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An outbreak of disease in a Swedish beef cattle herd initiated an in-depth study to investigate the presence of bacteria and viruses in the blood of clinically healthy (n = 10) and clinically diseased cattle (n = 20) using whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGSS). The occurrence of infectious agents was also investigated in ticks found attached to healthy cattle (n = 61) and wild deer (n = 23), and in spleen samples from wild deer (n = 30) and wild boars (n = 10). Moreover, blood samples from 84 clinically healthy young stock were analysed for antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens. The WGSS revealed the presence of at least three distinct Mycoplasma variants that were most closely related to Mycoplasma wenyonii. Two of these were very similar to a divergent M. wenyonii variant previously only detected in Mexico. These variants tended to be more common in the diseased cattle than in the healthy cattle but were not detected in the ticks or wild animals. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in similar proportions in diseased (33%) and healthy (40%) cattle, while 70% of the deer, 8% of ticks collected from the cattle and 19% of the ticks collected from deer were positive. Almost all the isolates from the cattle, deer and ticks belonged to Ecotype 1. Based on sequencing of the groEL-gene, most isolates of A. phagocytophilum from cattle were similar and belonged to a different cluster than the isolates from wild deer. Antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were detected in all the analysed samples. In conclusion, uncommon variants of Mycoplasma were detected, probably associated with the disease outbreak in combination with immune suppression due to granulocytic anaplasmosis. Moreover, A. phagocytophilum was found to be circulating within this cattle population, while circulation between cattle and deer occurred infrequently.

The induction of long-lasting clinical and virological protection is needed for a successful vaccination program against the bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). In this study, calves with BRSV-specific maternally derived antibodies were vaccinated once, either with (i) a BRSV pre-fusion protein (PreF) and MontanideTM ISA61 VG (ISA61, n = 6), (ii) BRSV lacking the SH gene (ΔSHrBRSV, n = 6), (iii) a commercial vaccine (CV, n = 6), or were injected with ISA61 alone (n = 6). All calves were challenged with BRSV 92 days later and were euthanized 13 days post-infection. Based on clinical, pathological, and proteomic data, all vaccines appeared safe. Compared to the controls, PreF induced the most significant clinical and virological protection post-challenge, followed by ΔSHrBRSV and CV, whereas the protection of PreF-vaccinated calves was correlated with BRSV-specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody responses 84 days post-vaccination, and the IgG antibody titers of ΔSHrBRSV- and CV-vaccinated calves did not differ from the controls on this day. Nevertheless, strong anamnestic BRSV- and PreF-specific IgG responses occurred in calves vaccinated with either of the vaccines, following a BRSV challenge. In conclusion, PreF and ΔSHrBRSV are two efficient one-shot candidate vaccines. By inducing a protection for at least three months, they could potentially improve the control of BRSV in calves.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major disease of young cattle whose etiology lies in complex interactions between pathogens and environmental and host factors. Despite a high frequency of codetection of respiratory pathogens in BRD, data on the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis associated with viral and bacterial interactions are still limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of a coinfection with influenza D virus (IDV) and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle. Naive calves were infected by aerosol with a French IDV strain and an M. bovis strain. The combined infection shortened the incubation period, worsened the disease, and led to more severe macroscopic and microscopic lesions compared to these parameters in calves infected with only one pathogen. In addition, IDV promoted colonization of the lower respiratory tract (LRT) by M. bovis and increased white cell recruitment to the airway lumen. The transcriptomic analysis highlighted an upregulation of immune genes in the lungs of coinfected calves. The gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) gene was shown to be the gene most statistically overexpressed after coinfection at 2 days postinfection (dpi) and at least until 7 dpi, which correlated with the high level of lymphocytes in the LRT. Downregulation of the PACE4 and TMPRSS2 endoprotease genes was also highlighted, being a possible reason for the faster clearance of IDV in the lungs of coinfected animals. Taken together, our coinfection model with two respiratory pathogens that when present alone induce moderate clinical signs of disease was shown to increase the severity of the disease in young cattle and a strong transcriptomic innate immune response in the LRT, especially for IFN-gamma.IMPORTANCE Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is among the most prevalent diseases in young cattle. BRD is due to complex interactions between viruses and/or bacteria, most of which have a moderate individual pathogenicity. In this study, we showed that coinfection with influenza D virus (IDV) and Mycoplasma bovis increased the severity of the respiratory disease in calves in comparison with IDV or M. bovis infection. IDV promoted M. bovis colonization of the lower respiratory tract and increased white cell recruitment to the airway lumen. The transcriptomic analysis highlighted an upregulation of immune genes in the lungs of coinfected calves. The IFN-gamma gene in particular was highly overexpressed after coinfection, correlated with the disease severity, immune response, and white cell recruitment in the lungs. In conclusion, we showed that IDV facilitates coinfections within the BRD complex by modulating the local innate immune response, providing new insights into the mechanisms involved in severe respiratory diseases.

