Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage

This is an exciting meeting focusing on the interface between innate and adaptive immunity and the potential of Heat shock proteins in inflammation resolution. The role of HSPs in health and disease and their potential as immune modulators will be examined and discussed
This event  has CPD accreditation and will have a  discussion panel session.

On registration you will be able to submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

Meeting Chair:     Dr Lesley Bergmeier, CBiol, MIBiol, PhD, FHEA

Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK

9:00 – 9:45            Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chair:  Dr Lesley Bergmeier, CBiol, MIBiol, PhD, FHEA.

Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK

10:00 – 10:30      Specialised functions of the Hsc70 chaperone system

Dr Paul Chapple, William Harvey Research Institute, London, UK

In humans there are 13 different Hsp70 proteins and approximately 50 J proteins. This diversity of cochaperone J proteins allows the recruitment of Hsp70 family members to multiple cellular locales and clients, mediating functions beyond de novo protein folding and quality control. Specialized function of the Hsc70 chaperone system will be illustrated using examples from our recent work that link to human disease. This will include evidence for Hsc70 functioning to promote traffic to the cell surface of melanocortin-4 receptor. Data linking Hsc70 to the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics through the J protein sacsin will also be outlined.

10:30 – 11:00      Function of hspB1 in inflammation
Dr Jonathan Dean, University of Oxford, UK
Heat shock protein B1 (human  hsp27, or the murine orthologue hsp25) has long been known to be phosphorylated in cells in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli.  Purification of activities responsible for its phosphorylation led to the identification of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, one of the major signalling pathways in inflammation.  Despite being a downstream component of the p38 pathway the role of hspB1 in inflammation has remained obscure until recently.  I will outline progress in our understanding of the function of hspB1 in inflammation.

11:00 – 11:30       Stimulation of innate anti-HIV immunity and antigen independent memory T cell homeotasis by HSP70

Dr Yufei Wang, Kings Collge, London

HSP70 activates dendritic cells (DC) to produce inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and DC maturation. Evidence is presented that exogenous HSP70 stimulates DC to express membrane-associated IL-15 (maIL-15) molecules. This was further demonstrated that stress-activated DC which induce endogenous intra-cellular and cell surface HSP70 also express maIL-15. maIL-15 on DC interact with the IL-15 receptor complex on CD4(+) T cells, leading to T cell proliferation, production of IFN-γ and expression of CD40L. Induction of endogenouos HSP70 by stress inducing agents can function as adjuvants eliciting antigen specific T and B cell responses and activation of inflammasomes in vivo. Interestingly, alum-mediated adjuvanticity was also shown a function of stress which elicited inflammasomes and HSP70.  Treatment with PES (phenylethynesulfonamide), which disrupts inducible HSP70 function, and inhibited both inflammasomes and the adjuvant function of alum. Our studies provided an alternative strategy in developing novel adjuvants.

11:30 – 12:00       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and trade show

12:00  – 12:30      Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP): a powerful anti-inflammatory mediator

Dr Valerie Corrigall, Kings College London, UK

Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a ubiquitously expressed protein resident of the endoplasmic reticulum. During cellular stress, particularly lack of glucose and oxygen, BiP is upregulated, secreted and, as an extracellular protein, has an immunoregulatory role outwith its vital intracellular role.  BiP acts predominantly through a monocyte expressed receptor, as yet unknown, initiating alternative activation of these cells.  Although profuse IL-10 production is characteristic of BiP activated monocytes the downstream effects differ from those attributable solely to IL-10.  Downregulation of costimulatory molecules, HLA-DR and inhibition of TNFα production are among the most consistent biomarkers of BiP activation.  Additionally, monocyte differentiation into either dendritic cells or osteoclasts is inhibited by the presence of BiP.  Cell–to-cell contact between BiP-treated dendritic cells and T cells, in the absence of BiP, leads to increased CD152 +regulatory T cell function.  In vitro development of human BiP specific T cell clones show a predominantly CD8+ phenotype and a clear TH2 bias.  This skewed TH2 response is consistent with the T cell recall antigen responses seen in the murine collagen induced arthritis model where BiP has been successfully used both prophylactically and therapeutically.  The overall impression from these studies is that BiP acts to switch the immune response from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory profile and therefore aid resolution of inflammation.

12:30  – 13:00    Heat shock (stress) proteins in biological fluids and the immunoregulatory properties of gp96

Professor Graham Pockley, University of Sheffield, UK

Although yet to be fully accepted by the wider scientific community, it is clear that heat shock (stress) proteins can be released from a number of different cell types via mechanisms that do not involve overt cell death. The literature relating to the presence of these proteins in biological fluids has increased dramatically over the last few years and this talk will summarise elements of this that relate to the presence of heat shock proteins in biological fluids and their association with disease processes. It is also clear that certain heat shock proteins can elicit a range of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and that these, to some extent at least, depend on the context in which they are encountered by the immune system. Although originally described as being a potent inflammatory molecule, glucose regulated protein 94 (also known as stress-inducible tumor rejection antigen GP96, tumor rejection antigen gp96, TRA1 [tumor rejection antigen 1], CaBP4 [calcium binding protein 4], Endoplasmin, GRP94 [glucose-regulated protein 94 kDa], ERp99, and TfBP [transferrin binding protein]) has been reported to have a range of anti-inflammatory effects. Data relating to the capacity of gp96 (HSPC4) to delay the rejection of cardiac transplants in an experimental system will therefore also be presented.

Although much progress has been made, we need to better structure our studies in order to provide more informative insights into the functions of these proteins. It is likely that heat shock protein profiling and assessing the functions of these in a broader physiological context will provide more insight into the significance of these multifunctional proteins, the sequence conservation of which illustrates their importance to organismal regulation and homeostasis

13:00  – 14:00      Lunch and trade show

14:00  – 14:30       Question and Answer Session

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:30    – 14:45     Mycobacterial heat shock proteins in the etiopathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Anna Dubaniewicz, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

we suggest the participation of Mtb-hsp in SA etiopathogenesis. In genetically different individuals, the same antigens (e.g., Mtb-hsp) may induce different immune response develop SA or TB. In light of the direct, indirect and circumstantial evidences, which are necessary to establish that a human disease is autoimmunein origin, presence NRAMP1 polymorphism, serum anty-Mtb-hsp antibodies, decreased CD8⁺γδ⁺IL-4⁺T, IL-4, nitrate/nitrite concentration and increased IL-10 or resistant monocytes to stimulated apoptosis may suggest autoimmunological factor in SA etiopathogenesis

14:45– 15:15       Afternoon Tea/Coffee  and  trade show

15:15 – 15:45       Heat Shock Protein 70 induces cytotoxicity of T-helper cells and augmented the immunosuppressive capacity  of FoxP3+ T regulatory cells
Professor Britta Eiz-Vesper, Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a regulatory role for maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and gained plenty of attention because of its potent adjuvant capability to induce antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and CD4+ T-helper cell responses, but the mechanism how HSP70 affects the immunosuppressive function of Tregs is still unknown. Our data pro-vide novel insights into the role of extracellular HSP70 and Calreticulin on antigen presentation, maturation of APCs as well as T-cell immune response.

15:45– 16:15        Bacterial molecular chaperones: moonlighting proteins involved in bacterial virulence

Professor Brian Henderson, Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK

Protein moonlighting describes the phenomenon of proteins having more than one unique biological function.  It turns out that a number of bacterial pathogens use well known proteins in their virulence behaviour.  A major group of such proteins are the molecular chaperones with major pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae using such proteins to aid in the infectious process.  A detailed description of the use of molecular chaperones in bacterial virulence will be provided.

16:15                      Chairman’s summing up

About the Chair
Lesley Bergmeier  is Senior Lecturer in Applied Mucosal Immunology in the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of London. Her career has focused on mucosal immunity research with early work on the development of a vaccine against dental caries.  She then went on to investigate mucosal vaccine candidates for HIV/SIV and the use of heat shock proteins as adjuvants. She has contributed to studies on the immune modulation of HSPs in both Behçet’s disease and Crohn’s disease and continues to work in the Behçet’s field where her interest now focuses on the induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine nature of this autoimmune/auto inflammatory disease.

About the Speakers
Jonathan Dean studied for his PhD at the University of Sheffield before taking up a post-doctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, Imperial College London.  In 2003 he became Lecturer in Cell Signalling at the Kennedy which recently joined the University of Oxford.  His research focuses pro-inflammatory signalling downstream of p38, including post-transcriptional regulation by the RNA-binding protein, TTP and the small heat shock protein.

Brian Henderson is Professor of Biochemistry at UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute and is one of the early discoverers that bacteria secrete molecular chaperones which signal to host cells.  This has led on to the thesis that bacteria use their molecular chaperones as secreted moonlighting proteins which aid in the process of bacterial virulence.

Valerie Corrigall is non-clinical senior lecturer in the Department of Academic Rheumatology on the Guy’s Hospital Campus of King’s College London School of Medicine at Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’ Hospitals.  Having graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in Bacteriology where she developed an interest in Immunology her PhD was studied at Guy’s Hospital with Prof Gabriel Panayi. She has a specific interest in T cells and monocytes in inflammation biology and in particular their role in rheumatoid arthritis.  Recently, she isolated and identified BiP, a stress protein, as a novel autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. Subsequent work has generated data showing BiP has powerful anti-inflammatory properties which are predominantly associated with the resolution of inflammation.  BiP, therefore, may provide a novel biologic treatment for inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases and will enter clinical trial 2012.

