A newly recognized herpesvirus, koi herpesvirus or KHV, causes a lethal disease in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and its colourful strain known as koi or fancy carp. In this study, we report new outbreaks of the disease, present initial characterization of the KHV genome, and describe assays for detection of KHV DNA in infected cells and tissues of infected fish. Restriction endonuclease (RE) profiles of viral DNA derived from two epidemiologically distinct KHV isolates were identical to each other. Cloned KHV BamHI and SphI DNA probes specifically hybridized to KHV DNA, but not to DNAs derived from a variety of other fish herpesviruses. The KHV DNA probes detected KHV DNA in tissues of experimentally infected koi fish by DNA hybridization. The KHV specific polymerase chain assays (PCR) were developed for rapid detection and confirmation of KHV DNA in tissues of infected fish.

Fecal suspensions with an aerosol route of transmission were responsible for a cluster of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in 2003 in Hong Kong. Based on that event, the World Health Organization recommended that research be implemented to define modes of transmission of SARS coronavirus through sewage, feces, food and water. Environmental studies have shown that animal coronaviruses remain infectious in water and sewage for up to a year depending on the temperature and humidity. In this study, we examined coronavirus stability on lettuce surfaces. A cell culture adapted bovine coronavirus, diluted in growth media or in bovine fecal suspensions to simulate fecal contamination was used to spike romaine lettuce. qRT-PCR detected viral RNA copy number ranging from 6.6 × 10 4 to 1.7 × 10 6 throughout the experimental period of 30 days. Whereas infectious viruses were detected for at least 14 days, the amount of infectious virus varied, depending upon the diluent used for spiking the lettuce. UV and confocal microscopic observation indicated attachment of residual labeled virions to the lettuce surface after the elution procedure, suggesting that rates of inactivation or detection of the virus may be underestimated. Thus, it is possible that contaminated vegetables may be potential vehicles for coronavirus zoonotic transmission to humans.

A steroid-hormone-dependent growth suppression was observed in Escherichia coli efflux-deficient backgrounds containing mutations in the major RND-and MFS-type tripartite multidrug efflux systems, AcrABTolC and EmrAB-TolC, respectively. In addition to their previously known natural steroid spectrum, which includes bile acids, both systems were shown to transport the hormones estradiol and progesterone, whereas hydrocortisone served as a substrate of only AcrAB-TolC. Furthermore, at least two other RND-type pumps, YhiV and AcrD, were capable of transporting such hormones when overexpressed on plasmid vectors (with some demonstrable specificity observed with AcrD). When this activity was examined in a wild-type background, cell-associated estradiol levels remained largely unaffected by competition with exogenous bile acids and hydrocortisone, in contrast to progesterone, which produced a significant modulation in estradiol uptake.

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), an antifungal phytoalexin produced by grapes, peanuts, and Japanese knotweeds, is thought to be a beneficial dietary phytochemical in red wine and grape juice. Information on its antibacterial properties and biotransformation, however, is limited. We surveyed the interactions of resveratrol with 43 strains of bacterial species that are often animal- or human-associated. Resveratrol at 50 mg L(-1) reduced the growth rates of most of the bacteria tested, but did not totally prevent growth even at much higher levels. Eleven of the 43 bacteria were capable of transforming at least 20% of the resveratrol. Three major metabolites were identified as resveratroloside, piceid, and dihydroresveratrol, and three other metabolites were partially characterized.