Talking Biotech Podcast

Tweet Despite its essential role in the economy and food security, agriculture has lagged behind with respect to adoption of new technology. This has happened for many reasons, partially from technology companies not realizing the opportunities in agriculture, and partially from high costs, and agriculture’s adherence to current practices. Dr. Adrian Percy has been a leader in agricultural reserach innovation and venture capital. We discuss the opportunities in agriculture and the limitations to successful deployment in the newest innovation. Follow Dr. Percy on Twitter: @adrianpercy His podcast is here:  AgTech360 on iTunes Follow on Twitter:  AgTech360 @AgTech360

Tweet mRNA vaccines have recently been in the news as an exciting potential preventative of SARS-CoV2.  The technology seems new, but has roots in the 1990’s and a long history of maturation, plagued by technical barriers and skepticism.  However, the efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials is promising, and suggests that mRNA-based strategies may have a prominent role as vaccines and therapeutics against some of our most insidious diseases. Resources for this podcast: Hilleman 1994 – a conceptual review of the potential for mRNA vaccines, predicing many of its challenges. Kariko et al, 2005 –  This paper contains information on how mRNA may be modified to limit its inherent antigenic activity. Schlake et al., 2012 –  A very good primer to the history and theory of mRNA vaccine development.

Tweet   Technology is driving innovation on the farm, and there have been significant efforts in improving livestock.  Whether it was to produce a novel therapeutic or to solve a critical disease in animals, genetic engineering techniques have been used to target significant animal and human problems. There are many more successful innovations than commercial successes, as the regulatory climate is highly unfavorable to animal recombinant DNA technology. Dr. Mark Westhusin from Texas A&M University has been a leader in application of these tools to animal systems. In this episode we discuss the innovations, the regulations, and some of the solutions to animal agriculture problems worldwide.

Tweet Gene editing is a relatively new technology that has revolutionary applications in agriculture and medicine.  The drawback to the technology is that it typically can only be used to disrupt a deleterious gene underlying a specific trait.  Gene writing exploits a natural process in cells that allows researchers to install genes of interest, allowing replacement of damaged sequences that lead to negative health outcomes.  Dr. Geoff von Maltzahn of Tessera describes what the new technology is and its most likely applications, particularly in the area of correcting genetic disease. Twitter:  Tessera @TesseraTx Dr. Geoffrey von Maltzahn;  @GVMaltzahn  

Tweet The onion has tremendous value in culinary applications all over the world.  Where did it come from?  What are the major breeding efforts and the important traits.  Today’s podcast discusses the onion’s origin and future directions with Dr. Michael Havey, USDA-ARS/University of Wisconsin onion breeder.  He speaks of the onion’s interesting background, its surprising genome, and traits that will define the onion of the future.  A very interesting discussion of an important world food crop. Havey Lab Website 

Tweet On Halloween it is hard to remember that the pumpkins used for decoration are actually an important food for indigenous people of the Americas.  There are multiple species of pumpkins that originated in North and South America, and primarily used for food.  Dr. Harry Paris is a retired Senior Researcher and fruit breeder from the Volcani Center in Israel.  We discuss the origins of pumpkins, how they moved in the New World, as well as the diversity and uses for this important fruit.

Tweet Gene editing moved quickly from the lab to application, so fast that the public is unsure how to think about it.  We can cure disease, but are we playing with the natural order of things? These are questions that philosophers and ethicists wrestle with every day.  in this week’s podcast we discuss the recent events in germline gene editing and how it is perceived by the public and by scientists. Follow Dr. Gyngell’s group:  @Berg_MCRI

Tweet   This week two scientists pioneering gene editing won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.  Days later, a group of perennial naysayers gathered to denounce the technology.  Gene editing is a revolutionary technology that already has had amazing effects on medicine and some applications in agriculture. The potential is limitless.  But this new technology can install precise changes in genes, emulating natural mutations. They also cannot be detected, at least discernably from naturally-occurring mutations.  This threatens the anti-GMO movement and its many tentacles, especially the Non-GMO Project, an organization that profits from brokering fear around safe food. These new technologies will evade their detection, making their meaningless label even more meaningless.  The “esteemed panel” is composed of individuals that have been fighting technology for years. I play their roundtable discussion, and provide my commentary in real time, illuminating their deception, their disinformation, and tactics to create fear, uncertainty and doubt around a good technology.