Graham Pockley was the first to report the presence of Hsp60 and Hsp70 in the peripheral circulation and this has led to a burgeoning literature in this and associated areas. His career has focussed on immunoregulatory mechanisms in human pregnancy, ocular mucosal immunity, transplantation and latterly the role of the tumour microenvironment in the orchestration or protective anti-tumour immunity.  He has recently moved from the Department of Oncology at the University of Sheffield to become the Associate Director of the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre in Nottingham. He will continue to pursue his interests in regulatory T cells, NK cells and the immunoregulatory properties of cancer cell-derived factors and integrate these into the Centre’s ongoing translational oncology research programme

Paul Chapple was awarded a PhD by UCL in 1997. His PhD studied the role of molecular chaperones in environmental adaptation. The majority of my postdoctoral research was undertaken in the laboratory of Mike Cheetham at the Institute of Ophthalmology UCL, where he researched the cell biology of chaperones with links to neurodegenerative disease. He also spent a year working with Jean-Marc Gallo at the MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research KCL. He moved to Barts and the London Medical School QMUL as a lecturer in 2005 and was promoted to reader in 2010. His current research investigates specialized chaperone systems..

Keywords:  HSP, imunnemodulation, adjuvant, regulatory, signalling,hspB1, hsp27, inflammation, inflammatory gene expression, HSP70, Calreticulin, dendritic cells, regulatory T cell, Bacterial diseases, protein moonlighting, virulence factors, molecular chaperones, Hsc70, J protein, neurodegeneration, sacsin, trafficking, Heat stress; rat’s liver, GRP94, TRA1, gp96, CaBP4, ERp99, ERp99, HSPC4, HSp60, gp96, extracellular fluids, immunoregulation

Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/chap2012

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team  of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community.  This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.

POSTERS

THE SINALING ACTIVITY OF EXTRACELLULAR HSP&) MIGHT BE REGULATED

Evdonin A.L.

Institute of Cytology RAS, Department of Cell Signalling and Transport, Tikhoretsky avenue 4

194064St Petersburg, Russia. evdonin@mail.ru

Heat-inducible Hsp72 is the founding member of the Hsp70 (heat shock proteins of 70 kDa) family of molecular chaperones. It is localized primarily in cytoplasm and nucleus but is also found extracellularly. The source of e-Hsp70 (extracellular Hsp72) is not precisely identified and may not be the same in every situation. A number of studies demonstrated that e-Hsp70 plays an important role in cell survival, tumour rejection and immune response. However, currently little is known about regulation of e-Hsp70 function. In cells, Hsp72 is controlled by co-chaperones. An abundant co-chaperone, HspBP1 (Hsp72-binding protein 1) was found extracellularly in the serum. In the present study we analysed the secretion and function of e-HspBP1 (extracellular HspBP1).

A431 human squamous carcinoma cells accumulated Hsp72 and HspBP1 in chromogranin A-positive granules following heat stress or in the presence of U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C. Following these treatments, A431 cells also increased the secretion of both proteins into the culture medium. The secreted e-Hsp70 and e-HspBP1 were co-immunoprecipitated from the conditioned medium. Purified recombinant HspBP1 augmented e-Hsp70-mediated phosphorylation of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and its down-stream targets, ERK1 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1) and ERK2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, a HspBP1 N-terminal domain deletion mutant and boiled recombinant HspBP1 did not affect the e-Hsp72-mediated activity.

Heat stress and PLC (phospholipase C) inhibition result in the enhanced secretion of both Hsp70 and HspBP1. In an extracellular environment, the two chaperones interact both physically and functionally, leading to the activation of th EGFR-ERK1/2 signalling pathway. However, the magnitude of EGFR activation depends on the e-HspBP1/e-Hsp70 ratio in the medium. Extracellular chaperone-mediated activation of EGFR can provide a survival advantage to cells under heat shock and other stresses

EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS ON RAT’S LIVER

Yadav.S¹,  Bhattacharya. S¹, Jha. C.B²

1, 2 Department of Human Anatomy. B.P.K.I.H.S (Dharan)

Email:- dr_subodh@hotmail.com

Background- Exposure to excessive heat adversely affects on health and known as heat stress. Heat stress is synonymous with “heat load,” which carries the connotation that adverse health effects will occur only if the heat stress exceeds the person’s heat tolerance capacity. Heat stroke is caused by severe hyperthermia, and rectal temperatures of typical patients are higher than 40°C. Many organs such as liver, kidney and central nervous system (CNS) are damaged by severe hyperthermia.  Thrombus, infarct, and death from heat stroke may be caused by injury of these organs. Cellular and intracellular membrane damage and denaturation of enzymes might be important in the pathogenesis of heat injury. Heat stress produced hepatic damage including sinusoidal congestion, monocyte infiltration, hepatocellular vacuolization and widespread necrosis. Aims and Objective:- To Observe alterations on histological architecture of rat’s liver and to  evaluate pathological changes due to chronic heat stress on rat’s liver. Materials and Methods:- A total 60 rats were included in this study. Out of which control group consisted of thirty rats (Group-A) and experimental group consisted of another thirty rats (Group-B).Control and Experimental group were included adult albino wistar male and female rats (n = 60) weighing 150-250g. The control group of  rats were maintained under controlled room temperature (26 ± 5°C) and light and dark (24:24 hr) conditions and were given mixed diet to be fed ad libitum with equal amount of water and light supply. The experimental group of rats were maintained under increased room temperature (38±2°C) and light conditions and were given mixed diet to be  fed ad libitium with equal amount of water. On day 15, experimental and control group of rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Liver was removed and preserved in the formalin. Further, it was processed for section cutting and staining by Haematoxyllin and Eosin method and each rat’s liver weight were also taken by weighing machine .Results:- Large sized hepatocyte cells were seen and swollen. Sinusoids were not densely packed. Hepatic venules were dilated. Nuclei of hepatocyte cells were enlarged. Length and breadth of hepatocyte cells were larger than the control group of rat’s liver. There was whitish-grey color of masses is seen in experimental group of rat’s liver where as control group of rat’s liver haven’t seen such type of changes. Conclusion:- This study provides evidences in support of necrosis, inflammatory changes, irregular cell membrane, enlarged nucleus, binucleated cell, dilated hepatic venules and dilated sinusoids of experimental group of rat’s liver. However, control group of rat’ Despite showing good heat stress effects.

MYCOBACTERIAL HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS IN THE ETIOPATHOGENESIS OF SARCOIDOSIS.

Anna Dubaniewicz

Department of Pneumonology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

Sarcoidosis (SA) is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. Infectious organisms (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock proteins-Mtb-hsp), genetic factors and autoimmunity have been explored as potential causes. Hsp as target of T cell- and humoral-mediated immuneresponses to infections may provide a link between infection and autoimmunity caused by cross-reactivity between Mtb-hsp and human hsp.

HSP70/peptide complexes: potent mediators for the generation of antiviral T cells particularly with regard to low precursor frequencies

S. Tischer^a,b, M. Basila^a, C. Bunse^a, M. Kramer^a, B. Maecker-Kolhoff^b,c, C. Figueiredo^a,b, S. Immenschuh^a, M. Oelke^d, R. Blasczyk^a,b, and B. Eiz-Vesper^a,b

^aInstitute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

^bIntegrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Hannover Germany

^cDepartment of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

^dDepartment of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Email:     tischer.sabine@mh-hannover.de

Background. Viral infections resulting from reactivation of latent viruses (e.g. CMV, ADV, EBV) are associated with high morbidity and mortality after transplantation. Low precursor frequencies often hamper the application of virus-specific T cells. In this study the ability of HSP70/peptide complexes (HSP70/PCs) to elicit antiviral T cells even with low precursor frequencies through cross-presentation was evaluated.

Methods. We examined the role of HSP70-chaperoned viral peptides (CMVpp65: A*02:01, ADVhexon: A*01:01, A*24:02, B*07:02) in HLA class I-restricted cross-presentation for ex vivo expansion of antiviral CTLs. T cells generated from PBMCs of healthy donors by HSP70/PCs were analyzed in phenotypical and functional assays.

Results. About 90% of T cells generated with HSP70/CMV-PC were CMV-specific as compared to about 69% stimulated alone with the CMVpp65 peptide. In response to HSP70/ADV-PCs an up to 210fold increase of ADV-specific T cells was achieved as compared to the corresponding peptides. HSP70/PCs-induced T cells exhibited a significantly higher IFN-g secretion and cytotoxic activity compared to those stimulated with the viral peptides. The enhancement of antiviral T-cell responses by HSP70-chaperoned peptides was most significant in donors with low memory precursor frequencies. Blockage of CD91 by a2-macroglobulin substantially reduced the T-cell proliferation suggesting a major role of this receptor in the HSP70/PC uptake.

Conclusions. This study demonstrates that HSP70/PCs are stronger mediators for inducing antiviral T cells than soluble peptides, thus offering new approaches to generate relevant quantities of antiviral CTLs. HSP70-mediated cross-presentation may dispense with the need of dendritic cells or enriching CD8⁺ T cells. In particular, HSP70/PCs may even be able to overcome limitations related to low precursor frequencies and broaden the application of antigen-specific T cells to much more targets than currently possible.

