Effects of dietary inactivated Pediococcus pentosaceus on growth performance,feed utilization and blood characteristics of red sea bream,Pagrus major juvenile

A feeding trial was carried out to determine effects of dietary supplements of inactivated Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) on growth, feed utilization and blood characteristics of red sea bream. Five diets containing different concentrations [0 (PP0), 1.6 × 10¹⁰ (PPI), 1.6 × 10¹¹ (PPII), 1.6 × 10¹² (PPIII) and 3.2 × 10¹² (PPIV) cells g^?1] of PP were fed to fish for 56 days. At the end of the feeding trial, the obtained results revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in weight gain, specific growth rate and skin mucus secretion in all PP‐supplemented groups when compared with control group. Moreover, fish fed PPIII and PPIV diets resulted in significantly higher final body weight, feed efficiency ratio and bactericidal activity than those of fish fed PP0 diet (P < 0.05). Further, fish fed the PPIII diet also had a higher feed intake, protein efficiency retention, haematocrit, mucus lysozyme activity (LA), plasma and serum proteins than those of PP0 fed group (P < 0.05). Similarly, fish fed PPIV diet resulted in a significant increase in serum LA, peroxidase activity and tolerance against low‐salinity stress test (P < 0.05). Considering these promising results, we suggest that the supplementation of PP Prep improves growth and health conditions of Pagrus major.     

A phylogeographic study of the Japanese earthworm,Metaphire sieboldi (Horst, 1883) (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae): Inferences from mitochondrial DNA sequences

To clarify the historical phylogeography of a Japanese earthworm, nucleotide sequence variations of Metaphaire sieboldi were investigated with respect to its geographic distribution. Sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) region and the 16S rDNA region, of 72 samples including 4 outgroup taxa, and phylogenetic analyses using neighbour-joining (NJ) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods indicated that M. sieboldi forms a monophyletic group. This monophyletic group was divided into seven subgroups; most subgroups comprised individuals from several areas, except for southern Shikoku and southern Kyushu. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the Shikoku and Kinki populations were paraphyletic at the basal node, and individuals from Kyushu and western Shikoku were positioned at the advanced group. Estimated phylogeographic events based on mtDNA analyses include (1) M. sieboldi originated in Shikoku and/or Kinki, (2) individuals from Chugoku and Kyushu have a common ancestor from Shikoku, and (3) individuals from western Shikoku originated from Kyushu progenitors (about 0.4–0.5 mya) after separation by rising sea levels.     

Immunohistochemical detection of phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin on denucleating erythroblasts in rat bone marrow

The hypothesis that apoptotic factors play some roles in the denucleation of erythroblasts has been confirmed by the immunohistological detection of both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin as phagocytosis-inducing factors in general apoptotic events. Both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin were detected on the surface of cell membrane of mature erythroblasts, while thrombospondin was also detected in more immature erythroblasts. The intensities of their immune reactions increased as the erythroids matured. During denucleation, the positivities of both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin were restricted on the surface of the cell membrane surrounding the protruding nuclei. Thus, the apoptotic process involves denucleation of erythroblasts and phosphatidylserine, and thrombospondin acts as phagocytosis-inducing factors in the denucleation event.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Theileria species detected from Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

In the present study, we tried to detect DNA for ribosomal RNA genes of piroplasma parasites from the liver or blood of 43 Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture of Japan by polymerase chain reaction. Approximately 500-bp amplicons were obtained in 35 (81.4%) of the 43 samples by amplification for V4 hyper-variable regions of the 18S rRNA gene, and the amplicons were considered to be DNA of Theileria species. The complete nucleotide sequences (1,700 or 1709 bp) of the 18S rRNA gene were determined in 20 samples and were divided into 5 genotypes that were phylogenetically separated into two different lineages showing a polyphyletic relation. The Theileria DNAs of the two different lineages were considered to be those of distinct species.     

Lower weight gain and hepatic lipid content in hamsters fed high fat diets supplemented with white rice protein, brown rice protein, soy protein, and their hydrolysates

The physiological effects of the hydrolysates of white rice protein (WRP), brown rice protein (BRP), and soy protein (SP) hydrolyzed by the food grade enzyme, alcalase2.4 L, were compared to the original protein source. Male Syrian Golden hamsters were fed high-fat diets containing either 20% casein (control) or 20% extracted proteins or their hydrolysates as the protein source for 3 weeks. The brown rice protein hydrolysate (BRPH) diet group reduced weight gain 76% compared with the control. Animals fed the BRPH supplemented diet also had lower final body weight, liver weight, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and liver cholesterol, and higher fecal fat and bile acid excretion than the control. Expression levels of hepatic genes for lipid oxidation, PPARα, ACOX1, and CPT1, were highest for hamsters fed the BRPH supplemented diet. Expression of CYP7A1, the gene regulating bile acid synthesis, was higher in all test groups. Expression of CYP51, a gene coding for an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, was highest in the BRPH diet group. The results suggest that BRPH includes unique peptides that reduce weight gain and hepatic cholesterol synthesis.     

