A method for obtaining the relationship between the amount of DNA and the fine root weight from mixtures of fine roots and soil particles

Fine root biomass can be estimated from the quantity of DNA of a target plant extracted from fine root samples using regression analysis. However, the application of this method to fine root samples mixed with soil particles (mixed samples) is difficult due to the high DNA adsorption capacity of some clay minerals. Our aim in this study was to clarify the enhancement level of the DNA extraction efficiency of an improved method, and to obtain a regression line between the amount of DNA and the root biomass from a mixed sample with similar reliability as for fine roots alone (pure root sample). We examined the amount of DNA extracted from a mixture of Zea mays L. fine roots and highly adsorbent Kanuma soil using various concentrations of a skim milk solution, which acts as an adsorption competitor for the soil particles during the DNA extraction process. The amount of DNA of Zea mays extracted from the mixed sample using 0% skim milk was lower than from the pure root sample. However, the amount of DNA extracted from the mixed sample increased with increasing concentrations of skim milk, reaching the same level as for the pure root samples and resulting in a regression line that was similar to the pure root samples. Optimal DNA extraction levels were obtained with the addition of 20?µL of a 20% skim milk solution to 30?mg of a mixed sample. We also discuss the applicability of this method to other plant species and soil types.     

In-situ growth of ZnO particles on bamboo pulp fabric and its anti-UV property

This research presents a simple way to enhance the anti-UV property of bamboo pulp fabric trough in situ synthesis of ZnO particles on the fabric. Bamboo Pulp Fabric was treated by immersion method in Zn(NO₃)₂ and multi-amide compound (RSD) aqueous solution under hydrothermal condition, then the ZnO particles were grown on the surface of bamboo pulp fabric by in-situ method. In this synthesis RSD was applied as a stabilizer, reactant and dispersant agent, the reaction mechanism was investigated. The ZnO particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Xray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet/visible light spectrophotometer. The anti-UV property of Bamboo Pulp Fabric was characterized by measuring its UPF. The results indicated that the diameter of ZnO is about 150 nm, the length is about 600 nm. The Bamboo Pulp Fabric treated with ZnO particles showed good anti-UV property and its UPF can reach to 83.59. After washing for 20 times, it can also keep good anti-UV property.     

Isolation of Chuzan virus, a new member of the Palyam subgroup of the genus Orbivirus, from cattle and Culicoides oxystoma in Japan

Five virus strains with identical antigenic properties were isolated from 3 RBC suspensions obtained from 2 healthy sentinel calves and from 2 pools of Culicoides oxystoma in cultures of a hamster lung cell line (HmLu-1). The virus was tentatively named Chuzan virus. The Chuzan virus was classified as a new member of the Palyam subgroup of the genus Orbivirus on the basis of its physicochemical, morphologic, and antigenic properties.     

Serum-free culture of adult chicken hepatocytes; morphological and biochemical characterisation

The morphological and biochemical characterisation of adult chicken hepatocytes in a serum-free culture are described. When cultured in positively charged plastic dishes, chicken hepatocytes formed a monolayer cell sheet. The monolayer morphology of these chicken hepatocytes was quite distinct from the spheroid shape of rat hepatocytes cultured under similar conditions. Electron microscopy showed that the cytoplasmic organelles of chicken hepatocytes were well preserved in vitro. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that the chicken hepatocytes secreted liver-specific proteins. Several enzymes of glucose-6-phosphatase, cytochrome P-450 or glutathione S-transferase, involved in metabolic and biotransformation pathways in the liver, were retained in the chicken hepatocytes in a serum free condition. These findings suggest that the primary culture of adult chicken hepatocytes with a serum-free culture system could be useful to study the hepatic metabolic pathway in the chicken and its response to various chemicals.     

Serologic evidence for the etiologic role of Chuzan virus in an epizootic of congenital abnormalities with hydranencephaly-cerebellar hypoplasia syndrome of calves in Japan

An epizootic of congenital abnormalities of calves was observed in the Kyushu district of Japan from November 1985 through April 1986. The main clinical signs of the disease were impairment of mobility and signs of impairment of the nervous system. Opisthotonos was pronounced, and almost all calves were unable to suckle by themselves. The main macroscopic pathologic changes were hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. Although an etiologic agent was not isolated from the calves, serotest results of precolostral serum samples indicated that 128 of 139 (92%) abnormal calves had antibody for Chuzan virus, a new virus belonging to the Palyam subgroup of the Orbivirus genus; 34 healthy calves in the epizootiologic area did not have antibody for the virus. The presence of Chuzan virus in Kyushu in 1985 was confirmed serologically.     

Genetic characterization of rabies viruses isolated from frugivorous bat (Artibeus spp.) in Brazil

In Latin America, rabies cases related to frugivorous bats have been reported since 1930's. Recently, two viruses isolated from Artibeus lituratus were proved to be vampire bat variants by monoclonal antibodies panels [2], but their genetic information is not well known. In this report, four rabies viruses were isolated from frugivorous bats (Artibeus spp.) in Brazil and their nucleoprotein gene sequences were determined. These isolates were found to be genotype 1 of lyssavirus and showed the maximum nucleotide sequence homology of 97.6-99.4% with vampire bat-related viruses in Brazil [6]. These results indicate that the Brazilian frugivorous bat rabies viruses in this study are closely related to vampire bat-related viruses that play a main role in rabies virus transmission to livestock in Brazil.