Sequence and unique phylogeny of G genes of bovine respiratory syncytial viruses circulating in Japan

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is an etiologic agent of bovine respiratory disease. The rapid evolutionary rate of BRSV contributes to genetic and antigenic heterogeneity of field strains and causes occasional vaccine failure. We conducted molecular epidemiologic characterization of BRSV circulating in Japan to obtain genetic information for vaccine-based disease control. Phylogenetic analysis of G and F gene sequences revealed that all of the isolated Japanese BRSV strains clustered in the same genetic subgroup, which was distinct from the 9 known groups. We assigned the Japanese group to subgenotype X. The Japanese isolates formed 2 temporal clusters: isolates from 2003 to 2005 clustered in lineage A; isolates from 2017 to 2019 formed lineage B. The alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the G gene revealed that the central hydrophobic region responsible for viral antigenicity is conserved in all of the isolates; unique amino acid mutations were found mainly in mucin-like regions. Our results suggest that BRSV has evolved uniquely in Japan to form the new subgenotype X; the antigenic homogeneity of the viruses within this group is inferred.     

Strength properties of glued laminated timber made from edge-glued laminae II: bending,tensile, and compressive strength of glued laminated timber

The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength properties of glued laminated timber composed of edge-glued laminae and to investigate the influence of edge gluing on the strength properties. Glued laminated timber composed of multiple-grade laminae (symmetrical composition, strength grade E95-F270, 10 laminations) was produced from karamatsu (Larix kaempferi) edge-glued laminae according to the Japanese Agricultural Standard. The bending, tensile, and compressive strengths of the glued laminated timber were measured. The average bending, tensile, and compressive strengths were 33.4, 24.5, and 35.9 MPa, respectively, and these values are almost equal to those of glued laminated timber composed of karamatsu single-piece laminae. It was determined that finger-joints and knots in the edge-glued laminae played a significant role in the failure of specimens. However, the use of glued edge-joints did not appear to affect the failure of specimens.     

Secretome analysis of the basidiomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phanerochaete chrysosporium</Emphasis> grown on ammonia-treated lignocellulosic biomass from birch wood

Ammonia pretreatment is a promising technique for enhancing enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. However, an enzymatic cocktail suitable for the breakdown of pretreated biomass samples is still being developed. The basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a well-studied fungus with regard to bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. In the present work, we analyzed proteins secreted by P. chrysosporium grown on untreated and ammonia-treated birch wood meal. Fungal growth, xylanase activity, and extracellular protease activity increased in the media containing the ammonia-treated biomass; however, cellulase production decreased compared to that observed in the untreated biomass. Secreted extracellular proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and identified by liquid chromatography ion–trap mass spectrometry. Fifty-five spots corresponding to secreted proteins were chosen for further analysis. In the culture with ammonia-treated biomass, the relative concentration of a xylanase belonging to glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 11 increased, while acetyl xylan esterases belonging to carbohydrate esterase family 1 decreased. Moreover, GH family 10 xylanases were promoted proteolysis in the culture of ammonia-treated biomass, leading to the loss of family 1 carbohydrate-binding modules. These results indicated that P. chrysosporium produced enzymes related to the recognition of structural changes on xylan with de-acetylation and introduction of nitrogen by ammonia pretreatment of birch wood meal.     

The Use of Bacillus Licheniformis HA1 To Accelerate Composting of Organic Wastes

The effect of Bacillus licheniformis HA1 cell density on the acceleration of organic waste composting was tested in a bench-scale composting system utilizing a process limit temperature of 60°C. Variables measured during composting were CO₂ evolution rate, conversion of substrate carbon and pH. When an initial cell density of 2.0×10⁴ cfu/g-dry solid was used, the strain HA1 increased in number and prevented the decrease in pH during the early stage of composting. This resulted in enhanced populations of other thermophiles and increased the rate of organic matter decomposition. By contrast, no effect was observed at a lower cell density of HA1. It was found that the minimum cell density of HA1 to accelerate organic decomposition was around 10⁴-10⁵ cfu/g dry solid of raw material.     

