Analysis of properties of monoclonal antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus using TO-163 strain

Nineteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), reactive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus TO-163 were obtained. Of these MAbs, 5 showed neutralizing (NT) activity (x 3,200 to 25,600) against TO-163. One of the MAbs which had NT activity showed hemagglutination inhibition activity (x 5,120) too. 14 hybridomas of polypeptide specificity against TO-163 strain were developed from which 11, 2, and 1 were specific for protein E2, N, and E1, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining patterns in TGE virus-infected cells reacted with MAbs were divided into three groups (types I, II and III). The fluorescence staining of E2 specific MAbs having NT activity were limited to the perinuclear area. All MAbs having NT activity showed the same fluorescence staining pattern.     

Detection of bovine rhinotracheitis virus antibody by neutralizing test and ELISA in experimentally infected rabbits.

The antibody response of rabbit to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus was examined. Two rabbits were inoculated with IBR virus strain Los Angeles into the trachea and intravenously, and intravenously two times, respectively. The patterns of antibody titers in the rabbits measured by neutralization test and ELISA were similar to those in the case of bovine. The antibody was detected after the inoculation, and much more antibody was detected after the second inoculation. The fact suggests that rabbits are a very useful laboratory animal for IBR virus infection studies.     

Safety and efficacy of the cell-associated vaccine prepared by an attenuated infectious laryngotracheitis virus.

The safety and efficacy of the cell-associated (C-A) vaccine prepared by chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells infected with the tissue-culture-modified strain of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) virus were studied in chickens. Over seventy percent of chickens inoculated with the C-A vaccine by the subcutaneous (S.C.) or intramuscular (I.M.) route at 1 day of age was protected against challenge with a virulent strain of ILT virus without any clinical signs. Chickens vaccinated with the C-A vaccine at 1 day of age acquired immunity within 6 days after vaccination, and the protection rate maintained more than 60% until 10 weeks post-vaccination. The C-A vaccine was invariably effective for chickens at various age. There was no evidence that the development of immunity was hindered by further vaccination with Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis combined live vaccine. In addition, the C-A vaccine was safe when chickens were inoculated with 10 doses. In the field trials of the C-A vaccine, no adverse reaction was observed, and over 65% of vaccinated chickens was protected against the challenge of the virulent ILT virus at 8 weeks after vaccination.     

Evaluation of the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of vaccinia virus to piglets

The pathogenicity and immunogenicity of vaccinia virus were examined in order to evaluate the possibility of its application as a recombinant viral vaccine in pigs. Following scarification inoculation with vaccinia virus, a mild reddish papulation developed only on the scarified part of the skin. No symptoms of illness such as fever or stunting were noted. Vaccinia virus was recovered in titers from scarified skin 4 and 7 days after inoculation. Control piglets cohabited with inoculated animals remained normal for the whole 5 week observation period. Hemagglutination inhibition and indirect immunofluorescence tests detected antibodies against vaccinia virus in the inoculated piglets, whereas no anti-vaccinia virus antibodies were detected in the contact control animals. Antigen-induced blastogenic tests of peripheral blood lymphocytes from animals, revealed that lymphocytes obtained from inoculated donors 5 weeks after inoculation, had a higher stimulation index (P less than 0.05) than did those from uninoculated piglets. These results suggested that vaccinia virus would be useful as a recombinant viral vector for pigs.     

Mass and local topography measurements of Itokawa by Hayabusa

The ranging instrument aboard the Hayabusa spacecraft measured the surface topography of asteroid 25143 Itokawa and its mass. A typical rough area is similar in roughness to debris located on the interior wall of a large crater on asteroid 433 Eros, which suggests a surface structure on Itokawa similar to crater ejecta on Eros. The mass of Itokawa was estimated as (3.58 +/- 0.18) x 10(10) kilograms, implying a bulk density of (1.95 +/- 0.14) grams per cubic centimeter for a volume of (1.84 +/- 0.09) x 10(7) cubic meters and a bulk porosity of approximately 40%, which is similar to that of angular sands, when assuming an LL (low iron chondritic) meteorite composition. Combined with surface observations, these data indicate that Itokawa is the first subkilometer-sized small asteroid showing a rubble-pile body rather than a solid monolithic asteroid.     

