Biotecnologia Aplicada, vol. 16, no. 01, 1999
BIOSCI Administrator
CC Vol. 16 No. 1 (January-March, 1999)
CC ISSN 0864-4551 (printed)
CC ISSN 1027-2852 (electronic)
CC Copyright 1999, Elfos Scientiae.
CC Founded in 1983 and published as Interferon y
CC Biotecnologia until 1990, Biotecnologia Aplicada is a
CC peer-reviewed scientific journal. It appears four times
CC per year, sponsored by the Ibero-Latin-American Society
CC of Biotechnology Applied to Health.
CC BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA is a vehicle of Iberian-Latin-
CC American scientists working in different fields of modern
CC biotechnology for the diffusion of their experiences and
CC results. Some of the main topics that are considered for
CC publication are the following:
CC a) Molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology;
CC b) Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of molecules
CC obtained by biotechnological methods;
CC c) Immunotechnology and development of diagnostic
CC methods;
CC d) Chemistry, biochemistry and design of molecules with
CC biological activity;
CC e) Application of recombinant DNA techniques and its
CC products in agriculture and animal science;
CC f) Transgenesis;
CC g) Fermentation, recovery and purification of biotech-
CC nological products;
CC h) Scaling-up, plant design and economic evaluation;
CC i) Control and automation of processes.
CC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
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CC submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the
CC copyright for their article is transferred to the
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CC publication. The points of view expressed in the Journal
CC are exclusive responsibility of the authors.
CC This journal is indexed by the following publications:
CC Biosis, Current Biotechnology Abstracts, Derwent Biotech-
CC nology Abstracts, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts,
CC Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta
CC Medica, Elsevier BIOBASE/Current Awareness in Biological
CC Sciences, LilaCS, Bio-Journals (Internet).
CC Correspondence and subscriptions
CC Ave. 31 entre 158 y 190,
CC Cubanacan, Playa
CC Ciudad de La Habana,
CC Apdo. 6072, Habana 6, Cuba.
CC Telephones: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8466 / 21 8164
CC Fax: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8070 / 33 6008
CC E-mail: el...@cigb.edu.cu
CC Full papers are available online through BIOLINE System
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CC tion or single document purchase are possible. Contact
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AU Mónica Bequet Romero, Omar López Ocejo
IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 6162, CP
10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 0553;
E-mail: bio...@cib.cigb.edu.cu
TI Towards the First Decade of Study of the Vascular
Endothelial Growth Factor
DE angiogenesis
DE Flk-1
DE Flt-1
DE KDR
DE VEGF
DE VPF
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:1-10
AB The angiogenic process is related with the implantation,
growth and development of tumors. One of the most
important and specific angiogenic factors is the vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as the
vascular permeability factor. This molecule was first
described in the late 80's and the investigations about
its role in multiple processes have increased in the last
years. The present review offers an overview on current
knowledge about VEGF and its receptors, including a brief
description of the signals that induce VEGF transcription
and those generated by VEGF-receptor binding. The use of
the elements involved in the signal transduction pathways
as targets for anti-cancer therapies, are also summarized
CC Review article
CC Language: Spanish
AU Rolando García González, Danalay Somontes Sánchez, Jesús
Mena Campos, Eulogio Pimentel Vázquez, Zurima Zaldúa
Guerra, Alina López Quesada, Rolando Morán Valdivia,
Melba García González
IN División de Plantas. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y
Biotecnología. Camagüey. AP 387, CP 70100. Camagüey, Cuba.
Tel: (53-322) 61295; Fax: (53-322) 61587;
E-mail: inv...@cigbcam.cigb.edu.cu
TI Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Stem Explants from Two
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) Cultivars
DE growth regulators
DE Ipomoea batatas
DE plant regeneration
DE sweet potato
DE tissue culture
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:11-14
AB An efficient protocol for organogenic regeneration of two
sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) elite cultivars, was
developed. Several growth regulator combinations and
explant sources were tested, so an efficient protocol for
plant regeneration was established. Out of 151 plant
growth regulator combinations, three were able to induce
the highest percentage of shoot and root formation for
both cultivars. The first medium was supplemented with
1.0 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.1 mg/L
benzylaminopurine; the second, with 1.0 mg/L paclobutrazol
and 0.1 mg/L NAA; and the third, with 0.5 mg/L
indol-3-acetic acid
CC Research Article
CC Language: English
AU Antonio Enríquez, Oscar Boué, Miguel Redondo, Carlos
Montero, Héctor Machado, Marisdania Joglar, Alejandro
Soto, Manuel Rodríguez, José de la Fuente
IN Grupo de Desarrollo Tecnológico, División de Genética de
Células de Mamíferos. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y
Biotecnología. Ave 31 e/ 158 y 190, Cubanacán, Playa,
Apartado postal 6162, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
Telf: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070;
E-mail: ga...@cigb.edu.cu
TI Development and Application on Cattle of the New Vaccine
Formulation Gavacplus against the Cattle Tick Boophilus
microplus
DE Bm86
DE cattle
DE Gavac
DE formulation
DE tick
DE vaccine
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:15-17
AB A new formulation of the vaccine against the cattle tick
Boophilus microplus, named Gavacplus, has been developed.
