Anethole inhibits growth of recently emerged multidrug resistant toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains in vitro

To search natural compounds having inhibitory effect on bacterial growth is important, particularly in view of growing multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of bacterial pathogens. Like other bacterial pathogens, MDR Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of diarrheal disease cholera, is becoming a great concern. As an approach of searching new antimicrobial agents, here, we show that anethole, a well-studied natural component of sweet fennel and star anise seeds, could potentially inhibit the growth of MDR O1 El Tor biotype, the ongoing 7th cholera pandemic variant strains of toxigenic V. cholerae. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of anethole against diverse O1 El Tor biotype strains is evaluated as 200 µg/ml. Moreover, the effect of anethole is bactericidal and exerts rapid-killing action on V. cholerae cells. This study is the first report which demonstrates that anethole, purified from natural compound, is a potent inhibitor of growth of toxigenic V. cholerae. Our data suggest that anethole could be a potential antimicrobial drug candidate, particularly against MDR V. cholerae mediated infections.     

奶牛饲喂不同精粗料比TMR对排泄粪尿和氮磷的影响

将18头荷斯坦产奶牛随机分为试验6组,每组3头,试验Ⅰ～Ⅵ组奶牛依次饲喂不同精粗料比（精料：粗料）的TMR1（20∶80）、TMR2（30∶70）、TMR3（40∶60）、TMR4（50∶50）、TMR5（60∶40）、TMR6（70∶30）的日粮,探讨不同精粗料比TMR对奶牛粪尿、N、P的排泄量和CH4释放量的影响。结果,饲喂TMR4与饲喂TMR1和TMR6的奶牛相比,每头奶牛每年CH4释放量减少15.20Kg和89.84Kg;粪便排泄量减少1.37t和1.41t;N降低3.71kg和17.50kg;P减少2.59kg和4.07kg,比TMR1FCM提高10.54%（P〈0.05）;乳脂率增加9.67%（P〈0.05）;乳糖增加7.26%（P〈0.05）,能减少奶牛对土壤水源及空气的污染,提高奶牛的生态效益和经济效益。     

奶牛饲喂不同精粗料比TMR对排泄粪尿和氮磷的影响

将18头荷斯坦产奶牛随机分为试验6组,每组3头,试验Ⅰ～Ⅵ组奶牛依次饲喂不同精粗料比(精料:粗料)的TMR1 (20∶80)、TMR2(30∶70)、TMR3 (40∶60)、TMR4 (50∶50)、TMR5 (60∶40)、TMR6 (70∶30)的日粮,探讨不同精粗料比TMR对奶牛粪尿、N、P的排泄量和CH4释放...     

Reduction of transport stress of ayu by obligated schooling

We investigated stress responses of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis under the hypothesis that overcrowding during transport can be a stressor and the stress predisposes fish to disease by decline in immunocompetence. The extent of stress response was determined under different fish densities. As inferred from the serum concentration of cortisol 1 day after the treatment, the density at more than 23 kg/m³, which was within the range of normal transporting procedures, acutely evoked intense stress responses. To examine a possible way to reduce the stress response of fish under crowding conditions, we compared two fish groups established in water tanks with circulating (whirling) and turbulent currents at the same density. The cortisol levels 1 day after the treatment were 2.5-fold higher in turbulent current than in whirling current. Fish in whirling current formed a school, while those in turbulent current aggregated with each other. Schooling of fish induced by water flow may reduce their stress responses during transport. A transport system with a directional water flow should keep fish in good condition without reducing the number of fish contained.     

Characterization of a novel nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-cytochrome b5 reductase mutation associated with canine hereditary methemoglobinemia

Hereditary methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in animals. Recently, nonsynonymous b5R gene (CYB5R3) variants have been reported to be associated with canine and feline hereditary methemoglobinemia. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of canine and feline methemoglobinemia caused by these nonsynonymous variants have not yet been reported. Previously, we reported a Pomeranian dog family with hereditary methemoglobinemia, carrying CYB5R3 mutation of an A>C transition at codon 194 in exon 7, replacing an isoleucine residue with leucine (p.Ile194Leu). In this study, we investigated the enzymatic and structural properties of the soluble form of wild-type and Ile194Leu canine b5Rs to characterize the effects of this missense mutation. Our results showed that the kinetic properties of the mutant enzyme were not affected by this amino acid substitution. The secondary structure of the wild-type and Ile194Leu b5Rs detected by circular dichroism showed a similar pattern. However, the mutant enzyme exhibited decreased heat stability and increased susceptibility to trypsin hydrolysis. Moreover, the thermostability and unfolding measurements indicated that the mutant enzyme was more sensitive to temperature-dependent denaturation than the wild-type b5R. We concluded from these results that unstable mutant enzyme properties with normal enzymatic activity would be associated with hereditary methemoglobinemia in the Pomeranian dog family.     

Viability of maternally heat-stressed mouse zygotes in vivo and in vitro

Mammalian preimplantation embryos are susceptible to heat stress. This present study examined how maternal heat stress affects the development of mouse zygotes in vivo and in vitro. In Experiment 1, zygotes collected from female mice that were heat‐stressed for 12 h on day 1 of pregnancy were cultured in vitro. Maternally heat‐stressed zygotes developed normally to the two‐cell stage, but the majority of embryos failed to develop into morulae or blastocysts. In Experiment 2, pregnant mice were heat‐stressed on day 1 or from day 1 to day 3 of pregnancy. The number of living fetuses on day 14 of pregnancy was lower in heat‐stressed mice than in non‐stressed mice, but the difference was significant only in successively heat‐stressed mice. These results demonstrate that maternally heat‐stressed zygotes have reduced in vitro viability, but this phenomenon does not necessarily lead to embryo loss in the maternal environment.     

Effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth of rice plants, weeds, and the number of arthropods in paddy fields

Aigamo duck farming has been noticed as one of the techniques of environmental conservation agriculture. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth and production of rice plants, the quantity of weeds and arthropods, and the balance of nitrogen (N) in paddy fields by changing the density of the Aigamo ducks. A paddy field was divided into three test plots: a 10-Aigamo-duck plot, a five-Aigamo-duck plot, and a weeding plot. The results show that the height, number of culms, and yield crops of the rice plants increased more in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot and the five-Aigamo-duck plot than that of the weeding plot. Millet ( Echinochloa oryzicola ) remained in both the Aigamo duck plots. The weeding plot was covered with monochoria ( Monochoria vaginalis ). In both the Aigamo duck plots, the outbreak of total arthropods was lower than that of the weeding plot, but the number of rice plants damaged by grass leaf rollers ( Cnaphalocrocis medinalis ) was increased. The number of spiders, regarded as useful insects, did not differ that much between the experimental plots. The N content of the soil did not differ as an effect of loosing the Aigamo ducks. The rice plants in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot absorbed more N than the rice plants in the other plots.     

Identification and use of a wild plant with antimicrobial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum, the cause of bacterial wilt of potato

Fresh aerial tissue and roots of 14 wild plants in Okinawa prefecture were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum , which causes bacterial wilt of potato. A 70% aqueous ethanol extract of fresh aerial tissue of Geranium carolinianum L. showed strong antimicrobial activity against R. solanacearum . This extract also showed antimicrobial activity against the pathogens causing common scab of potato and soil rot of sweet potato. The antimicrobial substance could be extracted with hot water, and was effective against R. solanacearum in soil. In the field test, a treatment combining incorporation of dried aerial tissue into the soil and solarization was highly effective for control of bacterial wilt of potato. These findings suggest that G. carolinianum L. could be used as a biological agent for the control of bacterial wilt of potato.