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lol you can’t reason with such a disgruntled outlook. When Spydasilk launches it’ll wake the market up in a huge way!!. Be nice if it happens this weekend?
Production is settled so…..
The next update could be the “new ball game”
CEOs words
“That will most likely never come true”
So you’re saying there is a chance?
That’s the best KBLB promotion right there.
Webslinger thinks there is a chance KBLB will be successful.
<< the paid pump piece was made to look like it was coming from a news organization >>
Here is another example of the Douchebag CEO lying (by saying that it was a "press conference" when there were no press at the event at all). And on top of that, he setup a fake scene to try to make himself look important by having a subordinate hand him a clip board.
What a self-absorbed, self-centered, self-obsessed, narcissistic, pompous, arrogant, egomaniac!
I am concerned about KBLB stock as it realtes to this board. I still haven't quite figured out exactly the motivation but it is very interesting to say the least. It is difficult to understand what the motivation is over such a long period of time and so sustained. It is quite deliberate and can be confusing to someone who simply pops in every now and then. I wonder if there are multiple accounts with the same foundational user. There is a lot of data that is half baked and looks compelling until you dig and understand the context. it is very similar to the paid pump piece this week just no disclosure, in my eyes.
As a KBLB investor with concern for the company and the stock i wonder if the OTC market would find this as more than simple manipulation. I suggest it is even possible a MM is behind it which would make it illegal.
<< It’s like Apple promoting the IPHONE 16 coming this September. >>
That's a lie, and it is NOTHING like that at all.
First, KBLB has no commercial product to sell.
Second, the paid pump piece was made to look like it was coming from a news organization, but it was just a website that pumps stocks for profit.
Third, it was just more forward-looking drivel that will most likely never come true (like most other PRs for the past 15 years).
Hopefully, they will continue to investigate the company and send it to the Grey / Expert Market.
You are right about the filings content but I think you are wrong that the content is misleading?
Maybe I missed something, do the filings say something that is not true or misleading?
Are they tapping in to the stored silk in the disused shed?
Or should I ask Banana bob about that?
Exactly!!!!
You know what else are misleading.
Them damn filings, which state….
Zero product
Zero revenues
Zero profits
Increasing share count.
Sooo misleading.
Perfect exaple of how you mislead.
Here is the document we both cited:
OTC pdf on promotional activity
You took the section on the first page entitled Identifying Fraudulent Promotional Campaigns put the 'Common characteristics of misleading and manipulative promotion' and then added your own opinions to it. Nowhere is there evidence that this is what the OTC is suggesting. It is only your opinion. Otherwise please cite where the OTC agrees with your suggestions/opinions.
I took the section entitled OTC Markets Group’s Response to Promotion word for word, first two paragraphs, without any comments or opinons of my own, and simply compared what has occured to what has occured this week and it aligns exactly with the OTC response to promotion. IE: how they handle it.
Try and just use facts instead of manipulation.
<< they add it when there is promotional content. >>
WRONG AGAIN!
OTC Markets adds the flag when they believe there is a FRAUDULENT campaign.
"Common characteristics of misleading and manipulative promotion:
• Fail to clearly identify the sponsor of the promotion, and/or the promotion is sponsored or paid for by anonymous, unidentifiable 3rd parties - CHECK
• Typically focus on a company’s stock rather than its underlying business - CHECK
• Use highly speculative language. Materials often rely on grandiose numbers and figures related to the target company’s industry, business model, financial results, or business developments - CHECK
• Tout performance or profit potential of an issuer’s security with unsupported or exaggerated statements about the stock price or its anticipated trajectory - CHECK
• Make unreasonable claims pertaining to an issuer’s operations - CHECK
• Suggest a promise of a specific future performance of the stock or profit to investors - CHECK
• Provide little or no factual information about the company, omit material information - CHECK
• Urge the investor to take action immediately as not to miss out on a great opportunity"
https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/OTC_Markets_Group_Policy_on_Stock_Promotion.pdf
Yes. This is exactly what happened. No BFD.
