Similarity between two individuals in the combination of genetic markers along their chromosomes indicates shared ancestry and can be used to identify historical connections between different population groups due to admixture. We use a genome-wide, haplotype-based, analysis to characterise the structure of genetic diversity and gene-flow in a collection of 48 sub-Saharan African groups. We show that coastal populations experienced an influx of Eurasian haplotypes over the last 7000 years, and that Eastern and Southern Niger-Congo speaking groups share ancestry with Central West Africans as a result of recent population expansions. In fact, most sub-Saharan populations share ancestry with groups from outside of their current geographic region as a result of gene-flow within the last 4000 years. Our in-depth analysis provides insight into haplotype sharing across different ethno-linguistic groups and the recent movement of alleles into new environments, both of which are relevant to studies of genetic epidemiology.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15266.001

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was detected in breeding turkeys on 2 farms in Valparaiso, Chile. Infection was associated with measurable declines in egg production and shell quality. Although the source of infection is not yet known, the outbreak was controlled, and the virus was eliminated from the birds.

Dispersal ability and degree of inbreeding in a population can indirectly be assessed using genetic markers. In general, it was suggested that winged termites are not able to fly distances greater than several hundred meters. Here, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to analyze genetic diversity, population substructure, and gene flow among insular populations of the termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Isoptera: Termitidae) in the Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. Samples were collected from 77 nests on seven islands of the Yaeyama Group. Using three primer combinations a total of 155 bands were generated with 78 (50%) polymorphic bands. Genetic distance and G(st) values among insular populations were calculated. Relatively high genetic diversity and low values of G (st), suggest there is moderate subpopulation structure. Based on these results, we discussed two possibilities; first, winged termites are able to fly over distances of several kilometers, and second, these results were obtained because insular populations share a recent common origin.

Table grapes from one of the most important growing area in Spain (Vinalopó, Alicante) protected by the Designation of Origin "Vinalopó bagged table grape", were surveyed and analysed to determine the prevalence of the five viruses included in the Spanish certification program: Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), Grapevine leafroll associated virus-1 (GLRaV-1) and Grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 (GLRaV-3). Ninety five sampling points were selected and the position of grapevine plants georeferenced. Samples were collected in two different vegetative periods and analyses were performed by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. Purified RNA and immobilized viral targets from plant extracts on nylon membranes were used in parallel assays as templates for PCR assays. In order to analyse these five viral species by real-time RT-PCR, new specific primers and TaqMan probes were designed for detection of ArMV and GFkV. Real time RT-PCR from purified RNA was more sensitive than spot version and ELISA tests. The most prevalent virus was GFLV (95.8%) followed by GLRaV-3 (94.7%), GLRaV-1 (66.3%) and GFkV (65.3%). ArMV was not detected in any sample. The high level of viral infections and the presence of mixed infections suggest that initial infected plant material and uncontrolled traffic of propagation material have played an important role in the spread of viruses.