Acidostability of spheroplasts prepared from Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Thiobacillus thiooxidans was acidostable even in the absence of its respiratory substrate, elementary sulfur. This suggests that the acidostability of the bacterium was energy-independent. The organism was subjected to osmotic shock with 0.75 M sucrose at 0°C and then treated with snail intestinal juice in the presence of 0.3 M sucrose. The decrease in the optical density of the sample thus prepared on dilution with deionized water and electron microscopic observation of the sample showed that spheroplasts were formed from the bacterium by this procedure. Spheroplasts were able to respire sulfur and their respiratory activity was acidostable. Spheroplasts, when treated with Nagase, proteolytic enzyme, lost their acidostability, and some protein components disappeared from the membrane fraction. This suggests that the acidostability of the bacterium may be related to protein components of the membrane.     

Saturated fatty acids stimulate and insulin suppresses CIDE-A expression in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-alpha-like effector A (CIDE-A) was first identified by its sequence homology with the N-terminal domain of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF). CIDE-A negatively regulates the activity of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown adipose tissue. CIDE-A and UCP1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR in cloned bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC) and lactating bovine mammary glands. Physiological concentrations of saturated fatty acids (stearate and palmitate), but not unsaturated fatty acids (oleate and linoleate) induced up-regulation of CIDE-A mRNA in bMEC. Treatment with insulin (5-10 ng/ml) induced down-regulation of CIDE-A and UCP1. The expression levels of CIDE-A and UCP1 mRNA in bovine mammary glands at various stages of the lactation cycle were determined by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. CIDE-A mRNA expression at peak lactation (2 months after parturition) was significantly higher than at dry off and non-pregnancy but not late lactation. These results suggest that CIDE-A and UCP1 are regulated by insulin and/or fatty acids in mammary epithelial cells and lactating mammary glands, and thereby play an important role in lipid and energy metabolism.     

The marine midge Pontomyia (Chironomidae) with a description of females of P.oceana Tokunaga

A key is provided to both sexes of the four species of Pontomyia; cottoni Womersley, natans Edwards, oceana Tokunaga, pacifica Tokunaga. This genus is widespread in the western Pacific Ocean. Adult females are vermiform. Adult males have normal halteres but reduced wings; they are unusual among Chironomidae in having bare, not plumose antennae.     

Clinal Variation at Phenology-Related Genes in Spruce: Parallel Evolution in FTL2 and Gigantea?

Parallel clines in different species, or in different geographical regions of the same species, are an important source of information on the genetic basis of local adaptation. We recently detected latitudinal clines in SNPs frequencies and gene expression of candidate genes for growth cessation in Scandinavian populations of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Here we test whether the same clines are also present in Siberian spruce (P. obovata), a close relative of Norway spruce with a different Quaternary history. We sequenced nine candidate genes and 27 control loci and genotyped 14 SSR loci in six populations of P. obovata located along the Yenisei river from latitude 56°N to latitude 67°N. In contrast to Scandinavian Norway spruce that both departs from the standard neutral model (SNM) and shows a clear population structure, Siberian spruce populations along the Yenisei do not depart from the SNM and are genetically unstructured. Nonetheless, as in Norway spruce, growth cessation is significantly clinal. Polymorphisms in photoperiodic (FTL2) and circadian clock (Gigantea, GI, PRR3) genes also show significant clinal variation and/or evidence of local selection. In GI, one of the variants is the same as in Norway spruce. Finally, a strong cline in gene expression is observed for FTL2, but not for GI. These results, together with recent physiological studies, confirm the key role played by FTL2 and circadian clock genes in the control of growth cessation in spruce species and suggest the presence of parallel adaptation in these two species.     

Effect of lunar periodicity on the locomotor activity of silver-stage Japanese eel,Anguilla japonica

Lunar periodicity has been thought to influence the onset of the spawning migration of anguillid eels. In this study, we measured daily locomotor activity of 8 silver-phase Japanese eels Anguilla japonica in outdoor tanks to examine the effect of lunar periodicity on their activity and the following seaward migration. The activity of silver eels was highest around the new moon during the early part of the experiment, which is the ordinary season of seaward migration in Japan. The observed patterns of activity may reflect the importance of the lunar cycle for the onset of the spawning migration in anguillid eels.     

Detection and identification of oral anaerobes in intraoperative bronchial fluids of patients with pulmonary carcinoma

Postoperative pneumonia may occur when upper respiratory tract protective reflexes such as cough and/or swallowing reflexes are impaired; thus, silent aspiration of oral bacteria may be a causative factor in postoperative pneumonia. This study aimed to quantify and identify bacteria in intraoperative bronchial fluids and to evaluate the relationship between impairment of cough/swallowing reflexes and silent aspiration of oral bacteria in elderly patients. After obtaining informed consent, cough and swallowing reflexes were assessed using an ultrasonic nebulizer and a nasal catheter, respectively. Using a micro‐sampling probe, intraoperative bronchial fluids were collected from nine subjects with pulmonary carcinoma and cultured anaerobically on blood agar plates. After 7 days, CFUs were counted and isolated bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four subjects (aged 71.0 ± 8.4 years) had impaired swallowing reflexes with normal cough reflexes, whereas five subjects (73.6 ± 6.5 years) had normal cough and swallowing reflexes. The bacterial counts (mean CFU ± SD) tended to be higher in intraoperative bronchial fluids of subjects with impaired swallowing reflexes ([5.1 ± 7.7] × 10⁵) than in those of subjects with normal reflexes ([1.2 ± 1.9] × 10⁵); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Predominant isolates from intraoperative bronchial fluids were Streptococcus (41.8%), Veillonella (11.4%), Gemella (8.9%), Porphyromonas (7.6%), Olsenella (6.3%) and Eikenella (6.3%). These findings indicate that intraoperative bronchial fluids contain bacteria, probably derived from the oral microbiota, and suggest that silent aspiration of oral bacteria occurs in elderly patients irrespective of impairment of swallowing reflex.