Abstract: The invention provides a method for classifying the gut inflammation status of an avian subject or of a group of avian subjects to be tested, the method comprising the comparison of the average methylation levels within a panel of pre-selected LMRs in the genomic DNA isolated from gut sample material deriving from the individual avian subject or of the group of avian subjects to be tested with the average methylation levels of the same panel of LMRs in the genomic DNA pertaining to one or more reference samples having a negative gut inflammation status.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for the identification of the geographic origin of an individual test subject or of an individual group of test subjects, the method comprising the comparison of a test methylation profile obtained from genomic material of the individual test subject or of the individual group of test subjects with one or more predetermined reference methylation profiles each being specific for a distinct geographic origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting C. perfringens induced diseases in animals, the method comprising: a) collecting sample material of a specific animal or of a specific group of animals at consecutive points in time; b) determining the amount of a first marker and a second marker contained in the sample material; and c) determining the ratio of the first marker to the second marker contained in the sample material; wherein the first marker comprises a polynucleotide sequence being specific for the C. perfringens sub-species inducing the targeted disease; and the second marker comprises a polynucleotide being specific for the species C. perfringens; and wherein an increase in the ratio of the first marker to the second marker in the analyzed sample material over time is an indication of the targeted disease.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an in vitro method for predicting the chronological age of healthy Galliformes, the method comprising the steps of: (a.) obtaining genomic DNA from biological sample material deriving from the Galliformes subject or from the Galliformes population to be tested, (b.) determining the methylation level of a set of specific CpG sites in the genomic Galliformes DNA obtained in step (a.), and (c.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of establishing an epigenetic clock for an avian species including: (a) identifying and determining methylation levels of specific CpG sites within a genomic DNA obtained from a plurality of different biological sample materials deriving from the avian species and representing specific time points within a chronological lifespan of the avian species, (b) excluding all CpG sites associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the CpG sites identified in (a), (c) excluding all CpG sites located on sex chromosomes from the CpG sites obtained in (b), (d) performing a tissue-specific normalization for the CpG sites obtained in (c), and (e) correlating the CpG methylation levels of the CpG sites obtained in (d) with chronological age with a penalized regression model.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of establishing a chicken methylation clock comprising: (a) determining the methylation ratio and the read coverage of the genomic CpG sites of an age-correlated training sample of a specific chicken tissue; (b) defining a set of CpG sites having reliable methylation ratios in all training samples of step (a) using a cutoff value; and (c) performing a penalized regression using the methylation ratios of step (b) as input and the age correlated to the training sample as dependent variable, by applying a penalized regression model; thereby obtaining a set of CpG sites with corresponding weighting factors and intercept of the linear model equation as parameters defining the chicken methylation clock.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for determining the risk of an Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) infection in an avian flock, the method comprising determining the quantitative ratios of the amount of specific virulence factors (VF), each with respect to the amount of E. coli reference gene is ybbW (SEQ ID NO: 6) or functional fragments thereof, in a pooled sample deriving from the avian flock, wherein the specific virulence factors include at least the genes iroN (SEQ ID NO.: 1) and ompT (SEQ ID NO: 2) or functional fragments thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a line feed-through (1) for feeding a line (4) through a building component, comprising one or more sealing arrangements (2) for feeding the line (4) through, wherein the one or more sealing arrangements (2) have at least two sealing structures (51) lying opposite each other, wherein at least one first of the sealing structures (51) has an arrangement of elongate fins (53) adjacent to each other, the protruding ends of which lie against a second of the sealing structures (51) and thus seal the passage region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting C. perfringens induced diseases in animals, the method comprising: a) collecting sample material of a specific animal or of a specific group of animals at consecutive points in time; b) determining the amount of a first marker and a second marker contained in the sample material; and c) determining the ratio of the first marker to the second marker contained in the sample material; wherein the first marker comprises a polynucleotide sequence being specific for the C. perfringens sub-species inducing the targeted disease; and the second marker comprises a polynucleotide being specific for the species C. perfringens; and wherein an increase in the ratio of the first marker to the second marker in the analyzed sample material over time is an indication of the targeted disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for early detection of a necrotic enteritis outbreak in an avian population, the method comprising: a) collecting fecal sample material deriving from the avian population at consecutive points in time; and b) determining the ratio of the amounts of the marker genes netB to cpa, contained in the sample material obtained in step a); wherein a reversion of the ratio of the amounts of netB to cpa over time is an early indication of a necrotic enteritis outbreak.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method for monitoring the load of at least one pathogen in an avian population, the method comprising the following steps: collecting and pooling excremental sample material deriving from an avian population; homogenizing the pooled sample material obtained in step (a); diluting and optionally stabilizing the pooled sample material obtained in step (b) with aqueous buffer solution; lysing the cell material contained in the diluted sample material obtained in step (c); isolating nucleic acid material from the lysed sample material of step (d); detecting and quantifying at least one pathogen-specific target gene, or functional fragment thereof, contained in the nucleic acid isolate obtained in step (e); repeating steps (a) to (f) at consecutive points in time; and observing alterations in amount of the at least one pathogen specific target gene over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting C. perfringens induced diseases in animals, the method comprising: a) collecting sample material of a specific animal or of a specific group of animals at consecutive points in time; b) determining the amount of a first marker and a second marker contained in the sample material; and c) determining the ratio of the first marker to the second marker contained in the sample material; wherein the first marker comprises a polynucleotide sequence being specific for the C. perfringens sub-species inducing the targeted disease; and the second marker comprises a polynucleotide being specific for the species C. perfringens; and wherein an increase in the ratio of the first marker to the second marker in the analyzed sample material over time is an indication of the targeted disease.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method for detecting intestinal barrier failure in animals, the method comprising the following steps: a) collecting intestinal sample material of an individual animal or of an animal population; and b) determining the amount of at least one protein marker contained in said sample material; wherein the at least one protein marker comprises or consists of ovotransferrin or a functional fragment thereof, and wherein an increased amount of said at least one protein marker contained in said sample versus a reference sample indicates intestinal barrier failure.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method for detecting intestinal barrier failure in an avian population, the method comprising the following steps: a) collecting a pooled fecal sample deriving from an avian population and b) determining the amount of at least one protein marker contained in said sample; wherein the at least one protein marker comprises or consists of an acute phase protein or a functional fragment thereof, and wherein an increased amount of said at least one protein marker contained in said sample versus a reference sample indicates intestinal barrier failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for guiding measures against the propagation of Salmonella and/or against the propagation Campylobacter in an animal flock, the method comprising i.) determining the amount of at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter in a test sample and ii.) comparing the amount of said at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter determined in the test sample with a control sample, wherein an increase in the amount of said at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter in the test sample vs. the control sample by at least a factor of two, indicates the necessity of initiating or enhancing measures against the propagation of Salmonella and/or against the propagation Campylobacter.

Abstract: A line feed-Through for feeding a line through a building component can include one or more sealing arrangements for feeding the line through, wherein the one or more sealing arrangements have at least two sealing structures lying opposite each other, wherein at least one first of the sealing structures has an arrangement of elongate fins adjacent to each other, the protruding ends of which lie against a second of the sealing structures and thus seal the passage region.

Abstract: A composition forming an insulating layer is described, whereby a binder based on an alkoxysilane-functionalized polymer carries the alkoxy-functionalized silane group, containing water and an insulation layer-forming additive. The composition according to the invention results in a relatively high expansion rate, enabling coatings to be applied to achieve the layer thickness required for the respective fire resistance duration in a simple and rapid manner, whereby the layer thickness is reduced to a minimum but offers significant insulating effect. The composition according to the invention is particularly suitable for fire protection, especially for the coating of steel components, such as columns, beams, frame members, in order to increase the fire resistance duration.

Abstract: A composition is described, which contains a binder on the basis of a compound having low-electron multiple carbon bonds and a carbanion-forming compound. By means of the composition according to the invention, the expansion rate of which is relatively high, coatings having the layer thickness required for the respective fire-resistance duration can be applied in simple and fast manner, wherein the layer thickness can be reduced to a minimum and nevertheless, a good fire-protection effect can be achieved. The composition according to the invention is particularly suitable for fire protection, particularly as a coating for cables and cable runs, to increase their fire-resistance period.

Abstract: A packaging for multi-component adhesives comprises (1) a first section which contains at least three individual components of the multi-component adhesive and (2) a second section which contains at least two individual components of the multi-component adhesive. The individual components of the multi-component adhesive are distributed to the two sections in such a way that a reaction between the individual components is prevented and hardening of the adhesive takes place only after complete mixture of the individual components. This makes stable storage of the components possible.

Abstract: Described is an insulation layer-forming composition containing a binder that is based on a compound having low-electron multiple carbon bonds and a carbanion-forming compound. The disclosed composition, which has a relatively high expansion rate, makes it possible to apply, in a simple and rapid manner, coatings that have the layer thickness required for the particular fire resistance time, the layer thickness being reduced to a minimum while achieving a great insulating effect. The disclosed composition is particularly suitable for fire protection, especially as a coating for steel components such as pillars, beams and truss members, for increasing the fire resistance time.