• In the context of a research work on isolated microorganisms in the Chilean Antarctica, the research team led by Dr Claudio Vásquez, professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of Universidad de Santiago, discovered that glutathione reductase is one of the enzymes able to reduce tellurite, a compound which is highly toxic to almost all microorganisms.

Tellurium, a chemical element with symbol Te and atomic number 52, seems to be non-toxic. However, when combined with other elements like oxygen, it produces tellurite, which is very harmful to living organisms.

A research team led by Dr Claudio Vásquez studied the mechanisms that bacteria use against high concentrations of toxic metals. The results of the study were published in the American Society for Microbiology’sjournal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, USA.

This study is part of the Regular Fondecyt Project N° 1130362 “Tellurite-resistant Antarctic bacteria: Unveiling new toxicant resistance mechanisms,” which also inquired into how oxygen is partially reduced with the concomitant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells exposed to a toxicant. Organisms that depend on oxygen to breath live in an oxidative environment that affects their cells. Therefore, to prevent the cell’s structure and chemical composition from being damaged, they have an inner reductive environment,” he explains.

In the Antarctica

To collect the required samples, Dr Vásquez and Dr José Manuel Pérez of Universidad Andrés Bello, went to the Prat and Escudero Antarctic Bases; they visited Deception Island and Fildes Peninsula and travelled on the Almirante Óscar Viel ice-breaker of the Chilean Army.

“As the Antarctic laboratories are well equipped, we were able to process part of those samples. We wanted to isolate the Antarctic microorganisms resistant to the toxic salt tellurite that we had studied years ago at the university laboratory,” Dr Vásquez says. In the samples that they studied, they were able to isolate several tellurite-resistant bacteria.

Tellurite reduction

Dr Vásquez and his team were able to prove that glutathione reductase is responsible for reducing tellurite and, therefore, for the cell’s resistance to this toxicant.

“We purified proteins as of crude extracts of resistant bacteria and we found that a particular enzyme, glutathione reductase, was largely responsible for reducing the toxicant, as it changed it to its non-toxic metallic form,” he says.

“We tested these nanoparticles and we found that they have antibacterial properties, so they can be used to fight pathogenic bacteria that cause disease,” he adds.

It is worth to mention that the studies conducted by Dr Vásquez are eco-friendly, as he uses biosynthesis: He reduces metals by using proteins or cells and not chemical substances. In this way, it is possible to lower expenses and work at environment temperature, avoiding negative impacts on the ecosystem.

Dr Vásquez says that as tellurite is rare in the environment, it has been poorly studied and its properties are not well understood.

The research team is made up of the following members: Dr Benoit Pugin, Fabián Cornejo and Pablo Muñoz-Díaz (biochemists), Claudia Muñoz-Vilagrán, Joaquín Vargas-Pérez (biochemist) and Dr Felipe Arenas.

To read the full paper, search “Glutathione reductase-mediated synthesis of tellurium containing nanostructures exhibiting antibacterial properties” on the web.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The study “Application of nanotechnology to develop a new ethylene adsorber oriented to the production of packaging for climacteric fruits,” successfully concluded. The new mechanism will allow delaying the ripening process of Chilean horticultural products exported to countries in Europe, North America and Asia.

Chile is a leading exporting country of horticultural products. As its most important buyer countries are in Europe, North America and Asia, shipping distances pose a challenge with regard to keeping the quality of these products.

In 2012, in order to contribute with a solution to this problem and because of Universidad de Santiago’s vocation to serve the country, the project “Application of nanotechnology to develop a new ethylene adsorber oriented to the production of packaging for climacteric fruits” was started, with the support of the Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development (Fondef, in Spanish).

Dr Francisco Rodríguez, professor at the Department of Food Science and Technology, the Packaging Laboratory (Laben, in Spanish) and at the Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Cedenna, in Spanish) of Universidad de Santiago, has led the research team.

Ethylene gas control

After four years, the results confirmed the study’s hypothesis to use a packaging system that includes a mechanism to control ethylene gas and delay the ripening process. Ethylene gas controls plant growth and accelerates the maturation process.

