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Philippe Herman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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next generation sequencing as a tool for the molecular characterisation and risk assessment of Genetically Modified Plants added value or not
Trends in Food Science and Technology, 2015Co-Authors: Katia Pauwels, Adinda De Schrijver, Sigrid C J De Keersmaecker, Patrick Du Jardin, Nancy H C Roosens, Philippe HermanAbstract:Abstract Background Legislations and international organizations provide a framework to ensure proper risk assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). With regard to the deliberate release of GMO as food or feed, applications for Genetically Modified Plants (GMP) typically contain data for the molecular characterisation at the nucleic acid level based on Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction analysis in combination with Sanger sequencing. Along with the diverse range of applications of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in genomic research, some recent research projects and product developers explored the use of NGS as an alternative tool for meeting the data requirements for the molecular characterisation of GMPs in view of their risk assessment. Scope and approach By means of a literature survey and information collected through the organisation of an international workshop, we investigated whether NGS can replace and/or complement the currently used techniques for molecular characterisation of GMP taking into account the possibilities and current bottlenecks of NGS technologies and recent developments in molecular breeding. Key findings and conclusions We conclude that although NGS might present clear advantages for product developers, NGS currently does not always offer a significant added value with respect to the risk assessment of GMPs. However, the approaches used so far may soon be further challenged by the fast evolution in NGS technologies and also by the recent developments in molecular breeding of Plants. We postulate that setting up a common workflow for the generation of relevant and interpretable data by NGS would facilitate a scientifically sound assessment of GMPs.
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Biosafety of Molecular Farming in Genetically Modified Plants
Molecular Farming in Plants: Recent Advances and Future Prospects, 2011Co-Authors: Didier Breyer, Adinda De Schrijver, Martine Goossens, Katia Pauwels, Philippe HermanAbstract:The use of Genetically Modified Plants for large-scale production of recombinant compounds for pharmaceutical or industrial use, known as plant molecular farming, holds several promises. However, any development in this field must be counterbalanced by a thorough evaluation of risks to human health and the environment. The possible impact of accidental contamination of the food and feed chain or of transgene spread in the environment, in particular when major food/feed crops grown in open fields are involved, highlights the need to carefully address some important issues during the safety assessment of Genetically Modified farming Plants, such as the choice of the production platform, the implementation of containment or confinement measures and the adoption of other relevant management strategies. In this chapter, we report on the applicability of the current risk assessment methodology and principles, outline some important issues linked to the assessment of environmental and health risks, and comment in more detail general management strategies that could be applied to limit potential environmental and human health impacts linked to plant molecular farming.
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biosafety considerations associated with molecular farming in Genetically Modified Plants
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2009Co-Authors: Didier Breyer, Martine Goossens, Philippe Herman, Myriam SneyersAbstract:The production in Genetically Modified Plants of recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical or industrial use, also referred to as "plant molecular farming", deserves increasing interest due to its potential advantages. However, this type of application of genetic engineering also raises some biosafety concerns, in particular regarding aspects such as transgene spread in the environment or accidental contamination of the food and feed chains. This review presents the current state of the art of this sector, discusses some relevant regulatory issues and outlines important scientific aspects that should be considered during the safety assessment of Genetically Modified Plants grown for this purpose. In particular, it addresses general strategies as well as specific potential containment measures that could be applied to limit the potential environmental and human health impacts linked to plant molecular farming. Key words: Biopharming, biosafety, confinement, containment, Genetically Modified organism, plant molecular farming, plant-made industrials, plant-made pharmaceuticals.
Gerhard Flachowsky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Influence of Feed From Genetically Modified Plants on the Composition and Quality of Foods of Animal Origin
Genetically Engineered Foods, 2017Co-Authors: Gerhard FlachowskyAbstract:Abstract Plant breeding can be considered as the starting point for the human food chain. Bioengineering methods have been introduced as breeding techniques over the past 20 years. The global commercial cultivation of Genetically Modified Plants (GMPs) increased from 1.7 million ha in 1996 to ∼180 million ha in 2015, with maize, soybean, cotton, and rapeseed being the most important GMPs during this time. In addition to producing high and stable plant yields, GMPs have also been bred to be resistant to insects or as plant production aids (GMPs of the 1st generation were produced without substantial changes in the composition and nutritive value). Later, GMPs were bred to enhance the composition (e.g., biofortification, GMPs of the second-generation were bred with nutrition in mind). Many feeding studies have been performed in laboratory animals and food-producing animals using GMPs or coproducts from GMPs (i.e., soybean meal, cotton seed meal, and rapeseed cake). Studies using food-producing animals have enabled researchers to analyze animal health and welfare, follow the integration of transgenic DNA and newly expressed proteins, and analyze the influence of GMPs on the composition and quality of foods of animal origin (i.e., milk, eggs, meat, and fish). Feeds from the first-generation GMPs did not significantly influence the composition and quality of foods of animal origin. In addition, there was no scientific evidence to suggest that recombinant DNA and newly expressed proteins had off-target chemical and physiological effects in animals. Therefore, first-generation GMP feeds can be considered as equivalents to their isogenic counterparts. Second-generation GMP feeds (with output traits) may influence the composition and quality of animal feeds, especially the fatty acid composition. Minerals and vitamins from biofortified Plants can be stored in some animal organs or may be excreted in milk or eggs. A lower content of undesirable substances may improve the feed value of GMPs.
