Einfluß von Zwei- und Dreischichttonmineralen auf die Dehydrogenase-, saure Phosphatase- und Urease-Aktivität in Modellversuchen

Influence of two- and three-layered clay minerals on the Dehydrogenase-, acid Phosphatase and Urease Activity in model experiments The influence of different Ca-homo-ionic clay minerals as well as humic acid (Roth) on the dehydrogenase activity (DHA) as well as on urease and acid phosphatase were examined in model experiments. The following results were obtained: 1. The DHA of a fertile soil and the activity of urease and acid-phosphatase decreased remarkably and specifically with increasing amounts of sorbents. Generally speaking, inactivation was complete at approximately 0.6 g of each additive. Both urease- and acid phosphatase activity were inactivated specifically. The inactivation of urease decreased in the sequence humic acid < montmorillonite < illite < pyrophyllite < halloysite < kaolinite < bentonite, whereas the following order of succession pyrophyllite < montmorillonite < bentonite < halloysite < kaolinite < illite was recorded with acid phosphatase. The yellow colour of humic acid excluded it from experiments with acid phosphatase. 2. No relationship could be found between the degree of inactivation and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) or the total surface area of the clays. However, nearly the same sequence of inactivation with the three enzyme systems was revealed, if their activity was related to the specific surface charge of the clay minerals. Apparently, both the total surface area as well as CEC are involved in the specific sorption of cells and enzymes. The possible mechanisms of sorption on clay surfaces are discussed.     

Life cycle of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

We examined exogenous and endogenous development of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Our examination included data on morphology, localization, duration of schizogony and gametogony and morphology of sporulated oocysts. The endogenous stages of E. procera developed in large numbers within the epithelial cells of caecal crypts. The asexual development comprised three generations of schizonts. The first fully developed macrogametes and microgamonts were observed on Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in histologic section. The patent period began on Day 6 p.i. and ended on Day 11 p.i. with peak production of oocysts on Days 7 and 8. Long oval oocysts of E. procera measured 25.78–28.13 μm in length and 14.06–15.24 μm in width, sporulation time ranged from 18 to 24 h at 25°C and from 36 to 48 h at 20°C.     

Role of adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in mtDNA maintenance

Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a rare human disease that shows a Mendelian inheritance pattern, but is characterized by large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. We have identified two heterozygous missense mutations in the nuclear gene encoding the heart/skeletal muscle isoform of the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT1) in five families and one sporadic patient. The familial mutation substitutes a proline for a highly conserved alanine at position 114 in the ANT1 protein. The analogous mutation in yeast caused a respiratory defect. These results indicate that ANT has a role in mtDNA maintenance and that a mitochondrial disease can be caused by a dominant mechanism.     

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of granulosa cells during different stages of folliculogenesis in bovine ovaries

Bovine granulosa cells (GC) vary in their morphological aspect during different stages of folliculogenesis. In this study, 10 morphologically normal bovine ovaries were collected to study the structural aspects of different stages of GC using intermediate filament protein antibodies including cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (AE1/AE3), vimentin, nectin‐4 and desmin. Hormonal immunolocalization was assessed using the immunomarkers anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin alpha. In addition, tumour markers and proliferation markers using c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively, were investigated. The immunolabelling of AE1/AE3 in GC was strongest in the early follicle stage and gradually decreased when reaching the Graafian follicle stage. Its immunolabelling increased again as the stage progressed from stage I to stage III. The immunolabelling of inhibin alpha was inversely proportional to that of AE1/AE3 in the developing ovarian follicles as their immunolabelling is opposite to each other during folliculogenesis. AMH was immunopositive in almost all GC stages in different intensities and percentages, except for some negative staining in the atretic IV follicles. The atretic IV follicle is a unique type of atretic follicle that shows Call‐Exner body formation, which was mainly found in older cows in this study. The distinct patterns of immunoreactivity for various types of immunomarkers in the different GC stages will play an important role in diagnostic assistance of various follicle conditions, including cystic ovaries and GC tumours.     

