“Now we are excited again…” Exactly 9 months after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022, today -September 18, 2023- Argentina is once again excited about another international recognition. But this time it has nothing to do with football, but rather a shocking development in the field of biotechnology that has led to a project developed in these lands competing to be “the best in the world.” And, as if it were not a source of pride enough in itself, the addition is added that one of its managers is from Mendoza.
Uriel Miralles, 23 years old, born in Villa Tulumaya (Lavalle, Mendoza) and a student of a degree in Biotechnology, is one of the founders and leaders of the startup BioSpi. And the development of a vaccine against campylobacteriosis (a bacteria that develops in chickens in fattening farms and that can be fatal in children under 5 years of age) is the work for which they are among the 15 projects that will participate in the Grand Jamboree of Biotechnology, which will take place between November 2 and 5 in Paris (France).
A man from Mendoza developed the vaccine against a deadly bacteria in children up to 5 years old and is going to the biotechnology “world championship.” Photo: Courtesy BioSpi
“350 projects were presented worldwide and there are different stages where tools are provided to turn a project into a company, a startup. In the last stage, they select 5 projects from three continents (America, Asia and Europe), and those 15 make it to the Great Jamboree, which is like the ‘World of Biotechnology’. We are among the 5 in America and 15 in the world. We are the only ones from Argentina and Latin America,” the young Lavallino, who is studying at the UNSL (National University of San Luis), highlights with enthusiasm and humility.
In order to travel to Paris to represent Argentina and Latin America before the world –and with a cutting-edge advance in biotechnology-, Uriel and his partner Jeremías Conrero (director of operations of BioSpi) need financial support from institutions, companies and even governments that can and want to help them. And they need support to access tickets and stay in the French capital.
THE PROJECT FOR WHICH THEY WERE THE ONLY SELECTED ONE IN LATIN AMERICA
Campylobacteriosis is a bacteria that usually develops in chickens found in fattening farms – before they go to market. According to the two founders of BioSpi (Miralles and Conrero), this is a growing problem that affects both poultry production and human health.
A man from Mendoza developed the vaccine against a deadly bacteria in children up to 5 years old and is going to the biotechnology “world championship.” Photo: Courtesy BioSpi
“In Argentina and throughout Latin America, broiler and layer farms are fighting this disease, which affects food security and the economy. From our biotechnology startup we are developing a platform of sustainable biotherapeutics for the generation of a vaccine for campylobacteriosis. We are in a first stage, and the issue is that it is a bacteria that until not long ago was being treated with antibiotics, but now resistance to antibiotics has been generated,” Miralles highlights to Los Andes and when explaining the focus of your work.
The detail is that campylobacteriosis is transmitted from birds to people and, according to researchers, in adults it can cause chronic diarrhea, while in affected children under 5 years of age, mortality reaches approximately 90%.
“This is why we developed this vaccine, which is administered orally and does not generate resistance. What it does is train the chicken’s immune system so that it does not develop the bacteria. And it is something important if you take into account that campylobacteriosis is having a significant proliferation worldwide,” adds Miralles.
A man from Mendoza developed the vaccine against a deadly bacteria in children up to 5 years old and is going to the biotechnology “world championship.” Photo: Courtesy BioSpi
Together with the Lavallino researcher and his colleague Jeremías Conrero (25 years old, originally from Pozo del Molle, Córdoba, and who graduated as a Senior Technician in Mechatronics from the UTN regional Córdoba), the promoters of BioSpi work with researchers from Conicet Rosario, and with doctors from the UNSL Biomedical Technology and Industrial Microbiology laboratories.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD
The campylobacteriosis vaccine project is the first prototype of the BioSpi platform and it earned the developers from Mendoza and Córdoba – who met at Creators Lab, a science and technology event – being among the 15 most important of all. the world when it comes to biotechnology.
And although the startup is only in its second year of life, the achievements and enthusiasm of the two young researchers are just beginning. “This achievement is a reflection of Argentina’s commitment to innovation and science. We realize that the true solution is not to go abroad, but to stay and show what we are made of. It is time to sell our talent to the world from our roots,” highlights Miralles, who is also the executive director of BioSpi.
As a result of this first project and its contribution to the community, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the IGEM Startups foundation (focused on genetic engineering worldwide) selected the work of the Argentines focused on the oral vaccine against campylobacteriosis as the only representative from Latin America at the Grand Jamboree organized by IGEM (or the “World of Biotechnology” in short).
A man from Mendoza developed the vaccine against a deadly bacteria in children up to 5 years old and is going to the biotechnology “world championship.” Photo: Courtesy BioSpi
This is why those responsible for BioSpi are in full search of institutions, entities and governments that can accompany them and materialize the dream of being able to travel to Paris to participate in this contest that will run from November 2 to 5, which will feature with more than 8,000 spectators from 66 countries and more than 2,400 researchers, representatives of world governments and journalists. They are also joined by 400 investors and industries who will be at the event.
“During these three days, a bioinnovation fair will be held and we will be able to present the project, as well as the institutions that accompany us, to the entire world. Among those present will be the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and representatives of the United States Department of Science and Technology, as well as authorities from leading laboratories,” adds enthusiastically Uriel Miralles from Mendoza.
A man from Mendoza developed the vaccine against a deadly bacteria in children up to 5 years old and is going to the biotechnology “world championship.” Photo: Courtesy BioSpi
One of the objectives of the Argentine startup BioSpi with this participation before the eyes of the world is to acquire new financing to be able to continue with the stages of vaccine development.
HOW TO CONTACT ARGENTINE RESEARCHERS
Web: www.biospi.tech
Mail: info@biospi.tech
Instagram: @biospi.tch
I kept reading
We have something to offer you
With your subscription you browse without limits, access exclusive content and much more. You can also add Los Andes Pass to save at hundreds of stores!
SEE SUBSCRIPTION PROMOS
2023-09-18 16:28:29
#man #Mendoza #developed #vaccine #deadly #bacteria #children #years #biotechnology #world #championship #Society
