Competitive abilities and distribution ranges of four asexual Daphnia pulex lineages and Daphnia mitsukuri in Eurasian continental islands

Daphnia pulex and D. mitsukuri are morphologically similar and distributed in small lowland Japanese lakes. Daphnia pulex in Japan reproduces by obligate parthenogenesis and is composed of four different lineages (JPN1–JPN4) with North American origins. Although this species is found throughout Japan, JPN1 has the largest distribution range, followed by JPN2. Daphnia mitsukuri is a putatively endemic species that is now rarely found in Japan. Since Daphnia share the same algal food, the difference in distribution ranges among the four asexual D. pulex lineages and D. mitsukuri may be caused by exploitative competition for algal food. To examine this possibility, we measured the threshold food concentration (TFC) at zero-net growth rate and the food concentration required for 50% of the individuals to survive (FC50). In addition, we examined the effects of temperature on the somatic growth rate (SGR) and the mortality rates of four asexual D. pulex lineages and D. mitsukuri. The experiments showed that TFC was lowest in D. pulex JPN1 and highest in D. mitsukuri, supporting the idea that the largest distribution range of JPN1 is due to its superiority in inter-lineage competition, and that the distribution area of D. mitsukuri is reduced through exploitative competition with D. pulex. However, although JPN2 was found in relatively large areas, it had higher TFC than JPN3 and JPN4, which appear in very limited areas. These results clearly showed that the difference in distribution ranges among D. pulex lineages are not necessarily determined by their competitive superiority alone.     

Oral Factors Affecting Titanium Elution and Corrosion: An In Vitro Study Using Simulated Body Fluid

Objectives

Ti, which is biocompatible and resistant to corrosion, is widely used for dental implants, particularly in patients allergic to other materials. However, numerous studies have reported on Ti allergy and the in vitro corrosion of Ti. This study investigated the conditions that promote the elution of Ti ions from Ti implants.

Methods

Specimens of commercially pure Ti, pure nickel, a magnetic alloy, and a gold alloy were tested. Each specimen was immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) whose pH value was controlled (2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.4, and 9.0) using either hydrochloric or lactic acid. The parameters investigated were the following: duration of immersion, pH of the SBF, contact with a dissimilar metal, and mechanical stimulus. The amounts of Ti ions eluted were measured using a polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results

Eluted Ti ions were detected after 24 h (pH of 2.0 and 3.0) and after 48 h (pH of 9.0). However, even after 4 weeks, eluted Ti ions were not detected in SBF solutions with pH values of 5.0 and 7.4. Ti elution was affected by immersion time, pH, acid type, mechanical stimulus, and contact with a dissimilar metal. Elution of Ti ions in a Candida albicans culture medium was observed after 72 h.

Significance

Elution of Ti ions in the SBF was influenced by its pH and by crevice corrosion. The results of this study elucidate the conditions that lead to the elution of Ti ions in humans, which results in implant corrosion and Ti allergy.     

Three new species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae) show morphological divergence through evolutionary intermediates of a novel feeding‐structure polymorphism

Developmental plasticity is often correlated with diversity and has been proposed as a facilitator of phenotypic novelty. Yet how a dimorphism arises or how additional morphs are added is not understood, and few systems provide experimental insight into the evolution of polyphenisms. Because plasticity correlates with structural diversity in Pristionchus nematodes, studies in this group can test the role of plasticity in facilitating novelty. Here, we describe three new species, Pristionchus fukushimae sp. nov. , Pristionchus hoplostomus sp. nov. , and the hermaphroditic Pristionchus triformis sp. nov. , which are characterized by a novel polymorphism in their mouthparts. In addition to showing the canonical mouth dimorphism of diplogastrid nematodes, comprising a stenostomatous (‘narrow‐mouthed’) and a eurystomatous (‘wide‐mouthed’) form, the new species exhibit forms with six, 12, or intermediate numbers of cheilostomatal plates. Correlated with this polymorphism is another trait that varies among species: whereas divisions between plates are complete in P. triformis sp. nov. , which is biased towards a novel ‘megastomatous’ form comprising 12 complete plates, the homologous divisions in the other new species are partial and of variable length. In a reconstruction of character evolution, a phylogeny inferred from 26 ribosomal protein genes and a partial small subunit rRNA gene supported the megastomatous form of P. triformis sp. nov. as the derived end of a series of split‐plate forms. Although split‐plate forms were normally only observed in eurystomatous nematodes, a single 12‐plated stenostomatous individual of P. hoplostomus sp. nov. was also observed, suggesting independence of the two types of mouth plasticity. By introducing these new species to the Pristionchus model system, this study provides further insight into the evolution of polymorphisms and their evolutionary intermediates. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Identification of the redox partners of ERdj5/JPDI,a PDI family member,from an animal tissue

