ProSci Antibody update for this month: Learn about the USDA’s push for animal welfare, the first discovery of a eukaryotic organism that has no mitochondria, and the newest cheap and rapid diagnostic test for the Zika Virus in this month’s news update.
The USDA Fined Santa Cruz Biotechnology $3.5-million for Animal Wellness Violations
ProSci Blog USDAThe United States Government has fined Santa Cruz Biotechnology $3.5-million overviolations of the animal welfare act, making for the largest fine in the USDA’s history. The USDA has filed 3 separate complaints about Santa Cruz Biotechnology’s animal facilities since 2007. In response, the USDA has revoked Santa Cruz Biotech’s license to buy, sell, trade, or import animals. In addition, they must revoke their license to perform research using animals. Read more about Santa Cruz Biotechnology in Nature.
Eukaryotic Life Without Mitochondria
Monocercomonoides sp. Is the first known eukaryotic organism found that does not contain mitochondria. Several analyses showed a complete lack of mitochondria in these cells. The publication shows that the ubiquitous iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein, normally found in mitochondria, is not present, and instead the cell uses bacterial a sulfur mobilization pathway. The author claims that this species most likely obtained this bacterial sulfur mobilization pathway, allowing mitochondrion related organelles to be expendable. Read more about it in Cell. Image credit to Cell.
A Cheap and Rapid Diagnostic Test for Zika Virus Has Been Developed
Not a moment too soon, scientists have completed a paper based diagnostic test for detection of theZikaVirus. The diagnostic test has 2 major elements: an RNA identification, and a CRISPR/Cas9 identification. The RNA analysis determines if a large concentration of Zika Virus RNA is present in the sample taken, and is able to distinguish Zika from Dengue and other flaviviruses. The CRISPR/Cas9 element is then able to distinguish between the 2 major strains of Zika virus by only cutting the PAM site of the American Zika strain that is not present in the African strain. The cost of the materials consumed in the diagnostic test is less than $1 (U.S.), and takes less than 7 hours to perform. The publication can be found in Cell.
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