Quadruple or quintuple conversion of hlb, sak, sea (or sep), scn, and chp genes by bacteriophages in non-beta-hemolysin-producing bovine isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

In 13 of 43 non-beta-hemolysin-producing bovine isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, two truncated beta-hemolysin (hlb) genes were demonstrated by PCR and sequencing, and one truncated hlb gene was located beside the integrase (int) gene of phage origin. The staphylokinase (sak) gene was detected in all 13 isolates in which the truncated hlb genes were detected by PCR. Enterotoxin A (sea) and enterotoxin P (sep) genes were also detected in 5 and 2 of the 13 isolates, respectively. Moreover, the scn and chp genes encoding staphylococcal complement inhibitor (SCIN) and chemotaxis inhibitory protein of S. aureus (CHIPS) were detected in 13 and 4 of the 13 isolates, respectively. The bacteriophage induced by mitomycin C treatment was able to lysogenize one beta-hemolysin-producing isolate of S. aureus, and the sak and scn genes were detected from the lysogenized isolate. These results suggest quadruple or quintuple conversion of hlb, sak, sea (or sep), scn, and chp genes by bacteriophages among non-beta-hemolysin-producing bovine isolates of S. aureus.     

Chronic otitis externa with heat shock protein 70-positive intranuclear inclusion bodies in the ceruminous gland epithelium of a Chihuahua dog

A Chihuahua dog showed persistent itching in the right ear canal. Anti-inflammatory medicines and prednisolone were ineffective and total ear canal ablation was performed. Histological diagnosis was chronic otitis externa. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies (Cowdry type A and full-type) were occasionally observed in the ceruminous gland epithelium. The inclusion bodies were negative for nucleic acid and ultrastructurally composed of fibrous structures (approximately 10 nm in width). Viral infection was initially suspected, but polymelase chain reaction tests did not detect the expected viral genes. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the inclusion bodies were positive for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), suggesting that these bodies could be protein aggregates including HSP70. The etiology of this lesion has not been elucidated, but chronic inflammation may influence the cytoplasm-to-nuclear transportation of HSP70. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of canine chronic otitis externa with HSP70-positive intranuclear inclusion bodies.     

Partial cloning of 17B-HSD1 from the Nile tilapia ovary and its expression pattern during spawning cycle

A 548 bp partial cDNA fragment of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD1) was obtained by RT-PCR from the ovary of Nile Tilapia. The expression of 17β-HSD1 was high from 0 to 11 days after spawning, but there was a sharp decline at the day of spawning (day 14) indicating its involvement in ovarian cycle.     

Molecular cloning and gene expression of the riboflavin-binding protein in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Tilapia riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) cDNA was isolated by library screening. Even though it shows only 31～35% similarity to the reported RfBPs, tilapia RfBP is conserved in amino acid residues that are known to be essential for its protein function. The exclusive expression of RfBP in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis, as revealed by both RT-PCR and Northern blot, suggested a possible role for RfBP in fish reproduction.     

Proportions of melanocyte stimulating hormone-immunoreactive cells in the adenohypophysis of Silky fowl and hyperpigmentation-free cockerels

Alpha‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) is one of the main regulators for melanocytes, and the adenohypophysis is one of the major tissues for the synthesis of this hormone. The Silky fowl is a characteristic breed of chicken with hyperpigmentation throughout the body. The involvement of the adenohypophysis in the hyperpigmentation of this breed is not known. In the present study, the proportion of melanocyte stimulating hormone‐immunopositive cells (MSH cells) in the adenohypophysis was immunocytochemically compared between Silky, Red Cornish × New Hampshire (RN) crossbred and Japanese bantam cockerels at 15 weeks of age. After the body and gland were weighed, the adenohypophyseal cells were enzymatically dispersed and immunostained for α‐MSH, and the immunopositive MSH cells were counted. The weights of the body and adenohypophysis were heaviest in the RN crossbred, followed by the Silky and lightest in the bantam cockerels. In contrast, the ratio between adenohypophysis and bodyweight was much larger in the Silky and the bantam than in the RN crossbreed (P < 0.05). The population of MSH cells in the adenohypophysis was larger in the Silky (14.3%) than in the RN crossbreed (8.0%) and the bantam (8.1%) cockerels (P < 0.05). From these results, it was concluded that prepubertal Silky cockerel have numerous MSH cells in the adenohypophysis suggesting a relationship to hyperpigmentation.     

A Conjugative Plasmid Carrying the efe Gene for the Ethylene-Forming Enzyme Isolated from Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea

ABSTRACT Previous work suggested that the efe gene encoding the ethylene-forming enzyme was present in the plasmids of three pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae including glycinea, phaseolicola (kudzu strains), and cannabina. However, no direct evidence to support this assumption had been presented. In the current study, we isolated the conjugative plasmid harboring the efe gene (ethylene plasmid) designated pETH2 from P. syringae pv. glycinea MAFF301683. pETH2 was detected by Southern blot hybridization using the efe probe, marked with the transposon mini-Tn5-Km1, and transferred into P. syringae Ni27(n), which does not produce ethylene. The transconjugant Ni27(n) (pETH2) produced ethylene at a level similar to pv. glycinea MAFF301683. In addition, the plasmid designated pCOR2, which encodes coronatine biosynthesis genes, was detected in the same strain. Although the molecular size of the plasmid pCOR2 was not easily distinguishable from pETH2, pCOR2 transferred independently into Ni27(n) and the transconjugants produced coronatine. These findings suggested that the efe gene has been horizontally dispersed among pathovars of P. syringae by plasmid-mediated conjugation in nature.     

Absolute configuration of new bisaboranoids from Yaku-sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) wood

The absolute configuration of bisabolanoids isolated from Yaku-sugi wood were compared with those of dihydrocarvone and dihydrocarveol isomers based on their¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance data and optical rotations.     

A molecular epidemiological survey of Babesia, Hepatozoon,Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections of dogs in Japan

Tick-borne diseases are often encountered in canine clinical practice. In the present study, a molecular epidemiological survey of dogs in Japan was conducted to understand the prevalence and geographical distribution of Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Pathogen-derived DNA in blood samples obtained from 722 dogs with a history of exposure to ticks and/or fleas was examined by PCR. The prevalence of Babesia gibsoni, Babesia odocoilei-like species, Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia spp./Anaplasma spp. was 2.4% (16/722), 0.1% (1/722), 2.5% (18/722) and 1.5% (11/722), respectively. While B. gibsoni and Ehrlichia spp./Anaplasma spp. were detected in the western part of Japan, H. canis was detected in Tohoku area in addition to western and central parts of Japan.