Human keratinocytes take up Heat Shock Protein 70 and associated peptides

M Wittmann, B Eiz-Vesper,  R Dressel , D Wang,  T Werfel

Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital,, Leeds, LS7 4SA, UK

email: M.Wittmann@leeds.ac.uk

The stress inducible chaperone heat shock protein (HSP) 70 has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of skin diseases such as psoriasis and lupus erythematosus. We aimed to investigate if HSP70 and HSP70 associated peptides could be processed by human primary keratinocytes.  Uptake of labelled HSP70 or labelled peptide by human primary keratinocytes or macrophages was analysed by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. We found that keratinocytes bind and internalise HSP70/HSP70-peptide complexes and that CD91 is involved in HSP70 binding. TNFa, IL-27 as well as HMGB-1 enhanced the uptake of HSP70. No difference with regard to HSP70 release or uptake was observable between keratinocytes from healthy donors or cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients. Keratinocytes pulsed with HSP70-peptide complexes significantly increased IFNg production by autologous T cells. Production and uptake of inducible HSP70 by keratinocytes may critically influence the chronic course of inflammatory skin diseases.

Post expires at 9:44am on Thursday May 24th, 2012

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3rd Annual Modern Challenges in Therapeutic Protein Production Event 

The Penridge Suite, London, N11 1NL, UK : Thursday, 14 June 2012

The purpose of this annual event is to look at the challenges facing therapeutic protein production and demystify some of the novel approaches and new technologies currently being developed

This event has CPD accreditation and will have a troubleshooting panel session.

Meeting Chair:  Alison Mason, MedImmune, Cambridge

9:00 – 9:45        Registration

9:45 – 10:00      Introduction by the Chair:  Alison Mason, MedImmune, Cambridge

10:00 – 10:30   A decision-support tool for the optimal design of multi-product biopharmaceutical facilities
Dr Sofia Simaria, Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Dept. of Biochemical Engineering, University College London
Increasing pressures exist for the design of flexible and cost-effective multi-product facilities that can cope with diverse biopharmaceutical drug candidate characteristics and process variations. A computer-based decision-support tool using optimisation algorithms has been developed and applied to an industrially relevant case study on the production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. The most cost-effective purification sequences and chromatography column sizing strategies that meet demand and purity targets for each product in the facility are identified and graphical methods incorporated in the tool allow the visualisation of trade-offs in the set of optimal solutions so as to enhance the decision-making process .

10:30 – 11:00   Use of homologous recombination based gene engineering for CHO cell line optimization.
Joshua Kapp, Product and Business Development Manager, Horizon Discovery Ltd, Cambridge, UK
Since the sequencing and draft genome assembly of the CHO-K1 cell line was published in Nature Biotechnology in July 2011, it has set the stage for routinely modifying the CHO genome to improve the production of recombinant antibodies. Certain key genes such as FUT8, which encodes α 1,6 fucosyltransferase, an enzyme that catalyzes the post-translational fucosylation of expressed proteins, have already been targeted using gene engineering techniques to prevent fucosylation of recombinant antibodies. Many other proteins encoded by the CHO genome, however, have yet to be explored for their potential impact on the efficacy, safety and half-life of recombinant proteins. Horizon Discovery’s proprietary gene targeting platform enables routine modification of the CHO genome to develop the next generation of stable modified host cell lines.

11:00– 11:30   Mid-morning break,   Poster Viewing and  Trade Show

Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event.  Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you

11:30 – 12:00   The Cell Line Development Challenge

Dr Alison Porter , Head of Cell Line Development, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited

A key challenge when creating a recombinant cell line, producing a biotherapeutic, is the identification of a small number of ‘desirable’ cell lines from an initial panel of thousands. Typical strategies to achieve this comprise a series of screens to select those recombinant cell lines with ‘desirable’ characteristics. More recently, industry has seen development in automatable systems, increasing speed and throughput during this process. In this presentation, processes used by those accepting the cell line development challenge will be reviewed. The impact of adding a second challenge, a recombinant protein which is ‘hard to express’, will also be discussed.

12:00 – 12:30    Lessons learned for installation and operation of a 2000L SUB
Ronni Glenn Refstrup Hansen,  CMC Biologics A/S, Denmark
CMC Biologics, an independent contract manufacturer of biological APIs, has installed the first-in-Europe Hyclone 2000L single-use-bioreactor for cGMP manufacturing of biotherapeutics in their Copenhagen facility.  This presentation details the practical lessons learned from installation and qualification of large-scale SUB technology

12:30 – 13:30                                                                                           Lunch,  Poster Viewing and  Trade Show

This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms

13:30   -  14:30  Question and Answer Session and Speakers photo

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:30  -  15:00  Title to be confirmed

Dr Dave Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, Glythera Limited,

15:00 – 15:30   Afternoon Tea/Coffee, Last Poster Viewing and Trade show

15:30 – 16:00   Can microbial systems play a role in therapeutic protein production?

Professor P C Wright, Sheffield University, UK

Approximately 30% of genuinely new biopharmaceuticals approved between 2006-10 employ Escherichia coli as a production host. There are limitations on products or modifications, meaning that that higher eukaryotic systems are employed despite increased costs and complexity. Using bacteria to make complex post-translationally modified protein therapeutics is challenging. The motivation to use microbial systems is that they are are less costly than mammalian systems and have a higher level of product control, i.e. little or no heterogeneity. This presentation shows that progress has been made in glycosyation of human proteins and antibody fragments in bacteria and the the potential for future progress.

16:00  - 16:30   Characterisation of protein aggregation: why it is important and how nanosight can help

Dr Claire Hannell, NanoSight Ltd, Amesbury, UK

Characterisation of protein aggregation is of vital importance when trying to understand biopharmaceutical product stability and quality.  It is widely recognised that there is potential risk associated with protein aggregation and that biological activity and immunogenicity can be influenced by the state of aggregation.  Therefore, careful monitoring is needed during development, manufacture and subsequent storage of the formulated product, but current technologies are limited in their ability to detect early stage aggregates.

This talk will describe the unique ability of the NanoSight technique to detect and measure protein aggregates in the 30nm -1000nm size range by tracking their Brownian motion on a particle-by-particle basis.  Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) enables protein aggregates to be directly and individually visualised and counted in real-time, generating high-resolution data in a region that is often poorly served by other techniques like dynamic light scattering (DLS), where a low number of large, bright aggregates often dominates the signal even over a high concentration of protein monomer.  The added speciation that can be gained by a fluorescence add-on to the system will also be discussed.

16: 30 – 17:00  Biosimilars – Next Generation Therapeutics

TBC, Eden Biodesign, Liverpool, UK

17:00                  Chairman’s summing up

About the chair
Alison has been working in the Cell Sciences group at MedImmune for the past 11 years, most recently as a senior scientist within the Cell Sciences group.

Alison and her team work on development of cell culture media, feeds and bioreactor processes suitable for GMP production. The team also has a keen interest in implementing scale-down bioreactor systems which mimic a larger bioreactor at the millilitre scale.

Previous to Alison’s position at MedImmune she worked at Lonza Biologics for 2 years as a Fermentation Scientist. Alison holds a degree in Applied Microbiology from the University of Manchester.

About the Speakers

Joshua Kapp heads the Bio-production Business unit at Horizon Discovery Ltd. Joshua was previously involved in the planning of the company’s diagnostics reagents division which has become a cash generating business within 12 months. Horizon Bio-production applies a patented homologous recombination-mediated gene-editing platform exploiting the unique precision of rAAV targeting vectors to the field of bioprocessing through the provision of custom host cell line engineering services. Joshua has a background in preclinical medicine and business, attending medical school at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London and business school at Imperial College’s, London Business School.

Sofia Simaria, an Industrial Engineer by training and is post-doc at UCL developing computer-based decision-support tools that capture the process-business interface of biopharmaceutical manufacture. She has been working on collaborative TSB funded projects between UCL and major biotech companies (eg MedImmune, Lonza) and has joined the newly formed EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing on Emergent Macromolecular Therapies at UCL.

Alison Porter joined Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies (FFDB) in 2011 as Head of Cell Line Development in the Mammalian Cell Culture group. Alison has considerable industrial experience in the construction of recombinant cell lines using mammalian cell lines, having previously spent 13 years in the Cell Culture Process Development group at Lonza prior to joining FFDB. Whilst at Lonza, Alison specialised in working with the GS expression system. Prior to this, Alison spent two years at Bio Products Laboratory, United Kingdom, working with recombinant antibody producing cell lines and utilising hollow fibre culture systems.

Claire Hannell has been working at NanoSight for the past year as an Applications Scientist.  Previously she completed a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Reading and since joining NanoSight she has split her time between applications, international customer support, scientific research and instrumentation set up.  Claire’s main area of expertise is fluorescence work with the NanoSight system.

Phillip Wright (PCW) (University of Sheffield, UoS) (Skills: proteomics, biochemical engineering, biosystems modelling) was an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow (01-06), and is Professor of Systems Biology and Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) (2002-) and Head of Dept (2008-). He has a BE(Hons) (‘91) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (‘97) from the University of NSW and an ME(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (1994) from Wollongong. He worked as a cadet then graduate engineer at BHP in Wollongong (’86-94). He was a lecturer then reader in chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt (97-02). He has published >125 journal papers, on quantitative proteomics, biological engineering, microfluidics and modelling. He focuses on biological engineering, measurement and integration of multi-level biological data (e.g. proteomic and mRNA data), mathematical tools and characterising -omics-scale data.