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Animal feeding studies for nutritional and safety assessments of feeds from Genetically Modified Plants: a review
Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 2012Co-Authors: Gerhard Flachowsky, Helmut Schafft, Ulrich MeyerAbstract:In the future there will be a very strong competition between arable land use for phytogenic biomass production for feed/food, fuel, fibre and other industrial materials, as well as for settlements and natural conservation areas because of the growing population and limited natural resources. Therefore Plants with high and stable yields, and requiring low external inputs (low input varieties) should be the main aim of plant breeding. In addition to traditional breeding, plant biotechnology seems to have the potential to contribute to this objective. Nutritional and safety studies with feed/food made from such Modified Plants are one of the most important prerequisite for public acceptance, and to improve knowledge in the feed/food sciences. The first step for the nutritional and safety assessment of such Modified Plants is the compositional analysis of potential feed/food, including the newly expressed proteins and other new constituents, and its comparison with conventional counterparts. In vitro studies and experiments with laboratory animals comprise the next steps of the assessment. About 70–90 % of the harvested biomass from Genetically Modified Plants (GMPs) is consumed by food producing animals. Therefore, feeding studies with target animals are of special concern for nutritional assessment, and these are considered in more detail in the present paper. Up to now most studies have been done with GMPs of the 1st generation (Plants with input traits, but without substantial changes in composition). Other experimental designs for nutritional and safety assessments are recommended for GMPs with output traits or with substantial changes in composition (Plants of the 2nd generation). Zukünftig ist infolge weiter ansteigender Erdbevölkerung und knapper werdender natürlicher Ressourcen ein noch intensiverer Wettbewerb um landwirtschaftliche Nutzfläche bzw. pflanzliche Biomasse für die Erzeugung von Lebens- und Futtermitteln, Energie, industriellen Rohstoffen als auch um Flächen für Siedlungen und Naturschutz zu erwarten. Deshalb sollte die Entwicklung von Pflanzen mit hohen und stabilen Erträgen bei geringem Ressourceneinsatz (low input varieties) das Hauptziel der Pflanzenzüchtung sein. Neben der traditionellen Pflanzenzüchtung scheint die Pflanzenbiotechnologie ein beachtliches Potenzial zur Realisierung dieser Zielstellung zu haben. Entsprechende Studien zur Bewertung des ernährungsphysiologischen Wertes und der Sicherheit sind eine wesentliche Voraussetzung für die öffentliche Akzeptanz der aus diesen Pflanzen hergestellten Futter- und Lebensmittel. Derartige Studien leisten auch bedeutsame Beiträge zur Verbesserung der Kenntnisse auf dem Gebiet der Futter und Lebensmittelkunde. Der erste Schritt zur ernährungsphysiologischen und Sicherheitsbewertung von Futter-/Lebensmitteln aus gentechnisch veränderten Pflanzen (GVP) ist die Bestimmung der Inhaltsstoffe einschließlich des/der neu ausgeprägten Proteins/e sowie weiterer neu gebildeter Stoffe und der Vergleich mit herkömmlichen (isogenen) Partnern. In vitro Studien und Versuche mit Labortieren sind die nächsten Schritte der Bewertung. Da 70–90 % der von GVP geernteten Biomasse in der Tierernährung eingesetzt werden, sind Fütterungsstudien mit Lebensmittel liefernden Tiere (Zieltieren) von besonderer Bedeutung für die ernährungsphysiologische Bewertung der Futtermittel und werden im Beitrag im Detail betrachtet. Bisher wurden vor allem Fütterungsversuche mit Futtermitteln aus GVP der 1. Generation (ohne wesentliche Veränderungen von Inhaltsstoffen; Pflanzen mit Input traits) durchgeführt. Andere Versuchsansätze sind zur ernährungsphysiologischen und Sicherheitsbewertung von Futter- und Lebensmitteln aus GVP der 2. Generation (Pflanzen mit substantiellen Veränderungen von Inhaltsstoffen; Pflanzen mit Output traits) erforderlich.
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animal feeding studies for nutritional and safety assessments of feeds from Genetically Modified Plants a review
Journal fur Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit-Journal of Consumer, 2012Co-Authors: Gerhard Flachowsky, Helmut Schafft, Ulrich MeyerAbstract:In the future there will be a very strong competition between arable land use for phytogenic biomass production for feed/food, fuel, fibre and other industrial materials, as well as for settlements and natural conservation areas because of the growing population and limited natural resources. Therefore Plants with high and stable yields, and requiring low external inputs (low input varieties) should be the main aim of plant breeding. In addition to traditional breeding, plant biotechnology seems to have the potential to contribute to this objective. Nutritional and safety studies with feed/food made from such Modified Plants are one of the most important prerequisite for public acceptance, and to improve knowledge in the feed/food sciences. The first step for the nutritional and safety assessment of such Modified Plants is the compositional analysis of potential feed/food, including the newly expressed proteins and other new constituents, and its comparison with conventional counterparts. In vitro studies and experiments with laboratory animals comprise the next steps of the assessment. About 70–90 % of the harvested biomass from Genetically Modified Plants (GMPs) is consumed by food producing animals. Therefore, feeding studies with target animals are of special concern for nutritional assessment, and these are considered in more detail in the present paper. Up to now most studies have been done with GMPs of the 1st generation (Plants with input traits, but without substantial changes in composition). Other experimental designs for nutritional and safety assessments are recommended for GMPs with output traits or with substantial changes in composition (Plants of the 2nd generation).
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studies on feeds from Genetically Modified Plants gmp contributions to nutritional and safety assessment
Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2007Co-Authors: Gerhard Flachowsky, Karen Aulrich, Hartwig Bohme, Ingrid HalleAbstract:Abstract Since 1997, 18 studies with feeds from Genetically Modified Plants (GMP) in the nutrition of dairy cows, growing bulls, growing and finishing pigs, laying hens, chicken for finishing as well as growing and laying quails were conducted at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) in Braunschweig (Germany). The majority of the experiments (16) were undertaken with GMP of the so-called first generation (Plants with input traits and without substantial changes in composition) such as Bt-maize, Pat-maize, Pat-sugar beet, Gt-soybean, Gt-potatoes and Bt-potatoes. Two studies were carried out with GMP of the second generation (Plants with output traits or with substantial changes in their chemical composition) such as an altered fatty acids profile in rapeseed or inulin potatoes. In all experiments, feeds from GMP were compared with their isogenic counterparts. The iso- and transgenic feeds were analysed for their composition (proximates, fibre fraction, amino acids, fatty acid pattern, minerals) and undesirable substances (e.g., mycotoxins). Animal studies were carried out for nutritional and safety assessment such as digestibility, feed intake, health and performance of target animal species and quality of food of animal origin. Reproduction was studied in a 10-generation experiment with quails and a 4-generation experiment with laying hens. Duration of experiments and number of animals were limited in some cases due to small amounts of GM-feed available for experimentation. Attention was drawn to the fate of DNA during feed processing (silage making, oil extraction), in the digestive tract of animals (slaughtering of animals 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after feeding) and in the animal body (samples from several organs and tissues). In agreement with more than 100 animal studies available to date, results show no significant differences in the nutritional value of feeds from GMP of the first generation in comparison with non-GMP varieties. To date, no fragments of recombinant DNA have been found in any organ or tissue sample from animals fed GMP. The lower content of mycotoxins in Bt-maize and side effects in GMP of the second generation are of safety concern. The results indicate that routine feeding studies with target animal species add little to nutritional assessment of feed from GMP of the first generation, but they are of public interest and important for safety assessment. These studies will play a more important role in nutritional and safety assessment of feeds from GMP with output traits. Proposals for such studies were made on the basis of previous experiments.