Endemic infections of bovine viral diarrhea virus genotypes 1b and 2a isolated from cattle in Japan between 2014 and 2020

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a causative agent of bovine viral diarrhea. In Japan, a previous study reported that subgenotype 1b viruses were predominant until 2014. Because there is little information regarding the recent epidemiological status of BVDV circulating in Japan, we performed genetic characterization of 909 BVDV isolates obtained between 2014 and 2020. We found that 657 and 252 isolates were classified as BVDV-1 and BVDV-2, respectively, and that they were further subdivided into 1a (35 isolates, 3.9%), 1b (588, 64.7%), 1c (34, 3.7%), and 2a (252, 27.7%). Phylogenetic analysis using entire E2 coding sequence revealed that a major domestic cluster in Japan among BVDV-1b and 2a viruses were unchanged from a previous study conducted from 2006 to 2014. These results provide updated information concerning the epidemic strain of BVDV in Japan, which would be helpful for appropriate vaccine selection.     

电阻抗分析法在大米浸泡和糊化过程中的应用

用ＦＦＴ电阻抗分析法研究大米在浸泡和糊化过程中电阻抗的变化。采用“修正Ｈａｙｄｅｎ模型”的等价电路模型和非线性最小二乘法解析出细胞内电阻Ｒｓ、细胞外电阻Ｒｓ和相角ψ,从细胞组织方面分析这些变化的机理。     

Difference in mass concentration of airborne dust during circular sawing of five wood-based materials

The object of this study was to compare the mass concentration of airborne dust during circular sawing of five wood-based materials: solid sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) lumber, tropical hardwood plywood, softwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard. Specimens were sawn at a constant feed per tooth (0.05 mm) using two saw speeds. The mass concentration of airborne dust of diameter 7.07 μm or less (respirable dust) was measured with a light-scattering dust monitor. The mass concentration showed a log-normal distribution, and the geometric means of mass concentration at saw speeds of 2000 and 3000 rpm were 2.33 and 2.89 mg/m³ for tropical hardwood plywood, 1.13 and 2.84 mg/m³ for particleboard, 0.91 and 2.28 mg/m³ for medium-density fiberboard, 1.09 and 1.38 mg/m³ for softwood plywood, and 0.32 and 0.66 mg/m³ for sugi lumber. The mass concentration for all five wood-based materials increased with the revolution speed of the circular saw.     

Establishment of a novel equine cell line for isolation and propagation of equine herpesviruses

In the present study, an equine-derived cell line was established by transfecting primary fetal horse kidney (FHK) cells with expression plasmid encoding simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen and then cloning them by limiting dilution. The cloned cell line, named FHK-Tcl3, grew well and could be propagated over 30 times by splitting them 1:3. Equine herpesvirus (EHV)-1 and EHV-4 replicated well in FHK-Tcl3. EHV-2 and EHV-4 were isolated from samples collected from horses in the field using FHK-Tcl3, and EHV-3 also propagated in FHK-Tcl3. These results indicated that this novel cell line, FHK-Tcl3, can be used for isolation and propagation of equine herpesviruses.     

电阻抗分析法在海藻酸钙胶囊干燥中的应用

海藻酸钙胶囊是由大分子、水分子和离子组成的复杂网络结构,其水分含量很高(约3500%,以干基计)。在海藻酸钙胶囊干燥过程中,用常规分析方法确定干燥机理和硬化反应关键点等比较困难。电阻抗分析法在实际分析中有很多优点,该研究用于监控海藻酸钙胶囊的干燥进程。确定了电阻抗分析法的测定条件,测定并分析了几种干燥过程中电阻抗特性的变化     

Traffic jams reduce hydrolytic efficiency of cellulase on cellulose surface

A deeper mechanistic understanding of the saccharification of cellulosic biomass could enhance the efficiency of biofuels development. We report here the real-time visualization of crystalline cellulose degradation by individual cellulase enzymes through use of an advanced version of high-speed atomic force microscopy. Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I (TrCel7A) molecules were observed to slide unidirectionally along the crystalline cellulose surface but at one point exhibited collective halting analogous to a traffic jam. Changing the crystalline polymorphic form of cellulose by means of an ammonia treatment increased the apparent number of accessible lanes on the crystalline surface and consequently the number of moving cellulase molecules. Treatment of this bulky crystalline cellulose simultaneously or separately with T. reesei cellobiohydrolase II (TrCel6A) resulted in a remarkable increase in the proportion of mobile enzyme molecules on the surface. Cellulose was completely degraded by the synergistic action between the two enzymes.