Reliable Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 Infections Using One- and Two-Gene Molecular Tests for a Viral RNA Detection—Results Questioning Previous Observations

SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus from the Coronaviridae family and its rapid spread is now the most important medical problem worldwide. Currently used tests vary in the number and selection of SARS-CoV-2 target genes. Meanwhile, the choice of the appropriate target gene may be important in terms of a reliable detection of a viral RNA. As some researchers questioned the sensitivity of the monogenic VIASURE SARS-CoV-2 S gene Real Time PCR Detection Kit (CerTest Biotec, Zaragoza, Spain) in mid-2020, the aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of this kit, used along with the BD MAX™ System (Becton Dickinson, East Rutherford, NJ, USA), and compare the results with two-gene Bosphore Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Detection Kit v1 (Anatolia Diagnostics and Biotechnology Products Inc., Istanbul, Turkey). Both tests were carried out on 306 nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs. The consistent results (72 positive and 225 negative results found simultaneously in both kits) were obtained for 297 (97.1%) samples altogether, while discrepancies between the results of the evaluated tests were observed for nine (2.9%) specimens. There were no statistically significant differences between the method used and the frequency of positive results. Both tests, targeted at detecting one and two genes, are effective in SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.

Viral Filtration: A Review of Current and Future Practices in Bioprocessing

For drug products manufactured in mammalian cells, safety assurance practices are needed during production to assure that the final medicinal product is safe from the potential risk of viral contamination. Virus filters provide viral retention for a range of viruses through robust, size-based retention mechanism. Therefore, a viral filtration step is commonly utilized in a well-designed recombinant therapeutic protein purification process and is a key component in an overall strategy to minimize the risks of adventitious and endogenous viral particles during the manufacturing of biotechnology products. This review summarizes the history of viral filtration, currently available viral filters and prefilters, and viral filtration integrity test methods and study models. There is also discussion of current understanding and gaps with an eye toward future trends and emerging filtration technologies.

Plant-Microbe Interactions - Insights and Views for Applications in Sustainable Agriculture

The term “microbiome” refers to the association of plants with various microorganisms which play an important role in the niches they occupy. These microorganisms are found in the endosphere, phyllosphere, and rhizosphere, of host plants which are involved in plant ecology and physiology. The structure and dynamics of the plant microbiome have been significant seen in the last few years. In addition, the plant microbiome enhances the host plant with gene pools, which is referred to as the second plant genome or extended genome. Interestingly, the microbiome associated with plant roots has received unique attention in recent years due to its important role in host nutrition, immunity, and development. Prospective studies of the microbiome have been coupled with the need for more sustainable production for agriculture. On the other hand, various environmental factors are associated with plant-microbiome interactions that can affect composition and diversity. This review provides insights and views of plant microbiome for sustainable agriculture. Host factors that influence the microbial community, root-associated microbial consortium, commercial application, and limitation of plant microbiome were discussed. Also, this review provides current knowledge of the plant microbiome into potential biotechnology products that can be used in agricultural systems. Regardless, microbiome innovation represents the future of sustainable agriculture.

Genome Editing in Latin America: Regional Regulatory Overview

The power and promise of genome editing, CRISPR specifically, was first realized with the discovery of CRISPR loci in the 1980s.3 Since that time, CRISPR-Cas systems have been further developed enabling genome editing in virtually all organisms across the tree of life.3 In the last few years, we have seen the development of a diverse set of CRISPR-based technologies that has revolutionized genome manipulation.4 Enabling a more diverse set of actors than has been seen with other emerging technologies to redefine research and development for biotechnology products encompassing food, agriculture, and medicine.4 Currently, the CRISPR community encompasses over 40,000 authors at 20,000 institutions that have documented their research in over 20,000 published and peer-reviewed studies.5 These CRISPR-based genome editing tools have promised tremendous opportunities in agriculture for the breeding of crops and livestock across the food supply chain. Potentially addressing issues associated with a growing global population, sustainability concerns, and possibly help address the effects of climate change.4 These promises however, come along-side concerns of environmental and socio-economic risks associated with CRISPR-based genome editing, and concerns that governance systems are not keeping pace with the technological development and are ill-equipped, or not well suited, to evaluate these risks. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched an initiative in 2020 to understand the complexities of these new tools, their potential impacts on the LAC region, and how IDB may best invest in its potential adoption and governance strategies. This first series of discussion documents: “Genome Editing in Latin America: Regulatory Overview,” and “CRISPR Patent and Licensing Policy” are part of this larger initiative to examine the regulatory and institutional frameworks surrounding gene editing via CRISPR-based technologies in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regions. Focusing on Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, they set the stage for a deeper analysis of the issues they present which will be studied over the course of the next year through expert solicitations in the region, the development of a series of crop-specific case studies, and a final comprehensive regional analysis of the issues discovered.

Genome Editing in Latin America: CRISPR Patent and Licensing Policy

The power and promise of genome editing, CRISPR specifically, was first realized with the discovery of CRISPR loci in the 1980s.i Since that time, CRISPR-Cas systems have been further developed enabling genome editing in virtually all organisms across the tree of life.i In the last few years, we have seen the development of a diverse set of CRISPR-based technologies that has revolutionized genome manipulation.ii Enabling a more diverse set of actors than has been seen with other emerging technologies to redefine research and development for biotechnology products encompassing food, agriculture, and medicine.ii Currently, the CRISPR community encompasses over 40,000 authors at 20,000 institutions that have documented their research in over 20,000 published and peer-reviewed studies.iii These CRISPR-based genome editing tools have promised tremendous opportunities in agriculture for the breeding of crops and livestock across the food supply chain. Potentially addressing issues associated with a growing global population, sustainability concerns, and possibly help address the effects of climate change.i These promises however, come along-side concerns of environmental and socio-economic risks associated with CRISPR-based genome editing, and concerns that governance systems are not keeping pace with the technological development and are ill-equipped, or not well suited, to evaluate these risks. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched an initiative in 2020 to understand the complexities of these new tools, their potential impacts on the LAC region, and how IDB may best invest in its potential adoption and governance strategies. This first series of discussion documents: “Genome Editing in Latin America: Regulatory Overview,” and “CRISPR Patent and Licensing Policy” are part of this larger initiative to examine the regulatory and institutional frameworks surrounding gene editing via CRISPR-based technologies in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regions. Focusing on Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, they set the stage for a deeper analysis of the issues they present which will be studied over the course of the next year through expert solicitations in the region, the development of a series of crop-specific case studies, and a final comprehensive regional analysis of the issues discovered.