Keywords:  Gene correction/modification, AAV vectors,  Cell line engineering, biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes, antibody purification, process economics, genetic algorithms, multi-product facility design, homologous recombination, cell line engineering, CHO cell lines, gene targeting, endogenous genome, Cell line development, cell line selection, screening, CHO, mammalian expression systems, glycosylation, protein therapeutics, E.coli, microbial, antibody

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

Registration Web Site:  www.regonline.co.uk/protein2012

POSTERS

FACILITATING MULTI-SITE BIOPROCESS TRANSFER: MULTI-INSTRUMENT AND MULTI-PLATFORM COMPARABILITY AND LONG TERM STABILITY OF NOVA BIOMEDICAL’S BIOPROFILE^® CHEMISTRY AND GAS ANALYZERS

M. McRae, R. Bulman, J. McHale, S. Granger, B. Goulart, E. Kilcoyne – Nova Biomedical

Innovation House, Aston Lane South, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 3FY

r.bulman@novabiomedical.co.uk

The Biopharmaceutical industry has grown exponentially and more companies are now operating in a global market with sites thousands of miles apart. The need is now even greater for robust bioprocess monitoring solutions that can provide consistent instrument-to-instrument results.

The seamless transfer of information across multiple sites relies heavily on the comparability of process data from various technologies, ensuring effective monitoring and control of critical process parameters.  This study provides data supporting comparability of the BioProfile^® chemistry and gas analyzers across several development and manufacturing sites in the United States.  In addition, the long-term performance stability of the BioProfile systems was also tested.  Five BioProfile FLEX and four BioProfile 100+ analyzers were used to determine linearity, precision, accuracy, and instrument-to-instrument comparability.  The age of the instruments used for this study ranged from new to over 8 years old, with several hundred samples to over 20,000 samples run on a given analyzer.

The results of this study show a high level of comparability between the BioProfile analyzers.  In addition, comparability was also demonstrated between both the new and aged analyzers, providing evidence of the long-term robustness and the quality of data can be generated from the BioProfile analyzers.  Nova Biomedical’s BioProfile analyzers provide the tools to facilitate multisite bioprocess transfer in the Biopharmaceutical industry.

Post expires at 3:46pm on Thursday June 14th, 2012

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The Penridge Suite, 470 Bowes Road, London N11 1NL

Infectious disease are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Successful treatment and prevention are still hampered by insufficient understanding of the subtle interactions that govern the infectious processes. Evasion of the natural or vaccine-induced immune response is often at the basis of the onset and escalation of disease and can also result in the persistence of the pathogen in chronic infections. This EuroSciCon meeting will be a premier forum for the presentation of cutting-edge research on key mechanisms used by different classes of pathogens to evade host innate and acquired immunity. The meeting will contribute to steer the course of future research into more rational measures to prevent disease in humans and animals.

Meeting Chair:  Dr Pietro Mastroeni, Cambridge University, UK

This event  has CPD accreditation and will have a  discussion panel session.

On registration you will be able to submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

9:00 – 9:45          Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chair:  Dr Pietro Mastroeni, Cambridge University, UK

10:00 – 10:30      Molecular mechanisms of immune evasion in African trypanosomes
Dr. Gloria Rudenko, Imperial College, London
The African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is a parasite causing African Sleeping Sickness.  Trypanosomes are unusual, in that they multiply extracellularly in the blood where they are exposed to continuous immune attack.  Key to their survival is a highly sophisticated strategy of antigenic variation of a protective Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat.  We have discovered that VSG synthesis is monitored during the T. brucei cell cycle, and blocking its synthesis triggers a very precise cell cycle arrest.  In addition, we are trying to understand how VSG expression is controlled at the level of transcription.

10:30 – 11:00      Fungal sensing of mammalian cytokines for adaptation and evasion of host immune defenses.
Dr Rossana Iannitti, University of Perugia, Italy
Infections by opportunistic fungi have traditionally been viewed as the gross result of a pathogenic automatism which makes a weakened host more vulnerable to microbial insults. However, fungal sensing of a host’s immune environment might render this process more elaborate than previously appreciated. As a consequence, microbes must possess specialized systems that sense and promptly respond to immune activation. IL-17A binds fungal cells, likely acting on both host and fungal structures in experimental settings of host colonization and/or chronic infection. The augmented adhesion and filamentous growth eventually translated into enhanced biofilm formation and resistance to local antifungal defenses. This might exemplify a mechanism whereby fungi have evolved a means of sensing host immunity to ensure their own persistence in an immunologically dynamic environment and evasion of host immune defenses.

11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and trade show

Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event.  Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you

11:30 – 12:00       Host entry by herpesviruses
Dr Philip Stevenson, University of Cambridge, UK
Herpesvirus infections are common and cause much disease. Viral immune evasion makes them hard to clear. Inhibiting host entry is therefore important for infection control. However, how host entry occurs remains largely unknown. We have identified the olfactory neuroepithelium as an entry point for two unrelated herpesviruses – MuHV-4 and HSV. Both bind to heparan sulfate (HS). While most differentiated epithelia express only basolateral HS, neuroepithelial HS is also apical, allowing incoming virions to bind. Many herpesviruses bind to HS, and there is circumstantial evidence that several infect nasally. Therefore neuroepithelial interventions could be broadly effective at herpesvirus infection control.

12:00  – 12:30      The impact of Salmonella on adaptive immunity

Professor Adam Cunningham, University of Birmingham

The interaction between the adaptive immune system and Salmonella after systemic infection will be discussed. The innate immune system plays a vital role in preventing the uncontrolled expansion of the infection. Nevertheless, to resolve infection and prevent further re-infection CD4 T cells and antibody are required and mechanisms used by the organism to avoid the engagement or function of adaptive responses may provide an advantage to the pathogen. Our recent findings show that this can happen in unexpected ways, suggesting that Salmonella interferes with adaptive immunity on a systemic level, including sites where bacteria do not colonize.

12:30 – 13:30       Lunch and trade show

This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms

13:30 – 14:30      Question and Answer Session

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:30 – 14:45        Suppressors of cytokine signaling (socs) induced by fish pathogens: an immune evasion strategy?

Bartolomeo Gorgoglione, Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

The intracellular suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family members, including CISH and SOCS1 to 7 in mammals, are important regulators of cytokine signaling pathways. Most SOCS proteins are induced by cytokines and therefore act in a classical negative-feedback loop to inhibit cytokine signal transduction. However, they are also induced by various other stimuli, such as pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and bacterial, viral, and parasitic infection. Pathogens can escape from host defence by induction of SOCS expression. So far, the orthologues of all the eight mammalian SOCS members have been identified in fish, with several of them having multiple copies. The expression of different SOCS members in rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) was studied in kidney, which in fish plays an important role as an haematopoietic and lymphopoietic organ. RT-qPCR screening was carried out to detect SOCS expression during infection with several relevant diseases for salmonids in aquaculture: a viral (Viral hemorrhagic septicemia caused by a Novirhabdovirus), a bacterial (Enteric RedMouth Disease caused by the Gram negative bacterium Yersinia ruckeri), and a parasitic infection (Proliferative Kidney Disease caused by the Myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae). In all the cases, the expression of SOCS1 and 3 was found to be up-regulated, while other SOCSs showed specific patterns. Interestingly, the expression of these two SOCS members was much higher in the kidney of rainbow trout compared to that of brown trout, and could relate to the differences in disease susceptibility seen between these two closely related species. Thus, we suggest that SOCS genes expression may have value as a biomarker of disease resistance in fish. In addition, inhibition of SOCS genes expression may be a potential target in future studies aimed at modulating T-helper cell development and function, with a view to improving vaccine efficacy, and enhancing disease resistance in fish.

14 45 – 15:15       Afternoon Tea/Coffee  and  trade show

15:15 – 15:45       Spatiotemporal dynamics of Salmonella enterica infections

Dr Andrew Grant, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Salmonella enterica are a major threat to public health. Current treatments are not sufficiently effective, and there is a need to develop new therapeutic strategies. Our multidisciplinary approach provides an unprecedented insight into the dynamics of bacterial infection biology at different scales; from the direct interaction of an individual bacterium with a host cell, to the analysis of global traits of innate host resistance and in vivo spread and distribution of bacteria in the body.  This work in the long term will provide knowledge and a technological basis for targeting individual bacterial components in vivo with novel drugs and vaccines.

15:45– 16:15       Immunomodulation by Helminth Parasites – a Molecular and Cellular Dialogue

Professor Rick Maizels, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Helminths are multicellular worm parasites which are highly prevalent in humans and animals in many parts of the world.  Helminths effectively down-regulate host immunity, and in so doing significantly reduce allergies and autoimmunity.  Our laboratory is decoding the molecular and cellular interactions between helminths and the host immune system which underpin these observations.  For example, we have identified a parasite mimic of TGF-beta which induces immunosuppressive Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Understanding the pathways of helminth immunomodulation may identify new strategies to both boost immunity to infections in endemic countries and ameliorate the immunopathological disorders of developed countries.

16:15– 16:30       Chairman’s summing up

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team  of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community.  This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.

 
About the Chair

Pietro Mastroenis’ research is multidisciplinary and focuses on pathogenesis and immunity to bacterial infections and on vaccine development. His group has developed new biological and mathematical approaches to study the interaction of bacteria with individual cell in vivo and to analyse the interplay between bacterial virulence genes and host resistance genes/mechanisms.

