Technology
Small RNAs
The small RNAs of Salmonella
from Sridhar Javayel, Kai Papenfort and Jörg Vogel writing in Salmonella: From Genome to Function
To date, close to one hundred distinct small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in Salmonella by a variety of biocomputational or wet-lab approaches including RNA sequencing. The function of more than twenty of these sRNAs is known from studies in Salmonella itself or can be inferred from conserved homologs in E. coli Many of these sRNAs act in conjunction with the RNA-chaperone Hfq to post-transcriptionally repress or activate trans-encoded target genes, but cis-antisense RNAs and regulators of protein activity are also abundantly present. In addition to a large number of sRNAs conserved in other enteric bacteria, Salmonella also expresses a set of sRNAs specific to this genus. Interestingly, such regulators have been shown to control the expression of conserved genes encoded on the "core" Salmonella genome. Conversely, conserved sRNA can act as regulators of recently acquired Salmonella-specific genes, indicating significant cross-talk of conserved and horizontally acquired elements at the RNA level. A recent review covers strategies for the identification of sRNAs as well as their characterized functional roles in Salmonella.
Further reading: Salmonella: From Genome to Function | RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
from Sridhar Javayel, Kai Papenfort and Jörg Vogel writing in Salmonella: From Genome to Function
To date, close to one hundred distinct small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in Salmonella by a variety of biocomputational or wet-lab approaches including RNA sequencing. The function of more than twenty of these sRNAs is known from studies in Salmonella itself or can be inferred from conserved homologs in E. coli Many of these sRNAs act in conjunction with the RNA-chaperone Hfq to post-transcriptionally repress or activate trans-encoded target genes, but cis-antisense RNAs and regulators of protein activity are also abundantly present. In addition to a large number of sRNAs conserved in other enteric bacteria, Salmonella also expresses a set of sRNAs specific to this genus. Interestingly, such regulators have been shown to control the expression of conserved genes encoded on the "core" Salmonella genome. Conversely, conserved sRNA can act as regulators of recently acquired Salmonella-specific genes, indicating significant cross-talk of conserved and horizontally acquired elements at the RNA level. A recent review covers strategies for the identification of sRNAs as well as their characterized functional roles in Salmonella.
Further reading: Salmonella: From Genome to Function | RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
High-throughput analysis
High-throughput screening to determine the genetic requirements for Salmonella survival under different growth conditions
from Mollie Megan Reynolds, Rocio Canals, Michael McClelland and Helene Andrews-Polymenis writing in Salmonella: From Genome to Function
Salmonella species are capable of survival in a wide range of niches, both in the environment and in an infected host. Genetic requirements for survival of Salmonella in different niches have traditionally been identified using gene expression and forward genetics. The availability of complete genome sequences, microarray technology, and cost-effective new sequencing capabilities enabled increasingly efficient high-throughput analyses of Salmonella genomes to identify elements that contribute to survival in these niches. A recent review describes many of the high-throughput tools that have been developed over the past two decades, and the genetic requirements for Salmonella survival that have been identified using these techniques.
Further reading: Salmonella: From Genome to Function
from Mollie Megan Reynolds, Rocio Canals, Michael McClelland and Helene Andrews-Polymenis writing in Salmonella: From Genome to Function
Salmonella species are capable of survival in a wide range of niches, both in the environment and in an infected host. Genetic requirements for survival of Salmonella in different niches have traditionally been identified using gene expression and forward genetics. The availability of complete genome sequences, microarray technology, and cost-effective new sequencing capabilities enabled increasingly efficient high-throughput analyses of Salmonella genomes to identify elements that contribute to survival in these niches. A recent review describes many of the high-throughput tools that have been developed over the past two decades, and the genetic requirements for Salmonella survival that have been identified using these techniques.
Further reading: Salmonella: From Genome to Function
PCR Seminar Online
No matter how good you are at PCR, you can always learn something from the speakers we have lined up for our Getting the most out of PCR live online seminar series. These guy eat, sleep and drink PCR.
Next up we have MIQE Guidelines Uncloaked, in which Greg Shipley will give you the inside track on the requirements you need to satisfy to make sure your PCR results are suitable for publication. You'd be mad to miss it.
This event goes out live tomorrow (Tue 8th June) at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm BST (UK) / 6pm CET. Click here to secure one of the remaining places on this live event..
You can also click here to take a look at our archive for this series, which now contains:
Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR
Speaker: Carl Wittwer
Obtaining Maximum PCR Sensitivity and Specificity
Speaker: Cameron N. Gundry Attendence: 125
Significance of Controls and Standard Curves in PCR
Speaker: Ian Kavanagh
Next up we have MIQE Guidelines Uncloaked, in which Greg Shipley will give you the inside track on the requirements you need to satisfy to make sure your PCR results are suitable for publication. You'd be mad to miss it.
This event goes out live tomorrow (Tue 8th June) at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm BST (UK) / 6pm CET. Click here to secure one of the remaining places on this live event..
You can also click here to take a look at our archive for this series, which now contains:
Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR
Speaker: Carl Wittwer
Obtaining Maximum PCR Sensitivity and Specificity
Speaker: Cameron N. Gundry Attendence: 125
Significance of Controls and Standard Curves in PCR
Speaker: Ian Kavanagh
Getting The Most Out of PCR
We would like to draw your attention to an online seminar series "Getting The Most Out of PCR", which is being broadcast by the popular life science blog, Bitesize Bio. Bitesize Bio is headed by Nick Oswald and Suzanne Kennedy, who co-edited our recent title "PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization".
