Review of the biotechnology projects of the European Union

Review of the biotechnology projects of the European Union

European Union supports scientific researches with the help of framework programmes for more than 20 years, starting from 1984. During the recent years framework programmes composed the main instrument of the European Union for financing the science. Right now already Seventh framework programme is taking place, the duration of which is years 2007 - 2013. According to this programme scientific projects are yet only submitted for financing, therefore, we will review the most important plant biotechnology projects financed under the Sixth framework programme, which was implemented during 2003 - 2006. Most of the reviewed projects are still active, even though the Sixth framework programme ended in 2006.

Projects of the Sixth framework programme were financed according to several thematic spheres:

  1. natural sciences, genomics and biotechnologies for health;
  2. informational society technologies;
  3. nanotechnologies and nanosciences;
  4. aeronautics and universe;
  5. food quality and safety;
  6. sustainable development, global changes and ecosystems.

Most of the plant biotechnology projects were financed within the framework of three thematic spheres: “natural sciences, genomics and biotechnologies for health”, “food quality and safety” and “sustainable development, global changes and ecosystems”.

The objectives of the program “natural sciences, genomics and biotechnologies for health” were to use the knowledge accumulated during the sequencing of living organisms for improvement of the health of the society and to increase the competitiveness of European biotechnology industry. Another objective was to apply the accumulated fundamental knowledge in practise, seeking medical progress and better quality of life. For the financing of this thematic sphere a budget of more than 2.5 milliards of Euros was allocated. Here we will mention several more important plant biotechnology projects financed under this theme: TAGIP, PHARMA-PLANTA, PLASTOMICS and EBIOSENSE.

“Targeted gene integration in plants: vectors, mechanisms and applications for protein production” (TAGIP). The plants can be kept under natural conditions, in the factories using solar energy, not harmful to the environment, which can be improved for the production of therapeutic proteins. Unfortunately, current transgene technologies are not sufficiently accurate for ensuring reliable and exact production of the proteins. Accidental integration of chromosomes often interrupts expression of the transgene insertions and sometimes can even completely suppress it. The possibility to accurately modify the genomes of the plants today is especially welcomed in the investigations of every plant biologist. DNA integration in the way of homologous recombination (gene targeting – GT) technology is applied for more and more species. This technology allows interrupting, modifying or replacing the endogenic locus with a new gene within the natural genomic fund. Despite its success in other organisms, in plants GT technology is not an ordinary phenomenon. New discoveries, some of which have been performed by TAGIP partners, show that GT became a realistic objective. For achieving this goal it is planned to create fundamental information for modifications of genomes using DNA recombination and to apply this information for the creation of new technologies for accurate plant genome engineering. At last, this information will be used for the production of proteins of high value. The works will be performed with Arabidopsis and other modelling plants. The objectives of TAGIP are the following ones:

Duration of the project: 2005 - 2008, budget: 2.97 millions of Euros.

“Recombinant Pharmaceuticals from Plants for Human Health” (PHARMA-PLANTA). The plants are attractive objects for the expression of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins due to their low price and elasticity. European societies assess GMO negatively; nevertheless, application of GM plants for the production of drugs and vaccines is assessed much more positively. Our objective is to apply the initial scientific results for the production of pharmaceutical products until clinical investigations. GM drugs, such as human insulin or vaccine for hepatitis B, were also used before, nevertheless, such drugs as those produced from GM plants have not yet been officially investigated within the European Union. The main objective ill be to identify the regulation requirements, consulting with all the interested institutions (both those interested in GM plants and in new drugs), seeking to carry out clinical investigations and to receive a permission to use the drugs in practise. Mono-clone HIV and hydrophobia antibodies will be used at the 1st stage of clinical researches. The limited amount of the antibodies against other targets will also be identified, such as tuberculosis and diabetes, for part of them new expression strategies will be created. They are called second generation molecules and will be transmitted for the production already after the end of the project. Duration of the project: 2004 - 2009, budget: 15.62 millions of Euros.

