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Molecular epidemiological and antimicrobial-resistant mechanisms analysis of prolonged Neisseria gonorrhoeae collection between 1971 and 2005 in Japan
Get PDFObjectives
As antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains have emerged, humans have adjusted the antimicrobials used to treat infections. We identified shifts in the N. gonorrhoeae population and the determinants of AMR strains isolated during the recurring emergence of resistant strains and changes in antimicrobial therapies.
Methods
We examined 243 N. gonorrhoeae strains corrected at the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Kanagawa, Japan, these isolated in 1971–2005. We performed multilocus sequence typing and AMR determinants (penA, mtrR, porB, ponA, 23S rRNA, gyrA and parC) mainly using high-throughput genotyping methods together with draft whole-genome sequencing on the MiSeq (Illumina) platform.
Results
All 243 strains were divided into 83 STs. ST1901 (n = 17) was predominant and first identified after 2001. Forty-two STs were isolated in the 1970s, 34 in the 1980s, 22 in the 1990s and 13 in the 2000s, indicating a decline in ST diversity over these decades. Among the 29 strains isolated after 2001, 28 were highly resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC ≥ 8 mg/L) with two or more amino-acid substitutions in quinolone-resistance-determining regions. Seven strains belonging to ST7363 (n = 3), ST1596 (n = 3) and ST1901 (n = 1) were not susceptible to cefixime, and six strains carried penA alleles with mosaic-like penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2; penA 10.001 and 10.016) or PBP2 substitutions A501V and A517G.
Conclusions
We observed a significant reduction in the diversity of N. gonorrhoeae over 35 years in Japan. Since 2001, ST1901, which is resistant to ciprofloxacin, has superseded previous strains, becoming the predominant ST population.journal articl
Intergenerational transmission of maternal behavioral traits in mice: involvement of the gut microbiota
Get PDFThe matrilineal transmission of maternal behavior has been reported in several species. Studies, primarily on rats, have suggested the importance of postnatal experience and the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating these transmissions. This study aims to determine whether the matrilineal transmission of maternal behavior occurs in mice and whether the microbiota is involved. We first observed that early weaned (EW) female mice showed lower levels of maternal behavior, particularly licking/ grooming (LG) of their own pups, than normally weaned (NW) female mice. This difference in maternal behavioral traits was also observed in the second generation, even though all mice were weaned normally. In the subsequent cross-fostering experiment, the levels of LG were influenced by the nurturing mother but not the biological mother. Finally, we transplanted the fecal microbiota from EW or NW mice into germ-free (GF) mice raising pups. The maternal behaviors that the pups exhibited toward their own offspring after growth were analyzed, and the levels of LG in GF mice colonized with microbiota from EW mice were lower than those in GF mice colonized with microbiota from NW mice. These results clearly indicate that, among maternal behavioral traits, LG is intergenerationally transmitted in mice and suggest that the vertical transmission of microbiota is involved in this process. This study demonstrates the universality of the intergenerational transmission of maternal behavioral traits and provides new insights into the role of microbiota.journal articl
Beacon-based sleep-wake monitoring in dogs
Get PDFThe sleep-wake cycle represents a crucial physiological process essential for maintaining homeostasis and promoting individual growth. In dogs, alterations in sleep patterns associated with age and dog's correlation with temperament factors, such as nervousness, have been reported, and there is an increasing demand for precise monitoring of sleep and physical activity in dogs. The present study aims to develop an analysis method for measuring sleep-wake patterns and physical activity in dogs by utilizing an accelerometer and a smartphone. By analyzing time series data collected from the accelerometer attached to the dog's collar, a comprehensive sleep and activity analysis model was constructed. This model classified the activity level into seven classes and effectively highlighted the variations in sleep-activity patterns. Two classes with lower activity levels were considered as sleep, while other five levels were regarded as wake based on the rate of occurrence. This protocol of data acquisition and analysis provides a methodology that enables accurate and extended evaluation of both sleep and physical activity in dogs.journal articl
Chromatin structure in totipotent mouse early preimplantation embryos
Get PDFTotipotency refers to the ability of a single cell to give rise to all the different cell types in the body. Terminally differentiated germ cells (sperm and oocytes) undergo reprogramming, which results in the acquisition of totipotency in zygotes. Since the 1990s, numerous studies have focused on the mechanisms of totipotency. With the emergence of the concept of epigenetic reprogramming, which is important for the undifferentiated and differentiated states of cells, the epigenomes of germ cells and fertilized oocytes have been thoroughly analyzed. However, in early immunostaining studies, detailed epigenomic information was difficult to obtain. In recent years, the explosive development of next-generation sequencing has made it possible to acquire genome-wide information and the rise of genome editing has facilitated the analysis of knockout mice, which was previously difficult. In addition, live imaging can effectively analyze zygotes and 2-cell embryos, for which the number of samples is limited, and provides biological insights that cannot be obtained by other methods. In this review, the progress of our research using these advanced techniques is traced back from the present to its earliest years.journal articl
Current Status and Issues of Collaboration between Public High Schools and Locals Communities
Get PDFIn recent years, high schools and local communities have collaborated in many parts of Japan, and it has become clear that collaboration is useful for high school and community revitalization. However, no nationwide survey has been conducted to clarify the current status and issues of such collaborations. The purpose of this study was to conduct a nationwide survey of collaboration between public high schools and local communities using a questionnaire to identify current conditions and issues, and to make recommendations based on the results of the survey.
