Sequence analysis of E2 glycoprotein genes of classical swine fever viruses: identification of a novel genogroup in Thailand

Thirty classical swine fever viruses (CSFV) isolated in Thailand between 1988 and 1996 were characterised by genetic sequence analysis of a part of their E2 coding regions, comparing the new data with that for representative reference viruses from other countries and continents. Thai isolates were divided into three distinct genogroups, indicating multiple origins for the outbreaks. Eighteen isolates from 1988-1995 form a new genogroup not previously described from any other geographical region. Eleven isolates from 1988-1995 are in the same genogroup as old US and European strains represented by reference strains Alfort 187 and Brescia. The viruses of this group seem to have died out in Europe but still persist in Thailand. One recent isolate from 1996 represents another previously described genogroup being closely related to Italian viruses isolated in the same year.     

Characterization of a vitamin B12 compound from unicellular coccolithophorid alga (Pleurochrysis carterae).

A unicellular coccolithophorid alga, Pleurochrysis carterae, contained 125.4 +/- 1.2 microg of vitamin B12 per 100 g dry cell weight of the lyophilized algal cells. A vitamin B12 compound was purified from the lyophilized algal cells and partially characterized. The silica gel 60 TLC and reversed-phase HPLC patterns of the purified pink-colored compound were identical to those of authentic vitamin B12, but not those of vitamin B12 analogues inactive for humans. When 22-week-old B12-deficient rats which excreted substantial amounts of methylmalonic acid (75.5 +/- 12.3 mg/day) in urine were fed the P. carterae (10 g per kg diet)-supplemented diet for 12 d, urinary methylmalonic acid excretion (as an index of vitamin B12 deficiency) of the rats became undetectable and hepatic vitamin B12 level of the rats was significantly increased.     

Flounder metamorphosis: its regulation by various hormones

Metamorphosis in the flounder has often been compared with the transition of tadpoles into frogs. The dorsal fin rays of the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) elongate during prometamorphosis when thyroid hormone levels are low, and are resorbed during metamorphic climax when thyroid hormone levels are high. Using an in vitro system for the culture of the flounder fin rays, we have examined how various hormones affect the resorption process. Both thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃) directly stimulated fin ray shortening, T₃ being more potent than T₄. Other hormones, such as prolactin, cortisol and sex steroids, did not directly affect the resorption process but modified the tissue's response to thyroid hormones. Similar observations were obtained from in vivo studies. We also monitored the changes in the whole body concentrations of various hormones during early development and metamorphosis, and related these with the thyroid hormone profiles in order to get a better picture of their interactions. The gaps in the present status of research on the role of thyroid hormones during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder are also discussed.     

Phytomonitoring and phytoremediation of agrochemicals and related compounds based on recombinant cytochrome P450s and aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs)

Molecular mechanisms of metabolism and modes of actions of agrochemicals and related compounds are important for understanding selective toxicity, biodegradability, and monitoring of biological effects on nontarget organisms. It is well-known that in mammals, cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) monooxygenases metabolize lipophilic foreign compounds. These P450 species are inducible, and both CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are induced by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) combined with a ligand. Gene engineering of P450 and NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (P450 reductase) was established for bioconversion. Also, gene modification of AhRs was developed for recombinant AhR-mediated β-glucronidase (GUS) reporter assay of AhR ligands. Recombinant P450 genes were transformed into plants for phytoremediation, and recombinant AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene expression systems were each transformed into plants for phytomonitoring. Transgenic rice plants carrying CYP2B6 metabolized the herbicide metolachlor and remarkably reduced the residues in the plants and soils under paddy field conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying recombinant guinea pig (g) AhR-mediated GUS reporter genes detected PCB126 at the level of 10 ng/g soils in the presence of biosurfactants MEL-B. Both phytomonitoring and phytoremediation plants were each evaluated from the standpoint of practical uses.     

The changes of antioxidative enzyme activities in equine erythrocytes following exercise

The change in activities of 3 major antioxidative enzymes in equine erythrocytes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx), and catalase, was investigated in order to evaluate the effect of exercise. Blood samples were obtained from 11 thoroughbred horses before and immediately after vigorous exercise which induced the increase of plasma lipid peroxide (Lpx) concentration from 1.16 +/- 0.40 nmol/ml to 1.29 +/- 0.34 nmol/ml. Following the exercise, the GSHpx activity in erythrocytes was significantly reduced from 69 +/- 10 IU/gHb to 65 +/- 8 IU/gHb, whereas SOD and catalase activities were not changed. Effects of an antioxidative compound, containing selenium and vitamin E(Se-E), on the response of antioxidative enzyme activities following the exercise were examined. Seven horses were injected intramuscularly with Se-E(Se:25 mg, vitamin E:54.8 mg) and received the same vigorous exercise. After Se-E treatment, plasma Lpx levels before the exercise were decreased from 1.24 +/- 0.09 nmol/ml to 0.86 +/- 0.03 nmol/ml, however, SOD, GSHpx, and catalase activities were not varied. The Se-E treatment slightly prevented the decrease in GSHpx activity and the increase in plasma Lpx level after the exercise, having no effect on SOD and catalase activities. These results suggested that the changes of GSHpx activity in erythrocytes might reflect the protective condition against exercise-induced lipid peroxidation.     

