Combined genogroup I and II norovirus infection at a nursery.

From November 2004 to April 2005, 5 cases of norovirus (NoV) occurred in Sakai City, Japan. These were all diffuse outbreaks due to infections with genogroup II genotype 4 (GII/4) virus strains. Similar outbreaks occurred throughout Japan; hence, GII/4 was assumed to be the prevalent NoV type.

Development of a routine laboratory direct detection system of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes.

A novel direct detection system has been developed for eight staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)-encoding genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh and sei) in milk. Specific detection by real-time PCR was successful for all SE-encoding genes in the reference strains. Furthermore, a novel DNA-preparation method with good reproducibility [coefficients of variation 0.

Association of an 11-12 kDa protease-resistant prion protein fragment with subtypes of dura graft-associated Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can develop in subjects given a cadaveric dura mater graft (dCJD). This disease has a phenotypic heterogeneity despite the lack of genetic variation. Numerous plaque-type prion protein (PrP) deposits are found in the brain of some but not all subjects; hence, there may be two subtypes of this clinical entity.

[Newly developed Norwalk-like viruses detection ELISA by combination with monoclonal antibodies and hyperimmune rabbit sera].

Norwalk-like viruses(NLVs) antigen detection ELISA was newly developed. It is constructed with monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) as a capture antibodies and hyperimmune rabbit sera as a detector antibodies. The two MAbs reacted broadly and specifically with genogroup I and genogroup II NLVs, respectively.

[Activation of aerobic bacteria used as BOD measurement of seawater].

Waste of seawater used for cooling water for machines in some kinds of industries in a littoral district in Sakai City, comes under the application of BOD control of the pollution control ordinance in Osaka Prefecture. But unfortunately the BOD measurement method of seawater sample has not been established. In order to establish the measurement method, we studied the strength of activation of aerobic bacteria in the incubation water used and the dilution water.

[A study on hemolytic streptococci (group A, B, C and G) isolated from throat of the middle-aged and advanced-aged--especially as compared with elementary school children].

Hemolytic streptococci were isolated from throat of middle-aged and advanced-aged and these organisms were classified into groups A, B, C and G. 1) Persons 15 to 39 years old were included in one group and persons from 40 years of age upward were divided into 5 groups every 10 years. Comparison of these groups were done.