Antioxidant cysteine and methionine derivatives show trachea disruption in insects.

To prevent the deterioration of the global environment, the reduction of chemical pesticide use and the development of eco-friendly pest control technologies are urgent issues. Our recent study revealed that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by dual oxidase (Duox) plays a pivotal role in stabilizing the tracheal network by intermediating the tyrosine cross-linking of proteins that constitute trachea. Notably, the formation of dityrosine bonds by ROS can be inhibited by the intake of an antioxidant cysteine derivative N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), which can suppress insect respiration.

Geographical, Seasonal, and Growth-Related Dynamics of Gut Microbiota in a Grapevine Pest, Apolygus spinolae (Heteroptera: Miridae).

A number of insects are associated with gut symbiotic microorganisms, wherein symbiotic partners play pivotal metabolic roles for each other such as nutrient supplementation, diet degradation, and pesticide detoxification. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance of gut microbial communities in insects, their diversity and dynamics remain unclear in many species. The green plant bug Apolygus spinolae, a notorious grapevine pest in Japan, damages grape shoots and severely reduces grape berry yield and quality.

In Vitro Assessment of Biocontrol Effects on Fusarium Head Blight and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Accumulation by DON-Degrading Bacteria.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of cereals is a severe disease caused by the species complex. It leads to the accumulation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in grains and other plant tissues and causes substantial economic losses throughout the world. DON is one of the most troublesome mycotoxins because it is a virulence factor to host plants, including wheat, and exhibits toxicity to plants and animals.

Draft Genome Sequence of Deoxynivalenol-Degrading Actinomycete Nocardioides sp. Strain LS1, Isolated from Wheat Leaves in Japan.

Actinomycete Nocardioides sp. strain LS1, isolated from wheat leaf, is a bacterium that degrades and assimilates the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) as the carbon source. This is the first study of the genome sequence of the DON-degrading genus Nocardioides, and it facilitates the study of genes encoding the DON-degrading pathway.

Evaluation of a surface plasmon resonance imaging-based multiplex O-antigen serogrouping for Escherichia coli using eleven major serotypes of Shiga -toxin-producing E. coli.

The early detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is important for early diagnosis and preventing the spread of STEC. Although the confirmatory test for STEC should be based on the detection of Shiga toxin using molecular analysis, isolation permits additional characterization of STEC using a variety of methods, including O:H serotyping. The conventional slide agglutination O-antigen serogrouping used in many clinical laboratories is laborious and time-consuming.

Development of a Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Immunosensor for Detection of 10 Major O-Antigens on Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, with a Gel Displacement Technique To Remove Bound Bacteria.

A surface plasmon resonance-based immunosensor (SPR-immunosensor) was developed for the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) belonging to the O-antigen groups O26, O91, O103, O111, O115, O121, O128, O145, O157, and O159. The polyclonal antibodies (PoAbs) generated against each of the STEC O-antigen types in rabbits were purified and were immobilized on the sensor chip at 0.5 mg/mL.

Nano-analysis of DNA conformation changes induced by transcription factor complex binding using plasmonic nanodimers.

The plasmon resonant wavelength for a pair of gold nanoparticles, or gold nanodimer, increases inversely with the gap distance between the two nanoparticles. Taking advantage of this property, we performed nanoscale measurements of DNA conformation changes induced by transcription factor binding. Gold nanoparticles were bridged by double-stranded DC5 DNA that included binding sequences for the transcription factors SOX2 and PAX6, which interact on the DC5 enhancer sequence and activate transcription.

Improved analysis for determining diffusion coefficients from short, single-molecule trajectories with photoblinking.

Two maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methods were developed for optimizing the analysis of single-molecule trajectories that include phenomena such as experimental noise, photoblinking, photobleaching, and translation or rotation out of the collection plane. In particular, short, single-molecule trajectories with photoblinking were studied, and our method was compared to existing analytical techniques applied to simulated data. The optimal method for various experimental cases was established, and the optimized MLE method was applied to a real experimental system: single-molecule diffusion of fluorescent molecular machines known as nanocars.

[The effect of substituting latanoprost 0.005% for unoprostone 0.12%].

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of substituting latanoprost(LAT) 0.005% for unoprostone(UNO) 0.12% after a trial of unilateral treatment.

Protective effect of nilvadipine against glutamate neurotoxicity in purified retinal ganglion cells.

We determined the effect of nilvadipine, a dihydropyridine-type calcium channel blocker, in preventing glutamate neurotoxicity in purified retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). RGCs were purified from dissociated rat retinal cells (postnatal days 6-8), using a modified two-step panning method, and cultured in serum-free medium containing neurotrophic factors and forskolin. RGC survival after exposure to glutamate (25 microM) with nilvadipine or other calcium channel blockers was measured by calcein-acetoxymethyl ester staining after 3 days in culture.