Neethling Strain-Based Homologous Live Attenuated LSDV Vaccines Provide Protection Against Infection with a Clade 2.5 Recombinant LSDV Strain.

Background: Vaccination is the main control measure to prevent Lumpy skin disease (LSD), and Neethling-based homologous vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective against infection with classical clade 1.2 strains. In 2017, recombinant clade 2 LSDV strains originating from a badly produced and insufficiently controlled vaccine were first detected in Russia.

Sheeppox virus genome sequences from the European outbreaks in Spain, Bulgaria, and Greece in 2022-2024.

In 2022-2024, three outbreaks of sheeppox (SPP) were reported in the European Union. These occurred in Spain, Bulgaria, and Greece and had serious economic consequences due to animal losses and trade restrictions. Five sheeppox virus (SPPV) whole-genome sequences (WGSs) were determined from samples collected during these outbreaks and analyzed in the context of all other published WGSs.

Phenological mismatches mitigate the ecological impact of a biological invader on amphibian communities.

Horizon scans have emerged as a valuable tool to anticipate the incoming invasive alien species (IAS) by judging species on their potential impacts. However, little research has been conducted on quantifying actual impacts and assessing causes of species-specific vulnerabilities to particular IAS due to persistent methodological challenges. The underlying interspecific mechanisms driving species-specific vulnerabilities therefore remain poorly understood, even though they can substantially improve the accuracy of risk assessments.

Nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities: A metatranscriptomic approach.

Marine sediments cover 70% of the Earth's surface, and harbour diverse bacterial communities critical for marine biogeochemical processes, which affect climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Nematodes, the most abundant and species-rich metazoan organisms in marine sediments, in turn, affect benthic bacterial communities and bacterial-mediated ecological processes, but the underlying mechanisms by which they affect biogeochemical cycles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate using a metatranscriptomic approach that nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities.

Correction: Haegeman et al. Looking beyond Virus Detection in RNA Sequencing Data: Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Effort to Detect Cellular Plant Pathogens and Pests. 2023, , 2139.

In the original publication [...

Detection of f.sp. race 1 and 4 via race-specific real-time PCR and target enrichment.

f.sp. (Fol) causes a vascular disease in lettuce that results in significant yield losses.

Complete genome reconstruction of the global and European regional dispersal history of the lumpy skin disease virus.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) has a complex epidemiology involving multiple strains, recombination, and vaccination. Its DNA genome provides limited genetic variation to trace outbreaks in space and time. Sequencing of LSDV whole genomes has also been patchy at global and regional scales.

The effect of maternal supply of rumen-protected protein to Holstein Friesian cows during the dry period on the transfer of passive immunity and colostral microbial composition.

The objective of this study was to analyze if maternal supply of rumen-protected protein during the dry period can affect the IgG concentration and microbial composition of colostrum and the IgG absorption and fecal microbial composition in the calf. Seventy-four multiparous Holstein Friesian (HF) dairy cows were stratified per parity and randomly assigned to one of 2 different dry period diets, a diet with a low crude protein (CP) level (LP) and a diet with a high CP level (HP) by addition of rumen-undegraded protein (RUP; formaldehyde-treated soybean meal, Mervobest, Nuscience, Drongen, Belgium). Colostrum was collected within 1 h after calving and IgG concentration was quantified by radial immunodiffusion analysis.

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in virus genomes assembled from high-throughput sequencing data: large-scale performance testing of sequence analysis strategies.

Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies and bioinformatics have drastically changed research in virology, especially for virus discovery. Indeed, proper monitoring of the viral population requires information on the different isolates circulating in the studied area. For this purpose, HTS has greatly facilitated the sequencing of new genomes of detected viruses and their comparison.

Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Genome Sequence Analysis: Putative Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, Single Gene versus Whole Genome Phylogeny and Genomic Evolution.

is a poxvirus from the genus that mainly affects bovines and it causes severe economic losses to livestock holders. The is currently dispersing in Asia, but little is known about detailed phylogenetic relations between the strains and genome evolution. We reconstructed a whole-genome-sequence (WGS)-based phylogeny and compared it with single-gene-based phylogenies.

Identification and characterization of CYP71 subclade cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of bitterness compounds in .

Industrial chicory ( var. ) and witloof ( var. ) are crops with an important economic value, mainly cultivated for inulin production and as a leafy vegetable, respectively.

Industrial chicory genome gives insights into the molecular timetable of anther development and male sterility.

Industrial chicory ( var. ) is a biannual crop mostly cultivated for extraction of inulin, a fructose polymer used as a dietary fiber. F1 hybrid breeding is a promising breeding strategy in chicory but relies on stable male sterile lines to prevent self-pollination.

Evidence of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Transmission from Subclinically Infected Cattle by .

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a vector-transmitted capripox virus that causes disease in cattle. flies are considered to be important vectors as they are able to transmit viruses from cattle with the typical LSDV skin nodules to naive cattle. No conclusive data are, however, available concerning the role of subclinically or preclinically infected cattle in virus transmission.

