Comparison of Japanese isolates of Coxiella burnetii by PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis

The genetic variation of Japanese isolates of Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, was found for the first time. Forty-nine out of 72 isolates had the chronic pattern of the isocitrate hydrogenase gene. Sequence analysis revealed that the isolates have a specific nucleotide sequence. The putative amino acid sequence was the same as that of chronic reference strains. These results suggest the variation of C. burnetii isolates in Japan.     

In vitro susceptibility to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones of Japanese isolates of Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii is the agent of the worldwide zoonosis, Q fever. The in vitro susceptibility to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones of Japanese isolates of C. burnetii was evaluated for the first time. The MICs against Japanese isolates were almost the same as the MICs against the foreign reference isolates. The results suggest that the common antibiotics therapy for Q fever used in other countries is also effective for Japanese Q fever patients.     

Enzymatic nitration of phytophenolics: evidence for peroxynitrite-independent nitration of plant secondary metabolites

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), a reactive nitrogen species, is capable of nitrating tyrosine residue of proteins. Here we show in vitro evidence that plant phenolic compounds can also be nitrated by an ONOO(-)-independent mechanism. In the presence of NaNO(2), H(2)O(2), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), monophenolic p-coumaric acid (p-CA, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid) was nitrated to form 4-hydroxy-3-nitrocinnamic acid. The reaction was completely inhibited by KCN, an inhibitor for HRP. The antioxidant ascorbate suppressed p-CA nitration and its suppression time depended strongly on ascorbate concentration. We conclude that nitrogen dioxide radical (NO(2)(radical)), but not ONOO(-), produced by a guaiacol peroxidase is the intermediate for phytophenolic nitration.     

Diagnostic evaluation of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activities and antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus and Coxiella burnetii in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in Japan

To investigate the association of viral infections with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we assayed 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activities in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CFS patients in Japan. These patients were diagnosed in two hospitals, H1 and H2, located in different areas of the country. The activities were detected in 19 (86%) and 7 (32%) of each of the 22 patients in H1 and H2, respectively, while they were detected in only four (11%) out of the 38 healthy controls. IFN-alpha was similarly detected in a few CFS patients and healthy controls. We also assayed the antibody titers against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Coxiella burnetii in these patients. The EBV anti-EA-IgG antibodies were detected in two (9%) and seven (32%) of each of the 22 patients in H1 and H2, respectively. Anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies were detected in six (27%) out of 22 patients in H1 but not in 22 patients in H2, while they were detected in one (11%) of the nine healthy controls. Some CFS patients may be associated with EBV or C. burnetii infection. There were some statistical correlations between the 2-5AS activities and antibody titers of EA-IgG (P < 0.05, Student's t-test) but not to the antibody titers of C. burnetii. The up-regulation of 2-5AS activities suggests immunological dysfunctions with some virus infections in the CFS patients. Our results indicate that 2-5AS activities are useful for a diagnostic marker of CFS and for exploring the complicated pathogenesis of CFS.     

Polyphenols from some foodstuffs as inhibitors of ovalbumin permeation through caco-2 cell monolayers

Some spices showed high inhibitory activity against ovalbumin permeation through Caco-2 cell monolayers. Pimentol from allspice, rosmarinic acid and luteolin-7-O-beta-glucuronide from thyme, quercetin-3-O-beta-glucuronide from coriander and rutin from tarragon were identified as the active principles. A structure-activity relationship study among the active isolates and their related compounds indicated that the presence of a catechol structure played an important role in the inhibitory activity of each compound.     

Composite and clinal distribution of Glycine soja in Japan revealed by RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA

 Wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.), regarded as the progenitor of cultivated soybean [G. max (L.) Merr.], is widely distributed in East Asia. We have collected 1097 G. soja plants from all over Japan and analyzed restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in them. Based on the RFLPs detected by gel-blot analysis, using coxII and atp6 as probes, the collected plants were divided into 18 groups. Five mtDNA types accounted for 94% of the plants examined. The geographic distribution of mtDNA types revealed that, in many regions, wild soybeans grown in Japan consisted of a mixture of plants with different types of mtDNA, occasionally even within sites. Some of the mtDNA types showed marked geographic clines among the regions. Additionally, some wild soybeans possessed mtDNA types that were identical to those widely detected in cultivated soybeans. Our results suggest that the analysis of mtDNA could resolve the maternal lineage among plants of the genus Glycine subgenus Soja. Received: 16 June 1997/Accepted: 5 August 1997     

Growth inhibition and excessive branching in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanomyces cochlioides</Emphasis> induced by 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol is linked to disruption of filamentous actin cytoskeleton in the hyphae

We observed that 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), a major antimicrobial metabolite produced by a rhizoplane bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens ECO-001 inhibited mycelial growth of a damping-off phytopathogen Aphanomyces cochlioides AC-5 through inducing excessive branching and curling in the hyphae. This study aimed to unravel the mode of action of DAPG caused excessive branching, curling and growth inhibition of AC-5 hyphae by detecting localized changes in the cortical filamentous actin (F-actin) organization by rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observations revealed that both living bacteria and DAPG severely disrupted the organization of F-actin in the A. cochlioides hyphae in a similar manner. Furthermore, an inhibitor of F-actin polymerization, latrunculin B also induced similar growth inhibition, excessive branching and caused disruption of F-actin in the AC-5 hyphae. Our results suggested that growth inhibition and excessive branching induced in A. cochlioides by DAPG is likely to be linked to the disruption of F-actin cytoskeleton in the affected hyphae. This is the first report on disruption of cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic A. cochlioides by a well-known biocontrol metabolite DAPG secreted from a prokaryotic bacterium ECO-001.     

Amino acid substitutions in the s2 region enhance severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infectivity in rat angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-expressing cells

To clarify the molecular basis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) adaptation to different host species, we serially passaged SARS-CoV in rat angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing cells. After 15 passages, the virus (Rat-P15) came to replicate effectively in rat ACE2-expressing cells. Two amino acid substitutions in the S2 region were found on the Rat-P15 S gene. Analyses of the infectivity of the pseudotype-bearing S protein indicated that the two substitutions in the S2 region, especially the S950F substitution, were responsible for efficient infection. Therefore, virus adaptation to different host species can be induced by amino acid substitutions in the S2 region.     

Participation of both host and virus factors in induction of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in F344 rats infected with SARS coronavirus

To understand the pathogenesis and develop an animal model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Frankfurt 1 SARS-CoV isolate was passaged serially in young F344 rats. Young rats were susceptible to SARS-CoV but cleared the virus rapidly within 3 to 5 days of intranasal inoculation. After 10 serial passages, replication and virulence of SARS-CoV were increased in the respiratory tract of young rats without clinical signs. By contrast, adult rats infected with the passaged virus showed respiratory symptoms and severe pathological lesions in the lung. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in sera and lung tissues were significantly higher in adult F344 rats than in young rats. During in vivo passage of SARS-CoV, a single amino acid substitution was introduced within the binding domain of the viral spike protein recognizing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is known as a SARS-CoV receptor. The rat-passaged virus more efficiently infected CHO cells expressing rat ACE2 than did the original isolate. These results strongly indicate that host and virus factors such as advanced age and virus adaptation are critical for the development of SARS in rats.