“Mechanisms of transgene integration and expression in crop plant plastids: underpinning a technology for improving human health” (PLASTOMICS). The objective of this project is to determine the mechanisms of transformation of plastids and borrowed gene expression of plastids of different species of tobacco, tomatoes and potatoes. Transformation of the plastids is one of the most accurate methods for the integration of borrowed genes within the plants. This technology guarantees cheap platform for large scope of therapeutic proteins, such as hormones or vaccines, and for the production of food of improved quality. Despite the fact that the transformation of plastids and expression of borrowed genes in tobacco chloroplasts is well-investigated, commercial success of the transformation of plastids will depend upon the gene expression in non-green plastids, such as chromoplasts or amyloplasts, in easily processed agricultural plants. Using the methods of genomics and proteomics, genes and proteins will be identified, which participate in: (1) integration of transgenes and cutting of the gene-marker, during homologous recombination, (2) regulation of gene expression in chloroplasts, chromoplasts and amyloplasts, (3) protein degradation of different type plastids. Expression of the identified genes in transgene plants will be replaced by iRNA and constant super-expression methods. Together with these experiments biochemical analysis of transcription of plastids will be performed as well as characterisation of promoters, seeking to determine the regulation elements for optimal gene expression in chromoplasts and amyloplasts. The full sequence of plastid genome of tomatoes and potatoes will be identified (~ 150 kbp) for facilitating further transformations. Factors, which have influence upon the stability of human serums albumin, somatotropin and rotavirus VP6 protein within the plastids for optimisation of the production of these proteins in the plastids. Duration of the project: 2004 - 2007, budget: 3.09 millions of Euros.

“Electrical bio sensor arrays for analyses of harmful micro organisms and microbial toxins” (EBIOSENSE). The main objective of this project is to create an analysis platform for detection of harmful microorganisms and/ or their toxic products. This objective ill be achieved having joined the data of genomes and proteoms with the help of system of bioinformatics. Platform based on the principle of electric bio-processors will be able to identify the specific acids of the nucleus and microbe proteins or toxic microbe products as well as to perform quantitative analysis thereof at the same time. Targets ill be less recognized and attached to DNA probes or antibodies, located on the electrochemically conductive surface, which in turn will compose cameras of nm-size from gold electrodes. These analytic molecules will be marked with enzymes generating electro-active products, which will generate electrical current proportional to the amount of the analysed substance within the sample. Technology will be common, but in this project several microorganisms and their toxins found in the food and water will be used: 1) Escherichia coli producing Shiga toxins (STEG, ETEC, EHEC); 2) Salmonella enteriditis; 3) pathogenic Bacillus cereus; 4) pathogenic Staphylococcus, causing food poisoning and infections; 5) Legionella, causing legionelliosis; 6) mycotoxins. Duration of the project: 2005 - 2007, budget: 3.38 millions of Euros.

The objective of the program “Food quality and safety” was to create integrated science and technology basis which would help to produce ecologically clean safer and more varied food. The other objective was to control the food and health risks using biotechnology tools. A budget of 753 millions of Euros was allocated for the financing of this thematic field. Here we will mention several more important plant biotechnology projects financed under the above mentioned theme: they include TRANSCONTAINER, BIOEXPLOIT, HEALTHGRAIN and FLAVO.

“Developing efficient and stable biological containment systems for genetically modified plants” (TRANSCONTAINER). The spread of transgenes from genetically modified plants into ordinary and ecological agriculture plants, also the wild relatives of the respective plants is one of the most relevant discussion themes in Europe both among the society and among the scientists. Co-existence of GM and non-GM plants can be promoted, having applied measures of biologic transgene restriction. 15 partners from universities, scientific and state institutes as well as industrial enterprises participate in the project TransContainer. The overall objective of this project is evaluation of biotechnology measures in Europe and increase of the competitiveness of this sector. During the implementation of the project several strategies for biological restriction will be created: transformation of plastids as a measure for avoiding the distribution of transgenes, restriction of blossoming, as a measure for biological restriction of transgenes, control of the distribution of transgenes through pollen and seeds. In cases when it is necessary these strategies will be supplemented by closely controlled switches for the restoration of the fertility. Species representing several groups of the plants will be used: plants grown for seeds (rape), for fruit (tomatoes and aubergines), for vegetative parts (sugar beets, ryegrass, red fescue, alders and aspens). For part of the above mentioned plants several strategies will be compared. Without biological restriction the strategy creation project will also investigate the influence of the above mentioned strategy implementation upon the environment and safety of the environment, ill evaluate the possible agro-economical influence of these technologies upon European agriculture and will compare different scenarios of co-existence, will organise a dialogue concerning socio-economical and environment issues between the interested groups. Seminars will be organised for various target groups (industry, maintenance committees, society and etc.). Duration of the project: 2006 - 2009, budget: 5.38 millions of Euros.

