A novel cell adhesive protein engineered by insertion of the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide

This research was originally published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. T Maeda, R Oyama, K Ichihara-Tanaka, F Kimizuka, I Kato, K Titani and K Sekiguchi. A novel cell adhesive protein engineered by insertion of the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide. J. Biol. Chem. 1989; 264: 15165-15168 © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Protein–protein interaction analysis by C-terminally specific fluorescence labeling and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy

Here, we describe novel puromycin derivatives conjugated with iminobiotin and a fluorescent dye that can be linked covalently to the C-terminus of full-length proteins during cell-free translation. The iminobiotin-labeled proteins can be highly purified by affinity purification with streptavidin beads. We confirmed that the purified fluorescence-labeled proteins are useful for quantitative protein–protein interaction analysis based on fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). The apparent dissociation constants of model protein pairs such as proto-oncogenes c-Fos/c-Jun and archetypes of the family of Ca2+-modulated calmodulin/related binding proteins were in accordance with the reported values. Further, detailed analysis of the interactions of the components of polycomb group complex, Bmi1, M33, Ring1A and RYBP, was successfully conducted by means of interaction assay for all combinatorial pairs. The results indicate that FCCS analysis with puromycin-based labeling and purification of proteins is effective and convenient for in vitro protein–protein interaction assay, and the method should contribute to a better understanding of protein functions by using the resource of available nucleotide sequences

Investigation of the individual genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a small cluster during the rapid spread of the BF.5 lineage in Tokyo, Japan

There has been a decreasing trend in new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases and fatalities worldwide. The virus has been evolving, indicating the potential emergence of new variants and uncertainties. These challenges necessitate continued efforts in disease control and mitigation strategies. We investigated a small cluster of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infections containing a common set of genomic mutations, which provided a valuable model for investigating the transmission mechanism of genetic alterations. We conducted a study at a medical center in Japan during the Omicron surge (sub-lineage BA.5), sequencing the entire SARS-CoV-2 genomes from infected individuals and evaluating the phylogenetic tree and haplotype network among the variants. We compared the mutations present in each strain within the BA.5 strain, TKYnat2317, which was first identified in Tokyo, Japan. From June 29th to July 4th 2022, nine healthcare workers (HCWs) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR. During the same period, five patients also tested positive by real-time PCR. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the infected patients belonged to either the isolated BA.2 or BA.5 sub-lineage, while the healthcare worker infections were classified as BF.5. The phylogenetic tree and haplotype network clearly showed the specificity and similarity of the HCW cluster. We identified 12 common mutations in the cluster, including I110V in nonstructural protein 4 (nsp4), A1020S in the Spike protein, and H47Y in ORF7a, compared to the BA.5 reference. Additionally, one case had the extra nucleotide-deletion mutation I27* in ORF10, and low frequencies of genetic alterations were also found in certain instances. The results of genome sequencing showed that the nine HCWs shared a set of genetic mutations, indicating transmission within the cluster. Minor mutations observed in five HCW individuals suggested the emergence of new virus variants. Five amino acid substitutions occurred in nsp3, which could potentially affect virus replication or immune escape. Intra-host evolution also generated additional mutations. The cluster exhibited a mild disease course, with individuals in this case, recovering without requiring any medical treatments. Further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between the genetic evolution of the virus and the symptoms

