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Multi-omics characterization of the monkeypox virus infection
Full text linkMultiple omics analyzes of Vaccinia virus (VACV) infection have defined molecular characteristics of poxvirus biology. However, little is known about the monkeypox (mpox) virus (MPXV) in humans, which has a different disease manifestation despite its high sequence similarity to VACV. Here, we perform an in-depth multi-omics analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and phosphoproteome signatures of MPXV-infected primary human fibroblasts to gain insights into the virus-host interplay. In addition to expected perturbations of immune-related pathways, we uncover regulation of the HIPPO and TGF-β pathways. We identify dynamic phosphorylation of both host and viral proteins, which suggests that MAPKs are key regulators of differential phosphorylation in MPXV-infected cells. Among the viral proteins, we find dynamic phosphorylation of H5 that influenced the binding of H5 to dsDNA. Our extensive dataset highlights signaling events and hotspots perturbed by MPXV, extending the current knowledge on poxviruses. We use integrated pathway analysis and drug-target prediction approaches to identify potential drug targets that affect virus growth. Functionally, we exemplify the utility of this approach by identifying inhibitors of MTOR, CHUK/IKBKB, and splicing factor kinases with potent antiviral efficacy against MPXV and VACV
Unwanted souvenirs - import routes and pathogen detection of the non-endemic tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. in Germany
Full text linkTicks of the Genus Rhipicephalus occur worldwide. Especially members of Rh. sanguineus s.l. are primarily associated with dogs. As unwanted souvenirs, they are introduced by dogs into non-endemic areas such as Germany, where they can establish and reproduce indoors . A citizen-science study was conducted between 2019 and 2024, asking interested citizens to report tick infestations and send in travel related tick findings which were associated with dogs and were focused on Rhipicephalus species. Tick species were identified using the 16S rRNA gene and tested for pathogens associated with the genus Rhipicephalus . In addition, each tick introduction was considered as a case and categorized and analyzed individually. During the study period, 44 cases were reported. In 17 cases tick specimens were identified as Rh. sanguineus s.s., Rh. rutilus , Rh. linnaei, Rh. turanicus , and Rh. haemaphysaloides which were imported from other European countries and Sri Lanka. Neither Hepatozoon canis , Ehrlichia canis nor Babesia vogeli were detected in any of the 780 received specimens. In contrast, Rickettsia spp. was detected in 50 specimens from six independent cases, with Rickettsia massiliae being identified in 44 specimens. The import of dogs from abroad as well as travel with dogs lacking appropriate tick prophylaxis are responsible for more than 80% of cases. This Project highlights the risk of introductions of non-endemic tick species. Also, professionals such as veterinarians, animal welfare organizations and pest controllers need to be made aware of the possible introduction of Rhipicephalus spp. to ensure early recognition and rapid elimination of the ticks.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Hieber Foundation - University of HohenheimUniversität Hohenheim (3153
Reducing pesticide use in apple orchards through biological control and mechanical barriers
No full textWith over 20 applications per year, apple is the most pesticide-intensive crop in Germany. Growers are under increasing pressure as the use of pesticides in agriculture comes under greater scrutiny, resulting in more restrictive legislation and a national action plan that calls for a significant reduction in overall pesticide use.
Current reduction efforts are largely based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which essentially means that all non-chemical plant protection measures, including cultural practices, pest monitoring and biological control, should be used first, and only if pest problems persist is the use of chemical pesticides justified. While there are successful examples of IPM in fruit growing, such as the use of sexual pheromones and granuloviruses to control the codling moth, chemical control remains the dominant means of plant protection. Therefore, considering current political developments, there is a worrying lack of non-chemical control strategies for many important pathogens and pests in apple growing.
In this doctoral thesis, we investigated non-chemical alternatives for pest and pathogen control in apple growing and their potential as IPM approaches. The aim was to identify new methods that would provide growers with a realistic alternative to chemical pesticides. We focused on conservation and augmentation biological control and physical methods to assess their potential for reducing pesticide use in apple production.
Conservation biological control aims to enhance the biological control of pests by natural enemies and is influenced by a wide range of factors. We investigated the role of predator density, spatial complexity of apple branches and the provision of alternative food resources for predators for the effective control of apple pests.