He is actively involved in the study of the cross-talk between different cell populations in the initiation and expression of host immunity to bacteria. His research also investigates the role of innate cell receptors (e.g. TLRs) and acquired immune receptors (e.g. FcR) in infection control and vaccine function.

Other collaborative lines of research are exploring new areas within infection such as the interplay between microbes and autoimmune diseases and the possibility to use recombinant bacteria as anti-cancer agents. He is also involved in the forefront research on emerging diseases such as Clostridium difficile infections.

 About the Speakers
Gloria Rudenko is a Wellcome Senior Research Fellow and Reader in Molecular Microbiology in the section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Imperial College London-South Kensington.  Dr. Rudenko has an MSc. from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands and a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Columbia University, NY, USA.  The Rudenko lab focuses on investigating the molecular and cellular biology of African trypanosomes, particularly with regards to the molecular mechanisms of immune evasion.

Philip Stevenson,Clinical medicine up to 1993, PhD Oxford 1997 – immune responses to influenza virus infection in the central nervous system, post-doc, Peter Doherty’s lab, Memphis, TN – CD8+ T cell response to persistent infection, 1999 – clinical lecturer in virology, Cambridge – T cell evasion by gamma-herpesviruses, 2001 – MRC clinician scientist, Division of Virology, Cambridge – herpesvirus pathogenesis and immune evasion, 2006 – Wellcome Trust senior clinical fellow,Division of Virology, Cambridge – herpesvirus pathogenesis and immune evasion, 2006 – Wellcome Trust senior clinical fellow, Division of Virology, Cambridge – antibody evasion by Murid Herpesvirus-4

Rossana Iannitti is a Research Fellow in the Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences in the section of Microbiology, at the University of Perugia under the guidance of Prof. Luigina Romani. Dr Iannitti has a MSc. in Biology and PhD in Biology and Experimental Medicine at the University of Perugia. The Romani lab focuses on investigating pathogenesis and immunity to fungal infections particularly with regards to approaches to study the interaction of fungi with mammalian host in vivo and to analyze the interplay between fungal virulence and host resistance mechanisms.

Andrew Grant is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.  Dr Grant has a PhD (in Molecular Microbiology) and a BSc (in Biochemistry with Pharmacology) from The School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton.  The Grant lab combines state-of-the-art microbiological, molecular, imaging and mathematical modeling techniques to investigate bacterial pathogens of veterinary and clinical significance.  Current projects are broad-ranging and multidisciplinary, from understanding the roles of individual bacterial proteins in virulence to studying within-host population dynamics.

Rick Maizels is in the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Immunology and Infection Research. He is an immunologist interested in fundamental questions of how and why parasites manipulate the sophisticated mammalian immune system, and how that system has evolved in the face of parasite immunomodulatory strategies. Before moving to Edinburgh in 1995, Rick was Professor at Imperial College London. Prior to this, he held positions at the National Institute for Medical Research in London, UCLA and California Institute of Technology. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2002, and made a Senior Fellow of the American Asthma Foundation in 2010.
Adam Cunningham was awarded his PhD from Southampton University for studies on the immune response to chlamydial infection. He then did post-doctoral work on mycobacterial infections and on the development of antibody responses in Birmingham. As a RCUK Roberts Fellow he developed a programme of work examining how immune responses develop to vaccines and pathogens such as Salmonella. In 2011 he was appointed Chair in Functional Immunity in Birmingham.
Keywords:  Antigenic variation, Trypanosoma brucei, Variant Surface Glycoprotein, Immune evasion,trypanosomes,IL-17A, TOR pathway, autophagy, fungi,herpesvirus, host entry, antibody, pathogenesis, Infection, Dynamics, Bacteria, Pathogenesis, Salmonella, Allergy, Immunity, Nematode, Regulation, Vaccine, Salmonella, T cells, B cells, antibody

Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/host2012

Post expires at 4:14pm on Wednesday June 20th, 2012

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Forum for Disaster Victim Identification 

Friday, 29 June 2012

The Penridge Suite, 470 Bowes Road, London N11 1NL

The procedure of identifying victims of disasters either major (such as terrorist attacks or earthquakes) or smaller (such as aeroplane crashes) cannot rely on  visual recognition alone. Comparison of fingerprints, dental records and / or DNA samples with ones stored in databases or taken from victims’ personal effects are often required to obtain a conclusive identification.

This inaugural networking event will gather together experts in DVI to discuss current legislation and techniques involved in DVI

This event  has CPD accreditation and will have a  discussion panel session.

On registration you will be able to submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

Meeting Chairs
Dr Phil Marsden, President, The British Association for Forensic Odontology, UK
Dr  Vivienne Levy, Councillor- New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology, NZ

9:00 – 9:45          Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chairs:

Dr Phil Marsden, President, The British Association for Forensic Odontology, UK
Dr Vivienne Levy, Councillor- New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology, NZ

10:00 – 10:30       The role of forensic anthropology in Disaster Victim Identification

Professor Sue Black, Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, Scotland
Every disaster is unique and not all will require a forensic anthropologist.  This talk will discuss what the subject can add to the identification process and when it should be utilised.

10:30 – 11:00      Talk  title to be confirmed

Dr. Tim Clayton, Forensic Science Service Ltd, UK.

11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and trade show

11:30 – 12:00       Identity vs Identification in the 21^st Century: The Forensic Use of Jewellery in Disaster Victim Identification

Maria M Maclennan, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, The University of Dundee, Scotland
The increased occurrence of mass disasters in recent years means forensic experts have had to become more adept at utilising alternative means of identification should traditional methods fail. Primary methods of identification such as DNA, odontology and fingerprinting are crucial weapons in establishing identification, but can often be diminished in an extreme disaster environment.   Jewellery has long been a signifier of personal identity, marking its wearer as a member of a particular religion, cultural group or life stage. This talk will discuss how design research can assist in utilising jewellery as a method of forensic identification in a Century where our individual personal identities are increasingly under attack.

12:00  – 12:30      Collection and preservation of biological material for disaster victim identification
Dr Eleanor Graham, Northumbria University, UK
As DNA can be recovered from any biological material, DNA profiling it has proven to be an invaluable method for personal identification following mass fatality incidents which result in disruption of the body, when other primary methods of identification may not be applicable. DNA profiling will only be applicable if a sufficient quantity and quality of DNA can be recovered from the collected material. This talk will describe the types of material which may be collected and will invite discussion of best practice for collection, storage and transportation methods of such material following a variety of incident types.

12:30 – 13:30      Lunch and trade show

13:30 – 14:30       Question and Answer Session

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:30 – 15:00       The role of computed tomography in mass fatality incidents

Professor Guy Rutty, MBE.  , East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, Leicester, United Kingdom (talk straight after lunch)

This talk will discuss the role of cross sectional imaging including matters related to identification, and cause of death in mass fatality incidents. It will indicate the infra structure that is required in the use of radiology in these circumstances.

15:00 – 15:30       Afternoon Tea/Coffee  and  trade show

15:30– 15:45        Talk  title to be confirmed

TBC, Cellmark, Oxfordshire, UK

15:45 – 16:00        Selected oral presentations

16:00 – 16:30       Lessons learnt during the christchurch earthquake.

Dr  Vivienne Levy, Councillor- New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology, NZ

At 12.51pm on 22nd February 2011 a catastrophic Earthquake hit the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in the destruction of many buildings in the city centre together with the loss of 185 lives. Vivienne Levy was the AM and reconciliation co-ordinator of the Dental section of the DVI operation.

16:30  – 17:00       Mass Disaster, Post Mortem, Identification Techniques and Procedures

Dr Roger Summer, UK

The speaker will present a detailed account of many of the practices involved in mortuary procedures and the positive identification of human remains which may have a significant effect on the outcome of an enquiry, investigation or inquest.

The presentation will address the establishment of cordons, scene preservation and security at the incident site, body recovery techniques including the chain of continuity and the associated health and safety and risk assessment considerations.  The temporary storage of human remains prior to their transportation from the incident site to the location where the authorised autopsy will be conducted.  The established protocols and procedures associated with positive identification techniques relating to the unknown dead which are normally performed within a post-mortem room environment.  The duties and responsibilities of those who may be involved in the investigative and clinical procedures.

Strategies will also be identified for accommodating the needs of the media who always invoke a keen interest post incident.  The establishment of both post-mortem and anti-mortem centres, the important aspects associated with relative liaison, the creation of a body repatriation centre and the requirements of the various religious denominations involved when any incident or disaster has taken place.

17:00                     Chairman’s summing up

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team  of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community.  This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.

About the Speakers

Eleanor Graham is a Lecturer in Forensic Science in the Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Life Science. She studied for her first degree in Biochemistry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) before completing an MSc in Biomolecular Archaeology jointly run by UMIST and the University of Sheffield.  She then moved to the University of Leicester to complete her PhD under the supervision of Professor Guy Rutty, where she stayed to work as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate between before taking up her position at Northumbria University.

Eleanor is a member of the Forensic Science Society, the International Society of Forensic Genetics and the British Association for Human Identification.  In 2008, she got the ‘highly commended’ for ‘The University Biopsy Tool’ at the 2008 Da Vinci Health Technology awards.

Maria Maclennan is a Designer Researcher and current PhD Scholar at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) at The University of Dundee. She is currently undertaking an ESRC CASE PhD Scholarship in collaboration with the University’s world-renowned Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).

