Editorial, News, BIO '99, Public Perceptions, Bio Shares, ABA News,Victorian Fermentation Interest Group, Asian News, Biocomputing, Bookreviews, Meetings and Products

Australasian Biotechnology, Volume 8 Number 5, September/October 1998,pp. 258 -316 Editorial, News, BIO '99, Public Perceptions, Bio Shares,ABA News, Victorian Fermentation Interest Group, Asian News,Biocomputing, Book reviews, Meetings and Products Code Number:AU98034 Sizes of Files: Text: 143K Graphics: No associated graphics files FROM THE EDITOR Journal Changes As we progress towards major changes inthe way in which the ABA operates, and perhaps even changes in itsaims, the journal will not be isolated from these changes. This journalhas had a policy until now which contained these key elements: A mixof news and contributed papers Papers to be no more than four pages(with exceptions) Use of two-colour except for the outside covers (tocontain costs) Acceptance of up to ten pages of advertising A push toincrease Asian news Incorporation of New Zealand news and articles onan equal footing with Australian items We have been reluctant toburden readers with a readership questionnaire, mainly because of thevery small proportion of readers who will complete such questionnaires.However, we do need to know what sections of the journal readers mostappreciate and want. NEWS Government's New Initiative on Biotechnology Biotechnology Task Force The Department of Industry, Science &Tourism will establish a Biotechnology Task Force to advise theGovernment on strategies for development of the Australianbiotechnology sectors. Leg Ulcers and Biotech Australia's PAI-2 Relieffor sufferers of leg ulcers is a step nearer following encouragingearly clinical trials of a new product, PAI-2, by the Sydney-basedcompany Biotech Australia. World Leading New Australian DrugTechnology An exciting new drug discovery technology was recentlyrevealed as the corner-stone of an $A10 million, two-year agreementsigned by AMRAD Corporation Limited and the Cooperative Research Centre(CRC) for Cellular Growth Factors. Amendment to the Food StandardsCode Foods Produced Using Gene Technology Standard A18 ANZFA'srecommendation on a new joint standard for the regulation of foodsproduced using gene technology (Standard 18) was considered by State,Territory and New Zealand health ministers in their capacity as theAustralia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC) on 30 July 1998.ANZFSC agreed to accept the new standard at that meeting. Food CouncilWelcomes Regulation Proposals "At last Australia will have regulationsto govern genetically modified food that provide the public withconfidence that appropriate safeguards are in place." Queensland toHost World Technology Expo Australia's largest ever technology expoand conference - Technology '99 will be held on Queensland's Gold Coastin October next year, the first of what organisers expect to become anannual event. Australia Participates in New Belgium-Based AgbiotechCompany Research by scientists at The Australian National University(ANU) forms a key part of a new international start-up company based inBelgium which has successfully raised venture capital of US$5 millionfor innovative research on agricultural crops. In return for ANU'scontribution, ANUTECH Pty Ltd, the commercial arm of the ANU willbecome a shareholder of the new company. Victoria Appoints NewPrincipal Science Adviser Minister for Industry, Science andTechnology, Mark Birrell, announced on 17 August the appointment ofProfessor Graham Mitchell as the State's Principal Adviser for Science,Engineering and Technology policy. University of Queensland CareersFair A very successful Science and Engoineering Careers Fair was heldin Mayne Hall at the University of Queensland on August 3. Over 60employers and academic departments were in attendance, and studentsfrom the Faculties of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture,and Biological and Chemical Sciences attended to view the range ofcareers options available after graduation. Japanese Study ofSynsorb-Pk Calgary - Synsorb Biotech Inc., has received a preliminaryreport from Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd on the completed clinicalstudy of Synsorb Pk® performed in Japan last year. Takeda hasconcluded that the product was safe when co-administered withantibiotics. EU Biotech Funded The European Commission has launchedthe European Plant Biotechnology Network, which will receive funding ofECU426,000 (US$472,860) from the EU. The aim of the EPBN is to promotenetworking between the laboratories working on EU-funded researchprojects and to facilitate the dissemination and commercialization ofresults during the fifth round of funding for biotech research. The EUcurrently funds 45 different projects in plant biotechnology, involving394 laboratories in 20 countries, which focus on improved products forhealth, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. During the fourthround of research funding, which recently closed, the EC funded 154biotechnology research