Role of wild ruminants in the epidemiology of bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4 and 8 in Spain

ABSTRACT: Although the importance of wild ruminants as potential reservoirs of bluetongue virus (BTV) has been suggested, the role played by these species in the epidemiology of BT in Europe is still unclear. We carried out a serologic and virologic survey to assess the role of wild ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of BTV in Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2006 and 2010.A total of 473 out of 1339 (35.3%) wild ruminants analyzed showed antibodies against BTV by both ELISA and serum neutralization test (SNT). The presence of neutralizing antibodies to BTV-1 and BTV-4 were detected in the four species analyzed (red deer, roe deer, fallow deer and mouflon), while seropositivity against BTV-8 was found in red deer, fallow deer and mouflon but not in roe deer. Statistically significant differences were found among species, ages and sampling regions. BTV RNA was detected in twenty-one out of 1013 wild ruminants (2.1%) tested. BTV-1 and BTV-4 RNA were confirmed in red deer and mouflon by specific rRT-PCR.BTV-1 and BTV-4 seropositive and RNA positive wild ruminants, including juveniles and sub-adults, were detected years after the last outbreak was reported in livestock. In addition, between the 2008/2009 and the 2010/2011 hunting seasons, the seroprevalence against BTV-1, BTV-4 and BTV-8 increased in the majority of provinces, and these serotypes were detected in many areas where BTV outbreaks were not reported in domestic ruminants. The results indicate that wild ruminants seem to be implicated in the dissemination and persistence of BTV in Spain.     

Early detection of viral excretion from experimentally infected goats with peste-des-petits ruminants virus

We observed 15 goats for 9 days after subcutaneous infection with 10(3) TCID(50) with isolates of peste-des-petits ruminants virus from Africa and India and five concurrent, uninfected control goats. Typical clinical signs of the infection were present in all 15 infected goats by day 8 and in most by day 6 and some signs were present by day 4. However, 6 out of 15 goats already have detectable virus shedding by day 3 and four more were shedding by day 4 and every goat had virus shedding for at least 1 day before the recognition of clinical signs. This experiment indicates that incubatory carriers therefore might play a role in the transmission of PPRV among small ruminants.     

Regeneration of fertile doubled haploid plants from colchicine-supplemented media in wheat anther culture

The effect of colchicine added to induction medium for the production of fertile doubled haploid plants after in‐vitro anther culture was studied in wheat, Triticum aestivum L. For this, one winter and two spring wheat varieties were used. Anther cultures of the three genotypes were treated with 0.03% colchicine for 3 days at the beginning of microspore induction. Colchicine had no significant effect on anther response and embryoid production of the genotypes examined. However, in the winter wheat genotype ‘Mv Szigma’, colchicine caused a significant reduction in microspore‐derived structures. A significant decrease was also observed in plant regeneration ability of two genotypes (‘Vergina’ and ‘Acheloos’) after colchicine treatment. In addition, a significant reduction of the albinos produced was observed in all genotypes after olchicine treatment. In contrast, the regenerants obtained from the colchicine‐supplemented induction media produced significantly higher percentages of fertile plants in all genotypes. However, the level of fertility, was significantly different among the fertile plants obtained. This, together with the observation that in the case of the winter wheat variety the colchicine treatment resulted in 100% completely fertile plants with a high seed‐setting ability indicate that there is space for further improvement of the method when it is applied to spring cultivars. Finally, the increased number of seeds per 100 plated anthers obtained from all three genotypes after colchicine treatment, clearly demonstrates that the addition of colchicine to induction medium was superior to the conventional anther culture method and it could therefore be introduced into wheat breeding programmes.     

Effects of plant sulfur nutrition on acrylamide and aroma compounds in cooked wheat

Wheat flour from plants deficient in sulfur has been shown to contain substantially higher levels of free amino acids, particularly asparagine and glutamine, than flour from wheat grown where sulfur nutrition was sufficient. Elevated levels of asparagine resulted in acrylamide levels up to 6 times higher in sulfur-deprived wheat flour, compared with sulfur-sufficient wheat flour, for three varieties of winter wheat. The volatile compounds from flour, heated at 180 degrees C for 20 min, have been compared for these three varieties of wheat grown with and without sulfur fertilizer. Approximately 50 compounds were quantified in the headspace extracts of the heated flour; over 30 compounds were affected by sulfur fertilization, and 15 compounds were affected by variety. Unsaturated aldehydes formed from aldol condensations, Strecker aldehydes, alkylpyrazines, and low molecular weight alkylfurans were found at higher concentrations in the sulfur-deficient flour, whereas low molecular weight pyrroles and thiophenes and sugar breakdown products were found at higher concentrations in the sulfur-sufficient flour. The reasons for these differences and the relationship between acrylamide formation and aroma volatile formation are discussed.