Rapid methods for the detection of anti-protozoan drug residues.

This research describes the development of immunoassays for the detection of residues of three anti-protozoan drugs (coccidiostats), namely, halofuginone,toltrazuril and diclazuril, used in the treatment of Eimeria spp.infections in cattle,pigs, chickens and turkeys. An avian-derived halofuginone-specific scFv library was constructed, from which the best scFv isolated did not possess the required analytical sensitivity. To circumvent this, genetic engineering via light-chain shuffling of the optimal light:heavy chain pairings of the scFv library were investigated. Use of this light-chain shuffled library and rigorous screening, led to the isolation of a scFv with a 185-fold greater sensitivity than the original. This scFv was incorporated into both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Biacore assay formats that were applied successfully for the detection of halofuginone in ‘spiked’ egg samples. Immune phage display libraries were constructed and screened for diclazuril using a number of diclazuril-conjugates. A functional diclazuril-specific scFv could not be isolated, due to complications which arose during library amplification.Subsequently, an anti-diclazuril polyclonal antibody was sourced externally, characterised and used in the development of a high sensitivity lateral-flow immunoassay for diclazuril detection in eggs. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies to the primary metabolite of toltrazuril, ‘ponazuril’,were produced, characterised and were subsequently used to generate ELISA,lateral-flow and Biacore-based assays. The performance of each of these assay formats for the detection of toltrazuril in ‘spiked’ egg samples was directlycompared. Finally, multi-coccidiostat detection in a lateral-flow dipstick format, for the simultaneous determination of halofuginone, diclazuril and toltrazuril in eggs, using antibody-coated coloured latex particles as the detection element, was successfully optimised

Engaging the disengaged indefinitely, and with no budget: creating a sustainable model for student library ambassadors

University Libraries offer a wide range of services and facilities to help enhance the student learning experience and to aid the transition into learning at University. Often, too few Science and Engineering students fully engage with the services and facilities on offer and therefore do not benefit from the opportunities available to them. Drawing on research highlighting the value of peer support, and the fact that students are far more likely to use their peers as an information source than ‘experts’, Loughborough University Library obtained small project funding in 2010 to employ four Student Ambassadors in a pilot project to improve student engagement with the Library. The successful project demonstrated the potency of the idea in engaging with students, particularly non-users, a large proportion of which are based in the Science and Engineering Faculties. In the absence of continued funding, the challenge, addressed here, is how to make such posts sustainable. Past experience at both Nottingham and Loughborough Universities has proven how difficult it is to recruit students on a voluntary basis to engage with University Libraries. In this paper, an innovative and creative method of recruiting and supporting “Learning Resource Leaders” (LRLs) at Nottingham and Loughborough Universities is discussed. The strategies employed have resulted in the recruitment of four LRLs – two at each institution – supported by an industrial sponsor who provides a package of non-monetary incentives. The paper also describes the techniques used by the LRLs to disseminate information about the resources offered by the University Libraries and to engage with the student cohort

Design features for enhancing optical detection on lab-on-a-disc platforms

Centrifugal microfluidics has undergone a massive growth surge over the past 15 years, evident by the number of comprehensive reviews currently available, with special regard towards Lab-On-A-Disc (LOAD) diagnostic solutions.1–3 The potential of a LOAD system is dependent on its ability to mimic the specific laboratory protocols with which are required to conduct sample-to-answer analysis. This would include sample handling and manipulation (such as mixing and separation), sample modification (including heating and redox reactions), as well as reaction detection (such as optical, electrochemical, or as required by user). Optical detection strategies on LOAD platforms has been largely successful in both the fields of biological and chemical sensing.4 Herein, will demonstrate the optical optimisations which were carried out on a biological fluorescent-based5 and a chemical absorbance-based6 LOAD detection platforms. This will include the identification and optimisation of LED-photodiode selection, the effects of detection orientation and pathway-length fluorophore selection. Also covered will be a comparison between the microfluidic architecture for incorporating either detection methods as well as their reported limits of detection

Development of an autonomous algal toxin analytical platform for aquatic monitoring

