SummaryThe discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the concurrent development of protocols for their cell-type-specific differentiation have revolutionized our approach to cell therapy. It has now become critical to address the challenges related to the generation of iPSCs under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) compliant conditions, including tissue sourcing, manufacturing, testing, and storage. Furthermore, regarding the technical challenges, it is very important to keep the costs of manufacturing and testing reasonable and solve logistic hurdles that permit the global distribution of these products. Here we describe our efforts to develop a process for the manufacturing of iPSC master cell banks (MCBs) under cGMPs and announce the availability of such banks.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are important tools for drug discovery assays and toxicology screens. In this manuscript, we design high efficiency TALEN and ZFN to target two safe harbor sites on chromosome 13 and 19 in a widely available and well-characterized integration-free iPSC line. We show that these sites can be targeted in multiple iPSC lines to generate reporter systems while retaining pluripotent characteristics. We extend this concept to making lineage reporters using a C-terminal targeting strategy to endogenous genes that express in a lineage-specific fashion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that we can develop a master cell line strategy and then use a Cre-recombinase induced cassette exchange strategy to rapidly exchange reporter cassettes to develop new reporter lines in the same isogenic background at high efficiency. Equally important we show that this recombination strategy allows targeting at progenitor cell stages, further increasing the utility of the platform system. The results in concert provide a novel platform for rapidly developing custom single or dual reporter systems for screening assays.

This paper is a report on one of three related case studies in Latin America and shows the progress in the city of Chetumal, and the larger state of which it is the capital (Quintana Roo), in disaster response, especially with regard to cyclones. It also shows the progress in land use and ecological planning through the development of certain tools, which have changed the approach from one of prohibiting action to suggesting alternatives. Rather than stopping development, the focus has been on taking full account of its impacts and trying to make development compatible with environmental protection. There has also been progress in ecosystem conservation and water management, coordinated between different levels of government and different stakeholders. While much of this has taken place within the formal framework set by government, participatory processes have increased civil society awareness and commitment to environmental issues, and its capacity to participate and take a position, especially during the planning stages.

This paper brings together the perceptions of three youths from Barrio San Jorge, a low-income settlement located in the municipality of San Fernando in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, and the more technical views of three adult researchers working in the same barrio with the Instituto Internacional de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo—América Latina (IIED—AL). It highlights youth’s perceptions and aspirations within a context of neighbourhood upgrading and transformation, and discusses some ideas on how best to approach and work with youth, addressing the challenges of integration, participation and commitment.

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