A new inactivated BVDV genotype I and II vaccine. An immunisation and challenge study with BVDV genotype I

An inactivated vaccine containing BVDV I and II strains (PT810; BVDV I, and 890; BVDV II) and using different adjuvants and antigen dosages was tested in a cattle challenge model. Groups of six healthy, seronegative cattle were vaccinated twice with a low dose (10(6.6) TCID(50) PT810 and 10(7.2) TCID(50) 890) vaccine with the adjuvant Bay R1005 or a high dose (10(7.8) TCID(50) PT810 and 10(8. 2) TCID(50) 890) vaccine with two different adjuvants (Bay R1005 or Polygen). Thirty-eight days after the second vaccination, immunised animals (n=18) and non-vaccinated control animals (n=3) were challenged intranasally with 10(6) TCID(50) BVDV strain PT810. For a period of 16 days, virus was isolated from blood leukocytes and nasal swabs, and neutralising antibody titres were determined.The induction of antibodies following immunisation was strongly dependent on the antigen dosage in the vaccine. The high dose formulation induced high serum neutralising antibody titres against both genotypes of up to 32000 after the second immunisation. Animals with neutralising antibody titres >512 (n=14) did not show any marked leukopenia after challenge and only very little or no virus could be isolated from blood leukocytes and/or nasal swabs when compared to control cattle. Furthermore, some of these animals did not show any boost of neutralising or even NS3-specific antibodies, which renders viral replication unlikely and thus would prevent infection of the fetus. Both adjuvants (Bay R1005 or Polygen) were similarly efficient and induced nearly identical antibody responses. In contrast, four of the six low dosage vaccinates had a marked leukopenia and viraemia as well as detectable nasal virus shedding for several days.We conclude that the selected strains and the system of vaccine preparation with high BVDV antigen dosages and highly efficient new adjuvants provide an effective means of protection against BVDV I infections. Investigations to demonstrate the protection against BVDV II infections, the duration of immunity and the ability of fetal protection by using the high dose vaccine in a fetal challenge model will follow.     

Selection of BVDV genotype II isolates using a monoclonal antibody and FACS analysis]

The infection of cattle with the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in Germany is gaining attention and guidelines for the "protection of cattle farms against BVDV infections" were passed in 1997. New investigations about the damages induced by BVDV infections as well as the new occurrence of so-called BVDV genotypes (BVDV I and II) made the problems to become aware. The newly described BVDV genotype considerably differs both genetically and antigenetically from the up to now known BVD-viruses (BVDV I). The subdivision in BVDV genotypes I and II is based on genomic differences, which are determined by sequence analyses of different parts of the viral genome. Here, we describe the classification of BVDV in genotypes using a monoclonal antibody and indirect immunofluorescence with flow cytometry (FACS) based analysis. The suitability of the mab WB160 (Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge; UK) for the classification of both BVDV-genotypes was first checked using genetically defined BVDV isolates. While all BVDV I isolates (n = 20) reacted with high fluorescence signals, the mab WB160 could not detect any of the defined BVDV II isolates (n = 20). Subsequently, 505 BVDV field strains isolated between 1993-1997 were screened for both genotypes using the mab WB160 and FACS analysis. 33 (6.5%) of the BVDV isolates were classified as BVDV II.     

A new Leptographium species from the roots of declining Pinus sylvestris in Switzerland

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees have been declining in the Rhône valley, Switzerland, for almost three decades. In an assessment of the role of fungi in this syndrome, the dominant fungus isolated from stained roots was a Leptographium species, morphologically similar to the asexual state of Grosmannia serpens. We examined isolates of this fungus based on DNA sequences of four protein‐coding genes including actin, β‐tubulin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor‐1 alpha. The results showed that they were of a distinct, undescribed taxon related to species in the Grosmannia serpens and G. wageneri complexes. The fungus, described here as Leptographium rhodanense sp. nov., resembles other species in the two species complexes morphologically, and most probably ecologically, as is suggested by the fact that it was isolated from stained pine roots.     

Effect of species variation and processing on phenolic composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Cyclopia spp. (Honeybush Tea)

The in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts prepared from four Cyclopia spp. (unfermented and fermented) was assessed using radical (ABTS *+) scavenging, ferric ion reduction, and inhibition of Fe2+-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation as criteria. Aqueous extracts of unfermented and fermented Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and Camellia sinensis teas (green, oolong, and black) were included as reference samples. Qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic composition were demonstrated for the Cyclopia spp. The xanthone glycoside, a.k.a. mangiferin, was the major monomeric polyphenol present in the Cyclopia extracts, with both unfermented and fermented C. genistoides extracts containing the highest quantities. Fermentation resulted in a significant reduction in extract yields and their total polyphenolic and individual polyphenol contents. Unfermented plant material should preferentially be used for preparation of extracts, as fermentation significantly ( P < 0.05) lowered antioxidant activity of all species, except in the case of C. genistoides, where the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation was not affected. Unfermented plant material also retained the highest concentration of mangiferin. Overall, extracts of unfermented Cyclopia were either of similar or lower antioxidant activity as compared to the other teas. However, the presence of high levels of mangiferin merits the use of Cyclopia spp. and, in particular, C. genistoides, as an alternative herbal tea and potential dietary supplement.     

Soil respiration across scales: The importance of a model–data integration framework for data interpretation

Soil respiration represents the second largest CO₂ flux of the terrestrial biosphere and amounts 10 times higher than the current rate of fossil‐fuel combustion. Thus, even a small change in soil respiration could significantly intensify—or mitigate—current atmospheric increases of CO₂, with potential feedbacks to climate change. Consequently, to understand future dynamics of the earth system, it is mandatory to precisely understand the response of soil respiration to changing environmental factors. Among those changing factors, temperature is the one with clearest and most certain future trend. The relationship of soil respiration to environmental factors and particular temperature has been tackled at a variety of scales—from laboratory via field to global scale, with each of the approaches having its particular problems, where results from different scales are sometimes contradictory. Here, we give an overview of modeling approaches to soil respiration, discuss the dependencies of soil respiration on various environmental factors, and summarize the most important pitfalls to consider when analyzing soil respiration at the respective scale. We then introduce a model–data synthesis framework that should be able to reconcile and finally integrate apparently contradictory results from the various scales.