Genetic characterization and evolutionary analysis of 4 Newcastle disease virus isolate full genomes from waterbirds in South China during 2003-2007

Complete genomes of four Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains, isolated from ducks and wild birds in Guangdong province of China from 2003 to 2007, were sequenced and analyzed in this study. Pathogenicity tests in chicken embryos and chickens illustrate that D3 and R8 are lentogenic, and W4 and P4 are mesogenic strains. Phylogenetic analysis using all six genes provides a high resolution profile for genotype designation as genotype I for D3 and R8 strains and genotype VI for W4 and P4 strains. In addition, molecular dating based on different genes suggests that D3 and R8 diverged from their common ancestor at around 1998; W4 and P4 diverged from their common ancestor at around 1999. Subsequent selective pressure analysis displayed specific traits of genes evolution in all 4 strains since their divergence from the recent common ancestor. Furthermore, the geographic origins of 4 strains were deduced to be from Europe via two independent introduction events by phylogeographical analysis. This provides insights to the potential influence of waterfowl migration on NDV epidemiology.     

Immunization of chickens with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis pathogenicity island-2 proteins

Several structural components of the type III secretion systems (T3SS) encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1 and SPI-2 are exposed to the host's immune system prior to/during the infection/invasion process, making them potential vaccine candidates. In this study we evaluated whether chickens vaccinated with SPI-2 T3SS components could mount a significant humoral immune response (as measured by serum IgG titres) and whether these antibodies could be transferred to progeny (as measured by egg yolk IgG titres), and whether vaccinates and progeny of vaccinates could be protected against challenge with SE. The results of our studies show that vaccinated chickens do produce high levels of SPI-2 T3SS specific serum IgG that they are able to transfer to their progeny. It was demonstrated that vaccinates and progeny of vaccinates had lower overall countable recovered Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) per bird in most situations.     

Excellent oil absorbent kapok [Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.] fiber: fiber structure, chemical characteristics, and application

The study focused on kapok [Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.] fruit as a biomass for effective utilization. Kapok fruits were harvested just before full maturation at the campus of University of the Philippines Los Banos and in southern Vietnam. The kapok fibers are utilized locally as fiberfill in pillows, quilts, and some soft toys. Kapok fiber was isolated and analyzed microscopically, and the physicochemical properties were determined by spectroscopic methods. Some tests were done to determine the effective utilization of kapok fiber. Microscopic analysis of the higher structure of kapok fiber gave quite different results from cotton fiber, which has a significantly homogeneous hollow tube shape and is composed of cellulose (35 % dry fiber), xylan (22%), and lignin (21.5%). Kapok fiber is characterized by having a high level of acetyl groups (13.0%). Usually cell walls of plants contain about 1%–2% of acetyl groups attached to noncellulosic polysaccharides. Kapok fiber is significantly hydrophobic and does not get wet with water. Thus, the absorptivity of oil was tested. The fiber selectively absorbed significant amounts of oil (40 g/g of fiber) from an oil suspension in freshwater and seawater. It is suggested that this fiber could be used to recover oil spilled in seawater.     

Synthesis and Antifouling Activity Evaluation of Analogs of Bromosphaerol,a Brominated Diterpene Isolated from the Red Alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius

Marine biofouling is an epibiotic biological process that affects almost any kind of submerged surface, causing globally significant economic problems mainly for the shipping industry and aquaculture companies, and its prevention so far has been associated with adverse environmental effects for non-target organisms. Previously, we have identified bromosphaerol (1), a brominated diterpene isolated from the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, as a promising agent with significant antifouling activity, exerting strong anti-settlement activity against larvae of Amphibalanus (Balanus) amphitrite and very low toxicity. The significant antifouling activity and low toxicity of bromosphaerol (1) motivated us to explore its chemistry, aiming to optimize its antifouling potential through the preparation of a number of analogs. Following different synthetic routes, we successfully synthesized 15 structural analogs (2–16) of bromosphaerol (1), decorated with different functional groups. The anti-settlement activity (EC₅₀) and the degree of toxicity (LC₅₀) of the bromosphaerol derivatives were evaluated using cyprids and nauplii of the cirriped crustacean A. amphitrite as a model organism. Derivatives 2, 4, and 6–16 showed diverse levels of antifouling activity. Among them, compounds 9 and 13 can be considered as well-performing antifoulants, exerting their activity through a non-toxic mechanism.     

