Tauriga Sciences Inc (fka TAUG)

[TASBES0101]

The Pilus Energy Scientific Advisory Team is very impressive. It reads like something out of Big Bang Theory

http://pilusenergy.com/about/scientific-advisory-team/

Daniel J. Hassett, PhD

co-Founder and Chair, Scientific Advisory Board

Currently a fully tenured professor of molecular genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine. Dr. Hassett is an award-winning expert on cystic fibrosis, particularly as it relates to infectious microorganism. He is a frequent invited speaker, convener, and symposia presenter with over ninety scientific events thus far. He has participated in the thesis defense and/or doctoral exams for nearly thirty graduate students. Dr. Hassett manages a lab and has gained over $15M in grants and donations as a research leader.

He is a journal reviewer for the following 17 journals (in alphabetic order): Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Cell-Host and Microbe, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Gene, Infection and Immunity, Journal of Bacteriology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Letters in Applied Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, PloS Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science, Trends in Microbiology Reviews.

His intellectual property developments include: 1. Streaking Jack Inoculator. A device that isolates single bacterial colonies from a mixed population in 5 seconds. With U.C. and Bell-Art Scientific. 2. OprF, a biomarker for cystic fibrosis lung disease and an anaerobic drug target. 3. Use of nitrite composition to kill pathogenic bacteria during airway and abscess infections. Aires Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, November 2006, Toxicology completed, 8-07; Phase I human trials completed August 2008. Phase II trials-anticipated start, October 2008.

He has over one hundred cited journal articles and conference proceedings including:
1.Yoon, S.S., R.F. Hennigan, G.M. Hilliard, U.A. Ochsner, K. Parvatiyar, M.C. Kamani, H.L. Allen, T.R. DeKievit, P.R. Gardner, U. Schwab, J.J. Rowe, B.H. Iglewski, T.R. McDermott, R.P. Mason, D.J. Wozniak, R.E.W. Hancock, M.R. Parsek, T.L. Noah, R.C. Boucher and D.J. Hassett. 2002. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Anaerobic Respiration in Biofilms: Relationships to Cystic Fibrosis Pathogenesis. Dev. Cell 3: 631-642.
2.Ran, D.J. Hassett and G.W. Lau. 2003. Eukaryotic targets of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor pyocyanin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 100: 14315-14320.
3.Yoon, S.S., R. Coakley, G.W. Lau, S.V. Lymar, A.C. Karabulut, R.F. Hennigan, S.H. Hwang, B. Gaston, G. Buettner, M.J. Schurr, J.E. Mortensen, J.L. Burns, D. Speert, R.C. Boucher and D.J. Hassett. 2006. Anaerobic Killing of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa With Acidified Nitrite Derivitives Under Cystic Fibrosis Airway Conditions. J. Clin. Invest. 116: 436-446.
4.Yoon, S.S., R.F. Hennigan, A.B. Herr, S.L. Groce, E. Munck, J.D. Lipscomb, A.K. Carabulet, P.J. Kiley, S.H. Hwang, M.J. Schurr, and D.J. Hassett. 2007. Two-Pronged Survival Strategy for the Major Cystic Fibrosis Pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lacking the Capacity to Degrade Nitric Oxide During Anaerobic Respiration. EMBO J. 26: 3662-3672.
5.Conrady D.G., Brescia, C.C., Horii, K., Weiss, A.A., Hassett, D.J., and Herr, A.B. 2008. A zinc-dependent adhesion module is responsible for intercellular adhesion in staphylococcal biofilms. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.105:19456-61.


Randy T. Irvin, PhD

co-Founder and Pilus Consultant

Currently is a fully tenured Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Irvin is internationally recognized for his work on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly the structure and function of the pilus and its role in pathogenesis and biofilm formation. Dr. Irvin has served as past President of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists, as a section Editor for the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, and currently sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of Helix BioPharma Corp. Dr. Irvin has served, and continues to serve, as a reviewer for a variety of academic journals, and granting agencies including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and National Institutes of Health. Dr. Irvin received over $15M in grants and research contracts.

Dr. Irvin has been involved with a number of biotech companies in a number of projects. Dr. Irvin is an inventor on 30 patents that covering a variety of applications including synthetic vaccines, carbohydrate based therapeutics, synthetic combinatorial peptide libraries, biosensors, and biofilms.

Selected publications

Hazes, B., P.A. Sastry, K. Hayakawa, R.J. Read, and R.T. Irvin. 2000. Crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK pilin suggests a mainchain-dominated mode of receptor binding. J. Mol. Biol. 299: 1005-1017.

