Metagenomic analysis provides functional insights into seasonal change of a non-cyanobacterial prokaryotic community in temperate coastal waters.

The taxonomic compositions of marine prokaryotic communities are known to follow seasonal cycles, but functional metagenomic insights into this seasonality is still limited. We analyzed a total of 22 metagenomes collected at 11 time points over a 14-month period from two sites in Sendai Bay, Japan to obtain seasonal snapshots of predicted functional profiles of the non-cyanobacterial prokaryotic community. Along with taxonomic composition, functional gene composition varied seasonally and was related to chlorophyll a concentration, water temperature, and salinity.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection among Returnees to Japan from Wuhan, China, 2020.

In early 2020, Japan repatriated 566 nationals from China. Universal laboratory testing and 14-day monitoring of returnees detected 12 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection; initial screening results were negative for 5. Common outcomes were remaining asymptomatic (n = 4) and pneumonia (n = 6).

Corrigendum: Entire CD3ε, δ, and γ humanized mouse to evaluate human CD3-mediated therapeutics.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep45839.

Daptomycin-induced Eosinophilic Pneumonia and a Review of the Published Literature.

A 53-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cellulitis and osteomyelitis. Twenty-four days after the initiation of daptomycin and sulbactam/ampicillin, he developed a fever and pulmonary infiltration. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed a high number of eosinophils, while an intracutaneous test revealed positivity for daptomycin.

Spondylodiscitis due to Parvimonas micra diagnosed by the melting temperature mapping method: a case report.

Background: It has been suggested that more than 100 bacterial species can be identified using only seven universal bacterial primer sets in the melting temperature (Tm) mapping method and that these findings can be obtained within 3 h of sterile site collection.

Case Presentation: A 67-year-old Japanese man with type 2 diabetes visited our hospital complaining of progressive lower back pain for 2 months. The patient was suspected to have spondylodiscitis on magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.

Entire CD3ε, δ, and γ humanized mouse to evaluate human CD3-mediated therapeutics.

T cell-mediated immunotherapy is an attractive strategy for treatment in various disease areas. In this therapeutic approach, the CD3 complex is one of the key molecules to modulate T cell functions; however, in many cases, we cannot evaluate the drug candidates in animal experiments because the therapeutics, usually monoclonal antibodies specific to human CD3, cannot react to mouse endogenous Cd3. Although immunodeficient mice transfused with human hematopoietic stem or precursor cells, known as humanized mice, are available for these studies, mice humanized in this manner are not completely immune competent.

Correlations of behavioral deficits with brain pathology assessed through longitudinal MRI and histopathology in the R6/2 mouse model of HD.

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The R6/2 mouse model of HD expresses a mutant version of exon 1 HTT and develops motor and cognitive impairments, a widespread huntingtin (HTT) aggregate pathology and brain atrophy. Despite the vast number of studies that have been performed on this model, the association between the molecular and cellular neuropathology with brain atrophy, and with the development of behavioral phenotypes remains poorly understood.

Characterization of the low pH/low nutrient-resistant LNCaP cell subline LNCaP-F10.

Intratumoral regions of low extracellular pH and low nutrition are common features of solid tumors. Although cancer cells normally die when they are removed from their environment, a small population of cells survive. In the present study, the subline LNCaP-F10, of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, was isolated and its low pH/low nutrient-resistant properties were examined.

Inorganic phosphate homeostasis in sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter Npt2b⁺/⁻ mice.

An inorganic phosphate (P(i))-restricted diet is important for patients with chronic kidney disease and patients on hemodialysis. Phosphate binders are essential for preventing hyperphosphatemia and ectopic calcification. The sodium-dependent P(i) (Na/P(i)) transport system is involved in intestinal P(i) absorption and is regulated by several factors.

[Transferability of vanA gene from vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in the digestive tract of specific pathogen-free mice].

We evaluated the transferability of vanA gene from vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREF) to vancomycin-sensitive E. faecalis (VSEF) in vitro and in vivo. In vitro conjugal transfer experiment by filter mating, the vanA gene of VREF was transferable at the high frequency to VSEF and a mutant strain which cured vanA gene of VREF.

Opsonophagocytic dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis and low responses to tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lipopolysaccharide in patients' blood.

To evaluate their defense level against bacterial infection of patients with liver cirrhosis, we compared the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) response of peripheral blood from 40 patients with that from 40 healthy volunteers. Small quantities of heparinized whole blood (100 microl; final dilution, 1:10) were used for phagocytes, and CL was measured on addition of nonopsonized zymosan or Escherichia coli without special opsonization. Whole blood CL in cirrhotic patients was significantly lower than that in the healthy controls.