Comments on two recent publications on GM maize and Roundup.

Two -omics studies on genetically modified maize and Roundup-fed rats, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, contain serious flaws in the experimental design, methodology and interpretation of results, which we point out here. The use of -omics technologies are of increasing importance in research, however we argue for a cautious approach to the potential application in food safety assessments as these exceptionally sensitive and complex methods require a thorough and detailed evaluation of the biological significance of obtained results. Arising from: Mesnage et al.

Food safety risks and consumer health.

The major food safety risks are not eating a healthy diet, and failure to avoid foodborne illness. Over one billion people in the world suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition. Nutritionally enhanced transgenic crops such as Golden Rice are one potential strategy for reducing malnutrition in the world.

Can -omics inform a food safety assessment?

Omic technologies can in principle allow visualization of the all of changes that take place when the genetics, nutrition or environment of an organism is altered. Targeted compositional analysis is today a key component of the food safety assessment paradigm in which known nutrients, anti-nutrients, toxicants, allergens, and other molecules of potential biological importance to humans or animals are quantitatively analyzed. This allows safety assessors to compare the composition and safety of one food with closely related counterparts.

Application of food and feed safety assessment principles to evaluate transgenic approaches to gene modulation in crops.

New crop varieties containing traits such as enhanced nutritional profiles, increased yield, and tolerance to drought are being developed. In some cases, these new traits are dependent on small RNAs or regulatory proteins such as transcription factors (TF) that modify the expression of endogenous plant genes. To date, the food and feed safety of genetically modified (GM) crops has been assessed by the application of a set of internationally accepted procedures for evaluating the safety of GM crops.

Compositional assessment of transgenic crops: an idea whose time has passed.

Compositional studies comparing transgenic crops with non-transgenic crops are almost universally required by governmental regulatory bodies to support the safety assessment of new transgenic crops. Here we discuss the assumptions that led to this requirement and lay out the theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that such studies are no more necessary for evaluating the safety of transgenic crops than they are for traditionally bred crops.

Purification and characterization of a thermostable alpha-galactosidase from Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum.

Food ingredients containing alpha-1,6-galactoside bonds elicit gastrointestinal disturbances in monogastric animals, including humans. Pretreatment of such ingredients with alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.

Food safety evaluation of crops produced through biotechnology.

Agricultural biotechnology has been widely adopted in agriculture but is also the focus of controversy. Questions have arisen regarding food and environmental safety. In the US, responsibility for ensuring agricultural and environmental safety is delegated to the USDA and EPA, respectively.

Food biotechnology: benefits and concerns.

Recent advances in agricultural biotechnology have highlighted the need for experimental evidence and sound scientific judgment to assess the benefits and risks to society. Nutrition scientists and other animal biologists need a balanced understanding of the issues to participate in this assessment. To date most modifications to crop plants have benefited producers.

Thermostable alpha-galactosidase from Thermotoga neapolitana: cloning, sequencing and expression.

A gene encoding a thermostable alpha-galactosidase from the hyperthermophile Thermotoga neapolitana was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the 552-amino acid protein is similar to Escherichia coli Raf type alpha-galactosidase and belongs to Family 36 of the glycosyl hydrolases. Recombinant alpha-galactosidase expressed in E.

Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland, 1989-1992.

In order to assess the potential of lactobacilli to cause serious infections, we studied the prevalence of bacteremia due to Lactobacillus species during a 4-year period (1989-1992) in southern Finland, which has a population of about 2.5 million. Among 3,317 blood culture isolates, lactobacilli were identified in eight patients, five of whom had a severe disease predisposing to bacteremic complications.

Repeated DNA sequence involved in mutations affecting transport of sucrose into Streptococcus mutans V403 via the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system.

Mutants of Streptococcus mutans V403 defective in the intracellular sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (product of the scrB gene) are sensitive to sucrose because of the intracellular accumulation of the phosphorylated sugar. Using a scrB mutant prepared by allelic exchange, we have isolated and characterized a number of sucrose-resistant revertants. One such mutant was found to lack the ability to transport sucrose into the cell via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system (PTS).

Molecular cloning and DNA sequence of lacE, the gene encoding the lactose-specific enzyme II of the phosphotransferase system of Lactobacillus casei. Evidence that a cysteine residue is essential for sugar phosphorylation.

The gene coding for the lactose-specific Enzyme II of the Lactobacillus casei phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, lacE, has been isolated by molecular cloning and expressed in Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence of the lacE gene and the deduced amino acid sequence are presented. The putative translation product comprises a hydrophobic protein of 577 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 62,350 Da.

Transfection of Lactobacillus bulgaricus protoplasts by bacteriophage DNA.

A protoplast transfection system has been developed for Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The procedure involves a polyethylene glycol-mediated fusion of bacteriophage DNA encapsulated in liposomes into mutanolysin-treated cells. With L.

Evidence that Lactobacillus casei insertion element ISL1 has a narrow host range.

The 1.3-kilobase-pair insertion element ISL1, originally isolated from Lactobacillus casei S-1, was found to have an extremely restricted host range. By DNA-DNA hybrizations performed with Southern transfers by using a cloned internal fragment of ISL1 as a molecular probe, it was found that only 3 of 19 L.

Strategies for the development of bacterial transformation systems.

An effective transformation system is a prerequisite for facile genetic manipulation of bacteria. Bacteria may be naturally competent for transformation or may be treated with various agents, such as Tris buffers or divalent metal ions, to induce competence. Transformation can also be accomplished by electroporation, or by fusion of protoplasts with PEG in the presence of transforming DNA.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the factor IIIlac gene of Lactobacillus casei.

The lactose-specific factor III (FIIIlac of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) was isolated from Lactobacillus casei and purified to homogeneity by conventional protein purification methods. Its apparent native Mr, estimated from steric exclusion chromatography (approx. 39 kDa), and subunit Mr, estimated from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, indicated that it exists as a trimer of identical subunits of 13 kDa.

Nucleotide sequence of the beta-D-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase gene of Lactobacillus casei: comparison to analogous pbg genes of other gram-positive organisms.

Lactose metabolism in Lactobacillus casei occurs via phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase uptake of lactose and subsequent cleavage of lactose-6-phosphate by beta-D-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase (P-beta Gal). The genes for lactose uptake and P-beta Gal have been shown to be plasmid-associated in L. casei 64H [Chassy et al.

Molecular basis of bacterial adhesion in the oral cavity.

The two varieties of fimbriae identified on oral strains of actinomyces have distinct functional properties. The type 1 fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus T14V mediate attachment to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite. Type 2 fimbriae--on A.

Cloning and expression of a type 1 fimbrial subunit of Actinomyces viscosus T14V.

The type 1 fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus mediate the adherence of this organism to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite. The gene encoding a putative subunit of this fimbrial adhesin was cloned in Escherichia coli, and its product was examined. A.