Research Publications (Food Safety)

Author(s): Maha Al-Naimi, Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti

To the Editor—In a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Faure-Bardon and colleagues report that maternal primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with adverse clinical outcomes for the fetus only when infections occur during the first trimester of pregnancy [1]. We laud their efforts to meticulously assess the timing of maternal primary infection.

ICEpMERPH, the first integrative conjugative element (ICE) of the SXT/R391 familyisolated in the United Kingdom and Europe, was analyzed to determine the nature of its adaptivefunctions, its genetic structure, and its homology to related elements normally found in pathogenicVibrio or Proteus species. Whole genome sequencing of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolate K802 (whichcontains the ICEpMERPH) was carried out using Illumina sequencing technology.

Effects of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) exposure on oxidative biomarkers and heat shock protein (HSP) expression, and their possible relation to ovarian steroidogenesis in fish were investigated. Female Cirrhinus cirrhosus were exposed to 1/10th of LC50 of metals for 30 days, and kept for another 30 days without metal exposure.

by David A. Groneberg, Stefan Rolle, Michael H. K. Bendels, Doris Klingelhöfer, Norman Schöffel, Jan Bauer, Dörthe Brüggmann

With increasing concern related to sustainable chemistry, we investigated the biosorption of Pb2+ ions from aqueous medium using an environmental friendly and economic biosorbent Bougainvillea spectabilis (BS). The BS was modified effectively using citric acid by hydrothermal method.

Periclase/calcite nanocomposites (PCN) were synthesized via calcination and carbonation treatment of dolomite. The surface and structural properties of PCN were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, thermogravimetry (TG), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The potential of PCN to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solutions was examined by batch experiments.

Author(s): Jie Gu, Zhen Ren, Jinfeng Zhao, Frank Addai Peprah, Yimin Xie, Dongrui Cheng, Yanwei Wang, Haitao Liu, Chris Kong Chu Wong, Yang Zhou, Haifeng Shi

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal ion leading to morphological and physiological disorders in plants; a specific toxicity target is the membrane lipids. The total lipids were separated by thin-layer chromatography, and the fatty acid composition of the total (TLs), polar lipids (PLs) and triacylglycerol (TAG)—a neutral lipid—was analyzed in maize seedlings in hydroponics and treated by various Cd concentrations (0–200 µM Cd).

Author(s): Yi-min Wang, Dou-dou Tang, Xu-yin Yuan, Minori Uchimiya, Ji-zhou Li, Zhen-yu Li, Zi-cheng Luo, Ze-wen Xu, Shi-ge Sun

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) ranks among the most common human congenital malformations, and has a multifactorial background in which both exogenous and genetic risk factors act in concert. The present report describes a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving a total of 285 nsCL/P patients and 1212 controls from the Netherlands and Belgium.

by Sarah W. Shivers, Dar A. Roberts, Joseph P. McFadden, Christina Tague

In the study, we have analysed the impact of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) on fine root biomass and the associated level of bioacumulation heavy metals in fine roots under alder plantings (Alnus incana, A. glutinosa and A. viridis) growing on technosols developed from combustion wastes and extremely poor quaternary sands excavated by sand mining.

Author(s): Juncai Wang, Xunfeng Chen, Yaowei Chi, Shaohua Chu, Kashif Hayat, Yuee Zhi, Sikandar Hayat, Dimitar Terziev, Dan Zhang, Pei Zhou

The quality of the forecasts, i.e., the accuracy in predicting the observed streamflow, affects the decisions that can be taken thus determining the success or failure of hydropower operations, i.e., the so‐called forecast value.

Author(s): Xiaolin Kuang, Jihai Shao, Liang Peng, Huijuan Song, Xiangdong Wei, Si Luo, Ji-dong Gu

Author(s): Yiyi Liu, Yu Yuan, Yang Xiao, Yizhun Li, Yanqiu Yu, Tingting Mo, Haijing Jiang, Xiulou Li, Handong Yang, Chengwei Xu, Meian He, Huan Guo, An Pan, Tangchun Wu

Abstract

Aims

As a vital polysaccharide related to mechanisms of plant resistance to trace metal in the root cell wall, the role of hemicellulose in cadmium (Cd) accumulation in hyperaccumulators is still unknown. We investigated hemicellulose modification in response to Cd in two populations of Sedum alfredii.

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels, and no recent study has examined this relationship in the US population.

Author(s): Pritha Bhattacharjee, Somnath Paul

Abstract

Background

The study of heritable epigenetic changes in arsenic exposure has intensified over the last decade. Groundwater arsenic contamination causes a great threat to humans and, to date, no accurate measure has been formulated for remediation. The fascinating possibilities of epi-therapeutics identify the need for an in-depth mechanistic understanding of the epigenetic landscape.

Our review provides a comprehensive treatise on the progress in understanding teixobactin chemistry, structure−activity relationships, and mechanisms of antibacterial activity. Teixobactin represents an exciting starting point for the development of new antibiotics that can be used to combat multidrug‐resistant bacterial (“superbug”) infections.

Micronutrients such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are integral to living organisms for normal growth and reproduction. In plants, these minerals are involved in various cellular and molecular processes, such as chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis (Cu, Fe, and Mn), respiration (Cu and Fe), and stabilization of DNA and gene expression (Zn). A deficiency or an excess of these minerals severely impairs plant growth and development.

An extensive body of evidence from the last decade has indicated that melatonin enhances plant resistance to a range of biotic and abiotic stressors. This has led to an interest in the application of melatonin in agriculture to reduce negative physiological effects from environmental stresses that affect yield and crop quality.

Author(s): Jihai Zhou, Kun Cheng, Guomin Huang, Guangcai Chen, Shoubiao Zhou, Yongjie Huang, Jie Zhang, Honglang Duan, Houbao Fan

Author(s): Zhichao Wu, Qi Jiang, Tao Yan, Xin Zhang, Shoujun Xu, Hanzhi Shi, Teng-hao-bo Deng, Furong Li, Yingqiong Du, Ruiying Du, Chengxiao Hu, Xu Wang, Fuhua Wang