136 research outputs found
Time to transform? Sustainability narratives for European food systems
No full textThe unsustainable nature of prevailing food systems contributes to drive humanity out of a safe operating space. Despite recognising the need for food systems transformation, its direction diverges into different sustainability narratives and conflicting objectives resulting in disjoint policy agendas and problem definitions. While few studies compared and identified gaps and trade-offs in food systems frameworks, systematic reviews for conceptualising sustainable food systems remain scarce. Focusing on the European context, we investigated how academics framed sustainability narratives and their role in advancing Sustainable Development Goals targets, exploring lock-ins and leverage points for food system transformation. By conducting a PRISMA systematic scoping review and analysing 94 documents, we found disparities in current research with socio-economic and cross-cutting aspects comparatively overlooked to environmental and health ones. Linking sustainability objectives to 55 SDG targets we demonstrated their potential contributions to sustainable development by addressing systemic conceptualisations and acknowledging trade-offs. We identified lack of vision and coordination among stakeholders and institutional framework shortcomings as barriers to change. Analysis of leverage points suggested stakeholder engagement and system transparency as pivotal for transformation. Last, we draw concrete implications for science and policy agendas to shape a food systems transformation grounded in a shared sustainability paradigm forged through collaborative efforts among scientific, policy, and societal domains
Sequential deposition of hybrid halide perovskite starting both from lead iodide and lead chloride on the most widely employed substrates
No full textThe introduction of hybrid perovskites is revolutionizing the field of solution processable next-generation optoelectronic devices, with outstanding results achieved in solar energy conversion devices, lasing, light emitting diodes, and thermoelectric generators. An intelligent design of the material properties is a critical element in the technological development of such devices and, to achieve it, excellent control of the material deposition procedures is of paramount importance. Here we compare the growth of hybrid perovskite, starting both from lead iodide and lead chloride, through a simple two-step method on the most widely employed substrates, and we present diverse morphologies, realized varying the substrates and the deposition procedures
Lead-free metal halide perovskites for hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions
No full textMetal halide perovskites (MHPs) exploitation represents the next big frontier in photo-voltaic technologies. However, the extraordinary optoelectronic properties of these materials also call for alternative utilizations, such as in solar-driven photocatalysis, to better address the big challenges ahead for eco-sustainable human activities. In this contest the recent reports on MHPs structures, especially those stable in aqueous solutions, suggest the exciting possibility for efficient solar-driven perovskite-based hydrogen (H2 ) production. In this minireview such works are critically analyzed and classified according to their mechanism and working conditions. We focus on lead-free materials, because of the environmental issue represented by lead containing material, especially if exploited in aqueous medium, thus it is important to avoid its presence from the technology take-off. Particular emphasis is dedicated to the materials composition/structure impacting on this catalytic process. The rationalization of the distinctive traits characterizing MHPs-based H2 production could assist the future expansion of the field, supporting the path towards a new class of light-driven catalysts working in aqueous environments
New findings on the genetic correlation between Q1 and 624I genotypes of Infectious Bronchitis Virus.
No full textSince 1996 a new Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) genotype, referred to as Q1, circulated in China and was reported for the first time in Italy in 2011. A deep molecular investigation of a Q1 IBV strain isolated in Italy in 2013 has raised hypotheses regarding the origin of this genotype. The phylogenetic analysis of
the S1 gene sequence of the Q1 Italian strain revealed, beyond an obvious correlation with Q1 sequences available in web databases, a close relationship with sequences of the 624I strains circulating in Italy in the early ‘90s. The close genetic correlation observed led to the hypothesis that 624I was an ancestor of the Q1 genotype. Despite the fact that most heterogeneity of IBVs occurs in the S1 gene, the sequence analysis of this single gene was not sufficient neither to confirm nor deny this hypothesis. For further investigation, in the present study an Italian 624I strain was for the first time fully sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed using complete IBV genome sequences available on database ViPR. The possible recombinant nature of the sequenced strain was evaluated using SimPlot analysis
MESSA A PUNTO DI UN PROTOCOLLO DI REAL-TIME PCR PER LA DIAGNOSI E LA DIFFERENZIAZIONE DI METAPNEUMOVIRUS AVIARE SOTTOTIPO A E B
No full textI metapneumovirus Aviari (aMPV) sono virus ad RNA appartenenti alla famiglia delle Paramyxoviridae, genere Metapneumovirus. Sono causa nel tacchino di un’infezione delle prime vie respiratorie nota come Rinotracheite del Tacchino (TRT), mentre nel pollo sono responsabili di forme respiratorie più o meno gravi, che possono sfociare nella Sindrome della Testa Gonfia (SHS). Sono stati sino ad ora individuati 4 sottotipi di aMPV (A, B, C e D). La presenza di manifestazioni cliniche, non patognomoniche per infezione da aMPV, la scarsa capacità di replicazione del virus nell'organismo ospite e la sua capacità di causare infezioni subcliniche, nonchè la sua variabilità genetica, rendono necessari metodi diagnostici molto accurati e sensibili. La biologia molecolare offre un'alternativa veloce, sensibile, specifica e pratica per la diagnosi delle infezioni sostenute da aMPV. Per questa ragione nel corso degli anni sono stati messi a punto diversi protocolli di RT-PCR. Più recentemente, particolare attenzione è stata rivolta allo sviluppo di metodiche basate sull’uso di real-time RT-PCR. I protocolli finora sviluppati prevedono l’utilizzo di sonde oligonucleotidiche specifiche marcate con fluorofori. Tuttavia questo approccio comporta un rilevante costo iniziale, una più complessa ottimizzazione della metodica ed una spiccata suscettibilità alla variabilità