Protective effect of anthocyanins from black soybean seed coats on UVB-induced apoptotic cell death in vitro and in vivo

UVB radiation proves to be one of the most relevant environmental risks because of its hazardous effects, such as premature skin aging and especially skin photocarcinogenesis. Anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments present in plants, are known to be powerful antioxidants that help protect plants from UV damage. In this study, we aimed at investigating the protective effect of anthocyanins from black soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] seed coats on UVB-induced apoptosis, and furthermore, we investigated the molecular mechanism responsible for regulation of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Pretreatment with anthocyanins reduced UVB-induced reactive oxygen species levels and inhibited UVB-induced apoptotic cell death through the prevention of caspase-3 pathway activation and reduction of proapoptotic Bax protein levels. UVB irradiation induced apoptotic cell death, which was inhibited by topical application of anthocyanins in hairless mice. It is concluded that anthocyanins from the seed coat of black soybeans may be useful compounds to modulate UVB-induced photoaging.     

Proteome analysis of greenhouse-cultured lettuce with the natural soil mineral conditioner illite

The natural soil mineral conditioner illite effectively improved the germination and growth of lettuce when applied in particulate or powdered form. When illite was given in particulate and powdered forms, the germination rate of lettuce seeds improved remarkably up to 93% and 133%, respectively. Contrary to the developmental effects, the growth rate of lettuce treated with particulate illite improved slightly by 23%; powdered illite had no significant effects on lettuce growth rate. Thus, illite primarily affects seed germination rather than the growth of lettuce. To examine illite-induced proteins related to lettuce growth, differentially expressed proteins in lettuce leaves were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) followed by Mascot search. From the proteomic analysis, five down-regulated proteins were identified related to storage protein, carbon metabolism and energy conversion. Three up-regulated proteins were related to energy production/conversion and carbon fixation. These results demonstrate that illite treatment as a soil conditioner helps lettuce seed germination and lettuce growth by regulating carbon metabolic flux.     

Reduced immunoreactivity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the seizure sensitive gerbil

We compared the immunoreactivity and numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons and neuropil in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus between the seizure sensitive (SS) and seizure resistant (SR) gerbils. The distributional pattern of TH immunoreactivity was similar in both groups: TH immunoreactivity was seen mainly in magnocellular neurons of the PVN. However, total TH immunoreactivity in the neurons and neuropil in the SS gerbils was significantly lower than that in the SR gerbils. In addition, the number of TH immunoreactive neurons in the SS gerbils was also much lower than those in the SR gerbils. These results indicate that SS gerbils have a low TH immunoreactivity in the hypothalamic PVN compared with that in SR gerbils.     

The rate of Salmonella spp. infection in zoo animals at Seoul Grand Park, Korea

Salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease that affects both people and animals. The incidence of reptile-associated salmonellosis has increased in Western countries due to the increasing popularity of reptiles as pets. In Korea, where reptiles are not popular as pets, many zoos offer programs in which people have contact with animals, including reptiles. So, we determined the rate of Salmonella spp. infection in animals by taking anal swabs from 294 animals at Seoul Grand Park. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 14 of 46 reptiles (30.4%), 1 of 15 birds (6.7%) and 2 of 233 mammals (0.9%). These findings indicate that vigilance is required for determining the presence of zoonotic pathogen infections in zoo animals and contamination of animal facilities to prevent human infection with zoonotic diseases from zoo facilities and animal exhibitions. In addition, prevention of human infection requires proper education about personal hygiene.     

Serum immunoglobulin fused interferon-�� inhibited tumor growth in athymic mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells

Interferon (IFN) has therapeutic potential for a wide range of infectious and proliferative disorders. However, the half-life of IFN is too short to have a stable therapeutic effect. To overcome this problem, serum immunoglobulin has been fused to IFN. In this study, the efficacy of serum immunoglobulin fused INFs (si-IFN1 and si-IFN2) was evaluated on athymic mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells. Seven days after the implantation of tumor cells, each group of mice was injected once a week with si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 at two different concentrations (10 × : 30 µg/kg and 50 × : 150 µg/kg). A slight anti-tumoral effect was observed in all 10 × groups compared to the control. In the 50 × groups, however, si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 showed significant anti- tumoral effects compared to the control. To gain more information on the mechanisms associated with the decrease of tumor size, a Western blot assay of apoptosis-related molecules was performed. The protein expression of cytochrome c, caspase 9, 6, and 3 were increased by si-IFN1 and si-IFN2. These 2 IFNs also increased the expressions of p53, p21, Bax and Bad. Interestingly, si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 decreased the expression of VEGF-β. Taken together, serum immunoglobulin fused IFNs increased therapeutic efficacy under current experimental condition.     

