Search

Lysozyme (LYZ) is a small cationic protein which is widely used for medical treatment and in the food industry to act as an anti-bacterial agent; however, it can trigger allergic reactions. In this study, high-affinity molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) were synthesized for LYZ using a solid-phase approach. The produced nanoMIPs were electrografted to screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), disposable electrodes with high commercial potential, to enable electrochemical and thermal sensing. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) facilitated fast measurement (5–10 min) and is able to determine trace levels of LYZ (pM) and can discriminate between LYZ and structurally similar proteins (bovine serum albumin, troponin-I). In tandem, thermal analysis was conducted with the heat transfer method (HTM), which is based on monitoring the heat transfer resistance at the solid–liquid interface of the functionalized SPE. HTM as detection technique guaranteed trace-level (fM) detection of LYZ but needed longer analysis time compared to EIS measurement (30 min vs 5–10 min). Considering the versatility of the nanoMIPs which can be adapted to virtually any target of interest, these low-cost point-of-care sensors hold great potential to improve food safety. Graphical Abstract

An immune adherence hemagglutination assay (IAHA) and a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antigenic characterization of human rotaviruses were developed. The designations of type 1 and type 2 were identical to those established previously by specific complement fixation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune electron microscopy. By IAHA (and modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) certain animal rotaviruses were found to be closely related to human rotavirus type 1. The pattern of IAHA reactivity and the cell culture neutralization serotype were found to be distinct properties. The separation of neutralization and IAHA reactivity was apparent when animal rotaviruses which were distinguishable from each other by neutralization assays were found to share IAHA specificity. Further evidence for the dissociation of the neutralization and IAHA specificities was found in studies of human and bovine rotaviruses which underwent genetic reassortment during coinfection. Thus, it appeared that the IAHA and neutralization antigens were coded for by different genes. In view of these findings, we suggest that the term serotype be reversed to identify the antigen that reacts with neutralizing antibodies as is customary for other viruses and that the term subgroup (instead of serotype) be used for the specificity detected by specific complement fixation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and now IAHA.

The vertical profiles of the concentration of reactive Mn and total concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cu ions in the water column of the Sibenik Bay (Krka river estuary) were determined. The measured ranges of concentrations are: 60­1300 ng l ­1 for Mn, 5­13 ng l ­1 for Cd, 70­230 ng l ­1 for Pb, and 375­840 ng l ­1 for Cu. These values are comparable with the concentrations found in the unpolluted estuaries. The Krka river estuary is highly stratified, with the measured salinity gradient of 20% within a half meter of the freshwater­seawater interface (FSI). The main changes in the vertical profiles of the measured parameters occur in the FSI: the temperature increases for 1 °C and the pH decreases for 0.1 unit, whereas the metal concentrations show different behaviour. Generally, Mn, Pb, and Cd ions show the increase of concentrations in the FSI, while copper concentration profile indicates anthropogenic pollution in the brackish layer caused by agriculture activities and by the paint with copper basis used as an antifoulant biocide for the ships. UV­digested samples show an increase in manganese concentrations for at least 3.5 times comparing to non UV­digested. This suggests that in natural water manganese exists mainly in the form of inert complexes and as associated to particulate matter (about 70­80%). UV irradiation has no influence on the concentration of cadmium, while for lead an increase of 50% in the seawater layer is observed. The twofold increase of the copper concentration in the upper freshwater layer and at least the fourfold one in the seawater layer were measured in the UV­digested samples. These results show that copper is strongly bound to inert complexes, and that UV­digestion is necessary step in determination of the total metal concentrations in natural water samples. No significant increase of the metal concentrations in the deeper seawater layer was observed, indicating the absence of the processes of remobilization or dissolution of metals from the sediment. Presented results confirm that the new method for the determination of manganese by CSV on boron­doped diamond electrode with ultrasound enhanced accumulation can be successfully applied to natural waters.