The enhancement of Th1 immune response by anti-PD-L1 antibody in cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Johne’s disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic enteritis of ruminants. Previous studies have shown that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is associated with the disease progression, and PD-L1 blockade activates MAP-specific Th1 responses in vitro. Here, we performed anti-PD-L1 antibody administration using 2 MAP-infected cattle at the late subclinical stage of infection. After administration, bacterial shedding was reduced or maintained at a low level. Additionally, MAP-specific Th1 cytokine production was upregulated, and CD69 expression was increased in T cells. Collectively, the treatment has a potential as a novel control method against Johne’s disease.     

Successful measures to prevent the spread of bovine papular stomatitis in a dairy farm

Nasal papules and oral ulcers were observed in calves that were group-housed at a dairy farm. The calves were diagnosed with bovine papular stomatitis (BPS) due to parapoxvirus (PPV) infection based on virologic examinations using polymerase chain reaction to detect PPV. To prevent the spread of BPS, we isolated the affected calves, made procedural changes so that the affected herd was managed after the healthy herd, disinfected the bedding with slaked lime, disinfected the stalls and fences with invert soap, and changed the animals’ feed to soft grass which does not damage the oral cavity. As a result, we succeeded in control the infection quickly.     

Critical-like phenomena associated with liquid-liquid transition in a molecular liquid

Contrary to the conventional wisdom that there is only one unique liquid state for any material, recent evidence suggests that there can be more than two liquid states even for a single-component substance. The transition between these liquid states is called a liquid-liquid phase transition. We report the detailed experimental investigation on the kinetics of the continuous spinodal-decomposition-type transformation of one liquid into another for triphenyl phosphite. From the analysis of the linear regime, we found that the correlation length, xi, of fluctuations of the relevant order parameter diverges as xi = xi(0)[(T(SD) - T)/T(SD)](-nu) (where xi(0) = 60 nm and nu = 0.5) while approaching the spinodal temperature, T(SD). This is an indication of a critical-like anomaly associated with the liquid-liquid transition. We also revealed that the order parameter governing the liquid-liquid transition must be of a nonconserved nature.     

绿茶施用铵态氮和硝态氮后木质部导管中N运移模拟

An experiment was carried out to study the transport process of nitrogen （N） assimilation from tea roots by monitoring the dynamic composition of N compounds in xylem sap after 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4 were fed to the root of tea plants （Camellia sinensis L.）. Results showed that the main amino acids were glutamine, theanine, axginine, asparic acid and glutamic acid, which accounted for 49%, 17%, 8%, 7%, and 4%, respectively, of the total amino acids in the xylem sap. After the tea plants were fed with 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4 for 48 h, the amount of total amino acids in xylem sap significantly increased and those fed with 15^N-NH4 had higher increment than those with 15^N-NOa. Two hours after 15^N- NO3 and 15^N-NH4 were fed, 15N abundance in glutamine, asparagine, glutamic acid, alanine, and arginine were detected and increased quickly over time. This indicated that it took less than 2 h for NO3-N and NH4-N to be absorbed by tea roots, incorporated into the above amino acids and transported to the xylem sap. Rapid increase in 15^N-NO3 in the xylem sap of tea plants fed with 15^N-NO3 indicated that nitrate could be directly transported to the xylem sap. Glutamine, theanine, and alanine were the main amino acids transported in xylem sap of tea plants fed with both 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4.     

Expression of podoplanin in various types of feline tumor tissues

Podoplanin is expressed in various human tumors where it promotes tumor progression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and distant metastasis. Podoplanin is also expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and induces tumor malignancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate podoplanin expression in various types of feline tumor tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that podoplanin was expressed in cells of 13/15 (87%) squamous cell carcinomas and 5/19 (26%) fibrosarcomas. Moreover, cancer-associated fibroblasts expressed podoplanin in most tumor types, including 18/21 (86%) mammary adenocarcinoma tissues. Our findings demonstrate that various types of feline tumor tissues expressed podoplanin, indicating the importance of the comparative aspects of podoplanin expression, which may be used as a novel research model for podoplanin biology.     

Plasmodium (Bennettinia) juxtanucleare infection in a captive white eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) at a Japanese zoo

An adult male white eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) at a Japanese zoo exhibited lethargy and emaciation. Microscopic examination of a blood smear revealed a haemosporidian parasitic infection. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the parasite, it was identified as Plasmodium (Bennettinia) juxtanucleare. This is the first report of P. juxtanucleare infection in bird species belonging to the genus Crossoptilon. Caution against avian malaria infection is required for the conservation of endangered bird species in zoos.     

Equine nonneoplastic abnormal ovary in a draft mare with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone: a case study

We performed a standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy in a draft mare that presented with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and had an enlarged single cystic ovary. Histopathological examination revealed no tumor cell proliferation in the ovary, but the presence of a large ovarian cyst was confirmed. In the diagnosis of abnormal ovaries in mares, a comprehensive assessment should be performed, including the monitoring of ovarian morphology and biomarkers over time, to determine the disease prognosis and treatment plan. The case of this mare with a nonneoplastic abnormal ovary and increased serum AMH level was rare. We suggest that standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy is useful for the removal of large ovaries in draft mares.