Pigmentation of cultured red sea bream, Chrysophrys major, using astaxanthin from Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, and a mysid, Neomysis sp.

Pigmentation enhancement in cultured red sea bream, Chrysophrys major, was investigated using Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, and a mysid, Neomysis sp., as a source of astaxanthin. Diets fortified with processed Antarctic krill (krill meal) and its acetone extract, containing 0.82–4.92 mg carotenoids/100 g dry weight, and raw krill and raw mysid supplemented diets, containing about 2.00 mg carotenoids/100 g wet weight, were formulated and tested for carotenoid deposition. The rate of carotenoid deposition in fish fed with raw krill and raw mysid was significantly higher and resulted in distinct pigmentation. The groups fed with the krill meal and acetone extract diets showed varied concentrations of skin carotenoids and resulted in faint pigmentation. Pigmented fish then fed on a carotenoid-free diet for the same length of time showed no apparent differences in the skin pigmentation although the detectable amounts of carotenoids varied. The bream converted some of the dietary astaxanthin to skin tunaxanthin.     

Host immune-related gene responses against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in vitro differ among chicken cell lines established from different organs

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) induces acute disease in chickens causing high mortality and morbidity and is a major threat to poultry industries in Southeast Asian countries. The mechanisms of disease manifestation and host innate immune responses against HAPIV in chickens are not well understood. In this study, we examined virus replication and host gene expressions in four chicken cell lines in vitro to elucidate the impact of host innate immune responses against viral replication. It was demonstrated that viral replication efficiencies were different depending on the cell line. The viral replication appeared to be affected by the basal expression of IFN related genes. The expression of immune-related genes against the viral infection also varied in a cell line dependent manner. In non-immune derived cell lines, but not in immune derived cell lines, the expression of the CCL5 and CCL20 genes were induced by HPAIV infection. Reverse genetics HPAIV, with internal genes from avirulent avian influenza, reduced virus replication and affected immune-related gene expression in a cell line dependent manner. These results suggest the possibility that differential immune responses in different cell types in local tissues could modulate the consequences of HPAIV infection in chickens.     

Clinicopathological features of canine neuroaxonal dystrophy and cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in Papillon and Papillon-related dogs

Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) was examined in two Papillon dogs and a mix breed dog between Papillon and Chihuahua. In addition, cerebellar cortical abiotrophy (CCA) in a Papillon dog, which had similar clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features to those of NAD, was also investigated. The common clinical symptoms of all dogs affected with NAD and CCA, were pelvic limb ataxia and cerebellar ataxia including intention tremor, head tremor, and hypermetria in the early onset. These clinical signs were progressed rapidly, and two dogs with NAD were euthanized by owner's request and the other two died by aspiration pneumonia. MRI examinations and gross observations at necropsy revealed moderate to severe cerebellar atrophy in all cases of NAD and CCA. The most typical histological change of NAD was severe axonal degeneration with marked spheroid-formation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cords, the nuclei gracilis, cuneatus, olivalis and its circumference in the medulla oblongata. The spheroids were characterized as large eosinophilic or granular globes within the enlarged myelin sheaths, sometimes accompanied by moderate accumulation of microglias and/or macrophages. In contrast, such spheroid formation was minimal in the brain of CCA. In the cerebellum, mild to moderate loss of the Purkinje and granular cells were recognized in three dogs with NAD, whereas these changes were more prominent in a dog with CCA. Although the clinical signs and MRI findings relatively resembled between NAD and CCA, the histopathological features considered to be quite differ, suggesting distinct pathogenesis and etiology. Since both NAD and CCA are proposed as the autosomal recessive hereditary disorders, careful considerations might be needed for the breeding of Papillon and Chihuahua dogs.     

Dietary curcumin supplementation attenuates 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity in C57BL mice

Studies in vivo and in vitro suggest that curcumin is a neuroprotective agent. Experiments were conducted to determine whether dietary supplementation with curcumin has neuroprotective effects in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) significantly induced the loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra and deletion of dopamine in the striatum, which was attenuated by long-term (7 weeks) dietary supplementation with curcumin at a concentration of 0.5% or 2.0% (w/w). Although curcumin did not prevent the MPTP-induced apoptosis of neuroblasts in the subventricular zone (SVZ), it promoted the regeneration of neuroblasts in the anterior part of the SVZ (SVZa) at 3 days after MPTP treatment. Furthermore, curcumin enhanced the MPTP-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes in the striatum and increased the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) in the striatum and SVZ. GDNF and TGFβ1 are thought to play an important role in protecting neurons from injury in the central and peripheral nervous systems. These results suggest that long-term administration of curcumin blocks the neurotoxicity of MPTP in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of the mouse and that the neuroprotective effect might be correlated with the increased expression of GDNF and TGFβ1. Curcumin may be effective in preventing or slowing the progression of PD.     

Evaluation of genetic structure of Korean wild soybean (Glycine soja) based on saponin allele polymorphism

Korean wild soybeans (Glycine soja) hypocotyl exhibit seven common saponin allele combinations: Sg-1 ^a /sg-4/sg-6 (phenotype: Aa), Sg-1 ^b /sg-4/sg-6 (Ab), Sg-1 ^a /Sg-4/sg-6 (AaBc), Sg-1 ^b /Sg-4/sg-6 (AbBc), Sg-1 ^a /sg-4/Sg-6 (Aa + α), Sg-1 ^a /Sg-4/Sg-6 (AaBc + α) and Sg-1 ^b /Sg-4/Sg-6 (AbBc + α). Diversity of saponin allele frequency (H_af) and saponin allele combination frequency (H_acf) was evaluated by Shannon–Weaver Index that was ranged from 0.75 to 1.04 and 0.28 to 1.25, respectively. High values of H_af and H_acf were found in Jeollanam-do and its adjoining regions Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The genetic index of Korean wild soybean increased towards south from north and west from east regions. The frequency of Sg-1 ^b and Sg-6 allele combinations increased towards south region (Jeollanam-do). These results suggest that Jeollanam-do region is the primary center of diversity, Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do regions are the secondary center of diversity and the remaining regions (Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeju-do) are the tertiary center of diversity for soyasaponin polymorphism in Korea. Furthermore, saponin allele frequency distribution suggested that alleles Sg-1 ^b and Sg-6 dispersed from Jeollanam-do to other regions of Korea. Our findings have laid the foundation for uncovering genetic diversity in Korean wild soybeans that could be exploited in soybean breeding programs.     

Incorporation of 14CO2 and 15NH4 into amino acids of the two subunits of fraction 1 protein in spinach leaves

In the investigation of nitrogen metabolism in plants, it is important to deal with proteins, which are the end-products of nitrogen metabolism.     

Expression analysis of defense-related genes in wild kiwifruit (Actinidia rufa) tolerant to bacterial canker

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Kiwifruit bacterial canker, which is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae biovar 3 (Psa3), is found throughout kiwifruit-growing countries. Here, we...