Download The NaNo-INjecTIoN SySTem of cNIdarIa

The Nano-Injection System of
Cnidaria
Instructors: Amit Lotan Ph.D and Tamar Lotan Ph.D
[email protected]
[email protected]
Course Summary
The Cnidaria, (jellyfish, coral, sea anemone), a phylum that dates 700
million years, has optimized through evolution a sophisticated nanoinjection system that harnesses physical, chemical and cellular forces to
generate injections at an acceleration of 40,000g in one of the fastest
events in cell biology.
The course starts with an introduction to the Cnidaria phylum.
It then dives deeply into the molecular mechanism of the Cnidaria
stinging system, and to its toxin delivery machinery. Theory turns
into practice within the experimental laboratory using diverse
tools for purifying and manipulating the nano-injector system,
including specific biochemical testing of its toxin’s activity.
The course will conclude with a glance into the biotech industry.
Who Should Attend The Course
This course is designed for students and academic members who are
interested in exploring one of the oldest and most powerful nano-injection
systems in the marine environment.
Objectives
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Combine a whole-organism approach with a molecular approach.
Explore the sophisticated nano-injection system.
Acquire tools to exploit Cnidaria stinging cells.
Gain an insight into the cnidarian’s biotechnology potential.
Course outline
Day 1:
Introduction to the Cnidaria phylum
Cnidaria characteristics, major groups, morphology, sexually and asexual
reproduction, life cycle, phylogenetic relationships and evolution.
Overview of the stinging cell: characterization of cnida types, structure,
morphology and mechanical function.
Laboratory: Species collection, cnida types identification and morphology,
in-vivo activation.
Day 2:Exploring the stinging cell delivery apparatus
The stinging cell cellular assembly.
The nematocyte and its nematocyst: triggering the opening of the cnidarians
sting. The sensorial mechano-electric cnidocil apparatus, membrane
transduction signals, ionic channels and ionic content.
Laboratory: Isolation and purification of nematocysts. Understanding
the triggering mechanism by activation and inactivation of the isolated
nematocysts.
Day 3:
The nano-injection device
The building blocks of the device structure, how high cellular pressure
is built to 40,000g of high acceleration. The role of γ-glutamic acid and
its counterpart ions in the injection process. The physical and biological
forces which facilitate protein injection through a nano-tube. The drilling
affects of the tube and toxins delivery via a multi-barbs system.
Laboratory: Changing the content of the isolated nematocysts and
discharging the cnida in different conditions, testing the injected volume
of the nematocyst.
Day 4:
The Cnidarian’s hazardous toxins cocktail
The different groups of toxins, the structural/functional mode of action,
its similarity to other marine and terrestrial species.
Local and systemic symptoms of jellyfish stings.
The worldwide distribution of jellyfish and its affect on public health.
Laboratory: Isolating toxins fractions from cnidarians and testing their
activities.
Day 5:Cnidaria and the industry
Introduce the potential applications of cnidarian preferences to the
biotech, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and nutritional industries.
A glance into a marine biotechnology company: from a business model to
a commercial stage.
Laboratory cleaning and a farewell celebration.
COURSE FORMAT
This is an intensive course taught using a variety of instructional methods
including lectures, class discussions, student seminars, group work, project
creation, field collection and experimental laboratory work.
Organization and Facility
The course is limited to 20 participants. Evaluations and grading will be
made upon request.
The course requires a standard molecular-biochemical marine laboratory,
which also includes a salt water aquarium for collecting cnidarians,
additional high resolution microscopes and stereoscopes, a centrifuge and
gel filtration columns.
About the Course Developer
The authors of this workshop-course are Dr Amit Lotan and Dr Tamar
Lotan.
Dr Amit Lotan is the founder and president of Nidaria Technology Ltd.,
the innovator of the first and only jellyfish repellent (Safe SeaTM). Dr. Amit
Lotan is a global expert in the cnidarian delivery system, and his research
was published in Nature and other leading scientific journals. His work has
been funded by the Israeli Ministry of Health, the United Nations, and the
US Navy. Dr. Amit Lotan holds a B.Sc. in biology, a M.Sc. in molecular biology
and human genetics, and a Ph.D. in marine biology and biochemistry.
Dr. Tamar Lotan founded NanoCyte Inc, a biotech company which
leverages the Cnidaria injection system for drug delivery. Prior to this,
she was the R&D VP at Nidaria Technology. Her work in Nidaria led to
the commercialization of the first jellyfish repellent product. Dr. Tamar
Lotan is a specialist in biochemistry and molecular biology. Her research
has led to major findings, including key regulatory networks of embryo
development, as well as carotenoid biosynthesis. Dr. Lotan’s research has
been published in Cell and other leading refereed journals and she is the
inventor of more than 15 patents applications. Dr. Lotan holds a B.Sc. and
M.Sc. in biology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Ph.D. in
genetics and biochemistry from The Weizmann Institute of Science.