How weather and air pollution increase disease

On Innovation Day, we look at recent biotech breakthroughs to make animals healthier, haircare cleaner, and even houseplants more efficient—and the health impacts if we don’t advance these innovations. (576 words, 2 minutes, 52 seconds)

How changing weather, air pollution increase disease

New research highlights the health impacts of changing weather and pollution—from spreading diseases like malaria to new regions to increasing the risk of late-onset depression.

The key finding: Mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa have moved to higher elevations (21 feet/year) and away from the Equator (3 miles/year) over the past century, matching the range and transmission rates of malaria as well as observed climate patterns, says a study published Tuesday in Biology Letters.

What’s the weather got to do with it? “As the planet warms, plants and animals—particularly invertebrates—are seeking cooler temperatures, either by moving to higher altitudes or by moving closer to the poles,” explains The New York Times.

Why it matters: Previous studies have shown climate change exacerbates infectious disease, but this study shows the clear and “dramatic” links between animal habits, weather, and disease transmission.

But it’s not only infectious disease we need to worry about: A study published last Friday by JAMA finds long-term exposure to air pollution increased the risk of a diagnosis of depression in adults over 64.

Biotech has solutions—from genetically engineering mosquitoes to control disease and ensuring animals can withstand hotter temperatures in the short term, to addressing the root problems of rising emissions and warming with sustainable fuels, carbon removal technology, and biomanufacturing.

More Health News: 

EUCOPE: EUCOPE adds nine new innovative members to its network
EUCOPE’s Secretary General Alexander Natz said, “We’re proud to welcome these new members just before the announcement of the revision of the EU Pharma Package proposal – which will set the EU biopharmaceutical environment for the coming decades. Celebrating our 15th anniversary this year, we hope their added spirit will refresh our continued commitment to driving innovation in EU life sciences.” 

How biotech innovation is making our world better

Today (February 16) is Innovation Day—so we figured it’s a good day to check in on biotech companies’ latest advances for people, animals, and the planet.

Boosting cattle immunity: BIO member Acceligen partnered with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to develop gene-edited cattle resistant to bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), a virus that causes respiratory and reproductive problems in cattle. (The first gene-edited calf is normal and healthy at 16 months!)

We’ve heard about Acceligen before…The company’s beef cattle gene-edited to be resistant to high heat was recently greenlit by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Minimizing microplastics: Synthetic biology star (and BIO member) Ginkgo Bioworks is partnering with Bioweg to produce biodegradable biobased substitutes for synthetic polymers (like microbeads) that contribute to microplastic pollution.

Cleaning up haircare: Amyris (yup, also a BIO member!) launched a clean haircare line for natural and curly hair with actress Tia Mowry. The products are made with Hemi15, a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to hemisqualane silicone, made by precision fermentation.

Supercharging houseplants: French startup Neoplants is selling a genetically engineered houseplant (dubbed “Devil’s ivy”) that’s 30 times more efficient at removing common pollutants from the air by “inserting genes from bacteria that eat toxic chemicals into the symbiotic microorganisms that naturally live inside and around its roots,” explains Freethink.

So, how do we continue to see innovations like these? We need regulatory certainty and policy that supports innovation.

President Biden’s Thursday: Hosting a screening of “Till” this evening at the White House.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: We’re watching the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s hearing on the bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2023—we’ll report back tomorrow. Additional hearings today will address healthcare workforce shortages and the Farm Bill’s nutrition programs.