Institution
University of Göttingen
Education•Göttingen, Germany•
About: University of Göttingen is a education organization based out in Göttingen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 43851 authors who have published 86318 publications receiving 3010295 citations. The organization is also known as: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen & Universität Göttingen.
Topics: Population, Gene, Species richness, Context (language use), Catalysis
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: This assay is a useful tool for detection of ZIKV infection in regions where a number of other clinically indistinguishable arboviruses like dengue or chikungunya co-circulate.
Abstract: Background: Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito borne flavivirus is a pathogen affecting humans in Asia and Africa. ZIKV infection diagnosis relies on serology–which is challenging due to cross-reactions with other flaviviruses and/or absence or low titer of IgM and IgG antibodies at early phase of infection- virus isolation, which is labor intensive, time consuming and requires appropriate containment. Therefore, real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) is an appealing option as a rapid, sensitive and specific method for detection of ZIKV in the early stage of infection. So far, only one rRT-PCR assay has been described in the context of the outbreak in Micronesia in 2007. In this study, we described a one step rRT-PCR for ZIKV which can detect a wider genetic diversity of ZIKV isolates from Asia and Africa. Results: The NS5 protein coding regions of African ZIKV isolates were sequenced and aligned with representative flaviviruses sequences from GenBank to design primers and probe from conserved regions. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was evaluated to be 32 genome-equivalents and 0.05 plaque forming unit (pfu). The assay was shown to detect 37 ZIKV isolates covering a wide geographic in Africa and Asia over 36 years but none of the 31 other flaviviruses tested showing high analytical specificity. The rRT-PCR could be performed in less than 3 hours. This method was used successfully to detect ZIKV strains from field-caught mosquitoes. Conclusion: We have developed a rapid, sensitive and specific rRT – PCR for detection of ZIKV. This assay is a useful tool for detection of ZIKV infection in regions where a number of other clinically indistinguishable arboviruses like dengue or chikungunya co-circulate. Further studies are needed to validate this assay in clinical positive samples collected during acute ZIKV infection.
349 citations
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TL;DR: The great importance of parasitism is a new finding for aphid control in cereal fields and more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms of natural pest control would help to develop environmentally sound crop management with reduced pesticide applications.
Abstract: Field experiments with manipulations of natural enemies of plant-feeding insects may show how a diverse enemy group ensures an important ecosystem function such as naturally occurring biological pest control. We studied cereal aphid populations in winter wheat under experimentally reduced densities of: (i) ground-dwelling generalist predators (mostly spiders, carabid and staphylinid beetles); (ii) flying predators (coccinellid beetles, syrphid flies, gall midges, etc.) and parasitoids (aphidiid wasps), and a combination of (i) and (ii), compared with open controls. Aphid populations were 18% higher at reduced densities of ground-dwelling predators, 70% higher when flying predators and parasitoids were removed, and 172% higher on the removal of both enemy groups. Parasitoid wasps probably had the strongest effect, as flying predators occurred only in negligible densities. The great importance of parasitism is a new finding for aphid control in cereal fields. In conclusion, a more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms of natural pest control would help to develop environmentally sound crop management with reduced pesticide applications.
349 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impact of off-farm income on household food security and nutrition in Nigeria using farm survey data from Nigeria, and found that the prevalence of child stunting, underweight, and wasting is lower in households with offfarm income than in households without.
349 citations
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Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg1, University of Bayreuth2, Zürcher Fachhochschule3, University of Picardie Jules Verne4, University of Oviedo5, Wageningen University and Research Centre6, Masaryk University7, University of Nottingham8, University of Rostock9, Max Planck Society10, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul11, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill12, Santa Clara University13, Leiden University14, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic15, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology16, Sapienza University of Rome17, Natural Resources Canada18, Florida International University19, Universidade Federal do Acre20, Ghent University21, University of Göttingen22, University of the Basque Country23, Aarhus University24, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory25, Environmental Change Institute26, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts27, University of Nova Gorica28, King Juan Carlos University29, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague30, VU University Amsterdam31, University of Würzburg32, National University of Cordoba33, Wake Forest University34, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco35, University of Exeter36, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue37, University of Montpellier38, University of Adelaide39, University of Chile40, IFREMER41, University of British Columbia42, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina43, University of Münster44, University of Hamburg45, University of Wrocław46, University of Zurich47, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research48, University of Oldenburg49, University of Waikato50, University of Wyoming51, Institut national de la recherche agronomique52, Sofia University53, Royal Botanic Gardens54, University of Edinburgh55, Landcare Research56, Radboud University Nijmegen57, Spanish National Research Council58, University of Barcelona59, University of Leeds60, University of Tartu61, University of Sydney62, University of Minnesota63, University of Jena64, University of La Serena65, Peking University66, Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development67, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki68, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences69, University of Oulu70, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire71, American Museum of Natural History72, International Institute of Minnesota73, Leipzig University74
TL;DR: It is shown that global trait composition is captured by two main dimensions that are only weakly related to macro-environmental drivers, which reflect the trade-offs at the species level but are weakly associated with climate and soil conditions at the global scale.
