In this program, we'll look at the production of Green Fluorescent Protein. GFP is used as a biological marker, and when attached to a drug it can provide researchers with a visual story of where the drug goes. It's a fluorescent dye that's very well tolerated by most cells and doesn't interfere with normal cellular function. Let's examine the 3 main phases of GFP production – Fermentation, Recovery, and Purification. Fermentation is basically cell farming. We program cells to produce a product, we nurture them as they grow and reproduce, and then we harvest them. In recovery we separate our product from the cells where they were housed. And then in purification we go a step further by removing everything else that's contaminating our product leaving us with a very pure, concentrated solution.

After the second homogenization, the lysed cell solution is pumped back through the centrifuge. But this time, our goal is different. Before lysing, our product was held within the E.coli cells. Now – with the cells broken apart, the cell contents - including cytoplasm and GFP - are mixed into the buffered solution. The centrifuge again spins out the solids - which are primarily cell debris - and it's the clarified liquid which contains our product – the GFP! This time we discard the solids and keep the liquid – which is now known as Lysate.

Different cells have different needs. Some are aerobic – they need oxygen – while others are anaerobic and don't need oxygen. But the lifecycle of almost all cells follows a predictable 4 phase-pattern. Lag, Exponential, Stationary and Death. When a cell is first introduced to fresh growth media, it has to adapt to the new environment. This creates a lag in the growth timeline. After the organism adapts, the batch takes off. The cells begin dividing at a constant rate –an Exponential or Logarithmic increase. But eventually, the nutrients in the media are consumed, toxic metabolic waste products build up, cells begin to die, and growth slows. When just as many cells are dying as are dividing, the batch enters the Stationary phase. This is the point at which the key nutrients are completely consumed, the fermentation is stopped and the broth is harvested. If the fermentation were allowed to continue, the cells would enter the Death phase.

Provides information about current treatment and the latest research in the treatment of heart disease in this country. Links to many additional sites.

Panelists: Marick Lewis - Director, BioNetwork Pharmaceutical Center and Ryan Gilmore - Education Coordinator, BioNetwork Pharmaceutical Center Center BioNetwork's Analytical Training Lab: A Unique Resource for Industry, Instructors, and Students Located in the Piedmont Triad Research Park in downtown Winston-Salem, the Analytical Training Lab is the newest addition to the BioNetwork Pharmaceutical Center. The Lab contains analytical chemistry equipment used for industry training, as an instructional resource for college instructors, and for skill-building for students in physical or life science programs. Join us on a tour of this unique facility and learn how you can take advantage of this state-of-the-art resource.

The Purification process begins as the transfer tank of clarified lysate from the Recovery process is connected to the inlet pump on the Chromatography skid. The first Chromatography step in our GFP purification process is Anion-Exchange. At this point in the process, the pH of the clarified lysate is about eight-point-zero, which means that the protein is negatively charged. Because it is negatively charged, GFP will bind to the positively charged anion exchange resin. The pump draws the lysate from the vessel...past the first conductivity sensor and pressure sensor...and through the zero-point-four-five micron pre-filter. The pre-filter removes any residual cell debris or other particulates that may have contaminated the solution. If the pre-filter begins to clog, the pressure sensor at the inlet side of the filter will register a rising pressure...and the controller will signal the need for a filter change. After pre-filtering and before the column, the lysate passes through a flow meter... and an air sensor. Then, as the lysate passes over the resin beads, the negatively charged protein attaches to the positively charged beads. The solution leaving the column passes a UV optical density sensor, a conductivity sensor and a pH sensor. The optical density sensor's low readings confirm that the GFP is not in the solution, so the outlet valve sends the solution to waste.

Applying a simple stain to a bacterial culture is a technique that is used for examining the size, shape, and arrangement of a specimen. It uses a dye to stain the cells, making them easier to see under a microscope. In this experiment, we will demonstrate the steps for applying a simple stain to the bacterial organism, staphylococcus. Our hope is that after viewing this video, you will feel more confident and be better prepared to try applying a simple stain in a hands-on lab experience.

Brunswick Community College prepares students for jobs in the aquaculture and marine biotechnology industry. This brief video provides an overview of the aquaculture program.

Aquaculture is defined simply as the farming and husbandry of aquatic organisms. In practice aquaculture or mariculture (saltwater aquaculture) involves commercially growing seafood for consumers. It also involves the sciences of natural resource management and enhancement, collection methods, aquarium technology, facility construction and maintenance, and biotechnology production from marine organisms.