Cyclic peptide cyanobacterial toxins, in particular Microcystis aeruginosa, pose a serious health risk to humans and animals alike [1], [2]. Occurring mostly in fresh and brackish water, they have been identified to cause cancer promotion and liver damage [3]. Herein, we describe a portable, microfluidic-based system for in-situ detection of algal toxins in fresh water. The technology development presented here is a fully integrated and portable sample-to-answer centrifugal microfluidics-based system for the detection of toxic cyanobacteria – Microcystin-LR in fresh water. Our unique system employs highly-specific recombinant chicken anti-microcystin antibodies, prepared in-house, with a 3D-printed ‘LASER-photo¬diode’ fluorescent detection technique, also developed in-house. The system has high analytical specificity and sensitivity for detection of toxins below the regulatory limit with intra/inter day coefficient of variation of less than 20%. Dissolvable-film based valving technique was used for flow actuation and integration of multiple assays on the centrifugal cartridge. This new approach forms the basis of a cost efficient, USB-controlled water quality monitoring system. Technically, this integrated system consists of two components; a microfluidic disc (figure 1.A), the disc-holder fabricated and assembled from a 3D-printed casing, with electronic components housed in device. The 5-layered microfluidic disc consists of five reservoirs (figure 1.B), each with a separate venti-lation, aligned radially with inter-connected microchannels. A competitive immunoassay format is utilised to detect free toxin (figure 1.C). Sensitivity, reproducibility and ease-of-use are key features of this monitoring device. The ‘top-down’ optical detection system has been modified for improved detection sensitivity, as well as the elimination of external noise

Bostonia

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Nordic Crop Wild Relative conservation : A report from two cooperation projects 2015-2019

The report summarizes results from a cooperation among all the Nordic countries during the period 2015 – 2019 (two projects). The work has focused on the conservation of Crop Wild Relatives (CWR), i.e. wild plant species closely related to crops. They are of special importance to humanity since traits of potential value for food security and climate change adaptation can be transferred from CWR into crops. The projects represent the first joint action on the Nordic level regarding in situ conservation of CWR. Substantial progress has been made regarding CWR conservation planning, including development of a Nordic CWR checklist and identification of suitable sites for CWR conservation. A set of recommended future actions was developed, with the most important one being initiation of active in situ conservation of CWR in all Nordic countries

Atalanta: The autonomous analytical algal toxin platform

Cyclic peptide cyanobacterial toxins, in particular Microcystis aeruginosa, pose a serious health risk to humans and animals alike [1], [2]. Occurring mostly in fresh and brackish water, they have been identified to cause cancer promotion and liver damage [3]. Herein, we describe a portable, microfluidic-based system for in-situ detection of algal toxins in fresh water. The Atalanta system is a novel, portable and sample-to-answer platform for the detection of toxic cyanobacteria – Microcystin-LR in fresh water. Atalanta utilises the partnership of highly-specific recombinant chicken anti-microcystin antibodies, prepared in-house, with a 3D-printed ‘LASER-photo¬diode’ fluorescent detection method, also developed in-house. A competitive immunoassay format is utilised to detect free toxin. Furthermore, dissolvable-film (DF) based flow-actuation facilitates full assay inte¬gration. This new approach will form the basis of a cost efficient, USB-controlled water quality monitoring system. The Atalanta detection system consists of two components; the microfluidic Atalanta disc and the disc-holder. The Atalanta disc-holder was fabricated and assembled from a 3D-printed casing, with electronic components housed in device. The 5-layered microfluidic disc consists of five reservoirs, each with a separate venti¬lation, aligned radially with inter-connected microchannels. Each reservoir represents a functional assay step. First, microcystin conjugate is coated to the functionalised surface of the reservoir 3 prior to assembling the disc. A freshwater sample in reservoir 1 is pre-incubated with recombinant antibodies labelled with fluorophore (Alexa 647) in reservoir 2. This is then spun into reservoir 3 for detection through a competitive immunoassay using Microcystin-LR. Low fluorescence signal indicates high Microcystin-LR concentration in the sample