Cytology of Cork Layer Formation of Citrus and Limited Growth of Elsinoe fawcettii in Scab Lesions

Ultrastructural aspects of host–parasite interactions were investigated in fruits and leaves of citrus (satsuma mandarin) infected with Elsinoe fawcettii. Fungal infection induced host tissues to form cork layers bordering the necrotic areas below the infected sites. The cork layers were composed of compact host cells with convoluted cell walls and alternating lamellations, indicating ligno–suberized tissues in the wound periderm. No host tissues below the cork layers were invaded by hyphae. Hyphae grew intercellularly and intracellularly, often causing hypertrophy and compartmentalization of infected host cells. Also, host cells adjacent to invading hyphae showed accumulation of electron-dense materials and the formation of host cell wall protuberances in intercellular spaces. Hyphae had concentric bodies that showed an electron-transparent core surrounded by an electron-dense layer with radiating filamentous structures on their surface. One or more intrahyphal hyphae were found in the cytoplasm of intercellular or intracellular hyphae. These results suggest that the ligno–suberized cork layers in the wound periderm of citrus act as a protective barrier, which leads to restricted growth of E. fawcettii in bordered scab lesions. The fungus is thought to form concentric bodies and intrahyphal hyphae as a survival mechanism against the water- and nutrient-deficient environments that occur in the cork layers of necrotic host parts.     

Cardioversion with lidocaine of vagally associated atrial fibrillation in two dogs

Two dogs with acute onset atrial fibrillation (AF) were cardioverted to sinus rhythm by the administration of 2 mg/kg lidocaine given intravenously. Each dog was believed to have AF initiated because of elevated vagal tone. This report has potential clinical impact for a subset of dogs because it offers a treatment to circumvent persistent AF. Furthermore, this encouraging result of a pharmacologic cardioversion suggests that further investigation would be of interest to ascertain the effectiveness and mechanism of the antiarrhythmic action of lidocaine in vagally induced AF.     

Reproduction of fowl typhoid by respiratory challenge with Salmonella Gallinarum

Fowl typhoid is a disease of adult chickens and is caused by Salmonella Gallinarum infection via the alimentary tract. The experimental reproduction of fowl typhoid per os (PO) requires artificial conditions to minimize the effect of gastric acid, and several Salmonella serovars have been known to be transmitted via the respiratory route. Therefore, we have hypothesized the existence of a respiratory route for Salmonella Gallinarum infection and have attempted to reproduce fowl typhoid via intratracheal challenge. In accordance with our hypothesis, the intratracheal challenges of Salmonella Gallinarum reproduced exactly same lesions as fowl typhoid and induced higher mortality and morbidity than those of the PO challenge. Therefore, this study represents the first reproduction of fowl typhoid via respiratory route, and our findings may be useful for understanding the transmission of Salmonella Gallinarum in the field.     

Echinochrome A Treatment Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice via IL-4 and IL-13 Suppression

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which skin barrier dysfunction leads to dryness, pruritus, and erythematous lesions. AD is triggered by immune imbalance and oxidative stress. Echinochrome A (Ech A), a natural pigment isolated from sea urchins, exerts antioxidant and beneficial effects in various inflammatory disease models. In the present study, we tested whether Ech A treatment alleviated AD-like skin lesions. We examined the anti-inflammatory effect of Ech A on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like lesions in an NC/Nga mouse model. AD-like skin symptoms were induced by treatment with 1% DNCB for 1 week and 0.4% DNCB for 5 weeks in NC/Nga mice. The results showed that Ech A alleviated AD clinical symptoms, such as edema, erythema, and dryness. Treatment with Ech A induced the recovery of epidermis skin lesions as observed histologically. Tewameter^® and Corneometer^® measurements indicated that Ech A treatment reduced transepidermal water loss and improved stratum corneum hydration, respectively. Ech A treatment also inhibited inflammatory-response-induced mast cell infiltration in AD-like skin lesions and suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ, interleukin-4, and interleukin-13. Collectively, these results suggest that Ech A may be beneficial for treating AD owing to its anti-inflammatory effects.     

