Antitumor Activity of the PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor SCL-1 in Various Mouse Tumor Models.

Background/aim: Immune checkpoint blockade has achieved great success as a targeted immunotherapy for solid cancers. However, small molecules that inhibit programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) binding are still being developed and have several advantages, such as high bioavailability. Previously, we reported a novel PD-1/PD-L1-inhibiting small compound, SCL-1, which showed potent antitumor effects on PD-L1 tumors.

Identification of membrane proteins targeted by small-molecule compounds using nanomagnetic beads.

In drug discovery research, it is important to identify target proteins of bioactive small-molecule compounds and analyse their functions. In this study, we examined whether target membrane proteins could be captured by compounds that bind to membrane proteins on the cell surface. For this purpose, we performed affinity purification using the compound-immobilized nanomagnetic beads.

Analysis of Factors Related to Variation in Dissolution Profiles Estimated from Continuously Conducted Dissolution Tests of Generic Products.

The development of generic pharmaceuticals involves a bioequivalence study to ensure the therapeutic equivalence of the test formulation to the original innovative product. The formulation characteristics of generic products are expected to be maintained in the long term after approval. This study analyzed the factors contributing to the changes in the dissolution profiles of approved products during their life cycles.

Distribution of Human Sapovirus Strain Genotypes over the Last Four Decades in Japan: a Global Perspective.

Sapovirus (SaV) infections are a public health problem because they cause acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages, both sporadically and as outbreaks. However, only a limited amount of SaV sequence information, especially whole-genome sequences for all the SaV genotypes, is publicly available. Therefore, in this study, we determined the full/near-full-length genomic sequences of 138 SaVs from the 2001 to 2015 seasons in 13 prefectures across Japan.

Development of Novel Small Antitumor Compounds Inhibiting PD-1/PD-L1 Binding.

Background/aim: Anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody is a successful treatment for patients with solid cancers; however, there are several disadvantages that need to be resolved. Oral small molecule anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have been developed and have good bioavailability.

Materials And Methods: Potent anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor candidates from the Shizuoka small compound library were screened and investigated for their antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo using a humanized mouse model.

Draft Genome Sequence of Campylobacter jejuni ST-508 Strain Shizu21005, Isolated from an Asymptomatic Food Handler in Japan, 2021.

Here, we report a draft genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni strain Shizu21005, isolated from a food handler with no symptoms in Japan on March 2021. Its genome size was 1,656,785 bp, with 2 rRNAs, 35 tRNAs, and a coverage of 330×.

Antimicrobial Drug-resistance Profile of isolated from Japanese Horse Mackerel ().

This study aimed at investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of The bacteria were isolated from wild-caught and farmed Japanese horse mackerel (), and examined for the antimicrobial drug resistance. Furthermore, the serotype, and the genes of thermostable direct hemolysin () and cholera toxin transcriptional activator () of the isolates were investigated by using a serotype testing kit and PCR method. Eighty-eight and 126 strains were isolated from wild-caught and farmed Japanese horse mackerel, respectively.

Sulfur-doped carbon dots@polydopamine-functionalized magnetic silver nanocubes for dual-modality detection of norovirus.

Synergistic dual-mode optical platforms are up-and-coming detection tools in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases. Here, novel dual-modality fluorescence (FL) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques have been integrated into a single probe for the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of norovirus (NoV). The developed FL-SER-based biosensor relies on the dual-signal enhancements of newly synthesized sulfur-doped agar-derived carbon dots (S-agCDs).

Molybdenum Trioxide Quantum Dot-Encapsulated Nanogels for Virus Detection by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on a 2D Substrate.

The use of nanogels (NGs) to modulate surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities is introduced as an innovative strategy to address certain critical issues with SERS-based immunoassays. This includes the chemical deformation of SERS nanotags, as well as their nonspecific interactions and effective "hotspots" formation. Herein, the polymeric cocoon and stimuli-responsive properties of NGs were used to encapsulate SERS nanotags containing plasmonic molybdenum trioxide quantum dots (MoO-QDs).

Diversity unearthed by the estimated molecular phylogeny and ecologically quantitative characteristics of uncultured Ehrlichia bacteria in Haemaphysalis ticks, Japan.

Ehrlichia species are obligatory intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropods, and some of these species cause febrile diseases in humans and livestock. Genome sequencing has only been performed with cultured Ehrlichia species, and the taxonomic status of such ehrlichiae has been estimated by core genome-based phylogenetic analysis. However, many uncultured ehrlichiae exist in nature throughout the world, including Japan.

Evaluating Methods for Detecting Escherichia albertii in Chicken Meat.

Abstract: Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen. The source of the E. albertii infection in most foodborne outbreaks is unknown because E.

Hollow magnetic-fluorescent nanoparticles for dual-modality virus detection.

Combination of magnetic nanomaterials with multifunctionality is an emerging class of materials that exhibit tremendous potential in advanced applications. Synthesizing such novel nanocomposites without compromising magnetic behavior and introducing added functional properties is proven challenging. In this study, an optically active quantum dot (QD) (core) encapsulated inside iron oxide (hollow shell) is prepared as the first electrochemical/fluorescence dual-modality probe.

Controlling distance, size and concentration of nanoconjugates for optimized LSPR based biosensors.

In this report, we have examined the distance- and size-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) between fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) and adjacent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to provide a comprehensive evaluation, aiming for practical application in biosensing platform. A series of peptides with different chain lengths, connected between QDs and AuNPs is initially applied to prepare various CdSe QDs-peptide-AuNP systems to optimize LSPR signal. Separation distance between two nanoparticles of these systems before and after conjugation is also confirmed by quantum mechanical modeling and corroborated with their LSPR influenced fluorescence variations.

Molybdenum Trioxide Nanocubes Aligned on a Graphene Oxide Substrate for the Detection of Norovirus by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

A novel biosensing system based on graphene-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (G-SERS) using plasmonic/magnetic molybdenum trioxide nanocubes (mag-MoO NCs) has been designed to detect norovirus (NoV) via a dual SERS nanotag/substrate platform. A novel magnetic derivative of MoO NCs served as the SERS nanotag and the immunomagnetic separation material of the biosensor. Single-layer graphene oxide (SLGO) was adopted as the 2D SERS substrate/capture platform and acted as the signal reporter, with the ability to accommodate an additional Raman molecule as a coreporter.

Coinfection with Human Norovirus and Escherichia coli O25:H4 Harboring Two Chromosomal blaCTX-M-14 Genes in a Foodborne Norovirus Outbreak in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Abstract: Hospital-acquired infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are a global problem. Healthy people can carry ESBL-producing E. coli in the intestines; thus, E.

Growth Characteristics of Rickettsia Species LON Strains Closely Related to Rickettsia japonica Isolated from Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks in Mouse Derived L929 and Human-Derived THP-1 Host Cell Lines.

Non-pathogenic Rickettsia species LON strains closely related to an agent of Japanese spotted fever (JSF), R. japonica, were isolated in Japan from Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in 2001. However, the biological properties of LONs in mammalian host cells are poorly understood.

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus exhibiting reduced susceptibility to baloxavir due to a PA E23K substitution detected from a child without baloxavir treatment.

Human-to-human transmission of PA I38 mutant influenza A(H3N2) viruses with reduced baloxavir susceptibility has been reported in Japan. In December 2019, we detected a PA E23K mutant A(H1N1)pdm09 virus from a child without baloxavir treatment. The PA E23K mutant virus exhibited reduced baloxavir susceptibility but remained susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors.

Use of Target-Specific Liposome and Magnetic Nanoparticle Conjugation for the Amplified Detection of Norovirus.

Viral diseases are one of the most life-threatening diseases as they can erupt unpredictably and spread rapidly in any medium with a very small number of particles. Therefore, the key for lethal virus detection should be highly sensitive in the early-stage detection, which can help increase the chance of survival. Amplification of the detecting signal is one of the most promising mechanisms for the detection of low-concentration analytes.

Author Correction: Roles of GalNAc-disialyl Lactotetraosyl Antigens in Renal Cancer Cells.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Dual modality sensor using liposome-based signal amplification technique for ultrasensitive norovirus detection.

Sensitive and accurate detection methods for infectious viruses are the pressing need for effective disease diagnosis and treatment. Herein, based on VO nanoparticles-encapsulated liposomes (VONP-LPs) we demonstrate a dual-modality sensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of the virus. The sensing performance relies on intrinsic peroxidase and electrochemical redox property of VO nanoparticles (VO NPs).

Lake water phosphate reduction with advanced wastewater treatment in watershed, at Lake Hamana, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, from 1995 to 2016.

Lake Hamana is a semi-enclosed brackish lake amid agricultural and residential land. Monthly vertical profiles of nutrients, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) at twelve sampling stations in the lake were obtained from 1995 to 2016. Freshwater samples were also obtained from five stations in the river flowing into the lake.

Identification of benzo[d]pyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives as CENP-E inhibitors.

Kinesin centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) has emerged as a potential target for the development of anticancer drugs due to its involvement in the mitotic progression of the cell cycle. Although several CENP-E inhibitors have been reported, more knowledge of chemical structures and inhibitory mechanisms is necessary for developing CENP-E inhibitors. Here, we describe the identification of new CENP-E inhibitors.