Methods for detection of GMOs in food and feed

This paper reviews aspects relevant to detection and quantification of genetically modified (GM) material within the feed/food chain. The GM crop regulatory framework at the international level is evaluated with reference to traceability and labelling. Current analytical methods for the detection, identification, and quantification of transgenic DNA in food and feed are reviewed. These methods include quantitative real-time PCR, multiplex PCR, and multiplex real-time PCR. Particular attention is paid to methods able to identify multiple GM events in a single reaction and to the development of microdevices and microsensors, though they have not been fully validated for application.     

Biosensors as new analytical tool for detection of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Three different biosensors for detection of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are presented. The sensing principle is based on the affinity interaction between nucleic acids: the probe is immobilised on the sensor surface and the target analyte is free in solution. The immobilised probes are specific for most inserted sequences in GMOs: the promoter P35S and the terminator TNOS. Electrochemical methods with screen-printed electrodes, piezoelectric and optical (SPR) transduction principles were applied.     

Biosensors as new analytical tool for detection of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Three different biosensors for detection of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are presented. The sensing principle is based on the affinity interaction between nucleic acids: the probe is immobilised on the sensor surface and the target analyte is free in solution. The immobilised probes are specific for most inserted sequences in GMOs: the promoter P35S and the terminator TNOS. Electrochemical methods with screen-printed electrodes, piezoelectric and optical (SPR) transduction principles were applied.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Lactate Based on Meldola's Blue Adsorbed on Silica Gel Modified with Niobium Oxide

A reagentless amperometric biosensor sensitive to lactate was developed. This sensor comprises a carbon paste electrode modified with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) cofactor and Meldola's blue (MB) adsorbed on silica gel coated with niobium oxide. The amperometric response was based on the electrocatalytic properties of MB to oxidize NADH, which was generated in the enzymatic reaction of lactate with NAD⁺ under catalysis of LDH. The dependence on the biosensor response was investigated in terms of pH, supporting electrolyte, ionic strength, LDH and NAD⁺ amounts and applied potential. The biosensor showed an excellent operational stability (95% of the activity was maintained after 250 determinations) and storage stability (allowing measurements for over than 2.5 months, when stored in a refrigerator). The proposed biosensor also presented good sensitivity allowing lactate quantification at levels down to 6.5×10^?6 mol L^?1. Moreover, the biosensor showed a wide linear response range (from 0.1 to 14 mmol L^?1 for lactate). These favorable characteristics allowed its application for direct measurements of lactate in biological samples such as blood. The precision of the data obtained by the proposed biosensor show reliable results for real complex matrices.     

Cloned plasmid DNA fragments as calibrators for controlling GMOs: different real-time duplex quantitative PCR methods

Analytical real-time PCR technology is a powerful tool for implementation of the GMO labeling regulations enforced in the EU. The quality of analytical measurement data obtained by quantitative real-time PCR depends on the correct use of calibrator and reference materials (RMs). For GMO methods of analysis, the choice of appropriate RMs is currently under debate. So far, genomic DNA solutions from certified reference materials (CRMs) are most often used as calibrators for GMO quantification by means of real-time PCR. However, due to some intrinsic features of these CRMs, errors may be expected in the estimations of DNA sequence quantities. In this paper, two new real-time PCR methods are presented for Roundup Ready soybean, in which two types of plasmid DNA fragments are used as calibrators. Single-target plasmids (STPs) diluted in a background of genomic DNA were used in the first method. Multiple-target plasmids (MTPs) containing both sequences in one molecule were used as calibrators for the second method. Both methods simultaneously detect a promoter 35S sequence as GMO-specific target and a lectin gene sequence as endogenous reference target in a duplex PCR. For the estimation of relative GMO percentages both delta C_T and standard curve approaches are tested. Delta C_T methods are based on direct comparison of measured C_T values of both the GMO-specific target and the endogenous target. Standard curve methods measure absolute amounts of target copies or haploid genome equivalents. A duplex delta C_T method with STP calibrators performed at least as well as a similar method with genomic DNA calibrators from commercial CRMs. Besides this, high quality results were obtained with a standard curve method using MTP calibrators. This paper demonstrates that plasmid DNA molecules containing either one or multiple target sequences form perfect alternative calibrators for GMO quantification and are especially suitable for duplex PCR reactions.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at gold nanoparticles loaded poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) film modified electrode and integration of alcohol dehydrogenase for alcohol sensing