Predator density and the spatial environment of apple branches were crucial components influencing the efficacy of earwig predation on woolly apple aphids. On spatially complex branches, low and medium densities of earwigs failed to fully locate and consume woolly apple aphids, while high earwig densities were able to eradicate woolly apple aphids, including those hidden in spatially complex environments.
Provisioning of additional food was investigated using predatory mites and their prey (such as apple rust mites) as a model system. Predatory mites are suspected to be prone to starvation, especially when prey is scarce. To avoid starvation and boost their populations, trees were sprayed with brine shrimp cysts, which are readily accepted as food by omnivorous predatory mites. Although no increase in predatory mites was observed, reduced populations of apple rust mites were found in plots sprayed with shrimp cysts. Other orchard predators, such as predatory flower bugs, may have been promoted and thus mediated the reduction in apple rust mites.
In the same trial, the effect of an augmentative release of a predatory mite species naturally occurring in orchards was investigated. No clear effect of the predatory mite release on pest mite populations could be detected.
Physical control measures are widely used in fruit growing to protect fruits from abiotic and biotic damage. While anti-hail nets are the dominant cover system used in apple orchards, plastic rain shields and exclusion nets have gained importance due to their ability to prevent scab infections and codling moth immigration, respectively. We compared chemical plant protection regimes under different cover systems, namely anti-hail nets, plastic rain shields, and plastic rain shields combined with exclusion nets, in an apple orchard.
Fungicide and insecticide use could be drastically reduced under plastic rain shields and within the exclusion nets, respectively. However, due to microclimatic changes, powdery mildew and secondary pests increased in plots covered with plastic rain shields and plastic rain shields combined with exclusion nets. Despite these side effects, total pesticide use was substantially reduced in the new cover systems without incurring yield losses.
These results show that a combination of conservation biological control focusing on predatory earwigs and physical control utilizing plastic rain shields and exclusion nets could be a promising approach to reduce pesticide use in apples. However, the increased costs of new plastic rain shields and exclusion nets compared to traditional anti-hail nets present a major obstacle to their large-scale adoption, and it remains unclear how apples could be produced economically using this approach.Mit mehr als 20 Anwendungen pro Jahr ist der Apfel deutschlandweit die Kulturpflanze mit dem höchsten Einsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln. Die Apfelanbauer stehen zunehmend unter gesellschaftlichem und politischem Druck, da eine deutliche Reduzierung des Einsatzes von Pflanzenschutzmitteln durch Gesetze und einen nationalen Aktionsplan gefordert wird.
Die Reduzierung des Pflanzenschutzmitteleinsatzes soll vor allem durch Maßnahmen des integrierten Pflanzenschutzes (IPS) realisiert werden. Dieser sieht vor, dass zuerst alle nicht-chemischen Pflanzenschutzmaßnahmen, wie kulturelle Methoden, Schädlingsüberwachung und biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung angewendet werden müssen, bevor chemische Pflanzenschutzmittel zum Einsatz kommen. Der Einsatz von chemischen Pflanzenschutzmitteln ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn Schädlingsprobleme trotz dieser Maßnahmen bestehen bleiben. Obwohl es im Obstbau einige erfolgreiche nicht-chemische Pflanzenschutzmaßnahmen gibt, wie zum Beispiel den Einsatz von Sexualpheromonen und Granuloseviren zur Bekämpfung des Apfelwicklers, überwiegen nach wie vor chemische Maßnahmen. Angesichts der aktuellen Entwicklungen besteht daher ein besorgniserregender Mangel an nicht-chemischen Bekämpfungsstrategien für viele wichtige Krankheitserreger und Schädlinge im Apfelanbau.
In dieser Doktorarbeit wurden nicht-chemische Bekämpfungsmöglichkeiten im Apfelanbau und ihr Potenzial für den IPS untersucht. Ziel war es, Verfahren zu finden, die für die Erzeuger eine realistische Alternative zum Einsatz chemischer Pflanzenschutzmittel darstellen. Dabei wurden augmentative und konservierende biologische Kontrollverfahren sowie physikalische Pflanzenschutzverfahren untersucht.
Bei der konservierenden biologischen Kontrolle sollen natürliche Gegenspieler gefördert werden, um Schädlinge zu reduzieren. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde die Rolle der Individuendichte und der räumlichen Komplexität von Apfelzweigen für die Effizienz von Prädatoren untersucht, sowie der Effekt der Applikation von zusätzlicher Nahrung auf die Populationsdichten von Apfelschädlingen und deren natürlichen Feinden getestet.
