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Roles of bacteriophages, plasmids and CRISPR immunity in microbial community dynamics revealed using time-series integrated meta-omics KU Leuven
Viruses and plasmids (invasive mobile genetic elements (iMGEs)) have important roles in shaping microbial communities, but their dynamic interactions with CRISPR-based immunity remain unresolved. We analysed generation-resolved iMGE-host dynamics spanning one and a half years in a microbial consortium from a biological wastewater treatment plant using integrated meta-omics. We identified 31 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes encoding ...
Infection and immunity : 'There Are Things Out There You (Don't) Need To Know About' Ghent University Flanders Institute for Biotechnology
Towards measles elimination in Italy: Monitoring herd immunity by Bayesian mixture modelling of serological data Hasselt University
The analysis of post-vaccination serological data poses nontrivial issues to the epidemiologists and policy makers who want to assess the effects of immunisation programmes. This is especially true for infections on the path to elimination as is the case for measles. We address these problems by using Bayesian Normal mixture models fitted to antibody counts data. This methodology allows us to estimate the seroprevalence of measles by age and, in ...
Sweet immunity : inulin boosts resistance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) against grey mold (Botrytis cinerea) in an ethylene-dependent manner Ghent University KU Leuven
The concept of Sweet Immunity postulates that sugar metabolism and signaling influence plant immune networks. In this study, we tested the potential of commercially available inulin-type fructans to limit disease symptoms caused by Botrytis cinerea in lettuce. Spraying mature lettuce leaves, with inulin-type fructans derived from burdock or chicory was as effective in reducing grey mold disease symptoms caused by Botrytis cinerea as spraying ...
Hope-Simpsons Progressive Immunity Hypothesis as a Possible Explanation for Herpes Zoster Incidence Data Hasselt University
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the causative agent of both varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (HZ) (shingles). After varicella infection, the virus remains dormant in the hosts dorsal ganglia and can reactivate due to waning cell-mediated immunity, causing HZ. Exposure of varicella-immune persons to VZV may boost the hosts immune response, resulting in a protective effect against HZ. In this study, we used mathematical models of VZV ...
Effects of inulin supplementation on intestinal barrier function and immunity in specific pathogen-free chickens with Salmonella infection KU Leuven
We investigated the effects of inulin on intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE)-infected specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. SPF chickens (n = 240, 1-d-old) were divided into 4 groups (6 replicates per group, 10 chickens per replicate): a control group (CON) fed a basal diet without inulin supplementation and 3 SE-infected groups fed a basal diet supplemented with inulin 0% (SE group), ...
Limited evidence for trans-generational effects of maternal dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids on offspring immunity in broiler chickens KU Leuven
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the immune response of broiler chickens is modulated by including different omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the maternal diet. Broiler breeder hens (n = 120 birds per group) were fed one of four diets, differing in the ratios of n-6:n-3 PUFAs and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA):docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). At 28 weeks of age, the eggs produced were incubated to obtain 720 ...
Lead exposure reduces carotenoid-based coloration and constitutive immunity in wild mallards University of Antwerp
The ingestion of spent lead (Pb) from ammunition is a known cause of mortality in waterfowl, but little is known about sublethal effects produced by Pb poisoning on birds, especially in wild populations. The authors studied potential sublethal effects associated with Pb exposure in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) from the Ebro delta (northeastern Spain) after a ban on Pb ammunition. They analyzed the relationships between blood Pb levels and ...