General Surveillance for Effects of GM Crops on the Soil Ecosystem (Poster Presentation at the 4th International Workshop on PMEM of Genetically Modified Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany 2010)

Die EU-Richtlinie 2001/18/EG schreibt vor, dass der Anbau von transgenen Pflanzen durch eine Allgemeine Beobachtung der Auswirkungen begleitet wird, um etwaige, unvor­hergesehene schädliche Effekte aufzudecken. Allerdings ist der erforderliche Umfang unklar, und auch die Vorgaben der Richtlinie bieten nur allgemeine Anhaltspunkte für die Planung. In den Niederlanden werden deshalb die Möglichkeiten für eine sogenannte „oberirdische‟ und „unter­irdische‟ Allgemeine Beobachtung untersucht. Im Rahmen der hier vorgestellten Studie wird die Allgemeine Beobachtung mit Bezug zum Ökosystem des Bodens diskutiert. In einem ersten Schritt wurde dazu die wissenschaftliche Literatur zur Wirkung von gentechnisch veränderten Kulturpflanzen dahingehend untersucht, ob etwaige, unvorhergesehene Effekte dokumentiert wurden. Dahinter stand die These, dass sensitive Organismen(gruppen) oder Prozesse im Boden nützliche Indikatoren im Rahmen der Allgemeinen Beobachtung darstellen könnten. Vor dem Hintergrund der derzeit verfügbaren Methoden und des aktuellen Kenntnisstandes stellt die Entwicklung eines effizienten Programms für die Allgemeinen Beobachtung des Bodens eine große Herausforderung dar. Die analysierte Literatur bietet nur wenige Anhaltspunkte für uner­wartete Auswirkungen des Anbaus von GV Kulturpflanzen auf den Boden. Daher lassen sich derzeit nur die Zersetzung organischen Materials und Änderungen der Nematoden-Populationen als mögliche, geeignete Indikatoren identifizieren. Deshalb schlagen wir vor, diese im Rahmen der Allgemeinen Beobachtung zu berücksichtigen. In Abhängigkeit von der weiteren methodischen Entwicklung könnten auch Untersuchungen an arbuskulären Mykorr­hiza-Pilzen eine Option darstellen. Aufgrund der Komplexi­tät der Aufgabe „unvorhergesehene Effekte” des Anbaus transgener Pflanzen zu erfassen, schlagen wir vor, die Erhebungen der genannten Indikatoren mit den verfügbaren Informationen bestehender Umweltbeobachtungs-Programme und weiteren Beobachtungen zu kombinieren.    EU Directive 2001/18/EC prescribes that genetically modified (GM) crops approved for cultivation should be submitted to General Surveillance (GS) in order to detect unanticipated adverse environmental effects. However, the modalities of GS are not clear and the Directive does not provide sufficient guidance. In the Netherlands, possi­bilities for setting up so-called above- and below-ground GS systems are explored. In this study issues regarding the development of a GS program for the soil ecosystem, are discussed. As a first step, the currently available scien­tific literature on the impact of GM crops was analyzed for potential unanticipated adverse effects on the soil ecosystem. The idea behind this is that the soil processes and/or taxa that are sensitive to GM crops will be useful indicators for GS. Given the currently available methodological tools and the necessary knowledge of the normal variability of the soil ecosystem the development of a functional GS system for the soil ecosystem provides major challenges. Our surveillance of scientific literature revealed only very few and small unexpected effects of GM crops on the soil ecosystem. Based on the outcome of effects observed for GM crops in field studies only a limited number of indicators could be proposed, such as breakdown of organic mate­rial and changes in the nematode community. We suggest the incorporation of these indicators in a GS system. Depending on the development of tools to study arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi adequately in a GS system, this group could be an additional indicator for a future GS system. Based on the complexity of detecting unexpected effects of GM cultivation, we propose to combine data obtained with these indicators with information of existing monitoring networks and the use of other tools for surveillance.   &nbsp

Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy at OECD: Future Trends.

