Based on the Act of the management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we have to declared a closed systems and handling GMOs, report annually changes and register a new work with GMOs on the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. We collaborated in a working group of the Slovenian Biochemical Society, which prepared guidelines for the organization of work with GMOs in closed systems, guidance for application of closed systems for handling GMOs and application of handling GMOs, with examples of documents related to the applications.
F.23 Development of new system-wide, normative and programme solutions, and methods
COBISS.SI-ID: 249167872The exciting potential of synthetic biology can be used in areas such as health, environment, energy, information processing, biosensors etc. Additionally the constructive principle of synthetic biology is a powerful tool to test and improve our understanding of biological systems. Synthetic biology is a powerful platform to engage our creativity that could improve the quality of life in many aspects of human activities but we have to be prepared to deal also with potential dangers as in any type of technology.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 4972826We tested different chemotypes of LPS and nonendotoxic LPS antagonists in order to identify candidates for the inhibition of HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 binding to T cells. The peptide derived from the V3 domain of gp120 specifically interacted with the lipid A moiety of LPS. The structure of the V3 peptide bound to LPS was determined with NMR; a pattern was similar to the one observed with antimicrobial peptides that interact with and neutralize LPS. Binding assays also demonstrated concentration dependent binding of LPS to integral gp120. Interaction between LPS and gp120 inhibited the interaction of gp120 with receptors at the surface on target T cell line H9. We also showed that antagonistic non-endotoxic lipid A derivatives inhibited HIV-1 pseudovirus infection in U87.CD4.CCR5 cell line
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 4828442Project team members were supervisers of three students teams from the University of Ljubljana, who in the years 2009, 2010 and 2012 successfully completed research projects from the field of synthetic biology. In 2010 and 2012 our team was a finalist and finally won the “Grand Prize” award or second place at the international competition in Synthetic biology iGEM2006 held at the elite university MIT in Cambridge (USA). The media extensively reported on all three achievements (Slovenian press, such as daily and weekly newspapers, TV and radio, websites, public lectures). A wide response was encountered also in the international media (reports in journals and newspapers; there were hundreds of reports on web pages). Apart from the scientific result, the success in the elite competition is very important for the promotion of the quality of Slovenian science and education at the international level in the most eminent academic competition, for the promotion of the study of natural sciences in Slovenia as well as for the development of synthetic biology as an important young discipline. This interview occurred in 2010, when our iGEM team prepared cellular biosynthetic assembly.
E.02 International awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 5027098