Pub Date : 2015-01-01DOI: 10.18488/JOURNAL.57/2015.4.1/57.1.1.8
Neda Jalalvandi, A. Bahador, B. Zahedi, Hossein Saghi, D. Esmaeili
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe hospital-acquired infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts. P.aeruginosa for its resistance to antibiotics. Efflux pump is one of the several mechanisms involved in intrinsic resistance of these bacteria to antibiotics. It has been revealed that deletion of genes encoding the components of MexAB–OprM of efflux system, in wild-type P. aeruginosa, confers hypersusceptibility to a variety of antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial and antifungal properties of some herbal medicines were reported. Objectives: In this study the effect of Saturejakhuzestanica extract, an endemic plant of Iran, on the expression level of mexA, and mexR genes in P. aeruginosa were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this study, MIC was determined for P. aeruginosa. Then, bacteria were treated with S. khuzistanica extract. MexA, mexR and gyrA genes expression in treated and non-treated bacteria, before and after treatment was evaluated using RT-PCR technique. Results: Surprisingly, the expression level of mexA and mexR genes was decreased in the presence of S. Khuzestanica. However, the expression of gyrAgene that was used as an internal control was not altered before and after treatment with this herb. Based on the results, S. Khuzestanica could play a, major role in lowering the P. aeruginosa resistance to drugs, by reducing mexA genes expression. Conclusions: According to results of current research we hope in future be used it to the clinic with a wider range as a complementary therapy and also for surgery operation.
{"title":"THE STUDY OF INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF SATUREJA KHUZESTANICA ESSENCE AGAINST MEXA AND MEXR EFFLUX GENES OFPSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA BY RT-PCR","authors":"Neda Jalalvandi, A. Bahador, B. Zahedi, Hossein Saghi, D. Esmaeili","doi":"10.18488/JOURNAL.57/2015.4.1/57.1.1.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18488/JOURNAL.57/2015.4.1/57.1.1.8","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe hospital-acquired infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts. P.aeruginosa for its resistance to antibiotics. Efflux pump is one of the several mechanisms involved in intrinsic resistance of these bacteria to antibiotics. It has been revealed that deletion of genes encoding the components of MexAB–OprM of efflux system, in wild-type P. aeruginosa, confers hypersusceptibility to a variety of antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial and antifungal properties of some herbal medicines were reported. Objectives: In this study the effect of Saturejakhuzestanica extract, an endemic plant of Iran, on the expression level of mexA, and mexR genes in P. aeruginosa were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this study, MIC was determined for P. aeruginosa. Then, bacteria were treated with S. khuzistanica extract. MexA, mexR and gyrA genes expression in treated and non-treated bacteria, before and after treatment was evaluated using RT-PCR technique. Results: Surprisingly, the expression level of mexA and mexR genes was decreased in the presence of S. Khuzestanica. However, the expression of gyrAgene that was used as an internal control was not altered before and after treatment with this herb. Based on the results, S. Khuzestanica could play a, major role in lowering the P. aeruginosa resistance to drugs, by reducing mexA genes expression. Conclusions: According to results of current research we hope in future be used it to the clinic with a wider range as a complementary therapy and also for surgery operation.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67988566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059647
Sophie Veilleux
International strategic alliances have often been presented as the main growth factor for dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs). Alliances bring resources such as complementary knowledge and financial resources to DBFs. They help these smaller firms conduct R&D, and costly and long clinical essays and regulations. They build bridges with foreign capital and product markets. Even if some authors have noticed that alliances are not always beneficial or feasible, the main picture has not been altered: they are still presented as a bounty for smaller R&D biotechnology firms. Our research, based on in-depth interviews of samples of DBFs in Montreal and Boston, suggests that, in both clusters, they use alliances as a second-best option. The preferred strategy is to conduct in-house R&D supported by venture capital and capital market funds, and only sign alliances at the latest possible time, in order to complete the R&D process.
{"title":"International strategic alliances of small biotechnology firms: a second-best option?","authors":"Sophie Veilleux","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059647","url":null,"abstract":"International strategic alliances have often been presented as the main growth factor for dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs). Alliances bring resources such as complementary knowledge and financial resources to DBFs. They help these smaller firms conduct R&D, and costly and long clinical essays and regulations. They build bridges with foreign capital and product markets. Even if some authors have noticed that alliances are not always beneficial or feasible, the main picture has not been altered: they are still presented as a bounty for smaller R&D biotechnology firms. Our research, based on in-depth interviews of samples of DBFs in Montreal and Boston, suggests that, in both clusters, they use alliances as a second-best option. The preferred strategy is to conduct in-house R&D supported by venture capital and capital market funds, and only sign alliances at the latest possible time, in order to complete the R&D process.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059647","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66713989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059650
G. Triulzi, R. Scholz, A. Pyka
In the last two decades, University-Industry Relationships have played an outstanding role in shaping innovation activities in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals. Despite the growing importance and the considerable scope of these relationships, there still is an intensive and open debate on their short and long term effects on the research system in life sciences. So far, the extensive literature on this topic has not been able to provide a widely accepted answer. This work introduces a new way to analyse University-Industry Relationships (UIRs) which makes use of an agent-based simulation model. With the help of simulation experiments and the comparison of different scenario results, new insights on the effects of these relationships on the innovativeness of the research system can be gained. In particular, focusing on knowledge interactions among heterogeneous actors, we show that: (i) universities tend to shift from a basic to an applied research orientation as a consequence of relationships with industry, (ii) universities' innovative capabilities benefit from industry financial resources but not so much from cognitive resources of the companies, (iii) biotech companies' innovative capabilities largely benefit from the knowledge interaction with universities and (iv) adequate policies in terms of public basic research funding can contrast the negative effects of UIRs on university research orientation.
