Influence of Housing System and Number of Transported Animals on Transport-induced Mortality in Slaughter Pigs

The study monitored the effect of the housing system and the number of animals transported together on transport-induced mortality of slaughter pigs in the Czech Republic in the period from 2004 to 2008. Concerning the type of housing during the fattening, the lowest mortality rate during the subsequent transport to slaughter houses was detected among pigs fattened on solid floor (0.047%) and on deep bedding (0.084%). The highest mortality during transport was detected among pigs fattened on fully or partially slatted floor (0.139%), a significant difference (p p < 0.01) compared to the load sizes of up to 40 animals

Vineyard zonation based on natural terroir factors using multivariate statistics – Case study Burgenland (Austria)

Aim: The aim of the study was to explicitly develop a methodology of delineation of natural Protected Designation of Origins (PDO) terroir regions for Austria, where PDO viticulture regions reflect natural conditions only in a formal manner. Methods and results: There is increasing competition in the wine market from globalized trends, where the European Union (EU) and non-EU wine producers have adopted different market strategies to promote their wines and gain larger market share. The EU has therefore established protective agricultural product categories such as PDO and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) based on the terroir concept which contrasts with USA strategies. Here, we first collected and derived as many as possible relevant physical geographical data for a total of 66,673 officially registered vineyard areas in Burgenland (Austria). Next, we applied factor analysis to these data with the aim to shrink their size and reduce their dimensionality. For each vineyard plot was derived a factor score which was used for performing k-means clustering. The best count of clusters, k-parameter, was estimated using five internal validity indices. Five homogenous management zones were created as a result of clustering. Correctness and accuracy of the clustering was evaluated by multidimensional discriminant analysis. The final zones were compared to current Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) of Burgenland. Conclusion: It was found by the comparison of DAC regions of Burgenland and our drafted zones that some of the DAC regions do not respect natural terroir zones, while these regions were created as PDO regions which should respect their natural terroir. Significance and impact of the study: The presented methodology can be applied all over Austria and, with some modifications caused by different input data, to each EU member country where it is necessary to revise PDO regions’ borders

Vliv teplotně-vlhkostního indexu na fyziologické a hematologické ukazatele dojnic

Heat stress in cows is commonly assessed using the temperature and humidity index (THI), a combination of ambient temperature and relative humidity. In this study, the influence of the THI on haematological and other physiological indicators in cows was evaluated. A significant difference was found in respiratory rate; when THI increased above 70 breaths/min, respiratory rate increased from 19.8 to 34.4 breaths/min. When THI increased above 80 breaths/min, there was a sharp increase in respiratory rate to 128.8 breaths/min. This was observed between 3 and 4 clocks in the afternoon when the highest thermal stress was assumed in dairy cows. The correlation coefficient between THI and body temperature was 0.38, but when weighted averages of minimum temperatures for three days were used, the correlation coefficient increased to 0.48. Based on these results, it is more reasonable to use the minimum THI over several days. At critical temperatures, haemoglobin decreased to 115.45 ± 23.12 g/l, compared with values measured in dairy cows under optimal conditions. However, these values did not fall below 125 g/l. A similar trend was observed for hematocrit under optimal conditions it was 34.42 ± 1.03%, and under stress, it was 37.5-39.12%. The number of erythrocytes was the lowest (6.51 ± 0.137 × 1012/l) in the most heat-stressed dairy cow group.Byl hodnocen vliv teplotně-vlhkostního indexu (THI) na fyziologické a hematologické ukazatele krav. Zřetelný statisticky průkazný rozdíl byl nalezen u frekvence dechu, kdy při zvýšení THI nad 69,8 došlo k vzestupu frekvence dechu z 19,8 na 34,4 dechů za minutu. Při dalším vzestupu THI o 10, došlo prudkému nárůstu frekvence dechu až na hodnotu 128,8 dechů/min. Tato hodnota byla zaznamenána mezi 15–16 hodinou, kdy se předpokládalo nejvyšší tepelné zatížení dojnic. Korelační koeficient mezi THI a tělesnou teplotou byl 0,38. Pokud se ale do sledování zahrnuly vážené průměry minimálních teplot za 3 dny, došlo ke zvýšení koeficientu korelace na hodnotu 0,48. U maximálních hodnot to pak bylo 0,44. Z dosaženého výsledku je patrné, že o dopadu tepelného stresu je vhodnější využívat hodnot denního minima, se zahrnutím několikadenních hodnot. U hemoglobinu došlo v době kritických teplot k jeho poklesu na hodnotu 115,45 ± 23,12 g/l, oproti hodnotám, které byly zaznamenány u dojnic v optimálních podmínkách. U těchto nedošlo k poklesu pod 125 g/l. Podobně tomu bylo u hematokritu s hodnotou 34,42 ± 1,03% oproti ostatním s průměrem 37,5 do 39,12%. U počtu erytrocytů byl zjištěn statisticky nejnižší průměr (6,51 ± 0,137 x 1012/l) u tepelně namáhané skupiny dojnic

Freeing Aspergillus fumigatus of Polymycovirus Infection Renders It More Resistant to Competition with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Due to Altered Iron-Acquiring Tactics

A virus-free (VF) A. fumigatus isolate has been shown to be resistant in competition with Pseudomonas as compared to the isogenic line infected with Aspergillus fumigatus polymycovirus 1 (AfuPmV-1), and this phenotype was apparently related to alterations in iron metabolism. Here we investigated further the mechanisms underpinning this phenotype. The extracellular siderophore profiles of five isogenic VF and virus-infected (VI) strains were sampled at 24, 31, 48, 54, and 72 h in submerged cultures and quantitatively examined by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Intracellular profiles of conidia and cultures at the stationary growth phase were defined. VF A. fumigatus demonstrated the best fitness represented by the fastest onset of its exponential growth when grown on an iron-limited mineral medium. The exponential phase and transitional production phase of the extracellular triacetylfusarinine C (TafC) were achieved at 24 and 31 h, respectively, contrary to VI strains, which acted more slowly. As a result, the TafC reservoir was consumed sooner in the VF strain. Additionally, the VF strain had lower ferricrocin and higher hydroxyferricrocin content in the pellet during the stationary phase. All of these differences were significant (Kruskal–Wallis, p 0.01). In our study, the siderophore reservoir of a VF strain was consumed sooner, improving the fitness of the VF strain in competition with P. aeruginosa.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

The Expanding Mycovirome of Aspergilli

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Mycoviruses are viruses that infect fungi and are widespread across all major fungal taxa, exhibiting great biological diversity. Since their discovery in the 1960s, researchers have observed a myriad of fungal phenotypes altered due to mycoviral infection. In this review, we examine the nuanced world of mycoviruses in the context of the medically and agriculturally important fungal genus, Aspergillus. The advent of RNA sequencing has revealed a previous underestimate of viral prevalence in fungi, in particular linear single-stranded RNA viruses, and here we outline the diverse viral families known to date that contain mycoviruses infecting Aspergillus. Furthermore, we describe these novel mycoviruses, highlighting those with peculiar genome structures, such as a split RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene. Next, we delineate notable mycovirus-mediated phenotypes in Aspergillus, in particular reporting on observations of mycoviruses that affect their fungal host’s virulence and explore how this may relate to virus-mediated decreased stress tolerance. Furthermore, mycovirus effects on microbial competition and antifungal resistance are discussed. The factors that influence the manifestation of these phenotypes, such as temperature, fungal life stage, and infection with multiple viruses, among others, are also evaluated. In addition, we attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin these phenotypes, examining how mycoviruses can be targets, triggers, and even suppressors of RNA silencing and how this can affect fungal gene expression and phenotypes. Finally, we highlight the potential therapeutic applications of mycoviruses and how, in an approach analogous to bacteriophage therapy, their ability to produce hypovirulence in Aspergillus might be used to attenuate invasive aspergillosis infections in humans.Peer reviewe

