diff --git a/src/app/core/shared/community.model.ts b/src/app/core/shared/community.model.ts
index c34666b0f0..ea80a02269 100644
--- a/src/app/core/shared/community.model.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/shared/community.model.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export class Community extends DSpaceObject {
    * Corresponds to the metadata field dc.description.abstract
    */
   get shortDescription(): string {
+    debugger;
     return this.findMetadata('dc.description.abstract');
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/collection-grid-element/collection-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/collection-grid-element/collection-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index eaa6edc4d0..cc72ff3043 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/collection-grid-element/collection-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/collection-grid-element/collection-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,21 +1,13 @@
 import { CollectionGridElementComponent } from './collection-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { Collection } from '../../../core/shared/collection.model';
+
+let collectionGridElementComponent: CollectionGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CollectionGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
-const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+
+const mockCollectionWithAbstract: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
@@ -23,37 +15,56 @@ const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
       value: 'Short description'
     }]
 });
-const createdGridElementComponent:CollectionGridElementComponent= new CollectionGridElementComponent(mockCollection);
+
+const mockCollectionWithoutAbstract: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    }]
+});
 
 describe('CollectionGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ CollectionGridElementComponent ],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdGridElementComponent)}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCollectionWithAbstract)}
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(CollectionGridElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CollectionGridElementComponent);
+    collectionGridElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the collection cards in the grid element',() => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-collection-grid-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the collection has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionGridElementComponent.object = mockCollectionWithAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the collection has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionGridElementComponent.object = mockCollectionWithoutAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCollection.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
-})
+});
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/community-grid-element/community-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/community-grid-element/community-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index 1fd98bf225..dabb137ea7 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/community-grid-element/community-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/community-grid-element/community-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,13 @@
 import { CommunityGridElementComponent } from './community-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { Community } from '../../../core/shared/community.model';
 
 let communityGridElementComponent: CommunityGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CommunityGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
 
-const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+const mockCommunityWithAbstract: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
@@ -27,40 +16,55 @@ const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
     }]
 });
 
-const createdGridElementComponent:CommunityGridElementComponent= new CommunityGridElementComponent(mockCommunity);
+const mockCommunityWithoutAbstract: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    }]
+});
 
 describe('CommunityGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ CommunityGridElementComponent ],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdGridElementComponent)}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCommunityWithAbstract)}
       ],
 
     schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(CommunityGridElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CommunityGridElementComponent);
     communityGridElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
-
   }));
 
-  it('should show the community cards in the grid element',() => {
-    console.log(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-community-grid-element')));
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-community-grid-element'))).toBeDefined();
-  })
+  describe('When the community has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communityGridElementComponent.object = mockCommunityWithAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
 
-    if (mockCommunity.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+  describe('When the community has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communityGridElementComponent.object = mockCommunityWithoutAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.html
index 47b5a6b2e6..328bfc3bc9 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.html
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
   </a>
   <div class="card-body">
     <h4 class="card-title">{{object.findMetadata('dc.title')}}</h4>
-    <p *ngIf="object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']);" class="item-authors card-text text-muted">
+    <p *ngIf="object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0" class="item-authors card-text text-muted">
         <span *ngFor="let authorMd of object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']); let last=last;">{{authorMd.value}}
             <span *ngIf="!last">; </span>
         </span>
-      <span *ngIf="object.findMetadata('dc.date.issued')">{{object.findMetadata("dc.date.issued")}}</span>
+      <span *ngIf="object.findMetadata('dc.date.issued')" class="item-date">{{object.findMetadata("dc.date.issued")}}</span>
     </p>
 
     <p *ngIf="object.findMetadata('dc.description.abstract')" class="item-abstract card-text">{{object.findMetadata("dc.description.abstract") | dsTruncate:[200] }}</p>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index 8c7f856450..0dd7f0be0a 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/item-grid-element/item-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,47 +1,55 @@
 import { ItemGridElementComponent } from './item-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
 
 let itemGridElementComponent: ItemGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<ItemGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
-/* tslint:disable:no-shadowed-variable */
-const mockItem: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+
+const mockItemWithAuthorAndDate: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.contributor.author',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Smith, Donald'
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dc.date.issued',
+      language: null,
+      value: '2015-06-26'
+    }]
+});
+const mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'This is just another title'
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dc.type',
+      language: null,
+      value: 'Article'
     }]
 });
-
-const createdGridElementComponent:ItemGridElementComponent= new ItemGridElementComponent(mockItem);
 
 describe('ItemGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ ItemGridElementComponent , TruncatePipe],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: {createdGridElementComponent}}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: {mockItemWithAuthorAndDate}}
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(ItemGridElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
@@ -50,18 +58,51 @@ describe('ItemGridElementComponent', () => {
 
