilian
Biodiversity
Claudia M. Oliveira Simões, CCS
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Improving Cat's Claw Alkaloid Production by Stimulating
In Vitro Plant Cultures
Ana Ramos Valdivia, CINVESTAV
Production and Neuroprotective Properties of Natural
Resveratrol Analogs from HairyRoot Cultures of Peanut
Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Arkansas State
University
The Use of the Worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a
Model to Investigate Functional Ingredients
Daniel Ramon Vidal, BIOpolis
Glyco-Engineering of
Pharma Proteins from Plant Cells
Conveners: Michael E. Horn, Michael Horn & Associates
LLC, and Vincent P. Wingate, Biolex
Most human therapeutic proteins are glycoproteins
and this includes all of the monoclonal antibodies.
Proper N-glycosylation is important for their proper
folding of the protein, in vivo stability and biological
activity in the patient. There are major similarities
and important differences between the N-glycosylation
pattern of plant and mammalian N-glycosylated proteins.
The differences exist mainly in the late Golgi functions.
For example, plants attach an a1,3 linked fucose residue
to the middle of the chain while mammals attach an
a1,6 fucose. Another example is that plants also attach
a b1,2 xylose residue that is foreign in mammalian
systems. These two differences have been implicated
in immunogenicity studies. Some therapeutic proteins
require a terminal sialic acid for complete functionality
and plant cells do not generally synthesize this residue.
The presentations in this session will cover a broad
range of methods being successfully employed to humanize
the N-glycosylation pattern of plant-made pharmaceutical
proteins. These methods include the elimination or
down-regulation of certain key endogenous enzymes
as well as the addition of certain mammalian N-glycosylation
enzymes.
Speakers:
Glyco-engineering of Recombinant Proteins in Tobacco
and Arabidopsis for Improving Functionality and
Biocompatibility
Dion Florack, Plant Research International,
Wageningen UR
Glyco-optimized Therapeutic Antibodies in Lemna
John R. Gasdaska, Biolex
Sustainable Glyco-engineering and Production of
Optimized Biopharmaceuticals in Bryophytes
Gilbert Gorr, Greenovation Biotech GmbH
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Issues in Field Release
of Transgenic Plants by Academic Institutions
Convener: Raymond D. Shillito, Bayer CropScience
According to the "Recommendations for Management
Practices for Field Trials with Bioengineered Plants"
prepared by the National Agricultural Biotechnology
Council*, "application, institutional responsibility,
approvals, training, fieldsite selection, record-keeping,
communications, storage and disposal of biological
materials, appropriate treatment of equipment including
cleaning, monitoring, testing, and reporting are processes
common to all research on transgenic plants".
In order to test new transgenic plants in real conditions
such as small-scale field studies, investigators at
Universities and other institutions have to comply
with federal and local regulatory requirements. These
regulations apply to all events not-yet approved by
the government agencies for unlimited commercial field
release. They require submission of information about
the material to be planted, and extensive follow-up
documentation of the field trials themselves. A number
of guidance documents have been developed by institutions
to help investigators meet these needs. Speakers at
this session will describe their experiences in dealing
with these requirements in the USA, and discuss how
institutions can best develop their management practices
to meet the requirements. A round-table discussion
of their experiences and those of other symposium
participants will be held at the end of the session.
http://nabc.cals.cornell.edu/pubs/Recomm_final.pdf
Speakers:
Regulating Transgenic Plants for Academic Research
C. Neal Stewart, Jr., University of Tennessee
Kan Wang, Iowa State University
Field Evaluation of Regulated Transgenic Plants
in an Academic Environment
Thomas E. Clemente, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Workshop: Microscopy
Tools for the Plant Biologist
Convener: Mary Welter, Dow AgroSciences
The most fundamental processes associated with plant
cell biology and gene expression are sub-cellular
in nature. As such, microscopy plays a central role
in enabling critical observations to be made. Live
cell imaging, FISH, FRET and laser capture microdissection
are but a few of the microscopy-based techniques currently
used to describe sub-cellular phenomenon in plants.
Although many of these techniques have become highly
standardized and relatively simple to use, the risk
of misinterpretation can be great if the methods used
are not well understood and systematically implemented.
This workshop will explore some of the potential applications
and inherent limitations of several of these methods.
Speakers:
Imaging Live Plant Cells
Sidney Shaw, Indiana University
Plant Microscopy: Promises and Perils
Elison Blancaflor, The Samuel Roberts Noble
Foundation Inc.
Workshop: Experimental
Design for In Vitro Biologists
Convener: Randall P. Niedz, USDA - ARS
Workshop participants will discuss and learn some
of the conceptual and practical aspects of how to
plan and design multivariate experiments – as
opposed to the mechanistic details of how to make
certain types of statistical calculations. Because
experimental design is inherently geometric, the workshop
will focus on how to think about the ‘geometry’
of experiments as defined by the independent factors,
their ranges and the responses of interest to be measured.
