Immunochromatographic assay for simple and rapid detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Satsuma dwarf virus</Emphasis> and related viruses using monoclonal antibodies

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic assay (ICA) to detect Satsuma dwarf virus (SDV) was developed using colloidal gold conjugates of anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies. Of six homogenization buffers tested, 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 7.0) gave the best results for the ICA. In the ICA, addition of 0.1% thioglycolic acid in the homogenization buffers that have been widely used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was deleterious to the reaction because of undesirable coagulation of the colloidal gold. ICA using the anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies was 8 times and 16 times more sensitive than double antibody sandwich-ELISA and ICA using the anti-SDV polyclonal antibody, respectively. The analysis is complete in only 15 min. Furthermore, ICA using the anti-SDV monoclonal antibodies could also detect SDV-related viruses.     

Lipid characteristics of coastal migratory Sarda orientalis tissues

To characterize the 22:6 n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) levels of the oriental bonito Sarda orientalis, a coastal migratory tuna species, total lipids (TL) of white muscle, dark muscle, liver, pyloric cecum, gonad, and other viscera were separated into lipid classes, the constituents of TL were quantified, and the fatty acid composition of TL, triacylglycerols (TAG), phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine was analyzed. The crude lipid contents of muscle and other organs were 0.8–3.2% and 2.3–9.1%, respectively. DHA was found in TL of various organs at levels ranging from 19.2% to 27.6% in muscle and 16.3% to 28.5% in other organs. The levels of DHA in muscle TAG (8.2–16.0%) were lower than or comparable to those in visceral TAG (6.9–24.0%). These findings did not coincide with those observed in active-migratory tuna species, which accumulate DHA in their muscle TAG during migration. These findings suggest that the DHA distribution of S. orientalis is different from that observed in active-migratory tuna species, and that the differences may be due to migration type of the fish.     

Isolation of cDNA and genomic fragments encoding the major manganese peroxidase isozyme from the white rot basidiomycetePleurotus ostreatus

We have isolated the cDNA and genomic sequences encoding the major isozyme of manganese peroxidase, MnP3, from the white rot basidiomycetePleurotus ostreatus strain IS1. The genemnp3 is interrupted by 10 introns and encodes a mature protein of 357 amino acid residues with a 26-amino-acid signal peptide. The amino acid residues known to be involved in peroxidase function and those that form the Mn-binding site in thePanerochaete chrysosporium MnP isozyme are conserved in MnP3. Comparison of the deduced primary structure of MnP3 with those of other peroxidases from various white rot fungi suggested that MnPs fromP. ostreatus andTrametes versicolor belong to a subgroup that is more similar to the lignin peroxidases than MnPs fromP. chrysosporium orCeriporiopsis subvermispora.     

Development of a rice herbicide,fenquinotrione

Fenquinotrione is a novel rice herbicide that was discovered and developed by Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. It can control a wide range of broadleaf and sedge weeds with excellent rice selectivity at 30 g a.i./10 a and is as effective as the wild type on acetolactate synthase inhibitor-resistant weeds. Our metabolic and molecular biological studies showed that CYP81A6-mediated demethylation and subsequent glucose conjugation are responsible for the safety of fenquinotrione in rice. Fenquinotrione was registered in Japan in 2018, and various products containing fenquinotrione have been launched. With its high efficacy and excellent rice selectivity, we believe that fenquinotrione will contribute to efficient food production in the future.     

The effect of 7.2% hypertonic saline solution on m-mode echocardiographic indices in normovolemic dogs

This study investigated whether a small volume of 7.2% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) could affect M-mode echocardiographic indices in dogs. HSS induced significant increase in heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac index, when the fluid infusion was completed (P<0.05). In the HSS group, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, as an index of preload, significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas left ventricular end-systolic volume index were not altered. HSS induced slight increases in ejection fraction at end of infusion despite significantly differences were not observed. In conclusion, HSS did not induce a demonstrable effect on M-mode echocardiographic indices of systolic function-enhance cardiac contractility, but it caused preload augmentation that may contribute to an abrupt and transient increase in cardiac output just after HSS infusion.     

Canine and feline aural hematoma: clinical, experimental, and clinicopathologic observations

The pathogenesis of canine and feline aural hematoma (AH) was investigated. Clinical observations, selected experimental procedures, and clinicopathologic examinations were done on 40 dogs and 20 cats affected with AH. Eighteen healthy dogs and 14 healthy cats were used as the controls. The results of this investigation provide a valid basis for questioning the conventionally held view that AH is caused by trauma and for postulating that the actual cause is immune mediated.     

Identification and characterization of a plaque forming avian rotavirus isolated from a wild bird in Japan.

From fresh faeces of a wild bird (Melanitta fusca), a virus that showed granular cytopathic effects (CPE) on chicken kidney cell (CKC) cultures was isolated. By indirect immunofluorescence analyses (IFA), this isolate reacted with an antiserum against a bovine rotavirus. The isolate produced clear plaques on CKC by conventional techniques, without trypsin. Three virus plaques were selected by plaque size (small, medium, and large) and cloned by three successive plaque cloning. In the SDS-PAGE analyses, dsRNA bands showed a typical profile of avian rotavirus and quite different from that of avian reovirus. With dsRNA patterns, IFA results, CPE, and a morphological property, the clones were identified as avian rotaviruses of group A rotavirus. The clones killed chicken embryos, when they were inoculated to yolk sac.     

Comparative fishing trials for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Charybdis japonica</Emphasis> using collapsible box-shaped and dome-shaped pots

ABSTRACT:   Comparative fishing trials were undertaken with two commercial collapsible pots for the crab Charybdis japonica . One pot was box-shaped with two slit entrances at the ends, while the other was dome-shaped with two open funnel entrances. Pots were placed at the bottom of a pond that is connected to Kagoshima Bay. Fishing trials were carried out using a 1-day soaking time; the bait used was mackerel. The box-shaped pot had higher catches of crabs and non-target organisms, but the number of large crabs (carapace width >8 cm) was almost half as many as that caught with the dome-shaped pot. The catch of non-target species was also greatly reduced in the dome-shaped pot, and fish caught were mostly enmeshed in the netting. The reduction in catches of small crabs and non-target organisms was due to the nature of the dome-shaped pot's larger mesh size and open entrances, which allowed for escape. The dome-shaped pot seemed more efficient for harvesting commercial size crabs, while the box-shaped pot seemed better for removing all crab sizes.