Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Food, Genetically Modified”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources

Health professionals hold positive attitudes toward biotechnology and genetically engineered foods.

Few biotechnology processes have elicited the degree of controversy that genetic manipulation of food through recombinant DNA technology has. Research has shown that consumers turn to health professionals for answers to questions regarding health and nutrition. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians (MDs/DOs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and registered dietitians (RDs) toward food biotechnology and genetic engineering (GE). Six hundred three-part, self-administered surveys were sent to health professionals holding active professional licenses. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD and Scheffe's post hoc tests. Attitudes toward GE were positive. MDs held more positive attitudes than NPs or RDs (p = .000). MDs and NPs supported the use of GE to improve plant resistance to pests; RDs tended to support nutritional-improvement technology. All groups supported the use of GE to produce human medicines and the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling policy. No profession was more knowledgeable than another. Biotechnology holds the potential to positively affect human health. All health professionals can facilitate or diminish this process through their understanding of the technology and their ability to communicate effectively about the science and issues associated with biotechnology.

Adult↗

[Study on the food safety of the marker gene expressed protein HPT].

OBJECTIVE: This article studied on the food safety of HPT protein (Hygromycin B Phosphotransferase), a kind of plant selectable marker gene expression product, which mainly included the quantity and quality detection of HPT in the SCK transgenic rice plants, the possible dietary intakes and its stability in the simulative digestive system. METHODS: HPT cDNA fragment was inserted into the prokaryotic expressing vector pBV222 for the expression of 6His-HPT fusion protein. The inclusion bodies were denatured by 8 mol/L urea and purifiee with metal chelate affinity chromatography on Ni-NTA agarose under denaturing condition. The purified 6His-HPT were used to immunize rabbit and BALB/C mice for the preparation of the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and the double-Ab sandwich ELISA to detect HPT was established then. Concerning the sensitivity assessment of HPT protein, the amino acid sequences of HPT was compared with the other allergens and the simulative digestive experiment in vitro was carried out too. RESULTS: 6His-HPT protein was obtained with the purity up to 95%. The specificity of antisera and ascites was detected by Western blot, which showed specific binding reaction between the antibodies to the purified 6His-HPT proteins and their expressed product. The double-Ab sandwich ELISA system was established successfully with the sensitivity of 30 ng/ml. The HPT expression level in the leaves of transgenic rice was proved in the range of 80 - 150 ng/ml, yet we cannot detect HPT protein in the seeds of the same rice. There showed no comparability in the amino acid sequences between HPT and other allergens, and HPT protein was digested quickly in the simulated stomach and intestines liquids. CONCLUSION: All the results showed that the expression level of HPT in the SCK transgenic rice plants is very low and they are not stable in the simulative digestive system. So we inferred that under the current detection level, HPT protein might not be able to induce any safety problem. Yet further study on the acute toxicity and sensitivity experiments by the animals need to be carried out, and the results will be reported in the near future.

Animals↗

[Application of near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to the detection and identification of transgenic corn].

With the rapid development of the GMO, more and more GMO food has been pouring into the market. Much attention has been paid to GMO labeling under the controversy of GMO safety. Transgenic corns and their parents were scanned by continuous wave of near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy range of 12000-4000 cm(-1); the resolution was 4 cm(-1); scanning was carried out for 64 times; BP algorithm was applied for data processing. The GMO food was easily resolved. Near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is unpolluted and inexpensive compared with PCR and ELISA, so it is a very promising detection method for GMO food.

Diffusion↗

Benefits and concerns associated with biotechnology-derived foods: can additional research reduce children health risks?

The development of techniques devised for the genetic manipulation of foods poses new risks for children with food allergy (FA). The introduction of foreign allergenic proteins from different foods into previously tolerated foods may trigger allergic reactions, often complicating with anaphylactic shock in a subset of allergic babies. Children with FA, even if subjected to preventative diets, always challenge the risk of developing allergic manifestations after unintentional intake of a non tolerated food in restaurant settings, with relatives or schoolmates, etc, where product labelling is necessarily lacking. The introduction of potentially allergenic proteins into foods generally considered safe for allergic children can be done deliberately, by either substantially altering the food ingredients, or by genetic manipulation which change the composition or transfer allergens, or unintentionally by quality-control failures, due to contaminations in the production process, or to genetic mismanipulation. There is a controversy between multinationals often favored by governments and consumer association resistance, thus an equidistant analysis poses some unprecedented impediments. The importance of FA and the potential of transgenic plants to bring food allergens into the food supply should not be disregarded. The expression in soybeans of a Brazil nut protein resulted in a food allergen expressed in widely used infant formulas, so paving the way to an often reported multinational debacle. Genetic engineering poses innovative ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture. In this paper will be emphasized practical concepts more crucial for pediatricians.

Algorithms↗

In-house validation and quality control of real-time PCR methods for GMO detection: a practical approach.

GMO detection and quantification methods in the EU are mainly based on real-time PCR. The analytical methods in use must be validated, first on an intra-laboratory scale and through a collaborative trial thereafter. Since a consensual protocol for intra-laboratory validation of real-time PCR methods is lacking, we provide a practical approach for the in-house validation of quantitative real-time PCR methods, establishing acceptability criteria and quality controls for PCR runs. Parameters such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, trueness, linear dynamic range, PCR efficiency, robustness and specificity are considered. The protocol is sufficiently detailed to be directly applicable, increases the reliability of results and their harmonization among different laboratories, and represents a necessary preliminary step before proceeding to a time-consuming and costly full validation study.

Food, Genetically Modified↗

Dimensions of novelty: a social representation approach to new foods.

Social representations of new foods were examined with a total of 44 subjects in nine focus groups. Each group was homogenous, defined by age, gender and educational background. Halfway through the interview, commercial packages of functional, genetically modified, organic, nutritionally modified and ethnic foods were presented as visual stimuli for discussion. Thematic and content analyses of the interview data showed that five dichotomies characterized the social representation: trust/distrust, safe/unsafe, natural/artificial, pleasure/necessity, and past/present. Many metaphors were used, with functional products being associated metaphorically with, for example, medicine and genetically modified products being associated with death and terrorism. Chronological references focused on the development of cuisine. The perceived unsafety of new foods was an important argument for women but not for men. The difference between age groups was in relating the discussion to either present time (young subjects) or past time (older subjects). Level of education affected the content of argumentation. In the context of new foods, social representations are formed to cope with the feeling of strangeness evoked by the novelties. They also have a role in cultural acceptance of new products by making them familiar. Overall, the results reflect the development of a new common sense in which popularized scientific notions are anchored in the process of urbanization.

Adolescent↗

Therapeutic drug delivery by genetically modified Lactococcus lactis.

Food-grade bacteria have been consumed throughout history without associated pathologies and are, therefore, absolutely safe to ingest. Unexpectedly, Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), known from cheese production, can be genetically engineered to constantly secrete satisfactory amounts of bioactive cytokines. Both of these features enabled the development of a new kind of topical delivery system: topical and active delivery of therapeutic proteins by genetically modified micro-organisms. The host organism's record inspired the development of applications that target intestinal diseases. In a variety of mouse models, chronic colon inflammation can be successfully treated with (interleukin) IL-10-secreting L. lactis. Trefoil factor (TFF) producer strains have also been shown to be very effective in the treatment of acute colitis. Such novel therapeutic strains are textbook examples of genetically modified (GM) organisms. There are legitimate concerns with regard to the deliberate release of GM micro-organisms. On development of these applications, therefore, we have engineered these bacteria in such a way that biological containment is guaranteed. The essential gene thyA, encoding thymidylate synthase, has been exchanged for IL-10. This makes the GM strain critically dependent on thymidine. Lack of thymidine, for example, resulting from thymidine consumption by thyA-deficient strains-will irreversibly lead to induced "thymidine-less death." This accomplishment has created the possibility of using this strategy for application in human medicine.

Animals↗