Maria’s Doctoral research into ‘Forensic’ Jewellery is primarily concerned with exploring how design methods can be employed to better utilise jewellery in the forensic process of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). Maria previously graduated with a Bachelor of Design (with Honours) in Jewellery and Metal Design and a Master of Design (with Distinction).

Sue Black is director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification.  Awarded OBE for services to forensic anthropology in Kosovo.  Awarded Police Commendation from ACPO for DVI training.  Lead Anthropologist on Mass Fatalities Home Office committee.  Lead Anthropologist on Interpol sub-committee for DVI.  Author of two texts on DVI.

Eleanor A.M. Graham graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2000 gaining a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry. This was followed in 2002 by an MSc in Biomolecular Archaeology at the University of Sheffield. Eleanor studied for her PhD in Forensic DNA Profiling at the East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, graduating in January 2008. Her research interests include DNA transfer and persistence and the application of low-template DNA profiling methods to casework scenarios. She is currently employed as a lecturer in forensic science at Northumbria University.

Guy Rutty holds the Foundation Chair in Forensic Pathology at the University of Leicester where he is Chief Forensic Pathologist.  His principal work relates to the provision of forensic pathology services to HM Coroners and police forces of the East Midlands.  He also provides forensic pathology services to other police forces of the United Kingdom as well as opinion work for both prosecution and defence for solicitors and police forces alike.  He provides forensic pathology and mass disaster services to police forces and countries internationally.  In addition he has published over 200 publications including original peer reviewed papers, review articles, editorials, case reports, letters and abstracts (those related to national and international meetings), and was the founder Editor-in-Chief of the International Forensic Journal, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology which I edited until December 2008.

Awards include;  Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioners Commendation

Most relevant,  Professor Rutty  is a member of the Pathology Sub Committee of the Steering Committee for Disaster Victim Identification for Interpol and the Chair of the Forensic Imaging Sub Committee of the Interpol DVI Pathology Sub Committee

As a former Director of Forensic Services in the Police Service, Roger Summers had a corporate senior management responsibility for the Force Scientific Support, Fingerprint and Forensic Photography Departments, Chemical Development Laboratories, Forensic Submissions Facility, Technical Support Unit and Forensic Medical Examiners.  Now a multi-skilled senior manager, he has over thirty eight years continuous experience in all scientific support disciplines.  Operationally, Roger has been involved in numerous murder investigations and many high profile cases, locally, nationally and internationally, almost all of which have led to successful detections, the offenders convicted.

He was a Forensic advisor to a former Deputy Chief Constable for over 15 years.  During his career he was an active member of many high profile committees. Roger helped make American legal history by preparing and producing photographic ‘bite mark’ evidence leading to the successful prosecution of a rapist-murder (the first time any person had been charged and convicted of ‘first degree murder’ solely on ‘bite mark’ evidence in the USA).  These pioneering techniques have now been accepted as the norm when Forensic Odontological evidence is presented in the judicial process worldwide.

A senior lecturer of international repute, Roger has given several hundred professional lectures and presentations some so far afield as America, Germany, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Mauritius, Russia and Switzerland.

He was a member of the initial multi-national task force team, deployed at the request of the Australian and Thai governments in the wake of the Asian Tsunami where he assisted in establishing forensic protocols for the identification of thousands who perished as a result of the Tsunami.

Roger was invited to perform the role of Forensic Consultant, Lecturer at the inaugural and validation stages of the pioneering BSc (Hons) Forensic Science Degree at the University of Derby.  His involvement continues at all levels of the forensic science undergraduate and postgraduate academic process as a Senior Lecturer in Forensic and Crime Science at Staffordshire University.

Amongst his responsibilities at the University is to design bespoke short courses in respect of ‘Continuous Professional Development’, both within the sphere of Academia and the wider external organisations and Public sectors.  On Christmas Eve 2006, Roger returned to the UK, having spent a number of weeks on deployment as a member of the forensic investigation team in Brazil following their worst “Air Disaster” when two aircraft collided at 37,000ft above the Amazon Jungle.  More recently in 2010, he was called in by the Lebanese Authorities and Ethiopian Airlines to lead the disaster victim identification protocols and strategies involved with a disaster.  He also acted as Forensic liaison between all countries involved.  A Boeing 737-800 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in stormy weather shortly after takeoff from Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport.  None of the 90 passengers and crew on board survived.

His expertise in Human Identification Techniques and forensic related matters are much in demand internationally both from a teaching and operational perspective.

Keywords:  Forensic Anthropology, Anatomy, Identification, DVI, Forensic Jewellery, Design Research, Identity, Emergent Identification Technologies,  Disaster Victim Identification, DNA, collection, storage, transportation, computed tomography, mas fataility, identification, logistics, cause of death, Earthquake,Christchurch, reconciliation,dental

Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/DVI2012

Post expires at 12:02pm on Friday June 29th, 2012

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The Royal College of Pathologists, Watson & Crick Room, 2 Carlton House Terrace, London 

Professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) such as dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of a T cell-mediated immune response. APC are essential for T cell priming, differentiation and activation in lymphoid tissue and at sites of inflammation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms via which APC function can be controlled may give novel insights into how T cell mediated immunity may be induced or blocked. This meeting will highlight current research aimed at inducing APC with tolerogenic function in order to treat inflammatory disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) as well as work aimed at boosting the immunostimulatory function of APC in the context of cancer. The meeting will also highlight recent progress on the suppressive effects of CD4+ regulatory T cells on APC function, and how these can be overcome.

This event  has CPD accreditation and will have a  discussion panel session.
On registration you will be able to submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

Meeting chairs:  :  Dr Leonie Taams,  Senior Lecturer in Immunology, King’s College London Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology of Inflammation and Dr Catharien Hilkens, Reader in Immunotherapy, Newcastle University , UK

9:00 – 9:45        Registration

9:45 – 10:00      Introduction by the Chairs:  Dr Leonie Taams,  Senior Lecturer in Immunology, King’s College London Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology of Inflammation, Dr Catharien Hilkens, Reader in Immunotherapy, Newcastle University, UK

10:00 – 10:30   Induction and administration of tolerogenic DC in RA 
Dr Catharien Hilkens, Newcastle 

10:30 – 11:00   Selective ERK activation in dendritic cells for the treatment of arthritis
Dr David Escors, UCL, London
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation and destruction. However, arthritogenic antigens are unknown and most therapeutic treatments rely on immunosuppressive drugs. We demonstrate that co-delivery of a specific ERK activator with a model antigen induces antigen-specific immune suppression by differentiation of regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) and antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs). Differentiated Tregs strongly proliferate after antigen re-encounter in inflammatory conditions and exhibit antigen-dependent suppressive activities. The suppressive activity of ERK activation depended on secretion of high levels of TGF-beta from mouse and human DCs. In vivo administration of the ERK activator inhibited inflammatory arthritis.

11:00– 11:30   Mid-morning break,   Poster Viewing and  Trade Show

Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event.  Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you

11:30 – 12:00   Boosting the immunostimulatory function of dendritic cells in an immunosuppressive tumour environment
Dr Sandra Diebold, King’s College London, London, UK

12:00 – 12:30    Oral presentations

12:30 – 13:30                                                                                           Lunch,  Poster Viewing and  Trade Show

This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms

13:30   -  14:00  Question and Answer Session and Speakers photo

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:00  -  14:30  Targeting regulatory T cell and dendritic cell interaction in vaccination:CCR4 antagonists as molecular adjuvants
Dr Jagadeesh Bayry, France

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an indispensable role in maintaining immunological unresponsiveness to self-antigens and in suppressing excessive immune responses deleterious to the host. Since activation state of dendritic cells (DCs) at the time of encounter with antigens determines the outcome of the immune response, limiting the influence of Tregs on DCs at this juncture might lead to an enhanced immune response to poor immunogenic vaccine candidates. Although depletion of Tregs provides a proof of concept for this approach, it is however unlikely that the approach of Treg-depletion per se would be of practical use, since Treg-depletion has been associated with adverse consequences such as localized autoimmune disease. Conversely, we proposed that transient inhibition of Treg function/migration at the time of immunization might be ideal for enhancing immune response to vaccines. We have targeted the interaction between chemokines and their receptors to inhibit transiently the recruitment of Tregs at the site of immunization. Human Tregs express CCR4, a chemokine receptor absent on naïve T cells. CCR4 is the receptor for CCL22 and CCL17, the chemotactic agents for Tregs in vitro and in vivo. Both the chemokines are produced by DC and are crucial in promoting contact between DC and CCR4+ T cells. By in silico technique, we identified small molecular weight antagonists to CCR4 that block the migration of CCR4+ Tregs and enhanced DC-mediated human CD4+ T cell proliferation in an in vitro immune response model and amplified cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo in experimental models when injected in combination with either Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing Ag85A from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MVA85A) or recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen (rHBsAg) vaccines. In addition, when combined with vaccines, CCR4 antagonists indiced antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and tumor immunity against self-antigens. The significant adjuvant activity observed provides good evidence supporting our hypothesis that CCR4 is a viable target for rational adjuvant design.

