Calcium ions are involved in egress of Babesia bovis merozoites from bovine erythrocytes

Bovine babesiosis is a livestock disease known to cause economic losses in endemic areas. The apicomplexan parasite Babesia bovis is able to invade and destroy the host’s erythrocytes leading to the serious pathologies of the disease, such as anemia and hemoglobinuria. Understanding the egress mechanisms of this parasite is therefore a key step to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this study, the possible involvement of Ca²⁺ in the egress of B. bovis merozoites from infected erythrocytes was investigated. Egress was artificially induced in vitro using calcium ionophore A23187 and thapsigargin to increase Ca²⁺ concentration in the cytosol of the parasite cells. The increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration following these treatments was confirmed using live cell Ca²⁺ imaging with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Based on our findings, we suggest a Ca²⁺ signalling pathway in the egress of B. bovis merozoites.     

Changes in meat texture of three varieties of squid in the early stage of cold storage

ABSTRACT: The present study examined the changes in texture and protein components during cold storage of different squid varieties. Raw oval squid, Japanese common squid and arrow squid were sliced fresh and the muscles were stored at 4°C for 0, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 120 h. The rheological measurements, protein components and amounts of collagen were examined. The adhesiveness of each squid increased significantly in the early stage of cold storage. In all varieties, penetration decreased at 4 h, which is considered to be rigor mortis, then increased. The amounts of total collagen, 20°C water-soluble collagen and 70°C water-soluble collagen did not change significantly in each variety during cold storage. Sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) pattern showed that the 580 kDa component gradually disappeared up to 48 h. The correlations between the amounts of 580 kDa component and adhesiveness or firmness were high. Models of fit based on chemical kinetics accurately expressed the behavior of adhesiveness, firmness and penetration showing that 63.2% of adhesiveness changes occurred in 13–19 h and that 63.2% of firmness changes occurred in 18–24 h.     

Morphological development of eggs, larvae and juveniles of laboratory-reared Ryukyu-ayu Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis

ABSTRACT:   The development of embryos, larvae and juveniles of the Ryukyu-ayu, Plecoglossus altivelisryukyuensis are described based on laboratory-reared specimens.The eggs were spherical, 0.98–1.18 mm (mean 1.06 mm)in diameter with an adherent membrane. The incubation period after fertilizationwas approximately 155 h at a water temperature of 19.7–22.0°C(mean 20.7°C). Newly hatched larvae were 5.0–5.9 mm(mean 5.5 mm) in body length (BL) with 59–62 myotomes.Within 5 days after hatching, the larvae had attained 6.4–8.2 mm(mean 7.8 mm) BL and had completely consumed their yolk.Notochord flexion began at 13.7 mm BL and was completedby 16.3 mm BL. The rudimental dorsal, anal, pelvic andadipose fins appeared at 14.7, 16.3, 21.8 and 21.8 mm BL, respectively.All fin rays reached the same fixed number of adult fish at about28 mm BL. The comb-like teeth began to form at approximately30 mm BL and were fully developed at about 40–50 mm BL.The proportions of P. a. ryukyuensis specimens,which were consistent with adult fish, occurred at approximately40 mm BL.     

Differential Expression of Two Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidases and Two Superoxide Dismutase Genes in Response to Abiotic Stress in Rice

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) play central roles in the pathway for scavenging reactive oxygen species in plants, thereby contributing to the tolerance against abiotic stress. Here we report the responses of cytosolic SOD (cSOD; sodCc1 and sodCc2) and cytosolic APX (cAPX; OsAPX1 and OsAPX2) genes to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice. RNA blot analyses revealed that methyl viologen treatment caused a more prominent induction of cAPXs compared with cSODs, and hydrogen peroxide t...     

Assessment method for allelopathic effect from leaf litter leachates

In order to elucidate the allelopathic effect of leaf litter leachates under laboratory conditions, a modified 'sandwich method', which places leaves between two layers of agar, was used. Fifty mg of leaves was used per 10 cm² cell. Agar concentrations at 0.5–1.0% were the best for gel support in determining radicle and hypocotyl elongation of lettuce. The optimum incubation time for bioassay was three days after imbibition onset. Among 20 typical tree species in Asia, Cymbopogon citratus and Derris scandens showed the strongest inhibitory activity determined by the sandwich method, followed by Piper betle, Tamarindus indica, and Gliricidia sepium. This bioassay seems to be a reliable method for screening allelopathic activity from leaf litter leachates.     

Effects of hypoxia on principal prey and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius in Funka Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   Effects of hypoxia on the principal prey and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius were studied in Funka Bay. Of the three dominant year-classes that occurred in recent years, the 1995 year-class was small in total length at age ≥ 3 and low in condition factor at age ≥ 2. Ophiuroids (almost Ophiura sarsi ), which were the dominant prey in the 1980s, were of little importance and instead, crustaceans such as mysids, natant decapods and pelagic amphipods, bivalves and fish were important prey items for H. dubius in 2000–2001. In addition, the feeding intensity of H. dubius in 2000–2001 was lower than that in the 1980s. These facts are closely related to a reduction of prey abundance, particularly ophiuroids. It seems that the hypoxia that occurred in the central part of the bay during the summer and autumn of 1995–1997 caused the poor food supply and low growth rate at ages 2–4 of the 1995 year-class.     

Changes in taste and textural properties of the foot of the Japanese cockle (Fulvia mutica) by cooking and during storage

Physicochemical changes of Japanese cockle foot parts occurring during cooking and cold storage at 4°C for 10 days were examined. Raw samples decreased in weight by 27% during cooking at 85°C for 15 s. Both raw and cooked samples decreased in weight to the same extent of 22–23% during the 10-day cold storage. The levels of ATP and related compounds, as well as those of free amino acids, were higher in raw than in cooked samples, although the former were found by sensory evaluation to have a stronger fishy odor. Raw samples started to decrease in ATP content after 5 days of cold storage, showing K' values of 18 and 42% after 5 and 7 days, respectively. The L* value in the Hunter scale color evaluation increased during the cold storage of raw samples, revealing a gradual disappearance of its original purple–gray color. Meanwhile, the L* value of cooked samples remained constant during the cold storage. The tensile strength of cooked samples was significantly higher than those of both raw samples before and after the cold storage, indicating increased toughness by cooking.