Is a helper factor necessary for infection of cowpea protoplasts with blackeye cowpea mosaic virus?

Samenvatting Bij inoculatie van mesofyl protoplasten van cowpea met een zeer infectieuze, gezuiverde suspensie van blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BlCMV), een potyvirus, kon een infectie niet worden geconstateerd. Wanneer echter de bovenstaande vloeistof, verkregen na centrifugering bij laag toerental van sap van BlCMV-geînfecteerde planten, als inoculum werd gebruikt, dan kon vermeerdering van het virus in de protoplasten worden vastgesteld door middel van infectiositeitsproeven, immunofluorescentie en elektronenmicroscopie. Werd deze bovenstaande vloeistof, ontdaan van zijn infectiositeit, hetzij door bestraling met UV-licht, hetzij door centrifugering bij hoog toerental, en vervolgens gemengd met gezuiverd virus, dan trad er geen infectie van de protoplasten op.     

Interspecific Hybridization of Meiotic Parthenogenetic Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax

ABSTRACT Hybridization between two meiotic parthenogenetic species of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax, was investigated in two different crossing experiments on tomato plants grown in sand. The first experiment was a controlled cross between the two species. The second experiment was a bulk mating in a 1:1 mixture of two isolates. The haploid chromosome number of the parental isolates was n = 18. Successful interspecific hybridization was obtained, and the resulting hybrids produced egg masses. In eggs, cell division was observed, but most of them were without clear differentiation and consequently were sterile. Hatched F(2) juveniles were small in number, not viable, and showed morphological distortions. In the progeny of the isolate mixture of the bulk mating experiment, parental-type females of the two isolates were present in equal numbers, and 10% of all females were nonviable hybrids. Similar ratios of parental-type and hybrid females were detected in roots of test plants grown in soil from a field sample that contained a mixture of M. chitwoodi and M. fallax populations. In the controlled cross experiment, isozyme electrophoresis of malate dehydrogenase was applied to distinguish the two species and their hybrids. In the bulk mating experiment, malate dehydrogenase, esterase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were used as markers, two by two simultaneously on the same individual females, providing conclusive evidence for the occurrence of hybrids. This is the first report on interspecific hybridization in Meloidogyne. The possible role of interspecific hybridization in species differentiation and interspecific exchange of genetic material within Meloidogyne is discussed.     

即使是健康的猪也会给养猪生产者带来麻烦

<正>在许多国家中,猪的健康和福利已经成为重要的话题,但养猪生产者自身受到的关注却很少。然而,养猪生产者中间的呼吸道疾病似乎是一种十分常见的现象,并且它们能够侵袭整个世界。这里有一些方法可以预防这些问题。用Jos Rooijackers自己的话来说,他最关心的是养猪生产者正处于两难的处境。他们的身体已经出现了很多生理症状,但一旦请医生检查却什么也没有发现。因此,医疗保险公司也不愿意进行理赔。对我而言,极其重要的是采取一些行动,要求相关部门对此类问题予以更多的关注。     

猪可以作为病毒更新的混合器

到目前为止,去年报道至少有两种新型病毒直接或间接影响到养猪业及猪肉产业。其中,2009年的新型A型流感病毒(H1N1)由于其引起短暂的贸易禁令和全世界的恐慌而备受关注。最近的研究揭示了该疾病的来源及危险性。     

接种疫苗有益于改善低死亡率的放线菌胸膜肺炎

意大利的田间试验表明,给猪接种预防胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae,App)的疫苗非常有效,即使在因该菌造成的猪只死亡率较低时仍能起到有效的免疫预防作用。免疫接种可提高多项生产参数,因而可提高经济效益。     

Liquid chromatographic multicomponent method for determination of residues of ipronidazole, ronidazole, and dimetridazole and some relevant metabolites in eggs, plasma, and feces and its use in depletion studies in laying hens

A simple, rapid liquid chromatographic (LC) method that uses UV/VIS detection has been developed for the determination in eggs of residues of the histomonostats dimetridazole (DMZ), ronidazole (RON), ipronidazole (IPR), and side-chain hydroxylated metabolites of DMZ and RON. Sample pretreatment includes an aqueous extraction, purification with an Extrelut cartridge, and acid partitioning with isooctane. An aliquot of the final aqueous extract is injected into a reverse-phase LC system; detection is performed at 313 nm. The limits of determination are in the 5-10 microgram/kg range. A UV/VIS spectrum can be obtained at the 10 microgram/kg level by using diode-array UV/VIS detection. Recoveries are between 80 and 98% with a coefficient of variation of about 5%. Some 20 samples can be analyzed per day. A side-chain hydroxylated metabolite of IPR can also be detected with this method, as demonstrated with samples from animal experiments. After a single oral dose of the drugs to laying hens, residues of the parent compound and/or the hydroxylated metabolites could be detected in eggs 5-8 days after dosing. Plasma distribution and excretion in feces were established both with and without deconjugation. DMZ and IPR were extensively metabolized to hydroxylated nitroimidazole metabolites; RON was excreted mainly as the parent compound.     