Identification of bovine dendritic cell phenotype from bovine peripheral blood

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells, which initiate primary immune responses and also play an important role in the generation of peripheral tolerance. There is no reliable method established for the isolation of bovine peripheral blood DCs, and furthermore, the phenotypes and the functions of bovine DCs are still not fully clear. In the present study, we have attempted to identify bovine peripheral blood DCs by negative-selection. In bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), we have newly characterized the phenotype of DCs, which is CD11c+/CD172a+. These cells display features of myeloid type DCs. In the thymic medulla, CD11c+/CD172a+ cells were also present and CD1+/CD172a+ cells were additionally detected as a population of DCs. The data suggest that one of the bovine DCs phenotypes from PBMC is derived from myeloid lineages lacking a CD1 molecule, which then drift to several tissues, and that they then may express a CD1 molecule upon their functional differentiation.     

Importance of shingle beaches as habitat for Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Fisheries Science - We carried out surveys to clarify how the density (no. of individuals/m2) and condition factor (CF) of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum differ between estuarine tidal flats...     

Management and yield prediction of Kunugi (Quercus acutissima) grazing forests

This study deals with grazing in kunugi (Quercus acutissima) forests in the Aso district of Kyushu Island in southwest Japan. These forests are managed for production of bed-logs for shiitake mushrooms and cow-calf farming. One of their characteristics is short-term rotation such as 10–15 years for bed-logs and a year for calf production. A forest grazing experiment was begun in Minamioguni to look at forest growth, vegetation change and grazing intensity. Stem densities dropped in a few years. After sprout cutting, they also dropped gradually, then stabilized. Although grazing caused tree damage and suppressed tree growth, grazing intensity of up to 150 cow-days/ha·year did not harm forest regeneration. Herbage volume decreased as grazing was repeated and trees grew. Another investigation of kunugi grazing forests in Minamioguni and Asaji showed the correlation betweenRy (yield index in Stand density diagram) and grazing capacity could be expressed with a regression equation. The results were also used to design a yield table for kunugi grazing forests. The yield table has items ofRy and grazing capacity in addition to usual yield table items, and can indicate timber yield and grazing capacity at the same time. The table estimates that proper grazing capacity is 60–80 cow-days/ha·year in wild grass sites. In the light of these results, an optimal management plan was proposed as a diagram integrating stem density, forest yield, and forest management.     

Growth,nutrient utilization,oxidative condition,and element composition of juvenile red sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis> fed with fermented soybean meal and scallop by-product blend as fishmeal replacement

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented soybean meal and scallop by-product blend (3:2) (FP) on the performance of juvenile red sea bream. Five isocaloric diets were prepared by replacing 0% (FP0), 15% (FP15), 30% (FP30), 45% (FP45), and 60% (FP60) fishmeal (FM) protein with FP, respectively. Triplicate groups of fish (initial mean weight 2.83 g) were fed the test diets for 45 days in a flowthrough seawater system. The results demonstrated that growth rates of fish fed FP0, FP15, and FP30 were similar, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of FP45 and FP60. Nutrient utilization was significantly lower in FP60, with no differences found among the other groups. Dietary heavy-metal contents were affected by inclusion of FP, impacting on whole-body heavy-metal contents. In terms of oxidative stress, fish fed the FP30 diet were in the best condition, since this fish group showed the least oxidative-stressed condition as well as the highest tolerance against oxidation. In conclusion, the approach of utilizing this fermented mixture is promising and it could replace at least 30% FM protein in red sea bream diet without negative effects on performance, body composition or health of fish.