projects with a total of ECU533.23 million(US$591.9 million). Novartis Argicultural Discovery Institute TheNovartis Research Foundation is planning to invest $600 million overthe next ten years to fund the creation and upkeep of the NovartisAgricultural Discovery Institute (NADI). The creation of the foundationis a strategic move to optimize cross-business synergies in genomicsresearch within the agribusiness and pharmaceuticals industries. FDAAddresses Use of Antibiotic Resistance Marker Genes The Food and DrugAdministration has issued draft guidance entitled "Use of AntibioticResistance Marker Genes in Transgenic Plants: Guidance for Industry"and a report entitled "Report on Consultations Regarding Use ofAntibiotic Resistance Marker Genes In Transgenic Plants." FDA is makingboth documents available for public comment. The Royal Society Reportson GM Issues and Regulations The latest development in the ongoingEuropean debate concerning genetically modified (GM) crops is a reportfrom a special working group of the Royal Society, a highly respectedand influential scientific organization in the UK. The report entitled"Genetically Modified Plants for Food Use" is the product of a numberof prominent experts in a variety of fields. It concisely reviewscurrent regulatory controls both in the UK and in Europe, and addressesquestions of gene transfer from GM crops, other specific concerns ofenvironmental harm, and issues related to GM plants as food. Posssiblefuture developments are also discussed with suggested revisions to thecurrent regulatory system. Sugar Beets Engineered to Produce HealthierSugar Dutch scientists have developed a new sugar beet that producesfructan, a low calorie sweetener and a healthier alternative tosucrose. Reporting in the September issue of Nature Biotechnology,researchers at the Center for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Researchat Wageningen describe how they developed "fructan beets" by insertinga single gene from Jerusalem artichoke that encodes an enzyme forconverting sucrose to fructan. The new beet has the potential toreplace more expensive fermentation methods of producing low molecularweight fructans, which are nearly as sweet as regular sugar butindigestible by humans. Nobel Prize Nobel Prize in Physiology orMedicine The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute has todaydecided to award the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointlyto Robert F Furchgott, Louis J Ignarro and Ferid Murad for theirdiscoveries concerning "nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in thecardiovascular system" Nobel Prize in Chemistry The Royal SwedishAcademy of Sciences has awarded The 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry inthe area of quantum chemistry to Walter Kohn, University of Californiaat Santa Barbara, USA and John A. Pople, Northwestern University,Evanston, Illinois, USA (British citizen). Development of computationalmethods in chemistry awarded Researchers have long sought methods forunderstanding how bonds between the atoms in molecules function. Withsuch methods it would be possible to calculate the properties ofmolecules and the interplay between them. The growth of quantummechanics in physics at the beginning of the 1900s opened newpossibilities, but applications within chemistry were long in coming.It was not practically possible to handle the complicated mathematicalrelations of quantum mechanics for such complex systems as molecules. Meeting Report Biological Informatics held on 6-8 July 1998 at theAustralian Academy of Science, Canberra In the carefully phrased worldof science, few predictions are so boldly stated. Yet recentlyProfessor Sir Robert May, Chief Scientist of the UK, told the attendeesat the Australian Academy of Science-sponsored Conference on BiologicalInformatics that "there will be winners, and there will be losers"among nations as the world moves into the next century. Sir Robertunderscored statements that have been made by other internationalleaders. "The next century will be the `Age of Biology', just as thisone has been an age of physics and astronomy. Specifically, thosecountries who best know how to correlate, analyze, and communicatebiological information will be in the leading position to achieveeconomic and scientific advances." Austrade offers AustralianBiotechnology a Major International Industry Development OpportunityThe Australian Trade Commission in San Francisco assists Australianlife sciences and information technology companies with US businessdevelopment. The range of services provided includes market research,identification of distributors and strategic partners, companyappointments, business plans, and trade show participation. Austradealso advises US companies about investment opportunities in Australia,as well as contract R&D/manufacturing and clinical trialcapabilities in the biotech and medical areas. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONSPoisonous Potatoes cause a stir about Genetic Foods in Scotland Theinternationally-renowned Rowett Research Institute has been severelyembarrassed by the premature release of data on TV, which resulted inpublic outcry. It was only reported in brief in Australian news media.COMPANY NEWS BIOTA Flu Diagnostic Distribution Agreement forEurope-United Kingdom Biota Holdings Limited announced in earlySeptember that it has signed an agreement for the distribution of itsinfluenza diagnostic, AB FLU OIA®, in Europe, including the UnitedKingdom. Biota Releases Preliminary Final Announcement Biota HoldingsLimited recently lodged its results for the year ended 30 June 1998. AMRAD 1997/98 Financial Results Finance Research and DevelopmentAMRAD's core business of pharmaceutical research and developmentprogressed in line with its value-adding strategy during 1997/98,achieving a number of important milestone. Trading Businesses Theresults achieved by AMRAD's trading businesses, AMRAD Pharmaceuticalsand AMRAD Biotech, exceeded, in total, the earnings targets for1997/98. Bell Scientific Industries - New Business This new businesswill provide a range of biotechnological services includingconsultancy. Freehills Patent Attorneys Announces New Partners JohnDavy, Melbourne John Davy joins FPA Melbourne with more than 20 years'experience in protecting and managing intellectual property issues fora large and diverse Australian chemical company. Paul Jones, MelbournePaul Jones is a Registered Patent Attorney with more than 25 years'experience, having practised in all areas of international patent andtrade mark law. Paul Savage, Sydney Paul Savage joined FPA Sydneyearlier this year. Over the past six years, his practice has focussedon advising clients in a wide range of technologies including mining,hydraulic, general mechanical, software development and fluid dynamicstechnologies. Debra Tulloch, Melbourne Debra Tulloch is a RegisteredPatent Attorney and joined FPA Melbourne in August this year.County/NHMRC Partnership Sets Stage for World-First Medical ResearchInvestment Fund A ground-breaking new investment opportunity forAustralian superannuation funds moved closer to fruition recently, withthe announcement of a partnership between County Investment Managementand the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) toco-operate in the development of a pioneering new Medical ResearchInvestment Fund. Bio Shares Covering Australian Biotechnology Stocks -compiled by M.J. Playne The ABA: A New Direction Below we present asummary of changes which are being considered for implementation by theDirectors of the ABA. In the next six issues, the journal will provideall readers and members of the ABA an opportunity to respond, tocomment and to present alternative directions for the ABA. This is youropportunity to have your voice on the future of the ABA. The articlebelow provides a strong base for that forum. It's now up to you, dearreader. Victorian Fermentation Special Interest Group PostgraduateYoung Speakers Competition 11 June 1998 Abstracts of Presentations Thewinning speaker was Andrew Barber whose abstract is submitted, togetherwith the two runners-up. Stimulatory Effects of Acetaldehyde inMicrobial Fermentations by Andrew Barber Reactor Studies in theDecolourisation of Wastewaters by Pycnoporus cinnabarinus by KirstenSchliephake The Optimisation of Pullulan Production by Aureobasldiumpullulans in Batch Culture by Brad Campbell ABA NEWS Annual GeneralMeeting This was held in Melbourne at the Brew House (CUB) inAbbotsford on 22nd September, 1998. We thank the CUB and their stafffor providing a very pleasant venue and for their generous hospitality.The meeting was attended by 30 members. ASIAN NEWS Malaysia to hostFAOBMB Congress Malaysia will play host to the 8th FAOBMB (Federationof Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists) Congress inKuala Lumpur from 22-26 November, 1998. An interesting and variedscientific programme on all aspects of biochemistry and molecularbiology have been planned, comprising of plenary sessions, symposia andcolloquia (to be selected from submitted abstracts). Poster sessionsand a scientific trade exhibition will also be organized. Plenaryspeakers include B. Blumberg (U.S.A.), C. Pallen (IMCB, Singapore), W.Tate (Otago, New Zealand), J. Harwood (united Kingdom), D. Grierson(United Kingdom) and E. Tamiya (Japan). Third Malaysian NationalGenetics Congress The Third National Congress on Genetics will be heldat the National University of Malaysia in Bangi, Selangor from November18-19, 1998 just before the FAOBMB Congress Malaysian biotechnologyeffort showing good progress A local Malaysian biotechnology company,TropBio Research has shown good progress since its establishment in1995. MARDITECH offers biotechnology commercialisation The MalaysianAgricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has establisheda marketing arm called MARDITECH which is now set to boost thecountry's food and agriculture industry by offering 11 of its latestresearch findings for commercialisation. Seventh Pacific RimBiotechnology Congress in The Year 2000 Following on