Mapping QTL for fat area ratios and serum leptin concentrations in a Duroc purebred population

The reduction of extra subcutaneous, intermuscular and abdominal fat is important to increase the carcass lean percentage of pigs. Image analyses of fat area ratios were effective for estimation of separated fat in pig carcasses. Serum concentrations of leptin are useful as physiological predictors of fat accumulation in pigs. The objectives of the present study were to perform a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for fat area ratios and serum leptin concentrations in a Duroc purebred population. Pigs (n = 226 to 538) were measured for fat area ratios of carcass cross‐sections at the fifth to sixth thoracic vertebrae, half body length and last thoracic vertebra using an image analysis system, and serum leptin concentration. In total, animals were genotyped for 129 markers and used for QTL analysis. For fat area ratios, four significant and 12 suggestive QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13. Significant QTLs were detected on the same region of chromosome 6, which was located near a leptin receptor gene. For serum leptin concentrations, two significant and two suggestive QTLs were detected on chromosomes 6, 9, and 16, and the QTLs on chromosome 6 were also in the same region for fat area ratios.     

Phylogenetic positions of Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-oxidizing bacteria and fungi isolated from Mn nodules in rice field subsoils

We isolated manganous ion (Mn²⁺) oxidizing bacteria and fungi from Mn nodules collected from two Japanese rice fields. The phylogenetic position of the Mn-oxidizing bacteria and fungi was determined based on their 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA sequences, respectively. Among 39 bacterial and 25 fungal isolates, Burkholderia and Acremonium strains were the most common and dominant Mn²⁺-oxidizing bacteria and fungi, respectively. Majority of the Mn-oxidizing bacteria and fungi isolated from the Mn nodules belonged to the genera that had been isolated earlier from various environments. Manganese oxide depositions on Mn²⁺-containing agar media by these microorganisms proceeded after their colony developments, indicating that the energy produced from Mn²⁺ oxidation is poorly used for microbial growth.     

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and bacteriological characteristics of bovine Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens isolates from mastitis

The presence of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) strains among bovine isolates of Gram-negative bacilli, and O-serotypes of bovine Serratia marcescens and P. aeruginosa isolates have been reported rarely. The aims of this study were to (1) elucidate antimicrobial susceptibilities and O-serotypes of P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens isolates from bovine mastitis and the presence of MBL-producers and MDRP strains among them and (2) evaluate their relationships to human isolates. We investigated the MICs of 24 antimicrobials and O-serotypes for 116 P. aeruginosa and 55 S. marcescens isolates in Japan, primarily in 2006. A total of 171 isolates exhibited high antimicrobial susceptibilities with the exception of a partial drug. P. aeruginosa isolates exhibited high susceptibilities of ≥ 95.7% to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin, ceftazidime, cefepime, cefoperazone/sulbactam, amikacin, tobramycin, and gentamicin; however, they exhibited a susceptibility of only 69.8% to aztreonam. They exhibited substantial resistances to ceftriaxone, enrofloxacin, cefotaxime, and moxalactam. S. marcescens isolates exhibited high susceptibilities of ≥ 90.9% to kanamycin, ceftiofur, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and the 15 aforementioned drugs, but exhibited resistance to minocycline. Neither MBL-producers nor MDRP strains were detected among the 171 strains. The dominant serotypes of P. aeruginosa isolates were OG, OA, OB, OI, OF, OE, and OK; those of S. marcescens isolates were O6 and O5. Every S. marcescens isolate was pigmented. These findings suggest that bovine P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens isolates differ from human isolates from both antibiogram and phenotypic perspectives, and could help to evaluate differences in bacteriological characteristics between bovine and human isolates.     

