New UMBI Biotechnologies on Stage at Business Forum

October 1, 2001

NEW UMBI BIOTECHNOLOGIES ON STAGE AT BUSINESS FORUM

WASHINGTON, D.C.- With a theme of "One University, Many Talents," the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, (UMBI) will present a wide range of new biotechnologies at the Maryland BioSciences and Venture Investment Forum, Washington Hilton Hotel, October 3-4, 2001.

The Forum first offers a full day of scientific and venture capital panel discussions and technology exhibits on Wednesday, October 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then on October 4, "University/Lab Showcase Sessions will include UMBI technologies, such as:

Safe, new ways to deliver an AIDS vaccine; and a diagnostic HIV rat model;
Aquaculture systems to grow more nutritious, gourmet fish in city warehouses;
Key proteins of genetically programmed cell death in birth defects and tumors;
Innovative "photoflash gene expression" for drug design studies;
New, heat-tough enzymes for myriad industrial and medical processes; and
state-of-the-art database model for protein structure/function studies.

Media will be admitted for free. The annual event is organized by the Technology Council of Maryland. UMBI is participating as sponsoring partner of the event. Click on www.mdhitech.org/bioforum2001/reg.htm. For more on UMBI technologies, call the institute's technology transfer office,Dr. Rita Khanna, Director of Technology Transfer, 410.385.6324. Technologies to be "showcased" on Oct. 4 include:

Special demonstration at the UMBI Exhibit Booth, 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. As genomics and proteomics uncover the molecular basis of diseases, there is growing need for efficient methods of designing small-molecule therapeutics that bind specific protein targets. A prototype computer model for structure-based drug design from runs on user-friendly software. Professor Michael K. Gilson, UMBI's Center for Advanced research in Biotechnology, Rockville, Md.

Bioinformatics/computational biology sessions, 10 a.m. Scientists have a new way of priming for production of cDNA from prokaryotic (higher organism's) mRNA. For the DNA researcher, this innovation produces superior results compared with conventional cDNA methods. Molecular researcher Juan Gonzalaz, UMBI's Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB), Baltimore, Md.

Biocatalysts/Enzyme Research, 10:30 a.m. Small heat shock proteins, HSPs, have been found in microorganisms growing in temperatures exceeding 100 C or 212 F. Researchers say the HSPs enhance the value of enzymes in industrial and medical applications. The HSPs allow better transit of enzymes and improve the stability of E. coli and other "workhorse" microbes at high temperatures. Molecular microbiologist Frank T. Robb, COMB.

Therapeutics, 1 p.m. By applying flashes of high-focused light on samples of cells and tissues, researchers have developed new technology to control gene expression. The technology is useful in gene therapy and a wide range of biological development and regulatory processes. Photo-chemical manipulation of cells allows rapid tracking and measuring of gene expressions for development of therapeutics. Research physiologist Joseph Kao, UMBI's Medical Biotechnology Center, MBC, Baltimore, Md.

Also in therapeutics research: Proteins that regulate cell death during the metamorphosis of fruit flies may have applications to understanding and controlling tumors, birth defects or other medical problems. This technology emerges from a scientific field of studying how steroid-triggered changes in gene expression in animals control certain cellular responses. The experimental model, the fruit fly, has a remarkably similar genome to humans. Developmental biologist Eric H. Baehrecke, UMBI's Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, CAB, College Park, Md.

Environment/Agricultural Solutions, 2 p.m. Marine species of commercial finfish and shellfish can now be raised on an industrial scale, without pollution, in fully contained, re-circulating aquaculture systems. This new wave of fish farming produces clean, disease-free seafood. It is potentially highly profitable in empty warehouse space in the inner city. Such indoor production methods will help meet a predicted burgeoning market for seafood globally. Director Yonathan Zohar, COMB, Baltimore.

Also in environmental/ag studies: Enriching an aquaculture-imposed food chain of algae to small marine animals to fish demonstrates the potential for replacing wasteful, fish-based fish foods diets. The beneficial fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients in the enriched aquaculture diets improve rates of fish hatching and survival rates. Biochemist Alan R. Place, COMB, Baltimore.

Medical advances, 3 p.m. In AIDS vaccine development, pioneering researchers use disarmed bacteria to carry DNA vaccines into human system orally. In recent mice studies, one co-expressing DNA vaccine against HIV was 1,000 fold more effective than conventional vaccines in stimulating immune strong responses. The UMBI vaccines induce unexpectedly strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against antigens. Vaccine researcher David Hone, UMBI's Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, Md.

Diagnostics 4 p.m. There are more people living with AIDS than ever. A new HIV rat model will benefit researchers studying the pathogenesis and the development of new drugs to treat AIDS and related diseases. The rats, for the first time, contain the genome of the AIDS virus HIV-1 except for two genes that make the virus non-infectious. The model cannot transmit the disease to humans. Joseph L. Bryant, head, Animal Model Division of IHV, Baltimore.