Publications by authors named "Yuichi Sakai"

Identifying target proteins that interact with bioactive molecules is indispensable for understanding their mechanisms of action. In this study, we developed a uniform ribosome display technology using equal-length DNAs and mRNAs to improve molecular display principle for target identification. The equal-length DNAs were designed to contain various coding sequences for full-length proteins with molecular weights of up to 130 kDa and were used to synthesize equal-length mRNAs, which allowed the formation of full-length protein-ribosome-equal-length mRNA complexes.

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Three novel bacterial strains, FE4, FE10, and LA51, which are phylogenetically affiliated to the genera Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio, or Marinobacter, respectively, isolated from fertilized eggs and juveniles of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were characterized by a genome-based taxonomical approach including multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) combined with classical phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations. A molecular network reconstructed on the basis of nucleotide sequences of four phylogenetic maker protein genes revealed that the strains FE4, FE10, and LA51 were closely related to Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis, Vibrio lentus, and Marinobacter similis, respectively. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) comparisons against phylogenetically related species to FE4, FE10, and LA51 demonstrated that each newly described strain could not be identified as any previously described species within each genus showing < 95% ANI: 91.

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Background: Microbiome in early life has long-term effects on the host's immunological and physiological development and its disturbance is known to trigger various diseases in host Deuterostome animals. The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus is one of the most valuable marine Deuterostome invertebrates in Asia and a model animal in regeneration studies. To understand factors that impact on host development and holobiont maintenance, host-microbiome association has been actively studied in the last decade.

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A Gram-staining-negative, oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain PT1T, was isolated from the laboratory-reared larvae of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences revealed that PT1T was closely related to Neptuniibacter marinus ATR 1.1T (= CECT 8938T = DSM 100783T) and Neptuniibacter caesariensis MED92T (= CECT 7075T = CCUG 52065T) showing 98.

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The genus Thalassotalea is ubiquitous in marine environments, and up to 20 species have been described so far. A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain PTE2T was isolated from laboratory-reared larvae of the Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences revealed that PTE2T was closely related to Thalassotalea sediminis N211T (= KCTC 42588T = MCCC 1H00116T) with 97.

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A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain PT3T was isolated from laboratory-reared larvae of the Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences revealed that PT3T was closely related to Amphritea ceti RA1T (= KCTC 42154T = NBRC 110551T) and Amphritea spongicola MEBiC05461T (= KCCM 42943T = JCM 16668T) both with 98.3% sequence similarity, however, average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (in silico DDH) values among these three strains were below 95% and 70%, respectively, confirming the novelty of PT3T.

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Sea cucumbers possess the remarkable capacity to regenerate their body parts or organs. Regeneration of host organs and/or body parts involves reconstruction of the host associated microbiota, however, the dynamics and contribution of microbiota to the regeneration process are largely unknown due to a lack of experimental models. To track the dynamics of individual gut microbiomes during gut regeneration, both caged mariculture and laboratory isolator systems of sea cucumbers () were developed and longitudinal meta16S analyses were performed.

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Mechanical stress stimulates bone remodeling, which occurs through bone formation and resorption, resulting in bone adaptation in response to the mechanical stress. Osteocytes perceive mechanical stress loaded to bones and promote bone remodeling through various cellular processes. Osteocyte apoptosis is considered a cellular process to induce bone resorption during mechanical stress-induced bone remodeling, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.

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Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is an essential transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, and is activated by mechanical stress to promote osteoblast function. Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is caused by mutations of , and CCD patients exhibit malocclusion and often need orthodontic treatment. However, treatment is difficult because of impaired tooth movement, the reason of which has not been clarified.

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We investigated an unknown ellipsoidal body that is sometimes found in the ovaries of the sea cucumber . Its external morphology, comprising an ellipsoidal dark central body (about 150 m in length) and a surrounding transparent layer (about 50 m in thickness), resembled that of a protozoan cyst, particularly an oocyst. Histological observations of the developing ovaries clarified that a small mass of organisms appeared in the cytoplasm of young oocytes, proliferated in these cells through budding, became rod shaped and arranged radially, and, finally, formed an outer layer.

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Deposit-feeding sea cucumbers repeat ingestion of sediments and excretion of faeces daily and consequently increase bacterial abundance in sediments and promote organic matter mineralization. Such ecological roles are expected to be collaborative activities of sea cucumbers and the gut microbiota. Here, we performed a spatiotemporally broad 16S rRNA gene analysis using 109 samples from sea cucumber faeces and habitat sediments to explore potential contribution of their gut microbiota to the ecological roles.

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Photoactive molecules with the frameworks of chlorin and/or porphyrin possessing four perfluorinated aromatic rings were conjugated with maltotriose (Mal3) via the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction and subsequent deprotection reaction of the oligosaccharide moieties. The resulting oligosaccharide-conjugated molecules are ultimately improved as compared to the previously reported monosaccharide-counterparts in terms of water-solubility. In particular, a water-soluble chlorin derivative surrounded by four Mal3 molecules showed an excellent biocompatibility, strong photoabsorption in the longer wavelength regions, and a very high photocytotoxicity.

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Gut microbiome shapes various aspects of a host's physiology, but these functions in aquatic animal hosts have yet to be fully investigated. The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus Selenka is one such example. The large growth gap in their body size has delayed the development of intensive aquaculture, nevertheless the species is in urgent need of conservation.

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This is a case report about the successful orthodontic treatment of a bilateral cleft lip and palate patient by using a combination of bone grafting and subsequent prosthodontic rehabilitation. An adult patient with a bilateral cleft lip and palate presented with a concave profile, anterior and lateral crossbite, a markedly deep overbite, and residual bilateral alveolar clefts. His jaw movement patterns were unstable and irregular due to his collapsed bite.

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This study is an investigation of high-humidity aging effects on the total volatile organic compound (T-VOC) gas-sensing properties of platinum, palladium, and gold-loaded tin oxide (Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2)) thick films. The sensor responses of the high-humidity aged Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2), a non-aged Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2), and a high-humidity aged Pt/SnO(2) to T-VOC test gas have been measured. The high-humidity aging is an effective treatment for resistance to humidity change for the Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2) but not effective for the Pt/SnO(2).

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Conventionally, the combination of mandibular and maxillary osteotomy is used to correct both mandibular deviation and maxillary canted occlusal plane. This case report describes functional and morphologic changes after an alternative treatment with miniscrew anchorage instead of maxillary osteotomy. A boy, aged 16 years 5 months, had temporomandibular joint disease symptoms, facial asymmetry with mandibular deviation, and a maxillary canted occlusal plane.

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While it has been reported that the blood level of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in humans may be decreased by treatment with colestimide, the effects of the agent are still obscure. To address this issue, we examined the effect of Cholebine, a cholesterol lowering agent containing colestimide as an active ingredient, on the excretion of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PenCDF) in rats. In a short term study, male Wistar rats (5 weeks-old) were given chows including 3% Cholebine (PenCDF/Chol group) or control chows (PenCDF group) for 7 days after administration of 14C-labeled PenCDF (0.

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A female patient with a skeletal Class III severe anterior openbite was treated using miniplates as the anchorage. The patient was 15 years and 10 months of age when she reported to our university hospital with a chief complaint of anterior openbite and reversed occlusion. The patient had an anterior openbite with an overjet of -3.

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Introduction: Skeletal anterior open bite is a difficult problem to correct in orthodontic treatment. In adults, treatment of severe skeletal anterior open bite consists mainly of surgically repositioning the maxilla or the mandible. Recently, molar intrusion by using skeletal anchorage has been developed as a new strategy for open-bite treatment.

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