-Methylated Isoflavones Induce Genes of and Pratensein Promotes Nodulation in Chickpea.

Legume plants form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, which allow plants to utilize atmospheric nitrogen as a nutrient. This symbiosis is initiated by secretion of specific signaling metabolites from the roots, which induce the expression of genes in rhizobia. These metabolites are called gene inducers (NGIs), and various flavonoids have been found to act as NGIs.

Effectiveness of primary series, first, and second booster vaccination of monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and severe diseases during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 epidemic in Japan: vaccine effectiveness real-time surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (VERSUS).

Background: This study aimed to evaluate VE of primary, first, and second booster ancestral-strain monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccination against symptomatic infections and severe diseases in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a test-negative case-control study. We included medically attended episodes and hospitalizations involving individuals aged 16 with signs and symptoms from July to November 2022, when Omicron BA.

The specific core fucose-binding lectin Pholiota squarrosa lectin (PhoSL) inhibits hepatitis B virus infection in vitro.

Glycosylation of proteins and lipids in viruses and their host cells is important for viral infection and is a target for antiviral therapy. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major pathogen that causes acute and chronic hepatitis; it cannot be cured because of the persistence of its covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in hepatocytes. Here we found that Pholiota squarrosa lectin (PhoSL), a lectin that specifically binds core fucose, bound to HBV particles and inhibited HBV infection of a modified human HepG2 cell line, HepG2-hNTCP-C4, that expresses an HBV receptor, sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide.

Long-term impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for children on adult pneumococcal pneumonia in Japan: Two multicenter observational studies from 2011 to 2020.

Background: Pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduction has directly and indirectly reduced pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by PCV-covered serotypes among children and adults globally. In Japan, both PCV7 and PCV13 were introduced into the national immunization program (NIP) for children in 2013. However, the long-term impact of PCV use in children on adult pneumococcal pneumonia in Japan remains unclear.

Respiratory virus detection in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic, community-dwelling older people.

Background: The prevalence of virus positivity in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic community-dwelling older people remains elusive. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of respiratory virus PCR positivity in asymptomatic community-dwelling older people using saliva samples and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs.

Methods: We analyzed 504 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years who were ambulatory and enrolled in a cross-sectional study conducted from February to December 2018 in Nagasaki city, Japan.

Effectiveness of Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccines Against Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections During the Delta Variant Epidemic in Japan: Vaccine Effectiveness Real-time Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (VERSUS).

Background: Although high vaccine effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been reported in studies in several countries, data are limited from Asian countries, especially against the Delta (B.1.617.

Modulation of chemoresistance by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling through LPA in melanoma cells treated with anticancer drugs.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling via LPA receptors (LPA to LPA) contributes to the promotion of malignant potency in cancer cells. The cell motile activity are stimulated through the induction of LPA in melanoma cells treated with anticancer drugs. The present study aimed to investigate whether LPA signaling via LPA regulates chemoresistance in melanoma A375 cells.

Evolution of Lineage-Specific Gene Networks Underlying the Considerable Fruit Shape Diversity in Persimmon.

The shapes of plant organs reflect the evolution of each lineage and have been diversified according to lineage-specific adaptations to environment. Research on the molecular pathways responsible for organ shapes has traditionally been focused mainly on leaves or flowers. Thus, little is known about the pathways controlling fruit shapes, despite their diversity in some plant species.

Discovery of novel cyclic peptide inhibitors of dengue virus NS2B-NS3 protease with antiviral activity.

NS2B-NS3 protease is an essential enzyme for the replication of dengue virus (DENV), which continues to be a serious threat to worldwide public health. We designed and synthesized a series of cyclic peptides mimicking the substrates of this enzyme, and assayed their activity against the DENV-2 NS2B-NS3 protease. The introduction of aromatic residues at the appropriate positions and conformational restriction generated the most promising cyclic peptide with an IC of 0.

Core-fucosylation plays a pivotal role in hepatitis B pseudo virus infection: a possible implication for HBV glycotherapy.

The functions of cell surface proteins, such as growth factor receptors and virus/bacteria-entry receptors, can be dynamically regulated by oligosaccharide modifications. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of glycosylation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) entry into hepatoma cells. Infection of oligosaccharide-remodeling hepatoma cells with a pseudo virus of HBV, bio-nanocapsule (BNC), was evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Experimental hyperlipemia induces insulin resistance in cats.

The effect of experimental hyperlipemia on insulin sensitivity was evaluated in seven healthy cats. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher when lipid-heparin was administered (2,894 ± 1,526 mg/dl and 4.