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item cards in the grid element',() => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-item-grid-element'))).toBeDefined()
+  describe('When the item has an author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemGridElementComponent.object = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.item-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the author span if the author metadata is present',() => {
-    const itemAuthorField = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.item-authors')));
+  describe('When the item has no author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemGridElementComponent.object = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockItem.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0) {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.item-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
+  describe('When the item has an issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemGridElementComponent.object = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-date'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('When the item has no issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemGridElementComponent.object = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should not show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const dateField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-date'));
+      expect(dateField).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index 9eb65dbbdd..f3220baaa3 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,69 +1,83 @@
 import { CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent } from './collection-search-result-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
-import { Community } from '../../../../core/shared/community.model';
 import { Collection } from '../../../../core/shared/collection.model';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../truncatable/truncatable.service';
+import { CollectionSearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/collection-search-result.model';
 
+let collectionSearchResultGridElementComponent: CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
+
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
 };
 
-const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+const mockCollectionWithAbstract: CollectionSearchResult = new CollectionSearchResult();
+mockCollectionWithAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCollectionWithAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Short description'
-    }]
-
+    } ]
+});
+
+const mockCollectionWithoutAbstract: CollectionSearchResult = new CollectionSearchResult();
+mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    } ]
 });
-const createdGridElementComponent: CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent = new CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent(mockCollection, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
 
 describe('CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
-      declarations: [CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent, TruncatePipe],
+      declarations: [ CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent, TruncatePipe ],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdGridElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCollectionWithAbstract) }
       ],
 
-      schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+      schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
+    }).overrideComponent(CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CollectionSearchResultGridElementComponent);
+    collectionSearchResultGridElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item result cards in the grid element', () => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-collection-search-result-grid-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the collection has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockCollectionWithAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present', () => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the collection has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCollection.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    } else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index 6d70d08901..aa62baadc9 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,39 +1,41 @@
 import { CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent } from './community-search-result-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Community } from '../../../../core/shared/community.model';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../truncatable/truncatable.service';
+import { CommunitySearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/community-search-result.model';
 
-
+let communitySearchResultGridElementComponent: CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
+
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
 };
 
-const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+const mockCommunityWithAbstract: CommunitySearchResult = new CommunitySearchResult();
+mockCommunityWithAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCommunityWithAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Community(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Short description'
     } ]
-
 });
 
-const createdGridElementComponent: CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent = new CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent(mockCommunity, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
+const mockCommunityWithoutAbstract: CommunitySearchResult = new CommunitySearchResult();
+mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    } ]
+});
 
 describe('CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
@@ -41,30 +43,41 @@ describe('CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
       declarations: [ CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent, TruncatePipe ],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdGridElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCommunityWithAbstract) }
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CommunitySearchResultGridElementComponent);
+    communitySearchResultGridElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item result cards in the grid element', () => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-community-search-result-grid-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the community has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communitySearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockCommunityWithAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the community has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communitySearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCommunity.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
index fbb267b8e6..cf8a097ddb 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-grid-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import { ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent } from './item-search-result-grid-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
 import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
@@ -13,14 +11,6 @@ import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/item-search-
 
 let itemSearchResultGridElementComponent: ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
 
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
@@ -46,7 +36,7 @@ mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Item(), {
 const mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate: ItemSearchResult = new ItemSearchResult();
 mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.hitHighlights = [];
 mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Item(), {
-  bitstream: Observable.of({}),
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.title',
@@ -60,8 +50,6 @@ mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Item(), {
     }]
 });
 
-const createdGridElementComponent: ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent = new ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent(mockItemWithAuthorAndDate, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
-
 describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
@@ -69,9 +57,7 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
       declarations: [ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent, TruncatePipe],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdGridElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate) }
       ],
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
     }).overrideComponent(ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent, {
@@ -84,7 +70,7 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
     itemSearchResultGridElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  fdescribe('When the item has an author', () => {
+  describe('When the item has an author', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       itemSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -99,6 +85,7 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   describe('When the item has no author', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       itemSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
     });
 
     it('should not show the author paragraph', () => {
@@ -110,6 +97,7 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   describe('When the item has an issuedate', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       itemSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
     });
 
     it('should show the issuedate span', () => {
@@ -121,6 +109,7 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultGridElementComponent', () => {
   describe('When the item has no issuedate', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       itemSearchResultGridElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
     });
 
     it('should not show the issuedate span', () => {
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/search-result-grid-element.component.ts b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/search-result-grid-element.component.ts
index c04c1d54f4..e6217eb0bb 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/search-result-grid-element.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-grid/search-result-grid-element/search-result-grid-element.component.ts
@@ -17,10 +17,9 @@ import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
 export class SearchResultGridElementComponent<T extends SearchResult<K>, K extends DSpaceObject> extends AbstractListableElementComponent<T> {
   dso: K;
 
