Застосування інформаційних технологій в міжнародній торгівлі і на транспорті

This report describes the stable expression of a medically important antibody in the staple cereal crops rice and wheat. We successfully expressed a single-chain Fv antibody (ScFvT84.66) against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a well characterized tumor-associated marker antigen. scFv constructs were engineered for recombinant antibody targeting to the plant cell apoplast and ER. Up to 30 mg/g of functional recombinant antibody was detected in the leaves and seeds of wheat and rice. We confirmed that transgenic dry seeds could be stored for at least five months at room temperature, without significant loss of the amount or activity of scFvT84.66. Our results represent the first transition from model plant expression systems, such as tobacco and Arabidopsis, to widely cultivated cereal crops, such as rice and wheat, for expression of an antibody molecule that has already shown efficacy in clinical applications. Thus, we have established that molecular pharming in cereals can be a viable production system for such high-value pharmaceutical macromolecules. Our findings provide a strong foundation for exploiting alternative uses of cereal crops both in industrialized and developing countries

Dietary flavonoid intake and risk of incident depression in midlife and older women

Background: The impact of dietary flavonoid intakes on risk of depression is unclear. Objective: We prospectively examined associations between estimated habitual intakes of dietary flavonoids and depression risk. Design: We followed 82,643 women without a previous history of depression at baseline from the Nurses’ Health Study [(NHS) aged 53–80 y] and the Nurses’ Health Study II [(NHSII) aged 36–55 y]. Intakes of total flavonoids and subclasses (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, polymeric flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins) were calculated from validated food-frequency questionnaires collected every 2–4 y. Depression was defined as physician- or clinician-diagnosed depression or antidepressant use and was self-reported in response to periodic questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to examine associations. Results: A total of 10,752 incident depression cases occurred during a 10-y follow-up. Inverse associations between flavonol, flavone, and flavanone intakes and depression risk were observed. Pooled multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 0.93 (0.88, 0.99), 0.92 (0.86, 0.98), and 0.90 (0.85, 0.96) when comparing the highest (quintile 5) with the lowest (quintile 1) quintiles, respectively, with evidence of linear trends across quintiles (P-trend = 0.0004–0.08). In flavonoid-rich food-based analyses, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.91) among participants who consumed ≥2 servings citrus fruit or juices/d compared with <1 serving/wk. In the NHS only, total flavonoids, polymers, and proanthocyanidin intakes showed significant (9–12%) lower depression risks. In analyses among late-life NHS participants (aged ≥65 y at baseline or during follow-up), for whom we were able to incorporate depressive symptoms into the outcome definition, higher intakes of all flavonoid subclasses except for flavan-3-ols were associated with significantly lower depression risk; flavones and proanthocyanidins showed the strongest associations (HR for both: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.90). Conclusions: Higher flavonoid intakes may be associated with lower depression risk, particularly among older women. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations

Iodine intake in the youngest: impact of commercial complementary food

Iodine is a nutrient contributing to the development of the central nervous system. To assure a sufficient iodine intake, iodine fortification of complementary food (CF) is recommended. We describe the current fortification practice of commercial CF and formula in Germany as an example for other European countries, based on a market survey conducted in autumn 2008. In addition, we estimated the iodine intake of an 8-month-old infant, fed one portion of milk and three complementary meals per day. All formulae were fortified with iodine, and half of CF products. Iodine concentration varied depending on product groups. A partially breast-fed infant getting homemade CF reached less than 50% of the recommended iodine intake. Using infant formula and commercial CF, the recommended intake was exceeded by 39 or 100%, depending on which products were chosen. A well-balanced fortification of commercial CF, including pure infant cereals, would be required to ensure an adequate iodine supply

Towards molecular farming in the future: transient protein expression in plants

Molecular farming in plants can be achieved by stable or transient expression of a recombinant protein. Transient expression of recombinant proteins in plants can rapidly provide large amounts of the proteins for detailed characterization. It is fast, flexible and can be carried out at field scale using viral vectors, but it lacks the increases in production volume that can be achieved easily with stable transgenic crops, This review article focuses on discussing the applications of transient expression using viral vectors, biolistic methods or agroinfiltration

Criteria of social well-being: universalism and problems of socio-cultural dimension

