Biography

Natalia Chikurova graduated from the Chemistry Department of
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia in 2019 and received
her PhD in Chemistry in 2023. From 2021 she worked at the Department
of Analytical Chemistry of Moscow State University as a junior
researcher, since 2022 she holds the position of assistant where she
works in the group of design and application of new materials for HPLC
separations, from 2023 she also works as a junior researcher in the
Federal Research Centre “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian
Academy of Sciences. Scientific work is devoted to the development of
novel stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction chromatography and
reversed-phase chromatography with increased selectivity. The use of
the developed phases for the solution of various tasks in biochemistry
is the subject of the scientific work. The main research results were
published in journals indexed in Scopus and WoS and included in Q1
(Journal of chromatography A, International Journal of Molecular
Sciences), and abstracts of conferences (including HPLC-2023,
Dusseldorf).

Abstract

Cysteine synthase A (CysK) is an enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of L-cysteine from O-acetyl-L-serine and sulfide (primarily hydrogen sulfide) with PLP as cofactor. While its primary role in cysteine biosynthesis and sulfur assimilation is important for living organisms this enzyme also has potential secondary (or moonlighting) functions such as regulation of various gene expression by binding to DNA or RNA, cellular signaling by varying cysteine levels, or even affecting apoptosis and its pathways by differentiating in cysteine levels which is needed for glutathione synthesis necessary for protection from apoptosis induced by oxidation stress. One such CysK was found in Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR1 where it was expressed only in response to Klebsiella pneumoniae presence.

In this work, the recombinant enzyme CysK from L. reuteri LR1 (the strain was kindly provided by the All-Russian Dairy Research Institute (VNIMI)) was obtained and its various properties were studied. The enzymatic activity of this CysK was studied using several different methods such as spectrophotometry and hydrophilic interactions liquid chromatography (HILIC) and the results were compared. Using the most efficient of these methods, kinetics and stability of this enzyme were also studied. Catalytically important amino acid residues were described using the model structure of this enzyme which was compared to other known structures of CysK from different organisms.

Biography

Leonid Shaposhnikov graduated from the Chemistry Department of
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia in 2019 and received
his PhD in Chemistry in 2024. From 2021 he worked at the Department of
Chemical Enzymology of Moscow State University as an assistant, and
from 2023 he works as a junior researcher in the Federal Research
Centre “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of
Sciences. Scientific work is devoted to the cloning, obtaining, and
studying enzymes from various organisms for medicinal or
biotechnological purposes. The main research results were published in
journals indexed in Scopus and WoS and included in Q1 (Journal of
chromatography A, International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Biomolecules).

Abstract

Metaloendopeptidase M23 of Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR1 belongs to the superfamily of metaloendopeptidases. These enzymes catalyze the cleavage of peptidoglycan and cleave either the N-acylmuramoyl-Ala bond between the cell wall peptidoglycan and the cross-linking peptide or a bond within the cross-linking peptide preferring the poly-Gly in this peptide making them preferably cleave gram-positive bacteria. These peptidases usually use Zn ions for catalysis. It was found that M23 peptidase is expressed in Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR1 due to presence of other microorganisms. This enzyme could be important for designing new antimicrobial agents especially against gram-positive pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae.

In this work we obtained recombinant M23 from L. reuteri LR1 (the strain was kindly provided by the All-Russian Dairy Research Institute (VNIMI)). We studied expression levels of this enzyme in E. coli and optimized it by removing signal peptide coding sequence from the enzyme’s sequence. After the optimization of this enzyme’s expression in E. coli it is now possible to obtain M23 in bigger quantities and use it as potential antibacterial agent. We’ve also completed preliminary test on non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria such as B. megaterium and shown that M23 causes lysis of these bacteria.

Biography

Haytam Kasem received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France, in 2004. He received his Ph.D. degree in tribology of composite materials from the University of Orleans, France, in 2008. He joined the Tribology Laboratory at Technion, Israel, in 2012 and the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem (JCE), Israel, in 2013. His current positions are Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Head of the Tribology and Microstructure Laboratory at the JCE. His research areas cover the tribology of bionic microstructures, biotribology, mechano?chemical surface treatment, and the tribology of friction brakes.

Abstract

Any future development of new artificial lubricants for osteoarthritis treatment necessities full characterization of lubrication properties in terms of boundary lubrication joint, mobility, and frictional behavior. However, tribology has not yet been integrated with the clinical reality of worn particles present in synovial fluid and their impact on osteoarthritic joints. Part of the problem relates to the tribological approach adopted to study friction by applying inadequate testing methods such as pion-on-disc or block-on-ring testers. Furthermore, most of the studies reported in the literature so fare consider biological cartilage sample rubbing against a smooth and hard counterface, such as glass, covered with the lubricant liquid. This configuration suffers of lack of imitation of physiological conditions of biological joints.

