River to river: First evidence of eel movement between distant rivers via the sea

Environmental Biology of Fishes - Eel movement patterns have been frequently studied to learn about their movements within the fresh- and brackish waters of the same river before their spawning...     

Eighteen Coral Genomes Reveal the Evolutionary Origin of Acropora Strategies to Accommodate Environmental Changes

The genus Acropora comprises the most diverse and abundant scleractinian corals (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) in coral reefs, the most diverse marine ecosystems on Earth. However, the genetic basis for the success and wide distribution of Acropora are unknown. Here, we sequenced complete genomes of 15 Acropora species and 3 other acroporid taxa belonging to the genera Montipora and Astreopora to examine genomic novelties that explain their evolutionary success. We successfully obtained reasonable draft genomes of all 18 species. Molecular dating indicates that the Acropora ancestor survived warm periods without sea ice from the mid or late Cretaceous to the Early Eocene and that diversification of Acropora may have been enhanced by subsequent cooling periods. In general, the scleractinian gene repertoire is highly conserved; however, coral- or cnidarian-specific possible stress response genes are tandemly duplicated in Acropora. Enzymes that cleave dimethlysulfonioproprionate into dimethyl sulfide, which promotes cloud formation and combats greenhouse gasses, are the most duplicated genes in the Acropora ancestor. These may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from algal symbionts belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, or from coccolithophores, suggesting that although functions of this enzyme in Acropora are unclear, Acropora may have survived warmer marine environments in the past by enhancing cloud formation. In addition, possible antimicrobial peptides and symbiosis-related genes are under positive selection in Acropora, perhaps enabling adaptation to diverse environments. Our results suggest unique Acropora adaptations to ancient, warm marine environments and provide insights into its capacity to adjust to rising seawater temperatures.     

内生Bacillus svelezensis HBB5菌株发酵盾叶薯蓣产薯蓣皂苷元的研究

目的探讨内生Bacillus svelezensis HBB5菌株发酵宿主植物盾叶薯蓣产薯蓣皂苷元的能力。方法接种内生B.svelezensis HBB5及B.subtilis ATCC 6633菌株(0.35×10~8 CFU/mL)至含盾叶薯蓣地下茎组织的液体培养基,32℃、165~185 r/min连续发酵108 h,检测发酵液细菌、pH、淀粉、麦芽糖、葡萄糖、淀粉酶(α-amylase)及薯蓣皂苷元溶出率等指标。结果内生B.svelezensis HBB5菌株有较强的酸、碱耐受力[pH(4.8±0.2)~(8.4±0.2)],相比B.subtilis ATCC 6633[pH(5.2±0.2)~(8.7±0.2)]差异不明显;前者达峰值生长量(60×10~(8±2) CFU/mL)明显高于后者(32×10~(8±2) CFU/mL)。发酵36~60 h时,B.svelezensis HBB5、B.subtilis ATCC 6633菌株发酵液的淀粉、麦芽糖、葡萄糖浓度达峰值,分别为(37.41±3.12)、(27.83±2.14)ng/mL,(21.06±1.25)、(16.54±1.08)ng/mL,(54.33±3.12)、(36.65±2.10)ng/mL,前者均高于后者。同时,B.svelezensis HBB5菌株维持高的α-amylase酶活性及薯蓣皂苷元溶出率。结论内生B.svelezensis HBB5菌株拥有较强的耐酸碱、降解淀粉、提高薯蓣皂苷元溶出的能力,为工业生产薯蓣皂苷元提供了一个新的方法。     

Skeletal FGFR1 signaling is necessary for regulation of serum phosphate level by FGF23 and normal life span

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 produced by the bone is the principal hormone to regulate serum phosphate level. Serum FGF23 needs to be tightly regulated to maintain serum phosphate in a narrow range. Thus, we hypothesized that the bone has some phosphate-sensing mechanism to regulate the production of FGF23. Previously we showed that extracellular phosphate induces the phosphorylation of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR1 signaling regulates the expression of Galnt3, whose product works to increase FGF23 production in vitro. In this study, we show the significance of FGFR1 in the regulated FGF23 production and serum phosphate level in vivo. We generated late-osteoblast/osteocyte-specific Fgfr1-knockout mice (Fgfr1^fl/fl; Ocn^Cre/+) by crossing the Ocn-Cre and the floxed Fgfr1 mouse lines. We evaluated serum phosphate and FGF23 levels, the expression of Galnt3 in the bone, the body weight and life span. A selective ablation of Fgfr1 aborted the increase of serum active full-length FGF23 and the enhanced expression of Galnt3 in the bone by a high phosphate diet. These mice showed more pronounced hyperphosphatemia compared with control mice. In addition, these mice fed with a control diet showed body weight loss after 23 weeks of age and shorter life span. These results reveal a novel significance of FGFR1 signaling in the phosphate metabolism and normal life span.     

