Bacterial leaf blight of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) caused by Pseudomonas cichorii in Japan

Sweet peppers (cv. Tosajishi beauty) with leaf blight symptoms were observed in Kochi Prefecture, 2003. Initially, small spots formed on leaves, and later enlarged to brown to dark brown spots, and eventually blighted leaves fell. Several bacteria that caused the same symptoms were isolated and subsequently reisolated. These bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas cichorii on the basis of bacterial characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. This is the first report of bacterial leaf blight in the sweet pepper in the world.     

The causes of soil alkalinization in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China

The causes of soil alkalinization in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China were mainly analyzed from two aspects, natural and anthropogenic. Natural factors of alkalinization are parent materials, topographic positions, freeze-thaw action, wind conveyance, water properties and semi-arid/sub-humid climate. Some of them were always being neglected, such as freeze-thaw action and wind conveyance. Anthropogenic causes are mainly population pressure, overgrazing and improper agricultural and economic policies. In recent decades, overgrazing played a main role in secondary soil alkalinization, which led to the decline of Leymus chinensis grasslands. Now, the alkalinization is very severe, and more than 3.2 × 10⁶ ha area has been affected by salt, which becomes one of the three largest sodic–saline areas in the world.     

Effects of time and duration of rearing with bottom sand on the occurrence and expansion of staining-type hypermelanosis in the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

We previously reported that the progression of staining-type hypermelanosis spontaneously ceased at a specific time and area in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. To examine whether time is a limiting factor in the spontaneous cessation of staining, we experimentally controlled the initiation and duration of staining by manipulating the bottom substrate condition in the fish tanks. At 151 days post hatching (DPH; 11 weeks), spontaneous cessation of staining was observed in fish reared in tanks without a sandy substrate. However, staining resumed (or was initiated) in tanks where sand was removed from 11 weeks, indicating a strong but temporary effect of bottom sand and the absence of time limitation in the staining progression by 151 DPH. Extended duration of the inhibitory period of hypermelanosis expansion (9 weeks or more) aided in only a 20 % reduction of the final staining area because of the increased rate of staining expansion. The bottom sandy substrate decreased the visibility of the staining area in individuals, but this was observed only before the completion of the staining expansion. These findings are discussed in relation to possible presence of area limitation of future staining, as well as the fundamental nature of staining.     

Effects of Brief Summer or Winter Fasting on the Muscle Quality of Cultured Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis)

The effects of fasting on the quality of the dorsal and ventral ordinary muscles from cultured Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) during chilled storage were investigated. Tuna were subjected to fasting for 2 days in the summer or 6 days in the winter prior to harvesting. The breaking strength of the dorsal ordinary muscle sampled in the summer increased until 24 h and then decreased. There were no significant differences in the lipid and glycogen content of the ordinary muscle after 9 h of storage between the controls and either fasting group. The pH of the ordinary muscle subjected to summer and winter fasting was higher than in the controls after 24–48 h of storage. However, the relationship between the pH and glycogen content was unclear. The metmyoglobin content during chilled storage was lower in the ordinary muscles from either fasting group than in the controls. In conclusion, fasting for 6 days in the winter improved the color stability of the ordinary muscle without a decline in its lipid content.     

Coexistence of anadromous and lacustrine life histories of the shirauo, Salangichthys microdon

The environmental history of the shirauo, Salangichthys microdon, was examined in terms of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) uptake in the otolith, by means of wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectrometry on an electron microprobe. Anadromous and lacustrine type of the shirauo were found to occur sympatric. Otolith Sr concentration or Sr : Ca ratios of anadromous shirauo fluctuated strongly along the life‐history transect in accordance with the migration (habitat) pattern from sea to freshwater. In contrast, the Sr concentration or the Sr : Ca ratios of lacustrine shirauo remained at consistently low levels throughout the otolith. The higher ratios in anadromous shirauo, in the otolith region from the core to 90–230 μm, corresponded to the initial sea‐going period, probably reflecting the ambient salinity or the seawater–freshwater gradient in Sr concentration. The findings clearly indicated that otolith Sr : Ca ratios reflected individual life histories, enabling these anadromous shirauo to be distinguished from lacustrine shirauo.     

Physiological effects of wood on humans: a review

It is empirically known that wood can cause a comfort enhancement effect in humans. On the other hand, not enough scientific knowledge based on evidence-based research is available on this subject. However, data using physiological indices have increasingly accumulated in recent years. This review provides an overview of the current situation for peer-reviewed reports related to the physiological effects of wood. We reviewed reports that elucidated the effects of wood-derived stimulations on the olfactory, visual, auditory, and tactile sensations using physiological indices such as brain activity (e.g., near-infrared spectroscopy) and autonomic nervous activity (e.g., heart rate variability and blood pressure). It became clear that many studies were limited by (1) a small number of participants, mostly aged in their 20s; (2) use of only a single stimulus (e.g., only olfactory or only visual), or (3) an incomplete experimental design. In addition, this review examined the field of forest therapy, for which there is abundant research. Further study is needed to elucidate the physiological effects of wood on humans.     

