Hunting for deadly bacteria

A fluorescent test system

2011-04-13

(Press-News.org) Hamilton, Ont. April 12, 2011 – You can't see them, or smell them or taste them.

They can be in our water and in our food, multiplying so rapidly that conventional testing methods for detecting pathogens such as E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria come too late for the tens of thousands of Canadians who suffer the ill effects of these deadly bacteria.

Biochemist Yingfu Li and his research team have developed a simple test that can swiftly and accurately identify specific pathogens using a system that will 'hunt' for bacteria, identifying their harmful presence before they have a chance to contaminate our food and water.

Like any living thing, bacteria have their own spoor, leaving behind DNA trails of bacterial 'droppings'. Li tracks these metabolic by-products with molecular beacons – little lighthouses on a molecular scale that actually light up when they detect the DNA sequence left behind.

Li created a DNAzyme sensor that will be able to identify any bacteria, utilizing a method that doesn't require the steps and specialized equipment typically used to identify whether or not harmful bacteria are present.

"Current methods of foodborne bacterial detection take time. The five days it takes to detect listeria, for example, can translate into an outbreak that costs lives. We have developed a universal test that uses less complex procedures but still generates precise and accurate results," says Li, a Canada Research Chair in Directed Evolution of Nucleic Acids.

Li's fluorescent test system was highlighted in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, a prestigious weekly chemistry journal that ranks among the best for the original research it publishes. Li's paper, co-authored with lab members Monsur Ali, Sergio Aguirre and Hadeer Lazim, was designated a 'hot paper' by Angewandte's editors for its "importance in a rapidly evolving field of current interest".

"McMaster researchers are known for their ability to provide solutions to problems that impact the public's well-being. The test that Professor Li has developed will help safeguard the health of Canadians, and supply industry with a reliable means to bring safe food products to consumers and reduce their time to market," said Mo Elbestawi, vice-president, research and international affairs.

### Li's research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Sentinel Bioactive Paper Network.

For a photo and full copy of the paper, visit: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201100477/full

For more information, please contact:
Professor Yingfu Li
Associate Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences and
Canada Research Chair in Directed Evolution of Nucleic Acids
905-525-9140 extension 22462
or liying@mcmaster.ca

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

News writing styles not to blame for newspaper readership decline, MU researchers find

2011-04-13

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the past several years, newspaper readership has shrunk in the tough economic climate, particularly among females. Many have criticized common news writing style used by newspapers as a possible cause for the decline. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that women are engaged by all news stories the same, regardless of the style. "We found that women are equally engaged in both 'inverted pyramid' and 'chronological narrative' news stories, so there must be another cause for the decline in female readership," said Miglena Sternadori, ...

Loss of cell adhesion protein drives esophageal and oral cancers in mice

2011-04-13

PHILADELPHIA - Squamous cell cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus are common throughout the world, with over 650,000 cases of oral cancer each year and esophageal cancer representing the sixth most common cause of cancer death in men. Research by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine investigators has shown that a protein that helps cells stick together is frequently absent or out of place in these cancers, but it's unclear if its loss causes the tumors. The investigators report that mice engineered to lack this protein, called p120-catenin (p120ctn), in ...

Study shows how discrimination hurts: lack of fair treatment leads to obesity issues

2011-04-13

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - People, especially men, who feel any kind of discrimination, are likely to see their waistlines expand, according to research from Purdue University. "This study found that males who persistently experienced high levels of discrimination during a nine-year period were more likely to see their waist circumference increase by an inch compared to those who did not report discrimination," said Haslyn E.R. Hunte, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology. "Females who reported similar experiences also saw their waistlines grow by more than half ...

The Super Green Hero, Jurdy, Launches School Assemblies and Jurdy Shore YouTube Series for Earth Day

2011-04-13

Three words come to mind when Jurdy enters a school: "Super. Green. Hero." Cartoonist Jenifer Jurden with her award-winning green character Jurdy launches the first of many "get grinning. get greening" environmental education programs to drive home the planet's plea for "Earth Day every day". Featuring Jurdy in the fur--that is the Jurdy mascot--this program is full of fun green lessons including laughs and lessons from this bigger-than- life mascot. Jurdy speaks to a wide audience for the Green effort by engaging us all to live a more eco-friendly life. With no identifiable ...

Feinstein scientists identify abnormal disease pathway in dystonia

2011-04-13

MANHASSET, NY -- Scientists tried creating a laboratory model of idiopathic torsion dystonia, a neurological condition marked by uncontrolled movements, particularly twisting and abnormal postures. But the genetic defect that causes dystonia in humans didn't seem to work in the laboratory models that showed no symptoms whatsoever. Now, a team of scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have figured out why and the finding could lead to ways to test novel treatments. Aziz M. Ulug, PhD, and his colleagues at the Feinstein's Center for Neurosciences wanted ...

Rainbow-trapping scientist now strives to slow light waves even further

2011-04-13

Buffalo, N.Y. – An electrical engineer at the University at Buffalo, who previously demonstrated experimentally the "rainbow trapping effect" -- a phenomenon that could boost optical data storage and communications -- is now working to capture all the colors of the rainbow. In a paper published March 29 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Qiaoqiang Gan (pronounced "Chow-Chung" and "Gone"), PhD, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and his colleagues at Lehigh University, ...

Purpose Cash Advance Provides Loans of Up to $1,500 Online

2011-04-13

Payday loans ranging from $100 to $1,500 can now be borrowed online thanks to a cash advance system designed by online lending company, Purpose Cash Advance. The news provides relief to citizens looking for emergency financial assistance in Mississippi, Utah, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Interested borrowers can apply for payday loans online via the company's website. Purpose Cash Advance implemented the online cash advance process to provide citizens in the aforementioned states a quick, confidential and secure way to resolve difficult financial situations ...

Weight loss improves memory, according to Kent State researcher

2011-04-13

John Gunstad, an associate professor in Kent State University's Department of Psychology, and a team of researchers have discovered a link between weight loss and improved memory and concentration. The study shows that bariatric surgery patients exhibited improved memory function 12 weeks after their operations. The findings will be published in an upcoming issue of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, the Official Journal of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The research report is also available online at www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(10)00688-X/abstract. "The ...

Purpose Cash Advance Provides Online Payday Loans to Wisconsin Residents

2011-04-13

Purpose Cash Advance is pleased to announce that its online payday loans service is available to residents in the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin joins Mississippi, Utah, South Dakota, and Missouri in the list of states where the company is committed to providing confidential, safe, and fast transactions. The company provides payday loans online that can be applied for via a simple application form requiring basic information. Once this information is verified, approval for the loan is granted in only a few seconds. The money is then deposited into the borrower's checking ...

Comprehensive UGA study reveals patterns in firefighter fatalities

2011-04-13

While the number of fires is on the decline, firefighter deaths are not —and a new University of Georgia study helps explain why. Researchers in the UGA College of Public Health found that cultural factors in the work environment that promote getting the job done as quickly as possible with whatever resources available lead to an increase in line-of-duty firefighter fatalities. "Firefighting is always going to be a hazardous activity, but there's a general consensus among firefighting organizations and among scientific organizations that it can be safer than it is," ...

Hunting for deadly bacteria

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: