Codex DNA Announces Synthetic Biology Collaboration with US Department of Agriculture to Combat Citrus Greening Disease

Codex DNA to contrihowevere novel synthetic biology-based mostly options to cease the unfold of A worldwide illness that continues to devastate the citrus enterprise

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Codex DNA, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNAY), a pioneer in automated benchtop synthetic biology methods, right now introduced a collaboration with researchers from the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Evaluation Service (ARS), Cornell College, the College of Florida, the College of California at Riverside, and AgroSource, Inc., to decide scalable thperiodpeutic measures in the direction of citrus greening illness. This multidisciplinary group has been awarded a grant worth almost $15 million from the Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop value-efficient and sustainable options to the insect-borne illness ravaging the $10 billion citrus enterprise in Florida, Texas, and California. As beforehand disclosed in Codex DNA’s filings with the Securities and Commerce Fee, The agency will acquire As a lot as $3 million as a sub-awardee to levperiodge and increase its numerous synthetic biology portfolio for agricultural bioknow-how purposes.

Citrus greening illness, additionally referred to as Huanglongbing, is a damaging bacterial illness affecting citrus crops Throughout the globe. First recognized in Florida in 2005, citrus greening illness has since been detected in every citrus-producing county in Florida and across California. Citrus greening illness Is notably damaging in its capability To Scale again citrus type and yield and significantly shortens the tree’s lifespan. Citrus greening illness Is definitely unfold by bugs referred to as psyllids. The USDA predicts that On The prevailing price of unfold and the continued influence on the economies of manufacturing, citrus greening illness might destroy the U.S. citrus enterprise.

The NIFA grant connects researchers across disciplines collectively with molecular and mobile biology, synthetic biology, plant physiology, pest-transmitted illness intperiodctions, agricultural engineering, and completely differents.

“We’re delighted to work with Codex DNA To unravel The primary worldwide citrus greening illness problem. As A pacesetter Inside the synthetic biology area, Codex DNA brings A singular strategy to this drawback,” said Robert Shatters, PhD, Evaluation Chief of USDA ARS and Principal Investigator on the NIFA grant.

Codex DNA will use its automated benchtop system to speedyly geneprice synthetic DNA In a place to delivering thperiodpeutic molecules to crops. The agency provides An best screening reply for the group’s novel symbiont know-how as a Outcome of it permits the period of complicated and numerous synthetic DNA libraries in A quick Interval of time.

“We’re gpriceful to NIFA for this funding and to The Reprimaryder of our collaborators for envisioning such a compelling enterprise,” said Todd R. Nelson, PhD, CEO of Codex DNA. “This enterprise aligns completely with our agency’s objective of enabling The event of sustainable, synthetic biology-based mostly options To deal with The Most very important problems we face right now. We’re wanting forward to working with this group of scientists To assist shield our citrus crops and safe our food current.”

Furtherextra, Codex DNA will construct on its expertise in creating the Vmax^TM system, a scalable thperiodpeutic molecule discovery and manufacturing platform That permits speedy And worth-efficient screening and identification of biomolecules That Can be efficient in the direction of citrus greening illness. Codex DNA plans to make the Vmax system broadly accessible for researchers Inside the identification of remedy candidates for completely different plant, animal, and human illnesss.

About Codex DNA
Codex DNA is empowering scientists with The power To deal with Lots of humanity’s greveryeck problems by way of synthetic biology. As inventors of the enterprise-regular Gibson Meeting® method and The primary enterprise automated benchtop DNA and mRNA synthesis system, Codex DNA is enabling speedy, right, and reproducible writing of DNA and mRNA for pretty A pair of dpersonalstream markets. The agency’s award-worthwhile BioXp™ system consolidates, automates, and optimizes The complete synthesis, cloning, and amplification workflow. In consequence, it delivers almost error-free synthesis of DNA/RNA at scale within days and hours Rather than weeks or months. Scientists Round the globe are using the know-how Inside Their very personal laboratories to acceleprice the design-construct-look at paradigm to create novel, extreme-worth merchandise for precision medicine, biologics drug discovery, vaccine and thperiodpeutic enchancment, genome modifying, and cell and gene remedy. Codex DNA is a public agency based mostly in San Diego. For extra information, go to codexdna.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press launch inagencys “forward-wanting statements” Contained in the which Stpricegy of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-wanting statements are based mostly on Codex DNA’s beliefs and assumptions and on information presently out there to it on the date of this press launch. Forward-wanting statements might contain acknowledged and unacknowledged risks, uncertainties and completely different elements Which will set off Codex DNA’s exact end outcomes, efficiency or achievements to be materially completely different from these expressed or implied by the forward-wanting statements. These statements embrace however Aren’t restricted to statements relating to Codex DNA’s capability to geneprice synthetic DNA In a place to delivering thperiodpeutic molecules to crops. These and completely different risks are described extra absolutely in Codex DNA’s filings with the Securities and Commerce Fee (“SEC”) and completely different paperwork that Codex DNA subsequently information with the SEC As quickly as Shortly. Besides to the extent required by regulation, Codex DNA undertakes no obligation to replace such statements To mirror events that happen or circumstances that exist after the date on which they have been made.

Contact:
Jennifer McNealey
Chief Monetary Officer
[email protected]