It’s like Apple promoting the IPHONE 16 coming this September. It shows what this item will be able to do.
KT never said “I’m 100 percent sure that we will have a metric ton by Dec 24th!” Then he may be in trouble.
Nothing is ever a certainty in business. Putin could launch a ballistic missile that hits Prodigy headquarters. That would cause a delay. Lmfao.
I knew you'd catch it. Fishing in a barrel 🤣
So, now that we see there is a flag lets explore why it is there:
We are working to publicly identify securities that are the subject of stock promotion by placing a “promotion” risk flag next to the stock symbol on our websites, including otcmarkets.com, and our market data feeds. This promotion flag is designed to provide an alert regarding the potential risks associated with trading the security.
TC Markets Group may also request that a company that is subject to promotional activity issue a press release to: (i) identify promotional activity; (ii) confirm information in the promotion or identify misinformation;
I am just looking forward my new house and new jeep by the end of the year and over a million dollars left over gaining interest in my account through a 10 percent index fund. Retirement in less than 5 years.
All a real possibility because I am a KBLB Kong. I kept the faith.
These paid stock bashers will still be on here or will be transferred to another penny stock to demote. Holden the GOLDEN! Feeling really confident.
Actually, if you read this again from the OTC, and contrary to my last post on the topic, it inidicates that Kim did literally nothing wrong and everything correct. So, you're wrong
OTC Markets Group may also request that a company that is subject to promotional activity issue a press release to: (i) identify promotional activity; (ii) confirm information in the promotion or identify misinformation; (iii) and/or disclose recent securities transactions by insiders and affiliates. Furthermore, OTC Markets group may request information from a company and/or its transfer agent related to transactions and request additional disclosures from the company related to share issuances, financing agreements and the identity of people or advisors associated with the transactions.
Totally agree! This sums up the MO perfectly:
...lots of data that is half baked and looks compelling until you dig and understand context.
Surprise Suprise Surprise....ol Kimbo and crew tried to walk the P&D fine line and dipped their toes over. Radar is on them now. Don't expect anymore of them Fluffturd PR's anytime soon. If only one could short down here in pennyturdland.
He has some nice pipe dreams for the worm farm. Keep on smoking the high potency stuff they grow in South Asia.
Next PR....CEO Kim Thompson wakes up from months long bong binge only to find his worms are better at fishing than spinning webs
The trolls love to over-emphasize those things that can be perceived as negative. It's comical the mountains made out of molehills and vice versa.
Simply put...The "when" is inevitable. The "if" is a thing of the past.
KBLB OTC
The flag would have been added after the PR from Kim this week. As we can plainly see there is no flag.
OTC Markets Group may also request that a company that is subject to promotional activity issue a press release to: (i) identify promotional activity; (ii) confirm information in the promotion or identify misinformation; (iii) and/or disclose recent securities transactions by insiders and affiliates. Furthermore, OTC Markets group may request information from a company and/or its transfer agent related to transactions and request additional disclosures from the company related to share issuances, financing agreements and the identity of people or advisors associated with the transactions.
Not so much a big IF as much as a big WHEN!
That's not the whole story:
OTC Markets designates a security with a promotion flag when it becomes aware of current stock promotion related to the issuer. The promotion flag remains on the security for 15 days following the end of the stock promotion. For more information, please see our Policy on Stock Promotion.
https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/OTC_Markets_Group_Policy_on_Stock_Promotion.pdf
"A company may be removed from OTCQB if it is the subject of a misleading and manipulative stock promotion that has, in OTC Markets Group’s sole determination, a potentially negative impact on the integrity of the market.
Misleading and manipulative promotion of companies with little or no assets or business activity is of concern to OTC Markets. Anonymous paid promotion of these companies may raise red flags with regulators. When OTC Markets identifies promotion of shell companies it will result in their immediate removal from the OTCQB market."
LOL….i guess if you don’t spread stupidity you don’t get paid?
Warwick Mills was our first joint partnership.
Check out their website….
I would think that they have been receiving Spider Silk for products development over the years as we worked on establishing the production platform.
