Digital sequence information : legal questions for patent, copyright and trade secret protection and sharing of genomic sequencing data

Advances in sciences-both in molecular biology and information technology-have enabled new understandings of genetic resources and biological processes which lead to an ongoing fundamental paradigm shift. The phenomenon of big data resulting from genomic sequencing has emerged as a consequence of next generation sequencing technologies that generate large data sets in biotechnological research. Technical progress in such big data generation and management has opened previously unprecedented possibilities for research, the development of new products and leads to a vast amount of data being generated at an unprecedented speed, ranging from the extraction of information to data analysis and interpretation. While there will always remain a reliance on genetic materials, one may observe a trend that research and development activities using genetic materials are increasingly supplemented or substituted by computerized research activities based on digital sequence information (DSI). These developments lead to a revolutionary transformation in the use of genetic resources (GR), which is currently undergoing radical changes and may be considered as a "fourth industrial revolution". It results not only in exponential growth of generated genetic data, which may lead to innovation and new products and services, but also poses a range of new regulatory and legal questions due to its specific characteristics. The rise of big data raises specific legal challenges in terms of data ownership and intellectual property, data stewardship and governance, as well as technology transfer and licensing. One example is the question on how to regulate access and benefit-sharing for plant genetic resources and regulatory approvals for gene-edited plants as a result of new genomic technologies, which illustrates the use of DSI as an essential tool for research and development along with the requirements to exchange such information. Existing exchange mechanisms include, for instance, open-access databases and DSI platforms. Their data access and exchange policies would presumably be intended to maintain consistency with the objectives, policies and regulations of the Access and Benefit-Sharing system (ABS system). A large number of these questions are currently subject to discussions on an international, regional, as well as on a national level. This paper shall shed light on some of these questions to reflect the current and ongoing discussion on the issue and focus on the protection of DSI and address the question of the application of ABS systems to DSI

Draft genome sequence of Halomonas sp. KHS3, a polyaromatic hydrocarbon-chemotactic strain

The draft genome sequence of Halomonas sp. KHS3, isolated from seawater from Mar del Plata harbor, is reported. This strain is able to grow using aromatic compounds as a carbon source and shows strong chemotactic response toward these substrates. Genes involved in motility, chemotaxis, and degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons were identified.Fil: Gasperotti, Ana Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Studdert, Claudia Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Revale, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Seitz, Karina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentin

A SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme for site-specific RNA alkylation in living cells

Post-transcriptional RNA modification methods are in high demand for site-specific RNA labelling and analysis of RNA functions. In vitro-selected ribozymes are attractive tools for RNA research and have the potential to overcome some of the limitations of chemoenzymatic approaches with repurposed methyltransferases. Here we report an alkyltransferase ribozyme that uses a synthetic, stabilized S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) analogue and catalyses the transfer of a propargyl group to a specific adenosine in the target RNA. Almost quantitative conversion was achieved within 1 h under a wide range of reaction conditions in vitro, including physiological magnesium ion concentrations. A genetically encoded version of the SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme (SAMURI) was expressed in HEK293T cells, and intracellular propargylation of the target adenosine was confirmed by specific fluorescent labelling. SAMURI is a general tool for the site-specific installation of the smallest tag for azide-alkyne click chemistry, which can be further functionalized with fluorophores, affinity tags or other functional probes

Identification of two different chemosensory pathways in representatives of the genus Halomonas

Background: Species of the genus Halomonas are salt-tolerant organisms that have a versatile metabolism and can degrade a variety of xenobiotic compounds, utilizing them as their sole carbon source. In this study, we examined the genome of a Halomonas isolate from a hydrocarbon-contaminated site to search for chemosensory genes that might be responsible for the observed chemotactic behavior of this organism as well as for other responses to environmental cues. Results: Using genome-wide comparative tools, our isolate was identified as a strain of Halomonas titanicae (strain KHS3), together with two other Halomonas strains with available genomes that had not been previously identified at a species level. The search for the main components of chemosensory pathways resulted in the identification of two clusters of chemosensory genes and a total of twenty-five chemoreceptor genes. One of the gene clusters is very similar to the che cluster from Escherichia coli and, presumably, it is responsible for the chemotactic behavior towards a variety of compounds. This gene cluster is present in 47 out of 56 analyzed Halomonas strains with available genomes. A second che-like cluster includes a gene coding for a diguanylate cyclase with a phosphotransfer and two receiver domains, as well as a gene coding for a chemoreceptor with a longer cytoplasmic domain than the other twenty-four. This seemingly independent pathway resembles the wsp pathway from Pseudomonas aeruginosa although it also presents several differences in gene order and domain composition. This second chemosensory gene cluster is only present in a sub-group within the genus Halomonas. Moreover, remarkably similar gene clusters are also found in some orders of Proteobacteria phylogenetically more distant from the Oceanospirillales, suggesting the occurrence of lateral transfer events. Conclusions: Chemosensory pathways were investigated within the genus Halomonas. A canonical chemotaxis pathway, controlled by a variable number of chemoreceptors, is widespread among Halomonas species. A second chemosensory pathway of unique organization that involves some type of c-di-GMP signaling was found to be present only in one branch of the genus, as well as in other proteobacterial lineages.Fil: Gasperotti, Ana Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Revuelta, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; ArgentinaFil: Studdert, Claudia Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Seitz, Karina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentin

Netzwerk-Management und Hochgeschwindigkeits- Kommunikation. Teil XI. Seminar WS 1994/95

Der vorliegende Interne Bericht enthält die Beiträge zum Seminar "Netwerk-Management und Hochgeschwindigkeits-Kommunikation", das im Wintersemester 1994/95 zum elften Mal abgehalten wurde. Im Mittelpunkt stehen zuerst aktuelle Entwicklungen im Internet, die zukünftige Protokollarchitekturen sowie die Möglichkeit zur Gruppenkommmunikation und zur realzeitfähigen Datenkommunikation umfassen. Dabei spielt auch das Problem der Dienstgüte, wie sie beispielsweise von Multi-Media-Anwendungen gefordert wird, eine große Rolle. Der zeite Block befaßt sich mit dem Problem der Sicherheitsvorkehrungen in Kommunikations-und Rechnernetzen. Auch hier werden aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse vorgestellt. Weiterhin wird mit der Common Object Request Broker Architecture eine zukunftsweisende Architektur beschrieben, die umfassendes System-und Netzwerkmanagement ermöglicht. Den Abschluß bildet ein Beitrag zum Management breitbandiger Weitverkehrs- netze, wodurch der Kreis vom Netzwerk-Management hin zur Hochgeschwindig- keits-Kommunikation wieder geschlossen wird

Investigations on the population ecology and the population control of the Common earwig Forficula auricularia (Linnaeus) in vineyards of the Palatinate

Der Gemeine Ohrwurm Forficula auricularia (Linnaeus) wurde bisher im Weinbau als natürlicher Gegenspieler verschiedener Rebschädlinge zu den Nützlingen gezählt. Etwa seit 2005 verursacht er aufgrund stark ansteigender Individuenzahlen verbreitet Schäden in pfälzischen Rebanlagen. Zu den Primärschäden zählen das An- und Ausfressen von faulen und vorgeschädigten Beeren, starke Kot­ablagerungen im Stielgerüst sowie die Übertragung von Pathogenen. Ein möglicher negativer Einfluss des in Stresssituationen aus der Abdominaldrüse ausgestoßenen und auch im Kot vorhandenen benzochinonhaltigen Abwehrsekretes auf die Weinqualität wird zurzeit analysiert. Sekundär können die hohen Individuendichten von Ohrwürmern am gesamten Rebstock die Pflege- und Erntemaßnahmen stören. Diese Schäden führen beim Erzeuger zu einer Qualitätsminderung des Weines. Beim Verbraucher verursachen die hohen Individuenansammlungen in den geernteten Trauben einen negativen Eindruck. Aufgrund der beschriebenen Problematik wurde im Mai 2007 ein durch den Forschungsring des Deutschen Weinbaus (FDW) finanziertes Forschungsprojekt am Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum Rheinpfalz in Neustadt an der Weinstraße begonnen. Bis 2010 sollen offene Fragen zur Populationsökologie und Populationsbiologie des Gemeinen Ohrwurms in Rebanlagen geklärt und Strategien zu seiner Befallsregulierung entwickelt werden. Primäres Ziel der Arbeit ist es, die lagenweise hohen Populationsdichten auf ein für die weinbauliche Praxis akzeptables Maß zu reduzieren. Ein weiterer wichtiger Projektpunkt war die Aufklärung des Entwicklungszyklus von F. auricularia speziell in Rebanlagen. Am Rebstamm wurden die Individuen mit einer speziell entwickelten Lebendfalle aus Bambusröhren erfasst, die in Vortests die höchste Fangeffektivität von 4 Fallentypen erreichte. Die auf der Bodenoberfläche aktiven Ohrwürmer wurden mit Barberfallen aufgenommen.The Common earwig has been classified as a beneficial predator in vineyards. Amongst others the insect feeds on grape pests like different tortricids. In recent years within many regions of the viticultural area of the Palatinate the individual densities increased to an extremely high level. Earwigs may cause direct damages such as contamination of the grapes with faeces, eroded berries and transfer of pathogens. The chemical agent 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, released from the abdominal glands while earwigs are menaced and likewise contained in faeces, may have a negative influence on the wine quality. All these facts constitute a quality downslide by winegrowers. The high number of earwigs in the grapes after harvesting causes a negative image by consumers. This study was carried out to investigate possible relations between the population dynamics of earwigs and specific environmental conditions in vineyards. The main focus of the research project is to test chemical, ecological and biological strategies to reduce the population densities. Another important point of survey was to study the life cycle of earwigs especially in vineyards. For sampling purposes in the trunk zone a special life trap out of bamboo tubes has been developed. This type of trap showed the highest catch rate of the four trapping types tested. For the monitoring of ground dwelling earwigs pitfall traps were used