Proteomics-based analysis of invasion-related proteins in malignant gliomas.

One of the insidious biological features of gliomas is their potential to extensively invade normal brain tissue, yet molecular mechanisms that dictate this locally invasive behavior remain poorly understood. To investigate the molecular basis of invasion by malignant gliomas, proteomic analysis was performed using a pair of canine glioma subclones - J3T-1 and J3T-2 - that show different invasion phenotypes in rat brains but have similar genetic backgrounds. Two-dimensional protein electrophoresis of whole-cell lysates of J3T-1 (angiogenesis-dependent invasion phenotype) and J3T-2 (angiogenesis-independent invasion phenotype) was performed.

Novel direct targets of miR-19a identified in breast cancer cells by a quantitative proteomic approach.

The miR-17-92 cluster encodes 7 miRNAs inside a single polycistronic transcript, and is known as a group of oncogenic miRNAs that contribute to tumorigenesis in several cancers. However, their direct targets remain unclear, and it has been suggested that a single miRNA is capable of reducing the production of hundreds of proteins. The majority of reports on the identification of miRNA targets are based on computational approaches or the detection of altered mRNA levels, despite the fact that most miRNAs are thought to regulate their targets primarily by translational inhibition in higher organisms.

An outbreak of canine distemper virus in tigers (Panthera tigris): possible transmission from wild animals to zoo animals.

Canine distemper virus (CDV), a morbillivirus that causes one of the most contagious and lethal viral diseases known in canids, has an expanding host range, including wild animals. Since December 2009, several dead or dying wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were found in and around one safari-style zoo in Japan, and CDV was isolated from four of these animals. In the subsequent months (January to February 2010), 12 tigers (Panthera tigris) in the zoo developed respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, and CDV RNA was detected in fecal samples of the examined tigers.

Identification of direct targets for the miR-17-92 cluster by proteomic analysis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally repress the expression of target genes. Many miRNAs have been implicated in a number of diseases, including cancers. The miR-17-92 miRNA cluster is known as a body of oncogenic miRNAs, and has been shown to be overexpressed in several cancers, including lung cancer.

Experimental infection of Japanese encephalitis virus in dogs.

A previous serosurvey of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) among dogs suggested that dogs are well suited for use as sentinels for assessing the risk of JEV transmission to humans. To examine the clinical symptoms and duration of anti-JEV antibodies in dogs, three dogs were experimentally challenged with JEV. All JEV-infected dogs did not show any clinical signs or abnormal blood tests, except for C-reactive protein.

Full genome sequence and virulence analyses of the recent equine isolate of Japanese encephalitis virus.

In the past 25 years, there has been only one case of Japanese encephalitis in horses in Japan. We determined the full genome sequence of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strain JEV/eq/Tottori/2003 isolated from an afflicted horse and also analyzed its virulence in mice. The sequence analysis showed that the genome of JEV/eq/Tottori/2003 is similar to that of genotype I, a dominant genotype of JEV presently circulating in Japan.