Keizer, D.W., C.M. Slupsky, M. Kalisiak, A.P. Campbell, M.P. Crump, P.A. Sastry, B. Hazes, R.T. Irvin, and B.D. Sykes. 2001. Structure of a pilin monomer from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: implications for the assembly of pili. J. Biological Chemistry 276:24186-24193.

Audette, G.F., R.T. Irvin and B. Hazes. 2004. Crystallographic analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain K122-4 monomeric pilin reveals a conserved receptor binding architecture. Biochemistry 43:11427-11435.

Audette, G.F., E. van Schaik, B. Hazes and R.T. Irvin. 2004. DNA-Binding Protein Nanotubes: Learning From Nature’s Nanotech Examples. Nano Lett. 4: 1897-1902. DOI: 10.1021/nl048942f .

Van Schaik, E.J., C.L. Giltner, G.F. Audette, D.W. Keizer, D.L. Bautista, C.M. Slupsky, B.D. Sykes, and R.T. Irvin. 2005. DNA binding: a novel function of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pili. J. Bacteriol. 187:1455-1464.

Giltner, C.L., E.J. van Schaik, G.F. Audette, D. Kao, R.S. Hodges, D.J. Hassett, and R. T. Irvin. 2006. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type IV Pilin Receptor Binding Domain Functions as an Adhesin for Binding to Both Biotic and Abiotic Surfaces. Molec. Microbiol. 59:1083–1096. published online early December 12,2005 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.05002.x.

Kao, D.J., E.A.M. Churchill, R.T. Irvin, and R.S. Hodges. 2007. Animal protection and structural studies of a consensus sequence vaccine targeting the receptor binding domain of the type IV pilus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Mol. Biol. 374(2):426-42.

Yu, B., C.L. Giltner, E.J. van Schaik, D.L. Bautista, R.S. Hodges, G.F. Audette, D.Y. Li, and R.T. Irvin. 2007. A novel biometallic interface: high affinity tip-associated binding by pilin-derived protein nanotubes. J. Bionanosci. 1:73–83.


R. Everett Langford, PhD

Environmental Engineering Advisor

Dr. Roland Everett Langford has almost 40 years experience in environmental protection, occupational safety and health, and radiation protection. He holds Ph.D. degrees in Physical Chemistry from the University of Georgia with a minor in Geology and in Radiation Health Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a minor in Industrial Hygiene, as well as a Masters degree (M.S.) in thermodynamics from the University of Georgia. In addition to academic degrees, he is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas, a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, a Diplomate of the American Academy of Sanitarians (DAAS), a Registered Hazardous Materials Professional (RHSP), and a registered Sanitarian (RS). Dr. Langford is the author or co-author of three books (on Hazardous Materials Incidents, Workplace Drug Abuse, and Weapons of Mass Destruction). He served for twenty years in the U.S. Army Medical Department, retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, following command of the Army Research Detachment for Toxicology of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He has worked in industry for over ten years, and has international work experience in Bosnia, Croatia, Korea, and Peoples Republic of China. Prior to his military career, he was a college professor of chemistry and geology. Dr. Langford’s hobbies include Asian studies, photography, and amateur (ham) radio.

His certifications include: •Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Comprehensive Practice, Number 3284.

•Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals, Number 15180.

•Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), Board of Environmental, Health and Safety Auditors Certifications (BEAC), Number 513.

•Professional Engineer (PE), General Engineering Sciences, State of Texas, Number 96365.

•Registered Hazardous Substances Professional (RHSP), National Environmental Health Association, Number 51.

•Registered Sanitarian (RS), National Environmental Health Association, Number 83277.

Selected publications include:

R.E. Langford, “Applications of Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate,” presented as part of Professional Development Course 412 (“Isocyanates: Current Issues in Toxicology, Occupational Medicine, Industrial Hygiene, and Regulation”) at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 31, 2009.

R.E. Langford, “ERPGs as Community Exposure Standards,” presented at Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, Houston, TX, January 15, 2009.

R.E. Langford, “Incorporating EHS into Project Management,” presented at JW Pearson 2nd Annual Process Industry Engineering Conference, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China, November 28, 2007.

R.E. Langford, “Community Exposure Standards,” presented at Association of International Chemical Manufacturers Conference on Hazardous Materials, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China, May 21, 2007.

R.E. Langford, “New Chinese Regulations on Production of Phosgene,” presented at International Isocyanates Institute Phosgene Conference, Xi’An, Peoples Republic of China, May 15, 2007.