麦园蜘蛛(Penthaleus sp.)及麦长腿蜘蛛(Petrobia latens(Müller))的生物学研究

1953—1955年在晋南、北京等地对麦园蜘蛛及麦长腿蜘蛛的发生规律及生活习性进行了研究。结果明确两种麦蜘蛛一年中:秋季密度最大时期为11月上、中旬。春季密度最大的时期,麦园蜘蛛在3月下旬至4月上旬;麦长腿蜘蛛在5月上旬前后。两种麦蜘蛛均以滞育卵越夏。直至10月中旬,越夏卵始孵化,孵化最盛在11月上旬,此时幼、若虫出现最多,若进行防治可基本上防止以后的猖獗。根据结果分析,估计麦园蜘蛛每年发生2—3代,麦长腿蜘蛛发生3—4代。室内饲育初步观察麦园蜘蛛一世代(从卵到产卵)历时平均约57.8天;麦长腿蜘蛛为32.1天。两种麦蜘蛛都是单性生殖。麦长腿蜘蛛的滞育卵,具多年滞育习性,初步观察有些卵能在土中生活两年。两种麦蜘蛛的分布和猖獗都受湿度的影响,主要猖獗为害地区麦长腿蜘蛛在黄河以北的旱地;麦园蜘蛛在黄淮地区的水浇地或低洼地。耕作栽培对麦蜘蛛的发生有重要影响;连作对两种麦蜘蛛发生有利;深耕能将卵翻至深土之下,可以减少发生;晚播影响麦蜘蛛孵化后的食料。因此,合理轮作、深耕和适当晚播是综合防治中的重要措施。     

High‐Level Ciprofloxacin‐Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Circulating in Humans and Animals in Incheon,Republic of Korea

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the major causative pathogens of outbreaks or sporadic cases of diarrhoeal diseases worldwide. In this study, we compared the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of C. jejuni isolates of human and food‐producing animal origins in Korea and examined the genetic relatedness between these two groups of isolates. Regardless of isolation source, all C. jejuni isolates harboured four virulence genes, cadF, cdtB, ciaB and racR, whereas the wlaN and virB11 genes were more frequently observed in human isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the majority of C. jejuni isolates displayed high‐level resistance to fluoroquinolone (95.2%) or tetracycline (76.2%) antibiotics, and 12.4% of isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (more than three classes of antibiotics tested). Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of all Campylobacter isolates revealed 51 different SmaI‐PFGE patterns and six major clusters containing both human and animal isolates. These results indicate that genetically diverse strains of C. jejuni with antimicrobial drug‐resistance and virulence properties have prevailed in Incheon. Nevertheless, some particular populations continue to circulate within the community, providing the evidence for an epidemiological link of C. jejuni infections between humans and food‐producing animals. Therefore, the continued monitoring and surveillance of C. jejuni isolates of human and food‐producing animal origins are required for public health and food safety.     

Genetic, agronomic and quality comparisons of two 1AL.1RS. wheat-rye chromosomal translocations

The 1AL.1RS wheat-rye chromosomal translocation originally found in ‘Amigo’ wheat possesses resistance genes for stem rust, powdery mildew and greenbug biotypes B and C, but also has a negative effect on wheat processing quality. Recently, a second 1AL.1RS translocation carrying Gb6, a gene conferring resistance to greenbug biotypes B, C, E, G and I, was identified in the wheat germplasm line ‘GRS1201′. Protein analytical methods, and the DNA polymerase chain reaction were used to identify markers capable of differentiating the 1RS chromosome arms derived from ‘Amigo’ and ‘GRS1201′. The secalin proteins encoded by genes on 1RS chromosome arms differed in ‘Amigo’ and ‘GRS1201′. A 70 kDa secalin was found in the ‘Amigo’1AL.1RS, but did not occur in the ‘GRS1201’1AL.1RS. Polymorphisms detected by PCR primers derived from a family of moderately repetitive rye DNA sequences also differentiated the two translocations. When ‘GRS1201’was mated with a non-1RS wheat, no recombinants between 1RS markers were observed. In crosses between 1RS and non-1RS parents, both DNA markers and secalins would be useful as selectable markers for 1RS-derived greenbug resistance. Recombination between 1RS markers did occur when 1RS from ‘Amigo’ and 1RS from ‘GRS1201’were combined, but in such intermatings, the molecular markers described herein could still be used to develop a population enriched in lines carrying Gb6. No differences in grain yield or grain and flour quality characteristics were observed when lines carrying 1RS from ‘Amigo’ were compared with lines with 1RS from ‘GRS1201′. Hence, differences in secalin composition did not result in differential quality effects. When compared with sister lines with 1AL.1AS derived from the wheat cultivar ‘Redland’, lines with ‘GRS1201’had equal grain yield, but produced flours with significantly shorter mix times, weaker doughs, and lower sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation volumes.