Entry Inhibition of Influenza Viruses with High Mannose Binding Lectin ESA-2 from the Red Alga Eucheuma serra through the Recognition of Viral Hemagglutinin

Lectin sensitivity of the recent pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1-2009) was screened for 12 lectins with various carbohydrate specificity by a neutral red dye uptake assay with MDCK cells. Among them, a high mannose (HM)-binding anti-HIV lectin, ESA-2 from the red alga Eucheuma serra, showed the highest inhibition against infection with an EC₅₀ of 12.4 nM. Moreover, ESA-2 exhibited a wide range of antiviral spectrum against various influenza strains with EC₅₀s of pico molar to low nanomolar levels. Besides ESA-2, HM-binding plant lectin ConA, fucose-binding lectins such as fungal AOL from Aspergillus oryzae and AAL from Aleuria aurantia were active against H1N1-2009, but the potency of inhibition was of less magnitude compared with ESA-2. Direct interaction between ESA-2 and a viral envelope glycoprotein, hemagglutinin (HA), was demonstrated by ELISA assay. This interaction was effectively suppressed by glycoproteins bearing HM-glycans, indicating that ESA-2 binds to the HA of influenza virus through HM-glycans. Upon treatment with ESA-2, no viral antigens were detected in the host cells, indicating that ESA-2 inhibited the initial steps of virus entry into the cells. ESA-2 would thus be useful as a novel microbicide to prevent penetration of viruses such as HIV and influenza viruses to the host cells.     

Preparation of Photocrosslinked Fish Elastin Polypeptide/Microfibrillated Cellulose Composite Gels with Elastic Properties for Biomaterial Applications

Photocrosslinked hydrogels reinforced by microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared from a methacrylate-functionalized fish elastin polypeptide and MFC dispersed in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). First, a water-soluble elastin peptide with a molecular weight of ca. 500 g/mol from the fish bulbus arteriosus was polymerized by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), a condensation reagent, and then modified with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (MOI) to yield a photocrosslinkable fish elastin polypeptide. The product was dissolved in DMSO and irradiated with UV light in the presence of a radical photoinitiator. We obtained hydrogels successfully by substitution of DMSO with water. The composite gel with MFC was prepared by UV irradiation of the photocrosslinkable elastin polypeptide mixed with dispersed MFC in DMSO, followed by substitution of DMSO with water. The tensile test of the composite gels revealed that the addition of MFC improved the tensile properties, and the shape of the stress–strain curve of the composite gel became more similar to the typical shape of an elastic material with an increase of MFC content. The rheology measurement showed that the elastic modulus of the composite gel increased with an increase of MFC content. The cell proliferation test on the composite gel showed no toxicity.     

Structure-Activity Relationship Study of the Neuritogenic Potential of the Glycan of Starfish Ganglioside LLG-3

LLG-3 is a ganglioside isolated from the starfish Linchia laevigata. To clarify the structure-activity relationship of the glycan of LLG-3 toward rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in the presence of nerve growth factor, a series of mono- to tetrasaccharide glycan derivatives were chemically synthesized and evaluated in vitro. The methyl group at C8 of the terminal sialic acid residue was crucial for neuritogenic activity, and the terminal trisaccharide moiety was the minimum active motif. Furthermore, the trisaccharide also stimulated neuritogenesis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was rapidly induced by adding 1 or 10 nM of the trisaccharide. The ratio of phosphorylated ERK to ERK reached a maximum 5 min after stimulation, and then decreased gradually. However, the trisaccharide did not induce significant Akt phosphorylation. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with the MAPK inhibitor U0126, which inhibits enzymes MEK1 and MEK2. In addition, U0126 inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in response to the trisaccharide dose-dependently. Therefore, we concluded that the trisaccharide promotes neurite extension in SH-SY5Y cells via MAPK/ERK signaling, not Akt signaling.     

叶面喷施寡糖对生菜生长和品质的调节作用

为探究不同单一寡糖和复配寡糖对作物生长发育、产量及品质的影响,选择生长周期较短的生菜品种“意大利耐抽薹”作为研究对象,以80mg·L-1的纤维寡糖（ZH-A）、低聚木糖（ZH-B）、甲壳低聚糖（ZH-C）和以上3种寡糖等质量比的复配寡糖（ZH-M）以及多糖海藻酸钠（GY-D）对定植后的生菜进行4次叶面喷施处理,以喷清水为对照（CK）。从定植后的第3天（三叶一心）开始,每隔2d连续喷施4次,至采收期（定植23d）测定生菜的生长特征（生物量、叶面积、荧光光合）、根系表型特征（根长、根表面积、根体积）以及品质特征（可溶性糖、叶绿素、Vc、硝酸盐）。结果表明：单一寡糖、复配寡糖及海藻酸钠多糖处理均能显著增加生菜生物量;纤维寡糖（ZH-A）对促进根系生长及降低硝酸盐含量具有显著效果;甲壳低聚糖（ZH-C）对叶绿素含量、最大光化学效率Fv/Fm及可溶性糖含量有显著的提高作用;复配寡糖对生菜地上部、地下部及品质的增长和提升效果明显优于单一寡糖和多糖,采收期地上部鲜重及叶面积分别增加52.58%和57.60%,根干重、总根长、总体积及总表面积分别增加35.07%、89.10%、49.23%和40.68%,可溶性糖增加25.20%,叶绿素含量增加21.50%,Vc含量提高12.08%,硝酸盐含量降低27.65%。综上可知,不同寡糖对生菜生长特征和生理性状的作用效果和调控机制具有明显差异;复配寡糖对生菜促生长和提品质的调节效果显著优于单一寡糖。     

