The Role of Antennae in Removing Entomopathogenic Fungi from Cuticle of the Termite, Coptotermes formosanus

Our previous research has shown that the termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), protects itself from entomopathogenic fungi by mutual grooming behavior. The termite removes and discards foreign organisms, such as fungal conidia, from the body surface of its nestmates by mutual grooming behavior. The role of the antennae in detecting the condia was examind here. Three entomopathogenic fungi were used, Beauveria brongniartii 782 (Saccardo) (Hypocreales), Paecilomyces fumosoroseus K3 (Wize) (Hyphomycetes), and Metarhizium anisopliae 455 Sorokin (Hyphomycetes). Termites with antennae removed conidia more efficiently than termites without antennae. There were differences between termites with and without antennae in selection of sites to be groomed on nestmates, in the length of grooming and in occurrence of grooming. Electroantennogram (EAG) responses were recorded from termite antennae and the waveforms were rather specific to the kinds of fungi used as odor sources. Termites were able to distinguish between the tested fungi in feeding tests. These results show that the antennae play important roles in the mutual grooming behavior of the termite

Influence of Fungal Odor on Grooming Behavior of the Termite, Coptotermes formosanus

The termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) protects itself from entomopathogenic fungus by mutual grooming behavior. C. formosanus removes foreign organisms, such as fungal conidia, from the body surface of its nestmates by mutual grooming behavior and eating them. The conidia removal rate from the body surface differed according to the isolate of entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria brongniartii 782, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus K3, and Metarhizium anisopliae 455), and the removal rate of the fungal isolates seemed to depend on feeding preference, which was detrmined using paper discs moistened with a fungal suspension. In addition, it was found that C. formosanus without antennae groomed their nestmates more frequently than those with antennae. Consequently, it seems that C. formosanus antennae detect substances without touching, such as via odor, and it affects the efficiency of grooming behavior. The results of single sensillum recording support the hypothesis that C. formosanus are capable of distinguishing three species of fungi by their odors

Development of Supreme Super High-Density Realtime Disaster Mitigation System for Gas Supply System

With the 3,700 New SI sensors installed throughout its service area (3,100 km2), Tokyo Gas has started to develop its super high-density real-time disaster mitigation system SUPREME for gas supply systems. Immediately after an earthquake, seismic data from the New SI sensors is relayed to the main system where extremely precise estimates of the damage are made on the spot. Damage estimation consists of making an estimate of the surface distribution of seismic motion that takes account of the site amplification factor, and making an estimate of damage to the pipeline network that takes account of factors such as the types of the pipes, the topography of the area, and the liquefaction conditions

In-situ micro Raman studies on graphitic carbon in some Antarctic ureilites

The fine structures of graphitic materials contained in four Antarctic ureilites (ALH-77257,ALH-78019,MET-78008 and Y-791538) were investigated using a laser light (514.5nm), which could be focused onto a spot of 1μm in diameter. Raman spectra obtained differ not only among individual ureilite samples, but also among positions within a single carbonaceous vein of the same specimen. Moreover, one can classify the carbon into several groups on the basis of the spectra concerned. For all samples, both well-ordered graphitic carbon and semi-ordered graphitic carbon were observed. Amorphous carbon was detected in ALH-77257 and MET-78008. The difference in structural ordering among the samples is attributed to the difference in distribution of the components of carbonaceous material, indicating minor difference in genetic conditions or in locality within the parent body. Structural heterogeneity of carbon within a single carbonaceous vein implies the occurrence of two (or three) types of carbonaceous matters which have fairly different physicochemical properties and distinct histories. For the genesis of the carbonaceous matter in ureilites, a two-stage model is proposed assuming the graphite crystallization from metallic phase followed by the inflow of semi-ordered graphitic carbon or amorphous carbon into the well-ordered graphitic carbon produced from the metal

Different Responses to 5-fluoraouracil in Mutagenicity and Gene Expression between Two Human Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines with or without TP53 Mutation

Human lymphoblastoid TK6 and WTK-1 cells are widely used to detect mutagens in vitro. TK6 cells have wild-type TP53 alleles, while WTK-1 cells have one allele of mutated TP53. Both cells were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and gene mutation assay and micronucleus assay were performed to clarify the differential response related to the TP53 gene status. The effects of 5-FU on gene expression were assessed by microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. In WTK-1 cells, 5-FU increased the frequency of cells with micronucleus and mutation. In TK6 cells, frequency of cells with micronucleus was increased but the mutation frequency was not. The cytotoxicity induced by 5-FU was more prominent in TK6 cells than in WTK-1 cells. Analysis of gene expression showed that the genes involved in the TP53 pathway were up-regulated in TK6 cells but not in WTK-1 cells. The differential responses to 5-FU between these cell lines appeared to be due to the difference in the TP53 gene status, thus providing a molecular basis for the bioassays using these cell lines in the toxicology field. Our results indicate that the clinical efficacy of 5-FU chemotherapy may depend on the TP53 genotype

Stimulation of DNA Glycosylase Activities by XPC Protein Complex: Roles of Protein-Protein Interactions

We showed that XPC complex, which is a DNA damage detector for nucleotide excision repair, stimulates activity of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) that initiates base excision repair. XPC appeared to facilitate the enzymatic turnover of TDG by promoting displacement from its own product abasic site, although the precise mechanism underlying this stimulation has not been clarified. Here we show that XPC has only marginal effects on the activity of E. coli TDG homolog (EcMUG), which remains bound to the abasic site like human TDG but does not significantly interacts with XPC. On the contrary, XPC significantly stimulates the activities of sumoylated TDG and SMUG1, both of which exhibit quite different enzymatic kinetics from unmodified TDG but interact with XPC. These results point to importance of physical interactions for stimulation of DNA glycosylases by XPC and have implications in the molecular mechanisms underlying mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in XP-C patients

The Prevalence of Dog Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Stray Dogs in Okayama, Japan

The prevalence of dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, was examined in stray dogs collected from 3 local public health centers in southwestern region of Okayama Prefecture, Japan during the period between October 1990 to December 1991. A total of 286 dogs (113 males and 173 females, 4.0 to 14.9 kg in body weight) were examined, and D. immitis infection was found in 154 (53.8%) dogs (62 males, 54.9% and 92 females, 53.2%). The monthly infection rates of D. immitis were 31.6 to 72.2%, and apparently lower rates (31.6 to 44.0%) were recognized between June and September. The prevalence of D. immitis infection in dogs and the number of heartworms per infected dog increased along with body weight of the hosts. Altogether 1,722 worms were detected from 154 dogs, and the number of worms per infected dog ranged from 1 to 57 (av. 11.2). The worms were found more in females (52.3%) than in males (47.7%). The sites of worm infestation in 154 dogs were found most in right ventricle (52.3%), followed by pulmonary artery (24.2%) and right atrium and superior vena cava (23.5%). The detected worms measured 47 to 210 mm (av. 164 mm) long in 830 males and 5 to 342 mm (av. 250 mm) long in 609 females. Unisexual worms were found in 36 (23.4%) dogs and the number of males and females per infected dog ranged from 1 to 4 (av. 1.4), and 1 to 10 (av. 2.6) respectively. The diagonal ventral ridges peculiar to D. immitis were recognized on the cuticular surface of the male worms by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation

Simple of syntheses of marine alkaloid, batzelline C, isobatzelline C, damirone A, and makaluvamine A

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生理活性物質科学金沢大学薬学

Congenital Multiple Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy Complicated by Splitting of the Lateral Rectus Muscle

We report a case of congenital multiple ocular motor nerve palsy combined with splitting of the lateral rectus muscle (LR). A 59-year-old Japanese female was investigated for worsening esotropia after corrective surgery. She presented with left hypertropia (35Δ) and esotropia (45-50Δ). Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed reduced belly sizes in the superior rectus, inferior rectus, and superior oblique muscles and splitting of the LR, extending from the origin to the belly, in the left eye. Splitting of the LR belly was detected on MRI in a case of congenital multiple ocular motor nerve palsy