The latest news was a major MAJOR catalyst!!
****NEWS: KBLB RECEIVES FRAUDULENT STOCK PROMOTION WARNING FLAG ON OTCMARKETS****
https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/KBLB/security
I was going to post something similar. I think Polartec and others are still wildly interested and have an active agreement ready to be pronounced once the timing is right for all parties. Also being “first to market” or being able to offer a product “exclusively” is very important to many companies. I have no doubt Thompson must be overwhelmed with requests from various industries to negotiate contracts ahead of actual metric ton production. His hand must be exhausted from signing NDAs of late.
Not so much a big IF as much as a big WHEN!
Why does promoting what is coming come off as desperation? The share price has risen from $0.03 in January to $0.10 or so before the 24/7 piece without anything more than positive updates from the company. What about that rise makes them desperate?
I know we have been here before. The company and investors have felt as if they are on the verge of huge breakthroughs and success.
This time feels different. We have a consistent run of successes and breakthroughs that are validated by experts in the industry. This is new ground being broken IMO.
Kim is preparing for releasing spider silk to the market. We have been given a timeline. Now we have promotion going along with it that will take us to October. Don’t see the harm in getting KBLB on more radars as we move closer to commercial production, deliveries, revenues and further expansion.
As to whether Kraig should be spending the money: do we know they did? The release from Kraig makes it sound like they were not fully aware of the intent to release a piece through 24/7. Kalorus discloses that they own shares. Maybe they can see what’s coming and want to get the word out too?
Ben has said there is “a plan” for releasing updates and that Kim is intentionally being guarded and cautious. Excitement seems to be building and growing as each success is announced.
Trials were an “unabashed success” and production has begun. I know it’s uncomfortable and maybe hard to accept after all of these years but I think 2024 is going to be the tear we’ve been waiting years to see.
Kim’s release BACKED WHAT WAS STATED IN THE 24/7 PIECE. He CONFIRMED IT. It likely went further than he wanted to right now but he said it was accurate/factual. It may be paid promotion but it is promoting accurate information. It may have come sooner than Kim wanted to but I don’t see the harm at this point. More eyes, more interest with more releases to come as we march towards metric tonnage production by end of year (if not sooner).
Buckle up…
“At the request of OTC Markets Group, the Company has reviewed its investor relations (IR) program and recent publications to ensure that it is holding its IR program and all vendors to our strict guidelines and expectations. The Company was made aware on May 13 of an editorial on 24/7 Market News highlighting recent advancements in spider silk production and the potential impacts on the market. This publication was drafted by a third-party contractor hired by the Company's IR team and included a full disclosure of financial compensation as required. While the Company did not have editorial control over the recent publication on 24/7 Market News, the documents that we have reviewed, in our opinion, are truthful and factual.”
Great point! Very hilarious!!!🤣🤣🤣
Sorry, but this is a post from April 2019
What ….so says the professional of posting “Old news”….hilarious!!
Don’t you understand that everything about, and every company associated with, and the launch of products, or anything in partnership going forward has always been predicated upon the success of their production platform????
Read the last update…..
It’s OFF THE CHARTS VALIDATION!!!!
KBLB….. AMAZING!!!!!!!
<< Something very interesting is on their website... >>
That is very old news that never bore fruit (just like pretty much everything else associated with KBLB).
That company news article is dated April 2019.
https://www.signal-sportswear.com/edcontent.php?lang=en&tb=3&cid=12¤tpage=5
I'm cool with it still remaining on their site. Couple that with Spydasilk's site tagline of: "The Next Biggest Technological Advancement in Clothing;" both companies' connection to Polartec; and now the expansion into Signal Sportswear's backyard. That's A LOT of circumstantial evidence. We'll have to see how it all unfolds.
Cool. Thanks. So much for that.
Could be. That’s what it looks like. But I don’t see a date. I run the same search all the time and I’ve never seen it before.
Where do you see a date? Says “copyright 2024” on mine. Looks old, but don’t know why it just showed up.
I think we are going to see our partners start putting out media soon.