Factors Affecting Small-Scale Farmers’ Land Allocation and Tree Density Decisions in an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia decurrens</Emphasis>-Based <Emphasis Type="Italic">taungya</Emphasis> System in Fagita Lekoma District,North-Western Ethiopia

The development of woodlots as an additional source of livelihood and as a land management option for small-scale farmers is a challenging issue in the cereal-based subsistence farming systems of north-western Ethiopia. There is a need to understand why and which factors determine the decisions of small-scale farmers to grow short-rotation woodlots on their land. Data used in this study were collected from a survey of 200 randomly selected households in the region. A Tobit regression model was used to determine predictor variables for farmers’ decisions to allocate land to planting Acacia decurrens (J.C. Wendl.) Willd. and at what density trees are planted on the respective plots. The most important motivations for planting A. decurrens were income, soil fertility management, and soil and water conservation. Having a male head of household, long distance to markets and plots being on marginal land, among other factors, increased the allocation of land to A. decurrens woodlots. Having a male head of household, access to credit and plots being on marginal land, among other factors, increased tree planting density. Age had a negative effect on both allocation of land to woodlots and tree density, whereas farm size had an inverted U-shaped relationship with both decisions. These results suggest that wider expansion of A. decurrens-based plantation systems could be achieved through improving extension, credit access and road infrastructure to connect small-scale farmers to markets and finance.     

Vulnerability of Community-Based Forest Management to Climate Variability and Extremes: Emerging Insights on the Contribution of REDD+

Climate change spurs havoc on social-ecological system. People and places vulnerable to climate change have been the focus of many discussions. However, in the forestry sector, limited studies have been conducted that link human vulnerability to recent initiatives, such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation or REDD+, especially in highly vulnerable countries. Using case studies from the Philippines, this paper focuses on the vulnerability of two community-based forest management (CBFM) organizations, with and without REDD+ readiness intervention, to show the impacts of climate variability and extremes. Two balance-weighted approaches, the livelihood vulnerability index and the IPCC-framework, were used in the vulnerability assessments. Results revealed high vulnerability of both CBFM organizations, although Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) livelihood vulnerability is largely aggravated by its exposure to disaster, climate variability and extremes, accessibility to health facilities and water supply. The long history of CBFM implementation in both organizations have minimal contribution in enhancing the adaptive capacity of members to cope with and adapt to climate change impacts. REDD+ (readiness), does not insure reduced vulnerability to climate change, unless sustainable livelihood is achieved. As the State controls forest resources, the rights of CBFM-organizations to commercially benefit from these resources are limited, a disincentive to the development of new and viable development programs in CBFM areas, such as REDD+. This also constrains the achievement of climate resiliency.     

Estimation of habitat suitability for the southern form of the short‐finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the North Pacific

Habitat models were developed from dedicated sighting survey data collected during summers between 1983 and 2006 in the North Pacific Ocean. Our aim was to examine the distribution pattern of the southern form of the short‐finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in relation to the physical environment. We tested two different types of analytical procedures for habitat estimation: generalized linear models (GLMs) and ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and the Boyce index suggested that GLM defined the core habitat well, whereas ENFA estimated the suitable habitat more correctly. These models indicated the core habitat within the subtropical gyre. Among the environmental variables used to construct the habitat models, the temperature at a depth of 200 m contributed most to both GLM and ENFA. This corresponds to the fact that the species mainly feeds on mesopelagic prey and that the axis of the Kuroshio Current, in the northwestern part of the subtropical gyre, is characterized by its temperature at 200 m. Habitat suitability in the coastal waters off southern Japan also correlated with the Kuroshio meander patterns. Thus, the southern form of the short‐finned pilot whale appears to be particularly well adapted to the ecosystem of the North Pacific subtropical gyre.     

Evaluation of a recombinant measles virus expressing hepatitis C virus envelope proteins by infection of human PBL-NOD/Scid/Jak3null mouse

In this study, we infected NOD/Scid/Jak3null mice engrafted human peripheral blood leukocytes (hu-PBL-NOJ) with measles virus Edmonston B strain (MV-Edm) expressing hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins (rMV-E1E2) to evaluate the immunogenicity as a vaccine candidate. Although human leukocytes could be isolated from the spleen of mock-infected mice during the 2-weeks experiment, the proportion of engrafted human leukocytes in mice infected with MV (10³–10⁵ pfu) or rMV-E1E2 (10⁴ pfu) was decreased. Viral infection of the splenocytes was confirmed by the development of cytopathic effects (CPEs) in co-cultures of splenocytes and B95a cells and verified using RT-PCR. Finally, human antibodies against MV were more frequently observed than E2-specific antibodies in serum from mice infected with a low dose of virus (MV, 10⁰–10¹ pfu, and rMV-E1E2, 10¹–10² pfu). These results showed the possibility of hu-PBL-NOJ mice for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of viral proteins.