New alternative for human identification. Investigator IDplex Kit - QIAGEN® reproducibility: Latin American interlaboratory study

In 2010 QIAGEN® launched to eight kits of different combinations of STRs, including the Investigator IDplex Kit. This kit allows amplification in one PCR 16 markers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of Investigator IDplex Kit among Latin America laboratories. In the framework of the 'III International Theoretical-Practice Course in Populations Genetic and Biologicals Filiations' in Medellín-Colombia, all participants were invited to evaluate the reproducibility of this kit, they were provided of the necessary materials for the study. The results reported by participating were tabulated for the study the reproducibility. Results and comments were received on the agreed date of 12 of the 22 laboratories registered, one participant submits comments only. Some laboratories reported greater sensitivity Investigator IDplex Kit compared with other kits containing similar markers, also highlight the easy adaptability to existing conditions in laboratories, without involving major changes to its implementation. This paper shows the high reproducibility of Investigator IDplex Kit, a new tool offered by QIAGEN® for all laboratories that perform human identification testing and biological relationship testing using DNA markers. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Contaminación microbiana en las líneas de agua de las unidades odontológicas

Introduction and Objective: Microorganisms are responsible for multiple infections and pathologies; this is why it is important to control microbes that can be found in the triple syringe used for irrigation in different dental procedures. The aim of this study was to identify cultivable species of microbes (fungus and bacteria) found in some dental units water lines of a private dental clinic from Medellín, Colombia. Materials and Methods: Random samples were taken from 11 chairs from a total of 89; a sample of water of 500ml was collected from the triple syringe of each selected chair. The study aim to search for the presence of total coliforms, filamentous fungi and leavened Results: the average presence of microorganisms was between 40CFU and more of 200 CFU. Microorganisms such as Aeromona salmonicida, Actinobacilus sp and Pseudomona maltophil were isolated. No total coliforms neither fecal coliforms were found. Conclusions: the high levels of contamination suggest that there is a mature biofilm in somewhere of the dental unit water line, but the absence of total and fecalis coliforms suggest that the water had been treated.

Genetic parameters for body weight in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Colombia using random regression models

The objective of this research was to estimate (co) variance functions and genetic parameters for body weight in Colombian buffalo populations using random regression models with Legendre polynomials. Data consisted of 34,738 weight records from birth to 900 days of age from 7815 buffaloes. Fixed effects in the model were contemporary group and parity order of the mother. Random effects were direct and maternal additive genetic, as well as animal and maternal permanent environmental effects. A cubic orthogonal Legendre polynomial was used to model the mean curve of the population. Eleven models with first to sixth order polynomials were used to describe additive genetic direct and maternal effects, and animal and maternal permanent environmental effects. The residual was modeled considering five variance classes. The best model included fourth and sixth order polynomials for direct additive genetic and animal permanent environmental effects, respectively, and third-order polynomials for maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. The direct heritability increased from birth until 120 days of age (0.32 +/- 0.05), decreasing thereafter until one year of age (0.18 +/- 0.04) and increased again, reaching 0.39 +/- 0.09, at the end of the evaluated period. The highest maternal heritability estimates (0.11 +/- 0.05), were obtained for weights around weaning age (weaning age range is between 8 and 9.5 months). Maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental variances increased from birth until about one year of age, decreasing at later ages. Direct genetic correlations ranged from moderate (0.60 +/- 0.060) to high (0.99 +/- 0.001), maternal genetic correlations showed a similar range (0.41 +/- 0.401 and 0.99 +/- 0.003), and all of them decreased as time between weighings increased. Direct genetic correlations suggested that selecting buffalos for heavier weights at any age would increase weights from birth through 900 days of age. However, higher heritabilities for direct genetic weights effects after 600 days of age suggested that selection for these effects would be more effective if done during this age period. A greater response to selection for maternal ability would be expected if selection used maternal genetic predictions for weights near weaning. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.