genomica nella regione target. A partire da questi presupposti, al fine di rilevare, quantificare e genotipizzare i due sottotipi di aMPV più diffusi (i.e. sottotipo A e B), si è scelto di mettere a punto e validare una real-time RT-PCR, avente come target il gene SH, basata sull’uso del SYBR Green I. La metodica ha dimostrato una sensibilità analitica paragonabile a quella di altri test riportati in bibliografia essendo in grado di rilevare, per entrambi i sottotipi, titoli virali dell’ordine di 0.5 TCID50/mL. L’elevata efficienza di reazione (efficienza~90%) e la linearità nella relazione fra titoli virali e Crossing point (Cp) riscontrati, rendono inoltre la metodica adatta anche alla quantificazione virale. L’ottimizzazione delle condizioni di reazione e l’analisi della curva di melting permettono contestualmente di garantire una elevata specificità del test (assenza di cross-reazioni con altri comuni patogeni aviari) e la discriminazione dei due sottotipi, le cui Temperature di melting (Tm) si sono rivelate caratteristiche (Tm media per aMPV-A=82,72 e per aMPV-B=81,94) e altamente ripetibili nelle diverse prove fatte in corso di validazione. Complessivamente queste caratteristiche rendono il nostro protocollo di real-time RT-PCR un test sensibile, specifico e rapido, utilizzabile per la contestuale diagnosi, quantificazione e genotipizzazione dei sottotipi di aMPV più diffusi a livello mondiale
Molecular characterization of Marek’s disease virus detected in backyard chickens affected by classical nervous form
No full textAn outbreak of Marek’s disease nervous form in unvaccinated Cochin chickens from an Italian
backyard flock is reported. After suppression two birds, showing inability to stand upright and
spastic paralysis of legs, were necropsied and organs were taken for histologic examination and
molecular analysis. MDV-1 was detected from feathers by PCR targeting meq gene.meq gene
of the detected strain was fully sequenced along with commercial vaccines most commonly
used in Italy. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences were compared to selected MDV-1
reference strains with different degrees of pathogenicity, retrieved from GenBank. The
sequence analysis and the high number of PPPP repeats found in the transactivation domain
of the Meq protein showed that the detected virus was closely related to mild or attenuated
MDV-1 strains, but different from the analyzed vaccines. The molecular results were supported
by clinical, macroscopic and microscopic findings. A- and B-type lesions, highly suggestive of a
mild MDV-1 infection, were observed in peripheral nerves.MHC haplotype B19, known to be
correlated with high susceptibility to Marek’s disease, was found in affected chickens by PCR
and sequencing of B-LβII family genes. Because sequencing of the meq gene is not a sufficient
criteria in determining the pathotype, virus isolation will be attempted in order to confirm the
molecular results by in vivo experimental trials
Full genome sequences comparison of Infectious Bronchitis virus QX L1148 vaccine and its virulent progenitor led to the identification of the changes involved in the attenuation process.
No full textInfectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) is responsible for an important contagious poultry disease and it is distributed worldwide. The control of the disease is mainly achieved by the use of live vaccines. IBV QX vaccine strains are available and currently used in many countries where this genotype is circulating. In the present study the complete genome sequences of a QX vaccine strain L-1148 and its progenitor virulent strain 1148-A were obtained and compared so as to identify the nucleic acid changes occurring during the attenuation process. The comparative sequence analysis of the two strains showed the presence of 28 nucleic acid substitutions, resulting in 15 amino acid changes. Most nucleic acid substitutions are located in the 1a-1ab and S genes. One change each is located in the E, M, and 5a genes and two changes each in the 5’ UTR, 5b gene and 3’UTR. Changes associated with adaptation to chicken embryos were identified, of which some would have resulted in attenuation
Dati epidemiologici sulla circolazione in Italia del nuovo genotipo IBDV ITA
No full textSignifi cant economic losses can affect the poultry industry due to the consequences of immunosuppression induced by viral infections. This study reports the results of a survey, conducted in 2012-2014 on 59 farms located in Northern and Central Italy, aimed to investigate the diffusion of the new genotipe ITA of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) recently detected in Italy. All fl ocks, out of one, were vaccinated for IBD. Seventeen longitudinal studies and 42 “one off” sampling performed during routine diagnostic activity for IBD, were performed. Samples of the Bursa of Fabricius were collected for virus detection by a RT-PCR protocol designed in the hypervariable region of the VP2, from 10 birds per fl ock, at different time of life.
The RT-PCR products were sequenced and the sequences aligned with the available database logged omologous sequences. The IBDV strain ITA was the most detected genotype, being found in 31 out of 59 farms. The actual pathogenicity of the IBDV ITA strain, as well as the degree of protection offered by common vaccination schedules, will be further investigated
Vaccines interaction and protection against virulent avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) challenge after combined administration of Newcastle disease and AMPV live vaccines to one-day old turkeys
No full textThe combined administration of Newcastle Disease (ND) and Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) live vaccines to one-day-old turkeys in the hatchery is advantageous, but compatibility has not yet been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate this issue, AMPV subtype B live vaccine strain VCO3 was given to one-day old turkeys either alone or in combination with ND vaccine strain B1 or strain VG/GA, in secure isolation conditions. Post-vaccination viral shedding and humoral immune response were assessed. Furthermore birds were challenged with a virulent AMPV and the protection from clinical signs was evaluated. Results showed that concurrent live vaccination
with AMPV and NDV (either strain B1 or VG/GA) of 1-day-old turkeys confers good protection after AMPV challenge and causes a synergic effect in AMPV antibody response, probably due
to higher AMPV vaccine replication when it is given in combination with ND vaccines. Further studies are required to show if protection after NDV challenge is affected by ND and AMPV combined vaccination
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