Anti‐tumour activity of oncolytic reovirus against canine histiocytic sarcoma cells

Canine histiocytic sarcoma is an aggressive, fatal neoplastic disease with a poor prognosis. Lomustine is generally accepted as the first‐line systemic therapy, although this compound does not provide complete regression. Therefore, research into a novel approach against canine histiocytic sarcoma is needed. However, anti‐tumour effects of oncolytic therapy using reovirus against histiocytic sarcoma are unknown. Here, we showed that reovirus has oncolytic activity in canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. We found that reovirus can replicate and induce caspase‐dependent apoptosis in canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines. A single intra‐tumoural injection of reovirus completely suppressed the growth of subcutaneously grafted tumours in NOD/SCID mice. Additionally, we demonstrated that susceptibility to reovirus‐induced cell death was attributable to the extent of expression of type I interferons induced by reovirus infection in vitro. In conclusion, oncolytic reovirus appears to be an effective treatment option for histiocytic sarcoma, and therefore warrants further investigation in early clinical trials.     

Serum α‐1‐acid glycoprotein concentration in clinically healthy puppies and adult dogs and in dogs with various diseases

Background: α‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an acute‐phase protein and a serum marker of inflammation and neoplasia in humans. AGP concentrations in diseased dogs and the potential effects of age, breed, and sex have not been elucidated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in AGP concentration based on age, sex, and breed in a large population of clinically healthy dogs and to compare AGP concentrations in dogs with various diseases. Methods: Serum was obtained from clinically healthy puppies (n=74) and adults (n=172) of both sexes, and included mongrels (n=205) and Beagles (n=41). Serum also was obtained from 192 dogs with various diseases, including 8 with pyometra that were sampled before, and 1, 2, 3, and 10 days after surgery. AGP concentration was measured by single radial immunodiffusion. Statistical comparisons were made among age, sex, breed, and disease groups. Results: Serum AGP in healthy adult mongrels was 364±106 mg/L (reference interval, 152–576 mg/L). AGP was lowest in newborns (n=11, 122±54 mg/L) and gradually increased to adult levels by 3 months of age. Median AGP concentration was highest in dogs with parvovirus (n=17, 2100 mg/L), distemper (n=7, 1250 mg/L), and pyometra (n=18, 2480 mg/L) and was also significantly higher in dogs with acute filariasis, renal failure, urolithiasis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, trauma, hyperadrenocorticism, and immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia. Dogs with acute filariasis and acute hepatopathy had significantly higher AGP concentrations than dogs with chronic filariasis and chronic hepatopathy. Serum AGP concentration decreased gradually following surgery for pyometra but remained increased after 10 days (896±175 mg/L). Conclusions: Because of significantly lower AGP in puppies, the age of dogs should be considered when using AGP as a marker of disease. Serum AGP may be a useful marker of inflammatory disease in dogs and may help differentiate acute and chronic stages of disease.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel simazine-degrading beta-proteobacterium and detection of genes encoding s-triazine-degrading enzymes

A moderately persistent herbicide, simazine, has been used globally and detected as a contaminant in soil and water. The authors have isolated a simazine-degrading bacterium from a simazine-degrading bacterial consortium that was enriched using charcoal as a microhabitat. The isolate, strain CDB21, was gram-negative, rod-shaped (0.5-0.6 microm x 1.0-1.2 microm) and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis, strain CDB21 was identified as a novel beta-proteobacterium exhibiting 100% sequence identity with the uncultured bacterium HOClCi25 (GenBank accession number AY328574). PCR using primers that were specific for the genes of the atrazine-degrading enzymes (atzABCDEF) of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP showed that strain CDB21 also possessed the entire set of genes of these enzymes. Nucleotide sequences of the atzCDEF genes of strain CDB21 were 100% identical to those of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP. Sequence identity of the atzA genes between these bacteria was 99.7%. The 398-nucleotide upstream fragment of the atzB gene of strain CDB21 was 100% identical to ORF30 of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP, and the 1526-nucleotide downstream fragment showed 99.8% sequence similarity to the atzB gene of the pseudomonad.     

Effects of anthropogenic silt on aquatic macroinvertebrates and abiotic variables in streams in the Brazilian Amazon

Purpose  

While environmental risks associated with petroleum extraction such as oil spills or leaks are relatively well known, little attention has been given to the impacts of silt. The increase in petroleum exploitation in Amazonia has resulted in sediment input to aquatic systems, with impacts on their biodiversity. Here we use a combination of field measurements and statistical analyses to evaluate the impacts of anthropogenic silt derived from the construction of roads, borrow pits, and wells during the terrestrial development of gas and oil, on macroinvertebrate communities in streams of the Urucu Petroleum Province in the Central Brazilian Amazon.     

