Occurrence of two closely related ricefishes, Javanese medaka (Oryzias javanicus) and Indian medaka (O. dancena) at sites with different salinity in Peninsular Malaysia

Among ricefishes of the genus Oryzias, the Javanese medaka (O. javanicus) and the Indian medaka (O. dancena) are highly adaptable to seawater. Although wide distribution of the two species in the brackish waters of South and South-East Asia has been reported, their habitat preference remains unknown. We surveyed 12 sites in five estuarial areas of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia from Kuala Gula to Tanjung Piai. Both species were found in all five areas, suggesting their distribution throughout the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This is the southernmost-recorded appearance of O. dancena, to the best of our knowledge. However, the habitats of the two species were essentially separated: of the 12 surveyed sites, the species were found in co-existence at only two sites, and one or the other species was found alone at the remaining 10 sites. We compared temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) at the sampling sites and found that the habitat of O. javanicus is with higher salinity and DO. The salinity and DO at the sites of co-existence are near the lowest values found at the O. javanicus-only sites, and the highest values at the O. dancena-only sites. These results suggest that O. javanicus and O. dancena habitats are essentially separated; the former prefers hyperosmotic conditions while the latter prefers hypoosmotic conditions, and the latter may be more tolerant of hypoxia. The two sites of co-existence are points of contact between the species’ separate distribution areas.     

Long-term alteration of anxiolytic effects of ovarian hormones in female mice by a peripubertal immune challenge

Recent reports indicate that exposure to some stressors, such as shipping or immune challenge with the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), during the peripubertal period reduces sexual receptivity in response to ovarian hormones in adulthood. We hypothesized that a peripubertal immune challenge would also disrupt the response of a non-reproductive behavior, anxiety-like behavior, to ovarian hormones in adulthood. Female C57Bl/6 mice were injected with LPS during the peripubertal period and tested for anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, following ovariectomy and ovarian hormone treatment. Treatment with estradiol followed by progesterone reduced anxiety-like behavior in control, but not LPS-treated females. We next determined if the disruptive effect of LPS on adult behavior were limited to the peripubertal period by treating mice with LPS either during this period or in adulthood. LPS treatment during the peripubertal period disrupted the anxiolytic effect of ovarian hormones, whereas treatment in adulthood did not. We further tested if this model of peripubertal immune challenge was applicable to an outbred strain of mice (CD-1). Similar to C57Bl/6 mice, LPS treatment during the peripubertal period, but not later, disrupted the anxiolytic effect of estradiol and progesterone. These data suggest that a peripubertal immune challenge disrupts the regulation of anxiety-like behavior by ovarian hormones in a manner that persists at least for weeks after the termination of the immune challenge.     

Determining immunoassay cutoff value using Western blot results to predict hepatitis C infection in blood donors with low-titer anti-HCV reactivity

Since the 1990s, blood donors have been scanned for anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies, which can be defined by enzyme immunoassay as a screening test. In this population, false-reactive ratios have been high. Recently, some authors have aimed to find a cutoff value for anti-HCV different from those established by test manufacturers to predict HCV infection. In this study, 321 patients, after two repeating tests, had reactive results in s/co <10 titers on anti-HCV test. The patients were 29.6 % (n?=?95) in women and 70.4 % (n?=?226) in men. The patients were classified into three groups by Western blot (WB) results (PS, positive; NG, negative; and ID, indeterminate). The average anti-HCV titer of the whole group was 2.61?±?1.96. Anti-HCV titers of subgroups were 2.43?±?1.95 in NG, 4.93?±?2.53 in PS, and 2.50?±?1.65 in ID (p?<?0.001). There was a significant difference between NG and PS and between PS and ID subgroups (p?<?0.001). There was a positive correlation between WB and anti-HCV titers in all patients (r?=?0.298, p?<?0.001), in women (r?=?0.282, p?<?0.001), and in men (r?=?0.337, p?=?0.002). According to receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff value of anti-HCV titer to predict hepatitis C infection was >2.61 s/co, with 74.1 % sensitivity and 71.6 % specificity (area under the curve, 0.820; 95 % confidence interval, 0.753 to 0.887). We suggest that an effective cutoff value for anti-HCV other than that established by the manufacturer cannot be assigned to predict hepatitis C infection for blood donors in low-prevalence areas.     

Production of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase by immobilized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> sp. on chitosan matrix

The whole-cell immobilization on chitosan matrix was evaluated. Bacillus sp., as producer of CGTase, was grown in solid-state and batch cultivation using three types of starches (cassava, potato and cornstarch). Biomass growth and substrate consumption were assessed by flow cytometry and modified phenol–sulfuric acid assays, respectively. Qualitative analysis of CGTase production was determined by colorless area formation on solid culture containing phenolphthalein. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that bacterial cells were immobilized on chitosan matrix efficiently. Free cells reached very high numbers during batch culture while immobilized cells maintained initial inoculum concentration. The maximum enzyme activity achieved by free cells was 58.15 U ml^?1 (36 h), 47.50 U ml^?1 (36 h) and 68.36 U ml^?1 (36 h) on cassava, potato and cornstarch, respectively. CGTase activities for immobilized cells were 82.15 U ml^?1 (18 h) on cassava, 79.17 U ml^?1 (12 h) on potato and 55.37 U ml^?1 (in 6 h and max 77.75 U ml^?1 in 36 h) on cornstarch. Application of immobilization technique increased CGTase activity significantly. The immobilized cells produced CGTase with higher activity in a shorter fermentation time comparing to free cells.     

