Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity specific for hemagglutinin (H) protein of canine distemper virus in dogs

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to hemagglutinin (H) protein of canine distemper virus (CDV) were evaluated in dogs using the replication-deficient adenovirus protein expression system. Skin fibroblasts were isolated from two dogs and were infected with recombinant adenovirus bearing the CDV-H gene (Ade-CDVH). CTL assay was performed using fibroblasts expressing CDV-H protein as target cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) collected from the same dogs one week after immunization of CDV as effector cells. Specific cytotoxic activity was observed against autologous but not heterologous fibroblasts expressing CDV-H protein. These results indicate that the CTL epitope(s) were localized in the H protein.     

High level activity of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in dog serum

Most animal cells that are exposed to interferon (IFN) experience an increase in the activity of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), which is an important effector of IFN's antiviral action. OAS activity has been widely used in clinical chemistry as an indicator of IFN activity. In this study, we found that OAS activity in canine serum is 46.0 +/- 40.4 nmol/dl/hr, which is 10- to 100-fold higher than in other animals such as the cat (1.9 +/- 2.1), rabbit (4.0 +/- 1.1), and guinea pig (0.3 +/- 0.6). The canine OAS protein was detected by Western blotting using a 68M-10 monoclonal anti-murine OAS antibody, and was found to be composed of at least three distinct molecular species of p40 class OAS. Among these, the 40 and 42 kDa components were determined to be the major species in serum and fibroblast cell lines, respectively.     

Optic pathway degeneration in Japanese black cattle

Degeneration of the optic pathway has been reported in various animal species including cattle. We experienced a case of bilateral optic tract degeneration characterized by severe gliosis in a Japanese black cattle without any obvious visual defects. To evaluate the significance, pathological nature and pathogenesis of the lesions, we examined the optic pathway in 60 cattle (41 Japanese black, 13 Holstein and 6 crossbreed) with or without ocular abnormalities. None of these animals had optic canal stenosis. Degenerative changes with severe gliosis in the optic pathway, which includes the optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract, were only observed in 8 Japanese black cattle with or without ocular abnormalities. Furthermore, strong immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in the retinal stratum opticum and ganglion cell layer in all 5 cattle in which the optic pathway lesions could be examined. As etiological research, we also examined whether the concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin B12 or bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection was associated with optic pathway degeneration. However, our results suggested that the observed optic pathway degeneration was probably not caused by these factors. These facts indicate the presence of optic pathway degeneration characterized by severe gliosis that has never been reported in cattle without bilateral compressive lesions in the optic pathway or bilateral severe retinal atrophy.     

Evaluation of chiral alpha-cyanoesters as general fluorescent substrates for screening enantioselective esterases

Esterases play a crucial role in industrial chemical synthesis, maintaining normal physiological metabolism and detoxifying exogenous ester-containing toxicants. To meet the rapidly increasing industrial need for all kinds of esterases, especially enantioselective esterases used to generate highly pure chiral compounds, general substrates are necessary for rapid screening, monitoring, purification, and characterization. In this study, general fluorescent substrates including phenolic derivatives and alpha-cyanoesters were evaluated for sensitivity in detecting esterases in buffer systems. Results with two different esterases and different incubation times suggested that the alpha-cyanoesters examined were significantly more sensitive at detecting esterases than the corresponding tested phenolic derivatives. More importantly, alpha-cyanoesters, containing a secondary alcohol, possess at least one chiral center; thus, they are tools to screen for enantioselective hydrolysis. Results indicated that the enantioselectivity of esterases toward general alpha-cyanoesters strongly depended on the esterase and the substrate, but the majority of esterases examined preferred S-isomers to their corresponding R-enantiomers. Most appealing was the very high enantioselectivity displayed in cytosolic esterases of the house fly. The potential utility of such esterases is discussed. In addition, the use of alpha-cyanoesters as chiral fluorescent substrates was demonstrated for monitoring in enantioselective esterases.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in female water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from the southeastern region of Brazil

Antibodies to Neospora caninum were assayed in sera of 222 female water buffaloes from Ribeira Valley of S?o Paulo State, Brazil, using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and Neospora agglutination test (NAT). IFAT antibodies were found in 64% of buffaloes with titers of 1:25 (42 buffaloes), 1:50 (53 buffaloes), 1:100 (31 buffaloes), 1:200 (10 buffaloes), 1:400 (3 buffaloes), or > or =1:800 (3 buffaloes). NAT antibodies were found in 53% of buffaloes; in titers of 1:40 in 52 buffaloes, 1:80 in 27 buffaloes, 1:160 in 21 buffaloes, and > or =1:320 in 17 buffaloes. Results indicate a high prevalence of N. caninum exposure in water buffaloes in Brazil and warrant an investigation of the role of N. caninum as an abortifacient in water buffaloes.     

