After years of scientific work an Estonian biotech Solis Biodyne has successfully solved one of the main problems US multi-billionaire Bill Gates (pictured) and his wife Melinda Gates have in their mission against HIV/AIDS spread in Africa.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to fight against HIV, Malaria and other lethal diseases. But in the process of this noble work some serious hurdles have appeared.

For diagnosing and analyzing the HIV DNA (when taking samples from the patients) in so-called jungle conditions, very stable DNA enzymes are needed. A pre-condition for that is transportation of DNA enzymes on dry ice and storage in iceboxes (at -20C). The problem is that because of poor infrastructure in Africa iceboxes (or even electricity) are rare to find and transportation on dry ice is relatively expensive.

Lack of “cold chain” causes 10 million deaths

In October during a biotech CEO’s meeting in Laguna Niguel, California Bill Gates expressed this concern once again, saying that the lack of “cold chain” is the main problem keeping 10 million kids from dying annually.

At the same time an Estonian biotech Solis Biodyne, led by Olev Kahre and Kadri Artma has filed a patent application in US for its industrial DNA enzyme that retains itself in home temperature. Using that would mean huge savings in time and resources for the Gates’ mission, since they would no longer have to rely on the “cold chain”.

Interesting experiment was carried out

Solis carried out an interesting product experiment last summer. Two enzyme tubes were taken from the company’s fridge and put in a pocket for a month of travelling in South America. After arriving home the enzymes were tested and found out that although they had been travelling through extreme weather conditions, heights and humidity, there was no change in enzyme performance.

Kadri Artma told us that Solis Biodyne has started cooperation with the labs funded by the Gates’ foundation. “We are continuously looking for possibilities to enter new markets. But it can take years for achieving good results in this business,” she said.