Systemic Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infection in an arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) with severe multifocal suppurative meningoencephalitis and nephritis.

A 2-year-female arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) developed anorexia, dehydration, and emaciation during the quarantine period for importation from Norway, and died 17 days later. At necropsy, a fistula was observed on the left gluteal region, and the left eye, left brain, and kidneys were discolored. Histologically, severe diffuse suppurative meningoencephalitis and renal abscesses were detected. Numerous Gram-positive cocci were detected in these lesions. Multidrug-susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were isolated from the lesions. These results suggest that S. pseudintermedius can cause severe multifocal suppurative meningoencephalitis and nephritis in foxes. This is the first report of multidrug-susceptible S. pseudintermedius meningoencephalitis and nephritis in a fox.

A Japanese trial to monitor methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in imported swine during the quarantine period.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in imported swine during the quarantine period in Japan. METHODS: Nasal swabs from a total of 125 swine belonging to 15 lots (unit of import) from five countries were investigated for MRSA from July 2016 to February 2017. Two isolates per positive lot were chosen for multilocus sequence typing (MLST). PCR was performed to determine the presence of the czrC gene, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the broth dilution method. RESULTS: MRSA isolates were obtained from six lots (41 heads; 32.8%) from two countries. All 12 isolates that underwent MLST (two per positive lot) were classified as ST398, harboured the czrC gene and were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline; some isolates showed additional resistance to erythromycin or streptomycin, but resistance to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin or chloramphenicol was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: MRSA ST398 isolates were obtained from imported swine in this first trial to monitor MRSA during the quarantine period in Japan. For the 'One Health' approach against antimicrobial resistance, monitoring imported animals and generating feedback data would be important.

Production of Single-Chain Fv Antibodies Specific for GA-Pyridine, an Advanced Glycation End-Product (AGE), with Reduced Inter-Domain Motion.

Due to their lower production cost compared with monoclonal antibodies, single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) have potential for use in several applications, such as for diagnosis and treatment of a range of diseases, and as sensor elements. However, the usefulness of scFvs is limited by inhomogeneity through the formation of dimers, trimers, and larger oligomers. The scFv protein is assumed to be in equilibrium between the closed and open states formed by assembly or disassembly of VH and VL domains. Therefore, the production of an scFv with equilibrium biased to the closed state would be critical to overcome the problem in inhomogeneity of scFv for industrial or therapeutic applications. In this study, we obtained scFv clones stable against GA-pyridine, an advanced glycation end-product (AGE), by using a combination of a phage display system and random mutagenesis. Executing the bio-panning at 37 °C markedly improved the stability of scFvs. We further evaluated the radius of gyration by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), obtained compact clones, and also visualized open.

Bovine leukemia virus integration site selection in cattle that develop leukemia.

It is essential for efficient replication of retroviruses that the viral genome is integrated into the host genome after reverse transcription. Some retroviruses are preferentially integrated into certain genomic regions that may differ depending on the disease. In this study, we analyzed the integration site of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in leukemic cells and 55 integration sites were determined. Although the integration sites were not located in a particular chromosome, the BLV provirus was integrated into transcription units at a frequency of 43.6% (24/55) and the transcriptional direction of the provirus was in accordance with that of the integrated host genes in 62.5% (15/24). The integration sites were located in introns of the host gene, excluding only one site, which was located in downstream from a stop codon. BLV provirus was never found in a protein coding sequence (CDS) in this study. Moreover, the BLV provirus did not favor integration near transcription start sites and CpG islands, or repetitive sequences such as transposons. Therefore, the possibility that the integration of the BLV provirus disrupts the host gene is very low. Although a hot spot was not found in the BLV provirus integration sites, the provirus favored the integration into regions disadvantageous for viral gene expression since no integration site was preferentially located into/near CDS, transcription start site or CpG island. It is suggested that the integration site of the BLV provirus in leukemic cells is related to the suppression of viral gene expression.

Rheological properties of native silk fibroins from domestic and wild silkworms, and flow analysis in each spinneret by a finite element method.

Silkworms can produce strong and tough fibers at room temperature and from an aqueous solution. Therefore, it seems useful to study the mechanism of fiber formation by silkworms for development of synthetic polymers with excellent mechanical properties. The rheological behaviors of native silk dopes stored in the silk glands of Bombyx mori and Samia cynthia ricini were clarified, and flow simulations of the dopes in each spinneret were performed with a Finite Element Method. Dynamic viscoelastic measurements revealed that silk fibroin stored in silk glands forms a transient network at room temperature, and that the molecular weight for the network node corresponds to the molecular weight of a heterodimer of H-chain and L-chain (B. mori) and a homodimer of H-chains (S. c. ricini), respectively. Also, each dope exhibited zero-shear viscosity and then shear thinning like polymer melts. In addition, shear thickening due to flow-induced crystallization was observed. The critical shear rate for crystallization of B. mori dopes was smaller than that of S. c. ricini dopes. From the flow simulation, it is suggested that domestic and wild silkworms are able to crystallize the dopes in the stiff plate region by controlling shear rate using the same magnitude of extrusion pressure despite differences in rheological properties.

Computational flow dynamics in abdominal aortic aneurysm using multislice computed tomography.

Following the introduction of a new multislice computed tomography (MSCT) scanner, it has become possible to produce high-speed CT angiography (CTA), the preferred method for imaging in emergent abdominal vascular conditions. Unlike catheter angiography, multislice CTA not only depicts the vessels but also allows perfusion in adjacent organs to be assessed. To make the most effective diagnostic use of multi-detector row CTA and three-dimensional image post-processing, radiologists must be familiar with the optimal CTA protocols and the typical CT findings in various emergent vascular conditions using computational flow dynamics (CFD). This article describes a technical approach to estimating the blood flow state of human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in more detail by constructing realistic three-dimensional (3D) vessel models using CFD methods, focusing on pre- and postoperative cases.