Replication, Pathogenesis and Transmission of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in Non-Immune Pigs

The declaration of the human influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (H1N1/09) raised important questions, including origin and host range [1,2]. Two of the three pandemics in the last century resulted in the spread of virus to pigs (H1N1, 1918; H3N2, 1968) with subsequent independent establishment and evolution within swine worldwide [3]. A key public and veterinary health consideration in the context of the evolving pandemic is whether the H1N1/09 virus could become established in pig populations [4]. We performed an infection and transmission study in pigs with A/California/07/09. In combination, clinical, pathological, modified influenza A matrix gene real time RT-PCR and viral genomic analyses have shown that infection results in the induction of clinical signs, viral pathogenesis restricted to the respiratory tract, infection dynamics consistent with endemic strains of influenza A in pigs, virus transmissibility between pigs and virus-host adaptation events. Our results demonstrate that extant H1N1/09 is fully capable of becoming established in global pig populations. We also show the roles of viral receptor specificity in both transmission and tissue tropism. Remarkably, following direct inoculation of pigs with virus quasispecies differing by amino acid substitutions in the haemagglutinin receptor-binding site, only virus with aspartic acid at position 225 (225D) was detected in nasal secretions of contact infected pigs. In contrast, in lower respiratory tract samples from directly inoculated pigs, with clearly demonstrable pulmonary pathology, there was apparent selection of a virus variant with glycine (225G). These findings provide potential clues to the existence and biological significance of viral receptor-binding variants with 225D and 225G during the 1918 pandemic [5]

MINERALOGICAL, PETROLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF THE UNIQUE LAPIS LACEDAEMONIUS (KROKEATIS LITHOS) FROM LACONIA, GREECE: APPROACH ON PETROGENETIC PROCESSES WITHIN THE TRIASSIC VOLCANIC CONTEXT

Ο Κροκεάτης Λίθος είναι ένα ευρέως γνωστό μετα-ηφαιστειακό πέτρωμα με μεγάλη ιστορική σημασία. Οι πετρογραφικές παρατηρήσεις, τα ορυκτοχημικά δεδομένα καθώς και οι γεωχημικές αναλύσεις επιλεγμένων δειγμάτων, δείχνουν ότι το πέτρωμα αυτό είναι πορφυρικός μεταβασάλτης ο οποίος έχει επηρεαστεί σημαντικά από διεργασίες σωσσυριτίωσης, καθώς και από περιορισμένου βαθμού δευτερογενή πυριτίωση. Αντιπροσωπεύουν ασβεσταλκαλικά ηφαιστειακά πετρώματα που σχετίζονται με διεργασίες υποβύθισης, ανάλογα των πετρωμάτων που εμφανίζονται και σε άλλες Τριαδικές ηφαιστειακές σειρές του Ελλαδικού χώρου, οι οποίες σχετίζονται με την διάνοιξή του 1904 ωκεανού της Πίνδου αλλά και υποβύθισης σε αρχικά στάδια. Τα μοναδικά χαρακτηριστικά του Κροκεάτη Λίθου, σε σχέση με ηφαιστειακά πετρώματα παρόμοιας χημικής σύστασης, οφείλονται στις πορφυρικές δομές που αναπτύσσονται ανάμεσα στη μικρολιθική θεμελιώδη μάζα και τους αδροκοκκώδεις φαινοκρυστάλλους πλαγιοκλάστου, καθώς και στις διεργασίες σωσσυριτίωσης. Ο Κροκεάτης Λίθος φαίνεται ότι σχηματίστηκε σε ένα υπο- ηφαιστειακό σύστημα άμεσα σχετιζόμενο με επιδοσίτες, υποδεικνύοντας ότι η μετασωμάτωση πραγματοποιήθηκε σε ζώνες ανόδου υδροθερμικών ρευστών.The Lapis Lacedaemonius (krokeatis lithos) is a well-known meta-volcanic rock of great historical importance. Petrographic observations, mineral chemistry data, as well as geochemical analysis of selected samples, reveal that these rocks are porphyritic metabasaltic rocks which have been significantly affected by saussuritization and also by restricted silicification processes. They represent subduction related calc-alkaline volcanic rocks which also appear in the adjacent Hellenic Triassic volcanic outcrops, and appear to be associated with the rift/drift phase within the Pindos oceanic realm. The unique features of the Lapis Lacedaemonius, when compared to geochemically similar volcanic rock outcrops, are mainly attributed to their distinct porphyritic textures, predominantly with microlithically textured groundmass along with the coarse grained plagioclase, and to saussuritization processes. The Lapis Lacedaemonius seems to have been formed in a sub-volcanic system closely associated with epidosites, suggesting that metasomatism occurred within hydrothermal upflow zones

Genetic analysis of human and swine influenza A viruses isolated in Northern Italy during 2010–2015