Babesia gibsoni rhoptry-associated protein 1 and its potential use as a diagnostic antigen

A cDNA encoding the rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) homologue was obtained by immunoscreening an expression library prepared from Babesia gibsoni merozoite mRNA. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene was 1740bp. Computer analysis suggested that the sequence contains an open reading frame of 1425bp encoding an expected protein with a molecular weight of 52kDa. Based on the sequence similarity, this putative protein was designated as the B. gibsoni RAP-1 (BgRAP-1). The BgRAP-1 gene was expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21 strain, and the recombinant BgRAP-1 was used as the antigen in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results can differentiate between the B. gibsoni-infected dog sera and the Babesia canis infected dog sera or the normal dog sera. Furthermore, the antibody response against the recombinant protein was maintained during the chronic stage of infection, indicating that the recombinant BgRAP-1 protein might be a useful diagnostic antigen for the detection of antibodies to B. gibsoni infection in dogs.     

A role for balance of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production in protective immunity against Neospora caninum infection

A suitable balance in the production of Th1/Th2-type cytokines has a crucial role in the control of microbial infections. We investigated cytokine production patterns and effects during Neospora caninum infection, based on two mouse models and an in vitro system. In the acute infection of N. caninum, BALB/c-background IFN-gamma-deficient mice that were sensitive to the N. caninum infection showed high levels of IL-10 production, whereas significant levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production were observed in resistant wild type mice. BALB/c mice vaccinated with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing N. caninum surface protein NcSRS2 resisted parasite spread throughout the body, low levels of IFN-gamma production and high levels of IL-4 production were observed compared to unvaccinated animals. The treatment of N. caninum-infected cells with IFN-gamma or IL-10 decreased the host-cell viability in an in vitro system using mouse macrophage J774A.1 cells. On the other hand, IL-4, but not IL-10 administration, increased the viability of N. caninum-infected and IFN-gamma-treated cells. In the light of the balance of Th1/Th2-type cytokine production, an IFN-gamma/IL-4 balance may have a crucial role for the control of cellular responses against the parasite invasion.     

Possible active transport mechanism in pharmacokinetics of flunixin-meglumin in rabbits

The plasma and urine kinetics of flunixin-meglumin (FNX, 2 mg/kg, i.v.) in rabbits were examined. Unusual pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained, including high binding percentage with plasma protein (> 99%), a short elimination half-life (< 4 hr) and a relatively large Vd-area (0.5 L/kg). These profiles indicate that some active transport mechanisms are involved in FNX disposition. The recovery of FNX from urine was approximately 9 % of the dose within 24 hr following the injection. The estimated renal clearance of the unbound drug nearly corresponded to the renal blood flow rates, indicating that active tubular secretion in the renal re-absorptive tract may be involved in the disposition. The effect of a concomitant administration of pravastatin (PV) on FNX disposition was also examined. PV is a representative substrate of a transporter in human liver cells (OATP-2). After the PV administrations, the Vd-area of FNX and total body clearance markedly decreased, indicating that FNX is actively taken up and metabolized in liver cells by an OATP-2 like transporter. In conclusion, there are at least 2 active transport pathways for FNX pharmacokinetics in rabbits, one is renal tubular secretion and the other is in the sinusoidal section of the liver.     

Isolation and purification of a protective protein antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The rapid growth and high survival rate of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was determined using a culture of the bacterium in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.3% Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane and 0.1% Tween 80 (TT-TS broth). High concentrations of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins, which are associated with protection against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice, were obtained by alkaline treatment of whole cells using 0.05-1 N NaOH. The supernatant of alkaline treated cells (alkaline extract; AE) was stable at alkaline or neutral pH. However, aggregates appeared at neutral pH in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). A high yield of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins was obtained from strain Agata (serovar 5). The proteins were eluted from gel bands following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the AE from strain Agata and designated P64 and P43. The amounts of P64 and P43 isolated were 0.7 and 0.3 mg/16 g of wet bacteria, respectively. In a mouse protection test, 50% protective doses (PD50) of P64 and P43 were 0.58 and 0.63 microgram, respectively. Upon Western blotting of the AE, both anti-P64 and anti-P43 antibodies reacted with the 64 and 43 kDa proteins. From these results, it is suggested that P64 is the most effective protective antigen and that P43 (43 kDa protein) is a degradation product of P64. Therefore, the 64 kDa structural proteins are associated with the induction of a protective activity against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice.