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Potential Contaminants (potential + contaminant)
Selected AbstractsGalectin 3-binding protein is a potential contaminant of recombinantly produced factor IXHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 6 2007M. BLOSTEIN Summary., Haemophilia B, or factor IX (FIX) deficiency, represents 15% of the hereditary haemophilias. The serious morbidity from the transmission of infectious agents in plasma-derived material has mandated a need for the production of recombinant product. The rate-limiting step for the production of recombinant FIX is ,-carboxylation, a post-translational modification carried out only in mammalian cells. To test the carboxylation efficiency of recombinantly produced FIX in vitro and to improve the isolation of the pure active product, we produced FIX in a transfected human cell line (293 human embryonic kidney cells) and isolated material by immunoaffinity chromatography followed by hydroxyapatite chromatography. Unexpectedly, during hydroxyapatite chromatography, we discovered that purified FIX was contaminated by a heretofore unknown protein. Further analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) sequencing revealed this protein to be galectin-3-binding protein (G3BP). The above results raise an important note of caution regarding the production of recombinant FIX and, indeed, other proteins produced recombinantly in mammalian cells. [source] Transcriptional inactivation of amphotropic murine leukemia virus replication in human cellsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2003Martin Ploss Abstract Amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV) replicates in cells from various mammalian species including humans and is a potential contaminant in MLV vector preparations for human gene transfer studies. Because MLV replication proceeds through an RNA genome that is generated under the control of viral enhancer and promoter elements, vectors were developed that delete such elements during transduction to reduce the generation of replication-competent virus. It was shown recently that replication of amphotropic MLV in certain human cells is possible without the 75 bp transcription enhancers. It is now demonstrated that enhancer-independent replication requires functional elements within U3 and is repressed by an extended deletion in the U3 region comprising enhancers, promoter and flanking sequences. It is concluded that the transcriptional inactivation of amphotropic MLV in human cells requires the combined deletion of enhancers and of additional elements in U3. J. Med. Virol. 69:267,272, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Nested distributions of bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) on Neotropical bats: artifact and specificity in host-parasite studiesECOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2009Bruce D. Patterson We examined the structure of ectoparasitic bat fly infestations on 31 well-sampled bat species, representing 4 Neotropical families. Sample sizes varied from 22 to 1057 bats per species, and bat species were infested by 4 to 27 bat fly species. Individual bats supported smaller infracommunities (the set of parasites co-occurring on an individual host), ranging from 1 to 5 fly species in size, and no bat species had more than 6 bat fly species characteristically associated with it (its primary fly species). Nestedness analyses used system temperature (BINMATNEST algorithm) because it is particularly well-suited for analysis of interaction networks, where parasite records may be nested among hosts and host individuals simultaneously nested among parasites. Most species exhibited very low system temperatures (mean 3.14°; range 0.14,12.28°). Simulations showed that nested structure for all 31 species was significantly stronger than simulated values under 2 of the 3 null hypotheses, and about half the species were also nested under the more stringent conditions of the third null hypothesis. Yet this structure disappears when analyses are restricted to "primary" associations of fly species (flies on their customary host species), which exclude records thought to be atypical, transient, or potential contaminants. Despite comprising a small fraction of total parasite records, such anomalies represent a considerable part of the statistical state-space, offering the illusion of significant ecological structure. Only well understood and well documented systems can make distinctions between primary and other occurrence records. Generally, nestedness appears best developed in host-parasite systems where infestations are long-term and accumulate over time. Dynamic, short-term infestations by highly mobile parasites like bat flies may appear to be nested, but such structure is better understood in terms of host specificity and accidental occurrences than in terms of prevalence, persistence, or hierarchical niche relations of the flies. [source] Longevity and fecundity of Eulophus pennicornis, an ectoparasitoid of the tomato moth Lacanobia oleracea, is affected by nutritional state and diet qualityAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Maureen E. Wakefield 1Adult female Eulophus pennicornis require a source of nutrition, provided by sources such as pollen, nectar and honeydew or by host feeding, to promote longevity and facilitate egg production. There is potential for parasitoids to be exposed directly to contaminants, including gene products in transgenic crops, through feeding on plant materials, honeydew or hosts. Among such potential contaminants are lectins such as Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) and concanavalin agglutinin (Con A). 2The effect of direct exposure to honey diets containing GNA and Con A on the longevity and fecundity of E. pennicornis was examined. These lectins have been expressed in a number of plant species for the control for various insect pests. Both GNA and Con A significantly reduced longevity and fecundity at the highest concentration used (0.5% w/v). The effect on fecundity was shown to be related to a reduction in longevity. 3Examination of the gustatory response of adult female E. pennicornis to honey diet containing 1% w/v GNA or Con A revealed no significant differences in consumption rate on first exposure. A significant reduction in the time spent feeding on diet containing 1% Con A was found on the second exposure to the diet. This could have been the result of either a conditioned aversion response or the intoxication of the insect. The effect of Con A on longevity and fecundity could have been, in part, a result of reduced food intake. 