Scientists report that Celastrol, anti-inflammatory plant derivative used in Chinese medicine, that may have potentials in cancer treatment. Apparently, Celastrol inactivates heat shock protein 90, a protein crucial to the development of cancer cells.

"The celastrol induces the protein to form fibrils and clusters it together, which inactivates it," said Dr. Chadli, whose research was published in the January edition of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. "When they are clustered, they're not available for other functions that help cancer grow."

Dr. Chadli envisions future studies on cancer patients using even more potent derivatives of celastrol.

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Online games and other diversions are one manifestation of our ongoing technological development but another perhaps much more fascinating one is in the realm of biotechnology.

A Website for the United States Department of Agriculture gives an overview of this stunning new emerging field involving modification of biological systems and living organisms.

The results in the field have lead to changes in fisheries, forestry, agriculture and other food production.

The Website also contains a variety of research and technology news in special sections like:

• Agricultural biotechnology
  


• Biotechnology for the 21st century
  


• The Agricultural biotechnology briefing room
  


• Transgenic livestock, fish and insects
  


• And much more
  

Of course, concerns over this new use of technology have also been expressed from various quarters.

So what is your take? Do you support ongoing research into biological manipulation for benefits in food production and other fields?

Or do you feel there is cause for concern when scientists continue to develop means by which we can manipulate living systems?

We'd like to hear your views on this rapidly expanding field. Do you think current efforts in biotechnology are headed in the right direction? Or do you believe there are concerns about the direction this research is heading?

What do you see as the benefits and drawbacks of an emerging biotech industry?

Researchers have devised a novel process to concentrate the protein in standard field barley for use as an alternative to fishmeal as a protein source in commercial fish feeds.

"We conducted feeding trials to determine the digestibility of macronutrients and amino acids in the barley protein concentrate. The data from these trials allowed us to formulate trout feeds with varying levels of barley protein concentrate, and we successfully replaced both fishmeal and soy protein concentrate.

"There is no current commercialization of barley protein concentrate in place, but MMP is producing pilot quantities for feeding studies in trout, salmon, and other species. MMP projects that the concentrate will sell for $700 to $1,200 per ton," says Barrows. Since fishmeal costs about $1,200 per ton, and fish oil costs about $2,200 per ton, the projected costs of barley protein concentrate compare favorably.

THe ARS scientists, in partnership with the Montana Microbial Products (MMP) of Butte, Montana, have applied for a patent on this new enzymatic method.

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Computer Glitch at the Calgary Lab Services The Biotech Weblog

I wouldn't want to have been one of the 2,051 patients in calgary who had lab tests, such as blood or urine, done between May 1 and July 5. Dr. Chris Eagle, chief medical officer with the region, says a problem with a database used by Calgary Lab Services caused some test results to be attributed to the wrong patient. This is the same Internet database that doctors use to [...] Read More


Medical Genomics Laboratory in Berlin The Biotech Weblog

The Center for Medical Genome Research in Berlin was officially opened last week. A joint project between the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and the Leibniz-Institut fuer Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), the €19 million research center focuses on the identification of origins of disease and search for novel therapeutics using genome research. Located within the building is the Gene Mapping Center and the "Protein Structure Factory", both part [...] Read More


Novartis Bids for NeuTec, Expands Into Hospital Anti-Infectives The Biotech Weblog

Novartis is hoping to strengthen its biopharmaceutical portfolio by offering to acquire British firm NeuTec Pharma plc for $570 million, a 109% premium to the current share price. NeuTec's portfolio specializes in hospital anti-infectives, its late stage candidates including recombinant antibody fragments that binds to cellular proteins and increases the efficacy of antibiotics in resistant strains particularly those involved in hospital infections. Mycograb is targeted to help treat invasive candidiasis, [...] Read More


United Computer Glitch Strands Travelers The Aviation Weblog

In a nightmare for passengers, an United Airlines' computer glitch in Chicago caused a backlog of flights, stranding and frustrating travelers. The airline is expected to return to normal on Thursday. The computer which failed in Chicago was in charge of dispatching flights from one airport to another, among other crucial details. "That's what tells how much fuel should be onboard, where the pilot should fly, how they should fly and [...] Read More


Lodi Memorial Hospital Selects Broadlane For Purchasing Management Services Supplychainer

Broadlane announced that Lodi Memorial Hospital in Lodi, California, has selected the company to provide an array of supply chain services under an exclusive agreement. Under the agreement, Broadlane will provide Lodi Memorial Hospital with access to its "high-powered" national GPO portfolio for consumable supplies, capital equipment, pharmaceuticals and purchased services. Additionally, Lodi Memorial Hospital will utilize Broadlane's proprietary technology to help them manage their supply spend. Lodi Memorial Hospital's [...] Read More

Scientists have successfully produced antibodies against the West Nile virus in tobacco plants. The plant-derived antibodies have been shown to be as effective as those derived from mammalian cell lines.

The therapeutic, according to the authors, is effective in very small dosages, (50-200 micrograms), and only one dose is required to clear the virus from an infected individual's system.

Aside from being more cost effective, plant-based production of pharmaceutical substances are possibly safer, eliminating risks of harboring animal pathogens such as viruses or infectious protein agents known as prions, not found in plants. In addition the authors say "plant-based antibodies lack the capacity to bind with a critical receptor implicated in the antibody dependent enhancement effect, making them potentially safer for use."

This study appears in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (advanced online edition).

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