---------- > > Subject: Dung Beetles for manure control > > Date: Wednesday, September 10, 1997 12:37 PM > > ---------- > > > > > I have been researching Dung Beetles for ecological based manure control > > to prevent non-point pollution. Dung beetles can dispose of 1ton of manure/year over 2.5 acres >> resulting in: > > Soil fertility is enhanced > > Pollution reduced > > Moisture is return to land > > Promotes earthworm production > > and a potential new source of drugs > > > > Generally the beetle buries the manure within 36 hours thus preventing > > fly problems, disposal problems and nonpoint pollution. And I am >> wondering whether the drug industry would find merit it exploring raising Dung >> Beetles as new source of nature-based pharaceuticals. With the numerous current uses of >> Cyclosporin from heart transplants to Aids > > (a drug made from a a mold derived from dung beetles). >> I would think this has merit??? > > > > Does any one do research in this area ??? > > or Who can I contact ??? ANY thoughts??? > > How do I get support on promoting this ecological based waste disposal > > solution?? > > I would like those persons or institutions that are interested in promote > > sustainable solutions to help petition the USDA to keep this facility > > open...Funding could be cut in the next session of Congress. > > > > > > Currently funding for research by the USDA is being cut, and the only > > Quarantine facility in US ( down in Texas) is threathen with closing and > > chief Scientist Truman Fincher will be retiring if this facility > > closes. > > > > I would like to see the medical community support the continuing the > > research by USDA or APHIS (ARS) regarding Dung Beetles or have a white knight > > (Drug manufacter) come to rescue, estimated funding is less than $ 1.5 >> for the next 5 years to keep the facility open.... > > > > I hope this is proper application of this Listserve... > > . > > > > >--============= > > > BACKGROUND > > Cyclosporin synthetase (cysyn) is a multifunctional enzyme responsible > >for the biosynthesis of cyclosporins from their precursor amino acids. It has > > firstly been isolated from the fungusTolypocladium niveum in 1986. > > > http://www.chem.tu-berlin.de/Institute/Biochemie_und_Molekulare_Biologie/Arb /eitskreise/AK_Zocher/mirko/cyclosp.htm ====================>
> > http://www.news.cornell.edu/science/Sept96/cyclosporine.hrs.html > > Knowing the true family history of T. inflatum/C. subsessilis will help > > target the search for other nature-based pharmaceuticals, according to > > Thomas Eisner, the Cornell biologist whose Institute for Research in > > Chemical Ecology (CIRCE) will send "chemical prospecting" teams into the > > world's first temperate zone biodiversity preserve, less than a mile from > > the woods where students found the fungal fruiting bodies. One close > > relative of C. subsessilis already is known to Chinese athletes as the > > performance-enhancing "caterpillar fungus." > > > > "There are so many molds that we don't know the life cycle of. All the > > cyclosporin in the world -- for hundreds of thousands of transplant > > patients who need anti-rejection drugs -- has been made from > Tolypocladium > > inflatum cultures without that mold ever reaching the sexual state," said > > Kathie T. Hodge, the Cornell graduate student of systematic mycology who > > identified the New York fungus for what it is. "T. inflatum is commonly > > found in soils, but it does not make the sexual state without very >> special conditions -- until it is on its favorite host -- which seems to be the > > dung beetle." > > ------ > > > > The question I have how important is it or what might be the implications > > of have Tolypocladium inflatum cultures reaching the sexual state???? > > > > I > > > > > David B. Sullivan, Public Relations Director > > > Wisconsin Bison Producers Association > > > Telephone (608) -723-6213 > > > email: Buffalob@mhtc.net > > > email : Buffalo-Falls@juno.com Text only > > > > > > Mailing address: > > > Buffalo Falls Ranch, LLC > > > 7744 Irish Hollow Road > > > Potosi, Wi 53820 > > > >
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