Detection of a New Variant in Outbreak of Bovine Ephemeral Fever in Turkey, 2020

Background: In this study, partial nucleotide sequence analysis of the G gene was performed for the molecular characterization of the virus that caused the bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) epidemic in Turkey in 2020. Phylogenetic analysis of these nucleotide sequences was performed with the virus nucleotide sequences of the epidemics seen in 2008 and 2012. These sequences were announced in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of these nucleotide sequences was performed with the virus nucleotide sequences of the epidemics seen in 2008 and 2012. Methods: The study was conducted in dairy cattle holdings located in Diyarbakır Sur, Çınar and Dicle regions in South-eastern Turkey in August-November 2020. The number of animals in the holdings consisted of 750 (n=750), 150 (n=150) and 200 (n=200) cattle, respectively. Result: Severe respiratory symptoms and high mortality in the affected animals were notable symptoms. As a result of the phylogenetic analysis, it was determined that the virus that caused the epidemic in Turkey in 2020 was formed by a new variant in the Turkey-2 group, which was similar to the Indian isolates, unlike the Turkey-1 group, which was close to the Middle East variants in 2008 and 2012 isolates.

Identification of apsbAMutation (Valine219to Isoleucine) in Powell Amaranth (Amaranthus powellii) Conferring Resistance to Linuron

A Powell amaranth population suspected to be resistant (R) to linuron was discovered in a carrot field in Keswick, Ontario, Canada, in 1999. Dose–response analysis with different herbicides and DNA sequencing of thepsbAgene encoding the D1 protein of photosystem II were done to confirm the resistance and identify its basis. A calculated resistance factor indicated a 12-fold increased resistance when linuron was applied to an R population compared with a susceptible (S) population. Moreover, the R population showed 6.4- and 3.1-fold greater resistance to two other phenylurea herbicides (diuron and monolinuron), 1.8- and 1.4-fold greater resistance to two triazine herbicides (metribuzin and prometryn), and 2.6-fold greater resistance to the triazinone metribuzin. R population was also cross-resistant to bentazon and bromoxynil when compared with S population, with a calculated resistance factor of 1.4 and 2.2, respectively. The partial nucleotide sequence of thepsbAgene of R populations differed at two locations when compared with S populations. The first mutation coded for a Val219Ile substitution in the deduced amino acid sequence of the D1 protein, and the second mutation was silent and encoded for a proline at position 279 in both R and S populations. The Val219Ile substitution in thepsbAgene is most likely the cause of this Powell amaranth population resistance to linuron and other PSII inhibitors. This is the first recorded instance of a Val219Ile substitution in anAmaranthusspecies.

A search of Brassica SI-involved orthologs in buckwheat leads to novel buckwheat sequence identification: MLPK possibly involved in SI response

Self-incompatibility (SI) systems, gamethophytic (GSI) and sporophytic (SSI), prevent self-pollination in angiosperms. Buckwheat displays heteromorphic SSI, with pollination allowed only between different flower morphs - thrum and pin. The physiology of thrum and pin morph SI responses are entirely different, resembling homomorphic Brassica SSI and Prunus GSI responses, respectively. Considering angiosperm species may share ancestral SI genes, we examined the presence of Brassica and Prunus SI-involved gene orthologs in the buckwheat genome. We did not find evidence of SRK, SLG and SP11 Brassica or S-RNase and SFB Prunus orthologs in the buckwheat genome, but we found a Brassica MLPK ortholog. We report the partial nucleotide sequence of the buckwheat MLPK and discuss the possible implications of this finding.

Papillomavirus-associated fibropapillomas of red deer ( Cervus elaphus )

Oval, firm, cutaneous tumours with a rough, hairless, pigmented surface, exhibiting a moderately pronounced papillary structure were detected on the abdominal skin of two young red deer (Cervus elaphus). One animal was shot in Lower Austria in 2004, the other at a deer farm in Hungary in 2007. Histological examination of both samples classified the tumours as fibropapillomas, showing marked proliferation of fibroblasts and connective tissue, accompanied by hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and acanthosis of the overlaying epidermis, and occasional foci of inflammation. The distribution of cytokeratin and vimentin was characterised in the lesion. The presence of papillomavirus (PV) antigen was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in both cases. Papillomavirus-specific DNA was successfully amplified by PCR from one sample. The obtained partial nucleotide sequence of the L2 ORF exhibited the highest critical identity values with the homologous regions of Delta-papillomaviruses, especially the Roe deer papillomavirus (93%). Phylogenetic analysis of the partial L2 ORF sequence alignment of 10 papillomaviruses by both neighbour-joining and maximum parsimony method confirmed that the Red deer PV is very closely related to the Western roe deer papillomavirus (CcPV1).

Breakdown of resistance in sweet pepper against Pepper yellow mosaic virus in Brazil

Plants of Capsicum annuum cv. Magali R, resistant to Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV), which showed severe yellow mosaic, leaf malformation and stunting were observed during the 2003/04 growing season in Lins, São Paulo State, Brazil. Potyvirus-like particles observed in leaf sap from infected plants under the electron microscope reacted with an antiserum against PepYMV in PTA-ELISA. In addition to C. annuum cv. Magali R, this potyvirus also infected systemically the resistant C. annuum cv. Rubia R. The nucleotide sequence of part of the CP gene of this potyvirus shared 96-98% identity with that of other PepYMV isolates. The partial nucleotide sequence of the 3' NTR showed 94-96% identity with that of PepYMV. These data indicate that this potyvirus is a resistance-breaking isolate of PepYMV.

Identification of Gammaretroviruses Constitutively Released from Cell Lines Used for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research

ABSTRACT Three human cell lines used in human immunodeficiency virus research were found to be contaminated with previously undetected retroviruses. On the bases of partial nucleotide sequence, capsid protein antigenicity, vector mobilization, and receptor usage studies, these contaminants were shown to be replication competent and to belong to the Gammaretrovirus genus. While the TZM-bl cells harbor ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV), Jurkat J6 cells were found to release xenotropic MLV and the A3.01/F7 cells to produce gibbon ape leukemia virus. These findings highlight the importance of routine testing of cell lines for retrovirus contamination to prevent potential experimental artifacts and allow correct biohazard assessment.