Sorry, but this is a post from April 2019
Indeed, that is very interesting M4N, big deals are in the make, but not only like this with Signal Sportswear in alliance with Polartec, pharma and and and will follow as the pps will fly very soon......
This is more than mildly interesting. Signal Sportswear manufactures in Cambodia. They partner with polartec.
Something very interesting is on their website... https://www.signal-sportswear.com/edcontent_d.php?lang=en&tb=3&id=162
Yeah. And how does a paid promotion impede production? It doesn’t.
So we may as well get the share price up as long as Kim is using it as currency.
There is no case to make that silence is a good idea. None.
“ But is KBLB creating something that nearly every company is going to want and use in everything on the planet or....”
Yes…there will be more than enough companies wanting more than Kblb will be able to produce for years….
“ KBLB needs to get the word out so investors know about it? ”
That is also a yes….
“ Don't get me wrong, if this pump piece drove the share price up to the 20's or 30's before solid production or big names were dropped I would say money well spent.”
Things need to build up…word needs to get around…the pr was never going to raise the pps to .30….but it will get more investors knowing who Kblb is and some of them will buy…
The dodgers didn’t expect to get their $700 mil back the day after signing Ohtani…nor did they expect him to hit a grand slam at every bat…
But if they market him and use him as they should, they have a reasonable expectation of making far more money off him than he will make off them….in the long run…
“ But what came of it?”
Not much….yet…more to come…I hope…it’s a big investing world out there….
KBLB is in dire need of getting noticed
The day can't come soon enough when those people wake up to find out that Kim's live bait shop just crushed their billion dollar investments.
ALMOST NOBODY gives two shits about KBLB.
PRs cost money too. Should they just go mute til they sell something? If not, why not? Because that would be a terrible idea.
KBLB is in dire need of getting noticed. Paying someone to get the word out is overdue and doesn't slow down the road to production. We have the news to move the share price higher, problem is that no one is watching/caring about KBLB. I personally own more shares than the average trading volume. That means that ALMOST NOBODY gives two shits about KBLB. The people watching are already shareholders and the people who care about spider silk have their billions on the competition. The day can't come soon enough when those people wake up to find out that Kim's live bait shop just crushed their billion dollar investments.
The more people that know about KBLB prior to a big name being attached, the better for us.
If we want to jump exchanges, the word must get out.
Puts it on the books year in and out; adding salary, while incurring interest...
Ultimately he founded the company and...
Remains the implied mantra..
The KBLB "OTC" WAY. 😔
Because he gives himself an extravagant salary, 20% bonus, 6% pay increase every year, free shares & warrants, company car, company phone, free health insurance, golden parachute, etc, etc....
Shares are currency. Kim is using shares as money and is preparing to launch a product. People need to know about it. The more that do, the higher the value, the bigger the launch.
The more people that know about KBLB prior to a big name being attached, the better for us.
If we want to jump exchanges, the word must get out.
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Moderators MU_Redskin1 gimmegimmeminemine TRUISM EOT WebSlinger |
Email: corporate@KraigLabs.com
KRAIG LABS WEBSITE FOR INVESTORS
Quarterly and Annual Reporting to the SEC is available on the Company's Website and EDGAR.
* Financial Statements * SEC Filings *
Outstanding Shares as of January 12, 2023
For issues or questions relating to share certificates or the transfer of securities please contact the company's transfer agent:
Olde Monmouth Stock Transfer Co., Inc.
200 Memorial Pkwy.
Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey 07716
Phone: (732) 872-2727
(since August 14, 2013)
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (KBLB) is the first company with a commercially feasible spidersilk to be mass produced.