“Our goal was to develop ethylene active films based on modified aluminum silicates and polyethylene in order to produce a material that can be used when shipping these products to distant markets,” the researcher said.

In the study, researchers used climacteric fruits like banana, plum and avocado. They had a positive response to the incorporation of an active plastic material based on zeolite, which structure was modified with some metals. “Modified zeolite showed an ethylene removal capacity five times higher than the capacity of non-modified zeolite,” Dr Rodríguez said.

Project closing seminar

The final results of the project led by Dr Rodríguez were presented at a seminar held in Hotel Plaza San Francisco. Representatives of some of the collaborating entities participated in the activity, like Maderas Bravo, Clariant and San Jorge Packaging

In this regard, Sergio Carrillo, Coordinator of the Department of Technology Management of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, said: “The focus now is on technology transfer, but for a long time, it was on research, and the market was out of the university scope. Fortunately, this has changed lately.”

For his part, Dr Rodríguez mentioned the possibility of continuing with this work so as to see the study results in the market, i.e, the use of the film in fruit exports. Up to now, the system works well, but it requires some adjustments to obtain a better product before going to market.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The projects supported by the Department of Agrarian Management of the Technological Faculty and the Food Science and Technology Research Center of Universidad de Santiago show important results, like a bio-pesticide based on residual quinoa grains or the potential edible use of this pseudo-cereal leaves.

The projects supported by the Department of Agrarian Management of the Technological Faculty and the Food Science and Technology Research Center of Universidad de Santiago (Cecta, in Spanish), show important progress in their goal of feeding the population in a healthy and equitable way.

The first project, “Biopesticidas en base a saponinas de quínoa” (Bio-pesticides based on quinoa saponins) (FIC 30343624-0) lasts three years and it is being developed in the O’Higgins Region, in Central Chile. It has the purpose of using the residual quinoa grains to generate a natural pesticide for grapevines.

The second project, “Valorización agroindustrial de subproductos de la quínoa” (Agro-industrial valuation of quinoa byproducts) (FIC 30429825-0), lasts three years and it is also being developed in the O’Higgins Region. The goal of this project is to promote the cultivation of quinoa, with new applications. Besides using the grains, they expect to promote the use of the leaves in salads.

The third project, “Habilitación de productores hortícolas de la región Metropolitana para la elaboración de productos IV gama” (Training vegetable producers of the Metropolitan Region in the elaboration of IV range products) (GORE BIP 30442786-0), lasts 18 months and it is the continuation of a project developed by the Cecta researchers in 2011 that tested different protocols to reduce the microbial load in vegetables like lettuces, cabbages and carrots.

Carlos Díaz Ramírez, Professor at the Department of Agrarian Management and Innovation Manager of the projects, explains that the purpose of this project is to train small farmers in the care and safety of all the production and supply chain of vegetables, until the products reach the consumer.

Some of the Cecta scientists involved in the projects are Professor Lina Yáñez Catalán, Dr Claudio Martínez and Dr José Luis Palacios Pino.

• The project, funded by CORFO, is led by Dr. Claudia Ortiz, researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, and it focuses on developing a biological filter using brown algae, enhancing copper and arsenic recovery from the water used in the mining process. The filters can also be used as desalination agents. This involves the real possibility of using seawater as an alternative to mining production processes.

Water consumption in Chile’s mining industry is now a multi-faceted problem. Water shortage in large deposits of minerals located in the center and northern part of the country, the disadvantages of the systems available for water treatment, and the figures, show that 95 percent of the recourse that enters the plants ends up as waste.

Given this reality, the project led by Dr. Claudia Ortiz, researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, aims to obtain a biofilter prototype (biological filters) based on Chilean brown algae, which are chemically modified for the absorption of large concentrations of elements such as copper and arsenic.

In words of the researcher, "the direct recovery of copper, by using biofilters, will cause productive benefit and also an increase in the life cycle of the water process, resulting in more efficient resource usage. Also, the content of elements, such as arsenic and copper, will decrease. Their presence in the environment is a global problem because of the persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity to living organisms. "

This project corresponds to one of the six initiatives of the Applied R & D project funded by CORFO, which the University will run.

Because of its high efficiency at low concentrations of heavy metals and its low cost, the filters may also be used as desalination agents and this means the real possibility of using seawater, as an alternative to mining production processes.

"The project involves a comprehensive solution, which is efficient and cheap to industry. Currently, this field faces three problems: access to water resources, optimization of copper production, by recovering this metal from the waste, and the use of sea water in the process," Dr. Ortiz says. She adds that in a first phase, the project includes the development of laboratory-scale biofilter prototype and then the project scaling to industrial level.

The project is conducted by: the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology; the Department of Geographic Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as hydro-specialized support, as well as Good Harbour Technologies a Canadian company specialized in process scaling, and División Codelco Chuquicamata, as associated with the project.

• By means of a Regular Fondecyt Project, researchers at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, led by Dr. Brenda Modak, are studying a treatment to protect the national salmon farming industry from the dangerous bacterium Piscirickettsia Salmonis, by using wild plants from the Atacama Desert.
• “Synthetic products have proved to be a problem where they have been used as they accumulate at the bottom of the sea. This is the reason why we refer to this as a sanitary challenge that national aquaculture has to face. Working with a natural compound will not only lead to a less invasive cure: there will also be less pollution in waters where it is used,” Dr. Modak stressed.

In the last decades, aquaculture in Chile has been constantly growing, placing Chile in the first place of producers in America, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Also, salmon production accounts for 76% of the national fish farming industry, according to the National Service of Fishing. For these reasons, infections affecting salmon farming at a national level can become a serious problem for the country.

“We are the world’s second leading country in salmon farming, after Norway. So, everything related to infectious diseases becomes important, even more, when it comes to Piscirickettsia salmonis, a bacterium that has killed about 50% of the salmon population in the country,” affecting an industry that generates more than 60 thousand jobs in the south of the country,” Dr. Brenda Modak stressed.

In order to find effective solutions to this problem, Dr. Modak, together with a multidisciplinary research team from Universidad de Santiago’s Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, are working on the Regular Fondecyt Project “Evaluation of natural products with potential antibacterial activity against P. Salmonis.”

“We are trying to test the activity of natural products isolated from plants against this bacterium (P. Salmonis), which has been difficult to combat with common synthetic antibiotics. However, our compounds have proved to be effective as antiviral drugs and immunostimulants for salmons, so this is where the idea of testing them in salmons already infected came from,” she said.

To develop the treatment, researchers will work with plants that grow wildly in the Atacama Desert, which produce a resin that covers the plants to protect themselves against the unfavorable environment in which they grow.

“We will extract the resin from the plant and then we will separate its different components. We have seen that the resin is made of two groups of compounds, from which we will take some samples and test them against the bacterium,” she said.

Three Universidad de Santiago’s laboratories are taking part in this study: the Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Products, the Laboratory of Immunology and the Laboratory of Virology. First, the study of the extracted resin will be started until the pure compounds are obtained. This will be followed by the bacterial cell growth. Then, the in vitro work will be done, observing how the bacterium is affected by the compounds. Finally, in the in vivo work, salmons will be infected and then they will be given an injection with the elaborated product.

“Synthetic products have proved to be a problem where they have been used as they accumulate at the bottom of the sea. This is the reason why we refer to this as a sanitary challenge that national aquaculture has to face. Working with a natural compound will not only lead to a less invasive cure: there will also be less pollution in waters where it is used,” Dr. Modak stressed.
 

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• Cyanide is one of the most commonly used chemicals in gold mining, mainly because it is easy to obtain and is highly effective in recovering this metal. However, due to its high levels of toxicity, its use should be controlled to avoid leaks. This is the reason why the process suggested in the study led by Dr Julio Romero, professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering of our University, is so important.

 

“These processes require very large equipment and a constant control, and may involve potential hazards, like leaks. This fact is particularly critical, because there may be gas streams containing cyanide as hydrogen cyanide flowing in the plant through large columns that could affect both people and the environment, if they are not handled with enough caution,” Dr. Julio Romero, researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering, said.

