In this study, different

RNA-extraction procedures were compared for two FMDV rRT-PCRs. The NucleoSpin columns available commercially combined high extraction efficiency with ease-of-automation. Furthermore, six different FMDV-negative matrices were spiked with a dilution series of FMDV SAT1 ZIM 25/89. Compared to cell-culture-spiked viral control samples, no matrix effect on the analytical sensitivity was found for blood or foot epithelium. Approximately I log(10) reduction in detection limit was noted for faecal and tongue epithelium samples, whereas a 3 log(10) decrease was observed for spleen samples. By testing the same dilution series in duplicate on 10 different occasions, an estimation of uncertainty of measurement and precision was obtained using blood as matrix. Both Z-IETD-FMK in vitro rRT-PCRs produced mTOR inhibitor highly precise results emphasising their potential to replace conventional virological methods. The uncertainty measurement, as described in this study, proved to be a useful tool to evaluate the probability of making a wrong decision. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights

reserved.”
“Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that has been used as a valuable research tool in many facets of biological research. Researchers have used the many tools available to investigate this well-studied nematode, including a cell lineage map, sequenced genome, and complete wiring diagram of the nervous system, making in-depth investigation of ALOX15 the nervous system practical. These tools, along with other advantages, such as its small size, short life cycle, transparency, and ability to generate many progeny, have made C. elegans an attractive model for many studies, including those investigating toxicological paradigms and those using high throughput techniques. Researchers have investigated a number of endpoints, such as behavior and protein expression using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker following toxicant exposure and have explored the mechanisms of toxicity using techniques

such as microarray, RNA interference (RNAi), and mutagenesis. This review discusses the benefits of using C. elegans as a model system and gives examples of the uses of C. elegans in toxicological research. High throughput techniques are discussed highlighting the advantages of using an in vivo system that has many advantageous characteristics of an in vitro system while emphasizing endpoints relating to developmental and adult neurotoxicity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“We designed a degenerate primer set that yielded full-length amplification of hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix (M), and non-structural protein (NSP) genes of influenza A viruses in a single reaction mixture. These four genes were amplified from 15 HA (1-15) and 9 NA (1-9) subtypes of influenza A viruses of avian (n = 16) origin. In addition, 272 field isolates of avian origin were tested by this method.