Archive for October, 2010

Scientists in India join hands to develop biofuel from microalgae

Posted On: October 31, 2010

Scientists from across the country of India belonging to a consortium of nine laboratories, are working on an ambitious project called ‘New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative’ ( NMITLI), to develop a viable and scalable process of biofuel from microalgae, undertaken by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

The laboratories are Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Department of Marine Living Resources, Andhra University (AU), Vishakapatnam, Calcutta University (CU), Kolkata, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology, Khargpur (IIT-KGP), National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Chennai, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram.

#mce_temp_url#More info

From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: algae, alternative energy, Aquapreneur, biofuel, biomaterials, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, Marine Chemicals Research Institute, microalgae, New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative • No Comments

Quebec City: Consortium BioMar-Innovation Holding Event: “Crossroads of the Sea: New marine extracts for the food industry and health”; November 9, 2010

Posted On: October 29, 2010

Background and objectives:

Increasingly present in products associated with health and well-being, ingredients and marine extracts have advantages over conventional sources of ingredients.

Program:

• Market trends for products containing natural extracts of marine bioactive
• Research currently underway at universities and research centers in Quebec and France
• Examples of extracts and ingredients sold by Quebec companies

Exhibition of research projects related to marine biomass.

Organized in the framework of the Consortium BioMar-Innovation, an initiative of:

• Centre québécois de valorisation and biotechnology
• Center of Marine Biotechnology Research

In collaboration with:

Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, Biomar-Innovation, Consortium BioMar-Innovation, CQVB, functional food, functional ingredients, marine biotechnology, marine ingredients • No Comments

Research suggests that chitin is an effective alternative for adhesion barriers

Posted On: October 29, 2010

Comparison of the effects of an adhesion barrier and chitin on experimental epidural fibrosis.

Keskın F, Esen H.

Karaman State Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Karaman, Turkey.

Abstract

Aim: Epidural fibrosis is an important factor for postoperative failed back syndrome development and causes clinical complaints in 6-25% of cases. An effective treatment modality has not been found yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-adhesive effects of a novel agent chitin and compare these effects with a popular adhesion barrier collagen matrix. Material and Methods: 21 rabbits were allocated into three groups including 7 rabbits each. L5 total laminectomy was performed to all groups. No treatment was given to Group 1 (Control group). Collagen matrix was used in Group 2 and chitin was used in Group 3. Six weeks later all rabbits were sacrificed and the laminectomy areas were entirely resected and investigated histopathologically. Results: He and Revel grade III epidural fibrosis was detected in the control group. Statistically significant reduction of epidural fibrosis was achieved with both of the anti-adhesive agents, collagen matrix and chitin, when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results were not different between treatment groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The novel agent chitin was found effective for preventing epidural fibrosis and this effect was not significantly different from the collagen matrix. In light of our findings we suggest that chitin is an effective alternative for adhesion barriers.

Turk Neurosurg. 2010 Oct;20(4):457-63. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.3205-10.2.

From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, chitin, chitosan, functional ingredients, marine ingredient • No Comments

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. moving into pharmaceutical market with launch of subsidiary Acasti Pharma Inc.’s Onemia

Posted On: October 29, 2010

Montreal’s Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. said Monday it is moving into the pharmaceutical market with the launch of subsidiary Acasti Pharma Inc.’s Onemia at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress in Boston.

Onemia is a marine-based medical food, approced by regulators for the management of cardiometabolic disorders. It can be taken alone or in combination with prescribed heart drugs. It will be manufactured by Neptune and distributed through doctors initially under subcontract. Acasti is seeking partners to commercialize the product outside the United States.

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Acasti Pharma, Aquapreneur, functional ingredients, krill oil, Neptune Technologies & Bioresources, omega 3, Onemia, pharmaceutical • No Comments