The relative merits of multivariate versus one-factor-at-a-time
(OFAT) approaches will be explored. Primary
discussion topics will include 1) how to conceptually
design an experiment from a geometric perspective;
2) how to evaluate the “quality” of the
resulting design; 3) how to evaluate the “quality”
of measured data; and 4) how to select and utilize
software applications to facilitate the conversion
of the researcher’s subject matter expertise
into statistically robust experimental designs.
Additionally, time will be allocated for discussion
of specific research questions from participants.
Speakers:
Randall P. Niedz, USDA/ARS
Terrance J. Evens, USDA/ARS
Tuesday, June 17
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Highlight of Plant Genomics
Research at the University of Arizona
Convener: Maria L. Federico, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The term genomics was adopted in the late 1980's
to encompass all aspects of mapping, sequencing and
analysis of information of an organism's entire genome.
Today, the field also includes the characterization
of genes, mRNAs and protein products (functional genomics),
the study of DNA and histone modification patterns
(epigenomics) and the elucidation of evolutionary
relationships between genomes of different species
(comparative genomics). Scientists at the University
of Arizona had greatly contributed to the advancement
of all aspects of plant genomics research. This session
will highlight pioneer work unraveling the molecular
basis of paramutation, the use of RNAi as a functional
genomics tool and the study of evolution in plants
using comparative genomics.
Speakers:
Interchromosomal Transfer of Epigenetic Information
Vicki L. Chandler, University of Arizona
Forward Genetic Mutagenesis by Transitive RNAi
Richard A. Jorgensen, University of Arizona
The Oryza Map Alignment Project: New Insights into
the Evolution of the Genus Oryza
Rod A. Wing, Arizona Genomics Institute
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
New Strategies for Production
of Specialized Metabolites
Convener: Fabricio Medina Bolivar, ABI/Arkansas State
University
Plants have evolved specialized networks for the
biosynthesis of a rich repertoire of natural products.
These complex molecules serve as chemical languages
in ecosystems, and often confer protective characteristics
to plants allowing them to survive, and prosper in
a multitude of challenging ecological niches. Specialized
metabolism is an economically important source of
fine chemicals, such as medicines, insecticides, dyes,
flavors, and fragrances. Scientists have made significant
progress at developing strategies to study and alter
specialized metabolism. In particular, genomics and
metabolomics approaches are leading to an advanced
understanding of how these metabolic networks function
in a coordinate fashion leading to desired traits
or phenotypes. This symposium will provide an update
on novel strategies used by multidisciplinary teams
to harness and alter biosynthetic pathways for the
production of natural products with diverse bioactivities.
Speakers:
Unraveling the Wizardry of Terpene Biosynthesis
and Engineering the Biosynthesis of Novel Terpenes
Into Yeast and Plants
Joe Chappell, University of Kentucky
The Role of Ethnomedical Knowledge in Defining
Methods for Large-scale In Vitro Cultivation: Study
Cases of Two Mexican Medicinal Plants
María Luisa Villarreal, Universidad
Autónoma del Estado de Morelos
Sub-lethal Levels of Electric Current Elicit the
Biosynthesis of Plant Secondary Metabolites
Evans Kaimoyo, University of Arizona
Engineering Ascorbate for Enhanced Growth, Nutritional
Content, and Stress Tolerance in Crops
Argelia Lorence, Arkansas State University
Wednesday, June 18
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Plant Modification for
Increased Biofuel Production
Convener: Zeng-Yu Wang, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Plant biomass has the potential to play a major role
in the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable
resources. Biomass available for energy on a sustainable
basis includes herbaceous crops and woody species.
To date, most ethanol is derived from starch or sugar
crops by fermentation. The ability to produce cellulosic
ethanol from low-cost biomass will be key in making
biofuel competitive with gasoline. The energy in lignocellulosic
biomass is largely in plant cell walls. Cell wall
recalcitrance has been identified as a major limitation
to the economic production of ethanol from plant biomass.
The cost of ethanol production from lignocellulosic
materials is relatively high based on current conversion
technologies; the main challenge is the low yield
and high cost of the pretreatment/hydrolysis process.
Speakers in this session will highlight recent advances
in using biotechnological approaches to improve biofuel
production from different biomass crops. The new approaches
include genetic engineering of metabolic pathways,
reduction of cell wall recalcitrance and improvement
of biomass production.
Speakers:
Genetic Improvement of Dedicated Bioenergy Crops
Steven Thomas, Ceres Inc.
Genetic Manipulation of Lignin Biosynthesis to Improve
Biomass Characteristics for Agro-industrial Processes
Fang Chen, The Noble Foundation
Modifying the Corn Genome To Increase Its Biomass
Biofuel Production
Mariam Sticklen, Michigan State University
Switchgrass Transformation
Zeng-yu Wang, The Noble Foundation
This information will be updated as
more becomes available.
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