Fermentek Ltd. is a

biotechnological Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...

company in the

Atarot Atarot ( he, עטרות) was a moshav in Mandatory Palestine, north of Jerusalem along the highway to Ramallah. It was named after the biblical Atarot mentioned in , which is believed to have been situated nearby. The moshav was captured and d ...

industrial zone of

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. It specializes in the research, development and manufacture of biologically active, natural products isolated from microorganisms as well as from other natural sources such as plants and algae. The main microorganisms used are nonpathogenic

actinomycetes The Actinomycetales is an order of Actinomycetota. A member of the order is often called an actinomycete. Actinomycetales are generally gram-positive and anaerobic and have mycelia in a filamentous and branching growth pattern. Some actinomycete ...

, Nocardia and Streptomycetes. The

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

used are: Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium and the like. None of these is a human

pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ ...

. Fermentek does not sell to individuals. Most of its products are marketed through major international distributors specializing in chemicals, under their own brand names. Nevertheless, Fermentek has specific impact on the biochemical market, especially in the field of mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin A mycotoxin (from the Greek μύκης , "fungus" and τοξίνη , "toxin") is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of kingdom Fungi and is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals. The term 'mycotoxin' ...

s are toxic compounds produced by molds in human food and farm animal feeds, thus being economically important factors. Fermentek manufactures an extensive line of pure mycotoxins used as standards in food analysis. In some cases, such as Aflatoxin M2, Fermentek supplies the entire world's requirements.Mycotoxin Fact-sheet, by European commission Institute for reference materials and standards 4th edition
/ref> In 2009, Fermentek announced a product family of highly standardized calibrant solutions of main mycotoxins. These are marketed under the brand name FermaSol. In 2010, it obtained

ISO 13485 ISO 13485 ''Medical devices -- Quality management systems -- Requirements for regulatory purposes'' is a voluntary standard, published by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for the first time in 1996, and contains a comprehensive ...

accreditation in connection with the production of starting materials for experimental drug production, and with manufacturing of reference standards of food contaminants. None of Fermentek's products have been invented by it. Fermentek's aim is to make known compounds affordable to the scientific community. Fermentek was founded by Dr. Yosef Behrend in 1994. It moved in 2004 to its new building, quadrupling its working space and greatly enlarging its manufacturing capacities.

Technology

Fermentek operates fermentors ranging in size from 10 to 15,000 liters, with filter presses and centrifuges of matching capacity. According to the company policy as declared at its official website, Fermentek uses only the "Classical" biotechnology approach. This means that only genetically unmodified natural microbial strains are employed, and no attempt is made to achieve mutants, neither random nor targeted.

Main products

*Mycotoxins:

Aflatoxin Aflatoxins are various poisonous carcinogens and mutagens that are produced by certain molds, particularly ''Aspergillus'' species. The fungi grow in soil, decaying vegetation and various staple foodstuffs and commodities such as hay, sweetcorn ...

Cytochalasin Cytochalasins are fungal metabolites that have the ability to bind to actin filaments and block polymerization and the elongation of actin. As a result of the inhibition of actin polymerization, cytochalasins can change cellular morphology, inhib ...

Fumonisins The fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins derived from ''Fusarium'' and their Liseola section. They have strong structural similarity to sphinganine, the backbone precursor of sphingolipids. More specifically, it can refer to: * Fumonisin B1 * ...

Gliotoxin Gliotoxin is a sulfur-containing mycotoxin that belongs to a class of naturally occurring 2,5-diketopiperazines produced by several species of fungi, especially those of marine origin. It is the most prominent member of the epipolythiopiperazi ...

Patulin Patulin is an organic compound classified as a polyketide. It is a white powder soluble in acidic water and in organic solvents. It is a lactone that is heat-stable, so it is not destroyed by pasteurization or thermal denaturation.http://www.s ...

Penicillic acid Penicillic acid is a mycotoxin that is produced by ''Aspergillus flavus'' and ''Penicillium roqueforti'' mold. It is also the major product of acid degradation of penicillin. Its first practical synthesis was reported in 1947 by Ralph Raphael, wh ...

Zearalenone Zearalenone (ZEN), also known as RAL and F-2 mycotoxin, is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some ''Fusarium'' and ''Gibberella'' species. Specifically, the ''Gibberella zeae ,'' the fungal species where zearalenone was initially detected, ...

Tentoxin Tentoxin is a natural cyclic tetrapeptide produced by phytopathogenic fungus ''Alternaria alternata''. It selectively induces chlorosis in several germinating seedling plants. Therefore, tentoxin may be used as a potential natural herbicide. Ten ...

