Pre-exposure to infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus or to inactivated white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) confers protection against WSSV in Penaeus vannamei (Boone) post-larvae

Larvae and post-larvae of Penaeus vannamei (Boone) were submitted to primary challenge with infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) or formalin-inactivated white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Survival rate and viral load were evaluated after secondary per os challenge with WSSV at post-larval stage 45 (PL45). Only shrimp treated with inactivated WSSV at PL35 or with IHHNV infection at nauplius 5, zoea 1 and PL22 were alive (4.7% and 4%, respectively) at 10 days post-infection (p.i.). Moreover, at 9 days p.i. there was 100% mortality in all remaining treatments, while there was 94% mortality in shrimp treated with inactivated WSSV at PL35 and 95% mortality in shrimp previously treated with IHHNV at N5, Z1 and PL22. Based on viral genome copy quantification by real-time PCR, surviving shrimp previously challenged with IHHNV at PL22 contained the lowest load of WSSV (0-1x10(3) copies microg-1 of DNA). In addition, surviving shrimp previously exposed to inactivated WSSV at PL35 also contained few WSSV (0-2x10(3) copies microg-1 of DNA). Consequently, pre-exposure to either IHHNV or inactivated WSSV resulted in slower WSSV replication and delayed mortality. This evidence suggests a protective role of IHHNV as an interfering virus, while protection obtained by inactivated WSSV might result from non-specific antiviral immune response.     

Growth performance and physiological condition of F1 amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae juveniles obtained from broodstock with selective breeding for growth on a low fish-meal diet

A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth and physiological condition of F1 amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae juveniles obtained from broodstock that had been selected for growth on a low fish-meal (LFM) diet. F1 juveniles from broodstock showing superior or inferior growth on a LFM diet (LFM-S, LFM-I), and those from broodstock showing intermediate growth on a fish meal-based (FM) diet (FM-M), were fed a LFM diet and a FM diet. In fish fed the LFM diet, growth of LFM-S was significantly better than FM-M at 3 weeks; however, this superiority in growth disappeared at the end of the 10-week trial. Growth of LFM-I was significantly lower than LFM-S throughout the feeding trial. Growth of fish fed the FM diet was not significantly different among groups, and higher than fish fed the LFM diet. Improvements in the blood hemoglobin concentration and morphological conditions of the distal intestine and liver were observed in LFM-S fed the LFM diet. Although the effect of selective breeding was limited in F1 amago salmon, the present results suggest that continuous selection for growth with a LFM diet has potential as a method to adapt to the limited supply of fish meal.     

Comparison of electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins and isozymes of the red rot disease fungus Pythium sp. isolated from Porphyra yezoensis from Korea and Japan

SUMMARY: Pythium sp., the causative organism of red rot disease, isolated from Porphyra yezoensis from Wando in Korea was compared with those from Miyagi, Aichi, and Fukuoka Prefectures by means of electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins and isozymes. Native and sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins revealed small but significant differences among the four isolates. Among the 14 detected enzymes, catalase (CAT), carboxylesterase (CE), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) possessed isozymes. The dissimilarity value of isozyme banding patterns for four isolates by unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was highest (0.51) between the isolate from Fukuoka and those from Miyagi and Aichi, and lowest (0.19) between the isolate from Miyagi and that from Aichi. Cluster analysis of data from isozyme banding patterns grouped the isolates from Miyagi and Aichi. These results indicate that the isolates from Miyagi and Aichi are similar, but each isolate from Wando and Fukuoka differed slightly from those of Miyagi and Aichi.     

Cellular compartmentation and membrane permeability to sugars in relation to early or high temperature-induced watercore in apples

Early watercore was observed in apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) from the outer canopy of ‘Orin’, an early watercore susceptible cultivar, while there was no watercore in ‘Orin’ fruit from the inner canopy and resistant ‘Fuji’. Sorbitol content was higher not only in the free space but also in the vacuole and cytoplasm in watercored ‘Orin’ than in other non-watercored fruit. Comparing watercored apples to non-watercored fruit of ‘Orin’, higher fructose and glucose in the vacuole and no significant difference in the distribution rate of sorbitol to each compartment were observed. Watercored ‘Orin’ apples showed significantly higher permeability of tonoplast to fructose, glucose, and sorbitol than those in other non-watercored apples. The permeability of plasma membrane to each sugar was much higher than that of tonoplast but no marked difference was observed among the treatments. The results suggest that metabolism of sorbitol could be active even in watercored ‘Orin’ apples and the accumulated sorbitol in the intercellular spaces might be primarily due to an active unloading from the phloem and not be brought by increased leakage from the cells.     

Differential expression of histochemical characteristics in the developing olfactory receptor cells in a flatfish, barfin flounder (Verasper moseri)

Differentiation of the histochemical characteristics of the olfactory receptor cells (ORC) was examined by immunohistochemistry for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and calretinin (CR) and lectin histochemistry for Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin-L (PHA-L) in the developing olfactory epithelium (OE) of the barfin flounder. PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity was diffuse and CR immunoreactivity was restricted at day 7, but these immunoreactivities became intense in the OE toward day 91. Crypt cells were first identified at day 56. PHA-L staining was faint at day 28, but became intense toward day 91. These findings suggest that PGP 9.5-immunopositive cells, CR-immunopositive cells, crypt cells and PHA-L-reactive cells differentiate independently in the developing OE and constitute subsets of the ORC in the OE.     

Preventive effect of sialylglycopeptide-nondigestive polysaccharide conjugates on salmonella infection

We have previously reported that sialylglycopeptide (SGP) and its derivatives isolated from egg yolk had a preventive effect on Salmonella infection in vivo; however, their retention time in the gut was rather short. To improve on this, SGP was conjugated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or carboxymethyl dextran (CMD). The conjugates inhibited the binding of Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli to Caco-2 cells. Infection experiments with mice revealed that the SGP-CMD conjugate (SGP-CMD) had a strong protective effect against Salmonella infection. A turnover experiment in mice administered with radiolabeled SGP-CMD showed that SGP-CMD was more slowly absorbed into the blood and thus remained longer in the intestinal tract than SGP. SGP-CMD itself did not influence the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta, or nitrite ion (NO(2)(-)) by macrophages, although it suppressed that of TNF-alpha and NO(2)(-) in zymosan-treated macrophages, suggesting no causative effects of inflammation in SGP-CMD. SGP-CMD is potentially useful as a food ingredient with a preventive effect on Salmonella infection.     

Effects of Low pH on Upstream Migratory Behavior in Land-Locked Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka

The effects of low pH on upstream migratory behavior in land-locked sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka were examined using 2-way flow-through channels. Homing mature salmon captured at the mouth of their native stream were used. When neutral (pH 6.7) hatchery water of the same origin as native stream water was allowed to flow through both channels, fish showed active swimming into both channels during a 48 hrs period. When water pH in one channel was lowered by the addition of sulfuric acid, salmon completely ceased upstream swimming behavior into areas of pH lower than 6.0, and swam up into only neutral areas. In the lower pond of the 2-way channels, fish also avoided acidic areas even when average pH was 6.2. Since it has been reported that extremely slight changes in pH such as in the pH 6 range inhibits spawning behavior in this species, it is suggested that land-locked sockeye salmon have a sensitive ability to perceive even slight acidity, and avoid environments which may be deleterious to their offspring.