SynBioFromLeukipposInstitute

*Synthetic Evolving Systems that Implement a User-Specified Genetic Code of Arbitrary Design*

by
JT SCzepanski and GF Joyce

"A synthetic genetic system, based on cross-replicating RNA enzymes, provides a means to evaluate alternative genetic codes that relate heritable information to corresponding molecular function. A special implementation of encoded combinatorial chemistry was used to construct complex populations of cross-replicating RNA enzymes in accordance with a user-specified code that relates genotype and phenotype on a molecule-by-molecule basis. The replicating enzymes were made to undergo self-sustained Darwinian evolution, resulting in the emergence of the most advantageous variants. These included both highly active enzymes that sustained the population as a whole and poorly active enzymes that survived as parasites of the active molecules. This evolutionary outcome was a consequence of the information capacity and fidelity of the genetic code, suggesting how these parameters should be adjusted to implement codes tailored to particular applications."

http://bit.ly/SAvwlK

*Bottom-up construction of in vitro switchable memories*

by
Padirac A, Fujii T, Rondelez Y.

"Reaction networks displaying bistability provide a chemical mechanism for long-term memory storage in cells, as exemplified by many epigenetic switches. These biological systems are not only bistable but switchable, in the sense that they can be flipped from one state to the other by application of specific molecular stimuli. We have reproduced such functions through the rational assembly of dynamic reaction networks based on basic DNA biochemistry. Rather than rewiring genetic systems as synthetic biology does in vivo, our strategy consists of building simplified dynamic analogs in vitro, in an artificial, well-controlled milieu. We report successively a bistable system, a two-input switchable memory element, and a single-input push-push memory circuit. These results suggest that it is possible to build complex time-responsive molecular circuits by following a modular approach to the design of dynamic in vitro behaviors. Our approach thus provides an unmatched opportunity to study topology/function relationships within dynamic reaction networks."
bit.ly/YrBCp8

"How did you first become interested in bioengineering and synthetic biology? I became interested in bioengineering at a young age when both of my grandfathers became disabled: one lost his vision and the other had a series of strokes and became hemiplegic. My father did engineering work for NASA and the military, so I often heard about marvelous technologies developed to shoot things into the sky, but I saw very little being developed to help my grandfa- thers regain function. This motivated me to harness engineering and science insights to enhance the lives of those affected by disease or injury.

When I joined the faculty at Boston University, my lab focused on whole body dynamics and biomechanics including how humans walk, run, and balance. In that context, we developed a number of inter- esting devices to enhance sensory and motor function. However,........"

http://bit.ly/X0C4MR

by

Ralph S. Baric

"Viral disease outbreaks have long inspired fear in human populations. Highly pathogenic infectious disease has shaped world history, primarily by impacting the outcome of wars and other global conflicts and precipitating human movement. Historic accounts have documented the catastrophic consequences and human suffering associated with widespread viral outbreaks like smallpox virus, yellow fever virus, measles virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the 1918 influenza virus and others (51). News accounts and film have reinforced the serious threat posed by the emergence of new viral diseases as well as the catastrophic consequences of intentional release of highly pathogenic viruses in human populations. As illustrated by the SARS epidemic and the continuing evolution of the H5N1 avian influenza, global and national infectious disease outbreaks can overwhelm disaster medical response networks and medical facilities, disrupt global economies, and paralyze health and medical services by targeting health care workers and medical staff (21). This review focuses on viruses of humans, animals and plants that are viewed as potential weapons of mass disruption to human populations, critical plant and animal food sources, and national economies; and will consider whether and how the availability of synthetic genomics technologies will change this landscape.
Biological warfare (BW) agents are microorganisms or toxins that are intended to kill, injure or incapacitate the enemy, elicit fear and devastate national economies. Because small amounts of microorganisms might cause high numbers of casualties, they are classified as weapons of mass destruction. A number of naturally occurring...."

http://bit.ly/Se6Z33

#syntheticbiology #synbio

Synthetic Biologics Inc., an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based biotech with a presence in Rockville,...

by

Prindle A, Selimkhanov J, Danino T, Samayoa P, Goldberg A, Bhatia SN, Hasty J.

"Synthetic biology has rapidly progressed over the past decade and is now positioned to impact important problems in health and energy. In the clinical arena, the field has thus far focused primarily on the use of bacteria and bacteriophages to overexpress therapeutic gene products. The next generation of multigene circuits will control the triggering, amplitude, and duration of therapeutic activity in vivo. This will require a host organism that is easy to genetically modify, leverages existing successful circuit designs, and has the potential for use in humans. Here, we show that gene circuits that were originally constructed and tested in Escherichia coli translate to Salmonella typhimurium, a therapeutically relevant microbe with attenuated strains that have exhibited safety in several human clinical trials. These strains are essentially nonvirulent, easy to genetically program, and specifically grow in tumor environments. Developing gene circuits on this platform could enhance our ability to bring sophisticated genetic programming to cancer therapy, setting the stage for a new generation of synthetic biology in clinically relevant microbes."

http://1.usa.gov/TkOpJ5

http://1.usa.gov/XZa1fO

http://bit.ly/XSOllq

by

Cleary MA, Geiger E, Grady C, Best C, Naito Y, Breuer C.

"It is the ultimate goal of tissue engineering: an autologous tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) that is immunologically compatible, nonthrombogenic, and can grow and remodel. Currently, native vessels are the preferred vascular conduit for procedures such as coronary artery bypass (CABG) or peripheral bypass surgery. However, in many cases these are damaged, have already been harvested, or are simply unusable. The use of synthetic conduits is severely limited in smaller diameter vessels due to increased incidence of thrombosis, infection, and graft failure. Current research has therefore energetically pursued the development of a TEVG that can incorporate into a patient's circulatory system, mimic the vasoreactivity and biomechanics of the native vasculature, and maintain long-term patency."

http://1.usa.gov/TpZGrx

http://bit.ly/TP9NZ0

DARPA unleashes open source, cloud based software for robot developers world wide.