Boron deprivation immediately causes cell death in growing roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

Boron (B) is essential for the correct formation of cell wall structure because it is a component of borate-ester cross-links in pectin. Previously, we showed that removal of B from the culture medium immediately induced stress responses in suspension-cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cells, but the mechanism by which cells exhibit such rapid responses remained unclear. In this study, we characterized the early responses of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to B deprivation. Deprivation of B for 1 h caused cell death specifically in the root elongation zone. Reactive oxygen species accumulated in the same region, suggesting that the death was caused by oxidative damage. The B-deprivation treatment also induced the expressions of stress-responsive genes within 1 h. These results demonstrated that A. thaliana immediately senses and responds to the removal of B from the external medium. Similar responses were induced by calcium deprivation but not magnesium or potassium deprivation, suggesting that the failure of cross-linking in pectin molecules in growing cells triggers these rapid responses.     

A preliminary study on the effects of line and selective thinning on bird communities in Hokkaido, northern Japan

In Japan, selective thinning is a common thinning method, though line thinning receives much attention because of its economic merits. In this study, we examined effects of the two thinning methods on bird communities in Todo fir (Abies sachalinensis) plantations in Hokkaido, Japan. We surveyed bird species in forests under four different management types — unthinned, selectively thinned, line-thinned plantation, and naturally regenerated forest (here after referred to as natural forest) stands — using a line-transect method. We also investigated vegetation structure (canopy tree and understory) of these stands. Bird species richness did not differ between natural forests and plantations, while bird total abundance was greater in plantations than in natural forests. Bird species richness and total abundance were comparable among the three management types for plantations. Abundances of 10 bird species were different among the four management types, and five species were more abundant in line-thinned plantations. However, two species were more abundant in selectively thinned stands than in line-thinned stands, and they frequently appeared in natural forests. There were no distinct differences in vegetation structure among the management types for plantations. Our results suggest that line thinning could be beneficial for some bird species in plantations.     

Isolation of antagonistic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. against a potato scab pathogen from a field cultivated with wild oat

Fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria isolated from soil and plant samples from a potato field in which wild oat (Avena strigosa) had been pre-cultivated were screened for microorganisms that can be used as biocontrol agents for common scab of potato. Of 342 isolates assessed in initial pot trials for their suppressive effect on the severity of potato scab caused by Streptomyces turgidiscabies, 26 isolates were selected as antagonistic candidates based on their ability to reduce disease severity, then tested in a second pot trial. Of the 26, five actinomycetes, isolated from either the rhizosphere soil of wild oat or the soil adhering to potato stolons and tubers, were selected as antagonists. A comparison of partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes from the five isolates indicated that they belong to the genus Streptomyces. Of these five, WoRs-501 most strongly inhibited in vitro mycelial growth of S. turgidiscabies and was also the most effective in suppressing potato scab in a third field pot trial. In that pot trial, a 10% (v/v) mix of WoRs-501 (6.2 × 10⁸ colony-forming units [CFU]/g dry mass) decreased the disease severity by 78–94% in comparison with the untreated control at 5 × 10⁴ to 5 × 10⁶ CFU S. turgidiscabies/g dry soil. WoRs-501 also grew well in vitro at a wide range of pH levels and temperatures. These results suggest that WoRs-501 is a promising candidate for biocontrol of potato scab.     

Porencephaly in a cynomolgus monkey ( macaca fascicularis )

Porencephaly was observed in a female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) aged 5 years and 7 months. The cerebral hemisphere exhibited diffuse brownish excavation with partial defects of the full thickness of the hemispheric wall, and it constituted open channels between the lateral ventricular system and arachnoid space. In addition, the bilateral occipital lobe was slightly atrophied. Histopathologically, fibrous gliosis was spread out around the excavation area and its periphery. In the roof tissue over the cavity, small round cells were arranged in the laminae. They seemed to be neural or glial precursor cells because they were positive for Musashi 1 and negative for NeuN and GFAP. In the area of fibrous gliosis, hemosiderin or lipofuscin were deposited in the macrophages, and activated astroglias were observed extensively around the excavation area.     

Recovery of leptospires from miniature pigs experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain UP-MMC under immunosuppressive conditions by dexamethasone

Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain UP-MMC was inoculated into miniature pigs to assess its pathogenicity. Leptospires were recovered from the whole blood, kidneys, and livers in the acute phase without showing any clinical signs. Under immunosuppressive conditions by dexamethasone, leptospires were recovered from the kidneys and their genes were detected from the urine in the chronic phase. These results indicate that leptospires persisted in the kidneys until the chronic phase, and excretion of leptospires in the urine was enhanced under immunosuppressive conditions, resulting in horizontal transmission among pigs on farms.