Protein Profiling from Hormone-Induced Tetraploid Roots in Platycodon grandiflorum

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - The root of Platycodon grandiflorum is used as traditional oriental medicine in Asian countries since ancient times to treat bronchitis, tonsillitis,...     

Effects of Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers on Growth Characteristics of Two Species of Bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorum)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Fertilization plays a vital role to enhance productivity in several medicinal plants, including Bellflower. A pot experiment was conducted in 2018 to...     

Complete genome sequence and pathogenic analysis of a new betanodavirus isolated from shellfish

We determined the complete genomic RNA sequence of a new type of betanodavirus Korea shellfish nervous necrosis virus (KSNNV) isolated from shellfish. Compared with other isolates representing four genotypes of betanodaviruses, the identity of the whole nucleotide sequence of the virus was in the range of 76%–83% with the presence of specific genetic motifs and formed a separate new branch in the phylogenetic analysis. In pathogenic analysis by immersion method, KSNNV‐KOR1 shows 100% cumulative mortality like SFRG10/2012BGGa1 (RGNNV) in newly hatched sevenband grouper and mandarin fish, which is clearly different from those found in negative control groups. There were no significant differences in increasing rates of mortality and viral intra‐tissue concentration of larval fishes infected with KSNNV‐KOR1 at both 20 and 25°C water temperature. Histopathological examination of each fish species in the moribund stage revealed the presence of clear vacuoles in both brain and retinal tissues similar to typical histopathology features of RGNNV. In the present study, we first report a new betanodavirus from shellfish as the aetiological agent of viral nervous necrosis disease in fish with complete genomic nucleotide sequence and pathogenic analysis.     

Anaesthetic efficacy and physiological responses to clove oil-anaesthetized kelp grouper Epinephelus bruneus

The efficacy of clove oil as an anaesthetic and at producing a physiological response (plasma cortisol and glucose) was evaluated in the kelp grouper, Epinephelus bruneus . To acquire complete anaesthesia in less than 3 min and recovery in <10 min, three doses of clove oil were tested at 18, 22 and 26 °C. Although higher anaesthetic doses resulted in shorter induction times and longer recovery times, and a lower temperature resulted in longer anaesthesia induction and slower recovery, we found the optimal dose and administering temperature of clove oil to be 250–300 mg L⁻¹ at water temperature of 18 °C, 150–200 mg L⁻¹ at water temperature of 22 °C and 50–100 mg L⁻¹ at water temperature of 26 °C respectively. Following the administration of 150 mg L⁻¹ of clove oil at 22 °C, the plasma cortisol level was highest (4.24 ± 1.571 μg dL⁻¹) after 12 h and the plasma glucose was highest (92.7 ± 9.61 mg dL⁻¹) after 2 h. These results should be useful to the aquaculture industry, where anaesthesia is necessary for a range of activities.     

Effects of nutrient solution electrical conductivity and sulfur, magnesium, and phosphorus concentration on sesquiterpene lactones in hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

The effect of nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) and sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) levels on the content of the primary sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), lactucin, 8-deoxylactucin, and lactucopicrin, in hydroponically grown lettuce was assessed. Lettuce grown at 4 EC levels (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 dS m⁻¹) displayed significant differences in leaf area index, number of leaves, plant height, fresh weight per plant, and chlorophyll content that were highest at EC 2.0 dS m⁻¹. Lactucin (5.5 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), 8-deoxylactucin (7.5), lactucopicrin (35.8), and total SLs (48.7) concentraions were highest at EC 0.5 dS m⁻¹. Four S (8, 16, 48, and 80 mg L⁻¹) and Mg (6, 12, 36, and 60 mg L⁻¹) levels and 3 P (8, 16, and 48 mg L⁻¹) levels were assessed for their effect on individual and total SLs. S and P had the greatest effect on SL levels. Plants in the lowest S level had significantly higher lactucin, lactucopicrin and total SLs. Each of the SLs was higher in the highest P level while Mg influenced only the lactucopicrin level in a quadratic manner. The results indicate that solution culture conditions can strongly influence the SL concentration and therefore bitterness and acceptability of lettuce.