Strawberry Shelf Life,Composition, and Enzymes Activity in Response to Edible Chitosan Coatings

A series of active biodegradable coatings based on chitosan, gelatin, starch, and sorbitol with or without monoterpenes (geraniol and thymol) were prepared and applied on fresh strawberry fruit as postharvest treatments. The coated fruits were inoculated with fungal spores of Botrytis cinerea and stored for 7 days at 4 °C. Decay incidence, weight loss, anthocyanins, total soluble solids (TSS), total soluble phenolics (TSP), polygalacturonase (PGase), pectin-lyase (PLase), antioxidant activity, guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase (CAT) were elucidated in the fruits of experimental sets and they were compared with that of controls. The coatings showed a significant effect on the development of quality variables, with the additional effect of geraniol and thymol as a function of the polysaccharide matrix. The coatings inhibited decay incidence, reduced weight loss, delayed changes in the contents of anthocyanin, TSS, and total soluble phenolics; inhibited the increase in G-POD and PPO activities; and retarded the reduction in CAT activity. Compared to the controls, all of the coatings had positive effects on the inhibition of cell wall degrading enzymes (PGase and PLase) and among all the tested coatings, T5, chitosan (1%) + starch (1%) + sorbitol (0.5%) + tween (0.05%) + thymol (0.02%) was the best. This formulation showed also the highest antimicrobial activity and the greatest effect on other physiochemical parameters and it can be suggested to use it as a useful coating agent for extending the shelf-life and maintaining quality of strawberry fruit.     

Assessment of soil degradation in the eastern part of the Nile Delta

This study was performed to quantitatively assess the levels and rates of soil degradation and determine qualitative changes in the soils of the eastern part of the Nile Delta through comparing the literature data obtained in 1997 with the results obtained during a 2010 soil survey on the melioration situation. The results have shown that the key factors in these negative phenomena are salinization of soils and ground waters and alkalinization, water logging, and soil compaction; the key causative factors include inappropriate irrigation, deficiency or poor operation of the drainage system, untimely use of heavy machinery, and the absence of nature-protecting measures.     

Antibody to Pseudomonas pseudomallei exotoxin in sheep exposed to natural infection

Specific antibody to Pseudomonas pseudomallei exotoxin was detected in sheep sera exposed to natural infection. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used. Serum antitoxin was present in 49.3% of sera obtained from a flock of sheep naturally exposed to P. pseudomallei infection. Among these sera, 17.0% gave titers of 10,000. In contrast, serum antitoxin was present in only 6.0% of sera collected from sheep kept on a melioidosis-free farm. The ELISA reactivity of all positive sera could be completely absorbed with purified P. pseudomallei exotoxin. Similarly, preincubation of the exotoxin-coated wells with specific antiserum inhibited the ELISA reactivity of sheep sera. The results indicate that exotoxin is produced in vivo during infection by P. pseudomallei.     

Virulence factors and markers in Escherichia coli from calves with bacteremia

Relative pathogenicity of 151 Escherichia coli isolates from 36 calves with bacteremia after necropsy was studied by measurement of the LD50 after mice were inoculated IP with E coli isolates. Study of virulence factors and markers revealed that the pathogenicity of E coli was associated with the production of hydroxamate siderophores and with resistance to serum bactericidal effects. Production of colicins, including colicin V, and of surface antigen 31A was correlated with virulence. The close association between phenotypic expression of virulence factors and markers was consistent with a hypothesis of a localization of genes coding for virulence factors and markers on the same plasmid.     

The bleaching induced by the phenylpyridazinone herbicide Metflurazon in Chlorella is a metabolic and reversible process