Die Prädatorendichte und die räumliche Komplexität der Apfelzweige waren entscheidende Komponenten, die die Kontrolle von Blutläusen durch Ohrwürmer beeinflussten. Auf räumlich komplexen Ästen konnten Ohrwürmer bei niedriger und mittlerer Dichte nicht alle Blutläuse lokalisieren und fressen, während höhere Dichten von Ohrwürmern in der Lage waren, selbst auf räumlich komplexen Ästen alle Blutläuse aufzufinden und zu fressen. Die Applikation zusätzlicher Nahrung wurde anhand von Raubmilben untersucht. Da Raubmilben bei Beuteknappheit schnell verhungern, wurden Artemia-Zysten, die von omnivoren Raubmilben als Nahrung akzeptiert werden, auf Apfelbäume gesprüht. Obwohl keine Zunahme der Raubmilben festgestellt wurde, nahmen Populationen von Apfelrostmilben, einer Beute der Raubmilben, ab. Möglicherweise wurden diese Abnahme von räuberischen Blumenwanzen, welche durch die zusätzliche Nahrung gefördert wurden, verursacht.
Im selben Versuch wurde auch die Wirkung eines augmentative biologischen Kontrollverfahrens untersucht, indem eine heimische Raubmilbenart freigesetzt wurde um Schadmilben zu kontrollieren. Hier konnten keine eindeutigen Auswirkungen der Raubmilben-Freisetzung auf Schadmilben festgestellt werden.
Physikalische Kontrollmaßnahmen sind im Obstbau üblich, um Bäume und Früchte vor abiotischen und biotischen Schäden zu schützen. Hagelschutznetze sind das wichtigste Überdachungssystem im Apfelanbau, aber auch Plastikfolien, die Schorfinfektionen durch das Trockenhalten der Blattmasse verhindern, und Seiteneinnetzungen, die das Einwandern von Schadinsekten in die Obstanlage unterbinden, haben in letzter Zeit an Bedeutung gewonnen. Um zu bestimmen, wie viel chemische Pflanzenschutzmittel durch Plastikfolien und Seiteneinnetzungen eingespart werden können, wurde ein Systemvergleich in einer Apfelanlage mit Plastikfolien und Hagelschutznetzen angestellt.
Der Einsatz von Fungiziden und Insektiziden konnte unter den Plastikfolien und innerhalb der Seiteneinnetzungen stark reduziert werden. Durch mikroklimatische Veränderungen nahmen jedoch der Echte Mehltau und Schädlinge, wie Blutläuse und Spinnmilben, unter Plastikfolien mit und ohne Seiteneinnetzungen zu. Trotz dieser Nebenwirkungen konnte der Gesamteinsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln unter Plastikfolien erheblich reduziert werden, ohne, dass es zu Ertragseinbußen kam.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine Kombination von Verfahren der biologischen Kontrolle zur Konservierung von Ohrwürmern und physikalische Verfahren mit Plastikfolien und Seitennetzen ein vielversprechender Ansatz zur weiteren Einsparung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln im Apfelanbau sein könnten. Gleichzeitig muss aber betont werden, dass bei den teureren Überdachungssystemen (Plastikfolie) die Wirtschaftlichkeit gewährleistet sein muss, da sie mit erheblichem finanziellem Mehraufwand verbunden sind
First report on the emergence of Neopestalotiopsis rosae as a severe economic threat to strawberry production in Germany
Full text linkStrawberries hold significant economic importance in both German and global agriculture. However, their yield is often adversely affected by fungal diseases. This study describes Neopestalotiopsis rosae as a newly emerging pathogen responsible for leaf blight and fruit rot in strawberries in Germany. Infected plants were observed in Hohenheim, Germany. A combination of morphological and molecular analyses, along with pathogenicity tests, confirmed the identity of N. rosae as the causal agent. Morphological examination of conidia and mycelium revealed key characteristics including the presence of versicolorous median cells, conidial appendages, black spherical conidiomata formation as well as changing colony color and fluffy texture. These properties align with the established descriptions for the species. Molecular analysis, particularly the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and β-tubulin regions allowed the precise identification of the pathogen. Artificial inoculation of healthy strawberry plants with conidial suspension derived from the isolated strain resulted in the development of characteristic symptoms, including necrotic leaf spots and water-soaked fruit lesions, similar to those observed on the original infected plants. To our knowledge, this study presents the first documented occurrence of N. rosae in Germany, highlighting its emergence as a significant threat to strawberry production in Europe.This research was funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, grant number DBU AZ38050/01, and the APC was funded by a 100% Feature Paper discount for A.E.-H.Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwel
The role of biodiversity in consumer research on food : a review and research agenda