A new modified electrode is fabricated by dispersing gold nanoparticles onto the matrix of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrene sulfonic acid), PEDOT–PSS. The electrocatalytic activity of the PEDOT–PSS-Au_nano electrode towards the oxidation of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is investigated. A substantial decrease in the overpotential (>0.7 V) has been observed for the oxidation of NADH at the PEDOT–PSS-Au_nano electrode in comparison to the potential at PEDOT–PSS electrode. The Au nanoparticles dispersed in the PEDOT–PSS matrix prevents the fouling of electrode surface by the oxidation products of NADH and augments the oxidation of NADH at a less positive potential (+0.04 V vs. SCE). The electrode shows high sensitivity to the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH. Further, the presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid does not interfere during the detection of NADH. Important practical advantages such as stability of the electrode (retains 95% of its original activity after 20 days), reproducibility of the measurements (R.S.D.: 2.8%; n = 5), selectivity and wide linear dynamic range (1–80 μM; R² = 0.996) are achieved at PEDOT–PSS-Au_nano electrode. The ability of PEDOT–PSS-Au_nano electrode to promote the electron transfer between NADH and the electrode makes us to fabricate a biocompatible dehydrogenase-based biosensor for the measurement of ethanol. The biosensor showed high sensitivity to ethanol with rapid detection, good reproducibility and excellent stability.     

Biosensor for H2O2 Response Based on Horseradish Peroxidase: Effect of Different Mediators Adsorbed on Silica Gel Modified with Niobium Oxide

Reagentless biosensors sensitive to hydrogen peroxide have been developed and compared. These biosensors are comprised of a carbon paste electrode modified with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and one phenothiazine (methylene blue), one phenoxazine (meldola's blue) or one phenazine (phenazine methosulfate) dye adsorbed on silica gel modified with niobium oxide (SN). The enzyme was immobilized onto the graphite powder by cross‐linking with glutaraldehyde and mixing with one of the electron transfer mediators (dyes) adsorbed on SN. The amperometric response was based on the electrocatalytic properties of the dye to mediate electrons, which were generated in the enzymatic reaction of hydrogen peroxide under catalysis of HRP. The dependence on the biosensor response in terms of pH, buffer, HRP amounts and applied potential was investigated. The best results were found with a biosensor containing methylene blue dye showing an excellent operational stability (around 92% of the activity was maintained after 300 determinations). The proposed biosensor also presented good sensitivity (32.87 nA cm^{?2 μ}mol^?1 L) allowing hydrogen peroxide quantification at levels down to 0.52×10^?6 mol L^?1 an optimum response at pH 6.8 and at a potential of ?50 mV (vs. SCE) and showing a wide linear response range (from 1 to 700 μmol L^?1 for hydrogen peroxide).     

Biosensor for phenol based on the direct electron transfer blocking of peroxidase immobilising on silica–titanium

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilised on silica gel modified with titanium oxide. This material was employed to prepare modified carbon paste electrode. The direct electron transfer of the hydrogen peroxide reduction by HRP was blocked when immobilised on silica–titanium. This biosensor presented a very sensitive response for phenol (1 μmol l⁻¹) at an applied potential of 0 mV vs SCE. The best condition was achieved in phosphate buffer pH 6.8, ratio of hydrogen peroxide/phenol higher than 0.35. The biosensor showed a linear response range between 10 and 50 μmol l⁻¹ of phenol, adjusted by the equation j=−32.8+16.3 [phenol], for n=5 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. The response time of the biosensor was about 3 s.     

纳米铂颗粒修饰薄膜金电极的新型葡萄糖传感器研究

在没有引入电子媒介体条件下,为了提高传感器的响应灵敏度,降低工作电位,利用电化学沉积法在薄膜金电极表面修饰纳米铂颗粒,并通过戊二醛固定酶的方法制备了一种新型生物传感器。研究了在薄膜金电极上修饰纳米铂颗粒前后传感器对低浓度葡萄糖的响应影响。结果表明,纳米铂颗粒修饰后所制备的葡萄糖传感器工作电位下降为0.4 V,测定葡萄糖的检出限从100μmol/L下降到10μmol/L。传感器对10~1300μmol/L低浓度葡萄糖的响应灵敏度为50.8 nA/(cm2μmol/L);响应时间30 s;r为0.9974;传感器精密度为2.1%,并具有较好的稳定性。     

Kinetic Study of Metals Sorption on a Resin Modified with Tetrakis(carboxyphenyl)Porphyrin