The major results of the survey are as follows.
1. Municipal offices work extensively with high schools and are considered their most important partners.
2. Collaboration among universities, prefectural governments, and high schools is not very active.
3. Collaboration appeared to be more advanced in rural areas than in urban and suburban areas.
4. Teachers' overload and curriculum overcrowding are considered problems in most high schools. In particular, teachers' overload is by far the most frequently cited problem.
5. It is considered difficult for high schools on islands and in rural areas to continue collaboration owing to personnel changes affecting the teachers.
Based on these results, the following recommendations are made:
1. Policies should encourage local governments to work in urban and suburban high schools.
2. Policies are required to promote collaboration among universities, prefectural governments, and high schools.
3. It is necessary to take measures to secure appropriate human resources, such as increasing the number of coordinators and teachers involved in collaboration, and improving the compensation of coordinators.
4. The curriculum should be organized from the viewpoint that regional cooperation is not in competition with academic subjects, but rather is necessary for the academic skills demanded by society in the future.journal articl
Effect of mixed feeding of venison wet food and commercial dry food on fecal microflora of cats
Get PDFTo determine changes in the intestinal microflora (fecal microflora and digestibility coefficients) of cats fed a meat diet, four adult castrated male cats were fed a control food (commercial dry food) and a test food that was a mixture of the control food and a commercial venison wet food for 30 days (a 25-day acclimation period and a 5-day fecal collection period). The control and test foods were termed dry and dry＋wet foods, respectively. The dry (commercial dry food) and wet (commercial venison wet food) foods were mixed in a ratio of 1 : 4 for preparing the dry＋wet food. The feeding trial was conducted in accordance with the experimental design of the cross-over design, in which two types of food were fed. At the family level, the percentages of Coriobacteriaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, and Sutterellaceae were higher in cats fed with the dry＋wet food than in cats fed with the dry food (P＜0.05). The percentage of Erysipelotrichaceae was lower in cats fed with the dry＋wet food (P＜0.05). The cats fed the dry＋wet food had higher percentages of Fusobacterium and Sutterella at the genus level (P＜0.05). Thus, these results indicate that feeding a meat diet to cats alters their intestinal microflora. As for digestibility coefficients, digestibility of crude protein was lower when cats were fed the dry＋wet food than cats fed with the dry food (P＜0.05). These results may be related to the fact that the dry＋ wet food is a high-protein food.肉を含んだフードを給与したときのネコの腸内細菌叢の変化を明らかにするために、去勢成雄ネコ4頭に対照飼料として市販のドライフード、あるいは、対照飼料と市販鹿肉ウェットフードを混合したもの（混合フード）の体重維持量を給与した。混合フードは対照飼料と鹿肉ウェットフードを1：4の割合で混合して調製した。1期30日（25日間の馴致期間と5日間の採糞期間）で2期60日間の飼養試験を反転法として実施した。科レベルでは、混合フードを給与したネコのほうが糞中のCoriobacteriaceae、Peptostreptococcaceae、FusobacteriaceaならびにSutterellaceaeの割合が対照飼料を給与したネコよりも高かった（P＜0.05）。Erysipelotrichaceaeの割合は混合フードを給与したほうが低かった（P＜0.05）。属レベルでは、混合フードを給与するとFusobacteriumとSutterellaの割合が高くなった（P＜0.05）。これらの結果は、肉を含んだフードをネコに給与すると腸内細菌叢が変化することを示している。乾物ベースでは、対照フードの粗タンパク質含量は33.1%であり混合フードは53.6%だった。したがって、混合フードは高タンパク質フードといってよい。本研究で観察した細菌叢の変化は高タンパク質フードの給与に起因する可能性がある。あわせて消化試験も実施したところ、粗タンパク質の消化率は混合フードを給与したほうが低くなった（P＜0.05）。journal articl
Clinical features of early recurrence of type I thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation in Miniature Dachshunds
Get PDFSome reports have been published on clinical features in dogs with early recurrence of type I thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (TL-IVDH), but there is little understanding of the changes involved. This retrospective study describes the clinical features, including radiographic image results at the time of recurrence, of dogs with type I TL-IVDH that had undergone hemilaminectomy but then suffered early recurrence. Our medical records were searched between June 2007 and December 2022. Nine dogs showed deterioration in neurological signs within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. All nine were Miniature Dachshunds. Radiographic images at initial onset showed calcification at the affected intervertebral