Development of Dry and Liquid Duplex Reagent Mix-Based Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays as Novel Tools for the Rapid and Easy Quantification of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) Proviral Loads.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is prevalent worldwide, causing serious problems in the cattle industry. The BLV proviral load (PVL) is a useful index for estimating disease progression and transmission risk. We previously developed a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay to measure the PVL using the coordination of common motif (CoCoMo) degenerate primers.

Ten-Gram-Scale Total Synthesis of the Anticancer Drug Candidate E7130 to Supply Clinical Trials.

E7130 is a novel drug candidate with an exceedingly complex chemical structure of the halichondrin class, discovered by a total synthesis approach through joint research between the Kishi group at Harvard University and Eisai. Only 18 months after completion of the initial milligram-scale synthesis, ten-gram-scale synthesis of E7130 was achieved, providing the first good manufacturing practice (GMP) batch to supply clinical trials. This paper highlights the challenges in developing ten-gram-scale synthesis from the milligram-scale synthesis.

TiO-Photocatalyst-Induced Degradation of Dog and Cat Allergens under Wet and Dry Conditions Causes a Loss in Their Allergenicity.

Allergies to dogs and cats can cause enormous damage to human health and the economy. Dog and cat allergens are mainly found in dog and cat dander and are present in small particles in the air and in carpets in homes with dogs and cats. Cleaning houses and washing pets are the main methods for reducing allergens in homes; however, it is difficult to eliminate them completely.

Influence of Polymorphism and Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) Infection on Dairy Cattle Productivity.

Enzootic bovine leukosis caused by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) results in substantial damage to the livestock industry; however, we lack an effective cure or vaccine. polymorphism in BLV-infected cattle is associated with the proviral load (PVL), infectivity in the blood, development of lymphoma, and in utero infection of calves. Additionally, it is related to the PVL, infectivity, and anti-BLV antibody levels in milk.

Anti-BLV antibodies in whey correlate with bovine leukemia virus disease progression and polymorphism.

Introduction: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) belongs to the family and is a causative agent for enzootic bovine leucosis, the most common neoplastic disease affecting cattle worldwide. BLV proviral load (PVL) is associated with disease progression and transmission risk but requires blood collection and quantitative PCR testing. Anti-BLV antibodies in whey have been used as a diagnostic tool for BLV infection; however, quantitative utilization has not been fully investigated.

Epigallocatechin Gallate Stabilized by Cyclodextrin Inactivates Influenza Virus and Human Coronavirus 229E.

Natural products are attractive antiviral agents because they are environment-friendly and mostly harmless. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a type of catechin, is a well-known natural antiviral agent that can inhibit various viruses. However, EGCg easily oxidizes and loses its physiological activity.

Discovery of Tolerance to Itraconazole in Japanese Isolates of Aspergillus Section Nigri, Aspergillus tubingensis and Aspergillus welwitschiae, by Microscopic Observation.

Aspergillus section Nigri, a group of black Aspergillus, has several cryptic species that were recently discovered to be intrinsically resistant to azole antifungals. In this study, susceptibility testing of 35 clinical isolates of Aspergillus tubingensis and Aspergillus welwitschiae in Japan was carried out using microdilution method. Strains tolerant to itraconazole in A.

WO Photocatalyst Containing Copper Inactivates SARS-CoV-2 Pango Lineage A and Omicron BA.2 Variant in Visible Light and in Darkness.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019, which has been a global pandemic. Since SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through contaminated surfaces and aerosols, environmental disinfection is important to block the spread of the virus. Photocatalysts are attractive tools for virus inactivation and are widely used as air purifiers and coating materials.

No evidence of bovine leukemia virus proviral DNA and antibodies in human specimens from Japan.

Background: The potential risk and association of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) with human remains controversial as it has been reported to be both positive and negative in human breast cancer and blood samples. Therefore, establishing the presence of BLV in comprehensive human clinical samples in different geographical locations is essential.

Result: In this study, we examined the presence of BLV proviral DNA in human blood and breast cancer tissue specimens from Japan.

Polymorphism Controls Proviral Load and Infectivity of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) in Milk.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which causes enzootic bovine leukosis, is transmitted to calves through the milk of BLV-infected dams. Bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)- is a polymorphic gene associated with BLV infectivity and proviral load (PVL). However, the effect of polymorphism on the infectivity and PVL of milk from BLV-infected dams remains unknown.

Association of Bovine Leukemia Virus-Induced Lymphoma with BoLA-DRB3 Polymorphisms at DNA, Amino Acid, and Binding Pocket Property Levels.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) causes enzootic bovine leucosis, a malignant B-cell lymphoma in cattle. The DNA sequence polymorphisms of bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) have exhibited a correlation with BLV-induced lymphoma in Holstein cows. However, the association may vary between different cattle breeds.

Bovine major histocompatibility complex (BoLA) heterozygote advantage against the outcome of bovine leukemia virus infection.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) causes enzootic bovine leucosis. Host genetic heterozygosity at the major histocompatibility complex can enhance the ability to combat infectious diseases. However, heterozygote advantage is loci specific and depends on disease type.