 The sorption of metal ions (e.g. Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺) from aqueous solution on the anion exchange resin Amberlite IRA-904 modified with tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) was studied in batch equilibrium experiments. The influence of operating variables such as initial pH and contact time between solution and the resin on the equilibrium parameters was measured. The selectivity order of investigated metal ions was evaluated as follows: Pb²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺. The matrix cations, such as Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, exhibit very low affinity for TCPP-modified resin. The rate uptake of the sorption procedure is predominantly controlled by film diffusion. The best retention kinetic was observed for lead where half the saturation of the TCPP-modified sorbent was achieved in less than 5 min. Author for correspondence. E-mail: kryspyrz@chem.uw.edu.pl Received November 20, 2002; accepted January 26, 2003 Published online May 5, 2003     

聚中性红作电子转移介体的过氧化氢生物传感器

提出一种新的第二代电流型生物传感器。将易溶于水的电子转移介体中性红经电聚合在石墨电极表面形成一层致密、稳定的膜 ,有效的减少了其流失。并在辣根过氧化酶的表面覆盖一层明胶 ,再用戊二醛交联制备了H2 O2 传感器 ,使固定化酶保持了较高活性。该生物传感器具有较宽的线性范围 :2 .0× 10 - 5～ 2 .5×10 - 2 mol L ;检出限为 1.8× 10 - 5mol L ,达到 95 %稳态电流所用时间 <2 0s。     

A Novel Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for Potentiometric Determination of Mercury(II) Ion

A new modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) based on a recently synthesized ligand of Ethyl‐2‐(benzoylamino)‐3‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐propenoate (EBHMP) as a suitable carrier for Hg²⁺ ion was described. The electrode exhibit a super Nernstian slope of 48.5±1.0 mV per decade for Hg²⁺ ion over a wide concentration range from 3.0×10^?7–3.1×10^?2 M. The lower detection limits are 1.0×10^?7 M Hg²⁺. The electrode has a fast response time (ca. 5 s), a satisfactory reproducibility and relatively long life time. The proposed sensor shows a fairly good selectivity toward Hg²⁺ ion in comparison to other common cations. The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 1.0–4.0. The proposed electrode was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of mercuric ion with standard solution of EDTA. The direct determination of mercury in spiked wastewater and an amalgam sample gave results that compare favorably with those obtained by the cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometric method.     

Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Citrate Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles for Sensitive Arsenic (III) Detection

The electrochemical detection of As(III) was investigated on the novel citrate stabilized gold nanoparticle modified glassy carbon electrode (AuNPs/GCE) in 1 M HCl by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. AuNPs/GCE was prepared by simply casting citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles onto the well-polished glassy carbon electrode. Gold modification was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, while transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis Spectroscopy revealed the size and distribution of gold nanoparticles. Anodic stripping voltammetry was performed with the modified electrode in As(III) solution. Electrochemical experiments proved that AuNPS/GCE exhibited good performance for As(III) analysis, the linear range were obtained between 0.05 and 1 ppb for trace level of As(III) as well as 1 to 15 ppb, with a limit of detection of 0.025 ppb. In terms of reproducibility, the precision of the aforementioned method in %RSD was calculated at 7.78% (n = 10), and the repeatability of the proposed method was calculated to be 1.59%. The application of the method to analyze As(III) in tap water was investigated.     

聚中性红修饰玻碳电极葡萄糖生物传感器

以中性红为电子媒介体,电聚合于Nafion修饰的玻碳电极表面,以戊二醛作交联剂固定葡萄糖氧化酶,最后覆盖一层Nafion膜防止酶流失,构建一种新型葡萄糖生物传感器.详细探讨了传感器的电化学性能及对葡萄糖的最佳响应条件.结果表明,30℃时,传感器在pH 7.0的PBS中对葡萄糖的线性响应范围为1.0×10-5~5.0×10-3mol.L-1.该传感器制作简单、性能优良,有潜在应用前景.     