Kraig Labs is a biotechnology company focused on the development of commercially significant high performance polymers and technical fibers. Kraig Lab's focus has been on the production of a transgenic silkworm incorporating specific gene sequences from the golden orb weaving spider. These specific gene sequences inserted are to enable the silkworm to spin a new recombinant fiber which incorporates spider silk proteins. With the scientific breakthrough announced on September 29, 2010, Kraig Labs is now working to commercialize the transgenic silkworms to compete in the garment industry silk market. The value for the chinese raw silk market alone is 3-5 billion per annum. With the creation of 20 seperate transgenic silkworms, all with unique properties, Kraig Labs is now working at an accelerated pace to build upon their first generation transgenic organisms to develop their second generation of transgenic silkworm incorporating spider silk proteins. The scientists nearly doubled the strength of the silkworm with these specific spider gene insertions. Their second generation of transgenics are expected to be complete in 2011. These second generation organisms are to be compared with the strength, flexibility and resiliency of the native spider in which the gene sequences are derived from. These fibers which will match the strength of spider silk are expected to compete in the technical textiles market valued in excess of 120 billion per annum. The 3rd generation organisms are currently in the planning phase. These organisms are expected to spin fibers exceeding the strength of native spiders and may incorporate gene sequences that release an antibiotic, or to help reduce scarring with use in bandages.
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has a sponsored research and development program with the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Wyoming. The genetic work is occurring at the University of Notre Dame, headed by Dr Malcolm Fraser, Phd. The gene sequences are derived from Dr. Randy Lewis's(University of Wyoming) patented gene sequences of the golden orb weaving spider. Kraig labs is paying for all expenses incurred for this research and development program, and thus Kraig Labs has exclusive global commercialization rights with the technologies developed, including methods, organisms, and fibers produced.
MANAGEMENT
Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO
As the CEO of the company, Mr. Thompson is the only member of the scientific advisory board who is also
a part of the corporation's management. His formal education lies in the fields of economics and law.
He received his B.A. in Applied Economics from James Madison College at Michigan State University.
He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School in 1994.
Mr. Thompson founded Kraig Biocraft Laboratories in his pursuit of the development of new biotechnologies
with industrial applications. As chairman of the scientific advisory board, he brings a unique perspective,and
acts as the primary liaison between the advisory board and the corporation.
Mr. Thompson brings a wealth of experience in business management and consultation to Kraig. Following
the completion of his undergraduate degree, Mr. Thompson joined California Craftsman, Inc. as a
Vice-President with primary responsibility for both marketing and human resources.
Kim Thompson was the director of business development at Franchise Venture Partners, LLC. He subsequently
joined the firm of Shearson, Lehman, Hutton where he specialized in equity trading and research of small cap
companies. Mr. Thompson received the highest series seven score for all Shearson brokers in his class nationwide.
His experience in those small cap equity markets has proven to be invaluable both in his legal and business successes.
Prior to becoming a public company CEO, Mr. Thompson was the founder and senior litigation partner in a California
commercial law firm where he worked as corporate and litigation counsel to privately held and public companies.
His many accomplishments in corporate law include winning and collecting in full what his firm believes to have been
the largest award of lost profits in a California commercial arbitration up to that time. An important part of his work was
winning victories on behalf of corporate clients in disputes over intellectual property and distribution rights. He has
represented business clients ranging from small start ups and micro caps to Fortune 100 companies.
With a background in business leadership and in advising public and private corporations, Kim Thompson continues
to bring a unique perspective to the successful management of business. His extensive business and legal background
enables him to create practical solutions to business problems and seize opportunities for growth.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Triple Nine Society for persons with documented genius level IQs (having tested above
the 99.9th percentile). He is also active in the realm of science and invention where he has to his credit a number of
provisional patent applications including innovations in the areas of biotechnology, organic polymers, genetic engineering
and magnetic field manipulation, among others.
Mr. Rice has over 13 years’ experience growing development stage businesses with a focus on technology development, commercialization, and go to market strategies. Mr. Rice holds a B.S. in Chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Prior to joining Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Mr. Rice was the Director of Advanced Technologies for Ultra Electronics, AMI. In this role, Mr. Rice was responsible for the identification, capture, and execution of new technology programs. During his tenure with AMI, Rice secured more than twenty five million dollars in funded development programs from the US Department of Defense which his team successfully leveraged into commercially viable spinoff products. Mr. Rice was also responsible for technical sales, marketing, and promotion of AMI’s products and capabilities. Rice joined AMI as the third full time employee and helped to lead the organization through its rapid growth and ultimate acquisition by Ultra Electronics in 2011.