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Studies on feeds from Genetically Modified Plants (GMP) – Contributions to nutritional and safety assessment
Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2007Co-Authors: Gerhard Flachowsky, Karen Aulrich, Hartwig Bohme, Ingrid HalleAbstract:Abstract Since 1997, 18 studies with feeds from Genetically Modified Plants (GMP) in the nutrition of dairy cows, growing bulls, growing and finishing pigs, laying hens, chicken for finishing as well as growing and laying quails were conducted at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) in Braunschweig (Germany). The majority of the experiments (16) were undertaken with GMP of the so-called first generation (Plants with input traits and without substantial changes in composition) such as Bt-maize, Pat-maize, Pat-sugar beet, Gt-soybean, Gt-potatoes and Bt-potatoes. Two studies were carried out with GMP of the second generation (Plants with output traits or with substantial changes in their chemical composition) such as an altered fatty acids profile in rapeseed or inulin potatoes. In all experiments, feeds from GMP were compared with their isogenic counterparts. The iso- and transgenic feeds were analysed for their composition (proximates, fibre fraction, amino acids, fatty acid pattern, minerals) and undesirable substances (e.g., mycotoxins). Animal studies were carried out for nutritional and safety assessment such as digestibility, feed intake, health and performance of target animal species and quality of food of animal origin. Reproduction was studied in a 10-generation experiment with quails and a 4-generation experiment with laying hens. Duration of experiments and number of animals were limited in some cases due to small amounts of GM-feed available for experimentation. Attention was drawn to the fate of DNA during feed processing (silage making, oil extraction), in the digestive tract of animals (slaughtering of animals 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after feeding) and in the animal body (samples from several organs and tissues). In agreement with more than 100 animal studies available to date, results show no significant differences in the nutritional value of feeds from GMP of the first generation in comparison with non-GMP varieties. To date, no fragments of recombinant DNA have been found in any organ or tissue sample from animals fed GMP. The lower content of mycotoxins in Bt-maize and side effects in GMP of the second generation are of safety concern. The results indicate that routine feeding studies with target animal species add little to nutritional assessment of feed from GMP of the first generation, but they are of public interest and important for safety assessment. These studies will play a more important role in nutritional and safety assessment of feeds from GMP with output traits. Proposals for such studies were made on the basis of previous experiments.
Zhengjun Guan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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do Genetically Modified Plants affect adversely on soil microbial communities
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2016Co-Authors: Zhengjun Guan, Shunbao Lu, Zhengping GuanAbstract:Abstract With the increase in the number of commercial applications and larger cultivation areas of Genetically Modified (GM) Plants, their biosafety for soil microorganisms has become a controversial issue. The effects on the diversity and abundance of soil microorganisms are important components of evaluation of the biosafety risks of GM Plants. So far, no definite conclusions have been drawn about whether GM Plants can negatively affect soil microorganisms. In this review, we discuss the advances that have been made in recent years in the research into the effects of GM Plants on soil microbial communities. It has been argued that foreign gene products that are released from the residue of GM Plants into soil by root exudation may affect soil microbial communities. Moreover, foreign genes may change the genetic and functional properties of soil microorganisms via horizontal transfer. The advantages and disadvantages of various detection technologies—from classical culture-dependent methods to modern molecular protocols—are reviewed here. To accurately and comprehensively evaluate the effects of GM Plants on microorganisms, we discuss the factors that should be considered in the assessment of risks of GM Plants for soil microorganisms (e.g., foreign proteins, marker genes, plant varieties, and environmental factors), as well as the problems and prospects related to biosafety assessment platforms for GM Plants.
Marc Van Den Bulcke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the gmoseek matrix a decision support tool for optimizing the detection of Genetically Modified Plants
BMC Bioinformatics, 2013Co-Authors: Annette Block, Frederic Debode, Lutz Grohmann, Julie Hulin, Isabel Taverniers, Linda Kluga, Elodie Barbaupiednoir, Sylvia Broeders, Ingrid Huber, Marc Van Den BulckeAbstract:Background Since their first commercialization, the diversity of taxa and the genetic composition of transgene sequences in Genetically Modified Plants (GMOs) are constantly increasing. To date, the detection of GMOs and derived products is commonly performed by PCR-based methods targeting specific DNA sequences introduced into the host genome. Information available regarding the GMOs’ molecular characterization is dispersed and not appropriately organized. For this reason, GMO testing is very challenging and requires more complex screening strategies and decision making schemes, demanding in return the use of efficient bioinformatics tools relying on reliable information.
Zhengping Guan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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do Genetically Modified Plants affect adversely on soil microbial communities
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2016Co-Authors: Zhengjun Guan, Shunbao Lu, Zhengping GuanAbstract:Abstract With the increase in the number of commercial applications and larger cultivation areas of Genetically Modified (GM) Plants, their biosafety for soil microorganisms has become a controversial issue. The effects on the diversity and abundance of soil microorganisms are important components of evaluation of the biosafety risks of GM Plants. So far, no definite conclusions have been drawn about whether GM Plants can negatively affect soil microorganisms. In this review, we discuss the advances that have been made in recent years in the research into the effects of GM Plants on soil microbial communities. It has been argued that foreign gene products that are released from the residue of GM Plants into soil by root exudation may affect soil microbial communities. Moreover, foreign genes may change the genetic and functional properties of soil microorganisms via horizontal transfer. The advantages and disadvantages of various detection technologies—from classical culture-dependent methods to modern molecular protocols—are reviewed here. To accurately and comprehensively evaluate the effects of GM Plants on microorganisms, we discuss the factors that should be considered in the assessment of risks of GM Plants for soil microorganisms (e.g., foreign proteins, marker genes, plant varieties, and environmental factors), as well as the problems and prospects related to biosafety assessment platforms for GM Plants.