The series lineup includes many of the authors from this book and kicks off on 18 May with a talk from LightCycler co-inventor, Carl Wittwer, entitled "Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR". This will be a great learning experience with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from experts and pioneers in the PCR field. The full program is shown below.
Click here to book your place on these excellent events.
Recommended reading: PCR publications
The series lineup includes many of the authors from this book and kicks off on 18 May with a talk from LightCycler co-inventor, Carl Wittwer, entitled "Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR". This will be a great learning experience with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from experts and pioneers in the PCR field. The full program is shown below.
Click here to book your place on these excellent events.
- Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR
Speaker: Carl Wittwer
18 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - Obtaining Maximum PCR Sensitivity and Specificity
Speaker: Cameron N. Gundry
25 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - Significance of Controls and Standard Curves in PCR
Speaker: Ian Kavanagh
01 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - The MBD2-based Enrichment Approach for Analyzing DNA methylation
Speaker: Chris Adams
08 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - The MIQE Guidelines Uncloaked
Speaker: Greg Shipley
15 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - High Resolution Melting Analysis - Beyond the SNP
Speaker: John Mackay
22 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET
Recommended reading: PCR publications
Electrospinning Nanofibers
Electrospinning is a highly versatile technique that can be used to create ultrafine fibres of various polymers and other materials, with diameters ranging from a few micrometers down to tens of nanometres. The nonwoven webs of fibers formed through this process typically have high specific surface areas, nano-scale pore sizes, high and controllable porosity and extreme flexibility with regard to the materials used and modification of the surface chemistry of the fibres. The combination of these features permit the application of electrospun nanofibres in a variety of water treatment applications, including filtration, solid phase extraction and reactive membranes.
Read more: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Read more: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Nanobiotechnology
Microbial tests are based essentially on time-consuming culture methods. However, newer enzymatic, immunological and genetic methods are being developed to replace and/or support classical approaches to microbial detection. Moreover, innovations in nanotechnology and nanosciences are having a significant impact in biodiagnostics, where a number of nanoparticle-based assays and nanodevices have been introduced for biomolecular detection.
Current and emerging molecular approaches for the detection of microbial pathogens especially in the area of nanobiotechnology will aid microbial diagnostics and pathogen detection.
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Current and emerging molecular approaches for the detection of microbial pathogens especially in the area of nanobiotechnology will aid microbial diagnostics and pathogen detection.
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology refers to the engineering and art of manipulating matter at the nanoscale (1-100 nm). This emerging technology has many applications applications including applications in microbiology and water treatment.
Nanotechnology offers the potential of novel nanomaterials (nanostructured catalytic membranes, nanosorbents, nanocatalysts and bioactive nanoparticles) for the treatment of surface water, groundwater and wastewater contaminated by toxic metal ions, organic and inorganic solutes and microorganisms. At the present time many nanomaterials are under active research and development for this purpose.
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Nanotechnology offers the potential of novel nanomaterials (nanostructured catalytic membranes, nanosorbents, nanocatalysts and bioactive nanoparticles) for the treatment of surface water, groundwater and wastewater contaminated by toxic metal ions, organic and inorganic solutes and microorganisms. At the present time many nanomaterials are under active research and development for this purpose.
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
PCR Optimisation Book
New PCR book announced:
The book describes and discusses strategies for preparing effective controls and standards for PCR, when they should be employed and how to interpret the information they provide. The significance of optimization for efficiency, precision and sensitivity of PCR methodology and essential guidance on how to troubleshoot inefficient reactions. Design and optimization techniques, the use of appropriate controls, the significance of standard curves and the principles and strategies required for effective troubleshooting. The importance of sample preparation and quality, primer design, controlling inhibitors, avoiding amplicon and environmental contamination, optimizing reagent quality and concentration, and modifying the thermal cycling protocol for optimal sensitivity and specificity read more.
The book describes and discusses strategies for preparing effective controls and standards for PCR, when they should be employed and how to interpret the information they provide. The significance of optimization for efficiency, precision and sensitivity of PCR methodology and essential guidance on how to troubleshoot inefficient reactions. Design and optimization techniques, the use of appropriate controls, the significance of standard curves and the principles and strategies required for effective troubleshooting. The importance of sample preparation and quality, primer design, controlling inhibitors, avoiding amplicon and environmental contamination, optimizing reagent quality and concentration, and modifying the thermal cycling protocol for optimal sensitivity and specificity read more.
 | Edited by: Suzanne Kennedy and Nick Oswald ISBN: 978-1-904455-72-1 Publisher: Caister Academic Press Publication Date: January 2011 Cover: Hardback read more ... |
Book Review: RNAi and Viruses
"The use of RNA interference to control gene expression is emerging as an exciting new technology. The potential of this mechanism depends on the ability to find a competent way to deliver the RNA. This compact book reviews all of these issues in a comprehensive manner." from Doodys (2010)
Further reading: RNA Interference and Viruses: Current Innovations and Future Trends
Further reading: RNA Interference and Viruses: Current Innovations and Future Trends
Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration
Reverse osmosis (hyperfiltration) and nanofiltration are membrane separation technologies. Reverse osmosis is based on the basic principle of osmotic pressure, while nanofiltration makes use of molecule size for separation. Recent advances in nanotechnology are opening a range of possibilities in membrane technologies. Current research involves: new membrane preparation and cleaning methods, new surface and interior modification possibilities, the use of new nanostructured materials, and new characterization techniques.
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications
Further reading: Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications