Quantification of microcystin-producing microcystis in freshwater bodies in the Southern Mozambique using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction

In the last decades, large number of reported cases of illnesses in Mozambique is related to drinking water. However, only a limited number of studies have focused on aquatic pollution in this country. Cyanobacterial blooms dominated by Microcystis sp are regularly identified in freshwater bodies in Mozambique. Microcystis is known to proliferate in freshwater bodies and produce microcystins which have adverse effects on animals and humans. The aim of this study was to quantify microcystinproducing Microcystis in three different freshwater bodies in Southern Mozambique. TaqMan based real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Taq Nuclease Assay) was used to quantify populations of Microcystis in three aquatic ecosystems in Southern Mozambique. Total Microcystis spp  (microcystinproducing and non-producing strains) were quantified in the three selected study areas with the determination of the copy numbers of the phycocyanin (PC) operon. Microcystin-producing gene copy numbers were quantified using specific primer pair, amplifying the mcyB gene. Microcystis mcyB copy numbers varied from 4.2 x 106 to 1.6 x 109 gene copies /L in 2008, corresponding to 2.15 to 98.55% of total Microcystis, and from 9.6 x 107 to 4.5 x 109 gene copies /L in 2009, corresponding to 1.53 to 34.52% of total Microcystis. High copy numbers of mcyB occurred in Nhambavale Lake in June 2008, whereas in March 2009, high copy numbers of mcyB was observed in Chòkwé Irrigation Channels. Samples from Pequenos Libombos Dam had the lowest number of mcyB gene copies in both sampling periods. The findings of the present study show that microcystin-producing strains are common in Southern Mozambique, and that their absolute and relative numbers varies geographically and temporarily. The highest concentration of Microcystis sp. in the sampling areas occurred in samples collected in March 2009, which corresponds to the rain season with warm temperatures. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the quantification of microcystin-producing Microcystis in Mozambique using molecular techniques.Keywords: Microcystis sp, Taq nuclease assay, phycocyanin (PC), mcyB, MozambiqueAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(30), pp. 4850-485

An assessment on potential long-term health effects caused by antibiotic resistance marker genes in genetically modified organisms based on antibiotic usage and resistance patterns in Norway.

Source at https://vkm.no/Usage of antibiotics selects for resistant bacteria, resulting in reduced treatment options, and increased morbidity and mortality from microbial infections. Development of resistance in susceptible bacteria can occur through spontaneous mutation or horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Our current understanding of resistance development in bacterial pathogens is more descriptive than predictive in nature. That is, whereas the acquisition or development of new resistance determinants in bacteria can be retrospectively described relatively easily at the molecular, species and geographical distribution levels, the initial horizontal transfer events, the resistance gene donor, and the environmental location and conditions that produced the first generation of the resistant bacteria remain largely unknown. Without this latter knowledge and without a clear understanding of directional selection and genetic drift in natural bacterial populations, it is impossible to predict accurately further resistance development occurring through HGT. Some of the antibiotic resistance marker (ARM) genes used in the production of genetically modified organisms (GMO) encode resistance to antibiotics in clinical and veterinary use. Thus, concerns have been raised that the large-scale release of such genes in commercialized GMOs may increase the rate of, and broaden the locations where, bacteria horizontally acquire resistance genes

Microarray-based method for detection of unknown genetic modifications

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to the increased use of genetic modifications in crop improvement, there is a need to develop effective methods for the detection of both known and unknown transgene constructs in plants. We have developed a strategy for detection and characterization of unknown genetic modifications and we present a proof of concept for this method using <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>and <it>Oryza sativa </it>(rice). The approach relies on direct hybridization of total genomic DNA to high density microarrays designed to have probes tiled throughout a set of reference sequences.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that by using arrays with 25 basepair probes covering both strands of a set of 235 vectors (2 million basepairs) we can detect transgene sequences in transformed lines of <it>A. thaliana </it>and rice without prior knowledge about the transformation vectors or the T-DNA constructs used to generate the studied plants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The approach should allow the user to detect the presence of transgene sequences and get sufficient information for further characterization of unknown genetic constructs in plants. The only requirements are access to a small amount of pure transgene plant material, that the genetic construct in question is above a certain size (here ≥ 140 basepairs) and that parts of the construct shows some degree of sequence similarity with published genetic elements.</p

Characterization of unknown genetic modifications using high throughput sequencing and computational subtraction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When generating a genetically modified organism (GMO), the primary goal is to give a target organism one or several novel traits by using biotechnology techniques. A GMO will differ from its parental strain in that its pool of transcripts will be altered. Currently, there are no methods that are reliably able to determine if an organism has been genetically altered if the nature of the modification is unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that the concept of computational subtraction can be used to identify transgenic cDNA sequences from genetically modified plants. Our datasets include 454-type sequences from a transgenic line of <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>and published EST datasets from commercially relevant species (rice and papaya).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We believe that computational subtraction represents a powerful new strategy for determining if an organism has been genetically modified as well as to define the nature of the modification. Fewer assumptions have to be made compared to methods currently in use and this is an advantage particularly when working with unknown GMOs.</p

Uttalelse om Pioneer Hi-Breds genmodifiserte mais 1507xNK603 (EFSA/GMO/UK/2004/05). Vurdert og godkjent av Faggruppe for genmodifiserte organismer

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Opinion on the safety of BioProtein® by the Scientific Panel on Animal Feed of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. Revised version

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Uttalelse om Bayer CropScience genmodifiserte bomull LLCOTTON25 (EFSA/GMO/NL/2005/13). Vurdert og godkjent av Faggruppe for genmodifiserte organismer

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Uttalelse om Monsantos genmodifiserte mais NK603XMON810 (EFSA/GMO/UK/2004/01). Vurdert og godkjent av Faggruppe for genmodifiserte organismer

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Identifying the science and technology dimensions of emerging public policy issues through horizon scanning

Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security