Author: mintra

Comprehensive database for human–mouse comparative study of microRNA–promoter interactions

Comprehensive database for human–mouse comparative study of microRNA–promoter interactions In 2012, microRNA (miRNA)–promoter interaction resource (microPIR) was introduced as a comprehensive public database containing over 15 million predicted miRNA target sites located within human promoter sequences. The database assists experimental scientists in exploring interactions of interest and facilitate research in this area. Since the release, access to the predicted targets on the database has markedly increased, demonstrating the potentially increasing interest in the research of this topic and the potential value of the microPIR database in the future. Given the conservation of miRNAs and associated gene regulatory mechanisms across species, it is plausible that the regulatory role of miRNA through promoter recognition is also present among mammalian species. Researchers therefore made and update to the database and named it microPIR2 which contains predicted miRNA promoter targets in mouse genome. microPIR2 provides approximately 80 million human and 40 million mouse predicted target sites. In addition to being a reference database, microPIR2 is a tool for comparative analysis of target sites on the promoters of human–mouse orthologous genes. In particular, this new feature was designed to identify potential miRNA–promoter interactions conserved between species that could be stronger candidates for further experimental validation. Additional supporting information such as nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of miRNAs and miRNA–disease association is also incorporated into this new database. The search result of gene query showed human-mouse...

Read More

BIOTEC hosted a study visit for Laos delegation

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control that has gained widespread popularity around the world. It is an alternative for farmers to control pests that is safe and friendly to the environment in long-term effects. Recognizing the role of natural enemies of pest insects,BIOTEC research team works on developing effective biocontrol agents.  An effective strain of Beauveria bassiana has been uncovered and simple and optimal methods have been developed for both inoculum production and on-farm spore production.  To share technology and technology transfer model with neighboring countries like Laos, BIOTEC organized a study visit for representatives from Biotechnology and Ecology Institute (BEI) on 7 – 11 September 2015. In addition to meeting with BIOTEC research team, BEI representatives also met with the team at Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi and farmer group in Ayutthaya Province, both of which have acquired the technology from BIOTEC.  According to the set model, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi will produce Beauveria inoculum to distribute to farmers and the farmer group has set up a moderate facility to mass produce Beauveria from the inoculum to supply to its members. This activity is a part of the Thailand-Laos Cooperation on Science and Technology, an MOU of which was executed in November 2014 by Ministers of Science and Technology of Thailand...

Read More

The 2nd Meeting of AnMICRO (ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilisation) during April 9-10 at MyGeneBank, MARDI, Malaysia

The 2nd Meeting of AnMICRO (ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilisation) has been successfully completed during April 9-10 at MyGeneBank, MARDI, Malaysia. Representatives from Indonesia (ITB: Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Diponegoro, Semarang) , Malaysia (MARDi:Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute ), Thailand (TBRC: Thailand Bioresource Research Center, BIOTEC) and Philippines (National Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Banos) have had a very fruitful discussion aiming at the joint generation of biotechnological innovation....

Read More