Development of cultivar-specific DNA markers based on retrotransposon-based insertional polymorphism in Japanese pear

We developed retrotransposon-based insertional polymorphism (RBIP) markers based on the long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences of copia-like retrotransposon Ppcrt4 and flanking genome sequences, which were derived from 454 sequencing data from Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) ‘Hosui’. Out of 40 sequences including both LTR and flanking genome regions, we developed 22 RBIP markers and used them for DNA profiling of 80 pear cultivars: 64 Japanese, 10 Chinese (Pyrus ussuriensis) and 6 European (Pyrus communis). Three RBIP markers were enough to differentiate ‘Hosui’ from the other Japanese pear cultivars. The 22 RBIP markers could also distinguish 61 of the 64 Japanese pear cultivars. European pears showed almost no amplification of the 22 RBIP markers, which might suggest that retrotransposons had transposed during Asian pear evolution or reflect the genetic relationship between Asian and European pears. Sixteen of the RBIP markers could be positioned on a genetic linkage map of ‘Hosui’. The RBIP loci were distributed in 10 linkage groups, and some loci were very closely located within the same linkage group. The information obtained will be applicable to developing cultivar-specific RBIP marker sets in plants.     

An SSR-based genetic map of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) serves as an anchor for the alignment of major pepper maps

Of the Capsicum peppers (Capsicum spp.), cultivated C. annuum is the most commercially important, but has lacked an intraspecific linkage map based on sequence-specific PCR markers in accord with haploid chromosome numbers. We constructed a linkage map of pepper using a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from a cross between two C. annuum genotypes, a bell-type cultivar ‘California Wonder’ and a Malaysian small-fruited cultivar ‘LS2341 ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"JP187992","term_id":"347495878"}}JP187992)’, which is used as a source of resistance to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum). A set of 253 markers (151 SSRs, 90 AFLPs, 10 CAPSs and 2 sequence-tagged sites) was on the map which we constructed, spanning 1,336 cM. This is the first SSR-based map to consist of 12 linkage groups, corresponding to the haploid chromosome number in an intraspecific cross of C. annuum. As this map has a lot of PCR-based anchor markers, it is easy to compare it to other pepper genetic maps. Therefore, this map and the newly developed markers will be useful for cultivated C. annuum breeding.     

Pro-apoptotic effects of tepoxalin, a cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase dual inhibitor, on canine synovial fibroblasts

Canine osteoarthritis occurs frequently and causes secondary synovitis. Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is one of the major therapeutic options for pain management of joint diseases. Tepoxalin has an unique property as an NSAIDs that suppresses both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antiproliferative effects of tepoxalin on cultured canine synovial cells. Cytotoxic effects of tepoxalin, carprofen, meloxicam and AA-861 on cultured canine synoviocytes were evaluated by MTT colorimetric assay. Apoptosis was detected by morphological observations with Giemsa or annexin V/Hoechst 33342 staining and by the inhibition of caspase-3 activity with N-Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO (Ac-DEVD-CHO). Cytotoxic effects of tepoxalin were evident in comparison with the effects of carprofen or meloxicam. The same tendency of cytotoxicity was observed when 5-lipoxygenase was inhibited by AA-861. The morphological findings and contradictory effects of Ac-DEVD-CHO with regard to the cytotoxicity proved the proapoptotic effects of tepoxalin. In conclusion, tepoxalin might control osteoarthritic synovitis by inducing apoptosis in proliferating synoviocytes, while most NSAIDs that selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 most likely would not suppress synovial proliferation.     

The influence and impact of tsunamis on the microorganism assembly of Nagatsura-Ura Lagoon,Miyagi, northeastern Japan

Fisheries Science - Two sediment cores were collected from two sites in Nagatsura-Ura Lagoon, the mouth of which was destroyed in the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami. Although sediment conditions differed...     

National surveillance of Salmonella enterica in food-producing animals in Japan

A total of 518 fecal samples collected from 183 apparently healthy cattle, 180 pigs and 155 broilers throughout Japan in 1999 were examined to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella. The isolation rates were 36.1% in broilers, 2.8% in pigs and 0.5% in cattle. S. enterica Infantis was the most frequent isolate, found in 22.6% of broiler fecal samples. Higher resistance rates were observed against oxytetracycline (82.0%), dihydrostreptomycin (77.9%), kanamycin (41.0%) and trimethoprim (35.2%). Resistance rates to ampicillin, ceftiofur, bicozamycin, chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid were <10%. CTX-M-2 β-lactamase producing S. enterica Senftenberg was found in the isolates obtained from one broiler fecal sample. This is the first report of cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella directly isolated from food animal in Japan.     

Hindbrain decompression in a dog with scoliosis associated with syringomyelia

A 6-month-old female Border Collie was examined because of a 1-month history of progressive curvature of the cervical portion of the vertebral column. Radiography revealed severe cervical and thoracic scoliosis. Cervical syringomyelia and hydrocephalus were observed by means of magnetic resonance imaging. Suboccipital craniotomy and laminectomy of the first cervical vertebra were performed, and substantial improvement in the scoliosis and syringomyelia was observed 3 months after surgery. No recurrences were seen during the first year after surgery.     

Crown gall of tobacco caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis> biovar 1 in tobacco fields

Crown gall disease of tobacco was found in Iwate Prefecture, Japan in 1995. Ten bacterial isolates, obtained from the galls of tobacco, were identified as Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Townsend 1907) Conn 1942 biovar 1 based on their ability to induce galls on the 14 tested plants, including tobacco after needle-prick inoculation, and on 12 cultural, physiological, and biological characteristics. The growth of the causal organism was not inhibited in vitro by agrocin of A. radiobacter strain K84. This report is the first on the natural occurrence of crown gall caused by A. tumefaciens on tobacco plants.