Quantification of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cytokine expression in response to inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine

This study describes the quantification of cytokine expression of vaccinated water buffaloes with FMD inactivated vaccine. Using real-time PCR quantification assay, expression of Th1 (IL-2, IL-12p40, IFNγ); Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) and inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα) cytokines were quantified weekly for the entire three-week duration of the experiment. It was noted that IFNγ, IL-10 and TNFα had peaked on week three post-vaccination while the remaining cytokines peaked on the second week and decreased by the third week. The counteraction between IFNγ and IL-4 was noted as well as the possible suppressive action of IL-10 to that of IL-2 and IL-12, which is a common phenomenon between Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Synergy between TNFa and IL-6 was also observed. These findings suggest that within the immune system of water buffalo there is a dynamic cell-mediated and humoral interaction in response to immunogen. This assessment of the cytokine expressions is vital for the study of water buffalo disease progression and concurring protective immune responses.     

Bone marrow stromal cells generate muscle cells and repair muscle degeneration

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have great potential as therapeutic agents. We report a method for inducing skeletal muscle lineage cells from human and rat general adherent MSCs with an efficiency of 89%. Induced cells differentiated into muscle fibers upon transplantation into degenerated muscles of rats and mdx-nude mice. The induced population contained Pax7-positive cells that contributed to subsequent regeneration of muscle upon repetitive damage without additional transplantation of cells. These MSCs represent a more ready supply of myogenic cells than do the rare myogenic stem cells normally found in muscle and bone marrow.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria sp. from sika deer, Cervus nippon, in Japan

The 18S rRNA genes of Theileria species detected in sika deer, Cervus nippon centralis in Yamaguchi and Cervus nippon yesoensis in Hokkaido, were analyzed. The percent identities of the nucleotide sequences of Theileria from Cervus nippon centralis and Cervus nippon yesoensis were more than 99%. The percent identities of the Theileria sp. from sika deer and Theileria sergenti, Theileria buffeli and Theileria cervi were 97, 96 and 95%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene sequences also revealed that Theileria sp. detected from sika deer comprise a clade that is clearly distinct from the clade comprised of Theileria from cattle.     

Genetic diversity of African wild rice (Oryza longistaminata Chev. et Roehr) at the edge of its distribution

Ethiopia is at the edge of the distribution for African wild rice, Oryza longistaminata. Here, chloroplast (cp) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were applied to wild rice accessions in Ethiopia to evaluate how they differ from control O. longistaminata, O. barthii and O. glaberrima accessions which originated from African countries. Based on the cp genomes of African wild rice species, maternally inherited cpINDEL markers were developed. The cp indels helped to elucidate 20 plastid types. African cultivated rice shared a particular plastid type with one of annual O. barthii. Parts of northern wild rice in Ethiopia shared Type 6 with control O. longistaminata. The north group shared another type with parts of the south group. The 16 SSR markers amplified a total of 155 alleles in 215 rice accessions, with mean allelic richness of 9.688 per locus, observed heterozygosity of 0.241, expected heterozygosity of 0.724, polymorphic information content of 0.700, and a significant genetic differentiation of 0.215. Both cpINDEL and nuclear markers analyses suggested that wild rice in Ethiopia belongs to O. longistaminata. However, they carry both a unique plastid type and different population structure from control O. longistaminata collected from other areas in Africa. We concluded that the edge of its distribution maintains unique variation. These populations are regarded as valuable genetic resources for future rice breeding.

     

Abstracts of nippon Dozyohiryogaku Zasshi

This study is an attempt to establish an evaluation method of water repellency of soil ranging complete wettability to complete nonwettability. The principal used was the theory of capillary rise.

The samples were packed into teflon tubes which are verv hydrophobic and placed at a certain depth in water. In this method, the height of capillary rise of very nonwettable sample would remain under the free water level even for an infinite lime. On the other hand, the letting front of the wettable samples would be above the free water level for an infinite lime. This method is considered to he suitable for both writable and nonwettable samples. It was found that not onlv writable samples but also nonwettable samples changed to be completely lettable bv healing at 250 C, and also thai this change was particularly remarkable in the case of humic acid.

From the ratio of the maximum height of capillary rise of the sample heated at 105°C to that 250 C, the sample heated at 250 C, the water repellency of the soil sample can be represented as contact angle, whether the sample is very wettable of nonwettable.     