Earlier in his career Mr. Rice developed unique advanced manufacturing techniques, established and trained a production staff, led engineering development, authored numerous technical papers, and is a recognized subject matter expert. Mr. Rice holds 5 issued patents and numerous provisional patents.
Mr. Rice brings a history of transforming revolutionary ideas into viable commercial products.
Mr. Rice is currently completing his Masters of Business Administration through the Executive Program at the Eli Broad College of Business: Michigan State University.
Despite the huge potential of genetically modified animals outside of laboratory research, commercialisation of these animals has been extremely limited. Numerous factors, including negative consumer perception, regulatory hurdles, and limitations inherent to classical GM technologies, have kept the majority of GM animal applications within the realm of academic research. However genome editing using zinc finger nucleases could help develop new markets for the future commercialisation of GM animals.
Genetic modification is commonplace throughout the life sciences sector, from fundamental research to pharmaceutical testing. GM cellular and animal models are valuable tools for the study of many chronic diseases, the testing of pharmaceutical compounds and the development of new therapeutic strategies. Genetic modification also offers great benefits in vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, which rely heavily on the use of GM organisms for biomolecule design and production. Modifying the genome of an organism or cell line allows the incorporation of target biomolecules in specific biological contexts, as well as the transfer of a gene product from a low-producing organism to one that can produce on a commercial scale. These applications have been widely accepted for many years, with countless GM organisms approved for medical manufacturing applications by drug regulators in all major countries. Despite this widespread success within the research and pharmaceutical sectors, the use of GM organisms outside of these markets has been limited.
Despite the lack of broad acceptance for most commercial applications of GM animal products, this technology has been able to gain traction in a few market sectors. The most obvious application has been the commercialisation of transgenic animals for the production of biomolecules for therapeutic use. Cattle, sheep and goats have been used for large-scale production of antibodies, steroids and hormones - most notably insulin - for many years. In 2009, GTC Biotherapeutics received US FDA approval for bioproduction of a recombinant human antithrombin. This product - ATryn - is extracted from the milk of transgenic goats, and is the first approved biopharmaceutical to be produced using genetically engineered animals. Although this is a significant breakthrough for the commercialisation of GM animals, it is still within the pharmaceutical industry, and is a natural progression of existing cell-based technologies. Of potentially greater commercial interest is the extension of genetic engineering outside of this sector, into areas such as food production, textiles and even companion animals.
GM crops have been available in many countries since the early 1990s, and numerous cash crops - including sugar beet, soybean, corn and tomatoes - have been modified to improve resistance to disease, increase the rate of growth or enhance nutritional value. However, cultivation of these transgenic crops is generally tightly regulated, particularly within the European Union, and this, together with negative public opinion, has limited the more widespread development of GM technologies.
Similar to GM crops, many of the animals currently under development are intended to confer disease resistance, an application particularly suited to the use of zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Many diseases can be treated by the targeted deletion or modification of a host gene. With ZFNs, these targets can be modified with no footprint of genetic engineering. Due to the high costs of raising livestock, another area of focus in developing commercial GM animals has been increasing the rate of growth or size of animals. Among the first GM animals likely to be launched is a fast growing salmon from AquaBounty. The AquAdvantage Salmon is designed to reach market size in half the time of a wild type salmon, reducing costs for fish farmers and limiting the environmental impact of salmon farming by avoiding the need for ocean pens.
Although genetic engineering of animals for food is primarily driven by economic pressures, GM technologies have also been used in the companion animals market. In this sector, genetic modification can be used for practical purposes - such as the creation of hypoallergenic animals or the correction of heritable congenital defects which have arisen though inbreeding - or for purely cosmetic purposes, such as GloFish. The first example of a GM pet, GloFish are fluorescent zebrafish (Danio rerio) that have had genes encoding naturally fluorescent proteins (GFP, YFP, RFP) inserted into their genome. Developed by a group at the National University of Singapore, GloFish were originally created to develop live detection systems for water pollution. They were introduced as pets in the United States in 2003 following over two years of extensive environmental research and consultation. In Europe however, the sale and possession of GloFish is prohibited by rigorous legislation concerning the use of GM technologies.
