Development of a real-time PCR for the detection of lupine DNA (lupinus species) in foods

Lupine flour, protein, and fiber have become common ingredients in food products. The association of lupine-related allergic incidents with peanut allergy is a cause for concern as the latter may bring about severe reactions. In this study, a hybridization probe-based real-time PCR assay for the detection of lupine DNA in foods was developed. Particular attention was paid to the specificity of the method, which was verified by analysis of DNA extracts from more than 50 potential food ingredients such as legumes, cereals, seeds, nuts, spices, fruits, and meat. The limit of detection of the method was determined as 0.1 mg/kg. The successful detection of the presence/absence of lupine DNA in 20 samples proved the suitability of the assay for the analysis of frequently encountered food matrices.     

美国黑核桃组织培养技术

采用组织培养方法对美国黑核桃进行组织培养研究。结果表明：获得外植体的最佳方法是用新鲜且经层积处理的种子育苗．再用其实生苗的顶芽或茎段;适合黑核桃茎尖(段)培养的培养基为1／2MS(、其中大量元素用量减半,微量元素用量不变)．且培养基中其他物质的含量为．VB15mg／L．VB62mg／L．烟酸2mg／L．腺素2mg／L．肌醇按1／2MS量．6-BA1．5mg/L．NAA0．05mg／L;外植体接种用流水冲洗．适当缩短转瓶周期(每10～l5d转瓶一次)．可减轻褐变现象。     

Presence and diversity of mixed avian Plasmodium spp. infections in introduced birds whose distribution overlapped with threatened New Zealand endemic birds

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine the presence of infection and co-infection of Plasmodium lineages in introduced birds at translocation sites for the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater), to investigate their role as Plasmodium spp. reservoirs.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from introduced bird species, with a special focus on blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos), at six locations in the North Island of New Zealand that were the origin, or translocation sites, for North Island saddleback. Where available, blood smears were examined, and blood samples were tested using nested PCR with subsequent sequence analysis, for the presence of Plasmodium spp.

Results: Of the 55 samples tested using PCR analysis, 39 (71%) were positive for Plasmodium spp., and 28/40 (62%) blood smears were positive for Plasmodium spp. Overall, 31 blood samples were from blackbirds with 28/31 (90%) samples positive for Plasmodium spp. Six distinct avian Plasmodium lineages were identified, including three cosmopolitan lineages; Plasmodium vaughani SYAT05 was detected in 16 samples, Plasmodium matutinum Linn1 in 10 samples and Plasmodium elongatum GRW6 in eight samples. Mixed infections with more than one lineage were detected in 12 samples. Samples from two Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) were positive for Plasmodium. sp. lineage MYNA02, previously not identified in New Zealand.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: This is the first report from New Zealand in which specific Plasmodium spp. mixed infections have been found in introduced birds. Co-infections with several cosmopolitan Plasmodium lineages were identified, as well as the first report in New Zealand of an exotic avian Plasmodium sp. lineage, in Australian magpies. Whilst the role of introduced birds in maintaining and spreading pathogenic avian malaria in New Zealand is unclear, there is a potential infection risk to native birds, especially where distributions overlap.     

Environmental effects on forage and longline fishery performance for albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone

The South Equatorial Counter Current (SECC) strongly influences the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and changes strength on a seasonal and ENSO cycle. A strong SECC is associated with a predominantly anticyclonic eddy field as well as increased micronekton biomass and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) for albacore tuna, the economically important target species of the local longline fishery. A strong SECC carries chlorophyll a -rich waters from upwelling regions at the north coast of New Guinea towards the EEZ, most likely resulting in the observed increase in micronekton biomass, forage for albacore. Relatively stable anticyclonic eddies show a further increase in micronekton biomass, apparently advected from neighboring SECC waters. The presence of forage presumably concentrates albacore, thus resulting in the observed increase in CPUE. High shear regions of neither anticyclonic nor cyclonic eddies correlate with increased micronekton biomass. Areas characterized by South Equatorial Current (SEC) waters correspond to areas with the lowest micronekton biomass and the highest number of aggregative structures, which are most likely small pelagic fish shoals. Micronekton composition in SEC waters differs from that in the SECC. During El Niños, the seasonal signals at the north shore of New Guinea and in the SECC are exceptionally strong and correspond to higher albacore CPUE in the EEZ. My results suggest that the strength of upwelling and the resulting increase in chlorophyll a at New Guinea, as well as the Southern Oscillation Index, could be used to predict the performance of the local longline fishery for albacore tuna in the American Samoa EEZ.     

Long-term development of fish populations in the Římov Reservoir

Abstract  The inshore fish community of the Římov Reservoir in the Czech Republic was evaluated over 21 years using shore seining at night. The development of the fish community was divided into two separate phases: a highly dynamic and unstable phase dominated by perch, Perca fluviatilis L., was replaced by an extremely stable cyprinid phase dominated by roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), and bream, Abramis brama (L.). The abundance of both these species oscillated during the cyprinid phase, but with decreasing amplitude. The proportion of piscivorous fish species such as asp, Aspius aspius (L.), pike, Esox lucius L., and pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), increased slightly with time but remained low. The biomass of large Cladocera was negatively correlated with fish biomass only during the perch phase. The Shannon–Weaver index of diversity increased during the fish community succession, mainly because of greater evenness amongst the species.