Stämm’s Post

Unleash the Extraordinary Potential of Plant Biotechnology! 🌱🔬   Are you fascinated by the intricate world of plant tissue culture? Discover the latest advancements at the International Symposium on Biotechnological Tools in Horticulture.    Dive into cutting-edge techniques that are pushing the boundaries of science, including: ➡️ In Vitro Morphogenesis and Regeneration: processes that allow plants to grow and develop from small tissue samples. ➡️ In Vitro Somaclonal Variation: exploring genetic variations from tissue culture techniques to select plants with optimal traits. ➡️ Chemical and Physical Mutagenesis: crafting new plant varieties with enhanced characteristics.   Stay tuned for the next post to learn why these pioneering techniques can reshape the industry. 🧬   #plantbiotechnology #tissue #culture #regeneration #micropropagation #invitroculture #horticulture #biotech #agritech #plantpropagation #innovation #research #science #symposium  

The use of experimentally evolved coral photosymbionts for reef restoration - Cell Press: The heat tolerance of corals is largely determined by their microbial photosymbionts, and manipulating these symbiont communities may enhance the ability of corals to survive summer heatwaves. Experimental evolution of Symbiodiniaceae cultures under elevated temperatures has been successfully used to enhance the upper thermal tolerance of both symbiont cultures in vitro and corals following inoculation. Novel culturing, upscaling, and biodiversity monitoring techniques are required to deliver experimentally evolved coral symbionts at scale, and success requires learning from, or directly utilising, adjacent industries (e.g., biotechnology for algae-based commodities). This intervention has transitioned from stakeholder engagement to regulatory approval for risk assessments via small-scale field trials, which is an essential step on the path to implementation. https://lnkd.in/gEMEfbKb

The more researchers probe the microbial world, the greater the diversity discovered. Once again, from the fabulous Phaff Yeast Culture Collection curated by Kyria Boundy-Mills are a range of oleaginous yeasts that make fats that range from unsaturated to highly saturated. These might be tools in broadening the range of products that can be obtained from genetically engineered microbes.

Amazing strategy: https://lnkd.in/daKsKi7s Engineering the mangrove soil microbiome for selection of polyethylene terephthalate-transforming bacterial consortia Mangroves face stressors like sea level rise, erosion, and plastic pollution, making their soil a potential source of plastic-degrading microorganisms. This study examines how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles and seawater affect the mangrove soil microbiome. Researchers conducted enrichment culture experiments to select PET-degrading microbial consortia and analyzed the genomes of two bacterial groups. Results revealed that multiple species could break down PET, including a new species, Mangrovimarina plasticivorans, which contains genes for PET degradation. The findings enhance understanding of microbial PET transformations and offer insights for future strategies to harness these processes in marine ecosystems. KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) KAUST Core Labs

I remember dropping by Kyria Boundy-Mills office years ago and we got to talking about the challenges of fats in alternative proteins. How plant-based oils such as coconut oil were challenging both environmentally and sensorially for plant-based meat products. How cultivated fats could be an answer, but scaling would be a challenge. Kyria shared how her extensive work on potential biofuels food derived yeast strains included noting/rejecting strains that produced fats that were solid at room temperature. Highly undesirable for fuels but what about for saturated animal fat replacements? 🤔 Hmmmm.... I sent over research grant opportunities from The Good Food Institute, that at the time were looking to fund research grants focused on animal fat analogs. What a great potential alignment opportunity! Kyria applied and won a grant from GFI to look at the oleaginous (fat producing) yeasts in her Phaff Yeast Culture Collection of 9,000 food microbial strains here at the University of California, Davis. This is all so fascinating, especially when you consider how a growing amount of chicken fat, pork grease, and beef tallow is being utilized in jet fuel, and how the U.S. beef industry has to import fat trimmings for products such as ground beef from places like Brazil since U.S. cattle are relatively lean. The pet food industry relies heavily on chicken fat to coat pet food, both for flavor and for shelf life stability. All of this highlights the critical need for affordable, sustainable animal fat alternatives, especially for industries that utilize vast amounts of animal fats and protein such as pet food. Fat is key for both flavor and nutrition (and apparently jet fuel ;-). As our population keeps growing, new solutions for animal fat production like this are becoming even more important. I am really excited to see where Kyria’s work goes next! #iCAMP #ucdavis #goaggies

Sharing research from Australian National University and the University of Newcastle. Scientists have unlocked the key to breeding 'carbon-gobbling' plants with an insatiable appetite. The research sheds light on a critical enzyme hidden in nature's blueprint, offering insights into how cells control carbon fixation, vital for life on Earth. By understanding the workings of the carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase (CsoSCA) enzyme found in cyanobacteria, scientists envision engineering climate-resilient crops capable of efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Cyanobacteria, revealed as "tiny carbon superheroes," capturing approximately 12% of the world's carbon dioxide annually through photosynthesis. The discovery unravels the intricate dance between enzymes, providing a blueprint for boosting agricultural yields while enhancing resilience against climate change. For more detail, here is the DOI for full article - https://lnkd.in/eGzx_GYz

Check out this week's news-round up full of stories from our inventors and researchers! 💡🔽 👁️ University of Florida scientists have achieved remarkable success with a gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis type I (LCA1), a rare inherited blindness. High-dose patients saw up to a 10,000-fold boost in light sensitivity, improved eye chart reading, and better navigation, like switching on dim lights after years of darkness. Dr. Shannon Boye, co-founder of #OrigiGator startup Atsena Therapeutics, emphasized this historic first-ever treatment for LCA1, showing both safety and effectiveness. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecCf9ejy ⚠️ UF's Jennifer Bridge, Ph.D., associate professor in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment, has been pivotal in structural safety reforms. Her work inspired new laws requiring condo inspections every 30 years, then every 10 years, after the tragic 2021 Surfside collapse, which claimed nearly 100 lives. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eyNM_ne9 🍇 Tie Liu and Ali Sarkosh, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences inventors, are leading research for the mechanical harvesting of muscadine grapes. By identifying genes that make these Florida-native grapes easier to pick, their work could cut labor costs and improve harvest efficiency. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e56isdnp 🚜 @UF/IFAS scientist Yiannis Ampatzidis created Agroview, an AI tool using drones and satellites to monitor crop health, growth, and nutrients. This technology, the flagship product of UF Innovate | Accelerate client Agriculture Intelligence, reduces data collection costs by up to 90%, helping farmers make quicker, more precise decisions for sustainable agriculture. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ek95X37h

In today’s rapidly evolving fields of synthetic biology, biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine, microorganisms play an essential role in driving innovation. These tiny life forms are nature’s powerhouse, offering a treasure trove of advantageous traits that can be harnessed for numerous applications. From bioengineering to crop resilience, microorganisms hold the key to unlocking new solutions for pressing global challenges. But how do we effectively identify and analyze these microorganisms for specific traits? Enter the Microbial Trait Analyser GPT, a cutting-edge tool designed to streamline the discovery of beneficial microorganisms.

in situ coral probiotic field trial to assess potential 'spill over' to neighboring environments. indeed a first of its kind and massive effort in the underwater coral world!