-  public constructor(@Inject('objectElementProvider') public gridable: ListableObject, private truncatableService: TruncatableService) {
-    super(gridable);
+  public constructor(@Inject('objectElementProvider') public listableObject: ListableObject, private truncatableService: TruncatableService) {
+    super(listableObject);
     this.dso = this.object.dspaceObject;
-    console.log(JSON.stringify(this.object.hitHighlights));
   }
 
   getValues(keys: string[]): string[] {
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ export class SearchResultGridElementComponent<T extends SearchResult<K>, K exten
 
   getFirstValue(key: string): string {
     let result: string;
-    console.log(JSON.stringify(this.object.hitHighlights));
     this.object.hitHighlights.some(
       (md: Metadatum) => {
         if (key === md.key) {
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.html
index 8fb498d474..dec2794dca 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <a [routerLink]="['/collections/' + object.id]" class="lead">
     {{object.name}}
 </a>
-<div *ngIf="object.shortDescription" class="text-muted">
+<div *ngIf="object.shortDescription" class="text-muted abstract-text">
     {{object.shortDescription}}
 </div>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.spec.ts
index fe54b8195e..a31af1e50c 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/collection-list-element/collection-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,21 +1,13 @@
 import { CollectionListElementComponent } from './collection-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { Collection } from '../../../core/shared/collection.model';
+
+let collectionListElementComponent: CollectionListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CollectionListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
-const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+
+const mockCollectionWithAbstract: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
@@ -23,37 +15,56 @@ const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
       value: 'Short description'
     }]
 });
-const createdListElementComponent:CollectionListElementComponent= new CollectionListElementComponent(mockCollection);
+
+const mockCollectionWithoutAbstract: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    }]
+});
 
 describe('CollectionListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ CollectionListElementComponent ],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdListElementComponent)}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCollectionWithAbstract)}
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(CollectionListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CollectionListElementComponent);
+    collectionListElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the collection cards in the list element',() => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-collection-list-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the collection has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionListElementComponent.object = mockCollectionWithAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the collection has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionListElementComponent.object = mockCollectionWithoutAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCollection.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.html
index d39995de40..7582680fb2 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <a [routerLink]="['/communities/' + object.id]" class="lead">
     {{object.name}}
 </a>
-<div *ngIf="object.shortDescription" class="text-muted">
+<div *ngIf="object.shortDescription" class="text-muted abstract-text">
     {{object.shortDescription}}
 </div>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.spec.ts
index ff5a7fa441..08147d8573 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/community-list-element/community-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,13 @@
 import { CommunityListElementComponent } from './community-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { Community } from '../../../core/shared/community.model';
 
 let communityListElementComponent: CommunityListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CommunityListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
 
-const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+const mockCommunityWithAbstract: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
@@ -27,39 +16,55 @@ const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
     }]
 });
 
-const createdListElementComponent:CommunityListElementComponent= new CommunityListElementComponent(mockCommunity);
+const mockCommunityWithoutAbstract: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    }]
+});
 
 describe('CommunityListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ CommunityListElementComponent ],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdListElementComponent)}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCommunityWithAbstract)}
       ],
 
-    schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+      schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
+    }).overrideComponent(CommunityListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CommunityListElementComponent);
     communityListElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
-
   }));
 
-  it('should show the community cards in the list element',() => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-community-list-element'))).toBeDefined();
-  })
+  describe('When the community has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communityListElementComponent.object = mockCommunityWithAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
 
-    if (mockCommunity.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+  describe('When the community has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communityListElementComponent.object = mockCommunityWithoutAbstract;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.html
index e9bde67295..b4259c25c2 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.html
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 </a>
 <div>
   <span class="text-muted">
-    <span *ngIf="object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']);"
+    <span *ngIf="object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0"
           class="item-list-authors">
         <span *ngFor="let authorMd of object.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']); let last=last;">{{authorMd.value}}
             <span *ngIf="!last">; </span>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.spec.ts
index 3383ed8454..fc40527693 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/item-list-element/item-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,47 +1,55 @@
 import { ItemListElementComponent } from './item-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
 
 let itemListElementComponent: ItemListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<ItemListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
-/* tslint:disable:no-shadowed-variable */
-const mockItem: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+
+const mockItemWithAuthorAndDate: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.contributor.author',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Smith, Donald'
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dc.date.issued',
+      language: null,
+      value: '2015-06-26'
+    }]
+});
+const mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'This is just another title'
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dc.type',
+      language: null,
+      value: 'Article'
     }]
 });
-
-const createdListElementComponent:ItemListElementComponent= new ItemListElementComponent(mockItem);
 
 describe('ItemListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [ ItemListElementComponent , TruncatePipe],
       providers: [
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: {createdListElementComponent}}
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: {mockItemWithAuthorAndDate}}
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(ItemListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
@@ -50,18 +58,51 @@ describe('ItemListElementComponent', () => {
 
