BioVallée officially approved as a collective research centre

BioVallée has been officially approved in March of this year as a collective research centre by the Walloon Region.

A permanent technical committee has been formed to advise BioVallée on its RD projects and orient its strategy towards the needs of the industrial community of the region. The committee includes members of the major academic institutes involved in molecular biology and immunology together with representatives of biotechnology-oriented SME's and large companies.

The official agreement of BioVallée now offers the possibility to apply for RD contracts within the so-called Regional "Marshall's Plan".

On the other hand, BioVallée now develops close contacts with other agreed collective research centres, namely the Centre d'Economie Rurale (CER, Marloie) and the Centre d'Etude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques (CERVA-CODA, Brussels), to apply for RD projects specifically designed for agreed centres. All these activities will be pursued as before within the Total Quality system that already conferred the Beltest ISO 17025 accreditation to BioVallée's genomic activities, extending now the standardization of procedures to the transgenesis and proteomics service platforms.

BioVallée is definitely on the right track to assume its responsibilities towards the regional and European biotechnology sector and is taking appropriate reorganisational measures to improve its competitiveness.

IMI : mechanism of graft rejection

The team headed by Dr Michel Braun at the IMI has identified a new mechanism of cardiac transplant rejection involving the endothelium. Taking advantage of a model of cardiac transplantation in transgenic mice, this team has demonstrated that rejection depends on the graft colonization by endothelial cells of recipient origin.

The work performed by Dr Yota Kapessidou, a physician specialized in anesthesiology and award recipient of the Erasme Foundation, was also supported by the Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation.

This original study published in the March issue of Transplantation - the official journal of the World Transplantation Society -, opens new perspectives for the induction of tolerance in organ transplantation.

Kapessidou Y, Habran C, Buonocore S, Flamand V, Goldman M, Braun M, The replacement of graft endothelium by recipient-type cells conditions allograft rejection mediated by indirect pathway CD4 T cellls, Transplantation, 2006, 81:726-352.

IBMM : the formation of the kidney and transcription factors involved

The Molecular Embryology Laboratory (IBMM) has recently published in the journals Development and Developmental Biology the results obtained concerning the function of two transcription factors in the formation of the kidney.

In those publications, it is shown for the first time, the importance of those two factors in the patterning of the Xenopus embryonic kidney, the pronephros, that represents a simplified version of the higher vertebrate's kidney, the metanephros.

Those two publications underline the importance of model organisms such as the xenope not only for studies on early vertebrate embryonic development but also for research on later organogenesis processes.

References :

Van Campenhoudt C., Nichane M., Antoniou A., Pendeville H., Bronchain O.J., Marine J.C., Mazabraud A., Voz M.L., Bellefroid E.J. (2006), Evi1 is expressed specifically in the distal tubule and duct of the Xenopus pronephros and plays a role in its formation. Dev. Biol. Epub ahead of print.

Taelman V., Van Campenhout C., Sölter M., Pieler T., Bellefroid E.J., The Notch-effector HRT1 gene plays an essential role in glomerular development and patterning of the Xenopus pronephric mesoderm. Development, in press.

DNAVision : Eppendorf DualChip^TM Microarrays

DNAVision begins service of Eppendorf DualChip^TM Microarrays. Dualchip microarrays, consisting of two identical arrays on a single slide, are predefined "low-to-medium-density" DNA microarrays that allow differential gene expression analyses of the highest quality to be performed quickly, safely and simply.

The DualChip^TM microarray platform has been included as testing platform in the MAQC (MicroArray Quality Control) project from U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"DNAVision is proud to be chosen by Eppendorf as the first European service laboratory to provide this robust and innovative low to medium density microarray testing. The DualChip Microarray platform completes very well our actual gene expression offer using high density microarray and real time PCR", said Dr Jean-François Laes, Microarray unit manager. "We are delighted that Eppendorf has chosen DNAVision for it's scientific expertise in gene expression testing and in the use of microarray technologies in a high quality environment".

Euroscreen strengthens its patent estate for purinergic receptors

Euroscreen was awarded for a European patent that covers both antibodies which bind to the human P2Y11 receptor and antisense oligonucleotides which specifically hybridise the nucleic acid molecule encoding the human P2Y11 receptor.

The P2Y11 receptor was cloned and characterized by Didier Communi as part of the team of professor Jean-Marie Boeynaems at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research IRIBHM of the ULB. This group has shown that the activation of the P2Y11 receptor leads to the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells into neutrophil-like cells, suggesting that P2Y11 modulators might be used for the treatment of some forms of leukemia. In addition, its role in neutrophil maturation makes it a potential target for the treatment of neutropenia.

Commenting the announcement, Vincent Lannoy Business Development and Licensing Manager of Euroscreen said :" This new European patent represents a significant additional milestone in our growing portfolio related to purinergic receptors. As for P2Y4, another purinergic receptor patented by Euroscreen, we are now able to out-license these patent rights to companies who are developing therapeutic antibodies as well as antisense molecules that act through the P2Y11 mode of action. Such licences will generate revenues in the form of license fees and milestones in the short term and royalties on sales of any antibody and antisense products generated in the longer term".

The EP patent (1 342 729B1) relates in particular to all antibodies products which specifically bind to the P2Y11 receptor, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides which specifically hybridise the nucleic acid molecule encoding the human P2Y11 receptor and a pharmaceutical composition comprising such antisense molecules.

Euroscreen is awaiting the issuance of equivalent patent applications in US, Japan and Canada.

Further information : Euroscreen, LicensingBD@euroscreen.com

IBMM : T lymphocytes and humoral immune responses

In a recent publication in the European Journal of Immunology, members of the Laboratory of Animal Physiology (IBMM) have shown that a subpopulation of T lymphocytes (naturally occuring regulatory T cells, already known for their role in preventing autoimmunity), also controls the magnitude of humoral immune responses to exogenous antigens.

This finding could have functional implications for the generation of mouse monoclonal antibodies directed against poorly immunogenic antigens including self constituents.

Fouad Eddahri, Guillaume Oldenhove, Sébastien Denanglaire, Jacques Urbain, Oberdan Leo and Fabienne Andris, CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T cells control the magnitude of T-dependent humoral immune responses to exogenous antigens, Eur. J. Immunol., 2006, 36: 855-863.

Televie : Annie Cordy at IMI...

Annie Cordy spent a full day at the Erasme unit of the Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI) to promote the Télévie 2006. She gave blood to support the studies directed by Dr Florence Roufosse on the pathogenesis of the hypereosinophilic syndrome. The IMI and the Erasme hospital are the reference center for the immunological investigations of an international trial in which patients receive an innovative treatment based on the injection of a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-5, a key mediator of the disease. The hope is that this novel biotech product developed by GlaxoSmithKline will allow to control the evolution of this premalignant condition which eventually gives rise to lymphoma.

... and day "sport and relaxation" at Parentville

A Télévie event took place at Parentville campus in Charleroi on the last Sunday of March.

It was a success for a first. About 250 participants took part in this day dedicated to sport and relaxation, in a friendly and convivial atmosphere : about 2.300 euros were collected.

Thank you to all participants and volunteers and see you next year !

Point Centre bought by the BUC

The Biopole ULB Charleroi has bought the seminar center Point Centre. The activity continues with the same team : Patrick Deprit and Ingrid Legrand.

ULB's services can rent meeting rooms and auditorium at specific conditions.

For more information : 071 91 98 70