Phylogenetic analysis of Myanmar indigenous chickens using mitochondrial D-loop sequence reveals their characteristics as a genetic resource

Myanmar indigenous chickens play important roles in food, entertainment, and farm business for the people of Myanmar. In this study, complete mitochondrial D-loop sequences (1232 bp) were analyzed using 176 chickens, including three indigenous breeds, two fighting cock populations, and three indigenous populations to elucidate genetic diversity and accomplish a phylogenetic analysis of Myanmar indigenous chickens. The average haplotype and nucleotide diversities were 0.948 ± 0.009 and 0.00814 ± 0.00024, respectively, exhibiting high genetic diversity of Myanmar indigenous chickens. Sixty-four haplotypes were classified as seven haplogroups, with the majority being haplogroup F. The breeds and populations except Inbinwa had multiple maternal haplogroups, suggesting that they experienced no recent purifying selection and bottleneck events. All breeds and populations examined shared haplogroup F. When 232 sequences belonging to haplogroup F (79 from Myanmar and 153 deposited sequences from other Asian countries/region) were analyzed together, the highest genetic diversity was observed in Myanmar indigenous chickens. Furthermore, Myanmar indigenous chickens and red junglefowls were observed in the center of the star-like median-joining network of 37 F-haplotypes, suggesting that Myanmar is one of the origins of haplogroup F. These findings revealed the unique genetic characteristic of Myanmar indigenous chickens as important genetic resources.     

Phylogenetic relationships of rodent pinworms (genus Syphacia) in Japan inferred from mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences

Species of the genus Syphacia are considered to have generally co-evolved with their rodent hosts. This study determined partial sequences of the CO1 gene from several species in the genus Syphacia and discuss the relationships between pinworms and their hosts. Syphacia montana, which parasitizes Microtinae, was closely related to S. frederici and S. obvelata, which parasitize Murinae. Although both S. obvelata and S. ohtaorum parasitize rodents in the genus Mus, these two species were not found to be closely related to each other. Syphacia frederici, S. emileromani and S. agraria are all pinworms of the Apodemus species, but genetic affiliation between these three species was not indicated. These facts suggest that the co-evolutionary relationship between species of the genus Syphacia and their host rodents may not so strict and host switching has probably occurred during the course of evolution.     

Effects of dietary β-carotene on the immune response of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

SUMMARY: We attempt to assess the impact of different levels of dietary β-carotene on immune function in rainbow trout. Semi-purified diets containing 0, 40, 200, and 400 mg β-carotene/kg dry diet were fed for 12 weeks to fish with average weight of 45 g. In addition to the humoral and cellular immune parameters, growth and feed utilization were examined. There were no marked differences in growth and feed utilization showing that β-carotene was not particularly efficient in enhancing growth of rainbow trout. Of the immune parameters measured, total immunoglobulin was significantly highest for the 200 mg β-carotene fed group. Serum complement activity (alternate pathway) at 200 and 400 mg β-carotene supplementation was significantly higher than that of the unsupplemented group. An increasing trend in lysozyme activity was observed, however, the differences among the groups were not significant. Phagocytic activity was similar among diet groups except at the highest level of supplementation where it was the maximum. Oxygen radical production by peripheral blood leukocytes appeared to be lower at higher levels of carotenoid supplementation. Overall, dietary β-carotene clearly enhanced immune response parameters in rainbow trout such as serum complement activity and total plasma immunoglobulin but did not show a definite influence for the other factors examined in the present study.     

Identification of endotrypanum species from a sloth,a squirrel and Lutzomyia sandflies in ecuador by PCR amplification and sequencing of the mini-exon gene

PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of the mini-exon gene revealed that four strains isolated from a sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), a squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) and two sandflies (Lutzomyia hartmanni) in Ecuador were indistinguishable from Endotrypanum monterogeii. Another strain isolated from Lu. hartmanni showed the high sequence similarity to E. schaudinni. Since three of these strains have been previously identified as Leishmania (Viannia) equatorensis, the results demonstrate that L. (V.) equatorensis is genetically closely related to the genus Endotrypanum. The present study also indicates that Endotrypanum species are distributed in arboreal animals and sandflies in Ecuador, and that mini-exon gene amplification is useful for epidemiological studies of Leishmania and Endotrypanum in the New World.     

Anti-allergic effects of the brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia arborea</Emphasis> on Brown Norway rats

To investigate the anti-allergic effects of the brown alga Eisenia arborea. A strain of Brown Norway rats know to strongly respond to immunoglobulin E (IgE) were used as an allergy model animal. The rats were immunized with ovalbumin by oral administration. The levels of serum IgE and histamine were suppressed in the rats fed a diet supplemented with dried E. arborea powder. As for the cytokine pattern, the interferon-γ production in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) was enhanced, and the interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in the spleens and/or IL-10 production in the spleens and MLN were suppressed. These results, together with the change in the Th1/Th2 balance, indicate that the rats fed with E. arborea became more anti-allergic, suggesting that E. arborea might possess anti-allergic effects.     

Fundamental studies on wood/cellulose-plastic composites: effects of composition and cellulose dimension on the properties of cellulose/PP composite

Although wood/cellulose-plastic composites (WPC) of low wood/cellulose content have been more accepted worldwide and are promoted as low-maintenance, high-durability building products, composites containing high wood/cellulose content are not yet developed on an industrial scale. In this study, flow properties, mechanical properties, and water absorption properties of the compounds of cellulose microfiber/polypropylene (PP) and maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) were investigated to understand effects of the high cellulose content and the dimensions of the cellulose microfiber. The molding processes studied included compression, injection, and extrusion. It was found that fluidity is not only dependent on resin content but also on the dimension of the filler; fluidity of the compound declined with increased fiber length with the same resin content. Dispersion of the composite was monitored by charge-coupled device (CCD) microscope. Increasing the plastic content in the cellulose-plastic formulation improved the strength of mold in addition to the bond development between resin and filler, and the tangle of fibers. The processing mode affected the physicomechanical properties of the cellulosic plastic. Compression-molded samples exhibited the lowest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the highest water absorption, while samples that were injection-molded exhibited the highest MOR (70 MPa) and MOE (7 GPa) and low water absorption (2%).     

Quality aspect of fish sauce prepared from underutilized fatty Japanese anchovy and rabbit fish

ABSTRACT:   To explore the potential utility of underutilized fish in the fish sauce industry, fish sauces were prepared from both raw and heat-induced meat of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonica and rabbit fish Siganus fuscescens using wheat malt, and their quality aspects and sensory properties were assessed. Proximate composition of the fish meat represents protein as the major component (16.0–17.8%), other than moisture. Analyses of free amino acids, peptides including oligopeptides, and organic acids contents in fish sauces revealed suitability of both raw and heat-induced meat of the selected species in commercial fish sauce production. The variations in taste of raw meat fish sauces were species-specific, but the taste of fish sauces from heat-induced meat were similar.