Plant lipidomics at the crossroads: From technology to biology driven science

The identification and quantification of lipids from plant tissues have become commonplace and many researchers now incorporate lipidomics approaches into their experimental studies. Plant lipidomics research continues to involve technological developments such as those in mass spectrometry imaging, but in large part, lipidomics approaches have matured to the point of being accessible to the novice. Here we review some important considerations for those planning to apply plant lipidomics to their biological questions, and offer suggestions for appropriate tools and practices. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: BBALIP_Lipidomics Opinion Articles edited by Sepp Kohlwein.     

Dogma driven science, the need to establish a common base line

This commentary examines hepatotoxicity and drug-drug interactions in terms of quoted epidemiology and, the compounds and concentrations used its relationship to the screen being proposed and asks if we have a common ground for validation.     

Monoclonal antibody technology: applications in veterinary science

Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionised the study of animals and their diseases. The author looks at the detection of antigen in samples using a range of techniques from indirect fluorescence, through in-situ hybridization to enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Examples are given of how Salmonella species, mastitis antigens, viral antigens, chlamydial organisms and E. coli toxins can be detected using specific monoclonal antibodies. The recognition of antigen in tissues by monoclonal antibodies is also discussed using as examples; the vitamin biotin, the chicken anemia virus, the growth promoter clenbuterol and the bovine lymphokine, gamma interferon. The ability of monoclonal antibodies to measure specific antibody is also discussed, with particular reference to chicken anemia agent. The review concludes with a discussion of the ability of monoclonal antibody based ELISAs to discriminate between pigs naturally infected with Aujeszky's disease and those vaccinated against the condition.     

Nutritional technologies in animal feed science and technology

This preface outlines some of the challenges facing animal nutritionists in the area of feed processing, why those challenges are important and why the articles in this issue help to provide information that might assist in meeting those challenges.     

The impact of science and technology on the civilization

The rapid increase of available scientific knowledge is largely due to the introduction of novel research strategies. The application of these strategies, both in fundamental and in translational scientific research, leads to bursts of technological innovations. In order to fulfill the justified public request for sustainability of technological innovations that contribute to the shaping of the future, increasing attention should be given to science-based technology and policy assessment. These requests are illustrated by benefit/risk evaluations of relevance for the use of genetic engineering as an efficient and effective research strategy. Expected benefits of a responsibly planned introduction of GM crops are outlined as a prospective example for the guiding theme “Biotechnology for sustainability of human society”.     

Organizational responses to new ocean science and technology developments

Abstract

Rapid developments in ocean science and technology, together with the emerging new ocean regime, present considerable challenges to the international organizational structure. After indicating some recent ocean science and technology developments, the author examines the capacity for organizational response, both within and outside the UN system. Next, the paper identifies aspects of national ocean interests that tend to dictate policies of individual nations toward the responses of these international organizations to new advances. Finally, the author looks to prospects for the 1980s.     

RNAi技术在蜂学研究中的应用

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)是指外源或内源的双链RNA(dsRNA)特异性引起基因表达沉默的现象,特异性和高效性是RNAi技术的特点。本文主要从调控目标基因的表达、级型分化的分子基础、防治蜜蜂病毒病3个方面概述了RNAi技术在蜂学研究中的应用进展情况,并展望RNAi技术在蜜蜂功能基因组研究领域的应用前景。     

The historical development of vaccine technology: exploring the relationship between science and technology

This paper examines the feasibility of using historical case studies to contextualise the learning of the nature of science and technology in a biology lesson. Through exploring the historical development of vaccine technology, students were expected to understand the complexity of the relationships between technology and science beyond the simplistic portrayal of technology as ‘applied science’. Instructional scaffolding in the form of Socratic Dialogue and self-reflection was used to engage students in thinking about the difference in the nature of science and technology and their mutual interactions. This was followed by students’ reflections on the insights they have gained from the lesson as a means to evaluate and reconstruct their own understanding if necessary. The educational implications of the findings are discussed to explore how technology could be further integrated into the school science curriculum to enhance scientific and technological literacy.     

Membrane science and technology: leader in water treatment industry

Filtration and separation can represent as much as 80?% of the operating costs for many industries, and membrane separations are gaining acceptance as a cost-effective option in many production settings. Newer, more efficient membrane separation techniques can lead to more streamlined production and produce significant improvements in quality (http://www.mastcenter.org/default.htm). It is exciting to note the significant growth of membrane activities in the world, particularly in the area of desalination and municipal water purification. This interest is documented also by the industrial realization in reverse osmosis units, ultrafiltration and membrane bio-reactor. Also at fundamental research level, various new institutes are focusing their attention on the development of membrane research projects. This web alert overviews some important websites sharing knowledge on membrane science and technology.     

Microbial‐based motor fuels: science and technology

The production of biofuels via microbial biotechnology is a very active field of research. A range of fuel molecule types are currently under consideration: alcohols, ethers, esters, isoprenes, alkenes and alkanes. At the present, the major alcohol biofuel is ethanol. The ethanol fermentation is an old technology. Ongoing efforts aim to increase yield and energy efficiency of ethanol production from biomass. n‐Butanol, another microbial fermentation product, is potentially superior to ethanol as a fuel but suffers from low yield and unwanted side‐products currently. In general, biodiesel fuels consist of fatty acid methyl esters in which the carbon derives from plants, not microbes. A new biodiesel product, called microdiesel, can be generated in engineered bacterial cells that condense ethanol with fatty acids. Perhaps the best fuel type to generate from biomass would be biohydrocarbons. Microbes are known to produce hydrocarbons such as isoprenes, long‐chain alkenes and alkanes. The biochemical mechanisms of microbial hydrocarbon biosynthesis are currently under study. Hydrocarbons and minimally oxygenated molecules may also be produced by hybrid chemical and biological processes. A broad interest in novel fuel molecules is also driving the development of new bioinformatics tools to facilitate biofuels research.     

Silkworm expression system as a platform technology in life science

Many recombinant proteins have been successfully produced in silkworm larvae or pupae and used for academic and industrial purposes. Several recombinant proteins produced by silkworms have already been commercialized. However, construction of a recombinant baculovirus containing a gene of interest requires tedious and troublesome steps and takes a long time (3–6 months). The recent development of a bacmid, Escherichia coli and Bombyx mori shuttle vector, has eliminated the conventional tedious procedures required to identify and isolate recombinant viruses. Several technical improvements, including a cysteine protease or chitinase deletion bacmid and chaperone-assisted expression and coexpression, have led to significantly increased protein yields and reduced costs for large-scale production. Terminal N-acetyl glucosamine and galactose residues were found in the N-glycan structures produced by silkworms, which are different from those generated by insect cells. Genomic elucidation of silkworm has opened a new chapter in utilization of silkworm. Transgenic silkworm technology provides a stable production of recombinant protein. Baculovirus surface display expression is one of the low-cost approaches toward silkworm larvae-derived recombinant subunit vaccines. The expression of pharmaceutically relevant proteins, including cell/viral surface proteins, membrane proteins, and guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) coupled receptors, using silkworm larvae or cocoons has become very attractive. Silkworm biotechnology is an innovative and easy approach to achieve high protein expression levels and is a very promising platform technology in the field of life science. Like the “Silkroad,” we expect that the “Bioroad” from Asia to Europe will be established by the silkworm expression system.