It’s Not Just Fish, Plastic Pollution Harms The Bacteria That Help Us Breathe

bioengineer | May 14, 2019

Ten per cent of the oxygen we breathe comes from just one kind of bacteria in the ocean. Now laboratory tests have shown that these bacteria are susceptible to plastic pollution, according to a study published in Communications Biology. “We found that exposure to chemicals leaching from plastic pollution interfered with the growth, photosynthesis and oxygen production of Prochlorococcus, the ocean��s most abundant photosynthetic bacteria,” says lead author and Macquarie University researcher Dr Sasha Tetu. “Now we’d like to explore if plastic pollution is having the same impact on these microbes in the ocean.” Plastic pollution has been estimated to cause more than US$13 billion in economic damage to marine ecosystems each year, and the problem is only getting worse with marine plastic pollution estimated to outweigh fish by 2050. “This pollution can leach a variety of chemical additives into marine environments, but unlike the threats posed by animals ingesting or getting entangled in plastic debris the threat these leachates pose to marine life has received relatively little attention,” says Dr Lisa Moore, a co-author on the paper. In the first study of its kind, the researchers looked at the effects these chemicals have on the smallest life in our oceans, photosynthetic marine bacteria.

Spotlight

This technical note demonstrates the comprehensive
characterization and confident identification of glucuronide
metabolites from hepatocyte incubations of midazolam. An
orthogonal fragmentation mechanism was applied to generate diagnostic fragment ions for confident identification of glucuronide metabolites

Spotlight

This technical note demonstrates the comprehensive
characterization and confident identification of glucuronide
metabolites from hepatocyte incubations of midazolam. An
orthogonal fragmentation mechanism was applied to generate diagnostic fragment ions for confident identification of glucuronide metabolites

Related News

MEDICAL, DIAGNOSTICS

Premier Research and InSilicoTrials Partner for Rare Disease Therapy Development

Premier Research | March 14, 2023

Premier Research has partnered with InSilicoTrials, a leader in using artificial intelligence (AI) and computational modeling and simulation (CM&S) to speed up the development of new therapies and medical devices. Premier Research helps biotech and device companies take their ideas from the idea stage to the commercialization stage. The aim of the partnership is to make it easier, faster, and safer for treatments for rare diseases to get approval from the government. CM&S and AI have made it possible to use virtual patients in clinical trials in whole or in part, which the FDA approves of in some cases. In silico trials make it possible to create fake control or treatment arms, help figure out how to sign up patients, and predict the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and medical devices more accurately. The use of synthetic control arms generated using in silico CM&S techniques represents a powerful tool for enabling non-feasible rare disease research, both preclinical and clinical research. In the last five years, Premier Research has been in charge of more than 240 rare disease studies for a wide range of indications. This shows that the company is committed to orphan drug development for a long time. Premier Research is continuing to put money into trials for rare diseases by partnering with InSilicoTrials. One major advantage of in silico simulation is the ability to investigate 'what if' scenarios, particularly in rare diseases where a larger patient population does not exist. By using biological, molecular, or genetic data to describe rare diseases, in silico models can make synthetic control arms. This, along with Premier Research's expertise in clinical and preclinical development, execution, and regulatory aspects of small population trials, can shorten the time it takes to make effective treatments for rare diseases. The partnership between Premier Research and InSilicoTrials will focus on smarter in silico study design, leading to a more effective pre-clinical review of trial design parameters and faster submission-ready studies. CEO of InSilicoTrials Luca Emili says that combining modeling and simulation with AI is the best way to improve the R&D process in drug development. This is because it allows sponsors to speed up the development of new treatments, make medical products safer, and lower R&D costs. About Premier Research Premier Research is a global company that does clinical research, product development, and consulting. It focuses on using new technologies to design and run smart studies and trials. With more than 2,500 employees in 75 countries, it has a lot of experience in certain therapeutic areas and uses. The company is committed to empowering its customers to meet the unmet needs of patients and offers great benefits and flexible working conditions.

