Effect of Lactobacillus pentosus S-PT84 ingestion on IFN-α production from plasmacytoid dendritic cells by virus stimulation.

We investigated the effect of ingesting Lactobacillus pentosus S-PT84 on the interferon-α (IFN-α) production from splenocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells by virus stimulation. IFN-α production by the Lactobacillus pentosus S-PT84 ingestion group was significantly greater under the virus-infected condition than that by the control group. Lactobacillus pentosus S-PT84 could enhance the production of IFN-α which is known as an important cytokine for preventing virus infection.

Lactobacillus strains induce TRAIL production and facilitate natural killer activity against cancer cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an endogenous cytokine that induces apoptosis in malignant tumor cells. Here, we show for the first time that lactobacilli induce TRAIL production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Treatment with lactobacilli induced TRAIL on the cell surface of PBMC and in culture medium.

Ecological study of avian malaria vectors on the island of Minami-Daito, Japan.

The seasonal prevalence and spatial distribution of mosquitoes were examined as part of an avian malaria study on the oceanic island of Minami-Daito Island, Japan. Because dry ice was not available in this study, yeast-generated CO2 was used to attract biting mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes were collected biweekly using battery-operated traps enhanced with yeast-generated CO2 and a gravid trap from March 2006 to February 2007.

Avian haemosporidian parasites infection in wild birds inhabiting Minami-daito Island of the Northwest Pacific, Japan.

Haemosporidian parasites infection among wild birds inhabiting Minami-daito Island was studied. Blood films from 183 birds representing 4 species of 4 families were examined microscopically. Avian haemosporidian parasites were detected in 3 species with an overall prevalence of 59.

Antiallergic effects of Lactobacillus pentosus strain S-PT84 mediated by modulation of Th1/Th2 immunobalance and induction of IL-10 production.

Background: Many types of fermented food are consumed in Japan. Although some are produced by plant-origin lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation, the physiological functions of such bacteria remain unclear. We therefore isolated LAB of plant origin from Kyoto pickles and determined the immunological activity of heat-killed preparations of plant-origin LAB.

Characterization of human rotavirus serotype G9 isolated in Japan and Thailand from 1995 to 1997.

Serotyping of human rotavirus was conducted in 396 Japanese and 100 Thai rotavirus-positive fecal specimens collected from 1995 to 1997. Serotype G9 was found to be the third most common serotype with frequency of 16.2% in Thailand from 1996 to 1997.

Determination of interferon-alpha-producing capacity in whole blood cultures from patients with various diseases and from healthy persons.

To assess the clinical value of determination of the interferon (IFN)-producing capacity of patients, IFN production induced by Sendai virus (HVJ) in vitro was measured in cell cultures of whole blood from patients with various diseases. IFN production in patients with lung cancer, myelodysplastic syndromes, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis, and asymptomatic HIV-1 infection was lower than that in healthy persons. Furthermore, periodic measurements of IFN production revealed decreasing IFN producing capacities in patients with lung cancer with progression of the tumor stage.

Propagation of JC virus in human neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32.

JC virus (JCV), the causative agent of a human demyelinating disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, has a very narrow host range. Cells permissive for infection by JCV have been essentially limited to primary human fetal glial cells, which are difficult to obtain and maintain. In pilot studies, it was found that JCV can multiply in an established cell line of human neuroblastoma.

DNA-sequence rearrangement required for the adaptation of JC polyomavirus to growth in a human neuroblastoma cell line (IMR-32).

Infection of a human neuroblastoma cell line (IMR-32) with the JC polyomavirus (JCV) strain Mad-1 with subsequent serial passage results in the generation of a virus adapted to growth in IMR-32 (K. Akatani, M. Imai, M.

Serotyping of human rotavirus by enzyme immuno-assay with monoclonal antibodies.

Two series of enzyme immunoassays with monoclonal antibodies produced in two laboratories (A and B) were compared in use for serotyping of human rotavirus in stool samples collected in Japan between 1988 and 1991 from patients with gastroenteritis. Of 358 samples, 222 were determined to be the same serotype, while 61 samples could not be serotyped by either assay. A hundred and one and 92 samples were not serotyped by the A and B antibodies, respectively.

Molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses associated with pediatric diarrhea in Bangkok, Thailand.

Rotavirus diarrhea in 453 pediatric patients (29.8% of 1,518) was studied in greater Bangkok during 1985 to 1987. The disease persisted all year, increasing in incidence from August to January (30 to 50%).

The finest ultrastructural details of the inner layer of rotavirus revealed by minimal electron doses.

The inner layer of human and calf rotavirus ultrastructure was analyzed using minimal doses in transmission electron microscopy. The morphological unit of spontaneously disrupted virions has the aspect of a flower-like structure, and its petals are hexagonally arranged and have a central pin hole. The similar flower appearance can be observed in complete virions and in rotavirus tube structures produced in aged samples of rotavirus kept for more than a year.

Isolation and molecular characterization of a serotype 9 human rotavirus strain.

A human rotavirus strain, designated AU32, that belongs to serotype 9 was isolated and was compared by RNA-RNA hybridization with recently established two serotype 9 strains (WI61 and F45) as well as other prototype human strains. These three strains exhibited a very high degree of homology with one another and shared a high degree of homology with strains belonging to the Wa genogroup but not with strains belonging to either the DS-1 or AU-1 genogroup. These results suggest that genetic constellation of the serotype 9 strains is similar to that of the commonest human rotavirus despite the recent recognition of this serotype.

Identification of rotavirus genogroups by RNA-RNA hybridization.

The genetic relatedness of various human rotavirus strains was examined by RNA-RNA hybridization in which 32P-labelled single stranded RNAs produced by in vitro transcription from viral RNAs were used as probes. Denatured genomic double stranded RNAs were hybridized to the probes under highly stringent conditions and the resulting hybrids were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the hybridization patterns obtained with probes made from prototype strains Wa (subgroup II, long RNA electropherotype), DS-1 (subgroup I, short RNA electropherotype) and AU-1 (subgroup I, long RNA electropherotype), we have observed that human rotaviruses fall into three distinct gene groups which we have termed 'genogroups'.

Occurrence of changes in human rotavirus serotypes with concurrent changes in genomic RNA electropherotypes.

To investigate the serotypic and genetic diversity of human rotavirus strains, we have tested 513 and 519 fecal rotavirus specimens, respectively, by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the segmented RNA genome. Of the 513 specimens, 375 were typed as serotype 1 (47.3%), serotype 2 (2.

Capped and conserved terminal structures in human rotavirus genome double-stranded RNA segments.

Both 3'- and 5'-terminal structures of human rotavirus genome double-stranded RNA segments were determined. RNAs were labeled at the 3'-termini with [32P]pCp by incubation with RNA ligase and at the 5'-termini with [32P]phosphate by polynucleotide kinase or, in the case of 5' caps, with 3H by chemical modification with [3H]NaBH4. Examination of radiolabeled termini released by digestion with several base-specific RNases revealed that rotavirus RNA segments are base paired end-to-end and contain the same terminal structures: (formula; see text)