First Report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pepper mottle virus</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> in Japan

Pepper mottle virus, genus Potyvirus, was first identified in Japan based on particle morphology, host range, aphid transmission, and molecular classification using the nucleotide sequence of the coat protein gene and 3-untranslated region.     

Structural gene and strain specificity of a novel cysteine protease produced by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a diseased chicken

Recently whole genome sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus has revealed the genes encoding cysteine proteases such as staphopain and SspB. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the structural gene (ScpA) encoding a cysteine (thiol) protease of S. aureus strain CH-91 from a chicken with dermatitis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inverse PCR methods. The sequence information revealed a coding sequence (CDS) of 1200 nucleotides encoding the ScpA preproenzyme of 399 amino acids with a molecular mass of 45,071 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ScpA differed at many positions from those of staphopain and SspB with identities of 64 and 42%, respectively. In the Southern blot analysis with a total DNA of S. aureus strain CH-91, the ScpA probe hybridized with a single 7.7 kb XbaI fragment or 2.8 and 0.8 kb EcoRI fragments, whereas the staphopain and SspB probes did not hybridize with these DNA fragments. These results suggest that this ScpA gene is a single-copy gene and is a novel gene, which is not found in the published whole genome sequences of S. aureus. In immunoblot, PCR, and Southern blot assays, the ScpA or its gene was detected in high protease-producing strains from chickens, but was not recognized in bovine and porcine strains or low protease-producing avian strains. These results indicate that the ScpA of CH-91 type may be specific to the high protease-producing strains of S. aureus from chickens, namely, there is a strain specificity of the ScpA.     

Changes of histochemical profiles of myofibers in pectoralis and supracoracoideus fasciculi induced by breeding for large or small body size in Japanese quails

The histochemical profiles of myofibers in Musculus pectoralis (PT) and M. supracoracoideus (SC) fasciculi were compared among Japanese quail strains with large, normal and small body sizes. In male and female adults, both the PT and SC muscles had attained a 2.5–2.7-fold weight gain in the large strain and conversely a 0.43–0.50-fold change in the small strain relative to those of the normal size. The muscles were composed of fasciculi with a central cluster of type IIA fibers surrounded by a peripheral layer of type IIB fibers. In the large strain, the cross sectional area (CSA) of the fasciculus and CSA of the fibers in each type were significantly enlarged compared with those in the normal size, with the exception of the fasciculus in the deep region of the male PT muscle. The hypertrophied type IIA fibers in the large strain showed considerable variation in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase activity, some of which might represent a transitional form into type IIB fibers. In the small strain, the fasciculus CSA did not significantly differ from that of the normal size except for the PT surface region of the male. However, fiber atrophy was observed in type IIB fibers of the PT surface region in both sexes, and type IIA fibers of the PT deep region and SC muscle in the small strain male quails. The relative fiber type composition of a fasciculus in each region showed only a slight change across the strains. These results indicate that breast muscle hypertrophy in the large strain could be based mainly on fasciculus and fiber hypertrophy, but muscle atrophy in the small strain is not induced by fasciculus and fiber atrophy.     

Comparative observations on the growth changes of the histochemical property and collagen architecture of the Musculus pectoralis from Silky, layer-type and meat-type cockerels

Growth‐related changes in the histochemical properties and collagen architecture of the Musculus pectoralis were compared among Silky, layer‐type and meat‐type cockerels. Histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used and collagen architecture was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The total amount of collagen present was also measured. The diameter of type IIB myofibers was similar or rather larger in the layer‐type birds compared with the meat‐type. The collagen content was generally low for 5–10 weeks across the breeds and then increased in the other breeds except for Silky. In the perimysium, the collagen bundles gradually increased in size and the density of the fibrils also increased during growth. At 30 weeks of age, the layer‐type birds showed compact collagen bundles while the meat‐type had loose bundles. The endomysial collagen network appeared relatively denser in the meat‐type chicks compared to the others at week 1. At 30 weeks of age, compact and felt‐like structure of endomysium was shown by Silky and layer‐type chickens, while the meat‐type showed a relatively loose arrangement of tissue in the endomysial collagen. From these results, it appears that the meat‐type chicken can produce a large M. pectoralis with many, relatively thinner myofibers and a relatively undeveloped form of intramuscular collagen structure.     

Anesthesia and acoustic stress-induced intra-uterine growth retardation in mice

Stress interferes with reproduction, adversely influencing implantation and fetal growth, and sometimes even leading to abortion. Here, we attempted to evaluate the early gestational effects of uncomfortable sound on pregnant mice and their offspring. Ten-week-old pregnant Jcl:ICR mice were exposed to sound (100 dB, random frequency between 9-34 kHz) for 8 hours on the 3(rd), 5(th) and 7(th) gestational days (GD). The effects of general anesthesia were also investigated, with or without acoustic stress. All groups were examined on the 18(th) GD for fetal growth. Fetal weight, number of ossified sacrococcygeal vertebrae and placental weight were all significantly reduced (P<0.0001) when stress was induced on the 7(th) GD, but not on the 3(rd) or 5(th) GD. This intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) was significantly inhibited by general anesthesia (P<0.0001), although general anesthesia alone induced significant IUGR (P<0.0001) when compared with control mice. This suggests that acoustic exposure indirectly exerts an effect on fetal growth, possibly via a psycho-maternal pathway. We also found that analysis of the number of ossified sacrococcygeal vertebrae is the most sensitive tool for the study of IUGR.     

Transmission of Rhus (Rhus javanica L.) Yellows by Hishimonus sellatus and Host Range of the Causal Phytoplasma

In 1998, rhus (Rhus javanica L.) yellows (RhY), caused by phytoplasma, was found in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. In vector transmission tests, Hishimonus sellatus acquired RhY phytoplasma from diseased R. javanica and transmitted it to healthy R. javanica. Twenty-two species of herbaceous plants in 10 families were infected with RhY phytoplasma by H. sellatus. The host range and main symptoms on test plants of RhY phytoplasma differed from those of Macrosteles striifrons-transmitted phytoplasmas, which belong to the same 16Sr I group phytoplasma. Received 6 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 14 May 2000     

Total synthesis of norzoanthamine

Norzoanthamine, an alkaloid isolated from Zoanthus sp., can suppress the loss of bone weight and strength in ovariectomized mice. Norzoanthamine derivatives can also strongly inhibit the growth of P-388 murine leukemia cell lines and human platelet aggregation. However, norzoanthamine's densely functionalized complex stereostructure and scarce availability from natural sources have proved a synthetic challenge. We report the stereoselective total synthesis of norzoanthamine in 41 steps, with an overall yield of 3.5% (an average of 92% yield each step).     

Databases for technical aspects of immunohistochemistry: 2021 update

With the aim of sharing information about the technical aspects of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and facilitating the selection of suitable antibodies for histopathological examination, this technical report describes the results of a questionnaire distributed during the period of 2018 to 2019 among members of the Conference on Experimental Animal Histopathology. Additionally, it describes the immunological properties and supplier details (clone, supplier, catalog number, species reactivity, etc.) as well as the IHC staining conditions (fixing solution, fixing time, embedding, antigen retrieval method, antibody dilution, incubation time, incubation temperature, positive control tissue, blocking condition, secondary antibody information, etc.) for a total of 509 primary antibodies (comprising 220 different types). These survey results were an update on the contents reported by CEAH in 2017.