ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News

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• Juvenile diarrhea virus analyzed down to the atomic level
• Rapid venom evolution in pit vipers may be defensive; Marsupials that prey on venomous snakes also evolve rapidly
• New contrast agents detect bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity
• Equinome launches elite performance test for thoroughbred horses
• Newly developed fluorescent protein makes internal organs visible
• Cell division: How condensin keeps chromosome arms folded
• Parasitism: Wasp uses ladybug as 'zombie bodyguard'

Juvenile diarrhea virus analyzed down to the atomic level Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Scientists have used X-ray crystallography to define the structure -- down to the atomic level -- of a common virus that causes juvenile diarrhea. The new research could help direct efforts to develop medications that block the virus before it becomes infectious.

Rapid venom evolution in pit vipers may be defensive; Marsupials that prey on venomous snakes also evolve rapidly Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:56 PM PDT Research delivers new insight about rapid toxin evolution in venomous snakes. New molecular research on snake-eating opossums suggests that predators factor into the rapid evolution of snake venom.

New contrast agents detect bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:16 AM PDT Novel contrast agents that sneak into bacteria disguised as glucose food can detect bacterial infections in animals with high sensitivity and specificity. These agents -- called maltodextrin-based imaging probes -- can also distinguish a bacterial infection from other inflammatory conditions.

Equinome launches elite performance test for thoroughbred horses Posted: 18 Jul 2011 08:15 AM PDT An equine genomics company has launched a new genetic test that can identify individual thoroughbred horses with the greatest genetic potential for racecourse success. Using the results of the Equinome Elite Performance Test, thoroughbred horse owners and breeders can now increase their chances of successfully identifying those foals and yearlings most likely to perform at the elite level.

Newly developed fluorescent protein makes internal organs visible Posted: 18 Jul 2011 07:12 AM PDT Researchers have developed the first fluorescent protein that enables scientists to clearly "see" the internal organs of living animals without the need for a scalpel or imaging techniques that can have side effects or increase radiation exposure.

Cell division: How condensin keeps chromosome arms folded Posted: 18 Jul 2011 07:11 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how condensin keeps chromosome arms folded and easy-to-transport during cell division, potentially acting as a cord-stopper.

Parasitism: Wasp uses ladybug as 'zombie bodyguard' Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:52 AM PDT The parasitic wasp Dinocampus coccinellae is no fool. It controls a ladybug, lays an egg in its abdomen and turns it into the bodyguard of its cocoon. This surprising host-parasite manipulation has been closely observed in new research.

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