For these reasons and according to the research lines of the Laboratory of Membrane Separation Processes (LabProSeM) of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, the research team conducted a study to minimize the risk posed by the changing conditions of cyanide by means of a membrane absorption process. The study was published by the Journal of Membrane Science with the name of “Design and cost estimation of a gas-filled membrane absorption (GFMA) process as alternative for cyanide recovery in gold mining.”

“We developed and adapted a new process that requires only one confined and compact piece of equipment. It allows cyanide to pass from one phase to the other without having to change its condition to gaseous state in a circulating stream, thanks to a membrane that absorbs and desorbs this substance in one stage,” he explained. 

The system works as a selective barrier, partly similar to biological membranes. These membranes are commercialized in the market and they are adapted for this specific use.

“This time, we evaluated a membrane with gas-filled pores, specifically, air-filled pores. In this way, the two solutions- the one from which the cyanide will be removed and the one in which the cyanide will be kept- contact each other passing through the membrane pores. This allows a controlled operation, reducing the risk of cyanide escapes into the atmosphere,” Dr Romero said.

The study was developed as of some systems that simulated the composition of the water in a gold deposit. This increases the feasibility of the design in real operations, because it suggests a reduction in the energy footprint of the process. Besides, it produces a 35% more of the net value provided by the AVR system and is comparable to the SART process.

The published article is the result of a more extensive study related to the dissertation work of Humberto Estay, graduated from the Engineering Sciences PhD program with a Major in Process Engineering, at Universidad de Santiago. Students and academics at Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana have also contributed to this work.

Contributing to Green Chemistry

The LabProSeM has worked for more than 14 years on the study of membrane separation processes and their use in hydrometallurgical processes, food processing, biofuel separation and gas and waste management.  

Currently, the different studies supported by this laboratory have an ultimate goal: to incorporate the principles of eco-friendly chemistry. This idea was inspired by the green chemistry philosophy, based on 12 principles that intend to reduce the impact of future chemical processes.

“Membranes, as selective barriers, use a physical means to restrict the use of reagents and chemicals harmful to the environment. We would like to focus our research lines on the development of applications that respect the principles of green chemistry. We try to modify the design of our products, chemical treatments, processes and others, to make them eco-friendly. All this with the purpose of eliminating or considerably reducing the production of pollutants,” Dr Romero said.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• “Universidad de Santiago has all the potential to be number one in most areas (of research in the country),” Dr Pablo Zamora, Scientific Director of University of California Davis in Chile, says. The institution opened its centre in Santiago last April, thanks to the CORFO’s Program Attraction of International Centres of Excellence. He adds that his institution is interested in the possibilities of research and development in biology, chemistry and agricultural management, among others.

Dr Pablo Zamora, graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of Universidad de Santiago and current Scientific Director of University of California Davis in Chile, proposes a research model based on demand. Last April, this institution established a research centre in Chile thanks to the CORFO’s Program Attraction of International Centres of Excellence.

On April 21^st, President Michelle Bachelet opened the UC Davis-Chile Life Sciences Innovation Centre in Santiago, Chile, a worldwide example in the development of research and solutions in agriculture, forestry and life sciences.

The founding academic partners are Universidad de Tarapacá, Universidad de Talca and Universidad Andrés Bello, while the corporate partners are Viña Concha y Toro and Viña San Pedro-Tarapacá. Currently, Universidad de Santiago de Chile is in the process of ratifying its incorporation to UC Davis Chile.

Dr Pablo Zamora, graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of Universidad de Santiago and PhD in Biotechnology, leads the scientific area of this initiative and is in charge of facing this new challenge of doing science form a perspective that strengthens the links between the corporate and the academic worlds.

Interest

“We are interested in Universidad de Santiago for its research and development capabilities in biology, chemistry, agriculture and agriculture management in the Technological Faculty. Another big advantage is the capability that the University has in engineering issues,” Dr Zamora says.

Universidad de Santiago will be represented by Dr Alejandra Moenne, professor at the Department of Biology of the Faculty. She will be the technical counterpart in the Scientific Board of US Davis Chile. She will be in charge of leading research proposals and representing the University in the projects managed in partnership by both institutions.