Detection and molecular characterization of bovine leukemia virus in beef cattle presented for slaughter in Egypt.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, the most common neoplastic disease of cattle worldwide and a serious problem for the cattle industry. Previous studies have shown the molecular prevalence of BLV and the coexistence of BLV genotype-1 and -4 in Egyptian dairy cattle; however, the molecular characteristics of BLV in Egyptian beef cattle are unknown. Therefore, we collected blood samples of 168 beef cattle from slaughterhouses in three governorates in Egypt.

Visualizing bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-infected cells and measuring BLV proviral loads in the milk of BLV seropositive dams.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infects cattle and causes serious problems for the cattle industry, worldwide. Vertical transmission of BLV occurs via in utero infection and ingestion of infected milk and colostrum. The aim of this study was to clarify whether milk is a risk factor in BLV transmission by quantifying proviral loads in milk and visualizing the infectivity of milk.

A landmark in drug discovery based on complex natural product synthesis.

Despite their outstanding antitumour activity in mice, the limited supply from the natural sources has prevented drug discovery/development based on intact halichondrins. We achieved a total synthesis of C52-halichondrin-B amine (E7130) on a >10 g scale with >99.8% purity under GMP conditions.

A sensitive luminescence syncytium induction assay (LuSIA) based on a reporter plasmid containing a mutation in the glucocorticoid response element in the long terminal repeat U3 region of bovine leukemia virus.

Background: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) causes enzootic bovine leukosis, the most common neoplastic disease of cattle. Previously, we reported the luminescence syncytium induction assay (LuSIA), an assay for BLV infectivity based on CC81-BLU3G cells, which form syncytia expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) when co-cultured with BLV-infected cells. To develop a more sensitive LuSIA, we here focused on the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) within the U3 region of the BLV long terminal repeat (LTR).

High prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in coastal areas of Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam.

In Vietnam, especially central Vietnam, patients with fascioliasis are increasingly being reported. Since the fascioliasis is zoonotic, survey on the cattle fascioliasis should be informative for the control of human fascioliasis. In this study, the prevalence of cattle fascioliasis as well as the density of the intermediate host snails, Lymnaea swinhoei and L.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of RQN-18690A (18-Deoxyherboxidiene).

The first total synthesis of RQN-18690A (18-deoxyherboxidiene) and the determination of its absolute stereochemical configuration are described. The synthesis features an organocatalytic aldol reaction for the first step, 1,4- and 1,2- dual reductions of α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone followed by a domino reaction in a one-pot operation, and diastereoselective epoxidation with kinetic resolution.

Total Synthesis of the 7,10-Epimer of the Proposed Structure of Amphidinolide N, Part I: Synthesis of the C1-C13 Subunit.

Amphidinolide N, the structure of which has been recently revised, is a 26-membered macrolide featuring allyl epoxide and tetrahydropyran moieties with 13 chiral centers. Due to its challenging structure and extraordinary potent cytotoxicity, amphidinolide N is a highly attractive target of total synthesis. During our total synthesis studies of the 7,10-epimer of the proposed structure of amphidinolide N, we have synthesized the C1-C13 subunit enantio- and diastereoselectively.

Longistatin in tick saliva blocks advanced glycation end-product receptor activation.

Ticks are notorious hematophagous ectoparasites and vectors of many deadly pathogens. As an effective vector, ticks must break the strong barrier provided by the skin of their host during feeding, and their saliva contains a complex mixture of bioactive molecules that paralyze host defenses. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) mediates immune cell activation at inflammatory sites and is constitutively and highly expressed in skin.

Longistatin is an unconventional serine protease and induces protective immunity against tick infestation.

Classical serine proteases use the conserved Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad to hydrolyze substrates. Here, we show that longistatin, a salivary gland protein with two EF-hand domains from the vector tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, does not have the conserved catalytic triad, but still functions as a serine protease. Longistatin was synthesized in and secreted from the salivary glands of ticks, and is injected into host tissues during the acquisition of blood-meals.

Longistatin, a novel plasminogen activator from vector ticks, is resistant to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

Thrombo-occlusive diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality, and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is recommended for the treatment of the maladies. However, both t-PA and u-PA are rapidly inactivated by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Here, we show that longistatin, a novel plasminogen activator isolated from the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis is resistant to PAI-1.

Oral administration of immunopotentiator from Pantoea agglomerans 1 (IP-PA1) improves the survival of B16 melanoma-inoculated model mice.

To investigate the usefulness of the immunopotentiator from Pantoea agglomerans 1 (IP-PA1) as a supportive drug in melanoma therapy, we analyzed the immunological effects of IP-PA1 on melanoma-inoculated model mice. Oral administration of IP-PA1 increased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at 2 h after the administration and interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12 at 12 h after the administration in naïve BALB/cCrSlc mice as evaluated by ELISA. IP-PA1 did not affect the proliferation of melanoma cells directly determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Longistatin, a plasminogen activator, is key to the availability of blood-meals for ixodid ticks.

Ixodid ticks are notorious blood-sucking ectoparasites and are completely dependent on blood-meals from hosts. In addition to the direct severe effects on health and productivity, ixodid ticks transmit various deadly diseases to humans and animals. Unlike rapidly feeding vessel-feeder hematophagous insects, the hard ticks feed on hosts for a long time (5-10 days or more), making a large blood pool beneath the skin.