disk space in all 9 dogs. Disk herniations at the initial onset were located between T11-12 and L1-2. After the first surgery, neurological function improved in all dogs. Recurrence occurred at the same site as at initial onset in all dogs. No calcification was observed at the affected intervertebral disk space on images at the time of recurrence. The extruded disk materials were surgically removed, and neurological function improved after the second surgery. In conclusion, calcification at the affected disk space at the time of initial onset is indicative of residual nucleus materials not yet fully extruded, and is a risk factor for early recurrence of type I TL-IVDH.journal articl
The etherase system of Novosphingobium sp. MBES04 functions as a sensor of lignin fragments through phenylpropanone production to induce specific transcriptional responses
Get PDFThe MBES04 strain of Novosphingobium accumulates phenylpropanone monomers as end-products of the etherase system, which specifically and reductively cleaves the β-O-4 ether bond (a major bond in lignin molecules). However, it does not utilise phenylpropanone monomers as an energy source. Here, we studied the response to the lignin-related perturbation to clarify the physiological significance of its etherase system. Transcriptome analysis revealed two gene clusters, each consisting of four tandemly linked genes, specifically induced by a lignin preparation extracted from hardwood (Eucalyptus globulus) and a β-O-4-type lignin model biaryl compound, but not by vanillin. The most strongly induced gene was a 2,4'-dihydroxyacetophenone dioxygenase-like protein, which leads to energy production through oxidative degradation. The other cluster was related to multidrug resistance. The former cluster was transcriptionally regulated by a common promoter, where a phenylpropanone monomer acted as one of the effectors responsible for gene induction. These results indicate that the physiological significance of the etherase system of the strain lies in its function as a sensor for lignin fragments. This may be a survival strategy to detect nutrients and gain tolerance to recalcitrant toxic compounds, while the strain preferentially utilises easily degradable aromatic compounds with lower energy demands for catabolism.査読ありjournal articl
Eicosapentaenoic acid increases proportion of type 1 muscle fibers through PPARδ and AMPK pathways in rats
Get PDFMuscle fiber type composition (% slow-twitch and % fast-twitch fibers) is associated with metabolism, with increased slow-twitch fibers alleviating metabolic disorders. Previously, we reported that dietary fish oil intake induced a muscle fiber-type transition in a slower direction in rats. The aim of this study was to determine the functionality of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a unique fatty acid in fish oil, to skeletal muscle fiber type and metabolism in rats. Here, we showed that dietary EPA promotes whole-body oxidative metabolism and improves muscle function by increasing proportion of slow-twitch type 1 fibers in rats. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that EPA supplementation activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in L6 myotube cultures, which potentially increasing slow-twitch fiber share. This highlights the role of EPA as an exercise-mimetic dietary component that improves metabolism and muscle function, with potential benefits for health and athletic performance.査読ありjournal articl
Zinc transporter ZnT3/Slc30a3 has a potential role in zinc ion influx in mouse oocytes
Get PDFZinc is an essential trace element for various physiological functions, including reproduction. The influx/efflux of zinc ions is regulated by zinc transporters (Zip1-14 and ZnT1-8, 10). However, the precise roles of zinc transporters and zinc dynamics in reproductive functions are unknown. In this study, ZnT3/Slc30a3 gene knockout (KO) mice were used to analyze the role of ZnT3. In ZnT3 KO mice, intracellular zinc ions in oocytes/zygotes were significantly reduced compared to those in controls, and free zinc ions did not accumulate in the oocyte cytoplasm. However, fertilization of these oocytes and the average litter size were comparable to those of control mice. Our results suggest that ZnT3 plays an important role in the accumulation of zinc ions in oocytes but not in the developmental ability of mice. ZnT3 KO mice will be useful for examining zinc dynamics in oocytes and other tissues.journal articl