{"title":"R&D and knowledge dynamics in university-industry relationships in biotech and pharmaceuticals : an agent-based model","authors":"G. Triulzi, R. Scholz, A. Pyka","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059650","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059650","url":null,"abstract":"In the last two decades, University-Industry Relationships have played an outstanding role in shaping innovation activities in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals. Despite the growing importance and the considerable scope of these relationships, there still is an intensive and open debate on their short and long term effects on the research system in life sciences. So far, the extensive literature on this topic has not been able to provide a widely accepted answer. This work introduces a new way to analyse University-Industry Relationships (UIRs) which makes use of an agent-based simulation model. With the help of simulation experiments and the comparison of different scenario results, new insights on the effects of these relationships on the innovativeness of the research system can be gained. In particular, focusing on knowledge interactions among heterogeneous actors, we show that: (i) universities tend to shift from a basic to an applied research orientation as a consequence of relationships with industry, (ii) universities' innovative capabilities benefit from industry financial resources but not so much from cognitive resources of the companies, (iii) biotech companies' innovative capabilities largely benefit from the knowledge interaction with universities and (iv) adequate policies in terms of public basic research funding can contrast the negative effects of UIRs on university research orientation.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059650","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059649
S. Reid, J. Niosi, S. Ramani
This exploratory investigation offers evidence from biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors regarding the differential impacts of information flow rates, dispersion of networks and combination of progenitor sciences and technologies on technology diffusion rates. In recent years, enhanced rates of information flow have increased the ability for a greater overall number and diversity of foreign players to enter emerging technology development trajectories. At the same time, these trends are creating more dispersed networks with concomitant problems associated with information flow in such diffuse situations. Rates of diffusion of emerging technologies are also importantly affected by the number of scientific fields and generic technologies combined to create the new technology and the level of resultant complexity; higher levels of complexity can slow down diffusion rates. Further, at the country level, absorptive capacity is largely determined through institutions and their policies; however, in terms of enabling diffusion of technology to move effectively downstream from science to market, this requires social capabilities.
{"title":"Bionetworks vs. nanonetworks: a comparison of diffusion rates of emerging technologies","authors":"S. Reid, J. Niosi, S. Ramani","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059649","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059649","url":null,"abstract":"This exploratory investigation offers evidence from biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors regarding the differential impacts of information flow rates, dispersion of networks and combination of progenitor sciences and technologies on technology diffusion rates. In recent years, enhanced rates of information flow have increased the ability for a greater overall number and diversity of foreign players to enter emerging technology development trajectories. At the same time, these trends are creating more dispersed networks with concomitant problems associated with information flow in such diffuse situations. Rates of diffusion of emerging technologies are also importantly affected by the number of scientific fields and generic technologies combined to create the new technology and the level of resultant complexity; higher levels of complexity can slow down diffusion rates. Further, at the country level, absorptive capacity is largely determined through institutions and their policies; however, in terms of enabling diffusion of technology to move effectively downstream from science to market, this requires social capabilities.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059649","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059646
C. Beaudry
Using the four biotechnology uses and development surveys of Statistics Canada, we analyse the importance of collaboration, funding and support, as well as contracting, R&D and IP strategies on the propensity to patent of Canadian biotechnology firms. Our model accounts for the potential endogeneity due to the simultaneity of some of these strategies. Controlling for various firm characteristics, the stage of development of the firm and the sources of its revenues, we find that collaboration with other firms does matter for patenting, as well as R&D, even when controlling for potential endogeneity. IP strategies and contracting out activities also increase the propensity of a firm to patent, and so does angel and venture capital funding.
{"title":"Impact of collaboration and funding on the propensity to patent of Canadian biotechnology firms 1999–2005","authors":"C. Beaudry","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059646","url":null,"abstract":"Using the four biotechnology uses and development surveys of Statistics Canada, we analyse the importance of collaboration, funding and support, as well as contracting, R&D and IP strategies on the propensity to patent of Canadian biotechnology firms. Our model accounts for the potential endogeneity due to the simultaneity of some of these strategies. Controlling for various firm characteristics, the stage of development of the firm and the sources of its revenues, we find that collaboration with other firms does matter for patenting, as well as R&D, even when controlling for potential endogeneity. IP strategies and contracting out activities also increase the propensity of a firm to patent, and so does angel and venture capital funding.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059646","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059648
J. Niosi
Catching up and leapfrogging regularly occur in capitalist economies, both at the level of entire countries and specific industries. The USA has taken the lead in biopharmaceuticals and has kept it for over fifty years. Biotechnology is now helping the US pharmaceutical industry to keep its global leadership patent and product figures or biotechnology drugs indicate that the USA is keeping its lead, and is not going to be left behind by any other nation, advanced or emerging, in the foreseeable future.
