Appearance of renal hemorrhage in adult mice after inoculation of patient-derived hantavirus

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantavirus infection is characterized by fever, renal dysfunction and hemorrhage. An animal model mimicking symptoms of HFRS remains to be established. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of an HFRS patient-derived Hantaan virus (HTNV) in adult mice. Methods: Five clones of HTNV strain KHF 83-61 BL (KHFV) that was derived from blood of an HFRS patient were obtained by plaque cloning. The pathogenicity of the virus clones was evaluated by using 6-week-old female BALB/c mice. Sequence analysis of the viral genome was performed by conventional methods. Results: All of the mice intravenously inoculated with KHFV clone (cl)-1, -2, -3 and -5 showed signs of disease such as transient body weight loss, ruffled fur, reduced activity and remarkably prominent hemorrhage in the renal medulla at 6 to 9 days post-inoculation (dpi) and then recovered. In contrast, mice intravenously inoculated with KHFV cl-4 did not show any signs of disease. We selected KHFV cl-5 and cl-4 as representative of high-pathogenic and low-pathogenic clones, respectively. Quantities of viral RNA in kidneys of KHFV cl-5-infected mice were larger than those in KHFV cl-4-infected mice at any time point examined (3, 6, 9 and 12 dpi). The quantities of viral RNA of KHFV cl-5 and cl-4 peaked at 3 dpi, which was before the onset of disease. Sequence analysis revealed that the amino acid at position 417 in the glycoprotein Gn was the sole difference in viral proteins between KHFV cl-5 and cl-4. The result suggests that amino acid at position 417 in Gn is related to the difference in pathogenicity between KHFV cl-5 and cl-4. When the inoculum of KHFV cl-5 was pretreated with a neutralizing antibody against HTNV strain 76-118, which belongs to the same serotype as KHFV clones, mice did not show any signs of disease, confirming that the disease was caused by KHFV infection. Conclusion: We found that an HFRS patient-derived HTNV caused renal hemorrhage in adult mice. We anticipate that this infection model will be a valuable tool for understanding the pathogenesis of HFRS

Two visual pigments in a single photoreceptor cell: Identification and histological localization of three mRNAs encoding visual pigment opsins in the retina of the butterfly Papilio xuthus

This paper describes the localization of newly identified visual pigment opsins in the tiered retina of the Japanese yellow swallowtail Papilio xuthus. We first cloned three cDNAs encoding visual pigment opsins, PxRh1, PxRh2 and PxRh3, and then carried out histological in situ hybridization to localize their mRNAs in the retina. By combining the present data with our previous electrophysiological results, we concluded that both PxRh1 and PxRh2 correspond to visual pigments expressed in photoreceptor cells sensitive in the green wavelength region (green receptors), whereas PxRh3 corresponds to a pigment in red receptors. The in situ hybridization studies showed that some photoreceptor cells express two opsin mRNAs. In the ventral half of the eye, all green receptors in the distal tier were labelled by both PxRh1 and PxRh2 probes. The labelling by the PxRh2 and PxRh3 probes was detected throughout the eye in the proximal tier; in 18 % of ommatidia, the probes labelled the same photoreceptor cell. These results suggest that the possible co-localization of two different visual pigments will broaden the sensitivity spectrum of the photoreceptor cells

Large-scale mapping observations of the CI(3P1-3P0) and CO(J=3-2) lines toward the Orion A molecular cloud

Large scale mapping observations of the 3P1-3P0 fine structure transition of atomic carbon (CI, 492 GHz) and the J=3-2 transition of CO (346 GHz) toward the Orion A molecular cloud have been carried out with the Mt. Fuji submillimeter-wave telescope. The observations cover 9 square degrees, and include the Orion nebula M42 and the L1641 dark cloud complex. The CI emission extends over almost the entire region of the Orion A cloud and is surprisingly similar to that of 13CO(J=1-0).The CO(J=3-2) emission shows a more featureless and extended distribution than CI.The CI/CO(J=3-2) integrated intensity ratio shows a spatial gradient running from the north (0.10) to the south (1.2) of the Orion A cloud, which we interpret as a consequence of the temperature gradient. On the other hand, the CI/13CO(J=1-0) intensity ratio shows no systematic gradient. We have found a good correlation between the CI and 13CO(J=1-0) intensities over the Orion A cloud. This result is discussed on the basis of photodissociation region models.Comment: Text file is 13 pages long, and 3 figure files (pdf format). NRO Report No. 508 (1999). University of Tokyo, Resceu 41/9