Sphingomyelin lipidosis in a cat

A 7-month-old Balinese cat with progressive neurological dysfunction had histopathological lesions of brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and lung consistent with a lysosomal storage disease. Ultrastructural examination revealed lysosomal hypertrophy with membranous inclusions. Hepatic sphingomyelin and cholesterol were elevated 10 times normal, and total phospholipids were increased 3.6 fold. Sphingomyelinase activity measured with 14C labeled sphingomyelin at pH 5.0 was virtually absent in brain and liver. Other lysosomal hydrolase activities were normal or elevated. Clinical, morphological, and biochemical findings suggest that this cat had sphingomyelin lipidosis similar to human Niemann-Pick disease type A, and that feline sphingomyelin lipidosis provides another model of human lysosomal storage disease.     

Neural changes in recurrent infection of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in calves treated with dexamethasone.

Recurrent infection by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus was induced in calves by dexamethasone (DM) treatment (given 5 days) at 5 months after primary infection. The virus appeared in nasal secretions of the calves on the 4th day after initiation of DM treatment and continued until the 9th day. The calves were killed on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th days after DM treatment was started for examination by histopathologic and immunofluorescent antibody techniques. The most significant neural change was trigeminal ganglionitis with neuronophagia, which was observed from the 3rd to the 11th day. Significantly, the extent of changes in the trigeminal ganglion and medulla oblongata corresponded to the amount of DM treatment administered. The IBR virus antigen was first observed in the trigeminal ganglion cells, and thereafter, it was detected in the Schwann cells, satellite cells, neuroglia cells, and nasal mucosa until the 10th day. These observations indicate that the IBR virus is capalbe of producing a persistent infection in the trigeminal ganglion and that trigeminal ganglionitis may be a characteristic lesion for inducing the reactivation of lagent IBR virus.     

Clinical evaluation of the serodiagnostic value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum IgG antibodies against Tween 20-extracted antigen of strain ATCC 6939 was applied in Hidaka, Japan to a total of 752 sick foals showing a variety of signs of infectious disease. An optical density (OD) value of more than 0.3 was tentatively fixed to be positive on the basis of readings made of healthy horse sera in previous studies. During a 2 year study, 138 of the 752 sick foals showed an OD value of 0.3 or higher and were designated as 'suspected of R. equi infection'. Age distribution during the initial medical examination of the 138 seropositive foals was significant in that most (64%) foals were age 31-60 days, with a sharp decrease in subjects beyond that age. Of the 138 foals suspected of having R. equi infection, 34 foals (25%) showed OD values of over 0.9 at the initial medical examination, in addition to high blood leucocyte counts and serum fibrinogen and alpha-globulin values. The infectious foals had been treated with antibiotics just before and after serodiagnosis and 126 foals (91%) recovered from the disease. However, no clinical improvement was observed in 12 foals (9%). At necropsy, these foals revealed suppurative pneumonia and lymphadenitis of gut associated lymph nodes accompanied by abdominal abscesses. All isolates from the pulmonary and abdominal abscesses revealed R. equi. These results suggest that OD readings in the high range are associated with severe disseminated infection with R. equi.     

Transgenic rice containing human CYP2B6 detoxifies various classes of herbicides

The human gene for CYP2B6, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase that inactivates xenobiotic chemicals, was introduced into Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. At germination, R(1) seeds of transgenic rice plants expressing CYP2B6 (CYP2B6 rice) showed a high tolerance to 5 microM metolachlor, a preemergence herbicide that is degraded by CYP2B6. Thin-layer chromatography after culture with (14)C-labeled metolachlor revealed that the amounts of residual metolachlor decreased in plant tissues and the medium of CYP2B6 rice faster than those of untransformed Nipponbare. CYP2B6 rice plants were able to grow in the presence of 13 out of 17 herbicides: five chloroacetamides and mefenacet, pyributicarb, amiprofos-methyl, trifluralin, pendimethalin, norflurazon, and chlorotoluron. These herbicides differ in their modes of action and chemical structures. Transgenic rice expressing a xenobiotic-degrading human CYP2B6, which has broad substrate specificity, should be good not only for developing herbicide tolerant rice but also for reducing the environmental impact of agrochemicals.     

Triterpene glycosides of Siraitia grosvenori inhibit rat intestinal maltase and suppress the rise in blood glucose level after a single oral administration of maltose in rats

The effect of the crude extract from Siraitia grosvenori Swingle (SG-ex) on the postprandial rise in blood glucose level was investigated. The increase in plasma glucose level in response to the oral administration of maltose was significantly suppressed in rats when SG-ex was given orally 3 min before the maltose administration. There was, however, no effect when glucose was administered instead, suggesting that the antihyperglycemic effect of SG-ex is elicited by inhibition of maltase in the small intestinal epithelium. In vitro, SG-ex inhibited rat small intestinal maltase. Similar effects were also observed both in vivo and in vitro when the concentrate of the sweet elements (triterpene glycosides) prepared from SG-ex was used. Furthermore, the main sweet element of SG-ex, mogroside V, and some minor elements such as mogroside IV, siamenoside I, and mogroside III also exhibited maltase inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 14, 12, 10, and 1.6 mM, respectively. These results suggest that SG-ex exerts anti-hyperglycemic effects in rats by inhibiting maltase activity and that these effects are at least partially exerted by its sweet elements, triterpene glycosides.