ERdj5 (also known as JPDI) is a member of PDI family conserved in higher eukaryotes. This protein possesses an N-terminal J domain and C-terminal four thioredoxin domains each having a redox active site motif. Despite the insights obtained at the cellular level on ERdj5, the role of this protein in vivo is still unclear. Here, we present a simple method to purify and identify the disulfide-linked complexes of this protein efficiently from a mouse tissue. By combining acid quenching and thiol-alkylation, we identified a number of potential redox partners of ERdj5 from the mouse epididymis. Further, we show that ERdj5 indeed interacted with two of the identified proteins via formation of intermolecular disulfide bond. Thus, this approach enabled us to detect and identify redox partners of a PDI family member from an animal tissue.     

Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171 alleviates allergic symptoms in a murine model for pollen allergy

ABSTRACT

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various health-promoting effects and are highly expected to find applications in anti-allergic food materials. In this study, we focused on Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171 (LH2171), which reportedly modifies some unique immune responses and ameliorated symptoms of patients allergic to mites and house dust in the previous studies. We examined the effect of LH2171 on cytokine production by antigen-stimulated murine naïve splenocytes in vitro and demonstrated that it inhibited IL-4 and IL-13 production while enhancing IFN-γ and IL-10 production. Then, we examined the anti-allergic effect of LH2171 in vivo using a murine model of pollen allergy and found that LH2171 reduced the sneezing frequency when orally administered to mice. We successfully confirmed the immune modulatory activity of LH2171 and its anti-allergic activity against inhaled antigens. These evidences would contribute to identifying the anti-allergic mechanism of LH2171.

Abbreviations: ALDH: aldehyde dehydrogenase; EGCG: epigallocatechin gallate; LAB: lactic acid bacteria; LH2171: Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171; NALT: nasal-associated lymphoid tissue; OVA: ovalbumin     

GSE Is a Maternal Factor Involved in Active DNA Demethylation in Zygotes

After fertilization, the sperm and oocyte genomes undergo extensive epigenetic reprogramming to form a totipotent zygote. The dynamic epigenetic changes during early embryo development primarily involve DNA methylation and demethylation. We have previously identified Gse (gonad-specific expression gene) to be expressed specifically in germ cells and early embryos. Its encoded protein GSE is predominantly localized in the nuclei of cells from the zygote to blastocyst stages, suggesting possible roles in the epigenetic changes occurring during early embryo development. Here, we report the involvement of GSE in epigenetic reprogramming of the paternal genome during mouse zygote development. Preferential binding of GSE to the paternal chromatin was observed from pronuclear stage 2 (PN2) onward. A knockdown of GSE by antisense RNA in oocytes produced no apparent effect on the first and second cell cycles in preimplantation embryos, but caused a significant reduction in the loss of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and the accumulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in the paternal pronucleus. Furthermore, DNA methylation levels in CpG sites of LINE1 transposable elements, Lemd1, Nanog and the upstream regulatory region of the Oct4 (also known as Pou5f1) gene were clearly increased in GSE-knockdown zygotes at mid-pronuclear stages (PN3-4), but the imprinted H19-differential methylated region was not affected. Importantly, DNA immunoprecipitation of 5mC and 5hmC also indicates that knockdown of GSE in zygotes resulted in a significant reduction of the conversion of 5mC to 5hmC on LINE1. Therefore, our results suggest an important role of maternal GSE for mediating active DNA demethylation in the zygote.     

Expression of recombinant organophosphorus hydrolase in the original producer of the enzyme,Sphingobium fuliginis ATCC 27551

The plasmid encoding His-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) cloned from Sphingobium fuliginis was modified to be transferred back to this bacterium. The replication function of S. amiense plasmid was inserted at downstream of OPH gene, and S. fuliginis was transformed with this plasmid. The transformant produced larger amount of active OPH with His-tag than E. coli.