In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser

Nuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 10^19 W/cm2) and a 0.2-mm thick boron nitride (BN) target. A high p–B fusion reaction rate and hence, a large α-particle flux was generated and measured, thanks to a proton stream accelerated at the target’s front surface. This was the first proof of principle experiment to demonstrate the efficient generation of α-particles (~10^10/sr) through p–B fusion reactions using a PW-class laser in the “in-target” geometry

Generation of α-Particle Beams With a Multi-kJ, Peta-Watt Class Laser System

We present preliminary results on generation of energetic α-particles driven by lasers. The experiment was performed at the Institute of Laser Engineering in Osaka using the short-pulse, high-intensity, high-energy, PW-class laser. The laser pulse was focused onto a thin plastic foil (pitcher) to generate a proton beam by the well-known TNSA mechanism which, in turn, was impinging onto a boron-nitride (BN) target (catcher) to generated alpha-particles as a result of proton-boron nuclear fusion events. Our results demonstrate generation of α-particles with energies in the range 8–10 MeV and with a flux around 5 × 10^9 sr^−1

Appearance of renal hemorrhage in adult mice after inoculation of patient-derived hantavirus

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantavirus infection is characterized by fever, renal dysfunction and hemorrhage. An animal model mimicking symptoms of HFRS remains to be established. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of an HFRS patient-derived Hantaan virus (HTNV) in adult mice. Methods: Five clones of HTNV strain KHF 83-61 BL (KHFV) that was derived from blood of an HFRS patient were obtained by plaque cloning. The pathogenicity of the virus clones was evaluated by using 6-week-old female BALB/c mice. Sequence analysis of the viral genome was performed by conventional methods. Results: All of the mice intravenously inoculated with KHFV clone (cl)-1, -2, -3 and -5 showed signs of disease such as transient body weight loss, ruffled fur, reduced activity and remarkably prominent hemorrhage in the renal medulla at 6 to 9 days post-inoculation (dpi) and then recovered. In contrast, mice intravenously inoculated with KHFV cl-4 did not show any signs of disease. We selected KHFV cl-5 and cl-4 as representative of high-pathogenic and low-pathogenic clones, respectively. Quantities of viral RNA in kidneys of KHFV cl-5-infected mice were larger than those in KHFV cl-4-infected mice at any time point examined (3, 6, 9 and 12 dpi). The quantities of viral RNA of KHFV cl-5 and cl-4 peaked at 3 dpi, which was before the onset of disease. Sequence analysis revealed that the amino acid at position 417 in the glycoprotein Gn was the sole difference in viral proteins between KHFV cl-5 and cl-4. The result suggests that amino acid at position 417 in Gn is related to the difference in pathogenicity between KHFV cl-5 and cl-4. When the inoculum of KHFV cl-5 was pretreated with a neutralizing antibody against HTNV strain 76-118, which belongs to the same serotype as KHFV clones, mice did not show any signs of disease, confirming that the disease was caused by KHFV infection. Conclusion: We found that an HFRS patient-derived HTNV caused renal hemorrhage in adult mice. We anticipate that this infection model will be a valuable tool for understanding the pathogenesis of HFRS

Submillimeter-wave Observations of the ShockedMolecular Gas Associated with Supernova Remnants

