A new viral epizootic of Anguilla japonica Temminck and Schlegel

Abstract. In 1969, a new kind of epizootic occurred among eels in Japan and virological investigation was initiated. A new virus designated eel virus european (EVE) was isolated and biological, cytological, serological tests and infectivity trials were carried out. In its CPE on RTG-2 cells and additionally in its biological properties and particle size, EVE was found to be similar to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Serologically, EVE was similar to the ď Honnincthun, France, strain of IPNV. However, infectivity trials showed that EVE and IPNV differed; EVE killed Japanese eels Anguilla japonica but not rainbow trout fry Salmo gairdneri , while IPN virus killed rainbow trout fry but not eels. We consider EVE to be the primary agent causing the new epizootic and propose the name viral kidney disease for the resulting clinical condition.     

A new primer for 16S rDNA analysis of microbial communities associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyra yezoensis</Emphasis>

To construct high-quality 16S rDNA clone libraries for microbial communities associated with Porphyra yezoensis and to minimize the detection of rDNA from leafy gametophytes of P. yezoensis, we designed a new 16S rDNA universal primer (75F). Of the clones prepared using 75F, which was designed to distinguish between bacteria and P. yezoensis, 95% were classified into four groups, namely, β-proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria, Lentisphaerae, and Flavobacteria. PCR-based analysis of the 16S rDNA primer constructed in this study can be used to implement 16S rDNA-based methodologies for the investigation of microbial community composition and diversity related to the Porphyra group.     

Effect of ovarian hormones on maturation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes in dogs

Previously, we reported that ovarian hormones affect the immune response against E. coli isolated from the dogs affected with pyometra. In order to investigate mechanisms underlying the immune modulation, we examined the effects of ovarian hormones on the generation of dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen presenting cell. DCs were differentiated from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMOs) using a cytokine cocktail. Both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptors were expressed by the PBMOs and immature DCs. When various ovarian hormones were added to the culture for the DC differentiation, progesterone significantly decreased the expression of DC maturation markers, such as CD1a, CD80 and CD86, on mature DCs. Conversely, the addition of estrogen to the cultures increased the expression of CD86, but not other maturation makers. Furthermore, DCs differentiated in the presence of progesterone did not stimulate allogeneic mononuclear cells in PB. Taken together, these results indicate that progesterone diminishes the maturation of DCs, leading to decreased immune responses against invading pathogens.     

Purification and characterization of feline ghrelin and its possible role

Ghrelin, a novel 28-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl modification at Ser3, has been isolated from rat and human stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Here, we purified feline ghrelin and examined its possible physiological role in cats. The major active form of feline ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide octanoylated (C8:0) at Ser3; except for one amino acid residue replacement, this structure is identical to those of rat and human ghrelins. However, much structural divergence in peptide length and fatty acid modification was observed in feline ghrelin: peptides consisting of 27 or 26 amino acids lacking Gln14 and/or Arg28 were found, and the third serine residue was modified by octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (10:0), or unsaturated fatty acids (C8:1, C10:1 and C10:2). In agreement with the structural divergence, two kinds of cDNA with different lengths were isolated. Administration of synthetic rat ghrelin increased plasma growth hormone levels in cats, with a potency similar to that in rat or human. Plasma levels of ghrelin in cats increased approximately 2.5-fold after fasting. The present study indicates the existence of structural divergence in feline ghrelin and suggests that, as in other animals, ghrelin may play important roles in GH release and feeding in cats.     

Anthracnose of three-leaf akebia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Akebia trifoliata</Emphasis> Koidzumi) caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum acutatum</Emphasis>

In October 2001, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds ex Simmonds was found on three-leaf akebia (Akebia trifoliata) in Saitama, Japan. This is the first report of anthracnose on three-leaf akebia caused by C. acutatum.     

Characterization of an Alginate Lyase,FlAlyA, from Flavobacterium sp. Strain UMI-01 and Its Expression in Escherichia coli

A major alginate lyase, FlAlyA, was purified from the periplasmic fraction of an alginate-assimilating bacterium, Flavobacterium sp. strain UMI-01. FlAlyA showed a single band of ~30 kDa on SDS-PAGE and exhibited the optimal temperature and pH at 55 °C and pH 7.7, respectively. Analyses for substrate preference and reaction products indicated that FlAlyA was an endolytic poly(mannuronate) lyase (EC 4.2.2.3). A gene fragment encoding the amino-acid sequence of 288 residues for FlAlyA was amplified by inverse PCR. The N-terminal region of 21 residues except for the initiation Met in the deduced sequence was predicted as the signal peptide and the following region of six residues was regarded as propeptide, while the C-terminal region of 260 residues was regarded as the polysaccharide-lyase-family-7-type catalytic domain. The entire coding region for FlAlyA was subjected to the pCold I—Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) expression system and ~eight times higher yield of recombinant FlAlyA (recFlAlyA) than that of native FlAlyA was achieved. The recFlAlyA recovered in the periplasmic fraction of E. coli had lost the signal peptide region along with the N-terminal 3 residues of propeptide region. This suggested that the signal peptide of FlAlyA could function in part in E. coli.     

Structural mechanics of wood composite materials I: Ultrasonic evaluation of internal bond strength during an accelerated aging test

This research attempts to observe indirectly the variation of internal bond characteristics for wood composite materials during accelerated aging test treatment using ultrasonic pulse-transmission techniques. Particleboard (PB) and oriented strandboard (OSB) were the representative specimens. The transit time of the ultrasonic wave propagating through the samples along the nominal length and thickness directions was recorded using an apparatus called PUNDIT (C.N.S. Electronic, London). The transit times were measured in the samples under an oven-dried condition after treating them with boiling water at different treating time stages, and the velocity was then calculated based on the transit time. Examination of the internal bond strength conducted on the same samples was done according to JIS A 5908. A study of the relations among springback, internal bond strength, and velocity indicated that a high correlation existed between ultrasonic velocity measured in the length or thickness direction and the internal bond strength for the PB specimen, but no significant correlation was observed between the velocity measured in the length direction and the internal bond strength for the OSB specimen. The results of this research suggested that ultrasound techniques can be applied to predict or evaluate the internal bond state of some wood-composite materials made of relatively small particles, such as PB especially, during accelerated aging test treatment processes.Part of this paper was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997     

Identification of food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates

In the present study, we identified several food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of some gelatin hydrolysates. Healthy human volunteers ingested the gelatin hydrolysates (9.4-23 g) from porcine skin, chicken feet, and cartilage after 12 h of fasting. Negligible amounts of the peptide form of hydroxyproline (Hyp) were observed in human blood before the ingestion. After the oral ingestion, the peptide form of Hyp significantly increased and reached a maximum level (20-60 nmol/mL of plasma) after 1-2 h and then decreased to half of the maximum level at 4 h after the ingestion. Major constituents of food-derived collagen peptides in human serum and plasma were identified as Pro-Hyp. In addition, small but significant amounts of Ala-Hyp, Ala-Hyp-Gly, Pro-Hyp-Gly, Leu-Hyp, Ile-Hyp, and Phe-Hyp were contained.