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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Detection of genetically engineered plants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the FLAVR SAVR tomato as an example].

In this study, a practical approach for the detection of a genetically engineered tomato is demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The Flavr Savr tomato available on the market which was used as an example, contains a resistance gene for the antibiotic kanamycin (kanr) and a gene construct for the inhibition of fruit ripening and softening (antisense polygalacturonase). The presence of these DNA's could only be detected in the genetically engineered tomato.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Genetically engineered plants, endangered species, and risk: a temporal and spatial exposure assessment for Karner blue butterfly larvae and Bt maize pollen.

Genetically engineered maize (Zea mays) containing insecticidal endotoxin proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) delta-endotoxin proteins has been adopted widely in the Midwestern United States. The proteins are toxic to several lepidopteran species and because a variety of maize tissues, including pollen, may express the endotoxins, the probability of exposure to nontarget species, including endangered species, needs to be understood. The objective of this study was to assess the potential temporal and spatial exposure of endangered Karner blue butterfly larvae (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) to Bt maize pollen in Wisconsin using probabilistic exposure techniques and geographic information systems analysis. Based on degree-day modeling of butterfly phenology and maize pollen shed, there is some potential for temporal exposure of larvae to maize pollen. However, in the majority of years and locations, maize pollen shed most likely will occur after the majority of larval feeding on wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). The spatial analysis indicates that some Karner blue butterfly populations occur in close proximity to maize fields, but in the vast majority of cases the butterfly's host plant and maize fields are separated by more than 500 m. A small number of potential or existing Karner blue butterfly sites are located near maize fields, including sites in two of the four counties where temporal overlap is most likely. The exposure assessment indicates that these two counties should receive the highest priority to determine if Karner blue butterfly larvae are actually at risk and then, if needed, to reduce or prevent exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Genetically engineered plant allergens with reduced anaphylactic activity.

Allergy immunotherapy is based on the administration of increasing amounts of the disease-eliciting allergens in order to yield allergen-specific non-responsiveness. Success of this therapy is associated with modulation of the immune response to allergenic molecules at the level of T-helper cells and the induction of blocking antibodies. The extracts used for immunotherapy are highly heterogenous preparations from natural sources and contain additional components, mostly proteins which are not well defined. Recombinant DNA technology offers novel tools for production of pure and well-characterised allergens for specific immunotherapy. However, high IgE reactivity of pure recombinant allergens is associated with an increased risk of potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. A major improvement in allergen-specific immunotherapy may be achieved by using genetically engineered recombinant allergens with reduced anaphylactic activity. Recently the site- directed mutagenesis technique has been applied successfully to produce variants of major grass, birch and oilseed rape allergens with reduced IgE reactivity but retained T-cell reactivity. These modified allergens with reduced anaphylactic potential are novel candidates for safer and more effective allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1993

The low prevalence of occupational asthma and antibody-dependent sensitization to diphenylmethane diisocyanate in a plant engineered for minimal exposure to diisocyanates.

BACKGROUND: Diisocyanate chemicals are leading causes of occupational asthma (OA). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 243 workers exposed to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in a urethane mold plant that had been designed to minimize MDI exposure (levels were maintained below 0.005 ppm and were continuously monitored). All participants were screened by questionnaire and tests for serum antibodies to MDI-human serum albumin (HSA). On the basis of questionnaire responses, diagnoses were derived that included OA; non-OA; work-related and non-work-related rhinitis; and lower respiratory irritant responses. Serial peak expiratory flow rate studies were performed for 2 weeks in 43 workers with and in 23 workers without lower respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Results of serial peak expiratory flow rate studies were abnormal in 3 (33%) of 9 workers with OA, in 2 (50%) of 4 with non-OA, and in 2 (9%) of 23 case control subjects. A significant association was found between peak flow rate variability and a questionnaire asthma diagnosis (chi 2 p < 0.002). Physicians confirmed three cases of OA, one of which occurred in a control worker who was free of symptoms. In all three cases asthma symptoms remitted after the worker left the workplace. Serum specific IgE and IgG levels were elevated in 2 of 243 workers, one of whom was prick test positive to MDI-HSA and had had cutaneous anaphylaxis after MDI exposure. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these cases, specific work activities associated with exposure to MDI were identified and corrective measures were instituted. Strict control and monitoring of ambient MDI exposure was associated with a low prevalence of specific sensitization to MDI and a lower than expected prevalence of OA.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

Phytodetoxification of hazardous organomercurials by genetically engineered plants.

