The tertiary sulfonium compound 3-dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is found at high levels in many marine algae, but among higher plants it has been reported to accumulate only in Spartina (Gramineae) and one other genus. Cultivated and wild species from 23 genera of Gramineae were tested for DMSP accumulation in leaves of non-stressed plants, using an indirect gas chromatographic assay. Sugarcanes and closely related species accumulated up to 6 μmol g-1 fresh wt; other species contained no more than 0.3 #956;mol g-1 fresh wt. In sugarcanes, mature leaves had higher levels of DMSP than expanding leaves, immature internodes and mature internodes. The identity of DMSP was confirmed by a novel gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method, by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. Mass spectral evidence indicated that DMSP levels in leaves were at least ten-fold higher than glycine betaine levels, suggesting that DMSP may have replaced glycine betaine as a compatible osmolyte in sugarcane. Consistent with this possibility, DMSP was as effective as glycine betaine in relieving osmotic inhibition of bacterial growth, and was accumulated to concen- trations above 1 M by osmotically stressed bacterial cells. Because DMSP is the biological precursor of dimethylsulfide, sugarcane fields may be sources of dimethylsulfide emissions.

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Various foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus strains circulate in the Middle East, causing frequent episodes of FMD outbreaks among Israeli livestock. Since the virus is highly resistant in semen, artificial insemination with contaminated bull semen may lead to the infection of the receiver cow. As a non-FMD-free country with vaccination, Israel is currently engaged in trading bull semen only with countries of the same status. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of release of FMD virus through export of bull semen in order to estimate the risk for FMD-free countries considering purchasing Israeli bull semen. A stochastic risk assessment model was used to estimate this risk, defined as the annual likelihood of exporting at least one ejaculate of bull semen contaminated with viable FMD virus. A total of 45 scenarios were assessed to account for uncertainty and variability around specific parameter estimates and to evaluate the effect of various mitigation measures, such as performing a preexport test on semen ejaculates. Under the most plausible scenario, the annual likelihood of exporting bull semen contaminated with FMD virus had a median of 1.3 * 10

Outbreaks of the European Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 8 (BTV-8), which are characterized by activity cycles separated by years of inactivity, may be influenced by genetic changes of the virus or by herd immunity. BTV activity in Israel is characterized by similar dynamics, but differs from European countries in its vector population, environmental conditions, and lack of cattle vaccination against this serotype. Comparison of these two geographical systems and characterization of their epidemiological connection is therefore of high interest in-order to better understand the factors influencing BTV-8 evolution. BTV-8, closely related to the European strain, was introduced to Israel in 2008. It was at the center of BT outbreaks in 2010 and 2015–2016 and thereafter was lastly isolated in Israel in 2019. We performed genetic analyses of twelve BTV-8 Israeli strains isolated between 2008 and 2019 and compared them with published sequences of BTV-8 isolated in other countries. The analysis revealed a single introduction of BTV-8 into Israel and thereafter extensive occurrence of genomic drifts and multiple reassortments with local BTV strains. Comparison of the Israeli and Cypriot BTV-8 from 2015 to 2016 suggests transmission of the virus between the two countries and a separate and parallel development from European or other Israeli BTV-8 strains. The parallel development of other BTV-8 strains was demonstrated by the identification of the Israeli BTV-8 ISR-1194/1/19 strain, which exhibited common origin with reassorted Israeli BTV-8 strains from 2010 and additional reassortment of seven segments. In order to reveal the source of BTV-8 introduction into Israel we performed BEAST analysis which showed that a probable common ancestor for both European and Israeli BTV-8 presumably existed in 2003–2004. In 2019, a possible new introduction occurred in Israel, where a novel BTV-8 strain was detected, sharing ~95% identity by segments 2 and 6 with Nigerian BTV-8NIG1982/07 and European–Middle Eastern strains. The results of the study indicate that Israel and neighboring countries consist a separate environmental and evolutionary system, distinct from European ones.

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