American Institute of Chemical Engineers - Northern California Section

Abstract
In late 2004 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $43 million to efforts by Dr. Keasling's Berkeley Center for Synthetic Biology to genetically re-engineer bacteria to grow a synthetic malaria drug. Malaria is one of the world's largest killers; still taking more than 1 million lives annually.

The grant was significant not only because of its high profile donors but also because of its size. It is recognition of the work being led by the Dr Jay Keasling at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California (Berkeley).

Malaria continues to be a global health problem which threatens 300-500 million people and kills more than one million people annually. The chloroquine-based drugs that were used widely in the past have lost effectiveness because the Plasmodium parasite which causes malaria has become resistant to them.

A substance, called Artemisinin (sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide) extracted from six foot Wormwood trees (Artemisia annua L) in Asia is highly effective against the Plasmodium parasite, now resistant to traditional anti-malarial drugs.

However, there are three problems with current production methods for artemisinin. They are:

1. Artemisinin is too expensive for people in the Developing World to afford. The World Health Organization negotiated price for artemisinin combination therapies is approximately $2.40 per dose, too expensive for people in the Developing World who need the drug the most.

2. Artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua, the plant that produces it, using gasoline or diesel fuel. The extraction process is environmentally unfriendly.

3. While there is a method for chemical synthesis of artemisinin, it is too low yielding and therefore too expensive for use in producing artemisinin.

Using state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Keasling group has engineered a cost-effective synthetic biological method for producing a precursor to artemisinin. Not only will this technology be useful for production of anti-malarial drugs, it will also be useful for environmentally friendly production of other drugs (e.g., the anti-cancer drug Taxol), specialty chemicals, flavor and fragrances, and fuels.

Join us for this very interesting dinner meeting that promises to have a theme for everyone... humanitarianism, biotechnology, environmentalism and, of course, chemical engineering.

Bio
Dr. Jay D. Keasling is currently engaged in three positions. They are:

The Hubbard Howe, Jr. Professor of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley

Division Director, Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Director, Berkeley Center for Synthetic Biology

Dr. Keasling received a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from University of Nebraska and an M.S. and a PH.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Michigan. He also completed a one-year post doctorate at Stanford University. He joined the University of California Chemical Engineering Department in 1992. His honors include Scientist of the Year, Discovery Magazine, 2006; Elected Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, 2000; AIChE Award for Chemical Engineering Excellence in Academic Teaching, Northern California Section of the American Institute for Chemical Engineers, 1999; Chevron Young Faculty Fellowship, Chevron, 1995 and CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 1995. His work has been widely chronicled in the press, including New York Times, Time Magazine and Discovery Magazine.

Dinner Choices
salmon, chicken, vegetarian (indicate on registration form)

Reservations requested by End of Day Monday, May 14.
On-Line RSVP

Directions

Hs' Lordships Restaurant, 199 Seawall Drive, Berkeley, CA, (510) 843-2733

From I-80, go West on University Avenue to Seawall Drive. If you are heading East on I-80, however, the University Avenue exit only merges with East-bound traffic on University Avenue. You will need to circle around one of the blocks to reverse direction and head West towards the bay. At the end of University Ave, past the park, turn left onto Seawall Dr. Follow the signs to the Restaurant. Ample parking is available. The meeting room is upstairs.

May 2007 North Bay Meeting Notice