the successfulcompletion of the Sixth Pacific Rim Biotechnology Congress (PRBC) andBioexpo `98 in Hong Kong in June, 1998, planning is now underway forthe Seventh PRBC to be held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada from November13-18, 2000. Liberalisation of the Equity Policy in the ManufacturingSector The Minister of International Trade and Industry announcedchanges to the current policy on equity for the manufacturing sector,applicable from 31 July 1998 to 31 December 2000. These changes are toeffect flexibility in the equity holdings of investors, both local andforeign, in all areas of manufacturing, with the exception of specificactivities and products* where Malaysians and Malaysian companiesalready have the capabilities and expertise. BIOCOMPUTING Full-TextJournal Articles on the Internet The information superhighway has donemuch lately to divert traffic away from the campus library. Manyscientists and students visit the virtual library right on theirdesktops to read scientific papers in their favorite journals. Whetheryou are in Topeka or Tbilisi, browsing through a new scientific paperin the magazine Science is just a few mouse clicks away! Mostpublishers are racing to place their journals on the Internet where onecan not only read complete scientific articles but also jump to citedpapers in the title, connect to the nucleic acid or protein databases,and even e-mail the authors instantly. The awesome power of theInternet thus goes beyond providing simple electronic access ofpublished text to pack more punch in journal reading. Graphics ofEnvironmental Releases Data Now Available Charts and maps thatsummarize key information from the Environmental Releases databaseshave been added to the ISB website. The graphics complement ISB'sweb-based program for searching the complete set of field test andderegulatory petition records from USDA/APHIS. The graphics areautomatically generated each time ISB receives an update fromUSDA/APHIS, and thus present the most current data available. MedicalResearch Investment Fund A new Internet website has been establishedto allow potential investors and medical researchers to participate inthe development of the proposed Medical Research Investment Fund.Website of Bacterial Names A new website entitled "List of bacterialnames with standing in nomenclature" is available. Annotated List ofWebsites (continued from August issue) BOOK REVIEWS MicrobiologicalResource Centers: MIRCENs A Resource for Global Cooperation In 1972,the United Nations called for the establishment of centres for thepreservation and use of microbial resources. In 1984, pilot centres(called MIRCENs) were established in Brazil, Egypt, Guatemala, Kenya,Senegal and Thailand. Currently, there are 31 MIRCENs in 25 countriesincluding a Biotechnology Mircen in Brisbane. Scitech TechnologyDirectory A Comprehensive Guide to Technology and Industry DevelopmentAssistance 1998 Edition (12th Edition) by Jane Ford This directoryremains one of the highlights of the science information scene inAustralia. First published in 1986, this twelfth edition retains allthe good features of previous editions. MEETINGS FDA Plans BiotechMeeting The Food and Drug Administration's Office of Science isorganising the 1998 FDA Science Forum on Biotechnology: Advances,Applications, and Regulatory Challenges. The Forum will bring FDAresearch and review scientists together with representatives ofindustry, academia, government agencies, consumer groups, and thepublic to discuss the impact of the enormous advances in biotechnologyon product development and regulation. The meeting will be held onTuesday and Wednesday, December 8 and 9, 1998 at the WashingtonConvention Center, Washington, DC. AgBiotech Industry Conference 14-15 January, 1999 San Francisco, California, USA Molecular Screening of Individuals atHigh-Risk of Developing Cancer: Medical, Ethical, Legal and SocialIssues 19-21 March, 1999 European Lactose Symposium 25-26 March, 1999 Australian Plant Breeding Conference 19-23 April, 1999 California-Australia Biotech Partnering Meeting 12-14 May, 1999 BIO '99 - 16-20 May, 1999 9th European Congress onBiotechnology 11-15 July, 1999 Asia-Pacific Biochemical EngineeringConference 1999 15-18 November, 1999 Biotechnology 2000: 11th InternationalBiotechnology Symposium and Exhibition of IUPAC 3-8 September, 2000 7th Pacific Rim Biotechnology Congress 13-18 November, 2000 PRODUCT NEWS domnick hunter New Fermenter ControlOffers Environmental and Economic Benefits A new concept in fermentercontrol has been announced by domnick hunter which provides costsavings and environmental benefits by integrating, into the oneprocess, functions such as separation of off-gases and control offoaming. Clyde-Apac State-of-the-Art System Puts Clyde-Apac in ControlClyde-Apac's upcoming release of a state-of-the-art electronic controlsystem will further strengthen the company's reputation as Australia'sleading manufacturer of laminar flow equipment. ABA OFFICE BEARERSCopyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.