Susceptibility to and transmission of H5N1 and H7N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in bank voles (Myodes glareolus)

The study of influenza type A (IA) infections in wild mammals populations is a critical gap in our knowledge of how IA viruses evolve in novel hosts that could be in close contact with avian reservoir species and other wild animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to infection, the nasal shedding and the transmissibility of the H7N1 and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), a wild rodent common throughout Europe and Asia. Two out of 24 H5N1-infected voles displayed evident respiratory distress, while H7N1-infected voles remained asymptomatic. Viable virus was isolated from nasal washes collected from animals infected with both HPAI viruses, and extra-pulmonary infection was confirmed in both experimental groups. Histopathological lesions were evident in the respiratory tract of infected animals, although immunohistochemistry positivity was only detected in lungs and trachea of two H7N1-infected voles. Both HPAI viruses were transmitted by direct contact, and seroconversion was confirmed in 50% and 12.5% of the asymptomatic sentinels in the H7N1 and H5N1 groups, respectively. Interestingly, viable virus was isolated from lungs and nasal washes collected from contact sentinels of both groups. The present study demonstrated that two non-rodent adapted HPAI viruses caused asymptomatic infection in bank voles, which shed high amounts of the viruses and were able to infect contact voles. Further investigations are needed to determine whether bank voles could be involved as silent hosts in the transmission of HPAI viruses to other mammals and domestic poultry.     

Molecular characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from rural chicken in northwest Ethiopia reveals the circulation of three distinct genotypes in the country

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious disease that affects many species of birds and causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Fifteen Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates obtained from rural chickens in northwest Ethiopia in 2011 and 2012 were characterized genotypically. The main functional region of the F gene was amplified and sequenced (260 nucleotides). Among the Ethiopian NDV isolates, 2 isolates had the virulent motif ¹¹²R-R-Q-K-R-F¹¹⁷ at the cleavage site of the fusion protein while 13 isolates contained the lentogenic motif ¹¹²G-G/R-Q-G-R-L¹¹⁷. Phylogenetic analysis based on the variable region of the F gene indicated that the two isolates exhibiting the virulent motif belonged to lineage 5 (genotype VII) subgenotype d and the remaining 13 isolates were grouped into lineage 2 (genotype II). The nucleotide sequences of lineage 5 isolates were genetically related to the Sudanese NDV isolates, suggesting potential epidemiological link of ND outbreaks between neighbouring countries. The lentogenic strains shared similarities with La Sota vaccine strain and probably originated from the vaccine strain either through direct exposure of birds to the live vaccine or to infectious La Sota-like strains circulating in rural poultry. This study provides genetic evidence on the existence of different NDV genotypes circulating in the rural poultry in Ethiopia. The virulent NDV continues to be a problem in poultry sector in Ethiopia, and their continuous circulation in rural and commercial poultry calls for improved surveillance and intensified vaccination and other control measures.     

Camouflage by integumentary wetting in bark bugs

Unlike most insect integuments, the body surfaces of certain bark-inhabiting bugs are wettable. A thin film of water reduces the reflectivity of the insect, resulting in a close match with the wettable bark upon which it rests. Wettability probably aids in concealing the insects from predators.     

Meroterpenes from Marine Invertebrates: Structures,Occurrence, and Ecological Implications

Meroterpenes are widely distributed among marine organisms; they are particularly abundant within brown algae, but other important sources include microorganisms and invertebrates. In the present review the structures and bioactivities of meroterpenes from marine invertebrates, mainly sponges and tunicates, are summarized. More than 300 molecules, often complex and with unique skeletons originating from intra- and inter-molecular cyclizations, and/or rearrangements, are illustrated. The reported syntheses are mentioned. The issue of a potential microbial link to their biosynthesis is also shortly outlined.     