It keeps constant the quantity of the active principle
(protein Bm86) in half the volume of the traditional
vaccine Gavac(R). This paper reports a field trial
involving 1 062 animals vaccinated with Gavac(R) and with
Gavacplus. The herds in fourteen dairy cattle farms with
elite Holstein and crossbred cattle were separated into
four groups, vaccinated with Gavac(R) or Gavacplus using
two and three immunizations of each one. All vaccinated
groups showed similar antibody response (P = 0.24) with
antibody titers sufficient to confer protection to tick
infestations. The application of Gavacplus, which elicits
the same immunological response as Gavac(R), production
cost and cattle handling are reduced, production plant
productivity is increased and calves can be immunized
since the first month after birth
CC Research Article
CC Language: Spanish
AU Donna A Chow, Hongsheng Wang, Ziyuan Zhang
IN Department of Immunology. University of Manitoba. 795
McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E OW3.
Telephone: (204)789-3316; Fax: (204)789-3921;
E-mail: Donn...@umanitoba.ca
TI Natural Antibody Surveillance of Neoplastic and Activated
Cells
DE activation markers
DE anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies
DE anti-tumor antibodies
DE tumor models
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:18-19
AB Syngeneic murine tumor models have provided considerable
evidence supporting the participation of polyclonal
natural antibodies (NAb) in the resistance against tumors.
Examination of cells selected for high binding of NAb or
anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies, or through in vivo growth,
now provides evidence for NAb recognition of
activation-associated markers
CC Research Article
CC Language: English
AU Raúl Tapia, Ramiro Castillo, Nadina Nieves, María A
Blanco, Justo L González, Margelys Sánchez, Yania
Rodríguez
IN Centro de Bioplantas. Carretera a Morón Km 9, Universidad
de Ciego de Ávila 69450, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 5040;
E-mail: bio...@bioca.edu.cu
TI Induction, Maturation and Encapsulation of Somatic Embryos
of Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) var CP 5243
DE conversion
DE encapsulation
DE maturation
DE somatic embryogenesis
DE sugarcane
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:20-23
AB Three formulations of MS medium enriched with plant growth
regulators and sucrose were evaluated during induction and
maturation of sugarcane (Saccharum sp. var CP 5243)
somatic embryos. Other two formulations of this medium,
one of them with naftalen-acetic acid and activated
charcoal, another supplemented with giberelic acid (GA3),
sucrose and amino acids, were evaluated as artificial
endosperm. Sucrose was effective in inducing somatic
embryos and its maturation. Also, germination and
conversion of both naked and encapsulated embryos within
capsules increased in the presence of GA3, arginine and
glutamic acid with 100% germination of embryogenic cell
clusters and pre-germinated structures. With a second MS
medium (GA3, sucrose and glutamic acid), the best results
were achieved in germination and conversion of both naked
and encapsulated structures, showing 57.1% for embryogenic
cell clusters and 71.4% for pre-germinated structures.
Histology and scanning electron microscopy analysis of
somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane embryogenic calli are
shown
CC Research Article
CC Language: Spanish
AU Juan C Martínez, Vivian Rodríguez, Yaima Merchán, Rolando
Ochoa, Eric A Estrada, Mayte Nerey, Rosa Blanco, Tania
Licea
IN DACTA, Instituto Finlay. Ave. 27 No. 19805, AP 16017,
CP 11600, La Lisa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
Fax: (53-7) 33 6754; E-mail: inmuno...@finlay.edu.cu
TI Preparation and Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis
Serogroup C Oligosaccharides
DE acid hydrolysis
DE capsular polysaccharide
DE conjugate vaccines
DE ELISA
DE meningococcus C
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:25-28
AB The current antimeningococcal vaccine, composed of the
purified capsular polysaccharide of group C (PS-C) does
not induce a good antibody response in children under two
years of age. This drawback has usually been overcome by
coupling immunogenic proteins to PS or oligosaccharides to
convert these antigens to a T-dependent form. In this
study the purified PS-C was depolymerized by acid
hydrolysis to obtain oligosaccharides C (OS-C), and it was
evaluated the integrity of their antigenic properties by
inhibition ELISA. Twenty OS-C were obtained by this
experimental procedure. The molecular size of the
meningococcal OS-C was determined by gel filtration.