“We see Universidad de Santiago in different roles. For example, in the area of applied research, with its laboratories and also in development issues,” he says.

“The UC Davis Chile research model is different, but not original. It is based on the demand. In Chile, this has not been well developed because companies have little capacity to generate research. There is also a sort of dissociation between the companies’ challenges and the research conducted by universities,” he explains.

UC Davis Chile focuses its work on four large areas: wine making, post harvest and climate change technologies and genetic improvement.

“In order to make sure that research projects will really have an impact on industry, we will meet with companies, learn about their problems and analyze the knowledge and services offered by UC Davis and its national academic partners to formulate projects to solve those problems. This seems quite obvious, but it usually does not occur,” he says, regarding the way in which UC Davis Chile works.

“Not all companies consider scientific research as a tool that can make them more productive. UC Davis has a large experience in collaborating and generating solutions for the production problems that companies have. This allows them to start seeing research as a means to enable increased competitiveness,” he adds.

Back in Chile and at the University

For this graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology and current member of the staff of the doctoral program in biotechnology, collaborating with the University is not only a matter of being fond of the University; he thinks that Universidad de Santiago “has all the potential to be number one in most areas (of research) in Chile.”

“Being back at the Faculty is very gratifying. Its progress is evident and, for this reason, I have full confidence that Universidad de Santiago can be number one at a national level,” he says.

Ministry of Science

With regards to President’s Bachelet announcement of the creation of a Ministry of Science, Dr Zamora says: “It is valuable, because, in some way, it makes science visible, but it does not guarantee the development of better science in Chile. As a scientist, I think it is valuable, but I believe that there should be a focal point and clear guidelines, and because we are a country with little resources, some strategic areas should be clustered together and strengthened,” he says.

“I think that the State should make an effort in involving and building links with the productive sector. In turn, the private sector should commit itself to allocate more resources for research and development. UC Davis in Chile will contribute to strengthen the relation science-industry, together with other institutions. Is this happening? Yes, it is. Are we on the right track? I believe we are. Is all this happening at the speed the country requires? I think it is not, but things don’t happen from one day to the next,” he concludes.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

•  Dr Claudio Laurido, professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of Universidad de Santiago, is studying the reduction of chronic arthritis pain by using drugs administrated via extended-release nanoparticles. “Currently, very strong injectable drugs are required, like morphine, with several undesirable side effects. The purpose of using these nanoparticles is to administrate lower doses of drugs, hopefully, with less side effects,” the researcher said.

According to the Chilean Ministry of Health, 1% of the population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, mostly women between 45 and 75 years old.

Dr Claudio Laurido, professor at the Department of Biology of Universidad de Santiago, seeks to use drug-loaded extended-release nanoparticles to inhibit arthritis pain, by injecting them into the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid. 

“Currently, very strong injectable drugs are required, like morphine, with several undesirable side effects. The purpose of using these nanoparticles is to administrate lower doses of drugs, hopefully, with less side effects for patients,” the researcher says.

The study "Manufactura de nanopartículas de liberación prolongada de fármacos, caracterización y ensayo en ratas monoartríticas" (Development of drug extended-release nanoparticles. Characterization and testing in monoarthritic rats), will last for three years and is funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Department (Dicyt, in Spanish) of Universidad de Santiago.

The researcher says that there is evidence that chronic pain can kill a person. If pain is not controlled, it can affect the immune function, stimulate tumor growth, and cause depression, increasing the risk of suicide in patients.

“Common drugs are not the solution, as they relieve acute pain, which may be strong, but then it is reduced until disappearing. Chronic pain persists in time,” he adds.

For this reason, this study is focused on analyzing the neurobiological bases of chronic pain and identifying the cells involved in the processes that start, develop and maintain chronic arthritis pain.

Contributing to neurobiology

Dr Alejandro Hernández, co-investigator in this study, suggests the possibility of modulating spinal pain mechanisms by suppressing the communication between the glial system and neurons with drugs. For this purpose, the study will develop nanoparticles loaded with drugs that improve the cerebral blood flow.  