Marine Drugs, Volume 8, Issue 10 (October 2010), Pages 2546-2732 Released

Posted On: October 29, 2010

MDPI

The office of MDPI announce the publication of the following issue: Mar. Drugs, Volume 8, Issue 10 (October 2010), Pages 2546-2732 at http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/ Table of Contents: Benjamin R. Gordon and William Leggat Review: Symbiodinium—Invertebrate Symbioses and the Role of Metabolomics Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2546-2568; doi:10.3390/md8102546 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2546 Jean-Michel Kornprobst and Gilles Barnathan Review: Demospongic Acids Revisited Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2569-2577; doi:10.3390/md8102569 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2569 Andrey P. Tikunov, Christopher B. Johnson, Haakil Lee, Michael K. Stoskopf and Jeffrey M. Macdonald Article: Metabolomic Investigations of American Oysters Using 1H-NMR Spectroscopy Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2578-2596; doi:10.3390/md8102578 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2578 Vuyisile S. Thibane, Johan L. F. Kock, Ruan Ells, Pieter W. J. van Wyk and Carolina H. Pohl Article: Effect of Marine Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Biofilm Formation of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2597-2604; doi:10.3390/md8102597 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2597 Jin-Shan Tang, Feng Zhao, Hao Gao, Yi Dai, Zhi-Hong Yao, Kui Hong, Jia Li, Wen-Cai Ye and Xin-Sheng Yao Article: Characterization and Online Detection of Surfactin Isomers Based on HPLC-MSn Analyses and Their Inhibitory Effects on the Overproduction of Nitric Oxide and the Release of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-Induced Macrophages Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2605-2618; doi:10.3390/md8102605 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2605 Sunil Sagar, Mandeep Kaur and Kenneth P. Minneman Review: Antiviral Lead Compounds from Marine Sponges Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2619-2638; doi:10.3390/md8102619 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2619 Ping-Jyun Sung, Gung-Ying Li, Yin-Di Su, Mei-Ru Lin, Yu-Chia Chang, Ting-Hsuan Kung, Chan-Shing Lin, Yung-Husan Chen, Jui-Hsin Su, Mei-Chin Lu, Jimmy Kuo, Ching-Feng Weng and Tsong-Long Hwang Article: Excavatoids O and P, New 12-Hydroxybriaranes from the Octocoral Briareum excavatum Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2639-2646; doi:10.3390/md8102639 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2639 Thomas Schmitt, Eva Keller, Sascha Dietrich, Patrick Wuchter, Anthony D. Ho and Gerlinde Egerer Article: Trabectedin for Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Retrospective Single Center Analysis Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2647-2658; doi:10.3390/md8102647 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2647 Linn Oftedal, Frode Selheim, Matti Wahlsten, Kaarina Sivonen, Stein Ove Døskeland and Lars Herfindal Article: Marine Benthic Cyanobacteria Contain Apoptosis-Inducing Activity Synergizing with Daunorubicin to Kill Leukemia Cells, but not Cardiomyocytes Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2659-2672; doi:10.3390/md8102659 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2659 Ira Bhatnagar and Se-Kwon Kim Review: Immense Essence of Excellence: Marine Microbial Bioactive Compounds Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2673-2701; doi:10.3390/md8102673 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2673 Ira Bhatnagar and Se-Kwon Kim Review: Marine Antitumor Drugs: Status, Shortfalls and Strategies Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2702-2720; doi:10.3390/md8102702 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2702 Isabel Nogueira, Alexandre Lobo-da-Cunha, António Afonso, Socorro Rivera, Joana Azevedo, Rogério Monteiro, Rosa Cervantes, Ana Gago-Martinez and Vítor Vasconcelos Article: Toxic Effects of Domoic Acid in the Seabream Sparus aurata Mar. Drugs 2010, 8(10), 2721-2732; doi:10.3390/md8102721 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/10/2721

From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, marine bioprospecting, marine biotechnology, marine drugs, marine natural product, seafood byproducts • No Comments

Algenol Biofuels Opens State-of-the-Art Labs in Lee County, Florida

Posted On: October 21, 2010

Algenol Biofuels Inc. celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art biofuels and green chemistry lab and R&D facility today in Fort Myers, Fla. The 40,000 square-foot facility houses an advanced algae biology, engineering, carbon dioxide (CO2) and green chemistry laboratory, as part of the larger Lee Integrated Biorefinery. The facility was made possible with a $10 million incentive grant from the Lee County Board of Commissioners.

The facility will house Algenol’s advanced biology and engineering laboratories and operations. An adjoining 4-acre outdoor R&D area and 36-acre outdoor commercialization area will hold the company’s proprietary photobioreactors—the containers that generate ethanol from algae, saltwater and CO2 using Algenol’s patented Direct to Ethanol™ technology. In addition to producing low-cost ethanol, Algenol is beginning to work on related projects, such as using its ethanol and other green chemicals as a replacement for petroleum in plastic and chemical building blocks. Furthermore, Algenol has formed a partnership with a local university, Florida Gulf Coast University, to assist in establishing programs for students interested in pursuing careers in the green chemistry and biofuels industries.

