Involvement of microaerophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria in the iron-oxidizing process at the surface layer of flooded paddy field soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - To reveal whether microaerophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) participate in the Fe(II) oxidation at the oxic-anoxic interface in flooded paddy field soil,...     

Effects of dietary β-carotene on the immune response of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

SUMMARY: We attempt to assess the impact of different levels of dietary β-carotene on immune function in rainbow trout. Semi-purified diets containing 0, 40, 200, and 400 mg β-carotene/kg dry diet were fed for 12 weeks to fish with average weight of 45 g. In addition to the humoral and cellular immune parameters, growth and feed utilization were examined. There were no marked differences in growth and feed utilization showing that β-carotene was not particularly efficient in enhancing growth of rainbow trout. Of the immune parameters measured, total immunoglobulin was significantly highest for the 200 mg β-carotene fed group. Serum complement activity (alternate pathway) at 200 and 400 mg β-carotene supplementation was significantly higher than that of the unsupplemented group. An increasing trend in lysozyme activity was observed, however, the differences among the groups were not significant. Phagocytic activity was similar among diet groups except at the highest level of supplementation where it was the maximum. Oxygen radical production by peripheral blood leukocytes appeared to be lower at higher levels of carotenoid supplementation. Overall, dietary β-carotene clearly enhanced immune response parameters in rainbow trout such as serum complement activity and total plasma immunoglobulin but did not show a definite influence for the other factors examined in the present study.     

Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin subunits in the testis of the bull

The differential localization of the inhibin beta subunits betaA and betaB in the testis of adult bull was studied using specific monoclonal and polyclonal primary antibodies. Inhibin betaA- and betaB-subunits were localized only in the Sertoli cells. The inhibin betaA-subunit was observed in the cytoplasm while the betaB-subunit was localized in the nucleus. No specific findings depending on spermatogenic stages were observed among the seminiferous tubules. Moreover, the inhibin alpha-subunit was not detected in the testis of the bulls. In addition, no inhibin subunits were detected in the Leydig cells and spermatogenic cells. These findings indicate the presence of betaA- and betaB-subunits in the bull, which may suggest a possibility that activin is produced and/or stored in the Sertoli cells and regulates spermatogenesis in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Moreover, the inhibin betaB-subunit may be produced in the nucleus but the functional meaning of this is not yet clear.     

Trail antigen in Eimeria stiedai sporozoites associated with a thrombospondin-related motif and the entry of cultured cells

In order to examine the antigenic similarity and specificity of the trail antigen of Eimeria stiedai and Etp 100, a microneme protein of Eimeria tenella, monoclonal antibodies to the trail antigen of E. stiedai sporozoites were selected by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody method. The monoclonal antibody of one clone, 3D10, reacted with the anterior portion of non-fixed sporozoites. By immunoblotting, the monoclonal antibody was found to react with a 100 kDa antigen of E. stiedai sporozoites, and a 117 kDa antigen of E. tenella sporozoites and merozoites. It was also found to react with a recombinant protein with thrombospondin-/properdin-like motifs homologous to E. tenella microneme protein Etp 100. The monoclonal antibody significantly inhibited the penetration of E. stiedai sporozoites into cultured rabbit hepatobiliary epithelial cells. These results suggest that E. stiedai sporozoites have a trail antigen, located in the anterior region on the outer surface of the sporozoites, which has an epitope with thrombospondin-/properdin-like motifs similar to E. tenella microneme protein Etp 100. This protein may play an important functional role in the process of penetration of host cells.     

Arthroderma benhamiae infection in a rabbit

The isolate from the rabbit with dermatophytosis which was transmitted to the owners was proved to be Arthroderma benhamiae (-) by mating experiments as well as by chitin synthase 1 (CHSI) gene analysis.     

Identification of novel inhibitors of calling and in vitro [14C]acetate incorporation by pheromone glands of Plodia interpunctella

Some octopamine agonists were found to suppress in vitro biosynthesis of the calling pheromone of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella. Isolated pheromone-gland preparations incorporated sodium [14C]acetate at a linear rate for 3 h when incubated with the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). This incorporation was dependent on the dose of PBAN (up to 0.5 microM). Thin-layer chromatography of a pheromone-gland extract revealed quantitative incorporation of radioactivity into a product exhibiting the same mobility as (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, the main component of the calling pheromone of P interpunctella. Twenty-seven octopamine agonists were initially screened using a calling behaviour bioassay of female P interpunctella. Four derivatives with activity in the nanomolar range were identified which were, in order of decreasing pheromonostatic activity: 2-(2,6-diethylphenylimino)thiazolidine > 2-(2,6-diethylphenylimino)oxazolidine > 2-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)thiazolidine > 2-(2-ethylphenylimino)oxazolidine. These compounds also showed in vitro inhibitory activity in intracellular de novo pheromone biosynthesis. The results of the present study indicate that these derivatives could provide useful information in the characterization and differentiation of octopaminergic receptor types and subtypes.     

Identification of Trichoderma SKT-1, a biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice

Trichoderma SKT-1 was previously reported as a powerful biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice, but the taxonomic disposition of the fungal isolate was not clear. Trichoderma SKT-1 produced irregular pyramidal warts on conidia and had an optimum growth temperature of 30°C. Morphological characteristics and colony growth were identical to those of known species of Trichoderma, including the newly recognized species T. asperellum. The 5.8S rDNA with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ca. 514 bp) of the fungus was compared with those of known species to determine the phylogenetic placement of the fungus. The length and sequence of the regions from Trichoderma SKT-1 were completely identical to those of an isolate of T. asperellum NRRL 5242 (AJ230669). On the basis of these results, we concluded that Trichoderma SKT-1 was T. asperellum.     

Development of X-ray computed tomography for live standing cattle

An X‐ray computed tomography (CT) system for live standing cattle was developed for studying the meat yield, carcass composition and so on. The gantry contained three X‐ray tubes and detectors that corresponded to each X‐ray tube. The system was able to operate while the animal remained standing. The scan area had a diameter of 900 mm. The Musculus longissimus and Musculus trapezius areas, and the back fat thickness in the CT image were evaluated and compared to the actual cross‐section of the carcass using eight cattle. The differences among the muscles, and the subcutaneous and intermuscular fat were easily recognized. The correlation coefficient between the CT image and the actual carcass photograph of the M. longissimus area and the back fat thickness was high (r = 0.84, r = 0.93, P < 0.01). The present study demonstrated that muscle, fat and bone can be clearly imaged from a live standing animal using X‐ray equipment.     

Antimicrobial activity of some N-(arylalkyl)maleimides

A series of N-(arylalkyl)maleimides was prepared for the reaction of maleic anhydride and N-(arylalkyl) amines, and their antimicrobial activities were examined. All compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Almost all compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, but were inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Activities against gram-positive bacteria were independent of the nature of the substituent on the benzene ring or the length of alkyl group, but that against gram-negative bacteria was influenced by these parameters. All N-(arylalkyl)maleimides showed activity against yeasts and mycelial fungi.