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Preliminary Program
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| M.S.Swaminathan |
Sunday, June
15
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Global Agriculture at the
Crossroads: Pathway to an Era of Biohappiness
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
Viral Gene Transfer Vectors in Studies of Human
Smooth Muscle Function
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
Homogenous Cell Cultures: Understanding Cross
Contamination and Maintaining Culture Integrity
Amy Wright, Ciba Vision Corporation
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
-Quan Nguyen, Nguyen & Tarbet
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
Mesenchymal Stem Cells and the Development of
Therapeutics
Michelle Greene, Millipore Corporation
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:
Student Networking
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:
Targeting Integration After Agrobacterium-mediated
DNA Delivery
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: Tom Currier, 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
Controlled Field Release of Pharmaceutical
Corn in Iowa: Lessons and Strategies
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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