RAPID DETECTION OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN TRICLOSAN AND HIGH FLUORIDE DENTIFRICES USING AN ATP BIOLUMINESCENCE ASSAY

Abstract The Celsis ATP Bioluminescence method was optimized and validated to detect the presence of microbial contamination in High Fluoride and Triclosan dentifrice formulations. Several enrichment broths were evaluated by using a 24–27 h incubation period. The ATP concentrations of the enrichment broths were found to a range from 0.012 to 0.040 nM. None of the tested enrichment broths were found to exhibit any sample inhibition/enhancement effects on the ATP Bioluminescence reaction. Dentifrice suspensions were inoculated with bacteria, yeast, and mold. All test microorganisms (ca. 1–15 CFU/g) were detected within a 24–27 h incubation period by using TAT Broth Base enrichment broths containing different concentrations of the following ingredients: Tween 20, Neopeptone, Dextrose, Triton X-100, Thiosulfate, Sodium Dibasic Phosphate, and Glycine. Negative ATP response after 24–27 h of incubation at 35C indicates the absence of contamination from these products.     

COMPARISON OF THE MILLIPORE DIGITAL TOTAL COUNT SYSTEM AND STANDARD MEMBRANE FILTRATION PROCEDURE TO ENUMERATE MICROORGANISMS IN WATER SAMPLES FROM COSMETIC/PHARMACEUTICAL ENVIRONMENTS

A study was performed to compare the Millipore Digital Total Count System with a standard membrane filtration procedure in enumerating the number of microorganisms present in several types of water samples (e.g., Hot/Cold Deionized, Tap, and RO/Ultra Filtration). Water samples were collected over a 4 month period. Statistical data analysis demonstrated an overall correlation of greater than 82% between the two test methodologies. The linearity of the microbial counts between both test methods was compared by artificially contaminating sterile water samples with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The linearity of the microbial counts between both methods was found to be greater than 96%. The Millipore Digital Total Count System was found to be comparable to the standard membrane filtration method in determining the number of microorganisms in a water sample. In conclusion, the Millipore Digital Total Count System was able to provide a 24 h enumeration of microorganisms present in a water sample. This rapid enumeration allows for a faster quality evaluation of water samples from an industrial water system that is used in the manufacture of cosmetic/pharmaceutical products.     

来自澳大利亚的治蝗报告

在澳大利亚,人蝗战争同样在上演,但是在治理上采取的态度和策略却不同。     

DETECTION OF SALMONELLA SPP. CONTAMINATION IN RAW MATERIALS AND COSMETICS/PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS USING THE BAXTM SYSTEM, A PCR-BASED ASSAY

Abstract A system utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the BAX ^TM , was compared and validated against standard selective/enrichment assays to detect the presence of Salmonella spp. in artificially contaminated samples of raw materials and cosmetic/pharmaceutical products. After a 24 h incubation in lactose broth or lactose broth with Tween 20, the inoculated samples were analyzed both by the BAX ^TM system and by standard enrichment/selective methods. Standard enrichment assays required 5–7 days to confirm the presence and identification of Salmonella typhimurium , while the BAX ^TM system reduced the detection time to 30 h. The BAX ^TM system allowed a faster quality control evaluation of those raw materials and cosmetic/pharmaceutical formulations that require Salmonella spp. screening.     

Limbs vs. Jaws: Can They Be Compared?

Current experimental research on mammalian limb muscle structureand function is compared to that on mammalian jaw muscles. Twomajor areas of comparison are stressed: structural and functional.Comparisons of limbs and jaws are made from the point of viewof the impact of recent studies on simple mechanical modelsof limb/jaw muscle function. Limb muscle structure is comparedto jaw muscles at the level of muscle architecture, muscle histochemicaland motor unit properties, and the organization of motor unitsinto neuromuscular compartments. Such comparisons reveal thatalthough limb muscles and jaw muscles might be organized insimilar ways, fundamental differences exist, both in terms ofmuscle structure and the functional conclusions which have beenbased on studies of muscle structure. The comparisons also demonstratethat much recent evidence from structural studies have had littledirect impact on simple models of muscle function but a muchlarger influence on the assumptions of the models. Comparisonsof limb/jaw muscle function from kinematic and EMG studies,indicate that many masticatory strategies are used by differentmammals but the basic problems of posture and locomotion havebeen met with essentially similar solutions, even among diversemammalian groups. The results of such comparisons demonstratethat both limb and jaw muscle function are sufficiently complexthat new or re-vitalized models are needed if the relationshipbetween structure and function are ever to be understood.     

Consistent individual differences in cooperative behaviour in meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Although recent models for the evolution of personality, using game theory and life‐history theory, predict that individuals should differ consistently in their cooperative behaviour, consistent individual differences in cooperative behaviour have rarely been documented. In this study, we used a long‐term data set on wild meerkats to quantify the repeatability of two types of cooperative care (babysitting and provisioning) within individuals and examined how repeatability varied across age, sex and status categories. Contributions to babysitting and provisioning were significantly repeatable and positively correlated within individuals, with provisioning more repeatable than babysitting. While repeatability of provisioning was relatively invariant across categories of individuals, repeatability of babysitting increased with age and was higher for subordinates than dominants. These results provide support for theoretical predictions that life‐history trade‐offs favour the evolution of consistent individual differences in cooperative behaviour and raise questions about why some individuals consistently help more than others across a suite of cooperative behaviours.