Association of tumor-associated antigen on the proliferation of bovine leukemia virus-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines.

The association of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on the proliferation of BLV-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (BL2M3 and BL312) was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of TAA with monoclonal antibody (mAb) c143 showed high expression of TAA on the surfaces of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. A large amount of TAA was found in the culture supernatant of BL2M3 and BL312 cells as well as in the lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. Culture supernatant but not lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells promoted the growth of either BL2M3 cells or BL312 cells. Furthermore, this growth promoting activity in culture supernatants of BL2M3 and BL312 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner when cultured with mAb c143. These results suggested that TAA may be involved in the growth factor-mediated cell growth of bovine B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing TAA on their cell surface.     

Anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies detected in sera of dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni.

Due to the potential for anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies as possible enhancers of erythrocyte destruction, the presence of serum anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 31 dogs with Babesia gibsoni infection admitted to a veterinary hospital was investigated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analyses. This infection resulted in an increase of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 84% (IgG) and 74% (IgM) of 31 infected dogs, respectively. This was confirmed by the similarity in the protein profiles of the erythrocyte membrane antigens immunoblotted with rabbit antiserum to dog erythrocyte membrane antigens and infected dog serum. These results suggest the production of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies was induced by B. gibsoni infection.     

Identification of a resistant protein from scallop shell extract and its bile acid-binding activity

In this study, we showed that feeding rats the organic extract of scallop shells (scallop shell extract) caused a decrease in the weights of white adipose tissues in rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, the cholesterol concentration in the serum of rats that received a diet containing scallop shell extract was significantly lower than that in the serum of rats on the control diet. Feeding this scallop shell extract to rats increased the fecal weight as well as the fecal excretion of bile acids. The amino acid composition of the feces from rats fed the scallop shell extract was different from that of feces from rats fed the control diet, and treatment of the extract with pepsin and pancreatin identified a protein with a molecular weight of 90 kDa (90-kDa protein) as one of the indigestible proteins. Interestingly the 90-kDa protein was found to be identical to a free radical-scavenging protein we previously identified and showed the ability to bind bile acids. These results suggest that indigestible proteins (resistant proteins) in the scallop shell extract, including the 90-kDa protein, inhibit the absorption of bile acid by binding to it and cause increased excretion of fecal bile acid, which subsequently may decrease the serum cholesterol level.     

Supplementation effect(s) of organic acids and/or lipid to plant protein‐based diets on juvenile yellowtail,Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck et Schlegel 1845, growth and,nitrogen and phosphorus excretion

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of organic acids and/or lipid supplementation on growth, utilization and environmental loading of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in juvenile yellowtail fed fishmeal (FM) and plant protein (PP) diets. Six diets as FM (FM‐based), FM+P (FM with inorganic P), FM+L (FM with lipid), PP+CA (PP with citric acid), PP+L+CA (PP with lipid and citric acid) and PP+L+FA (PP with formic acid) were formulated. Yellowtails were fed each of the diets in duplicate groups; once a day, 6 days a week to near satiation at water temperature 19.0–25.0 °C for 16 weeks. Fishmeal with inorganic P gave the best growth while PP+L+FA the lowest. However, growth increased in PP+CA and PP+L+CA. Addition of lipid significantly increased N and P retention resulting in significant reduction in N and P excretion. Citric acid and FA supplementation to PP diets also increased retention of P; hence, its excretion was lowered. Thus, CA, FA and lipid in juvenile yellowtail diets can help to partially replace FM with PP sources and reduce inorganic P use to minimize environmental loading from aquafeeds.     