, Deoxynivalenol, Citrinin,

T2 toxin T-2 Mycotoxin (pronounced as 'Tee-Two') is a trichothecene mycotoxin. It is a naturally occurring Mold (fungus), mold byproduct of ''Fusarium'' spp. fungus which is toxic to humans and animals. The clinical condition it causes is ''alimentary to ...

, HT2 toxin,

Moniliformin Moniliformin is an unusual mycotoxin, a feed contaminant that is lethal to fowl, especially ducklings. Moniliformin is formed in many cereals by a number of ''Fusarium'' species that include Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium ...

, Deacetoxyscirpenol, Neosolaniol,

Citreoviridin Citreoviridin is a mycotoxin which is produced by ''Penicillium'' and ''Aspergillus ' () is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. ''Aspergillus'' was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian pr ...

Beauvericin Beauvericin is a depsipeptide with antibiotic and insecticidal effects belonging to the enniatin family. It was isolated from the fungus ''Beauveria bassiana'', but is also produced by several other fungi, including several ''Fusarium'' species; i ...

Nivalenol Nivalenol (NIV) is a mycotoxin of the trichothecene group. In nature it is mainly found in fungi of the ''Fusarium'' species. The ''Fusarium'' species belongs to the most prevalent mycotoxin producing fungi in the temperate regions of the norther ...

Tenuazonic acid Tenuazonic acid is a mycotoxin produced by ''Alternaria'' species. It is a powerful eukaryotic protein synthesis inhibitor. It is a tetrameric acid that is ubiquitous in biological environments and prevents the release of newly synthesized prote ...

Alternariol Alternariol is a toxic metabolite of ''Alternaria'' fungi. It is an important contaminant in cereals and fruits. Alternariol exhibits antifungal and phytotoxic activity. It is reported to inhibit cholinesterase enzymes.Tacrolimus Tacrolimus, sold under the brand name Prograf among others, is an immunosuppressive drug. After allogeneic organ transplant, the risk of organ rejection is moderate. To lower the risk of organ rejection, tacrolimus is given. The drug can also ...

Sirolimus Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin and sold under the brand name Rapamune among others, is a macrolide compound that is used to coat coronary stents, prevent organ transplant rejection, treat a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosi ...

Ascomycin Ascomycin, also called Immunomycin, FR-900520, FK520, is an ethyl analog of tacrolimus (FK506) with strong immunosuppressant properties. It has been researched for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and skin diseases, and to prevent rejection ...

, Myriocin *Ionophores:

Valinomycin Valinomycin is a naturally occurring dodecadepsipeptide used in the transport of potassium and as an antibiotic. Valinomycin is obtained from the cells of several '' Streptomyces'' species, '' S. fulvissimus'' being a notable one. It is a member ...

Nonactin Nonactin is a member of a family of naturally occurring cyclic ionophores known as the macrotetrolide antibiotics. The other members of this homologous family are monactin, dinactin, trinactin and tetranactin which are all neutral ionophoric subst ...

Ionomycin Ionomycin is an ionophore and an antibiotic that binds calcium ions (Ca2+) in a ratio 1:1. It is produced by the bacterium '' Streptomyces conglobatus''. It binds also other divalent cations like magnesium and cadmium, but binds Ca2+ preferably. I ...

*Special antibiotics and molecular biology reagents.

Anisomycin Anisomycin, also known as flagecidin, is an antibiotic produced by '' Streptomyces griseolus'' which inhibits eukaryotic protein synthesis. Partial inhibition of DNA synthesis occurs at anisomycin concentrations that effect 95% inhibition of pro ...

Thiolutin Thiolutin is a sulfur-containing antibiotic, which is a potent inhibitor of bacterial and yeast RNA polymerases. It was found to inhibit ''in vitro'' RNA synthesis directed by all three yeast RNA polymerases (I, II, and III). Thiolutin is also an ...

Wortmannin Wortmannin, a steroid metabolite of the fungi ''Penicillium funiculosum'', '' Talaromyces wortmannii'', is a non-specific, covalent inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks). It has an ''in vitro'' inhibitory concentration (''IC''50) of a ...

K252a K252a is an alkaloid isolated from '' Nocardiopsis'' bacteria. This staurosporine analog is a highly potent cell permeable inhibitor of CaM kinase and phosphorylase kinase (IC50 = 1.8 and 1.7 nmol/ L, respectively). At higher concentrations it ...

Staurosporine Staurosporine (antibiotic AM-2282 or STS) is a natural product originally isolated in 1977 from the bacterium '' Streptomyces staurosporeus''. It was the first of over 50 alkaloids to be isolated with this type of bis-indole chemical structure. Th ...

, K252C, Bafilomycin,

Alamethicin Alamethicin is a channel-forming peptide antibiotic, produced by the fungus ''Trichoderma viride''. It belongs to peptaibol peptides which contain the non-proteinogenic amino acid residue Aib (2-aminoisobutyric acid). This residue strongly indu ...

Leptomycin Leptomycins are secondary metabolites produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp. Leptomycin B (LMB) was originally discovered as a potent antifungal compound. Leptomycin B was found to cause cell elongation of the fission yeast ''Schizosaccharomyces pomb ...

A23187 A23187 is a mobile ion-carrier that forms stable complexes with divalent cations ( ions with a charge of +2). A23187 is also known as Calcimycin, Calcium Ionophore, Antibiotic A23187 and Calcium Ionophore A23187. It is produced at fermentation of ...

Chelerythrine Chelerythrine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid present in the plant ''Chelidonium majus'' (greater celandine). It is a potent, selective, and cell-permeable protein kinase C inhibitor ''in vitro''. And an efficacious antagonist of G-protein-coup ...

Oligomycin Oligomycins are macrolides created by ''Streptomyces'' that can be poisonous to other organisms. Function They have use as antibiotics. Oligomycin A is an inhibitor of ATP synthase. In oxidative phosphorylation research, it is used to prevent ...

Trichostatin A Trichostatin A (TSA) is an organic compound that serves as an antifungal antibiotic and selectively inhibits the class I and II mammalian histone deacetylase (HDAC) families of enzymes, but not class III HDACs (i.e., sirtuins). However, there are ...

Cerulenin Cerulenin is an antifungal antibiotic that inhibits fatty acid and steroid biosynthesis. It was the first natural product antibiotic known to inhibit lipid synthesis. In fatty acid synthesis, it has been reported to bind in equimolar ratio to b- ...

Aphidicolin Aphidicolin is a tetracyclic diterpene antibiotic isolated from the fungus '' Cephalosporum aphidicola'' with antiviral and antimitotic properties. Aphidicolin is a reversible inhibitor of eukaryotic nuclear DNA replication. It blocks the cell ...

*Experimental drugs and drug precursors:

Parthenolide Parthenolide is a sesquiterpene lactone of the germacranolide class which occurs naturally in the plant feverfew ('' Tanacetum parthenium''), after which it is named, and in the closely related tansy ('' Tanacetum vulgare''). It is found in highe ...

Puromycin Puromycin is an antibiotic protein synthesis inhibitor which causes premature chain termination during translation. Inhibition of translation Puromycin is an aminonucleoside antibiotic, derived from the '' Streptomyces alboniger'' bacterium ...

Rapamycin Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin and sold under the brand name Rapamune among others, is a macrolide compound that is used to coat coronary stents, prevent organ transplant rejection, treat a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosi ...

Thapsigargin Thapsigargin is a non-competitive inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA). Structurally, thapsigargin is classified as a guaianolide, and is extracted from a plant, ''Thapsia garganica''. It is a tumor promoter in ma ...

cyclopamine Cyclopamine (11-deoxojervine) is a naturally occurring chemical that belongs in the family of steroidal alkaloids. It is a teratogen isolated from the corn lily ('' Veratrum californicum'') that causes fatal birth defects. It prevents the embryo ...

Thiostrepton Thiostrepton is a natural cyclic oligopeptide antibiotic of the thiopeptide class, derived from several strains of streptomycetes, such as ''Streptomyces azureus'' and ''Streptomyces laurentii''. Thiostrepton is a natural product of the ribosom ...

Mithramycin Plicamycin (INN, also known as mithramycin; trade name Mithracin) is an antineoplastic antibiotic produced by ''Streptomyces plicatus''. It is an RNA synthesis inhibitor. The manufacturer discontinued production in 2000. Several different struc ...

Midostaurin Midostaurin, sold under the brand name Rydapt & Tauritmo both by Novartis, is a multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitor that has been investigated for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and advanced sys ...

Geldanamycin Geldanamycin is a 1,4-benzoquinone ansamycin antitumor antibiotic that inhibits the function of Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90) by binding to the unusual ADP/ATP-binding pocket of the protein. HSP90 client proteins play important roles in the regula ...

and its derivates: 17-DMAG, 17-AAG

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website

BIOJERUSALEM
an initiative of the

Jerusalem Development Authority The Jerusalem Development Authority (), or JDA, is a joint agency of the Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality that works to promote and develop the economy of the city of Jerusalem. The Authority was founded by Uziel Wexler and was es ...

MatiMOP
MATIMOP - the Israeli Industry Center for R&D
Israeli Ministry of Industry
Chemical Authority
Bio-Israel about Fermentek
(BioIsrael, the hubsite of Israel`s life sciences community and a leading source of news and information) Biotechnology companies of Israel Biotechnology Research support companies Biotechnology companies established in 1995

Technology

Main products

See also

References

External links