Bio-Produkte ohne Gentechnik? Die teure Unmöglichkeit der Koexistenz

Öko-Lebensmittel werden ohne Einsatz von Gentechnik hergestellt. Das erwarten die Verbraucher, es entspricht dem Selbstverständnis der Öko-Unternehmer und es ist gesetzlich vorgeschrieben. Dieser Erwartung nachzukommen, wird für Bio-Unternehmen allerdings immer schwieriger, denn durch den zunehmenden Einsatz von Gentechnik ist an immer mehr Stellen im Herstellungsprozess eine Kontamination möglich. Während sich bisher in erster Linie Importeure und Verarbeiter von Soja, Mais und Raps zu erheblichen Anstregungen genötigt sahen, um ihre Produkte frei von Gentechnik zu halten, werden künftig auch zunehmend mehr Landwirte Vorkehrungen treffen müssen. Für Bauern und Unternehmer gilt es zunächst, ihr Risiko im Hinblick auf Gentechnikeinträge abzuschätzen: Werden in meiner Region gentechnisch veränderte Pflanzen angebaut? Können Importprodukte mit gentechnisch veränderten Organismen (GVOs) in Berührung gekommen sein? Fand eine strikte Warenstromtrennung statt? Wurden konventionelle Zutaten und Hilfsstoffe tatsächlich ohne Gentechnik hergestellt? Sind meine Lieferanten vertrauenswürdig? Bin ich gegen ungerechtfertigte Anschuldigungen gewappnet

Aktualisierung und Weiterentwicklung des Praxishandbuches: Bio-Produkte ohne Gentechnik

Was können Landwirte, Verarbeiter und Händler tun, um genetische Verunreinigungen von Lebensmitteln zu vermeiden, und wie können sie bei Schäden Ersatz geltend machen? Bio- und Ohne Gentechnik-Produkte werden unter Verzicht auf den Einsatz von Gentechnik hergestellt. Das Handbuch beschreibt die relevanten biologischen Grundlagen, die rechtliche Situation sowie Eintragspfade und konkrete Maßnahmen zur Vermeidung von Kontaminationen. Kosten und Effizienz von qualitätssichernden Maßnahmen werden beispielhaft dargelegt. Das Handbuch gibt Tipps für die Kommunikation mit Kunden und erläutert, welche Beweise im Schadensfall für eine sichere Durchsetzung gesichert werden sollten. Die zweite Auflage des Handbuchs wurde umfassend aktualisiert. Es wurde erweitert um die Themen Futtermittel, Zusatzstoffe, Saatgut, die Ohne Gentechnik-Kennzeichnung sowie den Bereich der Kartoffel-Produktion. Das Handbuch ist kostenlos und ungekürzt abrufbar unter www.bioxgen.de. Es ist ein Projekt des Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW) und des Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau (FiBL Deutschland)

Micro-rheological properties of lung homogenates correlate with infection severity in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection

Lung infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pose a serious threat to patients suffering from, among others, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bronchiectasis, often leading to life-threatening complications. The establishment of a chronic infection is substantially related to communication between bacteria via quorum-sensing networks. In this study, we aimed to assess the role of quorum-sensing signaling molecules of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) and to investigate the viscoelastic properties of lung tissue homogenates of PA-infected mice in a prolonged acute murine infection model. Therefore, a murine infection model was successfully established via intra-tracheal infection with alginate-supplemented Pseudomonas aeruginosa NH57388A. Rheological properties of lung homogenates were analyzed with multiple particle tracking (MPT) and quorum-sensing molecules were quantified with LC–MS/MS. Statistical analysis of bacterial load and quorum-sensing molecules showed a strong correlation between these biomarkers in infected lungs. This was accompanied by noticeable changes in the consistency of lung homogenates with increasing infection severity. Furthermore, viscoelastic properties of the lung homogenates strongly correlated with bacterial load and quorum sensing molecules. Considering the strong correlation between the viscoelasticity of lung homogenates and the aforementioned biomarkers, the viscoelastic properties of infected lungs might serve as reliable new biomarker for the evaluation of the severity of P. aeruginosa infections in murine models

A New PqsR Inverse Agonist Potentiates Tobramycin Efficacy to Eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections can be notoriously difficult to treat and are often accompanied by the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI) acting on PqsR (MvfR) – a crucial transcriptional regulator serving major functions in PA virulence – can enhance antibiotic efficacy and eventually prevent the AMR. An integrated drug discovery campaign including design, medicinal chemistry-driven hit-to-lead optimization and in-depth biological profiling of a new QSI generation is reported. The QSI possess excellent activity in inhibiting pyocyanin production and PqsR reporter-gene with IC50 values as low as 200 and 11 × 10−9 m, respectively. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) as well as safety pharmacology studies especially highlight the promising translational properties of the lead QSI for pulmonary applications. Moreover, target engagement of the lead QSI is shown in a PA mucoid lung infection mouse model. Beyond that, a significant synergistic effect of a QSI-tobramycin (Tob) combination against PA biofilms using a tailor-made squalene-derived nanoparticle (NP) formulation, which enhance the minimum biofilm eradicating concentration (MBEC) of Tob more than 32-fold is demonstrated. The novel lead QSI and the accompanying NP formulation highlight the potential of adjunctive pathoblocker-mediated therapy against PA infections opening up avenues for preclinical development

Peat profiles of Lake Faulersee

Remains of chironomid larvae from cores of the ancient Lake Faulersee in northern Germany were examined. Pollen, radiocarbon datings, and geochemical data were used to develop the chronology of the Late-Glacial Period in Lake Faulersee and to validate interpretations made by chironomid data. Factors influencing the composition of the subfossil chironomid assemblages were assessed. Our data indicate fluctuations of temperature, lake-level, and trophic state in the Late-Glacial. Furthermore, we explain a discontinuous sequence found in the cores of Lake Faulersee pertaining to a refilling event about 5,800 cal years before present (BP)

Comparing Charlson Comorbidity Index Scores between Anesthesiologists, Patients, and Administrative Data: A Prospective Observational Study

(1) Background: Patients’ comorbidities play an immanent role in perioperative risk assessment. It is unknown how Charlson Comorbidity Indices (CCIs) from different sources compare. (2) Methods: In this prospective observational study, we compared the CCIs of patients derived from patients’ self-reports and from physicians’ assessments with hospital administrative data. (3) Results: The data of 1007 patients was analyzed. Agreement between the CCI from patients’ self-report compared to administrative data was fair (kappa 0.24 [95%CI 0.2–0.28]). Agreement between physicians’ assessment and the administrative data was also fair (kappa 0.28 [95%CI 0.25–0.31]). Physicians’ assessment and patients’ self-report had the best agreement (kappa 0.33 [95%CI 0.30–0.37]). The CCI calculated from the administrative data showed the best predictability for in-hospital mortality (AUROC 0.86 [95%CI 0.68–0.91]), followed by equally good prediction from physicians’ assessment (AUROC 0.80 [95%CI 0.65–0.94]) and patients’ self-report (AUROC 0.80 [95%CI 0.75–0.97]). (4) Conclusions: CCIs derived from patients’ self-report, physicians’ assessments, and administrative data perform equally well in predicting postoperative in-hospital mortality