14:30 -15:00     Afternoon Tea/Coffee, Last Poster Viewing and Trade show

15:00 – 15:30   CD4+ T cell-monocyte cross-talk and immune regulation of rheumatoid arthritis
Leonie Taams, Kings College London, London, UK

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful and debilitating disease affecting 0.5-1% of the Western population. The disease is characterised by chronic inflammation of the synovial lining, leading to damage and destruction of the underlying joint tissue and bone. Immune cells such as CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells are abundantly present at the site of inflammation and are involved in the chronic inflammatory process. Our lab has been interested for many years in the cross-talk between monocytes and CD4+ T cells and how these interactions influence the ensuing immune response. Our previous work has demonstrated that activated monocytes can potently promote a pro-inflammatory Th17 cell response, which may be particularly important in the context of RA (Evans PNAS 2007; Evans PNAS 2009, Gullick PLoSOne 2010). Recent data from our lab indicates that activated monocytes may also influence CD4+CD25+CD127^low regulatory T cell (Treg) function. We therefore wish to obtain a better understanding of how monocyte activation can be controlled. Data will be discussed demonstrating the mechanisms via which both CD4+ effector and CD4+ regulatory T cells can control monocyte activation. In addition, we will discuss recent data on therapeutic manipulation of monocytes/monocyte-derived factors leading to regulation of the pro-inflammatoryTh17 response

15:30 – 16:00                                                                                           Inducing and Breaking Tolerogenic Antigen-Presenting Cell Function

Dr Steve Cobbold, University of Oxford, UK

A short treatment with mAbs that block T cell function is able to induce immunological tolerance in mouse models of transplantation and autoimmune disease.  Data will be presented to show that this tolerance is induced and maintained by the de novo generation of antigen specific, foxp3+ Treg in the periphery which are required to act continuously to maintain a tolerogenic microenvironment for antigen presentation within the tolerated tissue itself. The molecular mechanisms that constitute this microenvironment, including cytokines, amino acid catabolism, adenosine generation, and infectious tolerance, will be discussed.

16:00 – 16:30                                                                                            Chairman’s summing up

Information about the chairs

The main focus of research in  Leonie Taams,  research group is to identify key cellular processes and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of inflammation in humans, with a specific interest in the interactions between CD4+ T cells and monocytes. The lab hopes to use this knowledge to identify novel pathways and/or approaches to target inflammation in humans.  Research in the Taams laboratory is/has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC), Arthritis Research UK, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the Department of Health (DoH) via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) award to Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) in partnership with King’s College London (KCL) and King’s College Hospital (KCH) NHS Foundation Trust, and industrial collaborative funding.  In addition to her research activities, Leonie is research project module organiser for the MSc Immunology, Chair of the MSc Immunology Exam Board and Deputy Program Director of the MSc Immunology. She is a member of the Higher Education Academy, and serves on a number of (inter)national meeting committees.

Catharien Hilkens  did her PhD research at the University of Amsterdam, where she worked on regulation of T cell immunity by dendritic cells. She then was awarded an EMBO fellowship to work on understanding how cytokines regulate T cell- and dendritic cell- function at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) laboratories in London. In October 2003 she joined Newcastle University, where she runs a research group studying mechanisms underlying immune tolerance, and the development of dendritic cells as an immunotherapeutic tool.

About the Speakers

David Escors got his PhD from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain in molecular virology in 2002. There he  got interested in the development of viral vectors for gene therapy. During his first post-doc in the National Centre for Biotechnology, Spain, he was involved in the development of coronavirus-derived gene vectors. In 2005 he joined UCL as a Marie Curie Fellow, and got interested in the manipulation of intracellular signalling pathways in dendritic cells to manipulate immune responses. In 2008 he  obtained an Arthritis Research UK Fellowship to manipulate dendritic cells for the treatment of arthritis.

Steve Cobbold is currently the Reader in Cellular Immunology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford working on the mechanisms of immune tolerance with particular focus on regulatory T cells. He studied Biochemistry at Oxford, and developed the first immunosuppressive mAbs during his PhD in Cambridge with Herman Waldmann.  As part of the Therapeutic Immunology Group, he contributed to the development of CAMPATH, the first humanized therapeutic antibody. He was a scientific founder of TolerRx Inc., and co-founded BioAnaLab Ltd., which was successfully sold to Millipore in 2009. He has published more than 250 articles and patents.

Jagadeesh Bayry is a senior research scientist (Equivalent of Associate Professor) at Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (French National institute of Health and Medical Research) (INSERM). He received his Veterinary Medicine degree with a specialization of  Virology and Immunology from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. He obtained a PhD from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris in 2003. He later carried out postdoctoral research at the Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, University of Oxford, UK. In  2006, he was recruited as a scientist by INSERM. His research is aimed at understanding the mechanisms of immune tolerance, the mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulin and the host-pathogen interaction. He has authored more than 130 papers in leading journals. He is an Academic Editor of PLoS ONE and Scientific Reports, editorial board member of several journals, expert member of AERES (French Agency for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) and expert referee for Panel LS6 “Immunity and Infection” panel of European Research Council.

Keywords: ERK, regulatory T cell, Dendritic cells; tolerance; autoimmunity; cancer; vaccine,Treg,arthritis,RA, Treg, dendritic cells, transplantation tolerance, foxp3, molecular mechanisms, Th17, CD4, RA, rheumatoid arthritis, CD127, CD25

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

Registration Web Site:  www.regonline.co.uk/apc2012

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Comparing and Contrasting Techniques that Measure Cell-mediated Immunity Discussion Forum

The Royal College of Pathologists, Watson & Crick Room, 2 Carlton House Terrace, London

Friday, 06 July 2012

This event is a discussion forum, focused on comparing and contrasting available techniques that measure cell mediated immunity. The study of cell mediated immunity requires the identification of cell types and subsets involved, accurate determination of levels of effector molecules, and the kinetic assessment of these same effector molecules in real time. Advances in Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) allow the assessment of multiple effector molecules, via intracellular antigen detection, in defined cell subsets, via extracellular antigen detection. However, it does not allow the precise and timely assessment of these same factors, especially after re-stimulation of cell samples. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay ELISA and Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) allow the accurate determination of one or multiple effector molecules, but information on their cellular origin is often sacrificed. Participants will have a chance to explore the advantages and pitfalls of effector molecule detection with the experts during round table and panel discussions

Meeting Chair: Dr Marc Veldhoen, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK

This event has CPD accreditation

On registration please submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

9:00 – 9:30          Registration

9:30 – 9:35          Introduction by Meeting Coordinator: Dr  Astrid Englezou, EuroSciCon, London, UK

9:35 – 9:45          Introduction by the Chair: Dr Marc Veldhoen, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK

Talks by Invited Experts:

9:45 – 10:05        Flow cytometry

Dr Marc Veldhoen

Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK

10:05 – 10:25      Use of Multiplex Cytokine Analysis in Determining Secretion Profiles of Leucocyte Populations in the Female Reproductive Tract

Dr Gendie Lash

Lecturer at Newcastle University

Leucocytes are a major cell population in the non-pregnant endometrium and early pregnancy decidua.  Some of these cells have non-immune functions in addition to their classical immune functions.  To decipher the functions of two of these cell types, uterine macrophages and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells we have used multiplex cytokine and growth factor analysis to determine the secretion profiles of these cell types.  This has led to hypothesis driven functional studies based on their secretion profiles.  Data will be presented on initial studies into choice of multiplex analysis system and the type of data we are able to generate using this approach compared to more conventional ELISA.

10:25 – 10:45      TBC
Dr Chris Willberg,

Nuffield Department of Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre University of Oxford Oxford UK

10:45 – 11:05      Mid-morning Break

11:05 – 11:25      The use of flow cytometry to dissect vaccine and pathogen induced T cells responses

Dr Phil Hogarth, TB Immunology, Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratory Agency¸UK

Using a murine model of BCG vaccination & M. bovis challenge, we are investigating the T cell responses responsible for providing (driving?) protective immunity. Traditional techniques such as ELISPOT & ELISA combined provide valuable data, but fail to identify the phenotype or multiple functionality of responder T cells. Using Intracellular Staining (ICS) techniques, we are able to generate data describing 7 separate subsets of T cells based on cytokine functionality combined with surface phenotype.

We demonstrate that a single systemic BCG vaccination induces distinct systemic and mucosal populations of T effector memory (TEM) cells in vaccinated mice. These CD4+CD44hiCD62LloCD27- T cells are maintained for long periods in BCG protected mice, maintaining a vaccine–specific functionality.

11:25 – 11:45      TBC

11:45 – 12:05      TBC

12:05 – 12:35      Working Lunch

Please collect your lunch and take it to your discussion table (Session 1)

12:35– 15:30      Discussion Groups (Sessions 1-7)

• Round table discussion groups (20 minutes each) will be held throughout the afternoon
• Delegates will rotate so that they may participate in all the discussion tables
• All delegates will also be allocated a session for visiting the exhibition stands
• Where appropriate delegates will be able to bring their samples to the discussions
• See end of agenda for description of discussion tables

15:30 – 16:30     Question and Answer Session

This session will include summing up of the discussion tables and questions submitted both prior to the meeting and throughout the day

16:35                   Chairman’s Summing Up and Feedback Prize Draw

About the Speakers

Phil Hogarth started his research career at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with a PhD in Immunoparasitology. Following postdoctoral training at Bristol University he joined AHVLA (formerly VLA) in 2001, becoming a team Leader/Senior Scientist. His main research interests are the T cell mechanisms by which vaccination protect against TB, and the identification of correlates of vaccine induced protection. Phil’s expertise lies in the use of flow cytometry to identify the phenotype and function of T cells induced by vaccination or infection with TB. He is reviewer for many journals & funding agencies, including the EU and Wellcome Trust and the author of 23 papers.

