Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Biologists Use Algae-Produced Protein in Global Health Initiative


A research team in the Division of Biological Sciences headed by Stephen Mayfield will produce a mammary gland protein called MAA from algae to determine if has the potential to significantly reduce infectious diarrheal diseases, a major cause of infant mortality in the developing world.

The UC San Diego biologists will supply their algae-produced MAA to researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center as part of a newly funded initiative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to enable researchers worldwide to test unorthodox ideas that address persistent health and development challenges.

Mayfield, a professor of biology and director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, is also one of the founders of Sapphire Energy, a San Diego company known for its development of a crude oil replacement produced from algae.

Mayfield’s research team engineered edible algae to produce high levels of bovine colostrum MAA using Sapphire Energy’s algae biotechnology platform. The MAA will be used by researchers at Nebraska headed by Thomas McDonald, a professor of pathology and microbiology there. His team of scientists has demonstrated that the protein increases the production of a natural protective barrier in the intestine against organisms such as Salmonella that can cause diarrhea.

For more on the research project and the grant received by the research team go to: http://app1.unmc.edu/publicaffairs/todaysite/sitefiles/today_full.cfm?match=8735

Monday, November 14, 2011

SD-CAB Student and Postdoc Symposiums

We are pleased to present this month's Student and Postdoc Symposium; chaired by SD-CAB Director, Dr. Stephen Mayfield.

Our speakers will be:
Javier Gimple: "Synthetic Biology Engineering of Phototosystem II"
William Ansari: "Metabolic engineering of algal strains for OMEGA-3 production"
Beth Rasala: "Stable heterologous expression and secretion of xylanase1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii"

When: November 18th from 4PM to 6PM
Where: Sumner Auditorium on the SIO campus (look for the Argo bell).
Visitors should park along La Jolla Shores Dr.

A poster for this event is attached. Please feel free to share it with your friends, co-workers and post it in your buildings to help us spread the word.

The reception will be organized by the wonderful Ms. Mary Anderson, from the Mitchell Lab, following the talks. Please join us for some stimulating conversation followed by frosty beverages and tasty snacks
on the patio.