Vliv intensity světla na parametry spermatu kanců plemene duroc

This study aimed to investigate whether the intensity of lighting may affect Duroc boars’ semen parameters in different seasons and in different periods from the beginning of the use of boars for semen collection. A total of 6879 ejaculates were collected from 21 boars and kept under natural low light intensity and daylight length conditions, and 3141 ejaculates from 10 boars were kept under high light intensity (190-210 lx) and natural daylight length conditions. Experimental groups were divided according to the intensity of lighting (low, high), season (winter, spring, summer, fall), and the period from the beginning of the use of boars for semen collection (0-1 year, 1.1-2 years, 2.1-3 years). Selected parameters were analyzed: semen volume, sperm concentration, total number of sperms, sperm motility, percentage of sperms with an abnormal morphology and number of insemination doses from one ejaculate. Semen volume, sperm concentration, and rate of sperms with an abnormal morphology were associated with the two-way interaction between light intensity and season (P < 0.0001), and between light intensity and period from the first semen collection (P < 0.0001). The total number of sperms and number of insemination doses from one ejaculate were associated with the two-way interaction between light intensity and season (P < 0.0001). Sperm motility was associated with the twoway interaction between light intensity and season (P < 0.0001), and between light intensity and period from the first semen collection (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the intensity of lighting can affect Duroc boars’ semen parameters in different seasons and different periods from the beginning of the use of boars for semen collection.Cílem práce bylo zjistit, zda intenzita osvětlení, roční období a doba od zařazení kanců do skupiny pro odběr spermatu může ovlivnit parametry spermatu kanců plemene duroc. Celkem bylo odebráno 6879 ejakulátů od 21 kanců, kteří byli chováni v podmínkách přirozené nízké intenzity osvětlení a délky denního světla a 3141 ejakulátů od 10 kanců, kteří byli chováni v podmínkách vysoké intenzity světla (190-210 lx) a přirozené délky denního světla. Experimentální skupiny byly rozděleny podle: intenzity osvětlení (nízká, vysoká), ročního období (zima, jaro, léto, podzim) a období, od začátku používání kanců k odběru spermatu (0-1 rok, 1,1-2 roky, 2,1-3 roky). Byly analyzovány vybrané parametry: objem spermatu, koncentrace spermií, celkový počet spermií, pohyblivost spermií, procento spermií s abnormální morfologií a počet inseminačních dávek z jednoho ejakulátu. Objem spermatu, koncentrace spermií a procento spermií s abnormální morfologií byly spojeny s obousměrnou interakcí mezi intenzitou světla a ročním obdobím (P < 0.0001) a mezi intenzitou světla a obdobím od prvního odběru spermatu (P < 0.0001). Celkový počet spermií a počet inseminačních dávek z jednoho ejakulátu byly spojeny s obousměrnou interakcí mezi intenzitou světla a ročním obdobím (P < 0.0001). Pohyblivost spermií byla spojena s obousměrnou interakcí mezi intenzitou světla a ročním obdobím (P < 0.0001) a mezi intenzitou světla a periodou, od prvního odběru spermatu (P < 0.01). Závěrem lze říci, že intenzita osvětlení může ovlivnit parametry spermatu kanců duroc v různých ročních obdobích a v různých obdobích, od začátku používání kanců pro odběr spermatu

Immunohistochemical evaluation of tissues following bone implant extraction from upper and lower limb

Fractured bones can regenerate and restore their biological and mechanical properties to the state prior to the damage. In some cases, however, the treatment of fractures requires the use of supportive implants. For bone healing, three processes are essential: the inflammatory phase, the repair phase and the remodelling phase. A proper course of the first - inflammatory - stage is important to ensure a successful fracture healing process. In our study, we evaluated tissue samples immunohistochemically from the area surrounding the fractures of upper and lower limbs (bone tissue, soft tissue, and the implant-adhering tissue) for markers: CD11b, CD15, CD34, CD44, CD68, Cathepsin K, and TRAcP that are linked to the aforementioned phases. In soft tissue, higher expressions of CD68, CD34, CD15 and CD11b markers were observed than in other locations. TRAcP and Cathepsin K markers were more expressed in the bone tissue, while pigmentation, necrosis and calcification were more observed in the implant-adhering tissue. Since even the implant materials commonly perceived as inert elicit the observed inflammatory responses, new surface treatments and materials need to be developed

Immunohistochemical evaluation of tissues following bone implant extraction from upper and lower limb

Fractured bones can regenerate and restore their biological and mechanical properties to the state prior to the damage. In some cases, however, the treatment of fractures requires the use of supportive implants. For bone healing, three processes are essential: the inflammatory phase, the repair phase and the remodelling phase. A proper course of the first inflammatory stage is important to ensure a successful fracture healing process. In our study, we evaluated tissue samples immunohistochemically from the area surrounding the fractures of upper and lower limbs (bone tissue, soft tissue, and the implant-adhering tissue) for markers: CD11b, CD15, CD34, CD44, CD68, Cathepsin K, and TRAcP that are linked to the aforementioned phases. In soft tissue, higher expressions of CD68, CD34, CD15 and CD11b markers were observed than in other locations. TRAcP and Cathepsin K markers were more expressed in the bone tissue, while pigmentation, necrosis and calcification were more observed in the implant-adhering tissue. Since even the implant materials commonly perceived as inert elicit the observed inflammatory responses, new surface treatments and materials need to be developed.Web of Science38101127111

Aminoacid sequencing in cyclic peptides and depsipetides

Natural or synthetic cyclic peptides and depsipeptides involve antibiotics, toxins, immunomodulators, ion transport regulators, and inhibitors of enzymes or protein-protein interactions

Mass spectrometry in proteomics

Proteome is a complex of all proteins produced by a cell, tissue or whole organism