Enhancement by interferon of chicken splenocyte natural killer cell activity against Marek's disease tumor cells

A non-immune natural killer-type cell population (NK) from 6-to 12-week old chickens was able to kill MSB-1 Marek's disease (MD) tumor cells in vitro; as measured by the 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay. Removal of T cells, B cells, adherent cells, or any combination of the three populations of cells did not result in diminished levels of cytotoxicity of the remaining spleen cells against MSB-1 cells. The cytotoxicity of chicken NK cells could be rapidly augmented by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) and by the Cal 11914 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), but not by the TCND strain of NDV which is not an interferon (IFN) inducer, indicating that IFN play a role in augmentation of the NK activity in chickens.     

Seroepidemiology of marble spleen disease on a large pheasant farm in california

An agar gel precipitation (AGP) test was used to study the epidemiology of marble spleen disease (MSD) on a large pen-raised pheasant farm with a prior history of MSD. Tests conducted during early season egg production (March 1983) on previously infected breeders, poults from these breeders, and MSD-free hens introduced onto the farm, indicated absence of MSD antibodies (and clinical disease) during the breeding season (February–July 1983). Thus, a carrier state or egg transmission could not be demonstrated. The disease did not occur in late summer (September) in the same area of the ranch where it was diagnosed for the past 5 seasons. The AGP test was useful in confirming the pattern of the disease spread which moved erratically but within the general area of the index pen. Antibodies were detected in penmates approximately 10–15 days after the first observed mortality, but did not persist after the disease had run its course. Our observations suggest that the reservoir of the virus exists in the environment, and mechanical transmission (caretaker, equipment etc.) is important in sustaining the disease during an outbreak.     

Evolution of rotavirus C in humans and several domestic animal species

Rotavirus C (RVC) causes enteric disease in multiple species, including humans, swine, bovines, and canines. To date, the evolutionary relationships of RVC populations circulating in different host species are poorly understood, owing to the low availability of genetic sequence data. To address this gap, we sequenced 45 RVC complete genomes from swine samples collected in the United States and Mexico. A phylogenetic analysis of each genome segment indicates that RVC populations have been evolving independently in human, swine, canine, and bovine hosts for at least the last century, with inter‐species transmission events occurring deep in the phylogenetic tree, and none in the last 100 years. Bovine and canine RVC populations clustered together nine of the 11 gene segments, indicating a shared common ancestor centuries ago. The evolutionary relationships of RVC in humans and swine were more complex, due to the extensive genetic diversity and multiple RVC clades identified in pigs, which were not structured geographically. Topological differences between trees inferred for different genome segments occurred frequently, including at nodes deep in the tree, indicating that RVC's evolutionary history includes multiple reassortment events that occurred a long time ago. Overall, we find that RVC is evolving within host‐defined lineages, but the evolutionary history of RVC is more complex than previously recognized due to the high genetic diversity of RVC in swine, with a common ancestor dating back centuries. Pigs may act as a reservoir host for RVC, and a source of the lineages identified in other species, including humans, but additional sequencing is needed to understand the full diversity of this understudied pathogen across multiple host species.     

Effects of atropellis canker and stalactiform blister rust on the bending strength and stiffness of lodgepole pine lumber

Summary This study investigated the effect of Atropellis canker,Atropellis piniphila (Weir) Lohman and Cash, and stalactiform blister rust,Cronartium coleosporioides Arth., on the bending strength and stiffness of lumber from lodgepole pine,Pinus contorta Dougl. var.latifolia Engelm. The modulus of rupture, was unaffected by either disease. However, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of lumber from infected trees, as determined by the Cook Bolinders and static bending tests, was significantly reduced from those of healthy trees. This impact should affect the use of lumber from infected trees when serviceability criteria govern the design of a structure. Should MOE-based, machine stress-rating of lumber become standard in the future, there may be an adverse, stress-related impact of these diseases on lumber value.We thank Mr. D. Hutcheson, B.C. Forest Service, Kamloops Region for advice and assistance, Messers, T. Jeanes, B. Geiselmann and D. Crabtree, Balco Forest Products Ltd., for advice, assistance, and particularly for harvesting and manufacture of the test material; Mr. L. Olsen, Forintek Canada Ltd. for assistance, and Dr. A. Harestad, Simon Fraser University for critical review. The research was supported in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada, Operating Grant No. A3881