Read More

MEDTECH, INDUSTRIAL IMPACT

CENTOGENE Launches NEW CentoGenome®, World’s Most Comprehensive Whole Genome Sequencing Solution for Diagnosis of Rare and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Globenewswire | April 13, 2023

Centogene N.V. the essential life science partner for data-driven answers in rare and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the launch of NEW CentoGenome®, an enhanced Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based assay. Healthcare professionals can leverage NEW CentoGenome to provide more comprehensive diagnostic information, which could accelerate access to potential treatment options. Serving as a first-line test, NEW CentoGenome is the most comprehensive commercially available Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) test on the market for both rare and neurodegenerative disorders – covering almost all disease-causing variants, including the most relevant repeat expansions associated with neurological diseases, in a single assay. NEW CentoGenome also detects Copy Number Variations (CNVs) associated with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), as well as complex disease-causing variants associated with Gaucher Disease (GD) and susceptibility to GBA1-related Parkinson's Disease (PD), with the highest levels of sensitivity. The newly designed WGS assay leverages a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-free approach. This significantly diminishes the typical bias induced by PCR and provides higher quality sequencing data across the typically challenging regions of the genome by enabling more uniform coverage and superior performance in variant detection. “As a pioneer of genetic diagnostics, we are committed to enabling access to high-quality diagnostics and ensuring that cutting-edge data analyses are available to support better patient health outcomes,” said Prof. Peter Bauer, Chief Medical and Genomic Officer at CENTOGENE. “Building on this expertise, CENTOGENE’s enhanced whole genome sequencing is the leading solution on the market, reflecting the latest advanced technologies and unique insights that can’t be found anywhere else to provide maximized disease coverage. Ultimately, this will provide physicians with an unparalleled level of certainty when diagnosing, prognosing, and treating patients.” CENTOGENE’s NEW CentoGenome - Superior Technology With Market-Leading Clinical Coverage in a Single Test CENTOGENE’s enhanced WGS solution consists of three seamlessly integrated key features Advanced Technology for Greater Insights Implementing PCR-free technology to significantly reduce bias and provide high-quality sequencing information for difficult-to-sequence genetic regions – enabling greater insights into coding, regulatory, and intronic regions Superior Performance for Enhanced Disease Coverage Delivering superior performance in variant detection thanks to CENTOGENE’s automated CE-IVD bioinformatics pipeline and medical expert-based analysis of the CENTOGENE Biodatabank, which consists of approximately 700,000 patients representing over 120 highly diverse countries Integrated Variant Reclassification and Confirmatory Testing for a Life-Long Commitment to Patients Demonstrating CENTOGENE’s unique commitment to improving the lives of patients with rare and neurodegenerative diseases, NEW CentoGenome is paired with life-long diagnostic support and a free-of-charge and proactive diagnosis confirmation and reclassification program About CENTOGENE CENTOGENE’s mission is to provide data-driven, life-changing answers to patients, physicians, and pharma companies for rare and neurodegenerative diseases. We integrate multiomic technologies with the CENTOGENE Biodatabank – providing dimensional analysis to guide the next generation of precision medicine. Our unique approach enables rapid and reliable diagnosis for patients, supports a more precise physician understanding of disease states, and accelerates and de-risks targeted pharma drug discovery, development, and commercialization.

Read More

CELL AND GENE THERAPY, INDUSTRIAL IMPACT

Azenta Announces Launch of Cryo Store Pico

Azenta Life Sciences | February 28, 2023

On February 27, 2023, Azenta Life Sciences, a leading provider of life sciences solutions, announced the launch of its latest automated cryogenic storage system, the Cryo Store PicoTM. This new product is designed to store high-value biological samples used throughout various stages of the life sciences industry, from research and development to clinical use. Azenta is already known for providing innovative automated cryogenic solutions such as the BioStore™ III Cryo and the CryoPod™ Carrier, and the Pico is the latest addition to its lineup. The product offers automated cryogenic solutions that are configured for laboratory and clinical procedures. The Pico offers a variety of features for cell and gene therapy developers and manufacturers, including end-stage deployment in hospitals and clinics. It offers controlled access and traceability to support regulatory compliance with a compact footprint and is also user-friendly for laboratory personnel. Interested parties can order the Pico now, and a live demonstration will take place at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) 2023 International Conference in San Diego, California. Pico's Product Manager Erica Waller commented, "Pico takes our proven automation capabilities and scales it down for the lab or the clinic, bringing the sample integrity and process rigor of automation closer to the point of use," (Source – PR Newswire) About Azenta Life Sciences Azenta is a leading life sciences solutions provider that helps to accelerate the development and delivery of impactful therapies to market. The company offers a comprehensive suite of cold-chain sample management solutions and genomic services for areas such as clinical research, drug development and advanced cell therapies. These solutions are trusted by some of the top biotech, pharmaceutical, academic, and healthcare institutions worldwide. Headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, Azenta has a global presence with operations across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company is committed to providing reliable, innovative, and high-quality solutions to meet the needs of its clients in the life sciences industry.

Read More