Analysis of the activity rhythm of the predatory bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) for optimizing its selective light attraction

Applied Entomology and Zoology - The minute pirate bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is a major natural enemy of micro-pests and is expected to be an effective pest-control...     

Patterns of genetic diversity of mitochondrial DNA within captive populations of the endangered itasenpara bitterling: implications for a reintroduction program

In this study, the level of genetic diversity of captive populations of the itasenpara bitterling (Acheilognathus longipinnis) was assessed to obtain information useful for successful captive breeding and reintroduction; this analysis was performed using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data. Comparison of the captive and wild populations showed low levels of genetic diversity within the captive population and significant genetic differentiation among the captive populations and also between the wild and captive populations, suggesting at chance effect during the founding process for the captive population and a subsequent genetic drift. Therefore, for successful reintroduction, it is important that the reintroduced population reflects all the genetic diversity available from the captive populations, and that releasing a large number of individuals that consist of all captive populations.     

A Novel Bivalent Vaccine Based on a PB2-Knockout Influenza Virus Protects Mice from Pandemic H1N1 and Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Virus Challenges

Vaccination is an effective means to protect against influenza virus. Although inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines are currently available, each vaccine has disadvantages (e.g., immunogenicity and safety issues). To overcome these problems, we previously developed a replication-incompetent PB2-knockout (PB2-KO) influenza virus that replicates only in PB2 protein-expressing cells. Here, we generated two PB2-KO viruses whose PB2-coding regions were replaced with the HA genes of either A/California/04/2009 (H1N1pdm09) or A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1). The resultant viruses comparably, or in some cases more efficiently, induced virus-specific antibodies in the serum, nasal wash, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice relative to a conventional formalin-inactivated vaccine. Furthermore, mice immunized with these PB2-KO viruses were protected from lethal challenges with not only the backbone virus strain but also strains from which their foreign HAs originated, indicating that PB2-KO viruses with antigenically different HAs could serve as bivalent influenza vaccines.     

Transformation of Terpenoids in Grape Must by Botrytis cinerea

Experiments were done to investigate the volatile components in botrytized grape must and transformation of terpenoids in terpene-supplemented grape must by Botrytis cinerea. Twenty-eight compounds were identified in the volatile concentrate of botrytized must with a combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. No terpenoids were detected in the concentrate. Linalool or terpinen-4-ol decreased a lot when Botrytis cinerea was cultured in the must with these terpenes for 15 days. In linalool-supplemented botrytized must 9 identified and 3 unidentified terpenes were found, while only geranial was detected in terpinen-4-ol-supplemented botrytized must. Botrytis cinerea did not produce terpenoid in grape must without terpenes, but transformed linalool added to grape must into some other monoterpenes.