Gewitter und Forst

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

T and B lymphocytes in horses persistently infected with equine infectious anaemia virus

The percentage of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of horses chronically infected with equine infectious anaemia (EIA) virus was determined and the results were compared with the percentage of these cells in healthy uninfected horses. Cells with membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes (T and active T lymphocytes) were determined by E and A rosette techniques, while cells with receptors for the C3b component of complement and those with receptors for mouse erythrocytes (B lymphocytes), were determined by the EAC rosette method. The percentage of Fc positive cells was assayed by the EA rosette test.The majority of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from both uninfected and EIA-infected horses formed rosettes of each kind with only three erythrocytes indicating a low density of the corresponding receptors on the cell membrane under the condition of the assays used. The percentage of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of diseased horses (52.4±1.6%), as detected by E rosettes, was significantly (p<0.01) higher than in control animals (42.4±3.5%). In clinically healthy horses 8.9±1.1% of PBL were identified by A rosettes as active T cells, whereas animals with a chronic form of EIA had a much lower (p<0.001) percentage of these cells (4.7±0.7%). In the B lymphocyte subpopulations the percentages of cells bearing Fc and C3b receptors were markedly elevated (p<0.001) in EIA-infected horses (24.7±0.8% and 42.8±2.2% respectively) as compared to uninfected animals (15.1±1.4% and 29.6±1.2% respectively). Receptors for mouse erythrocytes, as yet undescribed on equine PBL, were demonstrated in approximately equal proportions on lymphocytes from EIA-infected (24.8±1.5%) and uninfected horses (24.3±2.1%).     

Changes in soil carbon and crop yield over 60 years in the Zurich Organic Fertilization Experiment,following land‐use change from grassland to cropland

Changes in land‐use and agricultural management affect soil organic C (SOC) storage and soil fertility. Grassland to cropland conversion is often accompanied by SOC losses. However, fertilization, crop rotation, and crop residue management can offset some SOC losses or even convert arable soils into C sinks. This paper presents the first assessment of changes in SOC stocks and crop yields in a 60‐year field trial, the Zurich Organic Fertilization Experiment A493 (ZOFE) in Switzerland. The experiment comprises 12 treatments with different organic, inorganic and combined fertilization regimes. Since conversion to arable land use in 1949, all treatments have lost SOC at annual rates of 0.10–0.25 t C ha^?1, with estimated mean annual C inputs from organic fertilizers and aboveground and belowground plant residues of 0.6–2.4 t C ha^?1. In all treatments, SOC losses are still in progress, indicating that a new equilibrium has not yet been reached. Crop yields have responded sensitively to advances in plant breeding and in fertilization. However, in ZOFE high yields can only be ensured when mineral fertilizer is applied at rates typical for modern agriculture, with yields of main crops (winter wheat, maize, potatoes, clover‐grass ley) decreasing by 25–50% when manure without additional mineral fertilizer is applied. ZOFE shows that land‐use change from non‐intensively managed grassland to cropland leads to soil C losses of 15–40%, even in rotations including legumes and intercrops, improved agricultural management and organic fertilizer application.     

The Fusarium graminearum genome reveals a link between localized polymorphism and pathogen specialization

We sequenced and annotated the genome of the filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum, a major pathogen of cultivated cereals. Very few repetitive sequences were detected, and the process of repeat-induced point mutation, in which duplicated sequences are subject to extensive mutation, may partially account for the reduced repeat content and apparent low number of paralogous (ancestrally duplicated) genes. A second strain of F. graminearum contained more than 10,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, which were frequently located near telomeres and within other discrete chromosomal segments. Many highly polymorphic regions contained sets of genes implicated in plant-fungus interactions and were unusually divergent, with higher rates of recombination. These regions of genome innovation may result from selection due to interactions of F. graminearum with its plant hosts.     

Sandwich immunoassays for the determination of peanut and hazelnut traces in foods

People suffering from food allergies are dependent on accurate food labeling, as an avoidance diet is the only effective countermeasure. Even a small amount of allergenic protein can trigger severe reactions in highly sensitized patients. Therefore, sensitive and reliable tests are needed to detect potential cross-contamination. In this paper two fast sandwich immunoassays are described for the determination of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) traces in complex food matrices. Mouse monoclonal antibodies were used as capture antibodies, and labeled rabbit polyclonal antibodies were used as detection antibodies in both assays. The assay time was 30 min in total, and cross-reactivities against a variety of fruits and seeds were found to be in the low 10(-4)% (ppm) level or in some cases not detectable. The recoveries in all tested food matrices ranged from 86 to 127%, and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.2-1.2 mg/kg (ppm) in food for both peanut and hazelnut, respectively.     

Organic compounds and heavy metals in the atmosphere of the city of Caracas,Venezueala — II: Atmospheric deposition

Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids and heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe and Cd) were analyzed in bulk deposition samples at two locations within the metropolitan area of Caracas, Venezuela. One of the sampling sites was located in the center (urban site, 1), while the other was in the outkirts of the city (rural site, 4). In general, a higher flux was observed for the deposition of pollutants at site 1 than at site 4. These fluxes showed relatively large short-term variations, while the long-term integrated deposition was found to be relatively constant throughout the sampling period. Wet deposition did not affect the flux of most of the pollutants studied, with the exception of Pb and the fatty acids of an anthropogenic origin.