No abstract

Environmental toxicants comprise a number of man-made organic chemicals which may resist metabolism or their metabolites may persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Some of these persistent chemicals are carried over long distances via the atmospheric transport and can have biological effects in fish, wildlife and humans. In this review the relationship between structure of these chemicals, their mode of action and their possible roles in adverse developmental and reproductive processes in humans will be discussed. The focus will be on model polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins, organochlorines, phthalates, a constituent of cigarette smoke (benzo-a-pyrene), synthetic polymers (polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polyfluorinated compounds), and a fungicide (vinclozolin).

BackgroundRibosome display technology has provided an alternative platform technology for the development of novel low-cost antibody based on evaluating antibiotics derived residues in food matrixes.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn our current studies, the single chain variable fragments (scFvs) were selected from hybridoma cell lines against sulfadimidine (SM2) by using a ribosome library technology. A DNA library of scFv antibody fragments was constructed for ribosome display, and then mRNA–ribosome–antibody (MRA) complexes were produced by a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The synthetic sulfadimidine-ovalbumin (SM2-OVA) was used as an antigen to pan MRA complexes and putative scFv-encoding genes were recovered by RT-PCR in situ following each panning. After four rounds of ribosome display, the expression vector pCANTAB5E containing the selected specific scFv DNA was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli HB2151. Three positive clones (SAS14, SAS68 and SAS71) were screened from 100 clones and had higher antibody activity and specificity to SM2 by indirect ELISA. The three specific soluble scFvs were identified to be the same molecular weight (approximately 30 kDa) by Western-blotting analysis using anti-E tag antibodies, but they had different amino acids sequence by sequence analysis.Conclusions/SignificanceThe selection of anti-SM2 specific scFv by in vitro ribosome display technology will have an important significance for the development of novel immunodetection strategies for residual veterinary drugs.

Nutrient elements are essential for human health. The intake of nutrient elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mo, and Cr) in the general Chinese population was comprehensively evaluated via a recent total diet study (2016–2019), covering more than two-thirds of the total population. The contents of nutrient elements in 288 composite dietary samples were determined by ICP-MS. The dietary sources, regional distribution, the relationship with the earth’s crust, dietary intake, and health effects were discussed. Plant foods were the main source of both macro-elements and trace elements, accounting for 68–96% of total intake. Trace elements in food were compatible with their abundance in the earth’s crust. Na intake reduced by 1/4 over the last decade but was still high. The average intake of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Se did not reach the health guidance values, while the average intake of K, P, Mn, Fe, Cu, Mo, and Cr fell within a reasonable range. No element exceeded the UL. However, an imbalance was identified in the dietary Na/K ratio and Ca/P ratio. This paper provides a most recent and national-representative assessment of nutrient element intake, indicating the significance of salt reduction and dietary structure optimization for the population.