Pattern recognition receptors involved in the immune system of hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri).

The initial defense against invading pathogenic microbes is the activation of innate immunity by binding of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). To explain the action of PRRs from hagfish, one of the extant jawless vertebrates, we purified the GlcNAc recognition complex (GRC) from serum using GlcNAc-agarose. The GRC comprises four proteins of varying molecular masses: 19 kDa, 26 kDa, 27 kDa, and 31 kDa.

Association of eating habits and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio among Japanese female university students: A cross-sectional study.

University students are prone to changes in their health status and lifestyle due to changes in their living environment and associated stress and anxiety. These changes may affect them in later life. This study utilized a cross-sectional study among Japanese female university students to examine dietary factors affecting their fecal microbiota.

Effect of Postoperative Oral Intake on Prognosis for Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer are at risk of prolonged hospital stay for postoperative malnutrition. Postoperative early oral feeing is a part of the "enhanced recovery after surgery protocol" for coping with this risk. However, the usefulness of early oral intake during perioperatively is questionable.

The first see-through frog created by breeding: description, inheritance patterns, and dermal chromatophore structure.

We have succeeded in creating see-through frogs from natural color mutants of the Japanese brown frog Rana japonica, which usually possesses an ochre or brown back; this coloration enables the organs, blood vessels, and eggs to be observed through the skin without performing dissection. We crossed two kinds of recessive color mutant (black-eyed and gray-eyed) frogs through artificial insemination, and F2 offspring produced frogs whose skin is translucent throughout the life cycle. Three kinds of dermal chromatophores--xanthophores, iridophores, and melanophores--are observed in a layered arrangement in the skin of wild-type frogs, but few chromatophores were present in the skin of the see-through frogs.

Inbreeding Ratio and Genetic Relationships among Strains of the Western Clawed Frog, Xenopus tropicalis.

The Western clawed frog, Xenopus tropicalis, is a highly promising model amphibian, especially in developmental and physiological research, and as a tool for understanding disease. It was originally found in the West African rainforest belt, and was introduced to the research community in the 1990s. The major strains thus far known include the Nigerian and Ivory Coast strains.

Microsatellite marker development by multiplex ion torrent PGM sequencing: a case study of the endangered Odorrana narina complex of frogs.

The endangered Ryukyu tip-nosed frog Odorrana narina and its related species, Odorrana amamiensis, Odorrana supranarina, and Odorrana utsunomiyaorum, belong to the family Ranidae and are endemically distributed in Okinawa (O. narina), Amami and Tokunoshima (O. amamiensis), and Ishigaki and Iriomote (O.

Hagfish C1q: its unique binding property.

Hagfish C1q (HaC1q) was identified and characterized as a pattern-recognition molecule (PRM) in the hagfish complement system. The serum from hagfish, Eptatretus burgeri, was applied to a GlcNAc-agarose column and eluted sequentially with GlcNAc and EDTA. Four (31, 27, 26, and 19 kDa) and one (26 kDa) proteins were detected as bound molecules in the GlcNAc- and the EDTA-eluates, respectively.

An Attempt at Captive Breeding of the Endangered Newt Echinotriton andersoni, from the Central Ryukyus in Japan.

Anderson's crocodile newt (Echinotriton andersoni) is distributed in the Central Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, but environmental degradation and illegal collection over the last several decades have devastated the local populations. It has therefore been listed as a class B1 endangered species in the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is at high risk of extinction in the wild. The species is also protected by law in both Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures.

Artificial production and natural breeding of the endangered frog species Odorrana ishikawae, with special reference to fauna conservation in the laboratory.

Odorrana ishikawae is listed as a class IB endangered species in the IUCN Red List and is protected by law in both Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan. Here, in an effort to help effectively preserve the genetic diversity of this endangered species in the laboratory, we tested a farming technique involving the artificial breeding of frogs, and also promoted natural breeding in the laboratory. Field-caught male/female pairs of the Amami and Okinawa Island populations were artificially bred using an artificial insemination method in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 breeding seasons (March to April).

Identification and structure-activity relationship of an antimicrobial peptide of the palustrin-2 family isolated from the skin of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae.

Recently, we identified nine novel antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the endangered anuran species, Odorrana ishikawae, to assess its innate immune system. In this study an additional antimicrobial peptide was initially isolated based on antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The new antimicrobial peptide belonging to the palustrin-2 family was named palustrin-2ISb.

Characterization of novel antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae by shotgun cDNA cloning.

We recently reported the primary structures, antimicrobial activities and cDNA precursors of nine novel antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the endangered anuran species, Odorranaishikawae. Their cDNA clones revealed a highly conserved approximately 60 bp region upstream of the start codon. This conserved region was used in the "shotgun" cDNA cloning method to reveal additional cDNAs encoding novel antimicrobial peptides of O.

