Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against canine trypsin

Canine cationic trypsin was purified by salting-out, gel filtration and affinity chromatography. Purity was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular weight was ca. 28 kDa by SDS-PAGE.

Thirty hybridomas were obtained which produced mAb to canine cationic trypsin by the cell fusion technique. Twenty-two of these recognized cationic trypsin only, while eight hybridomas recognized both cationic and anionic trypsin. Several of the anti-canine cationic trypsin mAb were purified by salting-out and DEAE ion-change chromatography using ascites fluid of immunized BALB/c mice. The mAb proved to have very high specificity to canine cationic trypsin as shown by immunoblotting and it may be possible to use them to develop clinical assays.     

Whole-Cell Fatty Acid Composition to Characterize and Differentiate Isolates of Rhizoctonia Species Associated with Turfgrass Diseases in Japan

Cellular fatty acids were analyzed to characterize and differentiate 34 isolates of Rhizoctonia species representing binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-D (I), AG-D (II), R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB, AG 2-2 LP, R. circinata var. circinata and var. oryzae associated with turfgrass diseases in Japan. Myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids were consistently present in varying quantities in all isolates. Heptadecanoic and 9-heptadecenoic acids were present in isolates of Rhizoctonia AG-D (I), AG-D (II), R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB and AG 2-2 LP but not in isolates of R. circinata var. circinata and var. oryzae. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids found, constituting 88.30-98.37% of the whole-cell fatty acid content. The remaining fatty acids were present in smaller amounts. Isolates within a single group were closely clustered, whereas isolates from different groups were clearly distinguishable based on average linkage cluster analysis of cellular fatty acids. Principal component analysis, based on all fatty acids detected, confirmed the distinct separation of isolates representing the six groups of Rhizoctonia species obtained from turfgrasses. These results suggested that fatty acid analysis is useful for the characterization and differentiation of isolates of Rhizoctonia species associated with turfgrass diseases. Received 21 May 2001/ Accepted in revised form 28 September 2001     

A Computer Program for Automatic Watering Based on Potential Evapotranspiration by Penman Method and Predicted Leaf Area in Miniature Pot Rose Production

In this study, we developed a computer program for automatic prediction of watering time point by considering the environmental factors such as solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity based on the multiple linear regression equation of leaf area and Penman Method. The experiments were carried out for a year in two watering experimental plots, one of which was controlled by pF value, and the other by the computer program. After comparing the results of the two plots, the following findings were obtained. In the computer program plot, the observed and predicted values of both leaf area and evapotranspiration indicated significant correlation at the 1% level, which suggested that the computer program had high prediction accuracy. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the two experimental plots with respects to the plant height, plant diameter, leaf area, leaf number, fresh weight, and dry weight, which demonstrated that the plants in the computer program plot had normal growth. On the other hand, although the number of flower buds and flowering shoots showed higher values at the end of certain cultivations in the computer program plot than those in pF value plot, we proposed that it was due to the effect of cumulative daily solar radiation in the greenhouse, rather than the watering. Thus, we have reached the conclusion that the computer program for automatic prediction of watering time point developed by this study has high applicability in miniature pot rose production.     

Identification of the core motif of the BRCA2 C-terminal RAD51-binding domain by comparing canine and human BRCA2

Mammary tumors are the most common tumors in women and non-spayed female dogs. One of the reasons for mammary tumors is mutations of the tumor suppressor gene, BRCA2. BRCA2 participates in homologous recombination repair by interacting with the RAD51 recombinase. BRCA2 has two RAD51-binding domains, consisting of BRC repeats and the C-terminal RAD51-binding domain, respectively. Although several studies have addressed the function of the C-terminal RAD51-binding domain of human BRCA2, the amino acid sequences required for the RAD51-interaction activity remain unclear. In this study, the C-terminal RAD51-binding domains of canine and human BRCA2 were compared; the canine domain displayed a weaker interaction with RAD51. This difference was attributed to the C-terminal portion of the domain via a comparison between canine and human domains. Furthermore, peptides shorter than those previously reported displayed RAD51-interacting activity, and a core motif of this domain consisting of 25 amino acids was identified. Since a mutation (S3323N) was reported in the core motif of this domain, the effect of this mutation was evaluated. The mutant exhibited similar RAD51-binding activity as that of the wild-type protein, suggesting that the mutation was functionally neutral. These data suggested that the C-terminal portion of the BRCA2 C-terminal RAD51-binding domain influenced its RAD51-interaction activity, and a minimum core motif of 25 amino acids was identified in this domain. These data may help clarify BRCA2 function, as well as the tumorigenic effects of BRCA2 mutation.     

Identification of the core rumen bacterial taxa and their population dynamics during the fattening period in Japanese Black cattle

The rumen microbiota comprises a vast range of bacterial taxa, which may affect the production of high-quality meat in Japanese Black cattle. The aim of this study was to identify core rumen microbiota in rumen fluid samples collected from 74 Japanese Black cattle raised under different dietary conditions using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. In the rumen of fattening Japanese Black cattle, 10 bacterial taxa, showing >1% average relative abundance and >95% prevalence, irrespective of the dietary conditions and the fattening periods, were identified as the core rumen bacterial taxa, which accounted for approximately 80% of the rumen microbiota in Japanese Black cattle. Additionally, population dynamics of the core rumen bacterial taxa revealed two distinct patterns: Prevotella spp. and unclassified Bacteroidales decreased in the mid-fattening period, whereas unclassified Clostridiales, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus spp., and unclassified Christensenellaceae increased during the same period. Therefore, the present study reports the wide distribution of the core rumen bacterial taxa in Japanese Black cattle, and the complementary nature of the population dynamics of these core taxa, which may ensure stable rumen fermentation during the fattening period.     

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

Year by year, huge quantities of by-products are generated during the manufacturing process of soybean-based products. Okara is one of the by-products, and it is an insoluble portion of the soybean. It consists of high moisture (8.4–22.9%); on dry matter basis, it contains high metabolizable energy (9.0–14.2 MJ/kg) and other components that include crude protein (20.9–39.1%), crude fiber (12.2–61.3%), crude fat (4.9–21.5%), and ash (3.4–5.3%). Fermentation of okara improves its nutritional quality and reduces its anti-nutrient contents. Due to animals' palatability, okara can be used to replace the soybean meal/concentrate feed partially or completely in ruminant's diet and partially in nonruminant's diet. Okara feeding does not depress the intake, digestibility, growth, milk production, blood metabolic profiles, and meat quality of animals. However, this by-product decays quickly due to its high moisture content, and its heavy weight and sticky nature make it difficult to process and expensive to dry using conventional methods. This paper thoroughly summarizes the utilization of okara as animal feed in the cause of developing a general guideline with favorable levels of inclusion in the diets of animals for its exploitation and valorization. This review will encourage further research to develop eco-friendly and value added feed for animals.     

Direct effects of prolactin on adrenal steroid release in male Hatano high-avoidance (HAA) rats may be mediated through Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) activity

Prolactin (PRL) has been proposed to directly stimulate corticosterone release. However, the role of PRL on adrenocortical function in male HAA rats has not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PRL on the secretion of corticosterone and progesterone using an in vitro cell culture system in male rats. Administration of PRL (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) resulted in dose-dependent increases in corticosterone and progesterone release. Cotreatment with PRL produced an increase in the stimulatory effects of ACTH-induced corticosterone and progesterone secretion. However, the PRL-induced corticosterone and progesterone releases were significantly reduced by treatment with AG490, a specific Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) inhibitor. In addition, administration of AG490 blunted the significant inhibition of ACTH-induced corticosterone and progesterone secretion by PRL. These results demonstrated that PRL could act directly on the adrenal gland to drive corticosterone and progesterone secretion in male rats. Additionally, the results emphasize that PRL stimulation of adrenal steroid release may be mediated through Jak2 activity.     

断奶后多系统衰竭综合征病猪中存在沙门氏菌和猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合征病毒共感染

调查了曾经暴发沙门氏菌病的四个猪场的14头病猪,发现在这些猪的肿胀淋巴结中出现带有淋巴细胞排空的肉芽肿性炎症。应用免疫标记和PCR方法在病变部位检测到猪圆环病毒2(PCV2)抗原和PCV2DNA。此外,在这些病猪的肺脏中检测出猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV),分离到猪霍乱沙门氏菌。在9头沙门氏菌感染猪中,有5头为沙门氏菌、PMWS与PRRSV并发感染,其数量(55.6%)远远高于沙门氏菌与PMWS感染猪(22.2%)或沙门氏菌与PRRSV感染猪(22.2%)。     

Trade-off evaluation using carbon dioxide equivalent and hazard index of a paddy soil with application of organic liquid fertilizer

<正>Dear Editor,Rice is an important staple food crop in Asia, but the anaerobic soil conditions in rice fields cause emission of the potent greenhouse gas, methane(CH₄)(Le Mer and Roger,2001), and promote the accumulation of arsenic(As) in the grain(Le Mer and Roger, 2001; Khanam et al., 2020).To facilitate sustainable agriculture, using wastewater as an organic fertilizer is essential for reducing wastewater treatment-associated energy consumption and the recycling of wastewate...