The treatment of synchronized cells of the green alga Chlorella fusca under photoautotrophic conditions with metflurazon (SAN H 6706; 4-chloro-5-dimethylamino-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone)) induces a bleaching process and results in white-appearing cells. This process of bleaching was followed by quantitative analysis of cell growth and cell division, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, respiratory oxygen consumption, and of pigment pattern at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hr after incubation with different concentrations of metflurazon. Increasing concentrations of metflurazon gradually affected cell growth of Chlorella measured as increase in cell diameter. Cell division was inhibited completely with 1, 10, and 100 μM metflurazon. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen consumption were not inhibited by 1 μM metflurazon during the first 6 hr; after this time a gradually increased inhibition was observed. Both parameters were inhibited by 100 μM metflurazon immediately after herbicide addition. A detailed analysis of the pigment content during the bleaching process revealed that: (a) The bleaching of Chlorella cells by metflurazon is not a simple photochemical process like the photobleaching of boiled cells, but is directed by the active metabolism of Chlorella itself. (b) The bleaching process is characterized by two phases: an accumulation of pigments followed by their degradation. The accumulation phase extends to 6 hr after herbicide addition. (c) During the accumulation phase, chlorophyll is accumulated to 380 and 106% in cells treated with 1 and 100 μM metflurazon, respectively, compared to the initial pigment content. The breakdown of chlorophyll, however, during the degradation phase is 5 times faster in the 1 μM treatment than in the 100 μM treatment. This difference resulted in the faster appearance of white cells with the low metflurazon concentration. (d) During the accumulation phase in the 1 μM treatment, the biosynthesis of chlorophylls, xanthophylls, and carotenes is inhibited by 56, 74, and 78%, respectively, when compared to a nontreated control. When related to the initial amounts, chlorophylls, xanthophylls, and carotenes are accumulated to 380, 230, and 153%, respectively. However, the synthesis of violaxanthin is specifically inhibited, followed by α-carotene. During the degradation phase, violaxanthin and α-carotene again, are the most rapidly disappearing pigments. Continuous culturing of white Chlorella cells resulted in a regeneration to green cells after 96, 240, 384 hr for 1, 10, and 100 μM metflurazone, respectively. The bleaching of Chlorella by metflurazon is evidently dependent on a functioning metabolism and is itself a regulated disassembly of the photosynthetic apparatus, which is reversible and not lethal.     

Induction of superovulation by immunoneutralization of endogenous inhibin in immature rats

The effects of passive immunoneutralization of endogenous inhibin on ovulation rate in immature rats were investigated. Efficiency of superovulation on production of fertilized oocytes was compared between the inhibin antiserum (inhibin-AS) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) protocols. Immature female Wistar strain rats were superovulated with a single injection of 100-200 microl inhibin-AS, with and without an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). A total of 77.8% of the 26-30-day-old rats treated with a single injection of 100-200 microl inhibin-AS ovulated 72 h after treatment, while rats given normal goat serum (NGS; 200 microl) did not ovulate. At 28 days of age, all of the inhibin-AS treated rats ovulated when additional hCG treatment was given, whereas the number of ovulated oocytes was not affected. The number of ovulated oocytes in the inhibin-AS-hCG treated groups was significantly higher than that of the NGS-hCG treated group. In addition, plasma concentrations of FSH in the inhibin-AS-hCG treated group significantly increased compared with the NGS treated group. While the percentage of mated rats in the 200 microl inhibin-AS-hCG treated group was significantly lower than that of the 15 IU eCG-hCG treated group, the fertilization rate was comparable between the two groups. The number of fertilized oocytes in the 200 microl inhibin-AS-hCG treated group was significantly higher in comparison with the 15 IU eCG-hCG treated group. These results suggest that immunoneutralization of endogenous inhibin could be a reliable method for induction of superovulation to collect a large number of normally fertilized oocytes in immature rats.     

Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in the corpus luteum and placenta of the Japanese Shiba goat

In this study, we performed immunohistochemistry of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD), cytochrome 17alpha-hydroxylase P450 (P450c17), and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) in the corpus luteum and placenta of Shiba goats. The aim was to clarify the steroidogenic capability of the corpus luteum and placenta of Shiba goats. Ovaries containing corpora lutea were obtained from four adult Shiba goats during the luteal phase (day10; n=2) and pregnancy (90 and 120 days of gestation). Placenta was obtained from one Shiba goat on day 120 of gestation. The sections of the ovaries and placentae were immunostained using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC) with polyclonal antibodies generated against steroidogenic enzymes of mammalian origin. All luteal cells expressed P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and P450arom. The distribution of P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and P450arom were not different during the luteal phase and pregnancy. P450arom showed a weak positive staining in late pregnancy (120 days). In addition, immunoreactions for P450c17 and P450arom were observed in syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta of one Shiba goat. These results indicate that, in Shiba goats, corpus luteum is not only an important source of progesterone but also has the ability to synthesize androgen and estrogen during the luteal phase and pregnancy. Also the placenta has the ability to synthesize androgen and estrogen in late pregnancy.     

Factor XI mutation in a Holstein cow with repeat breeding in Japan

Factor XI deficiency is an autosomal recessive coagulopathy in Holstein cattle. Affected cows have a tendency to show repeat breeding. Forty repeat breeding Holstein Friesian cows were selected and tested for the Factor XI mutation. Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood of the cows (n=40). Exon 12 of the Factor XI gene of the cows was amplified by PCR. One repeat breeding cow was heterozygous to the Factor XI mutation as indicated by the presence of two DNA fragments of 320 bp and 244 bp. The insertion of the 76 bp in the heterozygous cow was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The heterozygous cow was in her fourth lactation. She gave birth to male twins at the last calving. She was inseminated artificially four times after the last calving. Factor XI deficiency in cattle has been reported in different countries. However, no case was reported in Japan. This might be the first to report Factor XI mutation in Holstein cattle in Japan.