R.E. Langford, Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Radiological, Biological, and Chemical; Wiley-Interscience Publishers (2004), ISBN 0-471-46560-7.


Jeffrey D. Myers, MS

co-Founder and Fuel Cell Consultant

Jeff graduated from The Ohio State University with Honors and Distinction, obtaining B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. As a Principal Research Scientist at Battelle he led research projects developing environmental monitoring systems. His professional career focused on leading research programs utilizing a variety of control, measurement systems and data processing techniques including those employed in environmental monitoring, homeland defense, and energy systems. He has experience in program management, sensor/monitor design, opto-mechanical systems, computer programming, and data collection. His primary interests in the application of technology to improve the human condition. In nearly twenty years at Battelle he gained experience in leading engineers and scientists in efforts to develop and implement sensor, control systems and fuel cells. Jeff received and managed over $10M in research awards.

Kelly, T.J., Myers, J.D., and Spicer, C.W., “Evaluation of an Electrochemical Method for Continuous Indoor Monitoring of NO2 and Nitrous Acid”, in Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollutants, Proceedings of the 1998 EPA/AWMA International Symposium, Publication VIP-85, Air and Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, pp. 615-620 (1998).

Kelly, T.J., and Myers, J.D., “Development of a Short-Averaging-Time Indoor Nitrogen Dioxide Detector”, Final Report to the California Air Resources Board, Contract No. 96-312, Battelle, Columbus, Ohio, December, 1999.

Kelly, T.J., Myers, J.D., and Holdren, M.W., “Testing of Household Products and Materials for Emission of Toluene Diisocyanate”, Indoor Air, 9, 117-124 (1999).

Myers, J.D., “Optical Sensor Used to Evaluated Spark Ignition and Combustion of Methane”, M.S. Thesis, The Ohio State University, 1994.

M.C. Hastings, B.N. Chiu, and J.D. Myers, “Evaluation of Special Communications Grade Fibers in Interferometric and Microbend Sensors for Measuring Ambient Temperature Fluctuations”, Proceedings of the SPIE, Vol. 1795, pp. 227-235 (1993).

Jeff is the first author or co-author of 8 Technology Verification Reports on environmental monitoring systems, published from testing in the Advanced Monitoring Systems (AMS) Center of U.S. EPA’s Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program at: www.epa.gov/etv

Open-Path Optical Monitors:
?AIL Systems Inc. RAM 2000 Fourier Transform Infrared, September 2000
?Boreal Laser Inc. GasFinder 2.0 Tunable Diode Laser, September 2000
?Opsis Inc. AR 500 Ultraviolet Open-Path Monitor, September 2000
?Unisearch Associates LasIR® Tunable Diode Laser, September 2000
?Spectrex SafEye 227 Infrared, March 2001
?Spectrex SafEye 420 Ultraviolet, March 2001
?Mercury Continuous Emission Monitors
?Lumex Ltd. Hg CEM, September 2001
?Multi-Metals Continuous Emission Monitor
?Cooper Environmental Services XCEM


Warunya Panmanee, PhD

Microbiology and Genetics Consultant

Dr. Panmanee as a member of Dr. Hassett’s team, she is responsible for our microbial colony reproduction and development. She is currently a Research Associate, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, College of Medicine, at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. She completed a BS at Prince of Songkla University, Songkla, Thailand. Her MS and PhD were earned at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Her publications include:

Panmanee W, Vattanaviboon P, Pool L.B, and Mongkolsuk S. 2006 Novel organic hydroperoxide-sensing and responding mechanisms for OhrR, a major Bacterial Sensor and regulator of organic hydroperoxide stress. J Bacteriol. 188(4):13899-95

Newberry KJ, Fuangthong M, Panmanee W, Mongkolsuk S, Brennan RG. 2007 Structural mechanism of organic hydroperoxide induction of the transcription regulator OhrR. Mol Cell.30;28(4):652-64

Panmanee W, Gomez F, Witte D, Pancholi V, Britigan BE, Hassett DJ. 2008. The peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein OprL helps protect a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant devoid of the transactivator OxyR from hydrogen peroxide-mediated killing during planktonic and biofilm culture J. Bacteriol. 90(10):3658-69

Panmanee W and Hassett DJ. 2009 Differential roles of oxyR-controlled antioxidant enzymes alkyl hydroperoxidase reductase (AhpCF) and catalase (KatB) in protection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against hydrogen peroxide in biofilm versus planktonic culture. FEMS Microbiol. Lett, 295 : 238-244.