Full text linkThe move towards sustainable consumption has drawn significant attention from scholars and practitioners alike. Biodiversity is an integral part of environmental sustainability and food security, but it has received little attention in consumer research. Findings are fragmented into how biodiversity as a product attribute affects consumer food choices. Thus, we conducted a systematic literature review on consumer research on biodiversity in the context of food choice. We reviewed 45 papers published between 2014 and March 2025. Our analysis was guided by the TCCM (Theories, Contexts, Characteristics, and Methodology) framework for developing a systematic literature review. We examined how biodiversity was conceptualized and defined within the studies and towards study participants. Our findings show that biodiversity as a product attribute generally has positive effects on consumer attitude, willingness to pay, and product choice. However, knowledge about biodiversity and the inherent trade-offs in product choices remains limited, so consumers cannot realistically factor biodiversity into their decision-making. We find that research has taken a narrow view of biodiversity, qualitative studies are rare, and few efforts have been made to build theoretical perspectives from empirical data. We conclude with a proposed agenda for future research and a tentative definition of biodiversity for social science
The natural product 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is the predominant polyhalogenated compound in representative Australian passive air samples
Full text linkPassive air samplers are well-suited for monitoring persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in ambient air. While the presence of POPs had been documented in Australian air, no data existed on structurally similar, halogenated natural products (HNPs), although these were frequently found in marine biota samples from Australia at levels exceeding those of anthropogenic POPs. This study reports quantitative data of the HNP 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (2,4,6-TBA) along with three POPs (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 153 and 138 as well as hexachlorobenzene (HCB)) in six selected passive air samples from different Australian regions (islands, coastal cities, and inland). For the most abundant HNP, 2,4,6-TBA, time-averaged concentrations for one year were determined at up to 420 pg/m 3 (One Tree Island), indicating its predominant natural production in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). High concentrations of 2,4,6-TBA (17 pg/m 3 ), even in the remote inland sample (~ 800 km from the sea), led to the conclusion that the marine-derived 2,4,6-TBA was transported over long distances in air and can be found ubiquitously in Australian air. Even in the coastal cities of Brisbane and Darwin, 2,4,6-TBA levels were comparable to those of the PCBs. The HNP 2,3,3',4,4',5,5'-heptachloro-1'-methyl-1,2'-bipyrrole (Q1) was also detected in air from two islands. Its presence in air from One Tree Island was in line with expectations, given the high levels in marine mammal samples from the GBR. In direct comparison, the ~15 times higher ratio of Q1/2,4,6-TBA in air from Phillip Island indicated Q1 could be even more abundant in this marine region than in the GBR.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Universität Hohenheim (3153
Comparative assessment of ethanol production from six typical German waste baked products
Full text linkThis study investigates the potential for bioethanol production of six types of typical German leftover baked products: bread rolls, pretzel rolls, fine rye bread, white bread, pastry, and cream cakes. The experimental setup consisted of two experiments—one as a control and another with the addition of diammonium phosphate (DAP) to the mash. In terms of monosaccharide concentration at 30% dry matter (DM), white bread mash exhibited the highest level at 251.5 g/L, while cream cakes mash had the lowest at 186 g/L. The highest ethanol production occurred after 96 h of fermentation with rye bread, yielding 78.4 g/L. In contrast, despite having the highest monosaccharide levels, white bread produced only 21.5 g/L of ethanol after 96 h. The addition of DAP accelerated monosaccharide consumption in all baked products, with cream cakes completing the process in just 24 h. Bread rolls, pretzel rolls, pastry, and white bread fermentations finished within 72 h. Ethanol yields significantly increased in three DAP samples, with pretzel rolls yielding the highest ethanol concentration at 98.5 g/L, followed by white bread with 90.6 g/L, and bread rolls with 87.7 g/L. DAP had a substantial impact on all samples, reducing fermentation time and/or increasing ethanol yield. This effect was particularly pronounced with white bread, where it improved conversion efficiency from 17 to 72%, resulting in 90.6 g/L of ethanol. These results demonstrate that waste baked products hold substantial potential for bioethanol production, and this potential can be further enhanced through the addition of DAP.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Universität Hohenheim (3153
