Rapid Assembly of the RFP Gene with Enzymatic DNA Synthesis

The era of affordable sugars, renewable biochemical and bio-based materials from lignocellulosic feedstock are here. Enabling a paradigm shift from petroleum and change over to renewable biomass, the new fractionation technologies of lignin allow the entire biomass to be utilized. Lignocellulosic biomass – a variety of non-edible, woody materials – is the largest renewable reservoir of fermentable carbohydrates, aromatic compounds, and other chemical building blocks. With the new wave of biotechnology, controlled size, solubility, and activity of lignin can be achieved.

A new beef trim sampling concept has been developed through a joint R&D project with USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fremont, and Sentry Equipment. The methods developed from this effort have received a USDA Letter of No Objection.For beef trimmings, potential contaminants will be on the exterior surface of the product that was exposed during the slaughter and dressing process. Therefore, collection methods that provide more surface area for the test increase the sensitivity of the sampling. The United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends collection methods specifications be designed to ensure that a high percentage of the collected product that is to be used for testing consists of exterior surface tissue.

Clinical translation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) requires advanced strategies that ensure safe and robust long-term growth and functional differentiation. We recently reported the development of a new small molecule cocktail that can be used as a universal end-to-end solution for stress-free culture of human cells. This four-part small molecule cocktail, which we named CEPT (Chroman 1, Emricasan, trans-ISRIB, Polyamines), enhanced cell survival of genetically stable hPSCs by simultaneously blocking several stress mechanisms that otherwise compromise cell structure and function. CEPT improved routine cell passaging, cryopreservation/thawing of pluripotent and differentiated cells, embryoid body and organoid formation, single-cell cloning, genome editing, and new iPSC line generation. Thus, CEPT represents a unique poly-pharmacological strategy for comprehensive cytoprotection, providing a new rationale for efficient and safe utilization of hPSCs. Conferring cell fitness by multi-target drug combinations may become a common approach in cryobiology, drug development, and regenerative medicine.

Amid a growing number of cell therapies reaching late-stage clinical studies and commercial launch, the considerations required to deliver scalable commercial manufacturing, including meeting reduced timelines and the increased demand for capacity, are critical to getting these cell products to patients.