By allowing precisely targeted insertion of spider genes and concomitant removal of endogenous silkworm silk genes at the same locus, ZFN technology offers the potential for development of transgenic silkworms which will produce native spider silk at commercially viable levels
Perhaps even more interesting from a commercial perspective is the use of GM animals in the manufacture of textiles. Silkworms - actually the larval form of the silkmoth Bombyx mori - have been used for the production of silk for thousands of years, with natural silk still produced by the cultivation of silkworms today. Silkworm cocoons are unwound to create linear silk threads, then re-spun into textiles in much the same way as cotton. Although the applications of silkworm silk are numerous, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, there is also widespread interest in the silks of several other insects.
Spider silk, in particular, offers numerous possibilities within the technical textiles industry, due to its incredible tensile strength and elasticity; characteristics which have not yet been replicated in synthetic materials. Like all insect silks, spider silk fibres consist of repetitive units of protein crystals separated by less structured protein chains. The exact properties and composition of each spider silk vary with its intended function. Major Ampullate or dragline silk, for example, is relatively hydrophobic with very high tensile strength and toughness, as it is used to form the outer rim and spokes of a web. In contrast, hydrophilic capture spiral silks, which form the inner structures of the web, are sticky and highly elastic to effectively entrap prey. This high degree of variability offers enormous potential for the textiles industry, raising the possibility of tailoring the properties of silk to create advanced technical fabrics, for applications such as bulletproof vests, parachute canopies and automobile airbags; biomedical applications, including sutures and tendon and ligament repair; new fabrics, for sportswear and clothing; and even microelectronics.
Although the use of spider silks for microsutures has recently been reported, more widespread application of spider silk technologies is currently limited by the difficulty in producing silks on a commercially viable scale. This is due to the difficulties of rearing spiders in large numbers, due to their highly territorial and cannibalistic nature. As a result, the harvesting of spider silk fibres is extremely time consuming and labour intensive, with production of the only known spider silk garment - an 11 foot by 4 foot shawl made from golden orb spider silk - taking 150 people over five years to produce and costing in excess of £300,000!
.
To overcome these limitations, and allow future development of spider silk technologies, an alternative strategy for spider silk production is required. This makes spider silk production an obvious candidate for genetic modification, inserting spider silk genes into the genome
of other silk-making insects for bioproduction. For example, random insertion of orb spider silk genes into silkworms has allowed production of hybrid spider/silkworm silk using traditional silkworm farming strategies. The resulting hybrid silk contains approximately 10% spider silk
and has greater strength and durability than native silkworm silk, raising the possibility of using transgenic silkworms to produce pure spider silks.
Though straightforward in principle, the exchange of native silkworm genes for spider silk genes, alongside more widespread exploitation of genetic engineering, has been limited by the inherent restrictions of conventional GM technologies.
The generalised process of modifying an organism requires several capabilities, including:
While many different techniques exist for accomplishing each of these steps, most GM technologies offer a compromise between the efficiency of the technique and the ability to accurately and precisely target the locus of interest. Viral genomic delivery technologies effectively deliver nucleic acids to cells and organisms, but fall short on ability to target specific regions of the genome, generally only allowing random insertion of genetic material. In comparison, transposase technologies allow a greater degree of targeting, but leave unwanted traces of exogenous DNA in their wake. Other methods involve the introduction of naked DNA into the cell, which results in insertion into the genome at very low frequencies, usually at random, limiting this approach to organisms that can be economically cultivated at high densities and screened in large numbers. Simply put, most techniques for genetic manipulation are random, inefficient and leave a 'footprint' of foreign DNA. While this is usually tolerated in basic research, it is not acceptable for most commercial applications, and has been a major hurdle for GM animal technologies to date.