To bridge the gap, in the present study synovial fluid containing, or not, worn particles was studied using a customized test-rig (tribometer). This device enables the contact to be open at the end of each friction cycle and to simulate hence more closely the natural knee joint contact conditions. Moreover, friction tests are performed with cartilage-on-cartilage configuration and the outcome results are compared to those obtained with the classical cartilage-on-glass configuration.

Results show clearly that opening the contact at the end of each friction cycle enables the lubricant to re-cover the rubbing surfaces, which allows to better illustrate the effect of the worn particles present in the lubricant. In addition, cartilage-on-cartilage configuration leads to lower but more irregular friction compared with that of cartilage-on-glass configuration tested under the same lubricants and experimental conditions

Biography

Dr. Annie FRELET-BARRAND studied biochemistry at the University of Franche-Comté (France) and was graduated as MS in 1998. In 2006, she received her PhD degree on membrane proteins (MP) characterization at the Institute of Plant Biology, Zurich. During her postdoctoral fellowship (CEA Grenoble, France), she developed L. lactis system for functional characterization of MPs. In 2009, she became CNRS Researcher at CEA Saclay, studying MPs involved in liver detoxification. In 2015, she integrated the Institute FEMTO-ST and is now producing and characterizing by biological, biochemical and biophysical techniques diverse (nano)biological elements from MPs, vesicles to bacteria and mammalian cells. She published 33 research articles including 4 book chapters (h=16).

Abstract

Membrane proteins (MPs) perform a wide variety of functions vital to the survival of organisms. Involved in numerous pathologies, they are important drug targets. In spite of their functional and biotechnological importance, their study remains difficult due to their hydrophobicity and low abundance in cells. Their overexpression in heterologous systems is mandatory for their detailed structural and functional characterization. However, this strategy leads to numerous obstacles such as their toxicity to hosts and the quality of the MP produced in these systems, especially for structural studies.

The antimicrobial peptide nisin is commonly used to control pathogenic microorganisms in dairy foods and presents anti-cancer properties and, at sub inhibiting concentrations, through the NICE (Nisin Controlled gene Expression) system for expression of proteins, either soluble or membrane of diverse origins and functions.

Using this tightly controlled gene expression system, in the last twenty years, more than 100 MPs were expressed allowing either their functional and/or structural characterization [1,2]. Recently, one eukaryotic membrane protein was expressed at a relatively high expression yield and allowed the formation of intracellular vesicles [3].

In conclusion, L. lactis represents a promising and interesting system for expression of functional proteins, including MPs. This system could be used in the future for expression of MPs of pharmaceutical interest and for biotechnological purposes.

Biography

Abstract

The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has catalyzed a paradigm shift in medical

genetics, enabling the identification of disease-associated variants. However, the vast quantum of data

produced by NGS necessitates a robust and dependable mechanism for filtering irrelevant variants.

Annotation-based variant filtering, a pivotal step in this process, demands a profound understanding of the

case-specific conditions and the relevant annotation instruments. To tackle this complex task, we sought to

design an accessible, efficient and more importantly easy to understand variant filtering tool.

Biography

Aghapy Yermans Yakoup is a graduate, batch 2023, with a biomedical sciences major (BMS) (medical sciences concentration) from Zewail City for Science, Technology, and Innovation. In addition, I have worked as a junior researcher assistant (jRA) in the Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy (CMP) in Zewail City for Science, Technology, and Innovation from Fall 2021 until Summer 2023. I am interested in finding new solutions to eliminate multi-drug-resistant bacteria and inventing new compounds that can be antibiotic alternatives. Also, I am interested in the medical microbiology field. In the future, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program that aims to find new applicable solutions for infectious diseases in different body systems like the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Abstract

Recently, multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria are responsible for a large number of infectious diseases that can be life-threatening. Globally, new approaches are targeted to solve this essential issue. This study aims to discover novel antibiotic alternatives by using the whole components of the biofilm layer as a macromolecule to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a promising agent against MDR. In particular, the biosynthesized biofilm-AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, electron microscopes, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), zeta sizer, and potential while their effect on bacterial strains, and normal cell lines was identified. Accordingly, biofilm-AgNPs have a lavender-colored solution, spherical shape, with a size range of 20–60 nm. Notably, they have inhibitory effects when used on various bacterial strains with concentrations ranging between 12.5 and 25 µg/mL. In addition, they have an effective synergistic effect when combined with phage ZCSE9 to inhibit and kill Salmonella enterica with a concentration of 3.1 µg/mL. In conclusion, this work presents a novel biosynthesis preparation of AgNPs using biofilm for antibacterial purposes to reduce the possible toxicity by reducing the MICs using phage ZCSE9.

Biography

Zubair Ameen is a student at Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. With a background in agriculture and social media, Zubair explores the intersection of Agricultural Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, and Digital Marketing. His research focuses on discovering new possibilities in Agricultural Biotechnology to introduce sustainable agriculture in Pakistan. Zubair has a proven track record of teamwork and leadership skills. He presented a thematic poster on "CRISPR Cas-9" and secured first position in his department. Currently, he is seeking opportunities for fellowships to pursue his master's studies abroad and fulfill his dreams.

Abstract

Agro-biotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool for revolutionizing the way we develop and produce natural products. By harnessing the latest advances in genetic engineering, bioprocessing, and bioinformatics, scientists can now design and produce high-value natural products with enhanced efficacy, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

This review focuses on the intersection of agro-biotechnology and natural products, exploring innovative approaches to: Develop novel natural products with improved yield and quality, enhance crop resilience and disease resistance through genetic engineering, discover new bioactive compounds with medicinal and industrial applications and ensure sustainable agricultural practices and environmental stewardship.

My review highlights the vast potential of agro-biotechnology in addressing global challenges, including climate change, food security, and human health. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with natural product development, we can unlock new possibilities for sustainable development, economic growth, and human well-being.

This abstract showcases the transformative power of agro-biotechnology in shaping the future of natural product development, paving the way for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world.

Biography

Abstract

Increasing attention has been paid to the purity of therapeutic proteins imposing extensive costs and challenges to the downstream processing of biopharmaceuticals. One of the efforts, that has been exerted to overcome such limitations, was developing multimodal or mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) resins. However, protein adsorption-desorption in mixed-mode resins becomes complicated due to several interactions with the ligand’s functional groups.  In this work, the explanation of practical and key aspects of downstream processing of recombinant proteins with or without MMC resins will be debated. Then, after complete elucidation of the potential of MMC resins, the effects of frequently used additives and their possible interactions during the purification process, the critical characteristics of common product-related, host-related, and process-related impurities will be discussed.  Due to such complexities, the design of experiment (DOE) will be introduced as a suitable tool for developing a meticulous optimization process in protein purification using multimodal resins.

Biography

Rashid Mahmood has Master Degree in Analytical Chemistry and MS in Total Quality Management. He is having over 20 years of experience of Pharmaceutical Technical Operations and has represented his country as a keynote speaker in many international conferences.  He has presented various talks in USA, Canada, UK and UAE on Cleaning Validation, GXP, Quality Risk Management, Role of Mass Spectrometry in Pharmaceuticals and on new Drug Delivery Systems.

Currently he is working as General Manager Technical Operations in Surge Laboratories Private Limited, Manufacturer of Microencapsulated APIs, Liquid & Sterile Dry Powder Parentrals. Surge Laboratories is one the best export oriented organization of Pakistan.

Abstract

Hot melt extrusion (HME) is emerging technology which is gaining high importance in the pharmaceutical industry as a novel technique  for the preparation of various dosage forms and drug delivery systems, for example granules and sustained release tablets. It is a fast growing technology platform that is utilized to solve difficult formulation challenges, primarily in the area of solubilization. Due to fast processing, high degree of automation, absence of solvents, simple and continuous operation and ability to process poorly compactable material into tablet form are some of the main advantages offered over conventional processing by this emerging technique. Applications of HME in pharmaceutical industry continues to grow and recent success of this technique have made it a useful tool of consideration as a drug delivery solution

Biography

 Binita Pokhrel is an Alumini of Kathmandu University, School of Science Department of Biotechnology. ( Btech in Biotechnology 2012-2016 ; MS by research in Biotechnology 2017-2020) Ms Pokhrel is Founder/ Managing Director at Purejoy Pvt Ltd.Pure Joy Pvt Ltd is a winery established April 2017 in Dhapakhel, Lalitpur.  The company started with just two factory workers and now has 10 full-time employees and 18 contract-based employees. They have leased 21900 sq ft of land and constructed a factory building of 2400 sq ft. Pure Joy Pvt Ltd consumes 180 metric ton fruits annually, indirectly employing more than 50 other farmers with production of 150000 liters of wine annually. She has been involved in providing trainings in various organizations and places in Nepal regarding Biotechnological Practices in daily lives 

Abstract

Medicinal plants in particular have been used in traditional medicine since antiquity to maintain holistic health and have provided preventive and curative medicines in infectious conditions. Medicinal plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which are known to have immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic and anticancer properties.The emergence of new infectious diseases, the resurgence of several infections that appeared to have been controlled and the increase in bacterial resistance have created the necessity for studies directed towards the development of new antimicrobials. Considering the failure to acquire new molecules with antimicrobial properties from microorganisms, there is a shift in focus: looking novel compounds showing antimicrobial activity in some exotic plants.