Looking beyond Virus Detection in RNA Sequencing Data: Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Effort to Detect Cellular Plant Pathogens and Pests.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS), more specifically RNA sequencing of plant tissues, has become an indispensable tool for plant virologists to detect and identify plant viruses. During the data analysis step, plant virologists typically compare the obtained sequences to reference virus databases. In this way, they are neglecting sequences without homologies to viruses, which usually represent the majority of sequencing reads.

Development and Validation of a New DIVA Real-Time PCR Allowing to Differentiate Wild-Type Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Strains, Including the Asian Recombinant Strains, from Neethling-Based Vaccine Strains.

The current epidemic in Asia, driven by LSDV recombinants, poses difficulties to existing DIVA PCR tests, as these do not differentiate between homologous vaccine strains and the recombinant strains. We, therefore, developed and validated a new duplex real-time PCR capable of differentiating Neethling-based vaccine strains from classical and recombinant wild-type strains that are currently circulating in Asia. The DIVA potential of this new assay, seen in the in silico evaluation, was confirmed on samples from LSDV infected and vaccinated animals and on isolates of LSDV recombinants (n = 12), vaccine (n = 5), and classic wild-type strains (n = 6).

Using environmental DNA metabarcoding to monitor fish communities in small rivers and large brooks: Insights on the spatial scale of information.

Monitoring fish communities is central to the evaluation of ecological health of rivers. Both presence/absence of fish species and their relative quantity in local fish assemblages are crucial parameters to measure. Fish communities in lotic systems are traditionally monitored via electrofishing, characterized by a known limited efficiency and high survey costs.

Phylogeography and population structure of the global, wide host-range hybrid pathogen Phytophthora × cambivora.

Invasive, exotic plant pathogens pose a major threat to native and agricultural ecosystems. Phytophthora × cambivora is an invasive, destructive pathogen of forest and fruit trees causing severe damage worldwide to chestnuts (Castanea), apricots, peaches, plums, almonds and cherries (Prunus), apples (Malus), oaks (Quercus), and beech (Fagus). It was one of the first damaging invasive Phytophthora species to be introduced to Europe and North America, although its origin is unknown.

Duration of Immunity Induced after Vaccination of Cattle with a Live Attenuated or Inactivated Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Vaccine.

Vaccines have proven themselves as an efficient way to control and eradicate lumpy skin disease (LSD). In addition to the safety and efficacy aspects, it is important to know the duration for which the vaccines confer protective immunity, as this impacts the design of an efficient control and eradication program. We evaluated the duration of immunity induced by a live attenuated vaccine (LSDV LAV) and an inactivated vaccine (LSDV Inac), both based on LSDV.

Recombinant LSDV Strains in Asia: Vaccine Spillover or Natural Emergence?

From 2017 to 2019, several vaccine-like recombinant strains of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) were discovered in Kazakhstan and neighbouring regions of Russia and China. Shortly before their emergence, the authorities in Kazakhstan launched a mass vaccination campaign with the Neethling-based Lumpivax vaccine. Since none of the other countries in the affected region had used a homologous LSDV vaccine, it was soon suspected that the Lumpivax vaccine was the cause of these unusual LSDV strains.

Exploring the microbial composition of Holstein Friesian and Belgian Blue colostrum in relation to the transfer of passive immunity.

For centuries, multicellular organisms have lived in symbiosis with microorganisms. The interaction with microorganisms has been shown to be very beneficial for humans and animals. During a natural birth, the initial inoculation with bacteria occurs when the neonate passes through the birth canal.

Orbivirus Screening from Imported Captive Oryx in the United Arab Emirates Stresses the Importance of Pre-Import and Transit Measures.

From 1975 to 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imported more than 1300 live Arabian oryxes (AOs) and scimitar-horned oryxes (SHOs) for conservation programs. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of orbiviruses Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in AOs and SHOs from captive herds in the UAE. Between October 2014 and April 2015, 16 AOs and 13 SHOs originating from Texas (USA) and 195 out of about 4000 SHOs from two locations in the UAE were blood sampled to be tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays.

Outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Burundi, East Africa, in 2016, Caused by Different Serotypes.

Burundi is a small, densely populated country in the African Great Lakes region. In March 2016, several hundreds of cattle were reported with vesicular lesions, suggesting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Epithelial samples, saliva, and blood were collected in six of the affected provinces spread over the country.

Identification of diffusion routes of O/EA-3 topotype of foot-and-mouth disease virus in Africa and Western Asia between 1974 and 2019 - a phylogeographic analysis.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affects the livestock industry and socioeconomic sustainability of many African countries. The success of FMD control programs in Africa depends largely on understanding the dynamics of FMD virus (FMDV) spread. In light of the recent outbreaks of FMD that affected the North-Western African countries in 2018 and 2019, we investigated the evolutionary phylodynamics of the causative serotype O viral strains all belonging to the East-Africa 3 topotype (O/EA-3).

A robust, cost-effective and widely applicable whole-genome sequencing protocol for capripoxviruses.

The diseases caused by capripoxviruses (CaPVs) are of major economic concern in sheep, goat and cattle as they are inexorably spreading into non-endemic regions. As CaPV strains are serologically indistinguishable and genetically highly homologous, typing closely related strains can only be achieved by whole genome sequencing. Unfortunately the number of publicly available genomes remains low as most sequencing methods rely on virus isolation.