Lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) infection inhibits allergic eosinophil reaction in the airway

The effects of interferon (IFN)-gamma induced by virus infection on eosinophil reaction in allergic airway inflammation are not yet clear. We investigated the effects of lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) infection, which increases IFN -gamma production with no viral infection or replication in respiratory epithelium, on allergic airway hypersensitivity. LDV infection suppressed antigen-induced eosinophil recruitment into the airway in sensitized mice. IL -5 gene expression in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells was significantly suppressed in LDV -infected mice compared with uninfected controls. The numbers of total T cells and CD 4+ T cells were significantly reduced in LDV -infected mice compared with controls. The present results suggested that the increase in production of IFN -gamma by viral infection suppresses the eosinophil reaction, and this suppressive effect may be mediated by inhibition of the recruitment of CD 4+ T cell and IL -5 production.     

The microheterogeneity of bovine serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

The microheterogeneity in bovine serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AGP) was examined by crossed affino-immunoelectrophoresis with concanavalin A(Con A). In healthy cows, serum alpha 1AGP revealed 2 fractions which were named fraction 1 and 2 according to the degree of binding affinity to Con A. The mean +/- SD of serum alpha 1AGP concentration was 0.31 +/- 0.09 g/l and the relative amounts of fraction 1 and 2 were approximately 67% and 33% respectively on this method. In bovine leukemia cases, 5 out of 8 had a high serum alpha 1AGP concentration of more than 0.7 g/l. On the electrophoretic pattern, the other 2 fractions (Con A weakly and non-reactive fractions, named fraction 3 and 4) were observed in 5 cases and their relative amounts of 4 fractions were 17.8-28.5%, 35.5-46.0%, 17.9-24.4% and 12.0-17.2%, respectively. In bovie leukemia virus infected cows with no clinical symptoms, however, serum alpha 1AGP concentration and the electrophoretic patterns were almost the same as those in healthy cows.     

Cloning and expression of the M5 RNA segment encoding outer capsid VP5 of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus Japan serotype 2, Ibaraki virus

The complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone representing the M5 RNA segment of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus Japan serotype 2 (EHDV-2), Ibaraki virus, was determined. The M5 segment is 1641 base pairs long with the single open reading frame which predicts a polypeptide of 527 amino acids. The comparison of the amino acid sequence of the VP5 with those of EHDV-1, bluetongue virus serotype 10, and African horse sickness virus serotype 4 revealed that the protein shared 67%, 57% and 42% homologies, respectively. In addition, the VP5 protein was expressed in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus, which could be recognized by the mouse anti-EHDV-2 sera at a position of the expected 59 kDa on immunoblot analysis.     

Genotyping of feline MHC (FLA) class II DRB by PCR-RFLP method using group-specific primers

For genotyping of feline major histocompatibility complex (FLA) class II DRB, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method using group-specific primers was tried. Sixty-six DRB genes were classified into 8 groups according to differences in the first 5' amino acid sequences. The group-specific primers were designed as forward ones, which were specific for 5' base sequences of genes in each group. Three to 7 appropriate restricted enzymes were selected by computer analysis for RFLP typing of the genes divided into each group. In 6 out of 9 cats, the results of DRB typed by direct sequence method agreed with results of the PCR-RFLP method using group-specific primers. In the other 3 cats, the number of genes amplified by group-specific primers was I or 2 more than those detected by direct sequence method. The direct sequence method in 9 cats identified 5 new FLA-DRB genes. The PCR-RFLP method using group-specific primers could divide 66 genes into 37 genes and 10 subgroups from the RFLP pattern. One to 6 genes in each cat, and a total of 203 genes and subgroups were detected in 68 domestic cats. The genes detected might be biased to the subgroup G1-1a (28.8%), DRB*0501 (10.3%), G1-2a (9.4%) and G6b (7.4%). The PCR-RFLP method using group-specific primers may be useful in typing FLA class II DRB.     

Evaluation of beetle capture in traps as compared with manual capture on flowers in a long-term investigation in a beech forest

Beetle samples captured by traps were compared with those captured manually on flowers in a beech forest in Central Japan. Plastic traps (Sankei Chemical Co., Ltd.) equipped with benzyl acetate were set up from the 2nd of June to the 8th of September 1994, and all beetles captured were collected every week. Beetles were also captured on wild flowers blooming along the forest road. The traps captured 21,650 individuals of 169 species in 37 families. On the other hand, 971 individuals of 77 species in 19 families were captured on the flowers. All of the families and 57 (74%) species of the beetles captured on the flowers were also captured by the traps; all of the species with more than five individuals captured on the flowers were also trapped, except for one species. The present trap system is considered to be useful for faunal monitoring of flower-visiting Coleoptera, because the beetle fauna found on wild flowers was virtually covered by the trap capture. A part of this paper was presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society (1995).     

Boring activity on coniferous tree branches byXylotrechus villioni (Villard) larvae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

In anAbies homolepis Sieb. et Zucc. forest at Matsumoto, Nagano Pref., cumulative damage byXylotrechus villioni (Villard) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) was observed on tree branches. Of the 14 major branches in one sample tree, six had cumulative damage by boring larvae, of which 3 had been bored by multiple larvae. No adult emergence holes were found on the whole tree, suggesting very low survivorship from boring larva to emerging adult. Galleries made by single larvae were often observed to be terminated by a depression apparently carved by a picid woodpecker, suggesting that they are important predators of the cerambycid. The manner of cicatrix formation with phloem tissue over the larval gallery in anAbies veitchii Lindl. branch at Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi Pref. is presented. Studies onXylotrechus villioni (Villard) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a primary borer of coniferous trees in Japan (III). This work was presented at the 104th Annual Meeting of Japanese Forestry Society at Morioka (April, 1993) and 20th International Congress of Entomology at Firenze (August, 1996). This work is supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No.02660163) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan.     

Performances of four chemicals with floral scents as attractants for longicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in a broadleaved forest

White plastic insect traps (manufactured by Sankei Chemical Co., Ltd.) equipped with four chemicals with floral scents, namely, benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, methyl phenylacetate and linalool, were set from June 28 to August 9, 1996. The traps were placed in a Japanese beech (Fagus creata) forest, Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, Central Japan, and trapped longicorn beetles were collected weekly. The greatest number of species and individuals belonged to the subfamily Lepturinae dominated by the genusPidonia. No significant differences were observed in the performances of the above four chemicals in either the total number of species or of individuals. However, more Lamiinae species were captured in the traps with methyl phenylacetate, than in those with methyl benzoate. A part of this paper was presented at the 48th Meeting of the Kanto Branch of the Jpn. For. Soc. (1996).     

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by selenoneine

Fisheries Science - Selenoneine is a selenium-containing compound that exhibits strong radical-scavenging activity. Here we present a novel function of selenium in which selenoneine exhibits...     

Seasonal variation in quality and chemical composition of the muscles of the spotted mackerel Scomber australasicus and Pacific mackerel S. japonicus

Fisheries Science - The quality of fish muscles is known to vary with the season. The characterisation of such seasonal variations is important for the development of fish products of high...