Wilson, J.J., B. Homoelle, W. Panmanee, D.J. Hassett and R.A. Kovall. 2010. One protein, two structures: structural and biophysical characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AnkB. Biochemistry. (submitted).

Major, T.A., W. Panmanee, J.E. Mortensen, L.D. Gray, and D.J. Hassett. 2010. Sodium Nitrite-Mediated Killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Burkholderia cepacia Under Anaerobic Conditions is Synergistic With Antibiotics Used for Treating Cystic Fibrosis Airway Infections. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. (submitted).

S. Su, W. Panmanee, J.J. Wilson, J.D. Lipscomb, S.H. Kim, S.V. Lymar, R.A. Kovall, R.T. Irvin, Y.H. Cho, and D.J. Hassett. 2010. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Constitutively Expressed Catalase KatA Protects Bacteria From Potentially Lethal Levels of Nitric Oxide Generated During Anaerobic Respiration. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (in preparation).

Panmanee, W., Mahavihakanont A, Rattanaprapanporn S, Whiteside M, Brinkman F , Mongkolsuk S and Hassett DJ. 2010 2-aminoethylphosphonate:pyruvate aminotransferase: an alternative means to protect a Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxyR mutant from tert-butyl hydroperoxide. In preparation

Panmanee W., Mahavihakanont A, Rattanaprapanporn S, Sauer K, Whiteside M, Brinkman F, Mongkolsuk S and Hassett DJ. 2010 Reciprocal Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Quorum Sensing/Biofilm Dispersion Regulatory Networks During Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Dispersion In preparation.


Shengchang Su, PhD

Bacterial Genetics Consultant

Dr. Su, as a member of Dr. Hassett’s team, he is responsible for our microbial genetics and protein biochemistry related to our organisms. He is currently a Research Associate, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati. Previously, he was a Research Scientist in the Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois and completed his post-doctoral research there. He completed his BS and MS at Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang, PR China.

His publications include:

Shengchang Su, Lois Banta, Margaret Lowenstein and Stephen K. Farrand. 2009. Lon protease of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is required for full tumorigenicity but not for Ti or At plasmid conjugative transfer. J. Bacteriol. Accepted.

Oyebode Olakanmi , John S. Gunn, Shengchang Su, Shilpa Soni, Daniel J. Hassett, and Bradley E. Britigan. 2009. Gallium disrupts iron uptake by intracellular and extracellular francisella and exhibits therapeutic efficacy in a murine pulmonary infection model. Infection and Immunity (submitted).

Ramón Penyalver, Phil M. Oger, Shengchang Su, Belén Alvarez, Carmina I. Salcedo, María M. López and Stephen K. Farrand. 2009. The S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase gene ahcY of Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K84 is required for optimal growth,antibiotic production and biocontrol of crown gall disease. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 22(6):713-724.

Hui Li, Shan-Yue Zhou, Wen-Sheng Zhao, Shengchang Su and You-liang Peng. 2009. A novel wall-associated receptor-like protein kinase gene, OsWAK1, plays important roles in rice blast disease resistance. Plant Molecuar Biology. 69:337-346

Shengchang Su, Sharik R. Khan and Stephen K. Farrand. 2008. Induction and loss of Ti plasmid conjugative competence in response to the acyl-homoserine lactone quorum-sensing signal. J. Bacteriol. 190(13):4398-4407.

Yinping Qin, Shengchang Su and Stephen K. Farrand. 2007. Molecular basis of transcriptional antiactivation: TraM disrupts the TraR-DNA complex through stepwise interactions. J. Biol. Chem. 282: 19979-19991.

Chunxia Wu, Shengchang Su and Youliang Peng. 2007. Molecular cloning and differential expression of an aldehyde dehydrogenase gene in rice leaves in response to infection by blast fungus. Biologia 62: 523-528.

Shengchang Su, Bonnie B. Stephens, Gladys Alexandre, and Stephen K. Farrand. 2006. Lon protease of the a-proteobacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is required for normal growth, cellular morphology and full virulence. Microbiology, 152: 1197-1207.

Yinping Qin, Audra J. Smyth, Shengchang Su, and Stephen K. Farrand. 2004. Dimerization properties of TraM, the antiactivator that modulates TraR-mediated quorum-dependent expression of the Ti plasmid tra genes. Mol. Microbiol., 53:1471-1485

Zhao-Qing Luo, Shengchang Su, and Stephen K. Farrand. 2003. In situ activation of the quorum-sensing transcription factor TraR by cognate and non-cognate acyl-homoserine lactone ligands: Kinetics and consequences. J. Bacteriol. 185: 5665-5672.