Comparison and differentiation of Wheat Yellow Mosaic Virus(WYMV), Wheat Spindle Streak Mosaic Virus (WSSMV) and Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV) isolates using WYMV monoclonal antibodies

Twelve monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were obtained by immunizing mice with a French isolate (F1) of wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV). Three of these (3D12, 2C1, 6C3) belong to the IgM class and the nine others to the IgG class (3D8, 3H1, 2B8, 1F2, 3C10, 4F12, 3H9, 1G5, 54). In antigen-coated plate (ACP) ELISA and indirect double antibody sandwich (IDAS) ELISA, all MAbs recognize the WYMV (F1) both in the form of purified particles and in wheat leaf extract. The analysis of numerous French isolates of WYMV shows a variable reactivity with MAbs 3D8, 3H1, 2B8, 3C10, 3H9 and 1G5 in IDAS — and ACP-ELISA. The Japanese isolate of WYMV and United States isolates of wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV) were detected in IDAS- and ACP-ELISA by ten of the MAbs tested showing that the wheat bymoviruses originating from the three locations share a high epitopic homology. French isolates of barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV; pathotypes 1 and 2) were only detected in ACP-ELISA with MAbs 6C3, 3D8, 3H1 and 2B8 whereas the two Japanese strains (I-1, II-1) of MaYMV were recognized with these and also with that of 3C10. In IDAS-ELISA, the two Japanese strains were clearly detected by MAbs, 6C3, 3D8, 3H1, 1F2, 3C10 and 1G5 and the British and Belgian (pathotype 2) isolates only by that of 6C3. Only the Japanese strain of BaYMV, 1-1 could be detected with MAb 3H9 in this ELISA system.     

Urate nephrolithiasis in a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).

Nephrolithiasis has rarely been reported in marine mammals. During 2004 and 2005, two cases of nephrolithiasis were diagnosed during routine necropsy examination, one in a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and one in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Nephroliths were found throughout both kidneys during necropsy examination, varying in size from 1-10 mm in diameter in the northern elephant seal and from 1-15 mm in diameter in the California sea lion. Necropsy and histopathology revealed nephroliths in association with renal pelvic dilation and pyelonephritis in both animals. In addition, hydronephrosis was noted in the sea lion. Nephroliths were composed of uric acid and ammonium urate in the northern elephant seal and of ammonium urate in the California sea lion. The underlying disease leading to nephrolith formation was not determined; however, it is hypothesized that unknown metabolic derangements due to morphologic or physiologic differences may have played a role. This is the first report of urate nephrolithiasis in the California sea lion and northern elephant seal.     

Pacific approaches to fundraising in the digital age: COVID-19, resilience and community relational economic practices

The aim of this paper is to discuss how community relational economic practices in virtual spaces are effective in building resilience because they are borne of and sustained by familiar traditional Fijian values of collective work and social interdependence. The researchers adopted a pandemic-induced methodology, conducting online-based talanoa (fluid conversations between two or more people) with a number of people leading, or involved in, these initiatives. We also engaged with online community groups behind a number of initiatives. Examples are provided of online crowdfunding, livestreaming of concerts to solicit donations, and bartering facilitated by social media sites. To conclude, we stress the enduring nature of communal bonds and traditional systems which Pacific people readily adapt and translate into different forums and forms in the face of challenges such as the restrictions and financial hardships caused by COVID-19. The findings highlight that solesolevaki – a tradition of working together for a common cause – can also occur in the digital era: this demonstrates the deep connection of Fijian peoples and their sense of obligation to one another and to their culture, regardless of where they are in the world.     

French vineyards provide information that opens ways for effective resistance management of Botrytis cinerea (grey mould)

Resistance to fungicides is an evolutionary process resulting from the selection of advantageous genotypes in naturally diverse populations. Seven fungicide modes of action are authorised to control grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea on grapevine in France, and five of them have encountered specific resistance, with variable frequencies in populations and possible consequences for field fungicide efficacy. Moreover, multidrug resistance is caused by fungicide efflux and allows a weak resistance towards six unrelated modes of action. Here, a review is given of the fungicide resistance status of B. cinerea in France, particularly in the vineyards of Champagne, which are the most affected. Recently developed resistance and recent findings concerning the associated resistance mechanisms are focused upon in particular. Finally, antiresistance strategies are presented, and examples of managed resistance are discussed in a more general manner with the aim of extending this knowledge to other crops and countries undergoing similar resistance problems. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

NMR Analyses of the Enzymatic Degradation End-Products of Diabolican: The Secreted EPS of Vibrio diabolicus CNCM I-1629

Diabolican, or HE800, is an exopolysaccharide secreted by the non-pathogenic Gram-negative marine bacterium Vibrio diabolicus (CNCM I-1629). This polysaccharide was enzymatically degraded by the Bacteroides cellulosilyticus WH2 hyaluronan lyase. The end products were purified by size-exclusion chromatography and their structures were analyzed in depth by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The oligosaccharide structures confirmed the possible site of cleavage of the enzyme showing plasticity in the substrate recognitions. The production of glycosaminoglycan-mimetic oligosaccharides of defined molecular weight and structure opens new perspectives in the valorization of the marine polysaccharide diabolican.     

