Training and Workshops

BEC offers high quality technical training, seminars and workshops at both the national and regional levels whereby participants have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and to design experiments suitable to their needs. Those attending these courses are from both the government and private sector. Some of the successful activities and continuing programs are:

• Animal Cell Culture and Applications
• Mass Cultivation of Spirulina
• Bioinformatics as a Tool for Gene Manipulation
• Metabolic Engineering and Functional Genomics
• Fluorescence in situ hybridization in characterization of microbial cell s without cultivation
• Pilot scale utilization of waste water from tapioca starch factory for tapioca starch factory entrepreneurs
• Monitoring of anaerobic waste water treatment system for agro-industries
• Practical approach to ferment ation technology workshop
• Regional mini-symposium on bio sensor and chemical sensor technology

Human Resource Development

During the period 2000-2003, there were 93 graduates (7 Ph.D. and 86 M.Sc. students) affiliated with BEC research groups. At present there are 81 students who are working in the laboratories, 12 Ph.D. and 69 M.Sc. students. BEC expects to maintain a ratio for the number of students to Ph.D. research staff as 4:1 for M.Sc. students and 2:1 for Ph.D. students.

Patents

To date, BEC has filed for 3 patents as follows:

• DNA probes specific to Methanogens (1999).
• Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence of D 12 desaturase of Mucor rouxii ATCC24905 (2000).
• Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence of D 6 desaturase of Mucor rouxii ATCC24905 (2002).

Research Awards

• High Rate Anaerobic Fixed Bed Reactor for Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment”. Research Award in Industrial Research and Engineering field from National Research Council of Thailand.
• Thai Biogas Plants – High Rate Anaerobic Fixed Film Technology for Agro-industrial Wastewater”. The Best Program on New and Renewable Sources of Energy (Off-grid) in Year 2003 from Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy.

Publications and Conference Proceedings

During 1993-2003, BEC has published 35 international publications, 5 national publications, 76 international proceedings and 66 national proceedings. The list of international publications is as follows.