Significant differences between the molecular size of the
OS-C were obtained with different pH and temperature
values. An inhibition ELISA was developed in order to
evaluate the antigenic properties of the OS-C obtained.
The antigenic properties were dependent on the molecular
size. Oligosaccharides with the same antigenic properties
as Neisseria meningitidis PS-C were obtained by acid
hydrolysis at 60 °C, pH 4 for 20 min
CC Article on Techniques
CC Language: English
AU Frank Miranda, Luis E Trujillo, Félix Dafhnis,
Enrique Pérez, José E Brito
IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología.
AP 83, Zona 2, Sancti Spíritus 62500, Cuba. 2Centro
de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave 31 entre 158
y 190. AP 6162, CP 10600, Cubanacán, Ciudad de La Habana,
Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 6008;
E-mail: IPM...@cigb.edu.cu
TI Detection of Deoxyribonuclease Activities Using a
PCR-generated Radiolabeled DNA Substrate
DE deoxyribonuclease activity
DE PCR
DE quality control
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:29-30
AB Here we evaluated a radioactive DNA substrate for the
efficient detection of deoxyribonuclease activities in
final preparations of DNA restriction and modifying
enzymes and other biological reagents as acetylated BSA.
The substrate was obtained by radioactive PCR and it was
found to be more sensitive in the detection of
deoxyribonuclease activities (more than 10-5 units of a
commercial DNAse I in 20 min of reaction) than the
non-radioactive substrates commonly used for these
purposes.
CC Article on Techniques
CC Language:
AU Aimé Pérez, Ernesto Guerra, Alexis Labrada
IN Centro Nacional de Biopreparados (BioCen). AP 6048, Habana
6, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 81 7024;
Fax: (53-7) 33 8439; E-mail: ern...@biocen.cigb.edu.cu
TI Automation of ELISA Result Analysis
DE computer program
DE ELISA
DE IgE
DE inhibition assay
DE parallel line analysis
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:31-36
AB ELISA is an essential tool for the detection and
quantitation of antigens and antibodies. In this paper, it
is described a computer program that allows the
integration of the data received (through RS-232) from
microplate readers, with the calculation and statistical
processing of the assay results. The program also offers
the possibility to design the sample and the reference
allocations in the plate, and to manage data according to
the previous fixed design. The program includes two
calculation and processing modes: 1) relative potency
determination and 2) standard curve assay. The first is
applied to quality control of allergenic extracts by the
IgE ELISA inhibition assay, using the method of parallel
lines. The program provides statistical methods for
assessing the of assay results and to estimate the
intraassay precision
CC Article on Techniques
CC Language: Spanish
AU José de la Fuente
IN Mammalian Cell Genetics Division. Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana, Cuba.
Phone: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 8008;
E-mail: jose.de...@cigb.edu.cu
TI Gene Transfer in Aquatic Organisms: From the Laboratory to
the Market
DE transgenesis
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:37-43
CC Report
CC Language: English
AU Fidel Ovidio Castro
IN Mammalian Cell Genetics Division. Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana, Cuba.
Phone: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070;
E-mail: Tra...@cigb.edu.cu
TI Mammary Gland Transgenesis: Today and Tomorrow
DE transgenesis
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:43-49
CC Report
CC Language: English
AU
IN
TI Iberolatinoamerican Declaration on Ethics and Genetics
DE ethics
DEgenetics
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:51-52
CC Focus
CC Language: Spanish
AU Rubén Ramos
IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave. 31
e/158 y 190, AP 6162, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
Fax: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 8008;
E-mail: Ruben...@cigb.edu.cu
TI A New Methodology for the Assessment of I+D Projects in
Biotechnology
DE biotechnology
DE evaluation
DE proyects
SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:53-59
AB A methodology for research project evaluation was made in
the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
(CIGB, Havana, Cuba), which allowed to establish
priorities among a high variety of projects related with
different sectors and basic, applied and technologic
innovation profiles. This methodology, used in the CIGB,
contributed to a better organization of the research
process, as well as to a better design of the already
conceived projects
CC Focus
CC Language: Spanish