BULLETIN 1
ISAAA Opens Registration for the 8th Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA8)
ISAAA July 2, 2025

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Inc., announces the opening of registration for the 8th Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA8), which will be held on September 8-12, 2025, at Vivere Hotel, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.
The short course is focused on the following learning themes:
• value chain related to the research, development, commercialization, and trade of living-modified organisms (LMOs) and gene-edited crops/organisms;
• national and international legal instruments governing LMOs and products of gene editing;
• effective communication of agricultural biotechnology innovations and biosafety regulation;
• bioethical considerations and stewardship; and
• role of science diplomacy in international negotiations
Since its establishment in 2018, ASCA has trained over 200 individuals, including scientists, regulators, communication specialists, and other stakeholders from government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations throughout Asia.
ASCA consistently features prominent international experts who serve as resource speakers and facilitate interactive discussions. The program also includes provincial day tours to biotech research facilities and farms, offering hands-on activities designed to enhance participants' knowledge and practical skills.
Participation in ASCA promotes a collaborative environment, fostering valuable networking opportunities among participants and experts. This synergy encourages the convergence of scientific innovation and robust regulations, ultimately ensuring the responsible advancement of modern biotechnology for maximum societal benefit.
This short course is co-organized with the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC).
Participants' fee is US$1,000 (exclusive of fund transfer service charges, accommodation, and airfare). Register now and avail of the 10% early bird discount (US$900) until July 31, 2025.
Download the flyer for more details.

BULLETIN 2
Scientists Turn Plastic Waste into Vanilla Flavoring Using Engineered Bacteria

 

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh have developed a novel approach to combat plastic pollution by converting plastic waste into vanillin, the primary component responsible for vanilla's flavor and aroma. The study, published in Green Chemistry, highlights the potential of synthetic biology to repurpose polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into a high-value product used in food, cosmetics, and industrial applications.
The research team genetically engineered the common laboratory bacterium Escherichia coli to convert terephthalic acid, a chemical obtained by breaking down PET, into vanillin through a series of biochemical reactions. The process was demonstrated by adding the engineered E. coli to the degraded plastic bottle and then transforming it into vanillin. According to Joanna Sadler, first author and BBSRC Discovery Fellow, this is the first example of using a biological system to upcycle plastic waste.
Dr. Stephen Wallace, principal investigator and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, said that the study highlights the potential of plastic as a valuable carbon resource for producing high-value products. “This has very exciting implications for the circular economy,” Sadler said. The researchers said that the vanillin produced is fit for human consumption. The study sets the stage for further research and experimental tests needed to optimize vanillin production.
For more information, read the article from The University of Edinburgh or Edinburgh Innovations.
https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21408

 

SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Improving gene editing of CRISPR/Cas9 using the callus-specific promoter pYCE1 in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Yuanchao Li, Ruxue Bao, Mengtao Li, Changying Zeng, Haojie Yang, Yuan Yao, Youzhi Li, Wenquan Wang, Xin Chen
Front Plant Sci .; 2025 May 20:16:1600438. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1600438.

 

  

Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that an appropriate promoter can drive Cas9 transcription in the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which improves the efficiency of gene editing. Here, we identified and characterized callus-specific promoters to enhance gene editing efficiency in cassava. From the transcriptome data of 11 cassava tissues, the gene named YCE1 was identified to exhibit callus-specific expression. Its promoter (pYCE1) could efficiently and specifically drive EGFP transcription in callus tissues. Given that friable embryogenic callus (FECs) is the recipient for genetic transformation in cassava, we replaced the original 35S promoter with pYCE1 to drive Cas9 transcription for improving the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. In single-gene editing, the mutation rate was significantly increased, which reached an overall mutation rate of 95.24% and a homozygous mutation rate of 52.38%, compared with 62.07% and 37.93% with the 35S promoter, respectively. Furthermore, achieving a dual-gene homozygous mutation rate of 64.71% in dual-gene editing demonstrated the high efficiency of pYCE1 in the gene editing application for cassava. These results underscore the potential of pYCE1 to enhance gene editing efficiency in the CRISPR/Cas9 system of cassava. This approach paves the way for advanced gene function research and genetic breeding in cassava.
See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40464017/

  

Figure:
Identification of callus-specific expressed genes. (A) Candidate genes with high expression levels in callus tissues. LB, lateral bud; FR, fibrous root; SR, storage root; RAM, root apical meristem; SAM, shoot apical meristem; OES, organized embryogenic structures; FEC, friable embryogenic callus. (B) Validation of callus-specific highly expressed genes by RT-qPCR.