In this study, nanoparticles will be made of biocompatible and biodegradable materials, like lipids and other products used in the food and cosmetics industry.

“These nanoparticles are used for their ability to encapsulate and release drugs over time. A common pill does not have this ability and lasts for a maximum of 4-6 hours. In this case, only one dose is totally effective,” Dr Laurido explains.

With this study, the researcher expects to contribute to the field of neurobiology. Extended-release nanoparticles allow to place drugs close to the area where the pain is generated (spinal cord), using much lower doses, reducing the administration frequency, reducing or eliminating undesirable side effects and increasing drug effectiveness. It will be a great contribution to the study of pain.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The work of the CESS Oxford-U de Santiago was evaluated by the Newton-Picarte Fund as one of the best projects.

The funding allocated by this program of the British Government will allow the Center to continue its path to become a hub of experimental research in Social Sciences in Latin America. It will allow promoting the training of PhD students and professors in experimental research, particularly in experimental methods for the analysis of public policies.

The Newton-Picarte Fund program is a partnership between the Chilean’s National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (Conicyt, in Spanish) and the British Government to support scientific research in Chile, particularly in joint research projects involving Chilean and British scientists, technology transfer and innovation, advanced human capital development for research and innovation, and the generation of  challenges that provide innovative solutions for the development of our country. 

Funding allocation

Raymond Duch, Director of the Center for Experimental Social Sciences Oxford-Universidad de Santiago, explains that the most important contribution of this fund is that it will allow providing training to policy makers in Chile.

“This training will help them to apply experimental methods to design more effective and efficient policies in different areas. First, we will focus on Education, but in the long term, we will include other important areas of Chilean politics,” he emphasizes. Besides, the fund awarded will finance a workshop with renowned social scientists worldwide.

“It will be a unique opportunity for students in Chile to meet with policy makers and analysts and discuss the current policies faced by the Chilean Government and also give ideas on how to make policies that meet their goals. For example, a way of improving job opportunities for Chilean youngsters who have problems to enter the labor market,” he says.

The Newton-Picarte Fund will allow the Center to offer its training programs, research and educational possibilities to a wide variety of Chilean academics, the Government and the private sector.

“The training courses that we have developed for our partners in the Chilean Government will be available for ministries, students and teachers as well as decision-makers in the private sector,” Director Duch concludes.

The funds were awarded after a highly competitive process in which the CESS Oxford-U de Santiago was among the best evaluated projects.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• A study by Dr. Mario Tello, researcher at this center, establishes a previously unknown relationship between an infectious salmon anemia (ISA) genome segment and its virulence.

The study by this researcher at the Aquaculture Biotechnology Center and the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago de Chile, could provide important insights about how to predict salmon mortality by the ISA virus, a disease that affects Chilean aquaculture since 2007.

The research "Analysis of the use of codon pairs in the HE gene of the ISA virus shows a correlation between HPR bias in codon pair use and mortality rates caused by the virus" was published in the June issue of the Virology Journal, a specialized international publication.

The journal provides details of the investigation conducted by the University Of Santiago de Chile’s scientist who was able to identify the role and the relationship of a segment of the ISA virus by using bioinformatics tools and the existing literature.

According to Dr.Tello, the results of this study are one of the first hypotheses to explain why a highly variable region of the virus, called HPR (High Polymorphism Region), would be associated with the observed virulence.

 "Our results suggest that there is a region of the virus affecting its transmission and its ability to cause the disease. “That is to say, our analyzes suggest that there is a direct relationship between the mortality caused by the virus and the efficiency of its translation", Dr. Tello says.

According to the researcher, "the strain of the virus found in Chile would be one of the most efficient in the translation, and this would be directly related to an increasing mortality," and explain one of the possible reasons for the high mortality reported in our country.

Although the in vitro results have not been confirmed yet, the research is already an important step in deciphering the ISA virus characteristics, and it could provide solutions to the salmon industry. "Perfectly, these solutions could aim at generating a virulence predictor based on the analysis of the HPR region, a predictor in which we are working," the scientist says.