Supernova remnants (SNRs), which are very energetic objects, are thought to have great influence on the interstellar medium. The expanding shock waves of SNRs compress, heat, and accelerate the interstellar gas. Because the interaction of SNR with the molecular cloud may play an important role in the next-generation star for- mation, it is of considerable interest to study the physical and chemical processes of the interaction.In order to search for the interaction between SNR and the molecular cloud, we observed two SNRs, W28 and γ Cygni SNR, which are supposed to be EGRET gamma- ray sources, in submillimeter-wave CO ( J = 3 - 2 ) line (345 GHz; 0.9 mm) by using the 15 m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). In W28, we detected a broad emission (maximum linewidth reaches ΔV ～70kms-1), which suggests an interaction between SNR and the molecular cloud (“shocked gas”), as well as a narrow emission from the “unshocked gas”. However, the broad emission was not observed toward γCygni SNR.For W28, the distribution of the CO gas is similar to that of the 327 MHz radio- continuum emission, and tends to be stronger along the radio-continuum ridge. This suggest that the compression of magnetic fields in the SNR by the cloud results in enhanced synchrotron radiation. In addition, all of the OH (1720 MHz) maser spots, which trace the interaction between SNR and the molecular cloud, are located along the filament of the shocked gas. These facts convincingly indicate that SNR W28 interacts with the molecular cloud. Our observations are consistent with a hypothesis that the interaction of the SNR with the molecular cloud can be the origin of gamma-rays. Moreover, the distribution of the unshocked and shocked gas is clearly resolved. The shocked gas is filamentary, and surrounds the center of the supernova, explosion. The unshocked gas is displaced by 0.4 - 1.0 pc outward with respect to the shocked gas. The spatial relationship between shocked and unshocked gas has been clarified for the first time for the interaction between SNRs and molecular clouds.In order to obtain the distribution of the cold gas and the physical properties of the molecular gas associated with W28, we observed the millimeter-wave CO (J=1 - 0 ) line (115 GHz ; 2.6 mm) by using the 45 m telescope of the Nobeyama Radio Observatory (NRO). It is found that the line intensity of CO (J=1 - 0 ) emission is stronger than that of CO (J=3 - 2) emission in the narrow component, and while the CO (J=3 - 2) emission is stronger than CO (J =1 - 0) emission in the broad component. The distribution of CO (J =1 - 0) globally resembles that of CO (J = 3 - 2 ). The unshocked gas has a gas kinetic temperature of Tkin ～20 K and a density of n(H2) ～ 10 3 cm-3, and a total mass of Munshocked = 4 × 103 M〓. On the other hand, the shocked gas has Tkin > 60 K, n(H2) > 104 cm-3, and Mshocked = 2 × 103 M〓. The total kinetic energy deposited in the shocked molecular gas is 3 × 1048 erg, which corresponds to 0.3 % of the energy of the supernova explosion.To understand the chemistry related to carbon in the interaction region between SNR and the molecular cloud, we observed in CO(J=3-2) at 345 GHz(0.9 mm) and CI(3P1 - 3P0) at 492 GHz (0.6 mm) toward the four SNRs, W28, IC443, W44, and W51C by using the Mt. Fuji submillimeter-wave telescope, which we developed. This telescope is the first submillimeter-wave telescope in Japan. With this telescope, we can observe CI(3P1 - 3P0) and CO(J=3 - 2) simultaneously. The spatial resolution is suitable for the observation of the molecular cloud scale. Except for IC 443, the CI(3P1 - 3P0) emission was detected. We found that the distribution of the CI(3P1 - 3P0) emission is similar to that of the CO(J=3 - 2) emission. It is clear that the known OH[(1720 MHz) maser spots are located at the edge of clumps in all 4 SNRs. In the interaction region between SNR and the molecular cloud, the CI(3P1 - 3P0)/CO(J=3 - 2) peak intensity ratio and the N(CI)/N(CO) column density ratio tend to be high. On the other hand, in molecular clouds unrelated with SNR, the ratios are lower. This result might imply that the interaction of SNR with the molecular cloud enhances the CI abundance.At present, though 220 SNRs are cataloged in our Galaxy, the observational examples of the interaction between SNR and molecular clouds are small in number. The shock region in W28 has rather simple structure and “edge-on”. In the future, W28 can be one of the best regions for detailed studies of the interaction between SNR and the molecular cloud. By increasing the number of the observational examples, we can obtain better understanding of the molecular cloud associated with SNR

Arrangement of a NO ligand and the neighboring sulfur-containing species on a dinuclear ruthenium complex by ligand substitution and linkage isomerism of a dimethyl sulfoxide ligand

The substitution reactions of a NO-ligated dinuclear ruthenium complex with ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN), sulfur, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) gave the corresponding mononitrosyl dinuclear complexes, except for reaction with sulfur, where diastereomers of a S2-bridged tetranuclear complex along with a NO- and S2-bridged dinuclear complex were obtained. According to the scan rate dependent cyclic voltammograms, linkage isomerism of a dmso ligand on the dinuclear complex was revealed, and the linkage isomer was obtained from the chemical oxidation