Recent studies have identified a new genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family, Influenza D virus (IDV). This virus was shown to infect farm animals including swine and cattle, and to efficiently replicate and transmit in ferrets, the animal model of choice for transmission of influenza A virus to humans. This partnering grant on IDV addressed the need for capacity building at EU level to improve the EU's scientific assessment capacity and international competitiveness. We have promoted cross‐disciplinary cooperation between the partner institutes representing six Member States (BE, FR, IT, LU, NL and SE). We have shown that the available antigen and genome test systems allow reliable influenza D diagnostics in partners laboratories, while for a few of the applied antibody testing methods adjustments are recommended. Tools were developed to study virus‐host range, with a gain of knowledge on host and tissue tropism of IDV in farm animals but also in wild life and very preliminary data was generated on human tissues. Serological results in European cattle suggest that influenza D virus is enzootic. Virus diversity is still unfolding: new virus introductions were identified, as well as new reassortants whose differential clinical impact or cross‐protection levels are still poorly understood. Considering drivers of emergence, IDV was in the top five in comparison with 29 other diseases. The main risk factors of IDV in cattle are related to the animal density, presence of respiratory clinical signs in cattle and contact rates between animals. Simplified quantitative IDV risk assessment exposure model indicated a possible infection of human by IDV through aerosols in cattle farms. Further studies are warranted to fully assess the risk of IDV for both animal and Human health in Europe.

För att Sverige ska uppnå de energimål som satts upp i enighet med Agenda 2030, är det av stor vikt att implementera mer förnybara resurser. Sektorkopplingsstrategier är en potentiell åtgärd vilket skulle optimera det svenska energisystemet. På sikt skulle det även kunna frigöra kapacitet, och därmed möjliggöra hantering av en större andel förnybara källor i elnätet. Syftet med den här studien är att bistå med en nulägesrapport av sektorkopplingsetablering i Sverige, med särskild fördjupning i region Gotland. Studien grundas i en omfattande litteraturstudie och kvalitativa intervjuer. Genom att studera tidigare litteratur inom området identifierades tekniker och metoder inom sektorkoppling, vars nuvarande utsträckning i Sverige kartlades. Den fördjupade datainsamlingen för studien var ostrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer med projektledare och aktörer med relevans för Gotland. Resultatet från studien är en sammanställning av sektorkopplingtekniker samt hur dessa kan bidra till att öka flexibiliteten i energisystemet i allmänhet, och elnätet i synnerhet. Vidare kartlades projekt i Sverige som tillämpar dessa tekniker. Slutsatserna visar på att sektorkoppling redan är etablerat i Sverige, men befinner sig i ett tidigt stadium. Resultatet visade vidare att det krävs engagemang från kunder och aktörer, samt en viss standard i energisystemet för att möjliggöra en framgångsrik tillämpning av sektorkoppling i det svenska energisystemet. Resultaten belyser likväl att en fortsatt etablering av sektorkoppling kan komma att kräva ekonomiska incitament i form av bidrag och satsningar. Including more renewable energy sources in the energy system is of great importance to enable Sweden to achieve its climate goals in unity of Agenda 2030. Sector coupling is a potential strategy for energy optimization, which in time could become a more established method to manage capacity issues, as well as permitting more renewable energy sources in the electricity grid. The purpose of this study is to compile a status report on current sector coupling in Sweden, with additional further investigation of region Gotland. The study is based on a comprehensive literature study as well as data collection through qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders. Previous research and literature in the field enabled the identification of different technologies and methods relating to sector coupling. Qualitative data was gathered through unstructured interviews with represenatatives from companies and organizations having their focus set on energy planning in the Gotland region. The results consist of an assortment of various sector coupling technologies and their ability to increase the flexibility of the power grid and energy system in Sweden. In addition, several projects with diverse implementation of sector coupling strategies were also being mapped out. In conclusion, it became apparent that sector coupling is only at its earlier stages of implementation in Sweden. Further interest and commitment by customers and businesses is of great importance and needed to enable expansion of sector coupling technologies in Sweden. Moreover, the energy system requires standards, as well as financial incentives to promote further use of sector coupling in society.