Cadmium adsorption on hydroxyaluminosilicate-montmorillonite complex as influenced by oxalate and citrate

The hydroxyaluminosilicate (HAS)-montmorillonite (Mt) and hydroxyaluminum (HyA)-Mt complexes are important constituents of soil colloidal complexes in acidic environments. Oxalate and citrate are dominant organic acids in the root exudates of many plants. These acids, among other factors, strongly influence the adsorption behavior of HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes. In this study, we investigated the adsorption phenomena of Cd on the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes as influenced by oxalate and citrate. Without addition of oxalate and citrate, the adsorption of Cd on Mt was easy. However, in the presence of oxalate and citrate, the adsorption was strongly inhibited. In contrast, the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes in the absence of oxalate and citrate hardly adsorbed Cd. In the presence of oxalate, the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes were able to adsorb Cd. Thus, optimal concentration of oxalate for Cd adsorption on both complexes could be determined. Similarly, the HyA-Mt complex showed an optimal concentration of citrate for Cd adsorption. However, the HAS-Mt complex did not adsorb Cd in the presence of citrate. We concluded that the optimal concentrations of oxalate and citrate for Cd adsorption depended on the form of Cd ions and their proportion in the solution. Based on the amount of Cd adsorbed and the distribution of Cd species in the solution, the adsorption of Cd on the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes took place in various chemical forms.     

Composition of inorganic elements and the leaching behavior of biomass combustion ashes discharged from wood pellet boilers in Japan

To evaluate the characteristics of wood ash as fertilizer, composition of inorganic elements and the leaching behavior were studied. The leaching behavior was evaluated by three leaching methods using different solvents (water, hydrochloric acid, and acetic acid: Japanese leaching test Nos. 18 and 19 and modified toxicity characteristic leaching procedure prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency). The ash composition varied according to raw materials for fuel and ash collection systems. Concentration of Na, Al, Si, and V became higher in bark ashes while that of K became higher in wood ashes. Pb, Cd, Se, and Zn were more volatile and enriched in fly ashes. Of the nutrient elements, K showed high water solubility and its phytoavailability also appeared high, although the amount of water-soluble K was low in bark ash. Ca and Mg had intermediate solubility while P was less soluble in both water and acetic acid. The amount of hazardous substances having leached was low for most, but not all the ashes, in terms of Pb, Cr and As. Nevertheless, the phytoavailability of these hazardous substances after their application to the forest appeared low, due to their amphoteric leaching behavior and the acidity of Japanese forest soils.     

Changes of abscisic acid and its metabolite during development of apple fruit

Summary

Free and conjugated abscisic acid (ABA) and phaseic acid (PA) concentrations in the seed and pulp of apples (Malus pumila Mill. cv. Tsugaru) and ABA metabolism in the fruit after cis-(+)-ABA application were investigated. In the seed, the levels of cis- and trans-ABA and conjugated cis- and trans-ABA showed a general increase towards harvest, except for the decrease of cis-ABA at 131 d after full bloom (DAFB) (harvest). PA levels reached a peak at 41 DAFB, then decreased until harvest. The levels of free ABA in the seed were higher than those in the pulp. In the pulp, the levels of cis-ABA increased gradually from 20 DAFB and rapidly from 111 DAFB towards harvest. The levels of trans-ABA and conjugated trans-ABA also showed similar changes to cis-ABA, i.e. increased steeply from 111 DAFB. In contrast, the level of conjugated cis-ABA was the highest at 20 DAFB, then fell rapidly until 111 DAFB and then increased again towards harvest. PA showed the highest level at 20 DAFB, then decreased gradually until 111 DAFB and then increased again towards harvest. It is therefore assumed that not only cis-ABA but also its metabolite may be associated with the ripening of apple fruit. Cis- and trans-ABA and conjugated cis- and trans-ABA concentrations in cis-(+)-ABA treated fruit increased significantly on 11 d after ABA application (122 DAFB). However, at 20 d after cis-(+)-ABA application, only trans-ABA and conjugated trans-ABA showed higher levels than those of the untreated control, while the levels of cis-ABA and conjugated cis-ABA fell to the same levels as the untreated control. PA levels did not show significant increase on 11 and 20 d after cis-(+)-ABA application. These results suggest that cis-(+)-ABA treated exogenously to apple fruit may eventually metabolize to trans-ABA, conjugated trans-ABA and further metabolites.     

Expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in Malus sylvestris L. ‘Mutsu’ non-red apples

Summary

The expression of five anthocyanin biosynthetic genes of chalcone synthase (MdCHS). flavanane 3-hydroxylase (MdF3H). dihydroflavonol 4-reducase (pDFR), anthocyanidin synthase (MdANS) and UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (pUFGluT) was investigated during fruit development in the skin of non-red ‘Mutsu’ apples (Malus sylvestris (L) Mill. van domestica (Borkh) Mansf.). MdCHS, MdF3H and pDFR appeared in the skin of non-bagged fruit from 81 d after full bloom (DAFB) to 167 DAFB, but MdANS and pUFGluT did not appear. When the fruit was bagged during fruit development and unbagged before the maturation, anthocyanin was produced in the exposed portion but not in the shaded portion. All five genes including MdANS and pUFGluT were detected in the exposed portion at 165 DAFB. In the shaded portion, MdANS was detected, but pUFGluT was not. The skin colour of the shaded portion after unbagging in the bagged fruit was more yellow than that in non-bagged fruit. This result suggests that the yellowing of the skin may relate to the expression of MdANS. All five anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were detected at 20 DAFB despite the absence of anthocyanin. The roles of genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway may differ from one development stage to the next.