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Elucidating the Onset of Cross-Protective Immunity after Intranasal Vaccination with the Attenuated African Swine Fever Vaccine Candidate BA71ΔCD2
Get PDFAfrican swine fever (ASF) is a deadly disease of swine currently causing a worldwide
pandemic, leading to severe economic consequences for the porcine industry. The control of disease
spread is hampered by the limitation of available effective vaccines. Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs)
are currently the most advanced vaccine prototypes, providing strong protection against ASF. However, the significant advances achieved using LAVs must be complemented with further studies to
analyze vaccine-induced immunity. Here, we characterized the onset of cross-protective immunity
triggered by the LAV candidate BA71ΔCD2. Intranasally vaccinated pigs were challenged with the
virulent Georgia 2007/1 strain at days 3, 7 and 12 postvaccination. Only the animals vaccinated 12
days before the challenge had effectively controlled infection progression, showing low virus loads,
minor clinical signs and a lack of the unbalanced inflammatory response characteristic of severe
disease. Contrarily, the animals vaccinated 3 or 7 days before the challenge just showed a minor
delay in disease progression. An analysis of the humoral response and whole blood transcriptome
signatures demonstrated that the control of infection was associated with the presence of virusspecific IgG and a cytotoxic response before the challenge. These results contribute to our understanding of protective immunity induced by LAV-based vaccines, encouraging their use in emergency responses in ASF-affected areas.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, grant PID2022-136312OB-I00 (F.R. and J.A.), and the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS), grant 2017-00486 (F.R. and L.L.).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Evaluation of alternative methods of tunnel composting (submitted by the European Composting Network) II
Get PDFTwo alternative methods for producing compost in a tunnel, from certain category (Cat.) 3 animal by-products (ABP) and other non-ABP material, were assessed. The first method proposed a minimum temperature of 55°C for 72 h and the second 60°C for 48 h, both with a maximum particle size of 200 mm. The assessment of the Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) exclusively focused on Cat. 3 ABP materials (catering waste and processed foodstuffs of animal origin no longer intended for human consumption). The proposed composting processes were evaluated for their efficacy to achieve a reduction of at least 5 log10 of Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella Senftenberg (775W, H2S negative) and at least 3 log10 of relevant thermoresistant viruses. The applicant provided a list of biological hazards that may enter the composting process and selected parvoviruses as the indicator of the thermoresistant viruses. The evidence provided by the applicant included: (a) literature data on thermal inactivation of biological hazards; (b) results from validation studies on the reduction of E. faecalis, Salmonella Senftenberg 775W H2S negative and canine parvovirus carried out in composting plants across Europe; (c) and experimental data from direct measurements of reduction of infectivity of murine parvovirus in compost material applying the time/temperature conditions of the two alternative methods. The evidence provided showed the capacity of the proposed alternative methods to reduce E. faecalis and Salmonella Senftenberg 775W H2S negative by at least 5 log10, and parvoviruses by at least 3 log10. The BIOHAZ Panel concluded that the two alternative methods under assessment can be considered to be equivalent to the processing method currently approved in the Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Varietats de panís de cicle curt per a gra. Campanya 2023
Get PDFLa Campanya 2022 es va iniciar l’experimentació amb varietats de cicles 300, 400 i 500 en segona data de sembra darrera d’un primer cultiu d’hivern. Després de dos any d’assaig les varietats amb un millor comportament productiu han estat ZOOM YG, P0900Y, DKC5032YG, PIANELLO, P1049, RGT HUXXO, EXPERTIZE, P0900, LG31555, RGT MEXXPLEDE, P0937, MAS 524A, INDEM668, SY ANDROMEDA, en aquest tipus de sembres cal seleccionar varietats que presentin continguts baixos de micotoxines a collita. Cal considerar els resultats amb precaució ja que només corresponen a dos anys d’assaig.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Huella ambiental de carne y leche de vacuno: manejo y emisiones
Get PDFProyecto financiado a través de la Operación 16.01.01 de Cooperación para la innovación del Programa de desarrollo rural de Cataluña 2014-2020 mediante fondos de la Unión Europea (Europa invierte en las zonas rurales) y la Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Spatiotemporal Variations in Biophysical Water Quality Parameters: An Integrated In Situ and Remote Sensing Analysis of an Urban Lake in Chile
Get PDFThis study aims to develop and implement a methodology for retrieving bio-optical
parameters in a lagoon located in the Biobío region, South-Central Chile, by analyzing time series
of Landsat-8 OLI satellite images. The bio-optical parameters, i.e., chlorophyll-a (Chl-a, in mg·m−3)
and turbidity (in NTU) were measured in situ during a satellite overpass to minimize the impact of
atmospheric distortions. To calibrate the satellite images, various atmospheric correction methods
(including ACOLITE, C2RCC, iCOR, and LaSRC) were evaluated during the image preprocessing
phase. Spectral signatures obtained from the scenes for each atmospheric correction method were
then compared with spectral signatures acquired in situ on the water surface. In short, the ACOLITE
model emerged as the best fit for the calibration process, reaching R2 values of 0.88 and 0.79 for Chl-a
and turbidity, respectively. This underlies the importance of using inversion models, when processing
water surfaces, to mitigate errors due to aerosols and the sun-glint effect. Subsequently, reflectance
data derived from the ACOLITE model were used to establish correlations between various spectral
