Author: press release Source: PR Newswire (
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IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Inscent, Inc. has received a
Small Business Innovative Research grant from the US National Science
Foundation to continue the development of novel technologies and products
based on insect chemosensory proteins. The funded project concerns our
proprietary high throughput assay system, Attenu. The Attenu system is a
highly efficient assay for rapidly identifying molecules that bind to
insect chemosensory proteins and potentially alter their activity. These
include small molecules from combinatorial chemical or natural product
libraries.
The Attenu assay system has applications in two broad areas:
Insect pest control products: Inscent, Inc. is designing environmentally
responsible insect control methods that will eclipse the current
generation of products on the market. Inscent's approach is based on
behavior alteration and control of insect pests by manipulating the
chemosensory system. The company is developing repellents and attractants
for several important insect species, including Anopheles gambiae, a
mosquito that is the primary vector for malarial transmission in Africa,
and Apis mellifera, the European honey bee.
Biosensors: Inscent, Inc. is developing highly efficient and extremely
sensitive biosensors based on insect chemosensory proteins. These devices
can be used to detect toxins, chemicals, explosives, biological agents, or
various pest species.
Inscent, Inc. (www.inscent.com) has developed a number of novel
platform technologies to exploit the wide variety, high selectivity, and
high sensitivity of natural insect chemosensory systems. The company is
focusing on species-specific insect control products that are
environmentally responsible. Inscent, Inc. is also developing highly
sensitive biosensors utilizing a diverse collection of insect chemosensory
proteins. Inscent's platform technologies utilize the latest developments
in molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to design advanced,
environmentally responsible insect pest control solutions and novel,
versatile biosensors. Inscent, Inc. plans to license these technologies to
interested parties in addition to employing them for in-house or contracted
research.
The National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF;
www.nsf.gov) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental
research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with
an annual budget of $5.58 billion. NSF also encourages scientific
innovation and discovery in the commercial sector, primarily through the
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program.
