Enabling Anti-Fungal Discovery Through Advanced Biocomputation Tools

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1 Enabling Anti-Fungal Discovery Through Advanced Biocomputation Tools

2 Fungal Infestations and Infections A Massive Cause of Agricultural Loss Worldwide Rice Blast Corn Rust Botrytis Rot FOOD INSECURITY Over 600 million people affected CATASTROPHIC PRODUCT LOSS Over $60B annually in maize, rice, wheat, potato, soybean losses New Fungicides Are RARE RESISTANCE Develops Quickly Statistics from: Nature April12, 2012

3 Cutting Edge Science Cutting Edge Technology Advanced biocomputation - Discovery of novel methods to find New anti-fungals Today = Random Screening MIMETICS Identifying targets through our unique Biocomputation Platform

4 Computational Biology KEY TO 21 st CENTURY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE Computational biology has soared from being an auxiliary discipline to being a crucial element for progress in practically all aspects of the biological sciences. -PLoS Comput. Biol. 11(1), Jan. 2015

5 GOING BEYOND OMICS Gen omics - Prote omics - Metabol omics Omics aims at the collective characterization & quantification of pools of biological molecules that translate into the structure, function, & dynamics of an organism or organisms. MIMETICS goes beyond omic s We analyze how processes inside cells take place over time = CELL DYNAMICS Taking Biology from still photographs to MOVIES

6 SEAMLESS INTEGRATION of MATHEMATICS and BIOLOGY MIMETICS & Bio-computation Experiments Algorithms Predictions Biological Data Find Nodes Analyze Dynamics Mathematical Models Model & Dynamics Select Parameters Network Topology

7 A MAJOR CHALLENGE GENE REGULATORY NETWORKS Current network finding techniques are inadequate Static, overly complex outputs. Reconstructing the topology of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from time series of gene expression data remains an important open problem in computational systems biology. Thu & Sanguinetti, Bioinformatics, May 11, 2015

8 USERS NEED NETWORKS AND DYNAMICS

9 EXPERTISE + LEADERSHIP + CREATIVITY Mathematics + Business + Biology = MIMETICS JOHN HARER Lead Mathematician Duke University Professor A pioneer in Mathematics who specializes in applying tools from the Mathematics of Topology & Dynamical Systems to Biological Problems. STEVE HAASE Lead Biologist Duke University Professor Specialist in Systems Biology, Cutting-edge researcher in cell analysis & cell cycles from fungi to plasmodia to mammals. DAVID REED CEO Entrepreneur Successes in Starting and Building Companies, Partnerships, Raising Capital, Exits JARED RESNICK CMO/CFO Entrepreneur - Decades of experience in marketing, business development & finance

10 APPLYING MIMETICS SCIENCE Fungal Infestations Natural Substrate A Lab Substrate GENES Fungi have ~6,000 Humans have ~20,000 Plants have ~40,000

11 DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FUNGAL GROWTH PATTERNS SHOWS THAT growth in field conditions is QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT than in standard lab conditions lens.auckland.ac.nz Mimetics Science Reveals SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES In Cell Cycles of Fungi Growing Under Different Conditions

12 genes genes DYNAMICS IN A MODEL ORGANISM S. CEREVISIAE Standard Lab Conditions Field Mimetic Conditions MIMETICS Identified a NEW Gene Regulation Program in Fungi. Why is this Important? Time Time

13 THREE QUESTIONS We asked 1) Do these differing Gene Expression Dynamics mean that different Gene Regulatory Networks are at work? 2) Are the different Networks essential for the organism s survival under field conditions? 3) Do MIMETICS findings point toward New potential Targets for Anti-Fungals?

14 A Compound that Kills Fungi in Field Mimetic Conditions But has no Effect in Standard Lab Conditions Standard Lab Conditions Field Mimetic Conditions MIMETICS has identified a New Target in Fungi and a Compound Which Attacks It

15 MIMETICS HAS. WHERE WE ARE Discovered a novel anti-fungal compound (already FDA approved) with novel mode of action Applied for patent protection for this anti-fungal Developed new field mimetic media for culturing organisms and used them to create new protocols for finding anti-fungal agents Applied for patent protection on these field mimetic media Deployed a proprietary bio-computational platform Built the capability to characterize Gene Regulatory Networks in organisms in field mimetic conditions and find new metabolic pathways and targets Results that so far provide proof of principle

16 MIMETICS IS LOOKING TO Apply our Approach to identify Additional anti-fungal Targets and anti-fungal Agents Find a Partner to help us bring anti-fungal candidate compounds to Market Apply MIMETICS Biocomputation Platform in other areas of AgBio, Human Health, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech and the Food & Beverage Industries Interested in how MIMETICS BIOCOMPUTATION Can make a Difference in Your Markets? Come and Talk to Us!