Book Review : What Makes Genetic Discrimination Wrong? How Can It Be Prevented? Based on Philosophy of Discrimination: An Introduction by Takashi Ikeda and Yoshitaro Hotta

本稿では池田喬・堀田義太郎著『差別の哲学入門』を参照し、差別という概念そのものの理解という根本的な知見を踏まえて、遺伝子差別のあり方とその対応策を考察する。遺伝子差別とは、人々の間に遺伝情報に基づいて区別をつけ、その一方にのみ不利益を与える行為である。遺伝子差別の悪質さは①害の発生、②自由の制約として権利を侵害すること、③他者を対等な人格として尊重すべしという義務に違反することという三つの差別の悪の説明の組み合わせによって考察することができる。そして遺伝子差別が（1）正当化されること、また（2）無自覚におこなわれることに私たちは注意すべきであり、私たちはそのメカニズムを理解し、それに批判的に取り組むことで、遺伝子差別防止の筋道を辿ることができる。departmental bulletin pape

Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses from Pigs, Indonesia

TOC summary: Pigs may serve as intermediate hosts in which this avian virus can adapt to mammals

Genetic characterization of 2008 reassortant influenza A virus (H5N1), Thailand

In January and November 2008, outbreaks of avian influenza have been reported in 4 provinces of Thailand. Eight Influenza A H5N1 viruses were recovered from these 2008 AI outbreaks and comprehensively characterized and analyzed for nucleotide identity, genetic relatedness, virulence determinants, and possible sites of reassortment. The results show that the 2008 H5N1 viruses displayed genetic drift characteristics (less than 3% genetic differences), as commonly found in influenza A viruses. Based on phylogenetic analysis, clade 1 viruses in Thailand were divided into 3 distinct branches (subclades 1, 1.1 and 1.2). Six out of 8 H5N1 isolates have been identified as reassorted H5N1 viruses, while other isolates belong to an original H5N1 clade. These viruses have undergone inter-lineage reassortment between subclades 1.1 and 1.2 and thus represent new reassorted 2008 H5N1 viruses. The reassorted viruses have acquired gene segments from H5N1, subclade 1.1 (PA, HA, NP and M) and subclade 1.2 (PB2, PB1, NA and NS) in Thailand. Bootscan analysis of concatenated whole genome sequences of the 2008 H5N1 viruses supported the reassortment sites between subclade 1.1 and 1.2 viruses. Based on estimating of the time of the most recent common ancestors of the 2008 H5N1 viruses, the potential point of genetic reassortment of the viruses could be traced back to 2006. Genetic analysis of the 2008 H5N1 viruses has shown that most virulence determinants in all 8 genes of the viruses have remained unchanged. In summary, two predominant H5N1 lineages were circulating in 2008. The original CUK2-like lineage mainly circulated in central Thailand and the reassorted lineage (subclades 1.1 and 1.2) predominantly circulated in lower-north Thailand. To prevent new reassortment, emphasis should be put on prevention of H5N1 viruses circulating in high risk areas. In addition, surveillance and whole genome sequencing of H5N1 viruses should be routinely performed for monitoring the genetic drift of the virus and new reassorted strains, especially in light of potential reassortment between avian and mammalian H5N1 viruses

１５年以上経過観察した正常眼圧緑内障の視野障害進行における眼圧下降の重要性

博士(医学)岐阜大学(Gifu University