Tweet Digestive cancers are among the most common and deadly cancers in the world, comprising metastases of the colon, esophagus, stomach and rectum.   These all share some cellular commonalities, namely the presentation of a molecular signature that can now be a target for engineered therapies.  Dr. Adam Snook has been studying the fingerprints of gastric cancers and developing gene therapy approaches that target cancer cells.  He discusses the technology, and describes how it works, and how the technology has changed in response to new findings. Dr. Snook provides a forward-thinking and hopeful view of how this technology may soon provide a needed therapy against common cancers. Follow Dr. Snook on Twitter:  @adamsnookphd Dr. Snook’s website is here.  

Tweet Dr. Cami Ryan has examined the social factors that underlie decisions.  Today these human tendencies are critical to understand, as everyone is bombarded by information through social media.  How do issues like misinformation and disinformation erode the trust of scientific authorities?  How do scientists and farmers, the experts, grab a piece of the pie in the new attention economy?  Time is a commodity in short supply, and Dr. Ryan provides insight into how we can maximize our time in communicating science. Follow Dr. Ryan on Twitter:  @CamiDRyan Here’s Cami’s website: 

Tweet The human immunodeficiency virus remains prevalent in the population, yet it as silently moved out of the public’s consciousness, overshadowed by COVID19 and drug cocktails that can control its progression.   Over the last three decades great progress has been made in understanding the virus and how it interacts with cells.  This, plus the identification of genetic determinants of resistance to HIV have presented researchers with new drug targets. These may represent future therapies and perhaps cures.  Today’s guest is Dr. Luca Vangelista from Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan. His research examines a protein receptor called CCR5 that is a critical player in the HIV infection cycle. Dr. Vangelista’s recent review may be accessed here. Here is Dr. Vangelista’s website.

Tweet Sepsis is an infection of the blood.  It can be critical and life threatening, and can complicate other co-morbidities.  One of the main problems is that a number of bacterial and fungal pathogens can cause a septic state, so physicians are tasked with rapid identification of specific pathogens to render the most appropriate method of care. Unfortunately this usually involves broad treatments with multiple antibiotics and antifungals, as tests to identify discrete pathogens can take days.  Dr. Alon Singer is the CEO of Helixbind.  They have developed a new technology that allows rapid detection of bloodborne pathogens, eclipsing many of the barriers that previously led to longer detection times and greater patient risk. More information at www.helixbind.com  

Tweet    Indoor air contains a variety of harmful compounds.  We invite many of these compounds into our homes in electronics, and others occur spontaneously from our water supply, and as homes become more energy efficient and dependent on air conditioning, these chemicals concentrate in our homes.  Dr. Stuart Strand of the University of Washington explains what they are and their relative risk.  He also describes a solution– plants genetically engineered to scrub these molecules from the indoor atmosphere.  A variety of plants have been engineered to remove these molecules, including pothos ivy and tobacco, and he is setting his sights on crop plants that could affect the molecules that contribute to climate change. The work needs additional sponsors.  Even a small donation to the University of Washington Foundation can help this research continue.  Look for more details on the Plants Enhanced Facebook page. You also can donate directly to the program at the University of Washington here.      

Tweet This week’s guest is the host!  It was important to discuss communication tips during a pandemic, especially around popular myths and news stories involving COVID19.  Kevin Folta provides counterarguments to today’s most prevalent claims around hydroxychloroquine, disease incidence, and the flu shot.  It also marks five years since the New York Times story that portrayed Folta as a corporate patsy.  While many aspects of his research and communications efforts thrive today, this deliberate act of cancel-culture now diminishes his impact in other arenas, such as discussing COVID19. This is a rallying cry for more scientists and science enthusiasts to engage the public with science communication.  

Tweet Florida is the canary in the coalmine for mosquito-transmitted disease in the USA.  The Florida Keys are especially vulnerable.  Traffic through this sensitive string of islands allows infected insects to be rapidly vectored to other areas of the keys, as well as to the mainland.  Over the last decade there have been notable incidents of Zika, Chikunguna, Denge and other mosquito-borne diseases. Over the same time a self-limiting mosquito technology has been developed by Oxitec. The mosquitoes have been programmed with genetic changes that render the next generation unable to develop, and it has been extremely successful in Brazil and other locations. The technology is now poised for release in the keys and has received all needed approvals. Today’s podcast speaks with Meredith Fensom, the Head of Global Public Affairs with Oxitec. She discusses the technology, the release in Florida, and its potential risks and benefits. Here’s Oxitec’s website for the Florida Keys   — There are MANY resources here on this page, too much to list. If you have questions you’ll find  an answer here. And of course, I’m always glad to answer your questions.  Kevin