Research

Magnesium is an essential component of chlorophyll for plant physiology. Low Mg content in the leaves of grapevines reduces photosynthesis and, thus, glucose production and, consequently, lower wine quality. The right choice of rootstock is essential to alleviate this deficiency. However, the necessary Mg efficiency restricts the selection of the rootstocks, and in particular, the rootstocks that have been tried and tested in this country are less suitable. The deficiency can also be remedied by fertilizing the leaves, at least in the short term. But, the most sustainable solution would be to plant clones with an unproblematic Mg metabolism. An important grape variety for Austrian viticulture is mainly affected by Mag deficiency, namely Welschriesling (WR). The WR clones that are available for domestic viticulture all show more or less a weak Mg uptake. The variety has been used in viticulture for several centuries and was intensively cultivated and therefore exists in different genetic types. Since the old descriptions do not report this Mg deficiency, it is entirely conceivable that there is genomics in old genotypes that show average Mg utilization. Therefore, it would be necessary to look for genotypes that offer a better uptake and research it genetically. It is well known that crop phenotypic variation is shaped by their ancestors’ genetic variation and the selection and maintenance of collections of mutations. Moreo ver, most of this varia ti on is quan ti ta ti ve. Therefore, more than ever, an essential goal of genetics is to identify and use appropriate bio-markers for selection. In this way, appropriate biomarkers could be developed for the selection of WR, which enables a distinction between Mg-efficient and inefficient, which is very important for winegrowers. New clones with Mg efficiency would strengthen the local vine nurseries and viticulture and could also mean that vine material can be delivered to the neighbouring countries Hungary, Croa tia, Slovenia and Slovakia because the problem also exists there. Furthermore, this would result in a competitive advantage for domestic planting stock companies.

HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I from THT Biomaterials GmbH is a novel biomaterial that due to his human source alleviates the downstream limitations associated with the use of animal-derived materials in research. Although the intrinsic fibrillogenesis capacity of THT HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I has shown to be sufficient for 2D coating applications, his polymerization ability is limited for the formation of stable 3D hydrogel structures that are indispensable for physiologically relevant cell culture strategies. In this regard, Prof. Cornelia Kasper´s research lab from the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien BOKU has the necessary expertise to support THT in adjusting the mechanical properties of HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I to obtain stable and functional hydrogels. Prof. Cornelia Kasper´s research lab suggests to functionalize the HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I with methacrylate groups, a common strategy used to modify of different proteins or sugar-based biopolymers. The presence of methacrylate-groups will enable the introduction of covalent bonds upon exposure to UV in the presence of photoinitiators, thus forming hydrogels that can be used subsequent used for different 3D applications. The newly functionalized product (HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I methacrylate) will expand THT portfolio allowing his straightforward the use for customers working in different 3D biological applications such as 3D cell culture (e.g. organoids culture), lab-on-a-chip, bioprinting and thus broaden the current applicability of HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I. Significantly, the envisioned biomaterial can also be used as ready-to-use bioink for trendy technologies such as light-based 3D bioprinting. Apart from possible publications and co-authorships abstracts, THT & Universität für Bodenkultur Wien BOKU can potentially obtained IP on HUMAN PLACENTA Collagen-I methacrylate generating value for both project partners. If for any reason the innovation check should be cancelled, BOKU reserves the right to charge for services provided in the meantime.

Development of a process to produce recombinant Influenza Neuraminidase (rNA) antigen in the baculovirus system, and especially downstream processing/purification will be performed in collaboration between the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences to optimize an affinity purification-based downstream process for production of his-tagged rNA which can be successfully implemented at the CMO Expression Systems to produce enough rNA for a Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) phase I clinical trial. Furthermore, to develop a high-yielding tag-less purification process that would allow us to get sufficient protein yields for post-phase I clinical development and lastly, to perform testing of alternative rNA expression constructs and expression systems. Doing this work will enable us to test rNA vaccines in clinical trials and may also provide a commercial path forward for rNA protein-based vaccine development in general.