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: algae, alternative energy, Aquapreneur, biofuel, biomaterials, bioprocessing, ethenol, green chemistry • No Comments

Joint investigation by Aquapharm and Leatherhead seeks to uncover new natural preservatives from marine bacteria and fungi

Posted On: October 21, 2010

A new joint investigation by Aquapharm and Leatherhead is seeking to uncover new natural preservatives from marine bacteria and fungi.

Aquapharm Biodiscovery believes its substantial collection of marine bacteria and fungi from a variety of diverse sources could offer some solutions. It has teamed up with Leatherhead Food International to develop a source of naturally-derived anti-microbial compounds.

Based at the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology in Oban on Scotland’s West coast, Aquapharm uses it epigenetics platform to expose these microorganisms to stresses that they would not normally be exposed to, which allows conformational changes in the DNA structure and wakes up silent genetic pathways.

In this way the microorganisms can be stimulated to produce novel, biologically active compounds.

AquaPharm is drawn up its shortlist, Leatherhead Food Research – which has experience in the identification, evaluation and application of new preservatives for foods – will screen it against its collection of food spoilage organism to measure the preservative performance.

The results of the collaboration will be made available to industry via Leatherhead’s membership network and an industry partner or partners may further develop and commercialise them.

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapharm, Aquapreneur, functional ingredients, Leatherhead, marine bacteria, marine extract, marine ingredients, marine microbe, marine natural product, natural preservative • No Comments

Chitosan Offers Hope For Spinal Injury Patients

Posted On: October 17, 2010

Richard Borgens and his colleagues from the Center for Paralysis Research at the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine have a strong record of inventing therapies for treating nerve damage. From Ampyra, which improves walking in multiple sclerosispatients to a spinal cord simulator for spinal injury victims, Borgens has had a hand in developing therapies that directly impact patients and their quality of life.

Another therapy that is currently undergoing testing is the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to seal and repair damaged spinal cord nerve cells. By repairing the damaged membranes of nerve cells, Borgens and his team can restore the spinal cord’s ability to transmit signals to the brain.

However, there is one possible clinical drawback: PEG’s breakdown products are potentially toxic. Is there a biodegradable non-toxic compound that is equally effective at targeting and repairing damaged nerve membranes? Borgens teamed up with physiologist Riyi Shi and chemist Youngnam Cho, who pointed out that some sugars are capable of targeting damaged membranes. Could they find a sugar that restored spinal cord activity as effectively as PEG? Borgens and his team publish their discovery that chitosan can repair damaged nerve cell membranes inThe Journal of Experimental Biology on 16 April 2010.

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, biomaterials, chitin, chitosan, marine ingredients • No Comments

Census of Marine Life Produces Huge Harvest

Posted On: October 16, 2010

First Census of Marine Life 2010: Highlights of a Decade of Discovery is now available.

A 64-page report that describes some of the scientific highlights of ten years of exploration, research and analysis undertaken by Census of Marine Life scientists. Included is a description of the Census research projects and organizational structure.

Great photos

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, Census of Marine Life, marine bioprospecting, marine biotechnology, marine natural product, marine organism • No Comments

French omega-3 firm buys Canadian researcher

Posted On: October 16, 2010

French-based Polaris has purchased Canadian start-up Ocean Nutrasciences, for an undisclosed sum.

Polaris has been working in the nutritional lipid area for about 15 years and said the acquisition provided it with added innovation potential in marine ingredients for use in, “nutraceutics, food and cosmetics”.

In particular, Ocean Nutrasciences has done a lot of work taking extracts from Northern shrimp which have been found to be high in astaxanthine, amino acids and omega-3 forms EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

In a statement Polaris said Ocean Nutrasciences, “develops, makes, values (via clinical studies) and markets marine ingredients (shellfish, algae and fish) exempt from organic solvents”.

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From Issue 12 • Categories: Tags: amino acids, Aquapreneur, astaxanthin, cosmeceuticals, DHA, EPA, fish oil, functional ingredients, Ocean Nutrasciences, omega 3, Polaris • No Comments

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