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item cards in the list element',() => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-item-list-element'))).toBeDefined()
+  describe('When the item has an author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemListElementComponent.object = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the author span if the author metadata is present',() => {
-    const itemAuthorField = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.item-authors')));
+  describe('When the item has no author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemListElementComponent.object = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockItem.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0) {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-})
+  describe('When the item has an issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemListElementComponent.object = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-date'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('When the item has no issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemListElementComponent.object = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should not show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const dateField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-date'));
+      expect(dateField).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.html
index 914fb49487..be549b2b76 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 <a [routerLink]="['/collections/' + dso.id]" class="lead" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.title')"></a>
-<div *ngIf="dso.shortDescription" class="text-muted" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.description.abstract')"></div>
+<div *ngIf="dso.shortDescription" class="text-muted abstract-text" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.description.abstract')"></div>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
index 37756b5916..0395904070 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/collection-search-result/collection-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,68 +1,83 @@
 import { CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent } from './collection-search-result-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Collection } from '../../../../core/shared/collection.model';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../truncatable/truncatable.service';
+import { CollectionSearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/collection-search-result.model';
 
+let collectionSearchResultListElementComponent: CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
+
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
 };
 
-const mockCollection: Collection = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+const mockCollectionWithAbstract: CollectionSearchResult = new CollectionSearchResult();
+mockCollectionWithAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCollectionWithAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Short description'
-    }]
-
+    } ]
+});
+
+const mockCollectionWithoutAbstract: CollectionSearchResult = new CollectionSearchResult();
+mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Collection(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    } ]
 });
-const createdListElementComponent: CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent = new CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent(mockCollection, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
 
 describe('CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
-      declarations: [CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent, TruncatePipe],
+      declarations: [ CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent, TruncatePipe ],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdListElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCollectionWithAbstract) }
       ],
 
-      schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+      schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
+    }).overrideComponent(CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CollectionSearchResultListElementComponent);
+    collectionSearchResultListElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item result cards in the list element', () => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-collection-search-result-list-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the collection has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockCollectionWithAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present', () => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the collection has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      collectionSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockCollectionWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCollection.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    } else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const collectionAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(collectionAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.html
index d09ef7d668..150ca503cc 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 <a [routerLink]="['/communities/' + dso.id]" class="lead" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.title')"></a>
-<div *ngIf="dso.shortDescription" class="text-muted" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.description.abstract')"></div>
+<div *ngIf="dso.shortDescription" class="text-muted abstract-text" [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.description.abstract')"></div>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
index 3e82e824ec..54dde5dee6 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/community-search-result/community-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,38 +1,41 @@
 import { CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent } from './community-search-result-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Community } from '../../../../core/shared/community.model';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../truncatable/truncatable.service';
+import { CommunitySearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/community-search-result.model';
 
+let communitySearchResultListElementComponent: CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
+
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
 };
 
-const mockCommunity: Community = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+const mockCommunityWithAbstract: CommunitySearchResult = new CommunitySearchResult();
+mockCommunityWithAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCommunityWithAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Community(), {
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.description.abstract',
       language: 'en_US',
       value: 'Short description'
     } ]
-
 });
 
-const createdListElementComponent: CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent = new CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent(mockCommunity, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
+const mockCommunityWithoutAbstract: CommunitySearchResult = new CommunitySearchResult();
+mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.hitHighlights = [];
+mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Community(), {
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'Test title'
+    } ]
+});
 
 describe('CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
@@ -40,30 +43,41 @@ describe('CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent', () => {
       declarations: [ CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent, TruncatePipe ],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdListElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockCommunityWithAbstract) }
       ],
 