“Exploitation of natural plant biodiversity for the pesticide-free production of food” (BIOEXPLOIT). The objective of this project is to achieve a breakthrough in the selection of immunity to fungal pathogens, using genomic and post-genomic tools in the investigations of natural variety of immunity of plants-keepers. To strategies will be used for the creation of new immune species: i) breeding based on markers, and ii) genetic engineering. Being in the shadow of GMO discussions the breeding based on the markers achieved a silent revolution and no became a realistic alternative creating new species with multi-immunity. Breeding of the plants at the sprout stage, using molecular markers significantly decreases the period of time from the first crossing with wild species until providing into the market, for some species the time is decreased by even 50 %. It has been calculated that less than 0.1 % of the variety of immunity is used in the creation of commercial species. The main objective of this project is to use these genetic resources in the creation of resistant species both with the help of genetic engineering and without it. In this project GM technologies will be applied only for natural genes of immunity, which in traditional plant breeding are used for more than 50 years, and it is expected that it will have a positive influence upon the opinion of European consumers. Despite the attitude of the society towards GMO, breeding based on markers can be combined with the provisions of ecological agriculture. It is expected that breeding based on high efficiency markers can be more effective than GM technologies, even taking into consideration GM species registration procedures, which require a lot of time and resources. The objects of investigation of this project will be wheat and potatoes, which are to most important nutritional plants in Europe. Duration of the project: 2005 - 2010, budget: 22.41 millions of Euros.

“Exploiting bioactivity of European cereal grains for improved nutrition and health benefits” (HEALTHGRAIN). The objective of the project HEALTHGRAIN is to improve the quality of life and to decrease the risk of diseases caused by metabolic syndrome in Europe, increasing the consumption of protective components together with the grain or parts thereof. Attempts will be made to create health improving and safe high quality food products adding ingredients from the grain. It as shown that food ratio which includes whole grains, protect from the nutritional illnesses and diabetes of the second type. HEALTHGRAIN investigates such bioactive components as vitamins, phytochemical substances and insoluble carbohydrates. Other characteristics of the products will also be investigated; they can improve the metabolic characters of not chopped wheat products. The investigations will be carried out in five investigations modules. Consumer survey will be carried out in four European countries seeking to find out the expectations of the consumers concerning the healthy food from grain. Grain improvement and biotechnology module will use -‘omikos technologies seeking to find out and to create grains characterised by new nutritional quality and biotechnology tools for the plant breeding programs. Technology and processing investigation module will create new technologies, which would allow using more external layers of the grain in the food of the consumers. Nutritional character investigation module will explore bio-access of the bioactive components and the decrease of possible metabolic risks. The training module ill take care that the information received during the project would be transmitted to the European grain processing industry and healthcare specialists. Duration of the project: 2005 - 2010, budget: 15.96 millions of Euros.

“Flavonoids in fruits and vegetables: their impact upon food quality, nutrition and human health” (FLAVO). The common objective of this project is to collect the necessary information, tool and certified methods, which would enable growing and producing high quality fruit and vegetables suitable for the consumers as well as processed products/ drinks, which would contain the amount of flavonoids optimal for the health of a human being. The main field of investigations will be proathocyanins (PA), because the initial clinical investigations showed that PA are beneficial for vascular system and decrease the risk of vascular system diseases. During these clinical researches PA containing extracts were used from pine cortex, grape seeds, cacao, red bilberries, whortleberries and pink grapes, which are rarely used in Europe. Plants and products rich in flavonoids/ PA (for example, grapes, apples, strawberries, broccoli and tomatoes as well as juice, wine and cider) are suitable candidates for the creation of food based on the European plants with enriched amount of flavonoids. This information together with the abilities to specifically change the biosynthesis of plant flavonoids and the composition of food/ drinks will be used for the creation of new fruit and vegetables with amended composition of PA, i.e. food improving health. Specific goals will be implemented according to the principle “from the fork to the farm”: (1) optimal resource and amount of PA is determined, ensuring positive influence upon health, avoiding the possible risks; (2) analytical tools are created for the transformational change in PA composition, ensuring optimal quality of food products and drinks; (3) biotechnology tools are invoked for the creation of fruit and vegetables with optimised composition of PA; (4) the attitude of the consumers towards the applied processes and received products is evaluated, and the information is provided concerning the benefit and risks of products enriched in PA. The duration of the project: 2005-2007, budget: 6.83 millions of Euros.