Bioelectricity Generation and Bioremediation of an Azo-Dye in a Microbial Fuel Cell Coupled Activated Sludge Process

Simultaneous bioelectricity generation and dye degradation was achieved in the present study by using a combined anaerobic-aerobic process. The anaerobic system was a typical single chambered microbial fuel cell (SMFC) which utilizes acid navy blue r (ANB) dye along with glucose as growth substrate to generate electricity. Four different concentrations of ANB (50, 100, 200 and 400 ppm) were tested in the SMFC and the degradation products were further treated in an activated sludge post treatment process. The dye decolorization followed pseudo first order kinetics while the negative values of the thermodynamic parameter ∆G (change in Gibbs free energy) shows that the reaction proceeds with a net decrease in the free energy of the system. The coulombic efficiency (CE) and power density (PD) attained peak values at 10.36% and 2,236 mW/m² respectively for 200 ppm of ANB. A further increase in ANB concentrations results in lowering of cell potential (and PD) values owing to microbial inhibition at higher concentrations of toxic substrates. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed a perfect redox reaction was taking place in the SMFC. The pH, temperature and conductivity remain 7.5–8.0, 27(±2°C and 10.6–18.2 mS/cm throughout the operation. The biodegradation pathway was studied by the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy technique, suggested the preferential cleavage of the azo bond as the initial step resulting in to aromatic amines. Thus, a combined anaerobic-aerobic process using SMFC coupled with activated sludge process can be a viable option for effective degradation of complex dye substrates along with energy (bioelectricity) recovery.     

Maturational changes in responses of tissue and airway resistance to histamine

Dreshaj, Ismail A., Musa A. Haxhiu, Charles F. Potter, FatonH. Agani, and Richard J. Martin. Maturational changes in responsesof tissue and airway resistance to histamine. J. Appl.Physiol. 81(4): 1785-1791, 1996.We determinedhow postnatal maturation affects the relative contributions of airwaysand lung parenchyma to pulmonary resistance(RL) and whether there are developmental differences in their respective responses to constrictive agents. We studied open-chest ventilated anesthetized piglets of threeages: 2-4 days, 2-3 wk, and 10 wk.RL was partitioned into tissue(Rti) and airway (Raw) resistance by means of alveolar capsules underbaseline conditions and after intravenous histamine. Postnatalmaturation was associated with a progressive decline inRL, Rti, and Raw and with anincrease in the contribution of Rti toRL from 38 ± 8% at 2-4days to 72 ± 2% at both 2-3 and 10 wk. Histamine causedRL to increase at all ages. Whenpartitioned into Rti and Raw, the percent increase in Rti significantlyexceeded that of Raw at both 2-4 days and 2-3 wk. Incontrast, the percent increase in Raw significantly exceeded that ofRti at 10 wk. Administration of atropine before histamine in pigletsaged 10 wk reduced the response of Rti and Raw to histamine.Histamine-induced responses ofRL were blocked by priorH₁-receptor blockade withpyrilamine (2 mg/kg). These results indicate that1) the contribution of Rti and Rawto RL changes during maturationand that 2) contractile responses toexogenous histamine are manifest predominantly in most distal airwaysand lung parenchyma during early postnatal life; with advancingmaturation there is greater contribution of airways to the increase inRL induced by histamine.

     

First isolation and molecular characterization of pseudorabies virus detected in Turkey

Background

Pigs are the main host species for the pseudorabies virus. It causes fatal encephalitis in many species, including humans. This article aims to report the first clinical case of pseudorabies as well as isolation and molecular characterization of the virus from a hunting dog in Bursa province, Turkey.

Methods and results

The dog shows clinical signs including pruritus and neurological signs such as stumbling and inability to stand up compatible with pseudorabies. The virus isolates were obtained from the supernatant of fresh tissue samples from the cerebellum, cornu ammonis, spleen, salivary gland, conjunctival swab, serum, and PBMC samples. The glycoprotein C region is targeted for viral DNA amplification. Pseudorabies virus genome detected both in fresh tissues and supernatants of third passage on Vero cells. The number of PCR positive samples was dramatically increased after cell culture inoculations. Genome sequencing of strain Bursa-10303, which was isolated from a non-endemic area, identified it to belong to clade A.

Conclusions

This study confirms the possible presence of pseudorabies infection in the wildlife reservoirs in Turkey. Future studies may clarify the importance of the infection in Turkey region, where there is no prevalent pig production.