COVID-19流行下におけるソーシャルワーク実習の模索 ② : 学内代替実習に対する一定の評価

本研究は2020年度における鹿児島国際大学福祉社会学部のソーシャルワーク実習（社会福祉士養成課程）を素材に、COVID-19流行下における①学内代替実習の具体的プログラム内容、②学内代替実習の運営、③実習の5者関係から見た学内代替実習に対する一定の評価、について精査した。学内代替実習プログラムは当事者不在になりがちであったが、「ソーシャルワーク視点･地域アセスメントの可視化」を試みた実習指導者によって実習生とイメージの共有化を図ることができていた。ただし、実習を取り巻く5者関係から再検証すると、実習生が体験すべき「リアリテイ」については不足し、実習生自身の課題が何なのか向き合う機会（成長の機会）の確保が課題であった。また、学内代替実習の運営については様々な課題があったものの、担当するスタッフのチームワークや組織マネジメントによって対応することが可能であった。This research is based on the social work training of the Faculty of Welfare Sociology of The International university of Kagoshima in 2020. Under the COVID-19 epidemic, we scrutinized (1) Specific program contents of the alternative training in campus, (2) Management of the alternative training in campus, and (3) Certain evaluation of the alternative training in campus from the viewpoint of the five-party relationship of the training. Alternative training in campus programs tended to be absent from clients. However, the training instructor who tried "visualization of social work viewpoint / regional assessment" was able to share the image with the trainees. On the other hand, when reexamined from the five-party relationship surrounding the training, there was a lack of "reality" that the trainees should experience. The challenge was to secure an opportunity to notice what the trainee\u27s own problems were. In addition, although there were various issues regarding the operation of the alternative training in campus, it was possible to deal with it through the teamwork of the staff and organizational management

Transcript Annotation in FANTOM3: Mouse Gene Catalog Based on Physical cDNAs

The international FANTOM consortium aims to produce a comprehensive picture of the mammalian transcriptome, based upon an extensive cDNA collection and functional annotation of full-length enriched cDNAs. The previous dataset, FANTOM2, comprised 60,770 full-length enriched cDNAs. Functional annotation revealed that this cDNA dataset contained only about half of the estimated number of mouse protein-coding genes, indicating that a number of cDNAs still remained to be collected and identified. To pursue the complete gene catalog that covers all predicted mouse genes, cloning and sequencing of full-length enriched cDNAs has been continued since FANTOM2. In FANTOM3, 42,031 newly isolated cDNAs were subjected to functional annotation, and the annotation of 4,347 FANTOM2 cDNAs was updated. To accomplish accurate functional annotation, we improved our automated annotation pipeline by introducing new coding sequence prediction programs and developed a Web-based annotation interface for simplifying the annotation procedures to reduce manual annotation errors. Automated coding sequence and function prediction was followed with manual curation and review by expert curators. A total of 102,801 full-length enriched mouse cDNAs were annotated. Out of 102,801 transcripts, 56,722 were functionally annotated as protein coding (including partial or truncated transcripts), providing to our knowledge the greatest current coverage of the mouse proteome by full-length cDNAs. The total number of distinct non-protein-coding transcripts increased to 34,030. The FANTOM3 annotation system, consisting of automated computational prediction, manual curation, and final expert curation, facilitated the comprehensive characterization of the mouse transcriptome, and could be applied to the transcriptomes of other species

COVID-19流行下におけるソーシャルワーク実習の模索 ① : 学内代替実習の検討プロセスに着目して

本研究は2020年度における鹿児島国際大学福祉社会学部のソーシャルワーク実習（社会福祉士養成課程）を素材に、COVID-19流行下における①ソーシャルワーク実習を学内代替実習へと切り替えるプロセス、②学内代替実習プログラムの検討プロセスについて精査を行った。限られた時間の中で学内代替実習の形をどのように模索し、現実的判断を行うことができたのかについて時系列に出来事や資料を整理することで振り返りを行った。また、学内代替実習のプログラミングを可能にした諸条件として、①本学社会福祉学科及びソーシャルワーカー養成教育の歴史の重なりによる多様な人材、②既存のネットワーク（専門職団体・教員の保有するネットワーク）との有機的連携、③実習プログラミングをサポートする既存の体制の3点が整理された。This research is based on the social work training of the Faculty of Welfare Sociology of The International university of Kagoshima in 2020. Under the COVID-19 epidemic, we scrutinized (1) Process of switching social work training to alternative training in campus, and (2) Process of examining alternative training programs in campus. We looked back on how we were able to explore the form of alternative training in campus and make realistic judgments in a limited amount of time by arranging events and materials in chronological order. In addition, as conditions that enabled programming of alternative training in campus, (1) Diverse human resources due to the overlap of the history of the Department of Social Welfare and social worker training education of the university, and (2) Organic cooperation with existing networks (Network owned by professional organizations and faculty members), (3) Existing system to support field training programming, was organized

地域社会により順応するための方言教材作成のための方言データベースの開発について

会議名: 言語資源活用ワークショップ2017, 開催地: 国立国語研究所, 会期: 2017年9月5日-6日, 主催: 国立国語研究所 コーパス開発センター言語には様々な異種が存在する。方言（ここでは特に地域方言）はその一つである。同じ日本語であっても様々な方言があり，別の言語であるかと思うほど理解し合えない時もある。「熊本方言を話せなくてもいいから理解できる」ということを目指し，留学生を対象とした熊本方言の特徴を学ぶ教科書『さしより熊本弁』（「さしより」とは共通語では「とりあえず」という意味を持つ熊本方言である）を作成している。その作成の中で，熊本方言話者の会話データを収集し，文字化した。その会話データにおいて方言要素を抽出し，教材作成者（熊本方言話者）が内省を施し使用頻度が高いと思われるものを選んだ。熊本方言といっても各地域によって大きく異なるため，熊本市で使われる方言に限定し，方言の世代差についても，大学生の使用を念頭において選定した。本稿では，熊本方言話者の会話データにおいてどのような方言要素を抽出し，方言タグを付与し，言語資源化したのかについて述べる

奄美大島と八重山諸島における集落等の現状と課題 : 集落・町内会・自治会代表者へのアンケート調査から

本研究の目的は、琉球弧の島喚集落の現状と課題を明らかにすることであった。奄美大島と八重山諸島の集落・町内会・自治会の代表者を調査対象にした郵送調査を実施し、177人から回答を得た(回収率61.9%)。調査内容は、集落の団体、集落の行事、集落維持の見通し、郷友会、支え合い活動、災害対策の現状、集落の課題、回答者の個人属性等であった。結果、台風被害、伝統的行事の種類、郷友会の現状、支え合い活動については奄美大島と八重山諸島で共通性が見られた。一方、八重山諸島のように観光産業が盛んでない奄美大島では人口減少が大きいため課題を抱えた集落が多かった。また、伝統的行事の存続や集落の維持の見通しについても奄美大島の方がより深刻であった。The purpose of this study was to clarify the actual conditions and problems of the village communities in the islands of the Ryukyu arc. The questionnaire survey was conducted on 286 chiefs of the village communities and the neighborhood associations in Amami Oshima and the Yaeyama islands. The number of respondents was 177, and the response rate was 61.9%. The contents of the questions were concerning the associations in the village community, the present situations and the prospects for the maintenance of the traditional events, "Goyukai" (immigrant\u27s voluntary association), the situations of the reciprocal help activities, the disaster-related measures, the problems of the community, and the personal attributes of the respondents. Amami Oshima and the Yaeyama islands had many common features as to typhoon damage, traditional events, the present state of "Goyukai", and mutual support activities. On the other hand, since Amami Oshima was less active in the tourism industry than the Yaeyama islands, many village communities in Amami Oshima had some problems due to a decrease in population. They were also pessimistic about prospects for the maintenance of the traditional events and the community itself

Systematic Review of the Current Status of Human Sarcoma Cell Lines

Sarcomas are rare mesenchymal malignant tumors with unique biological and clinical features. Given their diversity, heterogeneity, complexity, and rarity, the clinical management of sarcomas is quite challenging. Cell lines have been used as indispensable tools for both basic research and pre-clinical studies. However, empirically, sarcoma cell lines are not readily available. To understand the present status of sarcoma cell lines and identify their current challenges, we systematically reviewed reports on sarcoma cell lines. We searched the cell line database, Cellosaurus, and categorized the sarcoma cell lines according to the WHO classification. We identified the number and availability of sarcoma cell lines with a specific histology. We found 844 sarcoma cell lines in the Cellosaurus database, and 819 of them were named according to the WHO classification. Among the 819 cell lines, 36 multiple and nine single cell lines are available for histology. No cell lines were reported for 133 of the histological subtypes. Among the 844 cell lines, 148 are currently available in public cell banks, with 692 already published. We conclude that there needs to be a larger number of cell lines, with various histological subtypes, to better benefit sarcoma research