Iron biofortification in four non-heterotic red sweet cultivars of bell pepper.

The present work investigated the effects of iron (Fe) chelate soil application on the nutritional quality of fruits from four non-heterotic red sweet bell cultivars of pepper. The results showed that soil application of Fe-HBED (25-100 µmol Fe·kg soil) caused an increase in the Fe content (up to ca. 70 %) in the fruits of 'Mercedes' and 'Robertina' without a decrease in fruit quality.

"Iron chlorosis paradox" in calcicoles and calcifuges from European dry grasslands: A meta-analysis.

Iron (Fe) deficiency-related chlorosis (lime chlorosis) and the "paradox of iron chlorosis" in calcicole and calcifuge plants are unresolved problems. We performed a meta-analysis of our previous studies to determine whether calcicoles are more resistant to lime chlorosis than calcifuges are, whether lime chlorosis is Fe chlorosis per se and what is the source of the "paradox of iron chlorosis" in grassland plants. We found that both calcicoles and calcifuges are susceptible to chlorosis when grown on alkaline soil.

Lethal Borna disease virus 1 infections of humans and animals - in-depth molecular epidemiology and phylogeography.

Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) is the causative agent of Borna disease, a fatal neurologic disorder of domestic mammals and humans, resulting from spill-over infection from its natural reservoir host, the bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon). The known BoDV-1-endemic area is remarkably restricted to parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. To gain comprehensive data on its occurrence, we analysed diagnostic material from suspected BoDV-1-induced encephalitis cases based on clinical and/or histopathological diagnosis.

Experimental investigation of the responses of meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris L.) to sodic salinity and its implications for habitat monitoring.

Ranunculus acris L. is a native species widely distributed throughout Europe and is invasive in nonnative areas, causing substantial economic losses in pasture productivity. The present study examined the effects of sodic salinity on the growth and functioning of this species.

MERS-CoV Found in Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019.

The main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here, we present a study performed at three different locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving 215 dromedary camels () and the ticks attached to them.

Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Wild Rodents, United Arab Emirates, 2019-A Pilot Study.

The majority of emerging viral infectious diseases in humans originate from wildlife reservoirs, such as rodents and bats. We investigated a possible reservoir, namely wild gerbils and mice trapped in a desert reserve within the emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In total, 52 gerbils and 1 jird (Gerbillinae), 10 house mice (), and 1 Arabian spiny mouse () were sampled.

Peptidomic analysis of the host-defense peptides in skin secretions of the Amazon River frog Lithobates palmipes (Ranidae).

Skin secretions of certain frog species represent a source of host-defense peptides (HDPs) with therapeutic potential and their primary structures provide insight into taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. Peptidomic analysis was used to characterize the HDPs in norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from the Amazon River frog Lithobates palmipes (Ranidae) collected in Trinidad. A total of ten peptides were purified and identified on the basis of amino acid similarity as belonging to the ranatuerin-2 family (ranatuerin-2PMa, -2PMb, -2PMc, and-2PMd), the brevinin-1 family (brevinin-1PMa, -1PMb, -1PMc and des(8-14)brevinin-1PMa) and the temporin family (temporin-PMa in C-terminally amidated and non-amidated forms).

Vaccination against Borna Disease: Overview, Vaccine Virus Characterization and Investigation of Live and Inactivated Vaccines.

(1) Background: Vaccination of horses and sheep against Borna disease (BD) was common in endemic areas of Germany in the 20th century but was abandoned in the early 1990s. The recent occurrence of fatal cases of human encephalitis due to Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) has rekindled the interest in vaccination. (2) Methods: The full genomes of the BD live vaccine viruses "Dessau" and "Giessen" were sequenced and analyzed for the first time.

The diversity of iron acquisition strategies of calcifuge plant species from dry acidic grasslands.

Although the calcifuge plant species existing in dry acidic grasslands are believed to be prone to iron (Fe)-dependent limitations, little is known about their susceptibility and reaction to pH-dependent Fe starvation. Therefore, the present study examines the effects of contrasting soils (acidic Podzol vs alkaline Rendzina) and Fe supplementation (Fe-HBED) on alkaline substratum (5 and 25 μmol Fe-HBED kg soil). Five calcifuge dicotyledonous plant species (Alyssum montanum L.

Acidity and availability of aluminum, iron and manganese as factors affecting germination in European acidic dry and alkaline xerothermic grasslands.

Germination ecology of 10 species from acidic dry grasslands and 10 species from alkaline xerothermic grasslands was studied. The seeds were subjected to different pH, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and aluminum (Al) treatments under controlled conditions. Effects of ionic (chlorides) and chelated forms (HBED chelates) of Fe and Mn were also compared.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Past Infections Are Associated with Two Innate Immune Response Candidate Genes in Dromedaries.

