Therapeutic effect of anti-TNF-α antibody and levofloxacin (LVFX) in a mouse model of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 infection

The ability of an anti-TNF-α antibody to confer protection against enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 was investigated in germfree IQI mice. The use of an antibiotic levofloxacin (LVFX) alone or with the antibody was also studied. Protection included an increase in survival rate. Treatment with the anti-TNF-α antibody inhibited the histological signs associated with EHEC infection but did not prevent the colonization of EHEC or production of Shiga toxin (Stx). No clinical signs were observed and EHEC was completely eliminated in the mouse model receiving both anti-TNF-α antibody and LVFX. Anti-TNF-α antibody suppressed inflammatory cytokine response in the mouse kidney and brain by EHEC infection.     

Effect of ovary lipid from Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) on brain monoamines in rats

In our previous experiments with rats, ovary lipid from Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) (OLS) was shown to have a mitigating effect on anxiety and/or fear in elevated T-maze tests. This suggests that OLS has some effect on the central nervous system (CNS) of rats. Thus, we performed experiments to examine the status of CNS in rats given OLS. The effect of OLS on chronic stress was also examined at the same time. The feed for control rats used oil and fat that have the same energy percentages for n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and the same n-6/n-3 ratio as OLS. As a result, rats given OLS for 28 days had lower serotonin levels in various brain areas regardless of stress application, showing that OLS affected the serotonin nervous system. From this, it was inferred that the ability of OLS to mitigate anxiety and/or fear resulted from its action on CNS, especially the serotonin nervous system. Substances other than the essential fatty acids may have been responsible for the action of OLS on monoamines and the metabolites. The effect of OLS on CNS, especially the serotonin nervous system, suggests that OLS may suppress anxiety.     

Isolation of a Megatrypanum trypanosome from sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Japan

A trypanosome was isolated from a sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, Japan, during the primary culture of sika deer renal cells. This is the first report of isolation of a Megatrypanum trypanosome from Japanese Cervidae. The trypanosome, designated TSD1, was propagated and maintained in Eagle's modified essential medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum with sika deer renal cells as feeder. The TSD1 trypanosome was morphometrically similar to Trypanosoma cervi, which is commonly isolated from American and European deer. PCR analysis with primers for 18S ribosomal DNA and nucleotide sequencing showed that TSD1 is a member of genus Trypanosoma, subgenus Megatrypanum. Phylogenetically TSD1 is closely related to T. theileri, a common trypanosome of cattle, but is distinguishable from T. theileri by some morphometrical and biological features.     

Monitoring saline intrusion in the Ayeyarwady Delta,Myanmar, using data from the Sentinel-2 satellite mission

Paddy and Water Environment - Summer rice cannot be grown near the coast of the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar, because of the high salinity in river water during the dry season. This means that saline...     

Irradiation history of Itokawa regolith material deduced from noble gases in the Hayabusa samples

Noble gas isotopes were measured in three rocky grains from asteroid Itokawa to elucidate a history of irradiation from cosmic rays and solar wind on its surface. Large amounts of solar helium (He), neon (Ne), and argon (Ar) trapped in various depths in the grains were observed, which can be explained by multiple implantations of solar wind particles into the grains, combined with preferential He loss caused by frictional wear of space-weathered rims on the grains. Short residence time of less than 8 million years was implied for the grains by an estimate on cosmic-ray-produced (21)Ne. Our results suggest that Itokawa is continuously losing its surface materials into space at a rate of tens of centimeters per million years. The lifetime of Itokawa should be much shorter than the age of our solar system.     

Fractal analysis of ice crystals in frozen food

Fractal analysis of the morphology of ice crystal particles in frozen food was attempted for frozen soybean curd (tofu). From a microscopic image analysis of the ice crystal particles, it was found that the perimeter of the ice crystal particles could be recognized as a fractal. Effects of the storage time and storage temperature on the fractal dimension (d(p)) of the perimeter of the ice crystal particles were also investigated. As storage time was increased, the d(p) value tended to decrease. When the storage temperature was increased, the value of d(p) decreased more rapidly. The changes corresponded to the visual observation of the shape change for the ice crystal particles during storage reported by many researchers, suggesting that the fractal dimension d(p) could be used as a quantitative indicator reflecting the surface roughness of ice crystal particles.     

Phytophthora rot of alpine delphinium caused by Phytophthora sp. kelmania

Severe stunting and root rot were observed on alpine delphinium plants (Delphinium elatum) from Aomori Prefecture, Japan, in 2010 and 2011. A Phytophthora isolate from the diseased crown was identified as Phytophthora sp. kelmania based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data. Inoculation of alpine delphinium plants with the isolate produced a similar root rot. Pathogenicity of the isolate on four species of plants that are known hosts for P. sp. kelmania was confirmed. We propose the name “Phytophthora rot” (eki-byo in Japanese) for the present new disease on alpine delphinium.

     

Effects of CaCN2 treatment of seeds of Inubie (Echinochloa oryzicola) on synthesis of protein and RNA during germination

Protein and RNA induction during the germination of Inubie (Echinochloa oryzicola) seeds pretreated with CaCN₂ was studied. It was observed that the germination of Echinochloa oryzicola seeds was delayed after pretreatment with a high concentration of CaCN₂ for 18 h. A considerable difference in the protein patterns was detected in the SDS-PAGE gel between the control (H₂O) and CaCN₂ treatment, particularly a 48 kilodalton (kD) protein band disappeared in CaCN₂ treatment. At the tested three levels of CaCN₂, the induction of this 48 kD protein was apparently inhibited during the germination process even when the duration of the pretreatment was as short as 2 h. When imbibed with water, the amount of the 48 kD protein increased rapidly within 1 h from the trace level in the dry seeds, and reached the maximum level after about 1–2 d. The results showed that the CaCN₂ treatment also decreased the total RNA level in the germinating seeds. The relation of this protein induction and RNA decline with the beginning of Echinochloa oryzicola germination was discussed.     

Glutathione levels in phloem sap of rice plants under sulfur deficient conditions

Glutathione which is an abundant reduced sulfur compound in plants is considered to play important roles in the transmission of the sulfur nutrient status between organs within the plant body and in the long-distance transport of reduced sulfur. We determined the concentrations of glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC), sulfate in the rice phloem sap collected by the insect laser technique. Phloem sap was collected from the plants cultured in sulfur-deficient and control solutions. The concentration of glutathione in the rice phloem sap was higher than that of sulfate in both control and sulfur-deficient plants. Under sulfur-deficient condition, the concentration of glutathione in the phloem sap did not decrease, whereas the sulfate concentration decreased significantly. The pattern of changes in γ-EC concentration was similar to that of glutathione. These data indicate the presence of mechanisms for the maintenance of a constant glutathione concentration in the phloem sap in rice plants under sulfur deficiency, whereas the sulfate concentration was found to be relatively unstable.