Investigations on the aetiology of pinching off syndrome in four white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) from Germany.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the aetiology of the pinching off syndrome (POS), a generalized feather abnormality affecting free-living nestling of the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Europe. For the first time, extensive clinical, haematological, biochemical, virological, bacteriological, nutritional, histopathological, parasitological and electron microscopical examinations were performed on three females and one male suffering from POS. Early and increased cytokeratin formation at the base of regenerating feathers and their follicle was observed in affected birds.

The Toll-like receptor 7/8-ligand resiquimod (R-848) primes human neutrophils for leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2 and platelet-activating factor biosynthesis.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and play important roles in the innate immune system. While single-stranded viral RNA is the natural ligand of TLR7/TLR8, the imidazoquinoline resiquimod (R-848) is recognized as a potent synthetic agonist of TLR7/TLR8. We investigated the effects of TLR7/8 activation on lipid mediator production in polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to R-848.

Assessing the risk potential of porcine circoviruses for xenotransplantation: consensus primer-PCR-based search for a human circovirus.

Background: An important issue with respect to virus safety in xenotransplantation is the search for human analogues of porcine viruses, because transmission of a porcine virus followed by recombination with a related human virus may lead to a new emerging virus of unknown pathogenicity, host range and virulence. In case of circoviruses, two types of porcine circovirus (PCV1 and PCV2) are described, but the existence of an analogous human circovirus has not yet been investigated.

Methods: This study describes the analysis of human samples with a consensus primer-PCR approach designed to amplify conserved regions from the rep gene of circoviruses from the genus Circovirus.

S protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus mediates entry into hepatoma cell lines and is targeted by neutralizing antibodies in infected patients.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) causes severe pneumonia with a fatal outcome in approximately 10% of patients. SARS-CoV is not closely related to other coronaviruses but shares a similar genome organization. Entry of coronaviruses into target cells is mediated by the viral S protein.

Infection studies on human cell lines with porcine circovirus type 1 and porcine circovirus type 2.

Background: The lack of human donor organs in allotransplantation has led to a proposal for the use of porcine tissues and organs as alternative therapeutic material for humans. Besides immunological problems like graft rejection, one of the major concerns is the transmission of porcine microorganisms as viruses, bacteria and fungi to a human recipient.

Methods: Human cell lines have been infected with porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) to investigate whether PCV can infect and replicate in human epithelial cells and lymphocytes.

Molecular biology of Porcine circovirus: analyses of gene expression and viral replication.

The rep gene of Porcine circovirus type 1 directs the synthesis of two proteins. The full-length protein Rep is 312 amino acids in size, the spliced variant Rep' is truncated (168 aa) and exon 2 is frame-shifted. Replication of PCV1 DNA depends on synthesis of both proteins.

A method to diagnose Pigeon circovirus infection in vivo.

This study describes a method to detect in vivo Pigeon circovirus (PiCV, also called Columbid circovirus, CoCV) identified recently. Blood samples of healthy and diseased pigeons were investigated. DNA was isolated from a drop of blood spotted and dried on filter paper.