Dromedaries are an important livestock, used as beasts of burden and for meat and milk production. However, they can act as an intermediate source or vector for transmitting zoonotic viruses to humans, such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). After several outbreaks of CCHFV in the Arabian Peninsula, recent studies have demonstrated that CCHFV is endemic in dromedaries and camel ticks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Reactions of two xeric-congeneric species of (Asteraceae) to soils with different pH values and iron availability.

L. and Tausch are known to co-exist naturally in two extremely different types of open dry habitats in the temperate zone, alkaline xerothermic grasslands and acidic dry grasslands. However, knowledge about their preferences to edaphic conditions, including soil acidity (pH), and iron (Fe) availability is scarce.

MERS-CoV in sheep, goats, and cattle, United Arab Emirates, 2019: Virological and serological investigations reveal an accidental spillover from dromedaries.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated again the global threat posed by emerging zoonotic coronaviruses. During the past two decades alone, humans have experienced the emergence of several coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV in 2003, MERS-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. To date, MERS-CoV has been detected in 27 countries, with a case fatality ratio of approximately 34.

Association of Dromedary Camels and Camel Ticks with Reassortant Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, United Arab Emirates.

We previously detected a potentially novel reassortant of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in camels at the largest livestock market in the United Arab Emirates. A broader survey of large mammals at the site indicated zoonotic transmission is associated with dromedaries and camel ticks. Seroprevalence in cattle, sheep, and goats is minimal.

Diversity of West Nile and Usutu virus strains in mosquitoes at an international airport in Austria.

Increased globalization and international transportation have resulted in the inadvertent introduction of exotic mosquitoes and new mosquito-borne diseases. International airports are among the possible points of entry for mosquitoes and their pathogens. We established a mosquito and mosquito-borne diseases monitoring programme at the largest international airport in Austria and report the results for the first two years, 2018 and 2019.

Innate and Adaptive Immune Genes Associated with MERS-CoV Infection in Dromedaries.

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has refocused attention to the , only eight years after the emergence of another zoonotic , the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While the wild source of SARS-CoV-2 may be disputed, for MERS-CoV, dromedaries are considered as source of zoonotic human infections. Testing 100 immune-response genes in 121 dromedaries from United Arab Emirates (UAE) for potential association with present MERS-CoV infection, we identified candidate genes with important functions in the adaptive, MHC-class I (-like) and II (-like), and innate immune response (), and in cilia coating the respiratory tract ().

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum) as a Cause of Asymptomatic Liver Mass.

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum) is a parasitic nematode of rodents, rarely infecting humans. An asymptomatic Israeli adult male with extensive travel history was diagnosed with a liver mass on routine post-thymectomy follow-up.

New World camelids are sentinels for the presence of Borna disease virus.

Borna disease (BD), a frequently fatal neurologic disorder caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), has been observed for decades in horses, sheep, and other mammals in certain regions of Europe. The bicoloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) was identified as a persistently infected species involved in virus transmission. Recently, BoDV-1 attracted attention as a cause of fatal encephalitis in humans.

Nitrogen signals and their ecological significance for seed germination of ten psammophilous plant species from European dry acidic grasslands.

The presented study evaluated effects of potassium nitrate (KNO3), ammonium nitrate (NH4 NO3) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) on the germination-related characteristics of 10 species from European dry acidic grasslands. Germination was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The seeds were subjected to KNO3, NH4 NO3 and NH4Cl in four doses (1, 10, 50 and 100 mM) and to distilled water.

Peptidomic Analysis of Skin Secretions of the Caribbean Frogs and (Leptodactylidae) Identifies an Ocellatin with Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity.

Ocellatins are peptides produced in the skins of frogs belonging to the genus that generally display weak antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria only. Peptidomic analysis of norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from Barbour 1906 and Heyer 1994, collected in the Icacos Peninsula, Trinidad, led to the purification and structural characterization of five ocellatin-related peptides from (ocellatin-1I together with its (1-16) fragment, ocellatin-2I and its (1-16) fragment, and ocellatin-3I) and four ocellatins from (ocellatin-1N, -2N, -3N, and -4N). While ocellatins-1I, -2I, and -1N showed a typically low antimicrobial potency against Gram-negative bacteria, ocellatin-3N (GIFDVLKNLAKGVITSLAS.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Endemicity in United Arab Emirates, 2019.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in dromedary camels and attached ticks at 3 locations in the United Arab Emirates. Results revealed a high prevalence of CCHFV-reactive antibodies in camels and viral RNA in ticks and camel serum, suggesting the virus is endemic in this country.

Growth performance and emergence of invasive alien Rumex confertus in different soil types.

Rumex confertus is known to be one of the most serious invasive weed species infesting meadows, pastures and ruderal lands throughout the Central Europe. Rumex confertus was grown in pot experiments using 8 soil types at 5 concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Based on harvest data, the variables, seedlings emergence, root: shoot (R: S) ratio, N and P concentration, chlorophyll content, Relative Colimitation Index (RCI) and dry matter allocation to plant components, were determined.