The advent of zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology represents a significant breakthrough for commercialisation of GM animal products, offering precisely targeted, efficient genome editing for the first time. Commercially available through Sigma Life Science under the CompoZr brand, this technique can be used to create permanent and heritable changes to an organism of interest.
This high degree of variability offers enormous potential for the textiles industry, raising the possibility of tailoring the properties of silk to create advanced technical fabrics
ZFNs are a class of engineered DNA binding proteins that facilitate targeted editing of the genome by creating double-strand breaks at user-specified locations. These breaks stimulate the cell's natural DNA repair mechanisms - homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) - which can be exploited to achieve rapid and permanent site-specific modification of the desired genes. While HR can be used to insert foreign DNA sequences, NHEJ allows the cell's natural processes to create precisely targeted mimics of natural mutations which leave no traces of foreign DNA. Unlike previous techniques, ZFNs offer excellent sequence specificity, binding 24 to 36 base pair target sequences to virtually eliminate off target effects, and are able to achieve modification rates exceeding 20 %, well above rates for most other technologies.
The technique is already being used to create transgenic silkworms for spider silk production. By allowing precisely targeted insertion of spider genes and concomitant removal of endogenous silkworm silk genes at the same locus, ZFN technology offers the potential for development of transgenic silkworms which will produce native spider silk at commercially viable levels.
GM technologies have revolutionised the research world and have great potential in a variety of commercial applications, but have been limited by the inherent restrictions associated with historical GM technologies. The main drawback of these technologies is their inability to accurately and efficiently target genes of interest, instead relying on random insertion of genetic material into host genomes. These limitations result in the need for extensive and costly screening to identify animals with correct transgene expression (without compromising the viability of the animal), and also result in the co-expression of both the transgene and native homologues already present.
The advent of ZFN technology signifies the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the world of genetic modification, allowing precise, targeted and efficient genome editing for the first time. Production of native spider silk using transgenic silkworms is just one example of the potential commercial applications of this innovative technology, taking us one step closer to the reality of industrial scale biomanufacturing and paving the way for an entirely new spectrum of environmentally friendly materials.
Authors:
Joseph Bedell and Brian Buntaine
Commercial Animal Technologies Group, Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering (SAGE) Labs, Sigma Life Science
HEADLINES FOR KRAIG BIOCRAFT LABORATORIES / (KBLB):
PHOTOS FROM VIETNAM POSTED JULY 6, 2018
ANN ARBOR, Mich., – January 7, 2019 –Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company”), the leading developer of spider silk based fibers, announces today that it has successfully delivered the first two shipments of its highly specialized silkworms, which produce a silk with the physical characteristics of spider silk, to Vietnam.
Today’s announcement is the culmination of more than 5 years of work, and challenging negotiation, with the government of Vietnam. The silkworms from these first two shipments have already hatched and are now enjoying a fresh mulberry diet, so, for the first time in history, the global demand for spider silk materials has a viable, cost effective, and scalable solution.
“The dream of commercializing our powerful technology is now materializing. This marks a dramatic leap forward in Kraig Labs’ business plan for commercial production and mass marketing of cost effective recombinant spider silk, and becomes the foundation for an entirely new industry,” said, COO, Jon Rice. “To our long-term shareholders, who have taken this journey with us, as well as our team in the US and Vietnam, who have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality, I cannot thank you enough. As we start the New Year, full of new opportunity, we truly have something incredible to celebrate.”
The Company has been working with leading sericulture experts, biotechnology institutions, and governmental agencies, in Vietnam, to further boost the silk industry with our revolutionary technology. Kraig Labs is currently finalizing renovation plans for a ~46,000 square foot production factory in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.
“Our plan has always been to bring our technology to the silk producing regions of the world for rapid scale-up,” said, CEO and Founder, Kim Thompson. “Today we see the fruits of that effort. With its massive silk infrastructure and production capacity, Vietnam is an ideal location to launch our technology scale-up. Congratulations to our team and shareholders, as we prepare for the realization of large scale production.”
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