Technologies Developed at acib
Plant Defense as a Biotech Tool
Plants protect themselves with cyanide against voracious beetles or caterpillars. Certain enzymes release the toxic substance when the plant is chewed. These HNL-called enzymes are also important for the industry. acib found a new biocatalyst in a fern which outshines all other HNL-type enzymes on the market.
Newly Discovered Metabolism Certifies Evolutionary Advantage for Yeast
Duplicate copies of genes safeguard the survival of the biotech yeast Pichia pastoris in environments where only methanol is present as feed. A recently elucidated metabolism is similar to that used by plants for the utilization of carbon dioxide.
Bodyguards for Precious Seeds
Naturally occurring, plant-associated bacteria as a crop protection agent are now available for use in crop protection to alleviate the contamination of soil with pesticides – arguably the most environmentally friendly way of plant protection that has been developed to date.
Tutoring for Nature: Production of Valuable Nootkatone with Yeast
A new method allows production of expensive grapefruit aroma Nootkatone biotechnologically from cheap sugar using a “turbo-yeast”. The versatile, healthy and tasty substance is used in soft drinks, pharmaceutical products or even as an insect repellent.
First Method for Continuous Purification of Valuable Antibodies
Scientists at acib and the University of Natural Resources Vienna develop world’s first continuous purification method for valuable drugs. This will lead to significantly reduced production costs and to cheaper pharmaceuticals that are affordable for non-privileged health care systems.
„Enzym-Google“ Reveals Hidden Possibilities of Nature
A new search engine, including a database with more than 100.000 proteins opens up totally new possibilities in the search for new enzyme functions. This “Catalophor system” is patented and was published in Nature Communications.
Microparticles as a Protein Trap
Most medicines sold today are produced biotechnologically. A new cleaning method combines five purification steps and extremely facilitates the workup process. This micro-particles technology is already used at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Cell Aging Delayed
acib-researchers develop an innovative method to produce 3-hydroxytyrosol, an antioxidant from olives that is even more effective than Vitamin C. The patented process ensures that olives remain food and will not be used as an industrial raw material.
Hamster Genome Decrypted
Sequencing of the genome of the Chinese hamster by an international research group led by acib opens up new paths in the development and optimization of the most important production cells for active agents. Finally, this leads to more effective and cheaper human therapies.
“Pine Aroma” against Beetle Invasion
acib researchers reduce the production steps for biologically active agents from 14 to just 3. Eco-friendly products to cope with chewing pests, as well as agents against undesired fungi or bacteria can now be produced easier and more environmentally friendly than ever.
Greenhouse Gas CO2 as a Raw Material
Scientists at acib have developed an environmentally friendly method to produce highly interesting molecules with the climate gas as a raw material for chemical synthesis. For example, CO2 can now be used to produce a precursor of Aspirin.
Biofuel 2.0 – Fuel Without Food Use
Together with an industrial partner acib explores methods which use agricultural waste, straw or resistant energy grasses as resources for new biofuels. Sugar cane, corn or other grains can be used as food rather than burning them in engines.
Environmentally Friendly Biopaints
acib and the corporate partner Cytec Austria replace potentially carcinogenic heavy metals in paints by natural enzymes called “Laccases”. These enzymes catalyze the hardening of the first “biopaint”.
The Artificial Liver in Vitro
With our industry partners F. Hoffmann La Roche and Novartis acib scientists develope a new key technology: The world’s first test system on a preparative scale, which simulates the degradation of drugs in a test tube as it is done in the body. The method simplifies the drug development.
acib researchers found a revolutionary method to analyze the exhaust of those cells in real time that produce active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry. This opens new possibilities in process monitoring.
Viruses in the Service of Health
The harmless enzyme “Npro” from the swine fever virus can be perfectly used for new biotechnological manufacturing processes of active ingredients/drugs. In addition acib-researchers have unraveled the mechanism of infection.
Stop the Flood of Plastic Waste
Scientists at acib discovered a recycling method that turns disposable plastic bottles into high quality raw materials. Enzymes break down the plastics into its valuable output modules which than can be used to produce new, highly functional materials.
High-tech Yeasts for Healthy Food
acib and industry partner Biomin have developed a low-cost method for production of enzymes that inactivate the mycotoxins in animal feed grain. Mycotoxines are always present in feed grain and can finally endanger people via the food chain.
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