Evaluating the efficiency of specimen pooling for PCR-based detection of COVID-19.

In the age of a pandemic, such as the ongoing one caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the world faces a limited supply of tests, personal protective equipment, and factories and supply chains are struggling to meet the growing demands. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of specimen pooling for testing of SARS-CoV-2 virus, to determine whether costs and resource savings could be achieved without impacting the sensitivity of the testing. Ten previously tested nasopharyngeal and throat swab specimens by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were pooled for testing, containing either one or two known positive specimens of varying viral concentrations.

Galactomannan Pentasaccharide Produced from Copra Meal Enhances Tight Junction Integration of Epithelial Tissue through Activation of AMPK.

Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) is well-known as an effective fed supplement for livestock to increase their nutrients absorption and health status. Pentasaccharide of mannan (MOS5) was reported as a molecule that possesses the ability to increase tight junction of epithelial tissue, but the structure and mechanism of action remains undetermined. In this study, the mechanism of action and structure of MOS5 were investigated.

Production and purification of mannan oligosaccharide with epithelial tight junction enhancing activity.

Background: Mannanan oligosaccharide (MOS) is well-known as effective supplement food for livestock to increase their nutrients absorption and health status, but the structure and identification of bioactive MOS remain unclear. In this study, MOS production was accomplished, using enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated coconut meal substrate with recombinant mannanase.

Methods: The mannanase gene was cloned from AE24, then expressed in BL21.