Abstract: Plant functional traits directly affect ecosystem functions. At the species level, trait combinations depend on trade-offs representing different ecological strategies, but at the community level trait combinations are expected to be decoupled from these trade-offs because different strategies can facilitate co-existence within communities. A key question is to what extent community-level trait composition is globally filtered and how well it is related to global versus local environmental drivers. Here, we perform a global, plot-level analysis of trait-environment relationships, using a database with more than 1.1 million vegetation plots and 26,632 plant species with trait information. Although we found a strong filtering of 17 functional traits, similar climate and soil conditions support communities differing greatly in mean trait values. The two main community trait axes that capture half of the global trait variation (plant stature and resource acquisitiveness) reflect the trade-offs at the species level but are weakly associated with climate and soil conditions at the global scale. Similarly, within-plot trait variation does not vary systematically with macro-environment. Our results indicate that, at fine spatial grain, macro-environmental drivers are much less important for functional trait composition than has been assumed from floristic analyses restricted to co-occurrence in large grid cells. Instead, trait combinations seem to be predominantly filtered by local-scale factors such as disturbance, fine-scale soil conditions, niche partitioning and biotic interactions.
349 citations
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Utrecht University1, United States Department of Energy2, National Autonomous University of Mexico3, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens4, University of Debrecen5, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation6, Leiden University7, University of Göttingen8, Maynooth University9, University of Seville10, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna11, Broad Institute12, Huazhong Agricultural University13, State University of Campinas14, International Sleep Products Association15, Université libre de Bruxelles16, University of Nottingham17, Aix-Marseille University18, Pasteur Institute19, King Abdulaziz University20, Institut national de la recherche agronomique21, University of Helsinki22, University of Amsterdam23, University of St Andrews24, University of Ioannina25, Saint Petersburg State University26, Spanish National Research Council27, Federal University of São Carlos28, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences29, Technical University of Berlin30, National Scientific and Technical Research Council31, Concordia University32, Kyungpook National University33, University of the Republic34, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology35, University of Sulaymaniyah36, University of Ljubljana37, Leibniz Association38, Stanford University39, Kansas State University40, Technical University of Denmark41, University of Wisconsin-Madison42, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory43, University of Jena44, University of São Paulo45, University of Kansas46, Imperial College London47, Université Paris-Saclay48, Vienna University of Technology49
TL;DR: In this article, a comparative genomics and experimental study of the aspergilli genus is presented, which allows for the first time a genus-wide view of the biological diversity of the Aspergillus and in many, but not all, cases linked genome differences to phenotype.
Abstract: Background: The fungal genus Aspergillus is of critical importance to humankind. Species include those with industrial applications, important pathogens of humans, animals and crops, a source of potent carcinogenic contaminants of food, and an important genetic model. The genome sequences of eight aspergilli have already been explored to investigate aspects of fungal biology, raising questions about evolution and specialization within this genus. Results: We have generated genome sequences for ten novel, highly diverse Aspergillus species and compared these in detail to sister and more distant genera. Comparative studies of key aspects of fungal biology, including primary and secondary metabolism, stress response, biomass degradation, and signal transduction, revealed both conservation and diversity among the species. Observed genomic differences were validated with experimental studies. This revealed several highlights, such as the potential for sex in asexual species, organic acid production genes being a key feature of black aspergilli, alternative approaches for degrading plant biomass, and indications for the genetic basis of stress response. A genome-wide phylogenetic analysis demonstrated in detail the relationship of the newly genome sequenced species with other aspergilli. Conclusions: Many aspects of biological differences between fungal species cannot be explained by current knowledge obtained from genome sequences. The comparative genomics and experimental study, presented here, allows for the first time a genus-wide view of the biological diversity of the aspergilli and in many, but not all, cases linked genome differences to phenotype. Insights gained could be exploited for biotechnological and medical applications of fungi.
349 citations
Authors
Showing all 44172 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
Yang Gao | 168 | 2047 | 146301 |
J. S. Lange | 160 | 2083 | 145919 |
Jens J. Holst | 160 | 1536 | 107858 |
Hans Lassmann | 155 | 724 | 79933 |
Walter Paulus | 149 | 809 | 86252 |
Arnulf Quadt | 135 | 1409 | 123441 |
Elizaveta Shabalina | 133 | 1421 | 92273 |
Ernst Detlef Schulze | 133 | 670 | 69504 |
Mark Stitt | 132 | 456 | 60800 |
Meinrat O. Andreae | 131 | 700 | 72714 |
Teja Tscharntke | 130 | 520 | 70554 |
William C. Hahn | 130 | 448 | 72191 |
Vladimir Cindro | 129 | 1157 | 82000 |
Dave Britton | 129 | 1094 | 84187 |
Johannes Haller | 129 | 1178 | 84813 |