Physical characterization,spectral response and remotely sensed mapping of Mediterranean soil surface crusts

Soil surface crusting and sealing are frequent but unfavorable processes in Mediterranean areas. Soil crust and seals form on bare soil subject to high-intensity rainfall, resulting in a hard, impenetrable layer that impedes infiltration and hampers the germination and establishment of plants. The adverse consequences of overland flow and reduced fertility can lead to erosion and ongoing degradation. Therefore, information on the distribution of surface crusts and their physical properties is essential to combat the undesired effects of crust formation in e.g. soil erosion and soil compaction. We studied the occurrence of crusts in a study area in Mediterranean southern France. Our objectives were to compare the physical and hydrological properties of the crusts and underlying soil, to identify the spectral characteristics (400 to 2500 nm) of the crusted and non-crusted soil surfaces using high-resolution field spectra, and to investigate the potential of mapping crust occurrence using airborne, hyperspectral HyMap images. The differences in some physical properties between crusted and non-crusted surfaces are significant while others are only marginal. Crusting markedly reduces the infiltration capacity and crust strength varies between the different soil types. Spectral differences are small, mainly in albedo values (overall reflectance) and in absorption band depth and shape. Albedo differences range from 8 to 40%. Differences in absorption band features in the spectra of crusts and non-crusted surfaces are small. Sixty percent of the crusted soil surfaces showed stronger absorption features in the clay mineral absorption bands at 2200 nm than non-crusted soils. Increased absorption is due to a relative enrichment in fines. Spectral feature fitting and linear spectral unmixing algorithms were applied to airborne HyMap images to evaluate the possibilities of mapping surface crusts. Crusts could be mapped in fallow, agricultural fields, but the spectral response of natural badlands was too fragmented for crust mapping.     

Preliminary assay on the radical scavenging activity of olive wood extracts

The dichloromethane and ethanol extracts of Olea europaea wood (picual olive cultivar) were screened for antioxidant activity, determined by the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The ethanol extract displayed potent antioxidant activity.     

Ivermectin pharmacokinetics in lactating sheep.

Ivermectin (IVM) concentrations in plasma and milk were studied in six Istrian Pramenka dairy sheep after a single subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg/kg b.w. of IVM in the early lactation period to describe IVM disposition in milk and to evaluate the transfer of IVM residues via milk to suckling lambs. Large inter-animal in concentration variability of IVM in both matrices was observed. The highest overall concentration was found in the same animal: 21.7 microg/l of H(2)B(1a) in plasma on the second day and 44.9 microg/kg of H(2)B(1a) in milk on the first day after the drug was administered. The mean time in which IVM concentrations fell below the limit of detection for the whole ewe group was 22 and 23 days for plasma and milk, respectively. Time course of IVM concentration in milk was following the time course of IVM concentration in plasma, with an overall mean+/-S.D. of milk/plasma ratio of 1.67+/-0.50 for the first 7 days of the experiment. A mean of 0.7% of the dose was excreted through milk. Individual pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by fitting a one-compartment model to the milk and plasma concentration-time profiles. Mean t(max), c(max), t(1/2k(e)) and AUC values for plasma data were: 1.70+/-0.65 days, 11.88+/-6.96 microg/l, 2.85+/-1.97 days and 63.99+/-28.34 microg day/l, respectively, and for milk: 1.28+/-1.07 days, 22.67+/-18.27 microg/l, 3.56+/-2.01 days and 114.60+/-60.41 microg day/l, respectively. The highest level of concentration in suckling lamb plasma, 0.36 microg/l of H(2)B(1a), was slightly above the limit of determination. The mean lamb to ewe ratio of areas under the plasma concentration-time curve for the first 5 days was 0.02. On the basis of obtained results, it can therefore be claimed that indirect IVM exposure of the suckling lambs via milk was negligible.