Mitochondrial DNA diversification, molecular phylogeny, and biogeography of the primitive rhacophorid genus Buergeria in East Asia.

In this study we sought to clarify the evolutionary relationships and biogeographic history of the bell-ring frog, Buergeria buergeri (family Rhacophoridae), and two congeneric species Buergeria japonica and Buergeria robusta, by analyzing three mitochondrial (mt) genes: 12S rRNA, Cytb, and ND5. Phylogenetic analyses based on gene data showed the mt clades corresponding to the Buergeria species and three major haplogroups within B. buergeri.

Identification and characterization of antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae.

The endangered anuran species, Odorrana ishikawae, is endemic to only two small Japanese Islands, Amami and Okinawa. To assess the innate immune system in this frog, we investigated antimicrobial peptides in the skin using artificially bred animals. Nine novel antimicrobial peptides containing the C-terminal cyclic heptapeptide domain were isolated on the basis of antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli.

Complete mitochondrial genomes and novel gene rearrangements in two dicroglossid frogs, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis hexadactylus, from Bangladesh.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial (mt) genomes from two dicroglossid frogs, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Indian Bullfrog) and Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Indian Green frog). The genome sizes are 20462 bp in H. tigerinus and 20280 bp in E.

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae (family Ranidae) and unexpected diversity of mt gene arrangements in ranids.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of an endangered Japanese frog, Odorrana ishikawae (family Ranidae). We also sequenced partial mt genomes of three other Odorrana and six ranid species to survey the diversity of genomic organizations and elucidate the phylogenetic problems remaining in this frog family. The O.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three neobatrachian anurans: a case study of divergence time estimation using different data and calibration settings.

We sequenced the whole mitochondrial (mt) genomes of three neobatrachian species: Japanese tree frog Hyla japonica, Japanese common toad Bufo japonicus, and narrow-mouthed toad Microhyla okinavensis. The gene arrangements of these genomes diverged from that of basal anurans (suborder Archaeobatrachia), but are the same as that of the members of derived frogs (i.e.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of a Malagasy poison frog Mantella madagascariensis: evolutionary implications on mitochondrial genomes of higher anuran groups.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of a Malagasy poison frog, Mantella madagascariensis (family Mantellidae), and partial sequences of two Mantella (M. baroni and M. bernhardi) and two additional mantellid species (Boophis madagascariensis and Mantidactylus cf.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Schlegel's tree frog Rhacophorus schlegelii (family Rhacophoridae): duplicated control regions and gene rearrangements.

The complete nucleotide sequence (21,359 bp) of the mitochondrial DNA of the rhacophorid frog Rhacophorus schlegelii was determined. The gene content, nucleotide composition, and codon usage of this genome corresponded to those typical of vertebrates. However, the Rh.

cDNA cloning of a mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP) gene from hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri).

Hagfish, agnathan cyclostome, is the most primitive extant vertebrate and its complement (C) system seems to be a primordial system in comparison with a well-developed C system in gnathostome vertebrates. From a phylogenic perspective of defense mechanisms, we have isolated complement C3 from the serum of hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri). In this study, we first attempted to identify a hagfish Bf or C2 as a C3 convertase by RT-PCR using degenerative primers designed on the basis of the conserved amino acid stretches among the several kinds of serine proteases.

Complete nucleotide sequence and gene rearrangement of the mitochondrial genome of the bell-ring frog, Buergeria buergeri (family Rhacophoridae).

In this study we determined the complete nucleotide sequence (19,959 bp) of the mitochondrial DNA of the rhacophorid frog Buergeria buergeri. The gene content, nucleotide composition, and codon usage of B. buergeri conformed to those of typical vertebrate patterns.

Geographic variability in expression of the sex-linked AAT-1 gene of the bell-ring frog, Buergeria buergeri.

Cytological observation and artificial crossing experiments were used to examine the geographic differences in the sex-determining mechanism and mode of inheritance of the sex-linked AAT-1 gene in the bell-ring frog, Buergeria buergeri. The AAT-1 phenotypes were also examined by allozyme analysis using field-caught females and males collected from 19 populations from the Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu islands of Japan, in order to comprehensively elucidate the geographic variability in the expression of the sex-linked AAT-1 gene of B. buergeri.

Engrailed Expression during Development of a Lamprey, Lampetra japonica: A Possible Clue to Homologies between Agnathan and Gnathostome Muscles of the Mandibular Arch: (lamprey/engrailed/mandibular arch/myogenesis/homology).

Developing lampreys were fixed at frequent intervals between the gastrula stage (6 days) and the earliest ammocoete larva (31 days). Expression of lamprey engrailed (en) gene was studied by labeling with a polyclonal antiserum (αEnhb-1) raised against mouse en protein. Western blotting of proteins from developing lampreys reveals a major band (40±10 M ), which is probably lamprey en protein.