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KBLB shareholders who have been following the narrative deserve some really big news by EOY or before.
Sad, but true, Bob…. I would bet my life that this is exactly how it went down. if it wasn’t for the fact that I got a very very cheap share price years ago, I would dump this piece of crap. The CEO has miss lead so many people over at least a decade. How in the world does he think he’s going to maintain any integrity or trust with these other companies… I can assure you they’re looking at his track record of saying one thing and then doing another… but the way he’s treated his shareholders is like he has no conscience at all… absolutely pathetic
If they don't have a grand plan then I'm with your thoughts.
The only thing that could change my thoughts at this time is a big bash planned by Both Kim and the Kings Group. If they do and the days ahead create great success on a well planned entrance then I would probably look at it different but I should say I was never that high on Kings. For me.... they will have to show me success and have a decent plan. I've been waiting for some time now.
##DUMPTHEKINGS…
$$$KBLB$$$.
KBLB investment for some went like this:
I'm Gonna Bank Investor: 'Dude, I’m buying KBLB, looks like they’ve got something big going on.'
A few days later investor: 'Why’s there no immediate return? Where’s my metric ton today?'
KBLB from inception: 'We’re scaling production, building partnerships, and setting the stage for sustainable long-term success.'
Disgruntled Investor (aka, Developmental Company of Holy Grail, Never-before-Commercialized Product Understanding Deficient): 'That’s not fast enough! I demand instant gratification! But I’ll hold my shares and stick around, just to complain about it every day. Because clearly, I can’t walk away from the potential, even while pretending I’m above it all.
It went like this
M the Movement “Dude where’s the silk? We are ready.”
Kimbo “We expect it SOON. We ANTICIPATE DOUBLING PRODUCTION, and delivery in THE CONNING MONTHS…….”
M “You mean coming months, right? Right?”
“You've said you are a businessman. Someone fails you, what do you do?”
I know what I got into. I understand the risks. I reassess the partnership and if it’s still worth remaining I continue to act as if I’m thrilled with the partnership.
I wouldn’t say what WW did even if the partnership ended. Not if I expected to be thought of as a professional.
Kings is in charge of marketing. WW is a little pussy. He publicly snubs but then whispers sweet nothings to individuals. He couldn’t possibly present himself as a more unprofessional little punk.
Dump Kings. There are real pros wanting DS
Interestingly...you haven't mentioned one plausible failure 🤣.
*****UPDATED: KBLB - FAILURE AFTER FAILURE (OR SCAM AFTER SCAM????)*****
NEW: 2024: Kings / MtheMovement Committed to Purchase Min $12 Million in Spidersilk - FAILED
NEW: 2024: GSS - FAILED
2023: Air Force Contract is a Slam Dunk - FAILED
2023: Kings / MtheMovement to Purchase Up To $12 Million in Spidersilk - FAILED
2023: Commercial production - FAILED
2022: Commercial production - FAILED
2022: Kings / MtheMovement to Purchase Up To $5 Million in Spidersilk - FAILED
2022: Website & apparel launch - FAILED
2021: Kings / MtheMovement to Purchase Up To $3 Million in Spidersilk - FAILED
2021: "The Company ... has now produced enough silk to create a number of different fabric blends." - FAILED
2021: "Spydasilk should hit the ground running" - FAILED
2021: $250K prepayment from Kings / MtheMovement- FAILED
2019-2020: Uplist to NASDAQ - FAILED
2019: Commercial production - FAILED
2019: Appoint Independent Board of Directors - FAILED
2019: Polartec MOU - FAILED
2018: "Our recombinant spider silk silkworm technology is a direct drop-in replacement for traditional silkworms and allows us to move quickly, with minimal investment, to bring new products to market" - FAILED
2018: ““We are busy preparing silkworm eggs for shipment and putting the team in place at Prodigy to hit the ground running.” - FAILED
2016-2018: Army Contract - FAILED
2016: “the Company is on schedule to produce all of the recombinant spider silk necessary to fulfill its contract with the US Government on time” - FAILED
2017: Mulberry facility in Texas - FAILED
2014-2015: "R&D .... is no longer necessary" - FAILED
2014-2015: “Scale and sale” - FAILED
2013-2015: Commercialization of Big Red - FAILED
2013-2014: Warwick Mills Partnership - FAILED
2013: SSM Industries Partnership - FAILED
And those are just a few of the MANY, MANY FAILURES that KBLB has had over the years….
Rather apparent to decipher...
KBLB announced the potentiated contract and was unable to deliver.