The OECD Council Recommendation on Recombinant DNA Safety Considerations is a legal instrument which has been in force since 1986. It outlines the safety assessment practices that countries should have in place for agricultural and environmental biotechnology. This article suggests possible updates to make it suitable for the modern era

The status under EU Law of Organisms developed through novel genomic techniques

In a ruling on 25 July 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union concluded that organisms obtained by means of techniques/methods of mutagenesis constitute GMOs in the sense of Directive 2001/18, and that organisms obtained by means of techniques/methods of directed mutagenesis are not excluded from the scope of the Directive. Following the ruling, there has been much debate about the possible wider implications of the ruling. In October 2019, the Council of the European Union requested the European Commission to submit, in light of the CJEU ruling, a study regarding the status of novel genomic techniques under Union Law. For the purpose of the study, the Commission initiated stakeholder consultations early in 2020. Those consultations focused on the technical status of novel genomic techniques. This article aims to contribute to the discussion on the legal status of organisms developed through novel genomic techniques, by offering some historical background to the negotiations on the European Union (EU) GMO Directives as well as a technical context to some of the terms in the Directive, and by analysing the ruling. The article advances that (i) the conclusion that organisms obtained by means of techniques/methods of mutagenesis constitute GMOs under the Directive means that the resulting organisms must comply with the GMO definition, ie the genetic material of the resulting organisms has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination; (ii) the conclusion that organisms obtained by means of techniques/methods of directed mutagenesis were not intended to be excluded from the scope of the Directive is not inconsistent with the negotiation history of the Directive; (iii) whether an organism falls under the description of “obtained by means of techniques/methods of directed mutagenesis” depends on whether the genetic material of the resulting organisms has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. Finally, the article offers an analysis of the EU GMO definition, concluding that for an organism to be a GMO in the sense of the Directive, the technique used, as well as the genetic alterations of the resulting organism, must be considered

Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the F72 fimbrial subunit of a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain

The cloned DNA fragment encoding the F72 fimbrial subunit from the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain AD110 has been identified. The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene and of 196 bp of the noncoding region preceding the gene was determined. The structural gene codes for a polypeptide of 188 amino acid residues, including a 21-residue N-terminal signal sequence. The nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the F72 gene were compared with the reported sequences of the papA gene (Båga et al., 1984). Both genes code for subunits of fimbriae that are involved in mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) of human erythrocytes. The available data show that there is absolute homology between the noncoding regions preceding both genes over 129 bp. The two proteins are homologous at the N terminus and C terminus; there is less, but significant, homology in the region between the N and C termini

Awaiting eternal life: painted burial cists in the Southern Netherlands

A phenomenon that we find in the region once known as the Southern Netherlands is the medieval painted burial cist. This type of tomb was produced between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries but most examples date from the fourteenth and fifteenth. Displaying a range of characteristics and motifs in vivid colours, the walls of these tombs may startle the modern viewer. Many such graves have been discovered to date, but they remain largely unknown and their conservation is a cause for great concern. This article investigates the history, spread, imagery and craftsmanship of these unusual tombs. It also serves to make the readership of this journal acquainted with this unique type of tomb on which so little has been written in English. Many questions, however, remain unanswerable

Analysis of the primary structure of P-fimbrillins of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

The ability of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to adhere to uroepithelial cells is a prerequisite for successful colonization of the urinary tract by this organism, and the subsequent development of urinary tract infections. The mechanism of adherence has been studied intensively during the last years . Many investigators support the view that P-fimbriae play an important role in this adhesion process. P-fimbriae recognize a disaccharide with the structure α-D-Galp β-D-Galp in the uroepithelium. This structure is also part of the P-bloodgroup antigen . Adherence of p-fimbriated cells to the P blood group antigen on the surface of human erytrocytes causes mannose resistant hemagglutination (MRHA)