4Studies on nutrition and egg resorption demonstrated that the availability of honey solution prolongs the longevity of E. pennicornis and the lack of a source of nutrition promotes oosorption. 5A greater understanding of feeding behaviour and ovigeny is required to understand fully the potential ecological consequence of transgenic crops on parasitoid species through routes of direct exposure to transgene products. [source] Use of Bacteriophages to Control Salmonella in Experimentally Contaminated Sprout SeedsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 5 2004S. Pao ABSTRACT: Trials were conducted to evaluate the potential for using bacteriophages to control Salmonella in sprouting seeds. Two phages (Phage-A, capable of lysing S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, and Phage-B, capable of lysing S. Montevideo) were isolated and characterized as members of the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae families, respectively. Salmonella counts increased in all inoculated seeds during soaking and mustard seeds supported greater growth of the inoculated Salmonella than broccoli seeds. A 1.37 log suppression of Salmonella growth was achieved by applying Phage-A on mustard seeds. The mixture of Phage-A and Phage-B caused a 1.50 log suppression of Salmonella growth in the soaking water of broccoli seeds. Host specificity observed in the study stresses the importance of developing phage mixtures that can control a broad range of potential contaminants. [source] Hazard ratings for organic peroxidesPROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2008Yih-Shing Duh Abstract Nine of commercially available organic peroxides were assessed with differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and adiabatic calorimeters. These organic peroxides are cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), di- tert -butyl peroxide (DTBP), methyl-ethyl-ketone peroxide (MEKPO), tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), benzoyl peroxide (BPO), hydrogen peroxide, lauroyl peroxide (LPO), tert -butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPBZ), and dicumyl peroxide (DCPO). Exothermic onset temperatures, self-heat temperature and pressure rates, and heats of decomposition were measured and assessed. Adiabatic runaway reaction characteristics were determined by using ARC (accelerating rate calorimeter) and VSP2 (vent sizing package). Incompatibility, tests with several potential contaminants, was made using DSC, VSP2, and microcalorimeter. An incompatibility rating was developed using onset temperature, lowering of the onset temperature, heat of decomposition, maximum self-heat rate, adiabatic temperature rise, maximum pressure of decomposition, and maximum pressure rising rate, etc. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2008 [source] A salivary collection method for young childrenPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Laura K. Zimmermann Abstract Salivary assays are a major physiological measure in studies of child development. Traditional collection techniques have generally involved children chewing on sterile dental cotton rolls. However, research suggests that, for an accurate assay, potential contaminants need to be minimized, both from oral stimulants and the collection device. Moreover, the use of cotton requires that additional saliva be collected to compensate for the amount absorbed by the cotton itself. For these reasons I adapted the passive drooling collection protocol for use with young children. To this end, a game was created which involves frog puppets constructed so that a funnel, which serves as the frog's mouth, connects to a cryogenic vial housed in the frog's body. Details on the specifics of this methodology as well as the effectiveness of this approach are discussed. [source] Towards harmonized approaches for mycotoxin analyses: an assessmentQUALITY ASSURANCE & SAFETY OF CROPS & FOOD, Issue 2 2009Anton J. Alldrick Abstract Mycotoxins (the poisonous metabolites of certain filamentous fungi) are potential contaminants of staple food commodities and, if uncontrolled, may present a significant public health hazard. In many jurisdictions, questions relating to mycotoxin contamination are addressed at both generic and specific levels by food-safety legislation. Key to the successful management of the mycotoxin question, both in terms of verifying food-safety measures by the agri-food businesses and ensuring compliance with statutory limits by enforcement agencies, is the use of reliable sampling and analytical methodology. Evidence from European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed data suggest that harmonization of methodologies used to determine the mycotoxin content of foods would contribute to improved compliance at both regulatory and commercial levels. [source] Comparative SEM study of the marginal adaptation of white and grey MTA and Portland cementAUSTRALIAN ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007Maryam Bidar dds Abstract The use of a suitable substance that prevents egress of potential contaminants into the periapical tissues is important in endodontic surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare the marginal adaptation of three root-end filling materials (white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), grey MTA and Portland cement), using scanning electron microscopy. Seventy-five single-rooted extracted human teeth were used. The canals were instrumented and filled with gutta-percha. Following root-end resection and cavity preparation, root-end cavities were filled with white MTA, grey MTA or Portland cement. Using a diamond saw, roots were longitudinally sectioned into two halves. Under scanning electron microscopy, the gaps between the material and dentinal wall were measured. The data were analysed using Kruskal,Wallis test. The mean of the gap in grey MTA, white MTA and Portland cement was 211.6, 349 and 326.3 µm, respectively. The results indicate that the gap between grey MTA and the dentinal wall is less than other materials, but there was no significant difference between the materials tested in this study (P > 0.05). 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