At first glance, it appeared the deal was going "south," when the proposed $250k obligation from Kings wasn't delivered.
It is what it is...
FAILURE TO DELIVER ON BOTH ENDS...
One had the funds but didn't...
The other couldn't produce, in order to benefit from the aforementioned contract.
MASSIVE SHARE PRICE MOVEMENT AND VOLUME INDICATES READY FOR SCALE AND SALE. DUPONT IS TOTALLY INTERESTED AND WILL BUY OUT FOR $20BN.
"you are now saying he trash talked KBLB?"
Now? I've been saying that all year long since he said it.
Kings is responsible for the marketing part of the spydasilk partnership. Yes, they need to speak up.
"Maybe Kim embarrassed them severely, promised way more than he could commit."
Right. He can get over it like we did. We understand that shit happens with development companies. That's why it's risky. We ALL know the risks. (well, most of us)
"I don't blame him for a 6 rating."
No one does. The point is that you keep your f'n mouth shut and say that stuff in house. This is business. That's how it works. It was public disrespect of a business partner. Total BS in the business world. Everyone has complaints about their partners/relatives/friends, but you don't go around telling the neighbors.
I'm sure Kim was embarrassed by the hamas bomber vest & balaclava (I know I was). It maybe will be a big hit at the Pride parade on the gaza strip, but in the west, it's kind of an embarrassing outfit.
Sure, the failure is on Kim. But it's still the partner's job to present a united front if he wants to remain partners. Kim no longer needs Kings and Wendy Wu's silent treatment pretending not to have noticed that KBLB is light years away from where they were just a year ago has grown so old. The tables have turned, it's long past time for the homecoming warrior to remember that Kim invited her to the dance.
Not deflecting at all. Addressing it all. Like usual. I see you've gone to some lengths to avoid the basics of what M4N was expressing and now I'm trying to get you to be specific on, which you whisked away as...
I was addressing the constant negative theme that you and others want to apply to everything. And responded directly to your quote. I understand your avoidance. But it's important to address the continued negative theme to address all else. Specifically, here, though, are you saying Kings had no responsibilities in their agreement with KBLB? Because when one posits things like you did, it really shows a basic misunderstanding: that there are multiple parties with multiple responsibilities. Assuming ONLY KBLB is "at fault" with the agreement is misguided, to be kind. Show us all what Kings has provided on their side of the agreement so we can measure what you believe to be KBLB's inadequacies properly.
And going back to the subject that was being discussed. Who's responsibility is it to produce said spidersilk and promote it?
A company that got burned by Kim's lack of results or KBLB?
Got it. Making Spider Silk and selling it is soooo easy there are a plethora of companies doing it. Oh wait. That's right. It has never been commercialized in the history of mankind. Some will try to split hairs on this, I'm sure. But, the reality is, there is only one company on the verge of actually following through on what has been elusive to all others before them. And so we're all on point here, it was never about just making some stuff and selling it to say they did it. It has ALWAYS been about building a sustainable company around this Holy Grail. Quite the difference. Sad so many have difficulty understanding this. It would alleviate much angst. Either through the realization, itself, or the offloading of those bothersome shares.
The point being made, or trying to be made is.....
It's nobodies responsibility for KBLB's sucess other than KBLB.
The ones who say they are in it for the long haul are the same ones who complain when others don't pump the company.
Produce some damn silk and sell it.
It's very simple.
KBLB has failed miserably in that task up to this point in time. Me personally find it hard to complain about other companies not promoting KBLB because of KBLB's short comings to this point.
Opening in Saigon on the 25th. Be interesting to see if we know any exhibitors.
https://www.texdata.com/news/Textiles&Apparel-Garment/20932.html
The thing that’s most indicative of Kim’s relationship with Walt Whitman still being sour, is that he’s not uttered a word that would walk back his earlier trash talk.
He’s still embarrassed to be seen with Kim at the mall.
Let’s face it, I am 100% certain that everyone here would have marched straight into Wally’s World, kicked in his door, shown him his post and said “WTF is this bullshit ?”
“why would anyone believe in his ability to consistently mass produce over an extended time period?”
If it were just Kim self attesting to Kraig’s capabilities again you’d have a point.
This time the VSA, LAREC, & Kumar are all bearing witness to Kim’s ability to mass produce. This is NOT the same situation no matter how hard others are attempting to make it seem so.
It's actually pretty funny that people present the KBLB/M/Kings Deal as one-sided and without input from all parties (in the form of a contractually-agreed-upon steeling committee). If my memory serves me correctly, Kings had some things they were responsible for on their side, too. I like seeing someone focus on KBLB's partners in accountability as well. Thank you.