{"title":"Biotechnology: a case of delayed international convergence?","authors":"J. Niosi","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059648","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059648","url":null,"abstract":"Catching up and leapfrogging regularly occur in capitalist economies, both at the level of entire countries and specific industries. The USA has taken the lead in biopharmaceuticals and has kept it for over fifty years. Biotechnology is now helping the US pharmaceutical industry to keep its global leadership patent and product figures or biotechnology drugs indicate that the USA is keeping its lead, and is not going to be left behind by any other nation, advanced or emerging, in the foreseeable future.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059648","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66713999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059645
D. Cetindamar
The paper empirically examines biotechnology innovation system in order to present the concerns of developing countries. Through mapping innovation processes/functions over time, it is possible to develop insights of the dynamics of innovation systems. This mapping is carried out for the Turkish biotechnology system, and the findings are summarised.
{"title":"Understanding the Turkish biotechnology system through the functions of an innovation system","authors":"D. Cetindamar","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059645","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059645","url":null,"abstract":"The paper empirically examines biotechnology innovation system in order to present the concerns of developing countries. Through mapping innovation processes/functions over time, it is possible to develop insights of the dynamics of innovation systems. This mapping is carried out for the Turkish biotechnology system, and the findings are summarised.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059645","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-03-06DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059651
Ayoub Moustakbal
The present paper has the objective of understanding the disappearance of biotechnology firms. To accomplish this objective, a sample was built from 552 firms operating in Canada between 1996 and 2010. The results reveal that disappearance is not only due to filing for bankruptcy, but also due to change in firms’ names, as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Statistical tests further show that the survival of dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) depends mainly on two factors: having a qualified management team, and receiving the support of the venture capital firms. In addition, the results demonstrate that firms which mainly operate in the human health sector and have already received support from VC opt for M&A to exit the industry. This study has some practical lessons for different stakeholders concerning the survival and the exit of new enterprise biotechnology firms.
{"title":"The disappearance of dedicated biotechnology firms in Canada","authors":"Ayoub Moustakbal","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059651","url":null,"abstract":"The present paper has the objective of understanding the disappearance of biotechnology firms. To accomplish this objective, a sample was built from 552 firms operating in Canada between 1996 and 2010. The results reveal that disappearance is not only due to filing for bankruptcy, but also due to change in firms’ names, as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Statistical tests further show that the survival of dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) depends mainly on two factors: having a qualified management team, and receiving the support of the venture capital firms. In addition, the results demonstrate that firms which mainly operate in the human health sector and have already received support from VC opt for M&A to exit the industry. This study has some practical lessons for different stakeholders concerning the survival and the exit of new enterprise biotechnology firms.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059651","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.068940
A. Ricroch, Audrey Boisron, M. Kuntz
All genetically modified (GM) plants must undergo a meticulous assessment of their safety before marketing. This involves comparative compositional and other phenotypic analyses between the GM line and a conventional comparator. In the European Union (EU), these comparisons have often been followed by 90-day subchronic toxicity feeding studies. We reviewed 44 peer reviewed articles describing such tests for nine crops since 1995 and 60 opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which have or not included such tests. None of these studies concluded to safety problems. Despite this fact, we noted a drift to systematically include these subchronic rodent feeding studies in the EFSA dossiers since 2009. The recent EU decision to render them mandatory despite the lack of clear scientific necessity to conduct such tests is also discussed.
{"title":"Looking back at safety assessment of GM food/feed: an exhaustive review of 90-day animal feeding studies","authors":"A. Ricroch, Audrey Boisron, M. Kuntz","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.068940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.068940","url":null,"abstract":"All genetically modified (GM) plants must undergo a meticulous assessment of their safety before marketing. This involves comparative compositional and other phenotypic analyses between the GM line and a conventional comparator. In the European Union (EU), these comparisons have often been followed by 90-day subchronic toxicity feeding studies. We reviewed 44 peer reviewed articles describing such tests for nine crops since 1995 and 60 opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which have or not included such tests. None of these studies concluded to safety problems. Despite this fact, we noted a drift to systematically include these subchronic rodent feeding studies in the EFSA dossiers since 2009. The recent EU decision to render them mandatory despite the lack of clear scientific necessity to conduct such tests is also discussed.","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.068940","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059644
J. F. Amador
{"title":"Systems of innovation and the adoption of biotechnologies: the case of Mexico","authors":"J. F. Amador","doi":"10.1504/IJBT.2014.059644","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059644","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":91506,"journal":{"name":"International journal of biotechnology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJBT.2014.059644","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66714358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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