Published by DEC Santo Tomás on 11/11/2024
This first version of the meeting was held in person from the Santiago Campus of the Santo Tomás University, as well as virtually from Lima and the United States.
This Thursday, in the Aula Magna of the Santo Tomás University, the 1st International Workshop on Interdisciplinary Biotechnologyan event that sought to create a space for discussion about the enrichment that this area of science has when approached from different disciplines.
After the opening words of Dr. Nelson CaroDirector Austral Biotech Research Centerbegan the first presentation by the Dr. Carol Flores of the University College LondonUnited Kingdom, who spoke about his research, which even He took her to the Peruvian Amazon to make progress with the application of methylases.
The Dr. Amparo Zavaletabelonging to the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) of Peru, followed on the schedule. There, the researcher presented part of her work on the microbial enzymes and their use over other chemicals in industries such as textiles, food, detergents and others.
Here he explained their advantages over similar compounds found in fungi and plants, commenting on bacteria: their rapid growth, the ease of their purification, the cellular modifications that can be made to them and more.
Later it was the turn of the Dr. Felipe Sarmiento (USA)professional with more than 10 years in the biotechnology industryexperience in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. He spoke about his experience in cellular programming within Ginkgo Bioworks, processes that they have managed to automate in several stages and that allow each requirement to be adapted to the needs of their clients.
Located in Boston, but with offices in California and Europe, he emphasized the collaboration with other institutions to develop or modify strainsincluding cutting-edge technology such as Machine Learning, one of the fastest advancing areas of technology today.
The Dra. Tamara Brunaprincipal researcher at Austral Biotech and member of the faculty of the PhD in Conservation and Biodiversity Managementmade a presentation on agricultural contaminants used in the country, commenting that “they are among the greatest threats to water and can cause health problems.” In fact, he maintains that “investigators say that the importance required for the seriousness of the situation is not given.”
During his speech he spoke about the “disadvantages” of using this type of chemicals, pointing out that among their side effects were damage to the environment, such as mass death of bees and condorsas well as in humans, especially with diseases in children. Also striking is one of its data: Of the 99 agrochemicals used in Chile, 40 are prohibited in Europe.
From Peru came the presentation of the Dr. (c). Well done Noemiacademic of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos in Perudevelopment of biofilms with nanoparticles and nanomembranes with a particular method with starch.
There were carried out mixtures between potato starch and corn starchthen adding oregano essential oil to give it antimicrobial properties. This generates a bioplastic with many possible uses within biotechnology, something that is just beginning and could lead to big announcements in medicine or food.
He Dr. Christian Tapia showed part of his laboratory work, collaborative between several universities with the participation of Santo Tomás, in nutritional supplements for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
There he commented that, although there is a lot of diversity on the internet of this type of products, Very few are able to support their nutritional properties with evidence.. In fact, there are many currently on sale that are based on food health regulations, but not with their real properties.
Nutritional supplements seek to complement the nutrients necessary for each stage of life, especially in the last stage of third and fourth age where there are greater problems with nutrient absorption along with a more accelerated loss of them.
In the same way, spoke about the challenges of the food industry to lower the microbiological load of its foods to achieve a longer shelf lifebut without the use of large chemicals. Many of these stabilizers have chemical origins that the industrial world seeks to leave behind.
For his part, the Dr. Maximiliano AmenábarHead of the UST School of Biotechnologyspoke about the opportunities that biotechnology provides for a sustainable future.
In his presentation he spoke about the Existence of Extremophilic Microorganismsthat is, those that are capable of surviving extreme conditions, whether heat, cold or the presence of chemicals.
Regarding these, he pointed out that in “Chile we have privileged access to many of themas in Antarctica, the glaciers of the Andes or those called permafrostfrozen soils that have begun to thaw thanks to global warming.”
Anyway, dispelled the idea that Antarctica only has cold places to studycommenting on the existence of the Deception Island as a place where there are fumaroles that exceed 100° where there are also studyable microorganisms.
“These types of expeditions can generate the encounter of various microorganisms that can have different uses,” added Amenábar.
The workshop closed on Dr. Alexander Gamboaacademic of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of the University of Santiagowith a presentation on the benefits of nanoencapsulation of drugs and bioactives.
As he explained, this is a “revolution in the field of medicine”, allowing three great benefits: improves the absorption and distribution of drugs in the body, protects drugs from adverse environmental conditions – such as temperature for those that require refrigeration – and reduces side effects.
This has great implications for serious diseases, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases, allowing better results in their treatments and providing enormous potential in the development of medications for other pathologies..
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