In BulletsA cluster of individuals with Salmonella Typhimurium sequencing type 34 infection was reported to WHO by the UK on March 27, 2022. Investigations linked the outbreak to Belgian chocolate, which was exported to about 113 nations. A total of 151 cases of S. Typhimurium infection were reported from 11 countries. Thus the importance of rapid detection of pathogens in the food before their distribution is indispensable. Researchers have recently developed a paper-based analytical device for the detection of S. Typhimurium in food samples. The analytical device detects the pathogen by taking the advantage of CRISPR/Cas12a — a molecular scissor— and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The team determined the limit of detection for S. Typhimurium was about 3–4 CFU/mL for milk and 1 to 108 CFU/mL for meat samples.
More information: Zhuang et al. (2022). SERS-based CRISPR/Cas assay on microfluidic paper analytical devices for supersensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria in foods. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2022.114167
Journal information: Biosensors and Bioelectronics
According to a study on the financial effects of heatwaves, from 1992 to 2013, human-caused global warming cost the world economy somewhere between US$5 trillion and $29 trillion. Low-income tropical countries were most affected, with an average 6.7% decrease in national income, whereas high-income nations saw a 1.5% average decline.
More information: Callahan and Mankin (2022). Globally unequal effect of extreme heat on economic growth. Science Advanves. DOI:10.1126/sciadv.add3726
Journal information: Science Advances
Researchers found a significant decrease after exposing oilseed rape fields to diesel exhaust and ozone, which are both contaminants carried in emissions from diesel-burning automobiles and industries. Researchers used specialized equipment to give oilseed rape plants a regulated dose of ozone and diesel exhaust. Aphids were added to the plants, and the reproductive efficiency of parasitic wasps was observed. They discovered that all parasitic wasp species were reduced in contaminated habitats, with the exception of Diaretiella rapae wasps.
More information: Ryalls et al. (2022). Concurrent anthropogenic air pollutants enhance recruitment of a specialist parasitoid. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences. ISSN:1471-2954
Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences