Development of intestinal microbiota in mice and its possible interaction with the evolution of luminal IgA in the intestine.

The development of the intestinal microbiota and the evolution of the fecal IgA in mice were analyzed from 18 to 40 days old by PCR temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) and ELISA, respectively. There were two events for the diversification of the intestinal microbiota from suckling to maturity. The first change occurred between days 21 and 22 after birth, when the diversity of the intestinal microbiota showed a remarkable increase at this time. The second change occurred from days 27 to 30 after birth, and the increase in the diversity of the intestinal microbiota ceased. The amount of fecal IgA decreased from days 18 to 20, remained low until day 22, on day 23, it recovered and then continued to increase. This study suggests that there are possible interactions between the development of intestinal microbiota and the evolution of intestinal secretion of IgA in mice, the same as in rats, although the second change in mice intestinal microbiota occurred a few days later than in rats. The decline in maternal IgA supply as the suckling period proceeded presumably allowed the bacterial colonization. As a consequence of this increase in bacterial colonization, the secretion of the self-SIgA was accelerated in the pups.     

Sundasalanx(Sundasalangidae) is a progenetic clupeiform, not a closely‐related group of salangids (Osmeriformes): mitogenomic evidence

Partitioned Bayesian analysis of whole mitochondrial genome sequences from 30 basal teleosts confidently placed Sundasalanx (Sundasalangidae) within the Clupeiformes, not Osmeriformes as originally thought. This study represents the first demonstration of the phylogenetic position of Sundasalanx on a phylogenetic tree.     

Localization of the carbon in caffeine biosynthesized from N-methyl carbon of {gamma}-glutamylmethylamide in tea plants

1. Localization of carbon in caffeine molecule biosynthesizedfrom the N-methyl carbon of -glutamylmethylamide in tea plantswas observed. ¹⁴C-Caffeine produced from ¹⁴C--glutamylmethylamidewas isolated and degraded. Approximately 26–55% of the¹⁴C was observed in the three methyl carbons in caffeine, withonly 2–3% at the C-2 carbon, 3–7% at the C-8 carbonposition. The amount of ¹⁴C at the C-4, C-5 and C-6 positionswas calculated from the results obtained. 2. The role of the N-methyl carbon of -glutamylmethylamide inthe formation of RNA in tea plants was examined. Incorporationof the N-methyl-¹⁴C of ¹⁴C--glutamylmethylamide into AMP andGMP in RNA was found. These facts indicate that in tea plants, -glutamylmethylamideis metabolized and most of its N-methyl carbon is utilized asa precursor for caffeine formation and little, if any, as aprecursor for nucleic acid formation. ¹ Present address: Department of Agricultural Chemistry, ShizuokaUniversity, Iwata, Shizuoka 438, Japan. (Received February 2, 1972; )     

Distribution of Zearalenone-Producing Fusarium Species in Japan

One hundred sixty-six isolates of Fusarium spp. from domestic cereal grains, feed, and other sources were examined for their ability to produce zearalenone on autoclaved moist rice grains. They belonged to the following species (number of producers/number tested): F. roseum (9/28), F. roseum (Culmorum) (3/4), F. roseum (Gibbosum) (2/5), F. roseum (Avenaceum) (1/2), F. roseum (Scirpi) (0/1), F. tricinctum (1/4), F. tricinctum (Sporotrichiella) (0/7), F. lateritium (1/1), F. episphaeria (0/2), F. moniliforme (0/3), F. oxysporum (0/12), F. rigidiusculum (0/4), F. solani (0/4), F. splendens (0/1), F. nivale (0/2), and Fusarium spp. (15/86). Zearalenone was isolated from molded rice by ethanol extraction and purified by column chromatography. Selected isolates of F. roseum M-3-2 and F. roseum (Gibbosum) A-O-2 produced 50 to 100 mg of zearalenone per kg of rice. Increased yields (250 to 407 mg/kg of rice) were obtained by F. roseum M-3-2 when the substrate was supplemented with 1% peptone.     

The mechanism of the action of prymnesium toxin on membranes

The mechanism of the lytic action of prymnesin, a toxin produced by the alga, Prymnesium parvum, was studied using liposomes as a model membrane system. Prymnesin showed severe damage to liposomes containing cholesterol but did not affect those without cholesterol. The requirement of cholesterol for the susceptibility to prymnesin was much more strict than the reported requirement for the susceptibility to polyene antibiotics. The net charge on the membranes was shown not to be important for the reaction.     

Phospholipase A-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli B

Phospholipase A-deficient mutants were isolated from Escherichia coli B/SM as follows. Replica plates were incubated to allow formation of colonies and then overlayed with soft agar containing washed sheep erythrocytes, lecithin Ca++, colistin, lysozyme and streptomycin. The mutant colonies were detected as colonies without hemolytic zones. Two or three cycles of treatment with mutagen and selection were necessary for their isolation. The mutants obtained could grow in a synthetic medium with glucose as the sole carbon source, and their phospholipid compositions were similar to that of the parent. They also gave the same agglutination titer as the parent with rabbit antiserum against the parent strain. They supported the growth of all members of the T-series of bacteriophages as effectively as the parent. Some hemolytic substance was produced from either lecithin or bacterial constituents when the mutants were infected with T even phages, but not with T odd phages. When the parent strain was infected with either T1 or T4, free fatty acids (FFA) were produced in the cell debris. Only a trace of FFA was formed in the debris of one of these mutants on infection with T4 and no FFA was formed on infection with T1.