Gendie Lash, who obtained her undergraduate and PhD degrees in Biochemistry from University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1997.  She then did Post-Doc jobs in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada where she held a Canadian Hypertension Society Post-Doctoral Fellowship.  In 2002 she moved to Newcastle University where she has been ever since and is currently a lecturer.  Her current research focuses on blood vessel development in the non-pregnant uterus and maternal adaptations to pregnancy, with particular interest in the functional role of uterine leucocytes in these processes.

Keywords:  Flow Cytometry, ICS, ELISPOT, BCG, TB, BCG, uNKCytokine, ELISA, Multiplex

Media partners

Meeting Web Site: http://www.regonline.co.uk/CMIdiscussion2012

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Friday, 21 September 2012 09:00 - 17:00

The Penridge Suite, 470 Bowes Road, London N11 1NL

Molecular Pharming is on the brink of taking off! After two decades of development and academic proofs of principle, a number of recent advances have moved the technology rapidly towards commercialisation. The first products are now being licensed in the USA. The first-in-human clinical trial of a plant derived monoclonal antibody has been performed in Europe. And there has been significant investment into manufacturing facilities around the world.

This meeting will review the progress of the field, highlight major technological advances and scan the horizon for future developments.

Meeting Chair:  Professor Julian Ma, St Georges Hospital-University London

This event  has CPD accreditation

9:00 – 9:45            Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chair:  Professor Julian Ma, St Georges Hospital-University London

10:00 – 10:30       Plant derived Monoclonal antibodies- from concept to regulatory approval and clinical trial

Professor Julian Ma, St Georges Hospital-University London
Most biopharmaceuticals are currently made at great expense in fermentation vats containing bacteria or mammalian cells. But the mass production of medicines in genetically modified plants, first proposed in 1989 could reduce costs and therefore make an important contribution to global health, particularly in developing countries.

A major bottleneck for the technology has been widespread scepticism that recombinant proteins could be manufactured in plants to the same standard and quality as current conventional systems. Developing a robust and reproducible manufacturing process for plants has therefore been an important priority for the field, an achievement that was reached earlier this year in Europe.

This talk will describe the rationale for developing GM plants for pharmaceutical production, the development of a manufacturing process that was approved by medicines regulators, leading to a first-in-human clinical trial and discuss the future for Molecular Pharming.

10:30 – 11:00      Talk to be confirmed

Dr Pascal Drake, St. George’s, University of London

11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break/networking  and trade show

Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event.  Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you

11:30 – 12:00       Oral presentations (2 x 15minutes)

12:00  – 12:30      Talk to be confirmed

Professor Maurice Moloney, Rothamsted Research Ltd, United Kingdom

12:30  – 13:30      Lunch/networking  and trade show

                                This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms and any questionnaires

13:30 – 14:15       Question and Answer Session

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:15    – 14:30     Talk to be confirmed
To be confirmed

14:30– 15:00       Afternoon Tea/Coffee, networking   and  trade show

15:00 – 15:30       Immunoglobulin A production in edible plant organs: bridging the gap between Molecular Farming and Plant

Synthetic Biology

Professor Diego Orzaez, Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas-CSIC, Valencia, Spain

Molecular Farming employs increasingly complex genetic engineering approaches involving the interplay of multiple transgenes and therefore entering the field of Synthetic Biology. As an example, we combined in a single tomato plant four transgenes encoding the transcription factors Rosea1 and Delila from Antirrihnum majus and the heavy and light chains of a human immunoglobulin A against rotavirus. This combination resulted in transgenic purple tomatoes producing high levels of a neutralizing human antibody against the diarrhea agent rotavirus. In the future, increasingly complex engineering designs will be enabled by standardized DNA assembly tools and by large collections of standard genetic parts.

15:30 – 16:00       Producing virus-like particles through transient expression in plants

Professor George Lomonossoff , John Innes Centre, UK
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have attracted much attention in recent years for applications in bio- and nanotechnology. They have been developed as novel vaccines since multivalent and especially particulate structures, such as VLPs, make highly efficient immunogens. They have also been explored as nanoparticles, both to display functionalities on their outer surface and to encapsulate heterologous material. Transient expression in plants has proved to be an efficient method to produce VLPs derived from both plant and animal viruses. Several plant-produced VLPs have been shown to be capable of stimulating an immune response in animals and have found applications in nanotechnology.

16:00                      Chairman’s summing up

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team  of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community.  This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.

About the Chair

Julian Ma graduated in dentistry at Guy’s Hospital in 1983, and went on there to gain his PhD in Immunology, studying topical anti-microbial immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies. He was a post-doctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, in Dr. Andrew Hiatt’s laboratory which pioneered the expression of recombinant antibodies in transgenic plants. On his return to the UK, his research group developed the first description of a monoclonal secretory antibody expressed in plants and its clinical applications in human immunotherapy against dental caries. They continue to study basic mechanisms of protein assembly, processing and expression in plant cells, as well as the design, engineering and clinical applications of novel recombinant proteins in plants for systemic and mucosal vaccination and immunotherapy.

About the Speakers

Diego Orzáez did his PhD on Programmed Cell Death (PCD) in Plants at the IBMCP-CSIC, Valencia, Spain. As a Marie-Curie post-doc he joined E. Woltering´s lab in Wageningen, the Netherlands, to study PCD in plant cell cultures. Later he moved to Wageningen University and joined the A. Schot´s LMA lab, where he started the design of plants as antibody biofactories. In 2004 he returned to Valencia with a Ramón y Cajal contract and became tenured scientist in 2008. Currently, he is in charge of the Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology research projects of the Fruit Genomics and Biotechnology Lab at IBMCP-CSIC.

George Lomonossoff graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1976 and studied for his  His Ph.D. at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), Cambridge. He moved to the John Innes Centre Norwich in 1980 and has continued to work there since apart from two of sabbatical leave in the USA. George’s research has focused on the molecular biology of RNA plant viruses and their use in bio- and nanotechnology . He is an honorary professor and UEA and has co-ordinated several EU Framework consortia. In 2012 he was named “BBSRC Innovator of the year” for his work on plant-made pharmaceuticals.

Keywords:  John Innes Centre, Manufacturing, Molecular Pharming, Monoclonal antibodies, Plant Biotechnology, Recombinant proteins, Rothamsted Research, St Georges hospital, Vaccines, Immunoglobulin A, DNA assembly, standard, fruit, rotavirus. virus-like particles,transient expression, bionanotechnology

Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/Molecular2011

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Thursday, 04 October 2012 09:00

The Penridge Suite, 470 Bowes Road, London N11 1NL

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) generated by reprogramming somatic cells represent an unique opportunity for regenerative medicine. Indeed, hIPSCs can proliferate indefinitely in vitro while maintaining the capacity to differentiate into broad number of cell type. Therefore, hIPSCs could be used to produce an infinite quantity of cell type with a clinical interest. In addition, hIPSCs could enable the production of patient specific cell types which are fully immuno-compatible with the original donor thereby avoiding the need for immune suppressive treatment during cell based therapy. However, recent reports have suggested that epigenetic and genetic anomalies associated with direct reprogramming technology could limit the interest of hIPSCs for in vivo use.

This 3rd Annual event will review the drawback and advantages of hIPSCs for diverse type of clinical applications.

This event  has CPD accreditation and will have a  discussion panel session.
On registration you will be able to submit your questions to the panel that will be asked by the chair on the day of the event

Meeting Chair:  Lyn Healy, NIBSCC, South Mimms, UK

9:00 – 9:45            Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chair:  Lyn Healy, NIBSCC, South Mimms, UK

10:00 – 10:30       Talk title to be confirmed
Dr Christian Unger, Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield

10:30 – 11:00      Talk title to be confirmed 
Dr. Petra Hajkova, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus,  London

11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break/networking  and trade show

                                Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event.  Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you

11:30 – 12:00       Talk title to be confirmed 

Dr Nadire Ali, NHLI, Imperial College London

12:00  – 12:30      Oral presentations

12:30  – 13:30      Lunch/networking  and trade show

                                This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms and any questionnaires

13:30 – 14:15       Question and Answer Session

Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts.  Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day

14:15    – 14:30     Afternoon Tea/Coffee, networking   and  trade show

14:30– 15:00       Talk title to be confirmed 

Professor Udo Oppermann, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal, University of Oxford, UK

15:00 – 15:30       Talk title to be confirmed 

Dr Patrizia Ferretti , Institute of Child Health, London

15:30 – 16:00       Chairman’s summing up

Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event

This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team  of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community.  This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.

Keywords:   iPSC, hepatocyte, liver, CYP p450, translation, supply chain, delivery, GMP, manufacturing,drug, pluripotent stem cell, hepatocyte, pancreas, liver; beta-cell, Stable Karyoytpe, High-throughput efficiency, Embryonic Stem cells, Induced pluripotency, Nanog, neural stem cell, glioblastoma, DNA methylation, reprogramming, iPS cells, reprogramming, Pluripotentcy, STEMCCA, ESGRO 2i, Pluripotency; reprogramming; chromatin signatures; DNA replication timing; histone acetyltransferase p30

Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/2012londonstemcellevent

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