Loop-mediated isothermal amplification test for Trypanosoma vivax based on satellite repeat DNA

Trypanosoma vivax is major cause of animal trypanosomiasis and responsible for enormous economic burden in Africa and South America animal industry. T. vivax infections mostly run low parasitaemia with no apparent clinical symptoms, making diagnosis a challenge. This work reports the design and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for detecting T. vivax DNA based on the nuclear satellite repeat sequence. The assay is rapid with results obtained within 35 min. The analytical sensitivity is ～ 1 trypanosome/ml while that of the classical PCR tests ranged from 10 to 10(3)trypanosomes/ml. The T. vivax LAMP test reported here is simple, robust and has future potential in diagnosis of animal trypanosomiasis in the field.     

中国转基因抗虫棉产业化策略

中国转基因抗虫棉产业化的条件基本成熟，实施转基因抗虫棉产业化应采取创新、合作、务实、高效的策略，实现宽领域、广覆盖。在目标上，强调政策性、社会性、群众性、安全性；在方法上强调市场化、一体化、程序化、法制化；在观念上，强调改变思想、改革投入、改善管理、改进服务；在应用中，巩固传统技术、普及成熟技术、推广辐射技术、试验创新技术；在后续研究时，加强基因库、种质库、数据库和人才库建设。     

气相色谱-串联质谱法快速检测当归中102种农药残留

建立了当归中102种农药残留的快速检测方法。样品采用优化的QuEChERS前处理方法,利用气相色谱-串联质谱 (GC-MS/MS) 检测,动态多反应监测 (dMRM) 模式,基质匹配外标法定量。结果表明:在样品前处理过程中,经对提取溶剂、提取体系、净化体系的组成和用量进行筛选优化后,样品采用乙腈、1.0 g氯化钠、4.0 g无水硫酸镁、1.0 g柠檬酸钠和0.5 g柠檬酸二钠盐提取,无水硫酸镁800 mg、PSA 150 mg、C₁₈ 150 mg净化,通过基质匹配外标法校正,当归中基质效应对目标化合物的定性、定量影响明显减弱。在0.02~0.64 mg/kg范围内,102种农药的质量浓度与对应的峰面积间呈良好的线性关系,R2均大于0.99,检出限为0.002 5~0.025 mg/kg,定量限为0.005~0.05 mg/kg;在0.04、0.08和0.32 mg/kg 3个添加水平下,102种农药的平均回收率为52 %~128%,RSD为1.0%~10 %。该方法快速简便、耗时短,具有良好的灵敏度、正确度和精密度,为提高当归中农药安全水平,降低健康风险提供了一种快速、高效、可靠的分析手段。     

日粮核苷酸对早期断奶小鼠肝脏基因表达的影响

研究了日粮核苷酸对早期断奶小鼠肝脏基因表达的影响:选取16～17日龄健康BALB/C雄性小鼠60只,分成对照组和实验组,分别饲喂添加0、0.25%核苷酸的无核苷酸基础日粮,在实验的第2、4、10天采用差异显示技术分离小鼠肝脏中差异表达的基因。结果表明:采用6对引物分离到4条差异表达的基因片断。采用差异显示技术初步分离到4个受核苷酸影响差异表达的基因,这些片段需要做进一步的验证。     

The future of scientific journals. A computer-based system will enable a subscriber to receive a personalized stream of papers

Since many of the problems that beset readers, authors, and publishers of scientific journals are caused by the growth of science or by the frailties of human nature, we cannot hope for complete solutions. In an effort to make progress, within the framework of the possible, we propose that journals stop binding papers into issues and, instead, distribute to each subscriber a personalized stream of papers, abstracts, and titles. This type of distribution, which has been made possible by the advent of high-speed computers, would not affect the traditional roles of editors, referees, and libraries. We also propose that journals recognize the need for very rapid communication in certain fields, and meet the threat of public preprint-exchange systems in these fields by themselves publishing preprints in an appropriately limited manner.     

Streptomycin resistance mutation in Escherichia coli: altered ribosomal protein

Reconstitution of 30S ribosomal particles was performed with 16S ribosomal RNA, "core" proteins, and "split" proteins from 30S particles derived from streptomycin-sensitive and streptomycin-resistant Escherichia coli cells in various combinations. Analysis of streptomycin sensitivity of the reconstituted particles has shown that the alteration induced by the resistance mutation resides in the core proteins, and not in the RNA or in the split proteins of the 30S particles.     

First report of a Trichinella papuae infection in a wild pig (Sus scrofa) from an Australian island in the Torres Strait region

Multiple Trichinella species are reported from the Australasian region although mainland Australia has never confirmed an indigenous case of Trichinella infection in humans or animals. Wildlife surveys in high-risk regions are essential to truly determine the presence or absence of Trichinella, but in mainland Australia are largely lacking. In this study, a survey was conducted in wild pigs from mainland Australia's Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait region for the presence of Trichinella, given the proximity of a Trichinella papuae reservoir in nearby PNG. We report the detection of a Trichinella infection in a pig from an Australian island in the Torres Strait, a narrow waterway that separates the islands of New Guinea and continental Australia. The larvae were characterised as T. papuae (Kikori strain) by PCR and sequence analysis. No Trichinella parasites were found in any pigs from the Cape York Peninsula. These results highlight the link the Torres Strait may play in providing a passage for introduction of Trichinella parasites from the Australasian region to the Australian mainland.