Microbial community development and unseen diversity recovery in inoculated sterile soil

Soil is considered as one of the most biodiverse environments on Earth; yet, the taxonomy, occurrence, and role of its different microbial populations are largely unknown. Here, two sterilized soils (from England and Italy) were inoculated with a subsample of their initial microbial communities and/or those from the other soil to study their microbial community evolution. This approach compared two driving factors (original community and soil physico-chemical characteristics) for microbial community definition. After 2 months of incubation and based on metagenomic datasets, the two inoculated communities (from an English grassland and an Italian forest) possessed similar functional and taxonomical structures when inoculated in the same sterile soil. For example, the newly colonized Italian soil was dominated by Actinobacteria related organisms (>66 % of the detected community) with a functional distribution independent of the inoculated soil origin. In addition, some of the organisms that dominated the different inoculated communities after 2 months were similar for a given sterile soil whether they came from the English grassland or the Italian forest, and they had not been detected in the original microbial community from either soil. Thus, similar microorganisms with low representation from the two distinct communities emerged in each sterilized soil, thus increasing the microbial diversity recovered from the microbial community of the donor soil. So far, these observations support the idea that different temperate soil microbial communities have different evenness due to environmental physico-chemical variations, yet have similar community composition (richness), and thus develop similarly when colonizing the same habitat.     

Laparoscopic-assisted colopexy and sterilization in male dogs: short-term results and physiologic consequences

Objective: To describe laparoscopic‐assisted colopexy and sterilization, and evaluate outcome and effects in healthy male dogs. Study Design: Experimental study. Animals: Male Beagle dogs (n=7). Methods: A laparoscopic‐assisted, extracorporeally sutured colopexy, and sterilization by ligation and section of the testicular vessels and ductus deferens were evaluated 11 weeks after surgery. Ex vivo tensile tests were performed on the colopexy sites and loss of testicular function was assessed by monitoring serum testosterone, and by ultrasonographic and histologic examinations of the testes. Systemic inflammation and potential iatrogenic colonic functional disorders were investigated by monitoring serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) in the perioperative period and from a sulfapyridine (SP) kinetic profile obtained before and 10 weeks after surgery. Results: No intraoperative complications were recorded and clinical outcome was considered fair in all dogs. A mean tensile force of 42 N was required to disrupt colopexies. No relevant postoperative increase in CRP concentrations or changes in SP kinetics were observed. Testicular function was lost. Conclusions: Laparoscopic‐assisted colopexy achieved adhesion of the colon to the abdominal wall and testicular endocrine function and spermatogenesis were eliminated by laparoscopic castration.     

Increased responsiveness to dietary lysine deficiency of pectoralis major muscle protein turnover in broilers selected on breast development

It has been previously established that growth and carcass qualities of chicks are modified by genotype and dietary amino acid supply. In this study, we evaluated the effects of lysine deficiency and genetic selection on muscle protein metabolism. Chicks originating from an experimental line selected for breast development (QL) and its control line (CL) were provided ad libitum access to isoenergetic diets containing 20% crude protein but differing in their lysine content (0.75 or 1.01%). Protein fractional synthesis rates (FSR) were measured in vivo in the pectoralis major and sartorius muscles of 3-wk-old chickens (flooding dose of [3H]phenylalanine). Fractional breakdown rates (FBR) were estimated as the difference between synthesis and deposition. Lysine deficiency reduced (P < 0.001) growth performance and muscle weights and increased (P < 0.05) muscle FSR, capacity for protein synthesis (muscle RNA:Protein, Cs) and FBR. Although QL birds grew faster and had heavier pectoralis major muscles than CL birds (P < 0.05), there was no line difference in sartorius weight (P = 0.15). No difference between the lines was observed in sartorius protein metabolism (P > 0.14). In the pectoralis major muscle, chicks of both lines receiving an adequate lysine intake also exhibited similar protein turnover rates. However, in chicks fed the lysine-deficient (0.75% lysine) diet, FSR and Cs were higher in QL than in CL chicks (P < 0.05), and FBR tended (P = 0.07) to be higher in QL chicks. This increased protein turnover in the QL birds on the lysine-deficient diet suggests that the responsiveness of muscle protein metabolism to amino acid supply is modified by genetic selection for breast development.