A genome‐wide association study for fat‐related traits computed by image analysis in Japanese Black cattle

The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with fat‐related traits using a Japanese Black cattle population in Hyogo. From 1836 animals, those with high or low values were selected on the basis of corrected phenotype and then pooled into high and low groups (n = 100 each), respectively. DNA pool‐based genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was performed using Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip v2 with three replicate assays for each pooled sample. GWAS detected that two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on BTA7 (ARS‐BFGL‐NGS‐35463 and Hapmap23838‐BTA‐163815) and one SNP on BTA12 (ARS‐BFGL‐NGS‐2915) significantly affected fat percentage (FAR). The significance of ARS‐BFGL‐NGS‐35463 on BTA7 was confirmed by individual genotyping in all pooled samples. Moreover, association analysis between SNP and FAR in 803 Japanese Black cattle revealed a significant effect of SNP on FAR. Thus, further investigation of these regions is required to identify FAR‐associated genes and mutations, which can lead to the development of DNA markers for marker‐assisted selection for the genetic improvement of beef quality.     

Shiga toxin 2eB‐transgenic lettuce vaccine is effective in protecting weaned piglets from edema disease caused by Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli infection

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia that is caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and is associated with high mortality. Since ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period, preweaning vaccination of newborn piglets is required. We developed stx2eB‐transgenic lettuce as an oral vaccine candidate against ED and examined its protective efficacy using a piglet STEC infection model. Two serially developed Stx2eB‐lettuce strains, 2BN containing ingredient Stx2eB constituting a concentration level of 0.53 mg Stx2eB/g of powdered lettuce dry weight (DW) and 2BH containing ingredient Stx2eB constituting a concentration level of 2.3 mg of Stx2eB/g of powdered lettuce DW, were evaluated in three sequential experiments. Taken the results together, oral administration of Stx2eB‐lettuce vaccine was suggested to relieve the pathogenic symptoms of ED in piglets challenged with virulent STEC strain. Our data suggested that Stx2eB‐lettuce is a promising first oral vaccine candidate against ED.     

Negative correlation between the ratio of K+ to Na+ and proline accumulation in tobacco suspension cells

Abstract

The concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, and proline and the ratio of K⁺ to Na⁺ (K⁺ / Na⁺) were analyzed in NaCl-unadapted and NaCl-adapted tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells in suspension culture. At 3 to 5 d after inoculation, the NaCl-unadapted cells cultured in 100 mmol L^?1 NaCl saline culture medium (Na100 medium) accumulated 28.7 mmol L^?1 proline with a low ratio of K⁺ to Na⁺ (= 2.8) and the NaCl-adapted cells cultured in the Na100 medium contained 6.28 mmol L^?1 proline with a high K⁺ / Na⁺ ratio (≧ 7.5). The contents of amino acids for the NaCl-adapted cells in the Na100 medium were similar to those for the NaCl-unadapted cells in a modified LS medium (standard medium). At 14 d after inoculation, the NaCl-unadapted cells in the Na100 medium contained 4.77 mmol L^?1 proline and restored the K⁺ / Na⁺ ratio from 2.8 to 6.2. These results indicate the presence of a negative correlation between the K⁺ / Na⁺ ratio and proline accumulation and suggest that a balance between the K⁺ / Na⁺ ratio and proline accumulation may be the factor involved in determining the salt tolerance of plant cells.     

Reliability of stock size estimates from adaptive framework virtual population analysis

ABSTRACT:   The stock size estimates from adaptive framework virtual population analysis are sometimes very sensitive to the model's assumptions. The uniqueness and precision of stock size estimates from adaptive framework virtual population analysis are examined analytically and numerically. The results indicate that (i) when the fishing mortalities remain constant for all years, the stock size estimates are not determined uniquely without additional assumptions, and (ii) when the cumulative fishing mortalities are similar among cohorts, the precision of stock size estimates will be poor, even if the abundance indices are precise and informative. For the precise estimation of stock size, it is necessary that fishing mortalities vary among years, that cumulative fishing mortalities vary among cohorts and that auxiliary information such as selectivity is available in addition to precise abundance indices.     

Armillaria species in Japan identified by isozyme patterns with special reference to the biological species of the northern hemisphere

Isozyme patterns were examined to characterize biological species ofArmillaria in Japan. Of 25 different enzymes tested, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) showed the most stable and reliable activities. These isozyme patterns showed little variability between haploid and diploid hyphae even under different cultural conditions among isolates tested. From the results, six Japanese biological species were clearly characterized through combination of GDH and LDH isozymes. There were no differences on the whole in isozyme patterns among European biological species ofArmillaria.