All knew we were in a process… now we have arrived so ya I agree. Kim will do the little bit, but then by by imo
Kraig has the world’s first spider silk production and they are aligning the pieces for something big. This stuff is a really big deal!!!
“How would you rate a company that told you they could supply you with 20+ million dollars worth of product over the next 4 years and gave you little to none? “
That’s Wendy Wu’s problem. We’ve all had to come to terms and reassess our relationship with this company while in development. We ALL took a chance on KBLB and we ALL decided the risk was worth the reward.
And worse, Walter White is a PARTNER! Many of us have been in business more than 40 years. And there isn’t a successful businessman on the planet that trash talks a business partner to the general public.
In my line of work (and everyone else’s as well) you publicly trash talk a partner and that relationship takes a dramatic turn for the worse. It’s the beginning of the end of a marriage. And given Willy Wonka’s silence during all the spectacular PRs, I’ve no doubt Kim is ready to punt Kings as a partner.
"History of failure to launch after promising to do so..."
If ever there was a need to check one's investment philosophy, the above characterizes it. Personal expectations, for starters, do not make something a "failure" for everyone. Especially when there's a lack of understanding surrounding the entirety of development. Mind-boggling to see so many believe the timetable for Spider Silk Commercialization is what they believe it should be versus its never-been-done-before reality. SMGDH
In my opinion Kim has resisted getting professional help as long as I can remember. Today, hopefully as reported we have professionals in every aspect of production. That should inspire Kim to stop shortcutting production because it's proven that won't work. I'm thinking he's learned his lesson.
All signs are for big success. The future is near.
Stay tuned!!!!
“I'm struggling to understand why they're not advertising in legitimate ways for the casual investor”
This is why I bash Kings group. (Our worthless “friend/partner”) WW should be shouting from the rooftops. Or at a minimum the little douche should at least be reposting the PRs. But his most recent public comment on KBLB was to talk shit about them with his bullshit “6” rating.
For whatever reason, Kings, Kraig, or both have decided not to begin marketing.
Based on Kim’s published timeline and PRs, it’s reasonable to expect a share price moving PR any week now. (Regardless of what Mr Rogers thinks is going on in his neighborhood)
Possibly have to wait til the planned late September batch is reeled.
I’ll give Kim this, if he waits til tonnage, there will be no way to put the fire out once it’s lit.
Yes I posted that timeline back in the spring. However, I'm struggling to understand why they're not advertising in legitimate ways for the casual investor. Like, do they have major companies buying all available shares? I don't get it.
From the next paragraph, EOT, KBLB elaborates:
Bolt has succumbed to below-dollar trading! The market has spoken about "Goo!" And it sure ain't pretty! All Hail KBLB! 😁
Excellent post, Web! GO KBLB!
“we will need to seek additional funds, primarily through the issuance of debt or equity securities for cash to operate our business."
Yup…they will mass produce and have revenues but that may not be enough…so they will dilute…
But with tonnage and revenue and contracts and collaborations comes a much higher pps…if they have to dilute at a dollar per share or above, I couldn’t care less…
You can scare the children but you don’t frighten anyone who knows what they are doing…
So by cutting that quote off before it talks about revenue and sales is to fit the negative dilution lie narrative?
PRODUCTION IS ROCKING!!!!!!!
Watch the amount of money coming from the world’s very first Spider silk applications…..
If it Medical or Military you better be sitting!!
Be careful....
They might start calling you all sorts of names and claim that you are lying as well....
I’m pro kblb but it’s right there in the filings. Try reading them before accusing someone of lying. The only one I always see consistently lying and misleading is you.
The statement I posted is coming directly from the most recent KBLB financial document uploaded to the SEC website.
It states that KBLB "will need to seek additional funds, primarily through the issuance of debt or equity securities for cash to operate our business."
I so look forward to what Kim will put out hopefully on Monday or Tuesday. It is exciting, like Christmas every week! GO KBLB!
THERE IS NO MORE DILUTION COMING! You know this; quit lying. You have said this nonsense over and over again. As W2R just stated. we are close to earning money. EARNING ARE SO CLOSE I CAN SMELL THEM. So, explain how more dilution is coming. It is NOT! Frankly, I cannot wait to see what news is coming next week. I hope you realize that every week the news will get better and better until you are finally gone, and that too is very close. GO KBLB!
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Moderators MU_Redskin1 gimmegimmeminemine TRUISM 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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