• Cohen, Z.; Ruengichatchawalya, M.; Siangdung, W.; Tanticharoen, M. “Production and partial purification of g - linolenic acid and some pigments from Spirulina platensis ” Journal of Applied Phycology 1993, 5:109-115
• Tanticharoen, M.; Bunnag, B.; Vonshak, A. “Cultivation of Spirulina using Secondary treated starch waste water” Australasian Biotechnology 1993, 3:223-226.
• Cohen, Z.; Ruengichatchawalya, M.; Siangdung, W.; Tanticharoen, M.; Heimer, Y.M. “Herbicide-resistant Lines of microalgae: growth and fatty acid composition” Phytochemistry 1993, 34 (4):973-978.
• Chanawongse, L.; Lee, Y.K.; Bunnag, B.; Tanticharoen, M. “Productivity of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis in cultures using sunlight” Bioresources Technology 1994, 48:143-148.
• Tanticharoen, M.; Ruengichatchawalya, M.; Bunnag, B.; Vonktaveesuk, P.; Vonshak, A.; Cohen, Z. “Optimization of g - linolenic acid (GLA) production in Spirulina platensis ” Journal of Applied Phycology 1994, 6:295-300.
• Vonshak, A.; Chanawongse, L.; Bunnag, B.; Tanticharoen, M. “Physiological characterization of Spirulina platensis isolates: Response to light and salinity” Plant Physiology 1995, 14:161-166.
• Vonshak, A.; Kancharaksa, N.; Bunnag, B.; Tanticharoen, M. “Role of light and photosynthesis on the acclimation process of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis to salinity stress” Journal of Applied Phycology 1996, 8:119-124.
• Somasundrum, M.; Kirtikara, K.; Tanticharoen, M. “Amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide by direct and catalytic reduction at a copper electrode” Analytica Chimica Acta 1996, 319:59-70.
• Vonshak, A.; Chanawongse, L.; Bunnag, B.; Tanticharoen, M. “Light acclimation and photoinhibition in three Spirulina platensis (cyanobacteria ) isolates” Journal of Applied Phycology 1996, 8:35-40.
• Somasundrum, M.; Tanticharoen, M.; Kirtikara, K. “H 2 O 2 from an oxidase enzyme can be detected cathodically using metal-dispersed conducting polymer film” Journal Electroanalytical Chemistry 1996, 407:247-251.
• Somasundrum, M.; Tongta, A.; Tanticharoen, M.; Kirtikara, K. “A kinetic model for the reduction of enzyme -generated H 2 0 2 at a metal-dispersed conducting polymer film” Journal Electroanalytical Chemistry 1997 , 440:259-264.
• Kiattipoomchai, M.; Somasundrum, M.; Tanticharoen, M.; Kirtikara, K. “Measurement of sulfite at oxide-coated copper electrodes” Analytica Chimica Acta 1998 , 123:2017-2019.
• Nomsawai, P.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “Light regulation of phycobilisome structure and gene expression in Spirulina platensis C1 ( Arthrospira sp. PCC9438)” Plant Cell Physiol o gy 1999, 40(12):1194-1202.
• Surareungchai, W.; Worasing, S.; Sritongkum, P.; Tanticharoen, M. “Dual electrode signal-subtracted bio sensor for simultaneous flow injection determination of sucrose and glucose.” Analytica Chimica Acta 1999 , 380:7-15.
• Samarntarn, W.; Cheevadhanarak, S.; Tanticharoen, M. “Production of alkaline protesae by genetic ally engineered Aspergillus oryzae U1521. ” Journal General Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 1999, 45:99-103 .
• Arjsriwat, S.; Tanticharoen, M.; Kirtikara, K.; Aoki, K.; Somasundrum, M. “Metal – dispersed Conducting polymer – Coated Electrode used for Oxidase – based Bio sensor .” Electrochemistry Communication 2000, 2:441-444.
• Laoteng, K.; Monnontara, R.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “Delta 6 desaturase of Mucor rouxii with high samilarity to Plant delta 6–desaturase and its Heterologous Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae .” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2000 , 279:17-22.
• Passorn, S.; Laoteng, K.; Rachadawong, S.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “Heterologous Expression of Mucor rouxii D 12 Gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae .” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1999 , 263:47-51.
• Deshnium, P.; Paitoonrangsarid, K.; Suphatrakul, A.; Meesapyodsuk, D.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “Temperature-independent and dependent expression of desaturase genes in filamentous cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis C1 ( Arthrospira sp. PCC9438)” FEMS Microbiology Letter 2000, 184:207-213.
• Surareungchai, W.; Kasiwat, D. “Electroanalysis of tert-Butylhydroquinone in Edible Oil at a Nafion – Coated Probe.” Electroanalysis 2000, 12(14):1124-1129.
• Laoteng, K.; Anjard, C.; Rachadawong, S.; Tanticharoen, M.; Maresca, B. “ Mucor rouxii D 9 Desaturase Gene is Transcriptionally Regulated during Cell Growth and by Low Temperature.” Molecular Cell Biology Research Communications 1999 , 1:36-43.
• Jaturapat, A.; Isaka, M.; Hywel-Jones, NL.; Lertwerawat, Y.; Kamchonwongpaisan, S.; Kirtikara, K.; Tanticharoen, M.; Thebtaranonth, Y. “Biosanthracenes from the Insect Pathogenic Fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620. I. Taxonomy, Fermentation, Isolation and Antimalarial Activity.” The Journal of Antibiotics 2001 , 54(1):29-35.
• Isaka, M.; Jaturapat, A.; Kladwang, W.; Panya, J.; Lertwerawat, Y.; Tanticharoen, M.; Thebtaranonth, Y. “Antiplasmodial compounds from wood-decayed fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 1067” Planta Medical 2000, 66:473-475.
• Meesapyodsuk, D.; Reed, D.W.; Cheevadhanarak, S.; Deshnium, P.; Covello, P.S. “Probing the mechanism of a cyanobacterial D 9 Fatty acid desaturase from Spirulina platensis C1 ( Arthrospira sp. PCC9438)” Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 2001, 129:831-835.
• Thammarongtham, C.; Turner, G.; Moir, A.J.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “A new class of glutaminase from Aspergillus oryzae .” Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology 2001, 3(4) (Oct):611-617.
• Surareungchai, W.; Deepunya, W.; Tassakorn, P. “Quadruple-pulsed amperometric detection for simultaneous flow injection determination of glucose and fructose” Analytica Chimica Acta 2001 , 448:215-220.
• Chaiprasert, P.; Bhumiratana, S.; Tanticharoen, M. “Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Pineapple Cannery Wastes” Thammasat International Journal of Science and Technology 2001 , 6 (2):1-9.
• Ruengitchatchawalya, M.; Chirasuwan, N.; Chaiklahan, R.; Bunnag, B.; Deshnium, P.; Tanticharoen, M. “Photosynthetic characteristics of a mutant of Spirulina plantensis ” Journal of Applied Phycology 2002 , 14:71-76.
• Posayapisit, N.; Pumputsa, K.; Mekvichitsaeng, P.; Techkarnjanaruk, S. “Phylo genetic analysis of Baculovirus chitinase sequence” Chitin Enzymology 2001, 343-350.
• Suriyawattanakul, L.; Surareungchai, W.; Sritongkum, P.; Tanticharoen, M.; Kirtikara, K. “The use of co-immobilization of Trichosporon cutaneum and Bacillus licheniformis for a BOD sensor ” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2002, 59:40-44.
• Na Nakon P., Suphantharika M., Udomsopagit S., and Surareungchai W. "Poly (vinylferrocene)-Polyethylene Glycol Glutamate Oxidase Electrode for Determination of Glutamate in Commercial Soy Sauces." Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology 2003, 19, 479-485.
• Khunyoshyeng, S.; Cheevadhanarak, S.; Rachdawong, S.; Tanticharoen, M. “Differential expression of desaturases and changes in fatty acid composition during sporangiospore germination and development in Mucor rouxii .” Fungal Genetics and Biology 2003 , 37, 13-21.
• Laoteng, K.; Pongchuachidthai, R.; Rueksomtawin, K.; Dandusitapunth, Y.; Tanticharoen, M.; Cheevadhanarak, S. “A Mucor rouxii mutant with high accumulation of an unusual trans -linoleic acid (9c, 12 t -C18: 2)” FEMS Microbiology Letters 2003, 10993, 1-7.
• Suvajittanont, W.; Chaiprasert, P. “Potential of biogas recirculation to enhance biomass accumulation on supporting media” Bioresource Technology 2003 , 88(2) , 157-162.
• Chaiprasert, P., W. Suvajittanont, B. Surarak, M. Tantichroen, and S. Bhumiratana. “ Nylon fiber as supporting media in anaerobic hybrid reactors: its effects on system's performance and microbial distribution .” Water Research , 2003, 37, 4605-4612.

Key Performance Index (KPI)

Key Performance Indicators have recently been introduced to BEC as a means to help measure the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and sustainability of the Unit and its work. Data is generated to provide KPI indicators that demonstrate effectiveness in research and development work. This includes amount and source of research funding, contract research and number of publications, which better helps to show the efficient use of research funds per FTE Ph.D. research staff and publications per FTE Ph.D. research staff, although it should be emphasized that BEC is not a publications-driven research unit. Performance indicators such as total income per total salary and number of M.Sc./Ph.D. students per FTE Ph.D. research staff are also used to measure the productivity and sustainability of the Unit.