Fermentative Production of Succinic Acid from n-Paraffin by Candida brumptii IFO 0731

An investigation of succinic acid production from n-paraffin under various culture conditions was carried out with Candida brumptii IFO 0731. Ammonium nitrogen was required for both cell growth and succinic acid production. Favorable culture conditions for succinic acid production were ascertained. The productivity was markedly increased by the additions of CaCO₃ and organic nutrients. Under the best condition, the largest quantity of succinic acid production, 23.6 mg/ml, was obtained in a 67% yield from super heavy n-paraffin after 8 days cultivation.     

Production of D-lactic acid from 1,2-propanediol byPseudomonas sp. strain TB-135

Summary A newly isolated bacterium, strain TB-135, produces solely D-lactic acid from 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD). From taxonomical studies, the strain was concluded to belong to the genusPseudomonas. The optimal conditions for the acid production were found to be at 4% 1,2-PD and 0.2% yeast extract, when the strain produced 21mg/ml of the acid of a high optical purity (over 99% e.e.) after 4days of cultivation. Since it was considered that the acid was produced from (R)-(–)-1,2-PD, the molar yield was estimated to be 86%.     

Characterization of Glial Populations in the Aging and Remyelinating Mouse Corpus Callosum

Cells in the white matter of the adult brain have a characteristic distribution pattern in which several cells are contiguously connected to each other, making a linear array (LA) resembling pearls-on-a-string parallel to the axon axis. We have been interested in how this pattern of cell distribution changes during aging and remyelination after demyelination. In the present study, with a multiplex staining method, semi-quantitative analysis of the localization of oligodendrocyte lineage cells (oligodendrocyte progenitors, premyelinating oligodendrocytes, and mature oligodendrocytes), astrocytes, and microglia in 8-week-old (young adult) and 32-week-old (aged) corpus callosum showed that young adult cells still include immature oligodendrocytes and that LAs contain a higher proportion of microglia than isolated cells. In aged mice, premyelinating oligodendrocytes were decreased, but microglia continued to be present in the LAs. These results suggest that the presence of microglia is important for the characteristic cell localization pattern of LAs. In a cuprizone-induced demyelination model, we observed re-formation of LAs after completion of cuprizone treatment, concurrent with remyelination. These re-formed LAs again contained more microglia than the isolated cells. This finding supports the hypothesis that microglia contribute to the formation and maintenance of LAs. In addition, regardless of the distribution of cells (LAs or isolated cells), astrocytes were found to be more abundant than in the normal corpus callosum at 24 weeks after cuprizone treatment when remyelination is completed. This suggests that astrocytes are involved in maintaining the functions of remyelinated white matter.

     

Role of Caribbean Islands in the diversification and biogeography of Neotropical Heraclides swallowtails

Numerous hypotheses on the evolution of Neotropical biodiversity have stimulated research to provide a better understanding of diversity dynamics and distribution patterns of the region. However, few studies integrate molecular and morphological data with complete sampling of a Neotropical group, and so there has been little synthesis of the multiple processes governing biodiversity through space and time. Here, a total‐evidence phylogenetic approach is used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the butterfly subgenus Heraclides. We used DNA sequences for two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear gene and coded 133 morphological characters of larvae and adults. A robust and well‐resolved phylogeny was obtained using several analytical approaches, while molecular dating and biogeographical analyses indicated an early Miocene origin (22 Mya) in the Caribbean Islands. We inferred six independent dispersal events from the Caribbean to the mainland, and three from the mainland to the Caribbean, and we suggest that cooling climates with decreasing sea levels may have contributed to these events. The time‐calibrated tree is best explained by a museum model of diversity in which both speciation and extinction rates remained constant through time. By assessing both continental and fine‐scale biodiversity patterns, this study provides new findings, for instance that islands may act as source of diversity rather than as a sink, to explain spatio‐temporal macroevolutionary processes within the Neotropical region.     

Vocal exchanges of signature whistles in bottlenose dolphins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops truncatus</Emphasis>)

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) produce individually distinctive vocalizations—referred to as “signature whistles”—that are thought to function as an individual and conspecific recognition system for maintenance of consistent contact between individuals. Observations and playback experiments were conducted at aquariums to study these whistle–vocal exchanges in bottlenose dolphins. Temporal patterns of vocalization were examined by analyzing the intercall intervals between two consecutive whistles. When a second individual produced a call that was different from the first individual’s vocalization, most of these calls were shorter than 1 s. However, when two consecutive calls were produced by the same individual, the second call rarely occurred within 1 s of the first. These results suggest that a second whistle may be produced by a different caller in response to the first whistle; however, in the case of an absence of a response, the first caller is likely to give further whistles. The results of this acoustic analysis show that the dolphins used in this study mostly used signature whistles during the recorded vocal exchanges.     

Induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived myeloid cells expressing OX40 ligand amplify antigen‐specific T cells in advanced melanoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors improved the survival rate of patients with unresectable melanoma. However, some patients do not respond, and variable immune‐related adverse events have been reported. Therefore, more effective and antigen‐specific immune therapies are urgently needed. We previously reported the efficacy of an immune cell therapy with immortalized myeloid cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS‐ML). In this study, we generated OX40L‐overexpressing iPS‐ML (iPS‐ML‐Zsgreen‐OX40L) and investigated their characteristics and in vivo efficacy against mouse melanoma. We found that iPS‐ML‐Zsgreen‐OX40L suppressed the progression of B16‐BL6 melanoma, and prolonged survival of mice with ovalbumin (OVA)‐expressing B16 melanoma (MO4). The number of antigen‐specific CD8⁺ T cells was higher in spleen cells treated with OVA peptide‐pulsed iPS‐ML‐Zsgreen‐OX40L than in those without OX40L. The OVA peptide‐pulsed iPS‐ML‐Zsgreen‐OX40L significantly increased the number of tumor‐infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) in MO4 tumor. Flow cytometry showed decreased regulatory T cells but increased effector and effector memory T cells among the TILs. Although we plan to use allogeneic iPS‐ML in the clinical applications, iPS‐ML showed the tumorgenicity in the syngeneic mice model. Incorporating the suicide gene is necessary to ensure the safety in the future study. Collectively, these results indicate that iPS‐ML‐Zsgreen‐OX40L therapy might be a new method for antigen‐specific cancer immunotherapy.     

Pyridoxine stimulates filaggrin production in human epidermal keratinocytes

Molecular Biology Reports - Pyridoxine (PN), one of the vitamers of vitamin B6, plays an important role in the maintenance of epidermal function and is used to treat acne and rough skin. Clinical...