Dual effects of reversed winter–spring temperatures on year‐to‐year variation in the recruitment of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus)

To clarify the effects of temperature on the recruitment of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) in the North Pacific, we investigated the influence of winter surface temperature (WST) on spawners at the time of maturity around the spawning grounds and the influence of ambient spring temperature on larvae using estimated temperature (ET) obtained from particle tracking experiments. We found a significant positive correlation between ET approximately 10 days following hatching and the recruitment per spawning stock biomass (RPS) after 2000. The closer (more meandering) the Kuroshio Current (KC) axis was in relation to the spawning ground, the higher (lower) the spring surface temperature and the higher (lower) RPS was in the spawning ground. In contrast, WST inside KC near the maturity/spawning ground was significantly negatively correlated with RPS. A significant negative correlation between the temperatures in winter and spring was detected in the area after 2000, when the conditions of the Pacific decadal oscillation index and the stability of the Kuroshio Extension were synchronous, indicating that KC shifted northward during this time. The reversed temperature pattern was consistent with the winter–spring movement of KC axis in the offshore direction and was correlated with the winter–spring difference in the intensity of the Aleutian low. These results suggest that the annual variation in chub mackerel recruitment after 2000 was strongly affected by the combined effects of ambient temperature because of the reversal of conditions that occurred between winter and spring around the maturity/spawning ground, which was related to the KC path.     

Effects of dietary phosphorus level on non-faecal phosphorus excretion from yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel) fed purified and practical diets

Non-faecal phosphorus (P) was determined for large yellowtail to estimate a minimum available P requirement (Experiment  1) and to justify inorganic P supplementation in a fish meal-based diet (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, purified diets with incremental P concentrations were fed to yellowtail (mean weight 917 g) at a feeding rate of 1.5% of body weight. The peaks of non-faecal P excretion appeared 5–6 h after feeding in fish fed more than 4.5 g available P kg⁻¹ dry diet. Broken-line analysis indicated that the minimum available P requirement was 4.4 g kg⁻¹ dry diet. In Experiment 2, a purified diet (PR) containing 6.5 g available P kg⁻¹ and a fish meal-based diet with (F1) and without (F0) additional phosphorus were fed to yellowtail (mean weight 1.1 kg) at 1.5% (PR) and 2% (F0 and F1) feeding rates respectively. There was no significant difference in P excretion between fish fed the F0 (5.5 g soluble P kg⁻¹ dry diet) and the PR diet. However, significantly higher (34.5%) amounts of non-faecal P excretions (7.4 g soluble P kg⁻¹ dry diet) were found in fish fed F1 compared with the F0 diet. This suggested that there was an excess of dietary P in the F1 diet and that supplementation is not needed in fish meal-based diets for large yellowtail.     

Free radical scavenging ability and structure of a 90-kDa protein from the scallop shell

We have previously reported that the scallop shell extract possesses free radical scavenging activity. In this study, we isolated a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 90 kDa (named 90-kDa protein) which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing, and ferrous ion-chelating activities. Amino acid composition analysis showed that the 90-kDa protein was rich in Asx (Asp or Asn), Ser and Gly residues. A BLAST search of partial amino acid sequences determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed that the 90-kDa protein is a novel protein. The 90-kDa protein is a yellow protein that contains fluorescent substances. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a radical scavenging protein from the scallop shell.     

Bone morphological analyses in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats

The Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rat, a model for obese type 2 diabetes, shows bone quantitative abnormalities, namely low bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of this study was to evaluate bone morphological changes, in particular identifying the bone qualitative abnormalities, in the SDT fatty rat. Male SDT fatty rats showed increases in total trabecular area and trabecular number and decreases in trabecular thickness in cancellous bones of the proximal tibia, indicating trabecular miniaturization. The SDT fatty rat is useful for investigation of pathophysiological changes in bone quality in diabetic osteoporosis.     

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' Infection in cats by direct PCR using whole blood without DNA extraction

Detection of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. infection was attempted in cats by PCR using whole blood without DNA extraction. A total 46 of 54 (85%) cats with suspected Mycoplasma spp. infection showed a positive reaction, corresponding completely with the results of standard PCR testing. The direct PCR assay was sensitive enough to detect more than 0.0061% parasitemia for ;C. M. haemominutum' and 0.0075% parasitemia for M. haemofelis. These data indicate that the direct PCR assay might be sufficient for use as a tool in clinical examinations.