Arsenic accumulation and speciation in Japanese paddy rice cultivars

We examined arsenic (As) accumulation and speciation in the major cultivars currently grown in Japan, because differences in grain As levels among cultivars may influence dietary As exposure in Japanese people. Ten major cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) were grown under flooded conditions in a paddy field with a background level of As (low-As soil) or in pots filled with soil containing a high level of As (high-As soil). In the low-As soil, the total grain As ranged from 0.11 to 0.17?mg?kg^?1, with a mean concentration of 0.14?mg?kg^?1, and inorganic As was the major species in all cultivars. There were few genotypic differences in the levels of either total As or inorganic As in the grain. In the high-As soil, total grain As increased to a mean level of 2.4?mg?kg^?1 in the 10 cultivars, with markedly increased levels of dimethylarsinic acid. The genotypic variations among cultivars in the levels of both total As and dimethylarsinic acid were statistically significant. However, the genotypic variability of inorganic As levels was quite small, and these levels remained low (at about 0.2?mg?kg^?1) even when total As levels increased markedly. These results suggest that differences in grain As levels among Japanese cultivars may not influence dietary As exposure, because there is little genotypic difference in the accumulation of inorganic As, which is considered more toxic than organic As to humans. We discuss the possible mechanism of As accumulation in Japanese paddy rice, in the context of the accumulation of As species in the developing grain and in other plant tissues.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on the ratio of activities of carbon-acquiring to nitrogen-acquiring enzymes in a primary lowland tropical rainforest in Borneo,Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Previous meta-analyses revealed that the ratio of activities of carbon (C)-acquiring enzyme to nitrogen (N)-acquiring enzymes in tropical forest ecosystems was nearly identical to those in other ecosystems, despite of the N-rich condition in tropical forests. This could be explained by microbes in tropical forest soils, which require a large amount of N to produce N-rich acid phosphatase (AP) for catalyzation of the organic form of phosphorus (P) and compensation for poor P availability in soils. Based on this idea, we hypothesized that experimental P fertilization would reduce the allocation to N-acquiring enzymes compared with that of C-acquiring enzymes, i.e. that it would increase the ratios of activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) to β-1,4-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). We tested this hypothesis using an experimental fertilization site with factorial N (100 kg ha^?1 yr^?1) and P (50 kg ha^?1 yr^?1) addition in a primary tropical lowland forest in Bornean Malaysia, where our earlier work demonstrated that P fertilization reduced AP activity. Contrary to our hypothesis, the BG:NAG and BG:(NAG + LAP) ratios were not altered by either N or P fertilizations. This result indicated that AP production was not a reason for the maintenance of a relatively high investment in N-acquiring enzyme at our study site. Rather, NAG and LAP production was likely driven by C acquisition, rather than N acquisition, as the target substrates contained C as well as N. This idea was supported by the fact that neither the BG:NAG ratio nor the BG:(NAG + LAP) ratio was elevated by N addition. We propose that the ratios of activities of BG to NAG and LAP do not necessarily indicate the ratio of C:N acquisition, at least in our N-rich tropical forest ecosystem.     

ABSTRACTS of the Articles Printed in Journal of the Science of Soil and Manure,Japan

In the preceding paper (1), it was reported that even under aerobic shaking conditions, if R. capsulatus were mixed with Bacillus megaterium, the bacterial growth of both and nitrogen fixation were accelerated remarkably.     

Nitrogen-fixing microoganisms in paddy soils XVI

1. It was proved that under aerobic shaking conditions of the system of R. capsulatus mixed with Az. agilis or R. capsulatus mixed with B. megaterium, the bacterial growth of both and the nitrogen fixation were promoted markedly, comp:ired with the non-shaking culture. However, in the system of R. capsulatus mixed with B. subtilis under aerobic shaking conditions. such remarkable stimulative effects were not recognized altough some slow effects were recognized in the nonshaking culture.

2. It was also proved that under aerobic shaking conditions of the system of R. capsulatus mixed with Az. agilis or R. capsulatus mixed with B. megaterium the assimilative activity of carbon dioxide increased over 10 times more than in the separate pure culture.

From these results, it is conceivable that a very good environment was created for the internal metabolism of R. capsulatus in such mixing systems (R-Az and R-Bm).     

Nucleic acids in the culture fluids of Rhodopseudomonas capsulatus and other heterotrophic bacteria

In previous papers (1,2), it was reported that in cultures of R. capsulatus mixed with other heterotrophic bacteria nitrogen fixation is accelerated and there is some production of slime substances (3), exchange of pyruvic acid (4–6), amino acids, carbohydrates (7) and others in these mixed systems. There is also symbiotic association between R. capsulatus and other heterotrophic bacteria (Azotobacter) in nature (8).