Morphological and genetic analysis of Vietnamese Sus scrofa bones for evidence of pig domestication

In the present study, we used morphological and genetic analyzes to distinguish bones of domestic boars from those of wild boars. We analyzed 65 Sus bones (cranium, mandible and teeth) stored in three research institutes in Vietnam and in a village in Vietnam. Based on comparison of bucco‐lingual measurements of mandibular parts, the 58 specimens were morphologically classified into two size groups: a large bone group and a small bone group. Analysis of 572‐bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences indicated that the large bones had genetic links to wild boar lineage including Ryukyu, Taiwan and Korean wild boars, and that the small bone group was closely related to East Asian domestic pigs. The phylogenetic analysis and parsimonious networks constructed among mtDNA haplotypes belonging to Ryukyu wild boar lineage showed that the Ryukyu wild boar is closely related to the Vietnamese wild boars, and uniquely miniaturized on their islands after the Ryukyu archipelago became isolated from the Asian continent.     

Partial purification of extracellular toxic material of fish Vibrio

Hemolytic activity of 3 pathogenic strains, of fish Vibrio commonly associated with vibriosis (V anguillarum NCMB6 and NCMB571 strains, and Vibrio sp N7802 strain) was examined, using chicken and mammalian erythrocytes. Vibrio strains NCMB6 and NCMB571 and their culture filtrates had hemolytic activity against 8 kinds of erythrocytes tested, whereas Vibrio strain N7802 produced only a little amount of hemolysin. Strain NCMB571 culture filtrate and its material partially purified by column chromatography were lethal in mice. From 2 peaks of protein, hemolysin was recovered from the 1st peak, which coincided with toxicity in mice. Heat-inactivation of culture filtrate indicated that hemolytic materials may be thermolabile proteins, but that toxic material may be comparatively thermostable.     

Anti-CD71 antibody immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia,subtype acute erythroid leukemia with erythroid dominance (AML M6-Er), in a retrovirus-negative cat

CD71 is an immunohistochemical marker used in diagnosing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M6-Er in humans; however, to our knowledge, it has not been reportedly used for immunohistochemistry in veterinary medicine. We evaluated the pathologic features of AML M6-Er in a retrovirus-negative cat and used CD71 to support the diagnosis. A 4-y-old spayed female Scottish Fold cat was presented with lethargy, anorexia, and fever. Whole-blood PCR assay results for pro feline leukemia virus/pro feline immunodeficiency virus and feline vector-borne diseases were negative. Early erythroid precursors were observed in the peripheral blood smear. Fine-needle aspiration of the enlarged spleen and splenic lymph node showed many early erythroid precursors. Bone marrow aspirate smears revealed erythroid hyperplasia with 68.4% erythroid lineage and 3.6% rubriblasts. Dysplastic cells infiltrated other organs. The patient was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, progressing to the early phase of AML M6-Er. The patient died on day 121 despite multidrug treatments. Postmortem examination revealed neoplastic erythroblasts infiltrating the bone marrow and other organs. Neoplastic cells were immunopositive for CD71 but immunonegative for CD3, CD20, granzyme B, von Willebrand factor, CD61, myeloperoxidase, and Iba-1. Although further studies are necessary for the application of CD71, our results supported the morphologic diagnosis of AML M6-Er.     

Microstructure of poly(gamma-glutamic acid) produced by Bacillus subtilis consisting of clusters of D- and L-glutamic acid repeating units

Poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (PGA) produced by a strain of Bacillus subtilis was partially hydrolyzed into various oligopeptides so that the dipeptide fraction was isolated by the preparative thin-layer chromatography. HPLC analysis was applied to the detection of each of the four stereoisomers in this fraction using chemically synthesized authentic samples. The fraction consisted of N-gamma- d-glutamyl- d-glutamic acid, N-gamma- l-glutamyl- l-glutamic acid, N-gamma- d-glutamyl- l-glutamic acid, and N-gamma- l-glutamyl- d-glutamic acid at a ratio of 5.9:6.0:1.0:1.0. On the basis of this result, a model was proposed for the microstructure of the bacterial PGA, in which d- and l-glutamic acid repeating units are alternately linked in a single chain of the molecule.     

Unique amino acid polymorphisms of PrP genes in Mongolian sheep breeds

To characterize amino acid polymorphisms of sheep prion protein (PrP) gene, DNA from 740 sheep of nine breeds raised in Mongolia was isolated and analyzed. A total of 16 genotypes and seven allelic variants of the PrP gene at codons 112, 136, 154, and 171 were found. The MARQ/MARQ genotype associated with susceptibility to scrapie was found in 82.6% of the sheep while the MARR/MARR genotype associated with resistance to scrapie was found in 1.8% of the sheep. The polymorphisms of valine and serine at codon 127, and leucine and arginine at codon 189 were detected in eight Mongolian sheep breeds, suggesting that these polymorphisms are a common feature among Mongolian sheep breeds.     

Superfluidity of grain boundaries and supersolid behavior

When two communicating vessels are filled to a different height with liquid, the two levels equilibrate because the liquid can flow. We have looked for such equilibration with solid (4)He. For crystals with no grain boundaries, we see no flow of mass, whereas for crystals containing several grain boundaries, we detect a mass flow. Our results suggest that the transport of mass is due to the superfluidity of grain boundaries.     

Development of semidwarf breeding line with shattering resistance and preharvest-sprouting resistant in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

An important breeding issue in buckwheat is to increase its resistance to lodging, which can result in the loss of yield and quality of buckwheat foods. We developed the semidwarf buckwheat ‘Kyukei 50’, which has a short plant height and a strong lodging resistance. The internode length of ‘Kyukei 50’ was shorter than that of the summer-sown standard variety ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. Progeny analysis revealed that the semidwarf trait was dominated by at least one recessive gene. Compared with ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’, in ‘Kyukei 50’, the time of maturation was earlier, and the pre-harvest sprouting resistance was the same, indicating that ‘Kyukei 50’ is suitable for sowing in both spring and summer. ‘Kyukei 50’ exhibits the ‘green flower type’ shattering resistance trait and, therefore, has a thick pedicel; breaking tensile strength is approximately two-fold stronger than that of ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. The yield of ‘Kyukei 50’ is the same as that of ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. In addition, the lowest seed height of ‘Kyukei 50’ was >17 cm. These results indicate that the ‘Kyukei 50’ is a promising breeding line for lodging resistance and loss of harvesting machinery.     

Diet of late larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus in the Kii Channel, Japan

The diet of late larval (standard length 17.0–24.9 mm) Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus collected from the Kii Channel between April 2007 and March 2008 was analyzed. The main prey items found in the gut were copepods, and the composition of the gut contents changed on a monthly basis. The most important prey items were Calanoida (unidentified) from June to August and in October–November, Oncaea in March, April, and September, and Oithona in December and January. The prey selectivity analysis demonstrated that the selectivity for a particular prey category was not consistent throughout the months. It was considered that late larval anchovy may actually have no preference for a particular prey category. The major size (body width) of the prey items consumed fell within the range of 0.10–0.40 mm throughout almost the whole year. Late larvae tended to select relatively larger prey items from the environment. The relationship between the seasonal variabilities in diet and the fishery catch of anchovy “shirasu” (larvae of anchovy) is also discussed.