Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

The basis of aging and long-term degenerative disease have been formidable questions for scientists. Over the last decade several “methylation clocks” have been devised to examine modifications of DNA that match well with developmental state and disease presentation.  Dr. Ekaterina Rogaeva from the University of Toronto studies methylation clocks, especially as they associate with specific neurodegenerative diseases. The discoveries in this discipline delineate diagnostic patterns of epigenetic changes that could be critical in disease prediction and treatment, as well as monitoring overall health.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Last week’s episode covered Alpha Gal Syndrome, the tick-induced allergy to beef and pork.  The same immunological response could also limit a recipient’s access to xenography or xenotransplantation, that is, the introduction of pig and cow tissues and organs for human benefit.  From valves to tendons to organs, the use of non-human animal parts is becoming increasingly common, but so is the instance of immune response to them due to a response to alpha gal. Today’s guest is Dr. John Bianchi, VP of Product Development at Revivicor.  Revivicor has developed the GalSafe Pig, a genetic engineering step that eliminates the production of Alpha-Gal, making organs compatible with sensitive recipients. While solving the key problem of xenographic transplants and tissue donation, the pork may also be consumed without incident.  Again science rises to solve an important problem.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

 You find a tick on your skin and remove it.  The next day you eat a sausage and wind up in the emergency room in anaphylaxis.  After that, you can’t eat beef or pork without experiencing an intense allergic reaction.  This is alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy induced by the saliva of ticks bearing a simple oligosaccharide (compound sugar), and the body mounts an immune response against it.  The same oligosaccharide is also found in beef and pork.  This strange condition is becoming increasingly more common.  Dr. Jeffery Wilson is a physician at the University of Virginia who studies alpha-gal syndrome.  We discuss this strange disorder, and consider strategies to solve it that will be discussed in the next episode.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Today’s podcast is an interview with New Zealander of the Year Dr. Siouxsie Wiles.  Dr. Wiles’ program uses bioluminesence as a marker to follow bacterial growth and disease progression.  Her work seeks to identify new antimicrobial compounds.  However, Dr. Wiles has become a go-to person in the discussion of COVID19, and has led public discourse on the realities of the pandemic. Her written work, video and cartoons around COVID19 have contributed to New Zealand’s low incidence rate, and world leadership in how to handle a pandemic.  We discuss her work and efforts in science communication.Follow Dr. Wiles on Twitter:  @SiouxsieW Her website is here Some of the COVID19 cartoons with Toby Myers can be seen here. Dr. Wiles TEDx Talk.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

While genomics approaches have opened a universe of new compounds in plants, the vast majority remain uncharacterized. Brightseed has employed an artificial intelligence platform to scan for novel compounds, with a goal to identify new chemicals that may play a role in human health.  Today’s podcast features Dr. Jim Flatt, CEO and Co-Founder of Brightseed.  He discusses the company’s pilot products and the pipeline of compounds that may enhance human health.  www.brightseedbio.com # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Your DNA contains all of the information that makes you, you. With increasing understanding of the genetic basis of disease, the information in every cell may help anticipate, correct, or otherwise treat latent medical issues. The good news is that the cost of obtaining your personal DNA sequence is now less than the cost of a couple of concert tickets. At the same time, how is that information safeguarded? Who has access to it?  Can it be used to exclude you from insurance coverage or open the door to genetic discrimination?  Today’s guests are the CEO and CSO of Nebula Genomics.  CEO Kamal Obbad and CSO Dennis Grishin share their insights into the benefits of personalized sequencing, along with a discussion of how they mitigate risk of malicious dissemination and/or use of genetic data.Follow Nebula Genomics on Twitter. Follow Kamal Obbad on Twitter. Follow Dennis Grishin on Twitter. Here is the website for Nebula Genomics.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The COVID19 vaccines were produced in record time, an amazing feat. However, additional challenges have been revealed in their distribution.  Perhaps the most formidable barrier is the very last one– executing the vaccination.  For years anti-vaccination groups have soiled the internet and public discourse with false or exaggerated claims of vaccine dangers. They have appealed to the emotional weak spots of concerned parents and the conspiratorial leanings of fringe science and politics to forward their crooked cause. Dr. Rahul Gupta is the Chief Medical and Health Officer of March of Dimes, and organization with a commitment to child and mother health that started when the scourge of polio ravaged so many. We discuss the problem of vaccine hesitancy and philosophies to change hearts and minds over emotional influence.March of Dimes website: www.marchofdimes.org/ Dr. Rahul Gupta: DrGuptaMD March of Dimes:  MODTwitter# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week’s podcast is a dissection of another popular podcast that features self-proclaimed experts in genetic engineering (familiarly GMO), and the falsehoods they propagate. Podcasts are great conduits to spread scientific information, but non-scientific views thrive also.  It is amazing to listen to the bad information, and the participants’ willing acceptance and amplification that goes unchallenged. The episode is not mentioned by name, nor are the participants. This is not a personal criticism.  I present a point-by-point refutation of their claims to show how misinformation is propagated inside echo chambers, and the lack of critical analysis that is undertaken.  It is unfortunate, because the folks in this podcast likely have the best intentions at heart, they just don’t know anything about the topic they criticize. They then use a healthy pipeline to provide false information that confirms the biases of their audience. This is why we can’t have nice things.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

At its core, gene editing works to break gene function by creating errors in a DNA sequence at a specific location. The process works by creating a precise cut that is repaired by the cell’s repair mechanisms, and those processes can be error prone.  Those errors are the basis of the gene’s disruption.  But in a population of cells, how do you account for and catalog all of the changes?  Kevin Bloh is a research associate and a Ph.D. student with Christiana Care / University of Delaware.  He describes computational tool that help define the variation around gene edited sites. The new tools help refine cells possibly destined for research or therapeutic applications.DECODR software link.  www.decordr.org# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

One of the major failures of addressing the COVID19 pandemic is the breakdown of testing.  The NFL and White House were able to  maintain business as usual because of daily, accurate testing. When the disease is detected, its spread can be controlled.  Jo Bhakdi of Quantgene talks about testing and how his company has scaled up testing solutions to at least apply them commercially to businesses wishing to maintain operations and protect their employees.  We talk about testing and how it may be scaled to a national level.  In the second  half we talk about early cancer detection in a blood draw, an exciting possibility that would save lives and money through the earliest possible detection of several major cancers.Website:  https://chooseserenity.com/covidFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SameDayCOVIDTestinghttps://www.instagram.com/choose_serenity/https://twitter.com/quantgeneInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/choose_serenity/Twitter:  https://www.instagram.com/choose_serenity/https://twitter.com/quantgene# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.