Long-term immune responses induced by low-dose infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses can protect mallards from reinfection with a heterologous strain.

Migratory water birds are considered to be carriers of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs). In Japan, mallards are often observed during winter, and HPAIV-infected mallards often shed viruses asymptomatically. In this study, we focused on mallards as potential carriers of HPAIVs and investigated whether individual wild mallards are repeatedly infected with HPAIVs and act as HPAIV carriers multiple times within a season.

Phylogenetic and Pathogenic Analysis of H5N1 and H5N6 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Poultry Farms (Layer and Broiler Chickens) in Japan in the 2023/2024 Season.

During the 2023-2024 winter, 11 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks caused by clade 2.3.4.

Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites from Natural Polypeptide ε-Poly-l-Lysine and Natural Clay Montmorillonite: Remarkable Reinforcing Effect at Low Polymer Content and Its Mechanism.

Nanocomposites composed of the cationic polypeptide ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) and natural sodium montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared and evaluated. These MMT/ε-PL composites formed highly ordered nanostructures resembling natural nacreous layers by a simple process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed that a small amount of ε-PL remarkably enhanced the MMT orientation in the composites.

Validation of morphological ear classification devised by principal component analysis using three-dimensional images for human identification.

This study attempts to classify ear morphology for human identification in forensic investigations by distinguishing between the upper auricle and lobule areas. A three-dimensional homologous model of the ear was created using 414 ear images of males aged 17-93 years reconstructed from computed tomography scans of forensic autopsy cases. Morphological changes were visualized using principal component analysis and areas of significant individual differences within the entire ear were identified.