The inhibitory effect of interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha on intracellular multiplication of Neospora caninum in primary bovine brain cells

Primary culture of bovine brain cells was examined for its susceptibility to Neospora caninum infections, and this model was used to investigate the effects of bovine interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-alpha) on tachyzoite growth. Tachyzoites of N. caninum grew well in this culture, and tachyzoite growth in astroglia and microglia were confirmed by immunocytochemical staining. IFN-gamma inhibited the tachyzoite growth, and this inhibition was not reversed by the addition of nitric oxide antagonist. TNF-alpha, to a lesser extent, also inhibited the tachyzoite growth. Th-1 type cytokines may play an important role in host defense mechanisms in N. caninum infection.     

Degree of RNA silencing and the ability of a viral suppressor vary depending on the cell species in a protoplast system

RNA silencing is a sequence-specific defense mechanism against viruses. As a counterdefense, viruses evolved silencing suppressors to interfere with host silencing. In analyses using protoplasts prepared from cultured cells (BY-2) and mesophyll cells of Nicotiana tabacum and N. benthamiana, viral suppressors differentially functioned in different cell types. This phenomenon has not been discussed in earlier papers on protoplast systems and RNA silencing. In investigations of the cellular activities of viral suppressors and their role in the RNA-silencing pathway, assays with host protoplasts offer many advantages and can complement other in planta assays such as Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression.     

Antioxidant activity of polyphenols in carob pods.

We extracted polyphenols from carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pods, and evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity of the crude polyphenol fraction (CPP). The total polyphenol content in CPP determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method was 19.2%. The condensed tannin content determined by the vanillin and proanthocyanidin assay systems was 4.37% and 1.36%, respectively. beta-Carotene bleaching, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, inhibition of lipid peroxidation by the erythrocyte ghost, and microsomal assay systems were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. CPP showed a stronger inhibitory effect against the discoloration of beta-carotene than other polyphenol compounds such as catechins and procyanidins. CPP had weaker antioxidant activity in the DPPH free radical scavenging, the erythrocyte ghost, and microsomal systems than authentic polyphenol compounds at the same concentrations. The activity adjusted by the polyphenol concentration was, however, comparable to that of authentic polyphenol compounds. Considering most carob pods are discarded and not effectively utilized at present, these results suggested that carob pods could be utilized as a functional food or food ingredient.     

Genotypic Analysis of Heading Time on an Indica Rice Cultivar, Nanjing 11

In this paper, the genotype of heading time in Nanjing 11, an indica variety, was analyzed bycrossing with tester varieties, Akihikari ( e1e1 e2e2 e3e3 Se1eSe1e ), Koshihikari ( E1E1E2E2 e3e3 Se1eSe1e ), Nipponbare(E1E1 e2e2 e3e3 Se1Se1 )and Hinohikari(E1E1 E2E2 e3e3 Se1Se1 ), of which the genotypes of headingtime were well known. The results showed genotype of heading time in Nanjing 11 was E1E1 e2e2 E3E3 Se1Se1and also included a recessive inhibitor I-Se1 for photoperiod-sensitivity as well. Meanwhile, the two photoperiod-sensitive genes, E1 and Se1, in Nanjing 11 were also identified by crossing with QTL nearly isogenic lines of Nipponbare, NIL( Hd1 )and NIL( Hd4 )which have complementary effects.     

Impact of earthen waste storage on nitrate concentration of surface water

In 1992 and 2002, investigations on the water quality and hydrology were carried out in a small agricultural catchment where swine waste was stored in earthen waste storage. The in-stream nitrogen loads and the nitrogen inputs on a sub-catchment scale were estimated and compared between 1992 and 2002. For the entire catchment, the estimated nitrogen inputs increased from 22.5 to 32.9 ton year⁻¹ (from 406 to 594 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), whereas the nitrate nitrogen concentration at the outlet was constant—27 mg l⁻¹. In a sub-catchment (area C) with earthen waste storages, the nitrate nitrogen concentrations at the outlet were high, 42–51 mg l⁻¹. In a sub-catchment (area A) with an earthen waste storage, which was not in service since 1990, although the nitrogen inputs were maintained at 390 kg year⁻¹ (53 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), the nitrate nitrogen concentrations at the outlet decreased from 26 to 4.9 mg l⁻¹. With assuming that the nitrogen transport rates for sources except swine waste are equal to the rates estimated for a sub-catchment without earthen waste storage, the in-stream nitrogen loads for area A were estimated to decrease from 1,334 to 94 kg year⁻¹ and the transport rates for area A were estimated to decrease from 3.95 to 0.73. These results suggest that the effluent from earthen waste storage has affected surface water quality two years after the storage was out of service and its effect largely decreased after a decade.     

Reversible root tip rotation in Arabidopsis seedlings induced by obstacle-touching stimulus

In soil, downwardly growing plant roots frequently alter their growth direction to escape obstacles that lie in their paths. This response has been analyzed with a simple system that provides a constant obstacle-touching stimulus to root tips of young seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. On the surface of agar plates, which were set at an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical, the roots exhibit a wavy growth pattern that is caused by periodic reversion of rotation of the root tip. A set of mutants with abnormal wavy growth was used to demonstrate that at least six genes are involved in this stimulus-response interaction.     

Watercore in Japanese pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder var. ‘Culta’ Rehder). I. Description of the disorder and its relation to fruit maturity

Out of 119 Japanese pear cultivars and selections and 12 Chinese ones and their 9 hybrids, 30 cultivars and selections showed a physiological disorder in the flesh of the fruit while still on the tree. The affected tissues were generally watery and translucent, and tasted sweet, but in some cultivars the area was slightly brown and tasted bitter. Cavities and/or pithiness developed in these areas both on the tree and during storage. Distribution of affected tissues on a transversely cut surface at the equator of the fruits showed 5 different types of appearance. In most cases the affected tissues were observed near or around the vascular bundles.In the most susceptible selection ‘93-3’, a higher percentage of affected fruits and severer symptoms were observed in the later-picked fruits. Greater severity of disorder was also found in the softer and more yellowed fruits with the more soluble solids. Because of several properties common to both the watercore of apples and this disorder, the term ‘Watercore in Japanese pear’ was chosen to describe it.