聚亚甲基蓝和纳米金修饰玻碳电极的葡萄糖生物传感器

用循环伏安法在玻碳电极上电聚合一层稳定的亚甲蓝聚合物膜,研究了这层膜在0.1mol/L磷酸缓冲溶液(pH7.0)中的电化学性质。用纳米金溶胶与聚乙烯醇缩丁醛(PVB)构成复合固酶基质,采用溶胶-凝胶法固定葡萄糖氧化酶(GOD)于亚甲蓝修饰的玻碳电极表面,制成了新型葡萄糖生物传感器。实验发现,加入纳米金后提高了酶电极对葡萄糖的电流响应,所制备的传感器具有响应快、灵敏度高、稳定性好,对葡萄糖的线性响应范围为1×10-6~3×10-3mol/L,检出限为5×10-7mol/L。并具有抗尿酸、抗坏血酸干扰的特点。     

Screening Procedure for Sodium Fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) at Sub-microgram/gram Concentrations in Soils

Abstract

Sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) is readily quantitated at sub-microgram per gram concentrations in small (ca. 1 g) soil samples. Samples are ultrasonically extracted with water, which is then partitioned with hexane, and acidified prior to re-extraction with ethyl acetate. The latter is taken to dryness in the presence of triethanolamine “keeper”, and the resulting acid is derivatized with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Quantitation is performed using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture detector. A standardized statistical protocol is used to validate a screening level of 0.2 μg Compound 1080/g soil. Difluoroacetic, trifluoroacetic, and naturally-occurring formic acids do not interfere with the determination. The recovery for Compound 1080 was 40% from soil fortified to 0.2 μg/g soil.     

A Highly Sensitive Method for Determination of Copper (II) in Water Samples for Field Screening

Abstract

A new method has been developed for field screening of copper (II) in water samples, which is based on an enzyme inhibition reaction between copper (II) and nitrate reductase. The concentration of copper (II) was acquired by indirect determination the reaction product (nitrite) with a mini optical reflection sensor. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 5.0–50 ng mL^?1. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng mL^?1. This method has been used for the field screening of copper (II) with satisfactory results.     

PCR technology for screening and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Although PCR technology has obvious limitations, the potentially high degree of sensitivity and specificity explains why it has been the first choice of most analytical laboratories interested in detection of genetically modified (GM) organisms (GMOs) and derived materials. Because the products that laboratories receive for analysis are often processed and refined, the quality and quantity of target analyte (e.g. protein or DNA) frequently challenges the sensitivity of any detection method. Among the currently available methods, PCR methods are generally accepted as the most sensitive and reliable methods for detection of GM-derived material in routine applications.The choice of target sequence motif is the single most important factor controlling the specificity of the PCR method. The target sequence is normally a part of the modified gene construct, for example a promoter, a terminator, a gene, or a junction between two of these elements. However, the elements may originate from wildtype organisms, they may be present in more than one GMO, and their copy number may also vary from one GMO to another. They may even be combined in a similar way in more than one GMO. Thus, the choice of method should fit the purpose. Recent developments include event-specific methods, particularly useful for identification and quantification of GM content. Thresholds for labelling are now in place in many countries including those in the European Union. The success of the labelling schemes is dependent upon the efficiency with which GM-derived material can be detected. We will present an overview of currently available PCR methods for screening and quantification of GM-derived DNA, and discuss their applicability and limitations. In addition, we will discuss some of the major challenges related to determination of the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), and to validation of methods.     

NADH Electrooxidation Using Bis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) (2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-Exchanged Zirconium Phosphate Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

We present a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified using the electron mediator bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺) exchanged into the inorganic layered material zirconium phosphate (ZrP). X‐Ray powder diffraction showed that the interlayer distance of ZrP increases upon [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ intercalation from 10.3 Å to 14.2 Å. The UV‐vis and IR spectroscopies results showed the characteristic peaks expected for [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺. The UV‐vis spectrophotometric results indicate that the [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ concentration inside the ZrP layers increased as a function of the loading level. The exchanged [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ exhibited luminescence even at low concentration. Modified CPEs were constructed and analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. The intercalated mediator remained electroactive within the layers (E°′=–38.5 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, 3.5 M NaCl) and electrocatalysis of NADH oxidation was observed. The kinetics of the modified CPE shows a Michaelis–Menten behavior. This CPE was used for the oxidation of NADH in the presence of Bakers' yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. A calibration plot for ethanol is presented.     

改性高粱秸秆对磷酸根的吸附性能研究

将改性高粱秸秆用于磷酸根的吸附,研究了时间、酸度、温度以及改性高粱秸秆用量等因素对其吸附性能的影响。结果表明,在常温下,改性高粱秸秆对磷酸根具有良好的吸附性能,吸附时间快。改性高粱秸秆对磷酸根的吸附符合Langmuir和Freundli-ch吸附等温方程及准二级动力学方程,吸附过程以单分子层物理吸附为主。