What's going on at Indie Bio

IndieBio is a biotech startup accelerator.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0FFccwm1wbmYtKfX6HDncw

CRISPR: An enzyme taken from Leptotrichia shahii can bind to and cut ss messenger RNA.

A new version of the gene-editing tool CRISPR can target and cut RNA

also see:

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/46234/title/RNA-Targeting-CRISPR/

and

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/45354/title/Dial-It-Up--Dial-It-Down/

Introduction to Biohacking series, Oakland, CA.

I recommend this to anyone in the SF Bay Area interested in learning the basics and getting hands on lab training.    

Counter Culture Labs, at the Omni Commons

4799 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 

Learn the basics of genetic engineering in this free class series! Programming and genetic engineering are coming closer together as fields. Learn enough to 'program' life itself. 

This class is designed for beginners. Within a few weeks, get into the lab, start doing science and gain all the basic terminology you need to join a community biology project.

This series of classes is strongly recommended for anyone who wants to learn how to work independently in the wetlab. There will be 5 lecture classes on Monday evenings, and 4 lab sessions on Sunday mornings, starting July 31.

What is Biohacking? Gain an introduction to this exciting new movement! Then learn about the molecules of life and how they are made.

$5 Suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Transformation

Molecule controls infection by variety of RNA viruses

There are basically 2 parts to the immune system, innate immunity and  adaptive immunity (these may overlap).   Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance in the body. These mechanisms include physical barriers such as skin, chemicals in the blood, and immune system cells that attack foreign cells in the body. The innate immune response is activated by chemical properties of the antigen.
RIG-1 (Retinioic Acid Inducible Gene-1) is found in human cells.  It functions to recognize viral pathogens by their molecular patterns and like the legendary Paul Revere, gallops down signalling patways to alert and set in motion the expression of innate immune response genes.  When the transcription factor IRF3 is alerted it leaps into action and a coalition of molecules (i.e.type 1 interferon) are expressed to control the invading virus.  

So it is July, please excuse my red, white and blue interpretation,  but I think this is an important study in the development of the new generation of broad spectrum antiviral drugs.  In vitro experiments indicate compounds activating IRF3 showed activity against  West Nile virus, dengue virus and hepatitis C virus (Flaviviridae), Ebola virus, influenza A virus, Lassa virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Nipah virus (Filoviridae). Has anyone out there tested this with zika virus - also of the family Flaviviridae?  

Here is a link to the abstract and paper 

Excerpt from protocol/labnotes

Excerpt from the protocol:

Nenufar – antiviral research project 01 – Expression and purification of peptide LBOUNCER from the synthetic  gene VRBNCR-01 inserted into an e-coli plasmid vector, transformed and induced to grow on bacteria.  Explore how to do this in a fast and consistent way with the highest purity.

Experiment 01A:

DNA synthesis of the VRBNCR-01 gene which is inserted into a pET15 expression plasmid with a His 6 tag on the N-Terminus followed by a thrombin cleavage site.  The gene will be cloned into pET15b via NdeI and BamHI. We will use heat transform into competent cells, then plate out on Amp-agar to grow colonies.  Induce for expression.

Then on to Experiment 01B: purification using chromatography and SDS page

I contacted a lab in the San Francisco Bay Area where we can work.  All in all, we are going to do a lot of improvising so we can stretch the budget and work for at least 6 months on the experiment. Everyone is volunteering their time. We have wonderful mentors and we are learning by doing, the biohacker way.  It is always a steep learning curve as anyone who has worked in molecular biology knows.  The journey of discovery makes it worthwhile.  Thanks to all of you who are making this possible.