Summary Influenza A virus (IAV) infection in swine plays an important role in the ecology of influenza viruses. The emergence of new IAVs comes through different mechanisms, with the genetic reassortment of genes between influenza viruses, also originating from different species, being common. We performed a genetic analysis on 179 IAV isolates from humans (n. 75) and pigs (n. 104) collected in Northern Italy between 2010 and 2015, to monitor the genetic exchange between human and swine IAVs. No cases of human infection with swine strains were noticed, but direct infections of swine with H1N1pdm09 strains were detected. Moreover, we pointed out a continuous circulation of H1N1pdm09 strains in swine populations evidenced by the introduction of internal genes of this subtype. These events contribute to generating new viral variants—possibly endowed with pandemic potential—and emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance at both animal and human level

Molecular analysis of avian H7 influenza viruses circulating in Eurasia in 1999-2005: detection of multiple reassortant virus genotypes.

Avian influenza infections by high and low pathogenicity H7 influenza viruses have caused several outbreaks in European poultry in recent years, also resulting in human infections. Although in some cases the source of H7 strains from domestic poultry was shown to be the viruses circulating in the wild bird reservoir, a thorough characterization of the entire genome of H7 viruses from both wild and domestic Eurasian birds, and their evolutionary relationships, has not been conducted. In our study, we have analysed low pathogenicity H7 influenza strains isolated from wild and domestic ducks in Italy and southern China and compared them with those from reared terrestrial poultry such as chicken and turkey. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the H7 haemagglutinin genes were all closely related to each other, whereas the remaining genes could be divided into two or more phylogenetic groups. Almost each year different H7 reassortant viruses were identified and in at least two different years more than one H7 genotype co-circulated. A recent precursor in wild waterfowl was identified for most of the gene segments of terrestrial poultry viruses. Our data suggest that reassortment allows avian influenza viruses, in their natural reservoir, to increase their genetic diversity. In turn this might help avian influenza viruses colonize a wider range of hosts, including domestic poultry

European Surveillance Network for Influenza in Pigs : Surveillance Programs, Diagnostic Tools and Swine Influenza Virus Subtypes Identified in 14 European Countries from 2010 to 2013

Swine influenza causes concern for global veterinary and public health officials. In continuing two previous networks that initiated the surveillance of swine influenza viruses (SIVs) circulating in European pigs between 2001 and 2008, a third European Surveillance Network for Influenza in Pigs (ESNIP3, 2010-2013) aimed to expand widely the knowledge of the epidemiology of European SIVs. ESNIP3 stimulated programs of harmonized SIV surveillance in European countries and supported the coordination of appropriate diagnostic tools and subtyping methods. Thus, an extensive virological monitoring, mainly conducted through passive surveillance programs, resulted in the examination of more than 9 000 herds in 17 countries. Influenza A viruses were detected in 31% of herds examined from which 1887 viruses were preliminary characterized. The dominating subtypes were the three European enzootic SIVs: avian-like swine H1N1 (53.6%), human-like reassortant swine H1N2 (13%) and human-like reassortant swine H3N2 (9.1%), as well as pandemic A/H1N1 2009 (H1N1pdm) virus (10.3%). Viruses from these four lineages co-circulated in several countries but with very different relative levels of incidence. For instance, the H3N2 subtype was not detected at all in some geographic areas whereas it was still prevalent in other parts of Europe. Interestingly, H3N2-free areas were those that exhibited highest frequencies of circulating H1N2 viruses. H1N1pdm viruses were isolated at an increasing incidence in some countries from 2010 to 2013, indicating that this subtype has become established in the European pig population. Finally, 13.9% of the viruses represented reassortants between these four lineages, especially between previous enzootic SIVs and H1N1pdm. These novel viruses were detected at the same time in several countries, with increasing prevalence. Some of them might become established in pig herds, causing implications for zoonotic infections

Studi mengenai Pertimbangan-pertimbangan Lintas Budaya dalam Mengkomunikasikan Injil kepada Orang-orang Kepercayaan Marapu di Sumba Timur

Pulau sumba terletak di sebelah luar paling selatan pulau di Indonesia dalam wilayah propinsi Nusa tenggara Timur. Pulau Sumba terdiri dari empat kabupaten Sumba Timur, Tengah, Barat, dan Barat Daya. Penduduknya di sebut dengan sebutan Tau Humba (oreang Sumba) dan memiliki kepercayaan atau agama Marapu. Menurut data Kependudukan yang dikeluarkan pemerintah kabupaten Sumba Timur tahun 2013, jumlah orang-orang yang beraga Marapu d Sumba Timur 34.128 dari total penduduk 227.732 jiwa. Ini berarti masih banyak orang-orang Marapu belum mengenal Tuhan. Sebab itu penting bagi seseorang yang ingin melakukan penginjilan untuk memahami pertimbangan-pertimbangan lintas budaya agar jurang antara Injil dan orang-orang yang belum percaya dapat bertemu