Specific Detection of Coral-Associated Ruegeria, a Potential Probiotic Bacterium, in Corals and Subtropical Seawater.

Coral microbial flora has been attracting attention because of their potential to protect corals from environmental stresses or pathogens. Although coral-associated bacteria are considered to be acquired from seawater, little is known about the relationships between microbial composition in corals and its surrounding seawater. Here, we tested several methods to identify coral-associated bacteria in coral and its surrounding seawater to detect specific types of Ruegeria species, some of which exhibit growth inhibition activities against the coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus. We first isolated coral-associated bacteria from the reef-building coral Galaxea fascicularis collected at Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan, via random colony picking, which showed the existence of varieties of bacteria including Ruegeria species. Using newly constructed primers for colony PCR, several Ruegeria species were successfully isolated from G. fascicularis and seawater. We further investigated the seawater microbiome in association with the distance from coral reefs. By seasonal sampling, it was suggested that the seawater microbiome is more affected by seasonality than the distance from coral reefs. These methods and results may contribute to investigating and understanding the relationships between the presence of corals and microbial diversity in seawater, in addition to the efficient isolation of specific bacterial species from coral or its surrounding seawater.

Thromboxane A2 induces itch-associated responses through TP receptors in the skin in mice.

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a metabolite of arachidonic acid produced by cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthase, is thought to participate in chronic dermatitis. This study investigated the involvement of TXA2 in cutaneous itch. An intradermal injection of U-46619, a stable analogue of TXA2, elicited scratching, an itch-associated response, in mice. Dose-response curve was bell shaped with a maximum effect at 10 nmol per site. The action of U-46619 was inhibited by a coinjection of the TP antagonist ONO-3708 and was abolished by TP receptor deficiency. TP receptor was mainly expressed in nerve fiber in the skin and keratinocytes. Thromboxane synthase was also expressed in keratinocytes. U-46619 increased intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration in primary cultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons and keratinocytes. The results suggest that TXA2 synthesized by keratinocytes acts as an itch mediator. It may elicit itch through the activation of TP receptors on primary afferents and keratinocytes; keratinocytes may produce itch mediators including TXA2. Thus, thromboxane synthase inhibitor and TP receptor antagonists will be candidates for antipruritic medicines.