Synthesis and antibacterial properties of a novel magnetic nanocomposite prepared from spent pickling liquors and polyguanidine.

Magnetic nanoparticles have received much interest for their application in wastewater treatment because of their easy retrieval and reuse. However, the methods used to synthesise high saturation magnetization magnetic nanoparticles require expensive and pure precursors. In the current study, we explore the potential for using spent pickling liquor, a wastewater solution from steel factories, as the iron precursor for preparing iron oxide nanoparticles. Here, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via the oxidation-precipitation of spent pickling liquors using a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide at room temperature. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were then modified with antibacterial polyguanidine to form a nanocomposite. It was found that monodisperse magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with a size in the range 20-30 nm and a high saturation magnetization value of 73.9 emu g-1 were synthesised. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully encapsulated with polyguanidine to form an Fe3O4/polyguanidine nanocomposite. FT-IR and TGA analysis results indicated the presence of the polymer on the Fe3O4 surface and the polymer content in the nanocomposite was about 15% (w/w). The Fe3O4/polyguanidine nanocomposite exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), demonstrating its potential for use in disinfecting wastewater.

Dried Blood Spots, an Affordable Tool to Collect, Ship, and Sequence gDNA from Patients with an X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia Phenotype Residing in a Developing Country.

Background: New sequencing techniques have revolutionized the identification of the molecular basis of primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) not only by establishing a gene-based diagnosis but also by facilitating defect-specific treatment strategies, improving quality of life and survival, and allowing factual genetic counseling. Because these techniques are generally not available for physicians and their patients residing in developing countries, collaboration with overseas laboratories has been explored as a possible, albeit cumbersome, strategy. To reduce the cost of time and temperature-sensitive shipping, we selected Guthrie cards, developed for newborn screening, to collect dried blood spots (DBS), as a source of DNA that can be shipped by regular mail at minimal cost. Method: Blood was collected and blotted onto the filter paper of Guthrie cards by completely filling three circles. We enrolled 20 male patients with presumptive X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) cared for at the Vietnam National Children's Hospital, their mothers, and several sisters for carrier analysis. DBS were stored at room temperature until ready to be shipped together, using an appropriately sized envelope, to a CLIA-certified laboratory in the US for sequencing. The protocol for Sanger sequencing was modified to account for the reduced quantity of gDNA extracted from DBS. Result: High-quality gDNA could be extracted from every specimen. Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) mutations were identified in 17 of 20 patients studied, confirming the diagnosis of XLA in 85% of the study cohort. Type and location of the mutations were similar to those reported in previous reviews. The mean age when XLA was suspected clinically was 4.6 years, similar to that reported by Western countries. Two of 15 mothers, each with an affected boy, had a normal BTK sequence, suggesting gonadal mosaicism. Conclusion: DBS collected on Guthrie cards can be shipped inexpensively by airmail across continents, providing sufficient high-quality gDNA for Sanger sequencing overseas. By using this method of collecting gDNA, we were able to confirm the diagnosis of XLA in 17 of 20 Vietnamese patients with the clinical diagnosis of agammaglobulinemia.

Defining the Performance Parameters of a Rapid Screening Tool for FMR1 CGG-Repeat Expansions Based on Direct Triplet-Primed PCR and Melt Curve Analysis.

Population-based screening for CGG-repeat expansions in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene that cause fragile X syndrome can now be performed more cost-effectively and simply by combining direct triplet-primed PCR (dTP-PCR) with melting curve analysis (MCA). We have now performed a detailed technical validation to define the operational parameters for achieving robust and reliable performance of the FMR1 dTP-PCR MCA assay. We compared the assay's performance on 2 real-time PCR platforms and determined its analytic sensitivity and specificity. We also assessed the assay's performance on DNA isolated from different sources, the effect of differences in CGG-repeat length and AGG-interruption pattern on melt peak temperature (Tm), and the effect of common substances found in DNA solutions on Tms. The assay performed well in distinguishing normal from expansion-carrying samples. The assay had detection sensitivity down to 1 ng and an analytical specificity beyond 150 ng. In addition to peripheral blood DNA, analysis could also be performed on DNA from saliva, buccal swabs, and dried blood spots. Salt increased Tms, glycogen contamination had minimal effect, whereas AGG interruptions lowered Tms. The FMR1 dTP-PCR MCA screening assay is highly sensitive and specific, performs well using DNA from different sources, and is robust and reproducible when reagent concentrations are maintained across all tested samples.