One of the primary safeguards that life science companies use to help prevent contamination in cleanroom operations is Gowning. Gowning is basically putting on clothing -- in this case layers of specially designed garments, covers, masks and gloves -- that isolates your body from the clean room environment. Gowning is more involved than just slipping on a coverall and going to work. Gowning is itself a process, with carefully sequenced steps to ensure that your body is fully covered, and that the protective garb remains free of contamination. In this video, we'll demonstrate the top-down approach for both general and aseptic gowning.

In this interactive lesson, we'll cover an overview of the autoclave, review safety considerations and you will get the opportunity to run a batch cycle with the autoclave machine.

Presenter: Bill Terrill, Director of Industry Training, Wake Technical Community College This webinar provides information on why automation troubleshooting training and certification is needed, for whom it is designed as well as the concept, methodology, and use of mini-labs. In addition, the session includes a discussion of other training resources that are available for mechanics, electricians and technicians to meet certification standards.

This 50-minute presentation, hosted by NC BioNetwork covers: * Laser airborne particle counter for non-viable contaminants * Centrifugal air sampler for viable contaminants * Contact strips for viable contaminants from surfaces and people * Automated slide stain instrument for gram staining to identify viable contaminants

Panelist: Greg Smith, Curriculum Coordinator for BioNetwork Bioprocessing Center The biopharmaceutical industry searches for the very best workforce to meet their goals and objectives. Graduates from biotechnology or bioprocessing programs have spent their time and money working hard to obtain the skill sets that are required to obtain these jobs, but many times are ill-prepared for the extensive interviews that are part of this industries "weeding-out" process. Behavior based interviews are a very commonly used screening tool that companies use to find out the applicants skill sets, their decision making capabilities, the applicants personalities, their work ethic, and just how well they will adapt to the openings that are advertised.This webinar will let job applicants know what these interviews are so they are and what they can expect so they are not surprised when they experience them.

Your behavior goes a long way to insuring that the lab is a safe environment for everyone. , Follow SOPs , Never eat, drink, chew gum, or apply makeup , Never work alone , Practice good housekeeping , Clean spills , Properly dispose of broken glass , Report unsafe conditions immediately

Panelists: Greg Cumberford and Joe-Ann McCoy Bent Creek Institute (BCI), Inc. is a non-profit affiliate of The North Carolina Arboretum founded in 2006 and focused on growing the botanical natural products and integrative wellness economic sectors in North Carolina. This involves coordinating and forming collaborative and consulting service relationships with academic, governmental, and private entities who are actively engaged in growing raw medicinal herbs, manufacturing value-added components and finished products, conducting botanical quality and identity testing, and carrying out botanical research. Greg Cumberford, BCI's president, will present an overview of BCI's current strategic initiatives including its collaboration with the BioNetwork's Natural Products Laboratory to form a nationally branded botanical quality and safety testing enterprise called the US Botanical Safety Laboratory (USBSL). BCI also works closely with the Bent Creek Germplasm Repository (BCGR), which is directed by Dr. Joe-Ann McCoy and which is the research arm of The North Carolina Arboretum.

The BioNetwork Capstone Center provides affordable high-quality hands-on training in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and biopharmaceutical/pharmaceutical operations in a simulated industrial environment.Trainees who attend the center include: * Incumbent workers * Workers in job transition * Community college and college students enrolled in biotechnology or related degree and certificate programs * College and community college faculty Instruction is carried out by highly qualified professionals with extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical/biomanufacturing industry. Situated in the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University, the Capstone Center's training facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and a certified clean room suite.

The BioNetwork Pharma Center's relationship with the Piedmont Triad Research Park has fostered the opportunity to expand its program, and to establish the BioNetwork Analytical Training Lab which adjoins the center in the research park. This state-of-the-art resource houses analytical testing equipment used for training of community college students, incumbent workers, collaborating businesses, and educational institutions seeking hands-on training and experience with the latest tools in analytical chemistry. This one-of-a-kind training facility will offer both lecture and lab components and will provide a skill set in analytical evaluation techniques that will be unmatched in the state.

Brunswick Community College's (BCC) Center for Aquaculture and Biotechnology (CAB) has implemented a Biofuels from Algae project as a joint effort between the departments of Aquaculture and Biotechnology. This included the design and construction of an 1800 gallon photobioreactor system during phase 1 of the project. Phase II focused on the downstream processing of oil extraction. BCC's CAB has a patent pending status on this process, which is purely mechanical, easily scalable and relatively cheap to implement. The final phase of the project (pending funding) will optimize and refine the oil extraction process, which will give us the opportunity to file a full patent, license the patent to industry or develop a trade secret with an industry partner, which will quickly move the process to commercialization. If the final phase is funded we will also obtain data on the yield of oil production, yield to biodiesel conversion, chemical composition of the extracted oil and determine the best species for use in the process developed at BCC.

This video is targeted to K-12 and provides an overview for educational and career opportunities in biotechnology.