Agri & Biotech
Peroxicats [peroxidases as biocatalysts]. Novel and more robust fungal peroxidases as industrial biocatalysts.
[This article is based on the presentation of the Peroxicats FP7 project. Grant agreement nº: KBBE-2010-4-265397. Total budget: 4.3 million €; EC-funding: 3 million €]
Enzymes catalyzing redox reactions (oxidoreductases) represent an environmentally friendly alternative to harsh chemicals in industrial processes that include oxidative transformations for production of chemicals and other value-added products with large markets in developed and emerging economies.
Fungi and other microorganisms provide the wider and more easily exploitable source for oxidative enzymes.
However, the penetration of microbial oxidoreductases in the chemical markets is still low despite the recent discovery of very promising enzymes.
Read more: Peroxicats [peroxidases as biocatalysts] - FP7 EU project
Bio Base Europe is the Europe's first open innovation and education centre for the biobased economy.
Flanders and The Netherlands have joined forces to build state-of-the-art research and training facilities to speed up the economic growth, innovation capacity, and sustainable development of our society.
Bio Base Europe consists of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and the Bio Base Europe Training Centre.
The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a flexible and multi-purpose pilot plant for bio-based products and processes.
Read more: Bio Base Europe - Open Innovation & Education centre
Evaluation of Enzyme Inhibitors in Drug Discovery
A Guide for Medicinal Chemists and Pharmacologists, by Copeland, Robert A.
With enzymes being the most valued and common of drug targets, an understanding of their interactions with inhibitors is critical to successful drug discovery.
Now in a second edition, this proven work clearly explains the biochemical data and experimental details underlying the science, arming medicinal chemists and pharmacologists with the tools they need to master the art of applied enzymology for drug discovery.
Read more: Book: Evaluation of Enzyme Inhibitors in Drug Discovery
Pharmaceutical companies stand ready to be tested in a world where a drug's success is more closely tied to its performance.
The challenges mount with competition from generics and growing pressure to reduce costs.
Now, insurers and integrated providers are driven by models that reward health outcomes and cost savings.
For success, drug makers are exploring real-world evidence, new payment models, and the right partnerships.
Patent Cases
The European Patent Office (EPO) has already granted many hundreds of patents on genetically engineered plants and animals (see statistics) and has even started to grant patents on normal, non modified plants .
However, legally speaking, there is still uncertainty on where patentability ends. Both the EPC and the EU directive 98/44/EC set limits to patentability of living organisms. Nevertheless, the EPO has repeatedly granted patents which clearly go behond these limits. Some of them have been revoked following an opposition procedure. In other cases the EPO has interpreted the laws in such a way as to undermine the limits of patentability.
Marine Proteins and Peptides
Biological Activities and Applications
Kim, Se-Kwon (ed.)
Food proteins and bioactive peptides play a vital role in the growth and development of the body's structural integrity and regulation, as well as having a variety of other functional properties. Land animal-derived food proteins such as collagen and gelatine carry risks of contamination (such as BSE). Marine-derived proteins, which can provide equivalents to collagen and gelatin without the associated risks, are becoming more popular among consumers because of their numerous health beneficial effects. Most marine-derived bioactive peptides are currently underutilized. While fish and shellfish are perhaps the most obvious sources of such proteins and peptides, there is also the potential for further development of proteins and peptides from sources like algae, sea cucumber and molluscs. Marine-derived proteins and peptides also have potential uses in novel products, with the possibility of wide commercialization in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well as in other fields such as photography, textiles, leather, electronics, medicine and biotechnology.
FoodDrinkEurope launched its 2013-2014 Competitiveness Report, urging EU institutions to deliver an industrial policy tailored to increase the competitiveness of the food and drink sector.
Read more: Competitiveness Report - EU industrial policy for food and drink (by fooddrinkeurope.eu)