International audience; Human and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV/BRSV) are major causes of severe lower respiratory tract infections in children and calves, respectively. Shared epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of these viruses make comparative research highly relevant. To characterise the host response against BRSV infection, bronchoalveolar lavage supernatant (BAL) from i) non-vaccinated, BRSV-infected ii) vaccinated, BRSV-infected and iii) non-infected calves was analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Proteins were semi-quantified and protein expression was validated by immunoblotting. Correlations between selected proteins and pathology, clinical signs and virus shedding were investigated. Calves with BRSV-induced disease had increased total protein concentrations and a decreased number of proteins identified in BAL. The protein profile was characterised by neutrophil activation and a reduction in identified antioxidant enzymes. The presence of neutrophils in alveolar septa, the expression level of neutrophil-related or antioxidant proteins and LZTFL1 correlated significantly with disease. Citrullinated histone 3, an indicator of extracellular traps (ETs), was only detected in non-vaccinated, BRSV-infected animals. By bringing disequilibrium in the release and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, generating ETs and causing elastine degradation, exaggerated neutrophil responses might exacerbate RSV-induced disease. Neutrophil-mitigating or antioxidant treatments should be further explored.

The demands on our environment have reached vast levels, and climate change is often seen as the world’s most pressing challenge, hindering some countries from achieving sustainable development in the future. Low-developed countries, such as Mozambique, are those often viewed as most likely to suffer the most from consequences of environmental degradation, and global actors, such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have emphasized the need for environmental education (EE) that can equip and mobilize people, especially youth, for the right kind of change. There is little known, however, of how suitable these global ideas are at the local level in a country like Mozambique, with various environmental problems and a large youth population.With this problem in mind, this study aims to increase the understanding of how the global indicators for EE are reflected in national policy and local practice. The intention is to compare the global, national and local indicators and identify possible gaps and similarities, and draw conclusions about compatibilities between the global and most local level. Thus, a three-week field study in Lichinga Municipality, in northern Mozambique was undertaken. Empirical field data was mostly gathered through semi-structured interviews and direct observations. In order to understand potential compatibilities between the global and local level, a comparative analytical approach based on an inductive mode of inference was applied, contrasting the indicators’ main messages.The findings show that different indicators have different priorities which create incompatibilities between different levels. The global indicator was found to be too general and thus not very helpful especially for sustainable development on very local level, in this case Lichinga Municipality. While young people presented good knowledge and awareness about environmental issues, youth need resources and support to act as agents of change. As of now, they do not have the ability to take on the expected responsibility at the local level. For the global indicator to be successful on all levels, it is concluded that it must take local conditions into considerations and move away from its universal nature.

Animal welfare is a topic subjected to great controversy, mostly within moral philosophy. The moral issue of human behaviour is often dealt with, alongside whether nonhuman animals are eligible certain rights. In our world, how humans behave towards nonhuman animals have fallen into something of political oblivion, which is the departure-point for this research. The essay’s discourse surrounds nonhuman animals’ political and moral status in Sweden, with the aim of drawing conclusions regarding whether they can be said to possess it. This is done through an analysis of ideas, using dimensions as tools, problematizing the Swedish parliamentary parties' views on animal welfare. A better understanding for nonhuman animals’ situation in Sweden has been provided, showing that there is no animal rights mentality tangible, while speciesist and utilitarian attitudes towards nonhuman animals dominate. The analysis show that nonhuman animals in Sweden possess moral status, as the parties agree that nonhuman animals should be spared from unnecessary suffering, and their welfare seems to count in its own right. However, human interests tend to take precedence in most cases, and in the end, nonhuman animals cannot be considered to possess any political status, despite their unmistakable presence in our society.