Статья посвящена проблеме поиска критериев социального благополучия и выработке методологических принципов изучения данного явления. Актуальность исследования социального благополучия обусловлена сложившейся в современном обществе системой приоритетов, их нацеленностью на повышение качества жизни и решение социальных проблем. Слабая разработанность понятия благополучия, неоднозначность оценок, существование различных подходов к пониманию данного явления, множественность теоретических моделей определяют актуальность настоящего исследования и в научном плане. Цель работы: проанализировать сложившиеся в социально-экономических и психологических областях знания подходы к выявлению критериев социального благополучия, дать их критическую оценку, наметить пути решения проблемы. Методы: аналитический и компаративный методы исследования, позволившие сравнить объективистский подход к изучению социального благополучия с субъективным. Результаты. Сравнительный анализ сложившихся в научной среде позиций позволил обнаружить недостаточность как социально-экономического, так и психологического понимания социального благополучия. Сделан вывод об ограниченности универсалистских критериев социального благополучия и необходимости их дифференциации с учетом влияния социокультурных и исторических факторов, а также групповой принадлежности индивидов. Выявлена важная роль идентичности и эстетического выбора личности в формировании ее потребностей и определении значимого как критерия социального благополучия, которое закрепляется на путях легитимации группой сделанного индивидом выбора.This article is devoted to the problem of finding criteria for social well-being and development of methodological principles for studying this phenomenon. This study is relevant because the current system of priorities in modern society is aimed at improving the quality of life and solving social problems. The insufficientdevelopment of the concept of well-being, the ambiguity of assessments, the existence of different approachesto understanding this phenomenon, the multiplicity of theoretical models determine the relevance of thisstudy in scientific terms. The aim of the study is to analyze the existing approaches of identifying the wellbeing in the socioeconomic and psychological areas of knowledge. It is supposed to give their critical assessment and outline ways to solve the problem. Methods. This article uses analytical and comparative methodsto compare objectivist and subjective approaches to the study of social well-being. Results. A comparativeanalysis of the existing scientific positions revealed the insufficiency of socio-economic and psychological understanding of social well-being. The article makes a conclusion about the limitations of universalistic criteria of social well-being and the need for their differentiation, taking into account the influence of sociocultural and historical factors, as well as group belonging of individuals. It is important to note the role ofidentity and aesthetic choice of an individual in creating his/her needs and determining what is significantfor him/her as a criterion of social well-being. The group’s legitimation of the individual choice establishesthe social nature of the criteria for well-being

Rice cell culture as an alternative production system for functional diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies

We investigated the suitability of transformed rice cell lines as a system for the production of therapeutic recombinant antibodies. Expression constructs encoding a single-chain Fv fragment (scFvT84.66, specific for CEA, the carcinoembryonic antigen present on many human tumours) were introduced into rice tissue by particle bombardment. We compared antibody production levels when antibodies were either secreted to the apoplast or retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) using a KDEL retention signal. Production levels were up to 14 times higher when antibodies were retained in the ER. Additionally, we compared constructs encoding different leader peptides (plant codon optimised murine immunoglobulin heavy and light chain leader peptides) and carrying alternative 5' untranslated regions (the petunia chalcone synthase gene 5' UTR and the tobacco mosaic virus omega sequence). We observed no significant differences in antibody production levels among cell lines transformed with these constructs. The highest level of antibody production we measured was 3.8 mug g (exp -1) callus (fresh weight). Immunological analysis of transgenic rice callus confirmed the presence of functional scFvT84.66. We discuss the potential merits of cell culture for the production of recombinant antibodies and other valuable macromolecules

Molecular farming for new drugs and vaccines: Current perspectives on the production of pharmaceuticals in transgenic plants

The European Union Framework 6 Pharma–Planta Consortiu

Regulatory approval and a first-in-human phase I clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody produced in transgenic tobacco plants

Although plant biotechnology has been widely investigated for the production of clinical-grade monoclonal antibodies, no antibody products derived from transgenic plants have yet been approved by pharmaceutical regulators for clinical testing. In the Pharma-Planta project, the HIV-neutralizing human monoclonal antibody 2G12 was expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The scientific, technical and regulatory demands of good manufacturing practice (GMP) were addressed by comprehensive molecular characterization of the transgene locus, confirmation of genetic and phenotypic stability over several generations of transgenic plants, and by establishing standard operating procedures for the creation of a master seed bank, plant cultivation, harvest, initial processing, downstream processing and purification. The project developed specifications for the plant-derived antibody (P2G12) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) based on (i) the guidelines for the m anufacture of monoclonal antibodies in cell culture systems; (ii) the draft European Medicines Agency Points to Consider document on quality requirements for APIs produced in transgenic plants; and (iii) de novo guidelines developed with European national regulators. From the resulting process, a GMP manufacturing authorization was issued by the competent authority in Germany for transgenic plant-derived monoclonal antibodies for use in a phase I clinical evaluation. Following preclinical evaluation and ethical approval, a clinical trial application was accepted by the UK national pharmaceutical regulator. A first-in-human, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-escalation phase I safety study of a single vaginal administration of P2G12 was carried out in healthy female subjects. The successful completion of the clinical trial marks a significant milestone in the commercial development of plant-derived pharmaceutical proteins