       schemas: [ NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA ]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CommunitySearchResultListElementComponent);
+    communitySearchResultListElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item result cards in the list element', () => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-community-search-result-list-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the community has an abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communitySearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockCommunityWithAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the description if "short description" metadata is present',() => {
-    const descriptionText = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.card-text')));
+  describe('When the community has no abstract', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      communitySearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockCommunityWithoutAbstract.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockCommunity.shortDescription.length > 0) {
-      expect(descriptionText).toBeDefined();
-    }else {
-      expect(descriptionText).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the description paragraph', () => {
+      const communityAbstractField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('div.abstract-text'));
+      expect(communityAbstractField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
index d7ef1c673c..b8f3197a7c 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
                    [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.publisher')">, </span><span
             *ngIf="dso.findMetadata('dc.date.issued')" class="item-list-date"
             [innerHTML]="getFirstValue('dc.date.issued')"></span>)
-            <span *ngIf="dso.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']);"
+            <span *ngIf="dso.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0"
                   class="item-list-authors">
                     <span *ngFor="let author of getValues(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']); let last=last;">
                         <span [innerHTML]="author"><span [innerHTML]="author"></span></span>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
index c7bf09ea1e..f492c58483 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-search-result-list-element.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,30 +1,25 @@
 import { ItemSearchResultListElementComponent } from './item-search-result-list-element.component';
 import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
-import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router';
-import { RouterStub } from '../../../testing/router-stub';
-import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { TruncatePipe } from '../../../utils/truncate.pipe';
 import { Item } from '../../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../truncatable/truncatable.service';
+import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
+import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../object-collection/shared/item-search-result.model';
 
 let itemSearchResultListElementComponent: ItemSearchResultListElementComponent;
 let fixture: ComponentFixture<ItemSearchResultListElementComponent>;
-const queryParam = 'test query';
-const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
-const activatedRouteStub = {
-  queryParams: Observable.of({
-    query: queryParam,
-    scope: scopeParam
-  })
-};
 
 const truncatableServiceStub: any = {
   isCollapsed: (id: number) => Observable.of(true),
 };
 
-const mockItem: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+const mockItemWithAuthorAndDate: ItemSearchResult = new ItemSearchResult();
+mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.hitHighlights = [];
+mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
   metadata: [
     {
       key: 'dc.contributor.author',
@@ -34,24 +29,40 @@ const mockItem: Item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
     {
       key: 'dc.date.issued',
       language: null,
-      value: '1650-06-26'
+      value: '2015-06-26'
+    }]
+});
+
+const mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate: ItemSearchResult = new ItemSearchResult();
+mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.hitHighlights = [];
+mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+  bitstreams: Observable.of({}),
+  metadata: [
+    {
+      key: 'dc.title',
+      language: 'en_US',
+      value: 'This is just another title'
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dc.type',
+      language: null,
+      value: 'Article'
     }]
 });
-const createdListElementComponent: ItemSearchResultListElementComponent = new ItemSearchResultListElementComponent(mockItem, truncatableServiceStub as TruncatableService);
 
 describe('ItemSearchResultListElementComponent', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      imports: [NoopAnimationsModule],
       declarations: [ItemSearchResultListElementComponent, TruncatePipe],
       providers: [
         { provide: TruncatableService, useValue: truncatableServiceStub },
-        { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRouteStub },
-        { provide: Router, useClass: RouterStub },
-        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (createdListElementComponent) }
+        { provide: 'objectElementProvider', useValue: (mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate) }
       ],
-
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
-    }).compileComponents();  // compile template and css
+    }).overrideComponent(ItemSearchResultListElementComponent, {
+      set: { changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default }
+    }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
@@ -59,28 +70,51 @@ describe('ItemSearchResultListElementComponent', () => {
     itemSearchResultListElementComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
   }));
 
-  it('should show the item result cards in the list element', () => {
-    expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('ds-item-search-result-list-element'))).toBeDefined();
+  describe('When the item has an author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the author span if the author metadata is present', () => {
-    const itemAuthorField = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('p.item-authors')));
+  describe('When the item has no author', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockItem.filterMetadata(['dc.contributor.author', 'dc.creator', 'dc.contributor.*']).length > 0) {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeDefined();
-    } else {
-      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should not show the author paragraph', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-authors'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should only show the date span if the issuedate is present', () => {
-    const dateField = expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-date')));
+  describe('When the item has an issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
 
-    if (mockItem.findMetadata('dc.date.issued').length > 0) {
-      expect(dateField).toBeDefined();
-    } else {
-      expect(dateField).not.toBeDefined();
-    }
+    it('should show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const itemAuthorField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-date'));
+      expect(itemAuthorField).not.toBeNull();
+    });
   });
 
+  describe('When the item has no issuedate', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      itemSearchResultListElementComponent.dso = mockItemWithoutAuthorAndDate.dspaceObject;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should not show the issuedate span', () => {
+      const dateField = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('span.item-list-date'));
+      expect(dateField).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
 });