Search
Scientists announce comprehensive regional diagnostic of microbial ocean life using DNA testing
Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used tools of genetics research akin to those used in genealogical research to evaluate the diversity of marine life off the California coast. Ceratium sp. dinoflagellates, imaged from seawater collected in waters offshore San Diego, that typify the California Current Ecosystems phytoplankton assemblage. Image courtesy...
BREAD: Toward Development of a Vaccine for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP)
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm), is an economically very important livestock disease within Africa that limits the availability of protein sources for nutrition and restricts trade. The current control relies on a live vaccine that has shortcomings, such as, limited efficacy and short duration of immunity. International efforts to create a vaccine to protect against CBPP have been thwarted because of an almost complete...
Identification of new human receptor and transporter genes by high throughput cDNA (EST) sequencing.
Human Microbiome Research has Massive Potential for Health Applications
Thirteen years ago, a team led by J. Craig Venter Institute President, Karen Nelson, Ph.D., published the first major human microbiome study, radically changing the way we look at human health and the role the microbes that inhabit each of us play in disease. This seminal publication was a tipping point that lead to numerous new areas of research. Currently, only 1% of all microbiomes are guiding applications in health, food systems and ecosystem resources, leaving enormous...
Ocean Sampling Day 2018
J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) scientists, led by Lisa Ziegler Allen, PhD, are collaborating with Kelly Goodwin, PhD (NOAA), Brian Palenik, PhD (UCSD), and Maitreyi Nagarkar (UCSD) to participate in this year’s Ocean Sampling Day on June 21. The team, which also includes Sarah Schwenck and Ariel Rabines from JCVI, is sampling the water off the pier at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). Ocean Sampling Day (OSD) is an international effort to simultaneously sample the...
Biology in Art: Genetic Detectives ID Microbes Suspected of Slowly Ruining Humanity’s Treasures
A new study of the microbial settlers on old paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art charts a potential path for preserving, restoring, and confirming the geographic origin of some of humanity’s greatest treasures. Genetics scientists with the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), collaborating with the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project and supported by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, say identifying and managing communities of microbes on art may offer museums and...
Helping hand for genomics in Africa.
JCVI President, Karen Nelson Inducted into the National Academy of Sciences
(LA JOLLA, CA)—May 3, 2018—The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) announced today that Karen E. Nelson, PhD, Institute President and Head of Microbiome Research, has been inducted into the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) at its 155th Annual Meeting, April 28, 2018. Dr. Nelson was one of the 84 new members and 21 foreign associates elected this past May in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Complete genome sequence of the methanogenic archaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii.
The complete 1.66-megabase pair genome sequence of an autotrophic archaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii, and its 58- and 16-kilobase pair extrachromosomal elements have been determined by whole-genome random sequencing. A total of 1738 predicted protein-coding genes were identified; however, only a minority of these (38 percent) could be assigned a putative cellular role with high confidence. Although the majority of genes related to energy production, cell division, and metabolism in M....