Methylmercury is a highly toxic, organic derivative found in mercury-polluted wetlands and coastal sediments worldwide. Though commonly present at low concentrations in the substrate, methylmercury can biomagnify to concentrations that poison predatory animals and humans. In the interest of developing an in situ detoxification strategy, a model plant system was transformed with bacterial genes (merA for mercuric reductase and merB for organomercurial lyase) for an organic mercury detoxification pathway. Arabidopsis thaliana plants expressing both genes grow on 50-fold higher methylmercury concentrations than wild-type plants and up to 10-fold higher concentrations than plants that express merB alone. An in vivo assay demonstrated that both transgenes are required for plants to detoxify organic mercury by converting it to volatile and much less toxic elemental mercury.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2005

Tuning the pores: towards engineering plants for improved water use efficiency.

The management of limited fresh water resources is a major challenge facing society in the 21st century. The agricultural sector accounts for more than two-thirds of human water withdrawal and is therefore a prime area to implement a more rational water use. Environmental stresses are a major factor limiting stable food production. Given the growing shortage of available water for crops this will be an emerging factor in international agricultural economy. The most environmentally friendly and durable solution to the problem of water shortage is to complement more efficient irrigation approaches with crops with optimal water use efficiency, achieved either through genetic engineering or conventional breeding, combined with high yields.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1993

Engineered plant phosphorylase showing extraordinarily high affinity for various alpha-glucan molecules.

alpha-Glucan phosphorylases are characterized by considerable difference in substrate specificities, even though the primary structures are well conserved among the enzymes from microorganisms, plants, and animals. The higher plant phosphorylase isozyme designated as type L exhibits low affinity for a large, highly branched glucan (glycogen), presumably due to steric hindrance caused by a unique 78-residue insertion located beside the mouth of the active-site cleft, whereas another isozyme without the insertion (designated as type H) shows very high affinity for both linear and branched glucans. Using the recombinant type L isozyme from potato tuber as a starting framework and aiming at altering its substrate specificity, we have genetically engineered the 78-residue insertion and its flanking regions. Firstly, removal of the insertion and connection of the newly formed C- and N-terminals yielded a totally inactive enzyme, although the protein was produced in Escherichia coli cells in a soluble form. Secondly, a chimeric phosphorylase, in which the 78-residue insertion and its flanking regions are replaced by the corresponding region of the type H isozyme, has been shown to exhibit high affinity for branched glucans (Mori, H., Tanizawa, K., & Fukui, T., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268, 5574-5581), but when two and four unconserved residues in the N-terminal flanking region of the chimeric phosphorylase were mutated back to those of the type L isozyme, the resulting mutants showed significantly lowered affinity for substrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The microbiocenosis of the skin of the hands in the workers of a mechanical engineering plant].

Microbiocenosis of skin on hands of 160 men aged 16-60 (of them 40 healthy men not dealing with production (control) and 120 workers of the combine plant) has been studied. The level of bacterial dissemination of persons of the control group has been stated to vary within 3.62 +/- 0.07-3.78 +/- 0.08 1g KOE/lm2. This level in workers of the assembling and metal-working shops essentially decreases and depends on the peculiarities of the production process. The constant contact of skin on hands with oil causes an increase in the amount of bacteria and the contact with emulsions, on the contrary, promotes their decrease. Among the different ecological groups of microorganisms on skin of hands in workers staphylococci occupy a dominating position. The species composition of the latter is nonuniform in workers of different shops. The high level of contamination of skin on hands by Staphylococcus aureus belonging, mainly, to the second phage group has been determined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Engineering plants for animal feed for improved nutritional value.

Feed formulation to meet nutritional requirements of livestock is becoming increasingly challenging. Regulations have banned the use of traditional high-quality protein supplements such as meat-and-bone meal, pollution from animal excreta of N and P is an issue and antibiotics are no longer available as insurance against the impact of enteric infection and feed anti-nutritional factors. The improved genetic potential of livestock is increasing daily requirement for energy and protein (essential amino acids). To benefit from the enhanced growth potential of livestock diets with high nutrient density are needed that can be formulated from crops without increased cost. Genetic modification of commodity crops used to manufacture animal feed in order to improve the density and quality of available nutrients is a potential solution to some of these problems. Furthermore, crops may be used as biofactories to produce molecules and products used in animal feed with considerable reductions in manufacturing fixed costs. Nevertheless, there are considerable not insurmountable challenges, such as the creation of sufficient economic value to deliver benefit to all members in the feed production chain, which is an essential element of identity preserving and delivering the technology to livestock producers. Individual output traits in the major commodity crops may not provide sufficient value to adequately compensate all the members of the feed production chain. Successful adoption of output traits may rely on inserting combinations of agronomic input traits with specific quality traits or increasing the value proposition by inserting combinations of output traits.

Animal Feed↗