BRANFORD, Conn., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , announced today that it has been selected by the National Center for Genome Resources (NCGR) to sequence the major pathogen of vegetable crops, Phytophthora capsici. The genome of the Phytophthora capsici pathogen is approximately 65 million bases (Mb) in size and will be sequenced at 454 Life Sciences’ state-of-the art Measurement Services Center located in Branford, Connecticut.
NCGR has received a grant for $3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-CSREES, the National Science Foundation and the DOE Community Sequencing Program for the sequencing project, which will be conducted in collaboration with 454 Life Sciences, the Joint Genome Institute of the Department of Energy, Ohio State University and the University of Tennessee. The collaborators will provide sequence information to researchers nationwide using the world-wide-web through the Phytophthora Functional Genomic Database (http://www.pfgd.org).
“This collaboration demonstrates the broad applicability of 454 Life Sciences’ genome sequencing technology,” stated Christopher K. McLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of 454 Life Sciences. “We look forward to utilizing the power of 454’s genome sequencing technology to identify with our collaborators those genes responsible for causing serious outbreaks among various crops, with the ultimate goal of utilizing this information to improve crop production.”
Phytophthora capsici, a fungus-like oomycete, is a devastating pathogen of vegetable crops such as squashes, pumpkins, tomatoes, and peppers. First reported in the U.S. in 1922 on chili peppers in New Mexico, Phytophthora capsici has spread widely to become a pathogen of national economic importance. Recently, it has also broadened the range of crops affected to include snap and lima beans. Sequencing the genome of Phytophthora capsici will provide the critical knowledge and tools needed to discover the genes that cause virulent outbreaks and determine host range. In turn, these studies will help farmers, breeders and producers develop improved diagnostics, resistant plant varieties, and better control measures.
About 454 Life Sciences Corporation
454 Life Sciences, a 66% majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , is commercializing novel instrumentation and measurement services for rapidly and comprehensively conducting high-throughput nucleotide sequencing, with specific application to sequencing of whole genomes and ultra-deep sequencing of target genes. 454 Life Sciences’ Genome Sequencer 20 System enables one individual to prepare and sequence an entire genome after performing a single sample preparation, irrespective of the size of the genome being studied. The hallmark of 454 Life Sciences’ technology is the PicoTiterPlate(TM), which allows a single instrument using patented light emitting sequencing chemistries to produce over 20 million nucleotide bases per five-hour run, totaling more than 100 times the capacity of instruments using the current macro-scale technology.
The Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents are available exclusively from Roche Applied Sciences. For additional information on the Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents, please visit http://www.roche-applied-science.com/sis/sequencing/genome/. 454 Life Sciences offers sequencing services directly to customers on a fee for service basis at their state-of-the-art Measurement Services Center. For additional information on 454 Life Sciences, please visit http://www.454.com.
About NCGR
NCGR is a non-profit research institute dedicated to improving human health and nutrition through collaborative research at the intersection of bioscience, computing and mathematics. http://www.ncgr.org.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include statements concerning the ability of 454 Life Sciences and its collaborators to identify those genes responsible for causing serious outbreaks among various crops, the ability of this information to improve crop production, the potential for the sequencing of the genome of Phytophthora capsici to provide the critical knowledge and tools needed to discover the genes that cause virulent outbreaks and determine host range, and the ability of these studies to help farmers, breeders and producers to develop improved diagnostics, resistant plant varieties, and better control measures. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen caution investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the early stage of development of 454 Life Sciences’ products and technologies; customer acceptance of 454 Life Sciences’ products and technologies; 454 Life Sciences’ ability to scale- up production of its products and technologies; disputes between 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen; the success of competing products and technologies; technological uncertainty and product development risks; uncertainties of clinical trials, government regulation and healthcare reform; uncertainty of additional funding with respect to both CuraGen and 454 Life Sciences; 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s history of incurring losses and the uncertainty of achieving profitability; CuraGen’s stage of development as a biopharmaceutical company; patent infringement claims against 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s products, processes and technologies; the ability to protect 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s patents and proprietary rights; uncertainties relating to commercialization rights; product liability exposure; and competition. Please refer to CuraGen’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005 for a complete description of these risks. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.
454 Life Sciences Peter Dacey Vice President, Finance info@454.com (877) 890-GNOM Noonan Russo Robert Stanislaro Account Supervisor robert.stanislaro@eurorscg.com (212) 845-4268
454 Life Sciences Corporation; CuraGen Corporation
CONTACT: Peter Dacey, Vice President, Finance of 454 Life Sciences, +1-877-890-GNOM, info@454.com; or Robert Stanislaro, Account Supervisor ofNoonan Russo, +1-212-845-4268, robert.stanislaro@eurorscg.com