Antifungal properties of bioactive compounds isolated from Fucus vesiculosus supercritical carbon dioxide extract
Full text linkThe exploration of natural antifungal substances from algal origins is significant due to the increasing resistance of pathogens to conventional antifungal agents and the growing consumer demand for natural products. This manuscript represents the inaugural investigation into the antifungal attributes of bioactive compounds extracted from Fucus vesiculosus via supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction utilizing contemporary countercurrent chromatography (CCC). In aligning with the prospective utilization of this extract within the agricultural sector, this study also serves as the preliminary report demonstrating the capability of Fucus vesiculosus scCO2 extract to enhance the activity of plant resistance enzymes. The fractions obtained through CCC were subjected to evaluation for their efficacy in inhibiting the macrospores of Fusarium culmorum. The CCC methodology facilitated the successful separation of fatty acids (reaching up to 82.0 wt.% in a given fraction) and fucosterol (attaining up to 79.4 wt.% in another fraction). All CCC fractions at the concentration of 1.0% were found to inhibit 100% of Fusarium culmorum growth. Moreover, Fucus vesiculosus scCO2 extract was able to activate plant resistance enzymes (Catalase, Ascorbic Peroxidase, Guaiacol Peroxidase, Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase, and Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity).This research was funded by Polish National Science Centre (NCN) as part of the scientific project Sonatina 6 entitled ‘Purification of supercritical CO2 extracts from brown algae in terms of valuable bioactive compounds as a new road to natural products’ (Principal Investigator: Katarzyna Tyśkiewicz; UMO-2022/44/C/ST4/00010).Polish National Science Centre (NCN
Reactivation of the tRNASer/tRNATyr gene cluster in Arabidopsis thaliana root tips
Full text linkPlants maintain redundant tRNA genes (tDNAs) in their nuclear genomes, but the significance, regulation, and functional roles of these genes remain poorly understood. A cluster of tandemly repeated tDNAs decoding serine and tyrosine (SYY cluster) is located on Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chromosome 1, intersecting constitutive heterochromatin and remaining transcriptionally silenced in most tissues. The natural conditions inducing their transcription remain unknown. Here, we elucidate the tissue-specific expression pattern of this cluster during seedling establishment. Our findings reveal that SYY cluster tRNAs are primarily produced in the root cap columella and adjacent root cap cells. Transcriptional reactivation of the SYY cluster occurs in these tissues despite high DNA methylation levels. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these cells accumulate high levels of a transgenic glycoprotein rich in serine, tyrosine, and proline, and that CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of the SYY cluster alters the accumulation and stability of the glycoprotein in these specific cells. Our work provides pioneering evidence of a developmental and cell-specific expression program for a plant tDNA. We offer insights into the putative role of specialized tDNAs in enhancing glycoprotein biosynthesis in protective tissues of the meristem
Smoking is associated with increased eryptosis, suicidal erythrocyte death, in a large population-based cohort
Full text linkSmoking has multiple detrimental effects on health, and is a major preventable cause of premature death and chronic disease. Despite the well-described effect of inhaled substances from tobacco smoke on cell toxicity, the association between smoking and suicidal erythrocyte death, termed eryptosis, is virtually unknown. Therefore, the blood samples of 2023 participants of the German National Cohort Study (NAKO) were analyzed using flow cytometry analysis to determine eryptosis from fluorescent annexin V-FITC-binding to phosphatidylserine-exposing erythrocytes. Blood analyses were complemented by the measurement of hematologic parameters including red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular cell volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Eryptosis was higher in smokers than in non- and ex-smokers, and positively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked daily ( r = 0.08, 95% CI [0.03, 0.12]). Interestingly, despite increased eryptosis, smokers had higher red blood cell indices than non-smokers. To conclude, smokers were characterized by higher eryptosis than non-smokers, without showing any obvious detrimental effect on classic hematological parameters.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschafthttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Stiftung für Herzforschunghttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005970Universität Hohenheim (3153