Effects of Parenteral Lipid Infusion on DNA Damage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are known to have poorly developed antioxidant system and may be at increased risk for radical damage. Previous studies have reported higher levels of lipid peroxide products in lipid emulsion used for parenteral nutrition. To examine the direct effects of parenteral lipid infusion on DNA damage in VLBW infants, we measured urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in VLBW infants before, during, and after the parenteral lipid infusion. In both the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups, urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels at 14 days old were significantly ( p <0.01) lower than those at 2 and 7 days old. However, there were no significant differences in urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels between the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups at 2, 7, and 14 days old. Our results suggest that parenteral lipid infusion does not cause oxidative DNA damage, but irrespective of the infusion DNA damage during the first week of life is enhanced when compared with 14 days after birth in VLBW infants.     

Increase of Circulating CD11b+Gr1+ cells and Recruitment into the Synovium in Osteoarthritic Mice with Hyperlipidemia

Although recent studies suggest that hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), the link between OA and hyperlipidemia is not fully understood. As the number of activated, circulating myeloid cells is increased during hyperlipidemia, we speculate that myeloid cells contribute to the pathology of OA. Here, we characterized myeloid cells in STR/Ort mice, a murine osteoarthritis model, under hyperlipidemic conditions. Ratios of myeloid cells in bone marrow, the spleen, and peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. To examine the influence of the hematopoietic environment, including abnormal stem cells, on the hematopoietic profile of STR/Ort mice, bone marrow transplantations were performed. The relationship between hyperlipidemia and abnormal hematopoiesis was examined by evaluating biochemical parameters and spleen weight of F₂ animals (STR/Ort x C57BL/6J). In STR/Ort mice, the ratio of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in spleens and peripheral blood was increased, and CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells were also present in synovial tissue. Splenomegaly was observed and correlated with the ratio of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells. When bone marrow from GFP-expressing mice was transplanted into STR/Ort mice, no difference in the percentage of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells was observed between transplanted and age-matched STR/Ort mice. Analysis of biochemical parameters in F₂ mice showed that spleen weight correlated with serum total cholesterol. These results suggest that the increase in circulating and splenic CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in STR/Ort mice originates from hypercholesterolemia. Further investigation of the function of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in synovial tissue may reveal the pathology of OA in STR/Ort mice.     

Regulation of ICAM‐1 expression in gingival fibroblasts infected with high‐glucose‐treated P. gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease, which is recognized as a common complication of diabetes. ICAM‐1 expression by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) is crucial for regulating local inflammatory responses in inflamed periodontal tissues. However, the effect of P. gingivalis in a high‐glucose situation in regulating HGF function is not understood. The P. gingivalis strain CCUG25226 was used to study the mechanisms underlying the modulation of HGF ICAM‐1 expression by invasion of high‐glucose‐treated P. gingivalis (HGPg). A high‐glucose condition upregulated fimA mRNA expression in P. gingivalis and increased its invasion ability in HGFs. HGF invasion with HGPg induced increases in the expression of ICAM‐1. By using specific inhibitors and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), we have demonstrated that the activation of p38 MAPK and Akt pathways is critical for HGPg‐induced ICAM‐1 expression. Luciferase reporters and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays suggest that HGPg invasion increases NF‐κB‐ and Sp1‐DNA‐binding activities in HGFs. Inhibition of NF‐κB and Sp1 activations blocked the HGPg‐induced ICAM‐1 promoter activity and expression. The effect of HGPg on HGF signalling and ICAM‐1 expression is mediated by CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). Our findings identify the molecular pathways underlying HGPg‐dependent ICAM‐1 expression in HGFs, providing insight into the effect of P. gingivalis invasion in HGFs.     

Monitoring Escape and Feeding Behaviours of Cruiser Fish by Inertial and Magnetic Sensors

A method was developed and applied for monitoring two types of fast-start locomotion (feeding and escape) of a cruiser fish, Japanese amberjacks Seriola quinqueradiata. A data logger, which incorporated a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis magnetometer, was attached to the five fish. The escape, feeding and routine movements of the fish, which were triggered in tank experiments, were then recorded by the data logger and video cameras. The locomotor variables, calculated based on the high resolution measurements by the data logger (500 Hz), were investigated to accurately detect and classify the types of fast-track behaviour. The results show that fast-start locomotion can be detected with a high precision (0.97) and recall rate (0.96) from the routine movements. Two types of fast-start movements were classified with high accuracy (0.84). Accuracy was greater if the data were obtained from the data logger, which combined an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer, than if only an accelerometer (0.80) or a gyroscope (0.66) was used.