International Biotechnological Symposium “Bio-Asia, Altai-2015” has finished its work
The “Bio-Asia, Altai-2015” Symposium was held from September 15 to September 18 and now we can sum it all up.
The Symposium hosted guests from different countries including scientists from the USA, Japan, New Zealand, Israel, Poland, etc. The event was aimed at the discussion of the topical questions of biotechnology development and exposition of the progress and inventions in medical, industrial, agricultural, foodstuff, ecological and forestry fields.
The guests had an opportunity to see the inventions even before the Symposium official opening: some innovative projects in biotechnology were introduced at the Altai State University exposition. Manufacturing companies, research institutes and laboratories of Altai, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Tambov Regions showed their biotechnological products.
“BIO-Terminator” – this name did not only attract scientists, but also amateur gardeners. That is why the stand of South-Siberian Botanical Garden was so popular among the guests. There the “killer” was exposed and explained to the public.
“The base of our product is entomopathogenic fungus which can disinfest the particular type of destructive insects like aphis and parlatoria. We have selected and educed the strains independently on our own. We have two types of fungus that make the plants more resistant to insects and are completely safe for the human beings," explained the Candidate of Biological Sciences Sergey Smirnov.
It is worth noting, that “BIO-Terminator” is very effective and destroys 100% of the particular type of insects.
While “BIO-Terminator” was just an amazing product to admire, other products were there for guests to taste them. There were especially many volunteers at the stands of Research and Production Company “Altai bouquet” and Siberian Research Institute of Cheesemaking. The latter exposed four kinds of cheese, which were developed by Altai specialists. All in all, there were more than 30 innovative inventions of the companies and research institutes of Altai Region and other Russian Regions at the exposition. Not only development prototypes were shown, but also serial production.
“The most important mission of the Symposium is to find partners and companions, who we can implement the potential biotechnological projects with. At the moment, biotechnology is an essential area, which helps to solve ecological, food reserves problems and others. We already have a program for solving such kind of objectives in Altai Region and we are carrying it out effectively,” said ASU Vice-Rector for Research and Development Alexey Tishkin.
Rector of ASU Sergey Zemlyukov stated that the event was quite effective.
“The fact of such great interest towards our Symposium shows that we really have developing biotechnologies, growing potential and and are in demand, - he said. – Now we need to conduct groundbreaking applied research, prepare our biotechnological staff. Professor Johnston from Arizona and I took part in the identical conference two years ago. As a result, we established the Russian-American Anti Cancer Center that is now operating actively. We would like to reach the same practical results this time as well”.
Within the framework of the Symposium many events took place and all of them were of great importance. For example, the Second International Youth Biotechnological School “Recombinant Antibodies and Vaccines”, where Russian and foreign scientists were delivering their lectures. One of the Symposium Days was fully dedicated to the problem of vaccines development and usage, especially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines. Students and young scientists from many different countries took active part in the School work.
Workshops “Biomedicine and Bioengineering at the present stage”, “Industrial and Foodstuff Biotechnology in the XXI century”, “Agricultural, Forestry and Environment-Oriented Biotechnology” were also working as part of the Symposium. Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center Seminar “Biotechnology: Molecular Aspects of the Early Cancer Detection and Therapy” was held in the ASU Academic Board Hall. Famous scientists Stephan Johnston, Evgeny Imyanitov, Alexander Lazarev, Olga Lavrik, Alexander Muravlev were speaking at the event.
“There were many people at the Seminar, who did not just deliver their reports but also participated in the discussion and opinions exchange. In particular, the latest methods of molecular cancer detection were introduced. The lecture of Professor Johnston about the usage of immunosignature method for cancer detecting made a great impression,” said Director of Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center Andrey Shapoval.
All in all, the reports on this Seminar were dedicated to genetics and risk factors of cancer, anti-cancer vaccines and current situation in the oncology. Two main problems in the area were stated at the Symposium.
“Firstly, nonetheless the scientists are trying so hard, there are still no effective methods of early cancer detection. Secondly, there is no effective, cheap, universal medication. The treatment is usually started at the advanced stage of the disease and the medication does not work as the doctors want it to work. Of course, scientists are constantly working on these problems. There are many promising methods of early cancer detection. Immunosignature is one of them. Scientists are conducting research and invent the drugs, which can make the immune system confront the tumor stage. The science does not stand still,” said Head of the Laboratory of Immunochemistry of Research Center “Vector”, Assistant Professor of the ASU Department of Organic Chemistry Dmitry Sherbakov.
Look for more photos from the International Biotechnological Symposium “Bio-Asia, Altai-2015” here.