Spatiotemporal catch distribution of age-0 Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis caught by the Japanese troll fishery in relation to surface sea temperature and seasonal migration

This study used a delta-lognormal model to analyze monthly catches of age-0 Pacific bluefin tuna by the troll fishery. The model included fixed effects of month, area, and month–area interaction, and random effects of port, year and port–year interaction. The catch patterns by month and area predicted by the statistical model (standardized catch) revealed that main fishing grounds along the Tsushima Warm Current generally shifted from north to south as the season turned from autumn to winter. In contrast, the standardized catch along the Kuroshio Current did not show such clear spatiotemporal patterns. The standardized catch along the Tsushima Warm Current is significantly associated with average monthly sea surface temperatures in the fishing grounds and consistent with migration routes revealed by tagging experiments in previous studies. These associations indicate the spatiotemporal catch pattern in the Tsushima Warm Current region partly reflects seasonal migration. Knowledge of the possible associations among fish migration, environmental factors and spatiotemporal distribution of the catch will contribute to future management of this species.     

Non-steroidal inhibitors of Drosophila melanogaster steroidogenic glutathione S-transferase Noppera-bo

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) can be developed by elucidating the molecular mechanisms of insect-specific biological events. Because insect molting, and metamorphosis are controlled by ecdysteroids, their biosynthetic pathways can serve as targets for IGR development. The glutathione S-transferase Noppera-bo (Nobo), which is conserved in dipteran and lepidopteran species, plays an essential role in ecdysteroid biosynthesis. Our previous study using 17β-estradiol as a molecular probe revealed that Asp113 of Drosophila melanogaster Nobo (DmNobo) is essential for its biological function. However, to develop IGRs with a greater Nobo inhibitory activity than 17β-estradiol, further structural information is warranted. Here, we report five novel non-steroidal DmNobo inhibitors. Analysis of crystal structures of complexes revealed that DmNobo binds these inhibitors in an Asp113-independent manner. Among amino acid residues at the substrate-recognition site, conformation of conserved Phe39 was dynamically altered upon inhibitor binding. Therefore, these inhibitors can serve as seed compounds for IGR development.     

The Effect of Light on the Accumulation of Lipids in Rice Seeds

To investigate the effects of light on the accumulation of assimilate in rice seeds, ears were allowed to grow in darkness 10 d after their formation. The lipid content of rice bran on the 40th day increased by cultivation of ears in darkness whereas the dry weight and starch and sucrose contents of the rice seeds decreased. In the light, the triacylglyceride (TG) content of rice seeds was lowest on the 20th day but then increased continuously for the next 20 d, while the diacylglyceride (DG) content reached a maximum value on the 20th day. In darkness, in contrast, rice seeds showed a higher TG content, with a lower DG content and lower levels of other lipids on the 20th day compared with seeds exposed to light. These results suggest that the biosynthesis of starch and lipids in rice seeds is regulated by light.     

Frequency of Alternaria brassicicola in commercial cabbage seeds in Japan

Plug seedlings, widely used in cabbage cultivation in Japan, are often infected by seed-borne pathogens, especially the serious pathogen Alternaria brassicicola. Because information on seed infestation is scant in Japan, we investigated fungal infestation in commercial batches of cabbage seeds produced between 1984 and 2001. A total of 123 lots were divided into six groups by production period (1984–1989, 1994–1998, and 2001) and by use or nonuse of fungicide. One hundred seeds from each lot were incubated separately on agar at 25°C to isolate the predominant fungus. Alternaria brassicicola was isolated most frequently, 0%–94% of the seeds depending on seed lot or 6%–21% of the seeds grouped by production period and fungicide treatment. Thus, the pathogen was isolated even from seeds refrigerated for 17 years. Alternaria brassicicola accounted for 57%–95% of all isolated fungi by the group and was higher on older or fungicide-treated seeds. Seeds that were not treated with fungicide in lots grouped by production districts in western Japan were infested with A. brassicicola at a rate of over 12%, higher than that in the eastern region (<4%). Infestation was higher in the warmer areas of Japan. Eighty-five isolates, other than A. brassicicola, produced spots on cabbage cotyledons, although they were not isolated as frequently: less than 5% of seeds by group separated by production period and fungicide treatment. Most of these isolates were Alternaria alternata. This is the first report on the frequency of fungal infestation of commercial cabbage seeds in Japan.     

Panama disease of banana occurred in Miyakojima Island,Okinawa, Japan

In 2016, in Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan, banana plants (Musa?×?paradisiaca) ‘Shima-banana’ developed yellowing and wilt associated with vascular discoloration of the pseudostems. Fusarium oxysporum, identified based on morphological characters, was frequently isolated from the vascular tissue of the infected plant and reproduced the original symptoms on ‘Shima-banana’ after drench inoculation with a spore suspension. Thereby, we determined that the disease is Panama disease caused by F. oxysporum. This is the first official report of Panama disease (Panama-byo in Japanese) of banana in Japan.