A pith necrosis caused by Xanthomonas perforans on tomato plants

Pith necrosis is a common disease of tomato in Europe, mainly caused by Pseudomonas corrugata and other soil-borne species of Pseudomonas. During 2011–2012 a survey was conducted in soil-grown tomato crops in southeastern Sicily (Italy). Plants showed pith necrosis, brown discolouration of the vascular tissues, leaf chlorosis and sometimes wilting of leaves. Thirty bacterial isolates from symptomatic tissues, forming colonies on NA and KB, were identified by morphological, biochemical and physiological tests. Among them, seven isolates were analyzed for their 16S rDNA and 16S–23S spacer region sequence that resulted in 99 % identity to that of the Xanthomonas perforans type strain (GenBank accession number GQ46173over 2.085 bp.). Additional sequences of fusA, gapA, gltA, gyrB, lacF, and lepA from one selected isolate were 100% identical to sequences of the Xanthomonas perforans type strain. X. perforans local isolates showed similar genomic patterns with REP-PCR and fAFLP, and were clearly distinguished from other Xanthomonas spp. type strains. In stem-inoculation assays, bacteria isolated from symptomatic tomato plants identified as P. fluorescens, P. putida, P. marginalis, P. citronellolis, P. straminea, and Pantoea agglomerans induced discolouration of vascular tissues, while Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. atrosepticum isolates induced soft rot. Conversely, the isolates here identified as Xanthomonas perforans were able to induce pith necrosis, vascular discolouration, longitudinal splits and external lesions on stems. This report of X. perforans causing pith necrosis on tomato represents a potentially serious problem that may limit the productivity of tomato crops.     

Domestication of Alpine blue-sow-thistle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicerbita alpina</Emphasis> (L.) Wallr.): six year trial results

Alpine blue-sow-thistle (Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr.) is a perennial herb distributed all along the entire Alpine Arc, the shoots of which are still collected in the wild in several areas of Northern-Eastern Italy for food purposes. Our paper deals with experiments of domestication of this species carried out in the surroundings of Trento and lasted from 2004 to 2010. The cultivation was carried out transplanting seedlings, obtained by wild seed of a unique accession. One experimental trial (2004/2008) was carried in the location Frisanchi, located at 1,078 m a.s.l. In this trial the theses compared 4 harvests, 1 week spaced, carried out respectively in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year after the transplant. Of the total quantity harvested after 4 years, the most shoots (60) and the highest dried weight per m² (14 g) were obtained from shoots collected 2 or 3 years after being transplanted. However, comparing the shoots yielded in the last year of the trial only (2008), the best results were obtained from 3 or 4-year-old transplants (42 shoots/m²; 8.2 g dry weight). Nevertheless there four times harvesting of shoots weakened the plants’ development and a high failure rates was recorded. In addition to the real experimental trial another small cultivation was carried out in an higher location, Monte Bondone at 1,500 m a.s.l., in which 5 years after the transplant (2010) only 2 harvests were carried out. In this experiment the yield recorded was very encouraging (10.5 g m²) and also the quality of the shoots collected was good.     

Disruptive Coloration in Butterflies: Lack of Support in Anartia fatima

Experimental obliteration of high-contrast wing stripes of the neotropical butterfly Anartia fatima affected neither survival nor wing damage in a natural population over a 5-month period. There is no direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that so-called disruptive wing patterns function as protective coloration in butterflies.     

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-F associated to the watermelon vine decline in Italy

In recent years, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has been subjected to significant losses due to vine decline in Sicily (southern Italy). During a survey conducted in 2009, the predominant fungal species associated with root rot and vine decline were Rhizoctonia spp. The most isolates were characterized as binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-F through morphological observation, nuclear condition, anastomosis tests and sequence homology of rDNA-ITS. Occasionally, R. solani was found. The pathogenicity of binucleate Rhizoctonia and virulences of different isolates were tested in growth chamber on watermelon seedlings. All isolates were pathogenic on watermelon seedlings and showed statistically significant differences on the disease incidence and severity among them. To our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of the occurrence of pathogenic binucleate Rhizoctonia responsible for root rot and associated with watermelon vine decline.     

Aplisulfamines, new sulfoxide-containing metabolites from an aplidium tunicate: absolute stereochemistry at chiral sulfur and carbon atoms assigned through an original combination of spectroscopic and computational methods

Two new sulfoxide-containing metabolites, aplisulfamines A and B, have been isolated from an Aplidium sp. collected in the Bay of Naples. Their planar structure and geometry of a double bond were readily determined by using standard methods, mainly NMR spectroscopy. An original approach was used to assign the absolute configuration at the three contiguous chiral centers present in the structures of both aplisulfamines, two at carbon and one at sulfur. This involved Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) studies, J-based configuration analysis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and represents an interesting integration of modern techniques in stereoanalysis, which could contribute to the enhancement of theoretical protocols recently applied to solve stereochemical aspects in structure elucidation.