indices and the in situ data. The empirical retrieval models (based on band combinations) yielding
superior performance, with higher R2 values, were subjected to a rigorous statistical validation and
optimization by applying a bootstrapping approach. From this process the green chlorophyll index
(GCI) was selected as the optimal choice for constructing the Chl-a retrieval model, reaching an R2 of
0.88, while the red + NIR spectral index achieved the highest R2 value (0.79) for turbidity analysis,
although in the last case, it was necessary to incorporate data from several seasons for an adequate
model training. Our analysis covered a broad spectrum of dates, seasons, and years, which allowed
us to search deeper into the evolution of the trophic state associated with the lake. We identified a
striking eight-year period (2014–2022) characterized by a decline in Chl-a concentration in the lake,
possibly attributable to governmental measures in the region for the protection and conservation of
the lake. Additionally, the OLI imagery showed a spatial pattern varying from higher Chl-a values
in the northern zone compared to the southern zone, probably due to the heat island effect of the
northern urban areas. The results of this study suggest a positive effect of recent local regulations
and serve as the basis for the creation of a modern monitoring system that enhances traditional
point-based methods, offering a holistic view of the ongoing processes within the lake.This research was funded by the Chilean government through ANID’s Fondecyt Regular Project no. 1221091.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Natural Compounds against Influenza: A Combined Computational and Experimental Approach
Get PDFThe influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1), which is crucial for viral replication
and immune evasion, has been identified as a significant drug target with substantial potential to
contribute to the fight against influenza. The emergence of drug-resistant influenza A virus strains
highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutics. This study proposes a combined theoretical
criterion for the virtual screening of molecular libraries to identify candidate NS1 inhibitors. By
applying the criterion to the ZINC Natural Product database, followed by ligand-based virtual
screening and molecular docking, we proposed the most promising candidate as a potential NS1
inhibitor. Subsequently, the selected natural compound was experimentally evaluated, revealing
measurable virus replication inhibition activity in cell culture. This approach offers a promising
avenue for developing novel anti-influenza agents targeting the NS1 protein.This research was funded by Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant number 451-03-66/2024-03/200017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Control químico de Trioza erytreae, vector del Huanglongbing de los cítricos
Get PDFLa psila africana de los cítricos, Trioza erytreae,
es un vector de las bacterias Candidatus Liberibacter africanus y Ca. L. asiaticus, agentes
causales de la enfermedad conocida como
Huanglongbing (HLB), enverdecimiento de
los cítricos (citrus greening disease) o enfermedad de los brotes amarillos. El HLB es
actualmente la enfermedad más devastadora
de los cítricos a nivel mundial, asociada con el
colapso de importantes regiones de producción de cítricos en Asia, América y África.
En este estudio se valora la eficacia de quince productos insecticidas con el objetivo de
controlar las poblaciones de la psila africana de los cítricos, Trioza erytreae, vector del
Huanglongbing.Los bioensayos de laboratorio de esta investigación han sido financiados por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (INIA E– RTA RTA2015–00005–C06) y por el Programa CERCA (Centres de Recerca de Catalunya) de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Los ensayos de semicampo y campo fueron financiados por el proyecto Red de Experimentación y Transferencia en Cítricos de Andalucía (TRA201600.1), que fue cofinanciado (80%) por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional dentro del Programa Operativo FEDER de Andalucía 2014–2020. La investigación realizada también fue financiada por el programa de cooperación INTERREG V–A España–Portugal (MAC) 2014–2020 (CUARENTAGRI MAC2/1.1a/231). Paula Molina ha sido beneficiaria de un contrato predoctoral para la formación de doctores BES–2017–081914 de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Fatty acid content and profile of round sardinella (Sardinella aurita), an expanding thermophilic species in the NW Mediterranean
Get PDFOver the past few decades, due to sea warming driven by global climate change, the habitat range of round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) has expanded into the north-western Mediterranean Sea. This study evaluates the fatty acid content and fatty acid profile of this small, warm-water pelagic fish caught in this area, specifically the northern Catalan coast. The findings provide important insights into the nutritional status of the species under changing environmental conditions. The study confirms that fatty acid content varies according to the individual specimen’s maturity stages (immature, pre-spawners, and spawners). Pre-spawners showed higher fat levels compared to spawners, whose lipids are allocated to their gonads to enhance the survival of their offspring. While a high content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) was generally found at all stages of maturity, pre-spawners had higher levels of EPA but lower levels of DHA than immature individuals and spawners. Moreover, compared to small pelagic fish more typical of the temperate waters in the region (European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, and European sardine, Sardina pilchardus), round sardinella generally have a higher level of PUFAs, especially DHA. Encouraging consumption of this warm water species could provide significant nutritional benefits while reducing fishing pressure on European sardine and European anchovy, whose populations are currently in a very poor state.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio