Molecular insights from 2023 and 2024 outbreaks reveal exclusive circulation of peste des petits ruminants virus lineage IV in India.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats, caused by PPR virus (PPRV), a member of the genus Morbillivirus. In 2023 and 2024, on testing of suspected clinical samples for PPR received through passive surveillance of sheep and goat flocks in various states of India resulted in the documentation of 15 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks of PPR. During the outbreak investigation, morbidity and significant mortality rates were observed, and clinical samples collected from the affected flocks were tested using ELISA and RT-PCR, confirming the presence of PPRV.

Assessing horizontal gene transfer in the rhizosphere of using fabricated ecosystems (EcoFABs).

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major process by which genes are transferred between microbes in the rhizosphere. However, examining HGT remains challenging due to the complexity of mimicking conditions within the rhizosphere. Fabricated ecosystems (EcoFABs) have been used to investigate several complex processes in plant-associated environments.