Nocapyrones: α- and γ-Pyrones from a Marine-Derived Nocardiopsis sp.

One new α-pyrone (nocapyrone R (1)), and three known γ-pyrones (nocapyrones B, H and L (2–4)) were isolated from the culture extract of a Nocardiopsis strain collected from marine sediment. Structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data including NMR and MS. γ-Pyrones 2–4 were found to induce adiponectin production in murine ST-13 preadipocyte cells but the α-pyrone 1 had no activity. The absolute configuration of the anteiso-methyl branching in 4 was determined by HPLC comparison of a degraded product of 4 with standard samples as a 2:3 enantiomeric mixture of (R)- and (S)-isomers.     

Viral-derived DNA invasion and individual variation in an Indonesian population of large flying fox Pteropus vampyrus

Here, we performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) on six large flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) collected in Indonesia. Seventy-five virus species in the liver tissue of each specimen were listed. Viral homologous sequences in the bat genome were identified from the listed viruses. This finding provides collateral evidence of viral endogenization into the host genome. We found that two of the six specimens bore partial sequences that were homologous to the plant pathogens Geminiviridae and Luteoviridae. These sequences were absent in the P. vampyrus chromosomal sequences. Hence, plant viral homologous sequences were localized to the hepatocytes as extrachromosomal DNA fragments. Therefore, this suggests that the bat is a potential carrier or vector of plant viruses. The present investigation on wild animals offered novel perspectives on viral invasion, variation, and host interaction.     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Japanese flying fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cypselurus hiraii</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   In this study, to develop a technique that enables authentication of processed seafood, the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome for the Japanese flying fish Cypselurus hiraii was determined. Three segments spanning the entire genome were amplified using polymerase chain reaction, and products were subsequently used as templates for direct sequencing with 60 primers. The genome (16 528 base pairs) was found to contain the same 37 genes (two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 13 protein-coding genes) as those found in other vertebrate mitochondrial genomes, with the gene order being identical to that typical of vertebrates. A major non-coding region between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes (868 base pairs) appears to be the control (D-loop) region, as it has several conserved blocks characteristic of control regions.     

Enhanced local recruitment of glass eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla japonica</Emphasis> in Oyodo River,Miyazaki and offshore environmental conditions in 2002

To examine the environmental factors controlling the inshore recruitment dynamics of Anguilla japonica in the Oyodo River, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, glass eel samplings were carried out using fyke nets during winter (November–March) of 1994–2014. The peak CPUEs (catch per unit effort) were observed between November and February, but differed from year to year. The yearly CPUE was extremely high in 2002, when the sea surface temperature (SST) in the offshore area of the Oyodo River was the lowest in winter of all the sampling years. The negative SST anomaly of less than ? 0.5 °C was sustained in the offshore area during the recruitment season in 2002, which was caused by two combined factors; low air temperature and the Kuroshio path. The oceanographic data showed that the dominant path of the Kuroshio was displaced eastward at 31°N in 2002, which was different from the average Kuroshio path. The eastward displacement of the Kuroshio induced a cyclonic mesoscale eddy in the offshore area of the Oyodo River, resulting in the entrainment of the cold seawater into coastal waters from deep water. The oceanographic condition in relation to the continuous low SST could be favorable for local recruitment of glass eels.     

亚热带林7种林冠树种落叶分解中矿质元素动态

应用分解网袋法对亚热带常绿阔叶林7种常见林冠树种落叶分解过程中矿质元素(K,Na,Ca,Mg,Al,Fe,Mn,Cu和Zn)动态变化进行了为期2年的研究。这些树种是研究地区森林植被的代表种,且不同树种的落叶化学组成差异明显。研究结果表明:落叶分解速率(落叶干重残留百分率和分解常数k)与矿质元素初始浓度之间没有明显的相关性。但是,大多数情况下,落叶干重残留百分率与残留落叶的矿质元素浓度之间有着显著的相关关系。落叶分解过程中不同矿质元素的迁移性大小依次为:Na=K>Mg≥Ca>N≥Mn≥Zn≥P>Cu>>Al>>Fe。各树种的K和Na浓度在分解中均表现为下降趋势,Ca和Mg浓度亦表现为下降趋势,但在分解初期偶有升高倾向。而各树种中的其它元素(Zn,Cu,Al,Fe)浓度在分解中都表现出升高趋势,唯有Mn例外,在不同树种间,其浓度的变化模式存在一定差异。大多数树种的Cu,Al和Fe等3元素在分解试验末期的绝对重量均比初始重量显著提高,其机理在很大程度上可能归因于这些元素与腐殖质的结合,而不是生物固定。     

Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni in large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) in Tochigi prefecture,Japan

As free-living crows are a potential source of Campylobacter infections in broilers and cattle, we characterized Campylobacter spp. isolated from crows using multilocus sequence typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We obtained 82 samples from 27 birds captured at seven different times using a trap set in Tochigi prefecture, Japan. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 55 (67.1%) of the 82 samples and classified into 29 sequence types, of which 21 were novel. Tetracycline and streptomycin resistance rates were 18.2% and 3.6%, respectively. These results show that most types of C. jejuni infecting crows differ from those isolated from humans, broilers, and cattle. Thus, the importance of free-living crows as reservoirs of Campylobacter infections in broilers and cattle may be limited.