Springer Acta Medica Okayama 0918-9440 2026 CDPKs as Ca2+ signaling decoders in guard cell signaling EN Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Stomatal movements are essential for balancing photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake with water conservation and defense against pathogens. These processes are controlled by complex signaling networks in guard cells, in which calcium ions (Ca2+) act as a ubiquitous second messenger. Although stimulus-specific Ca2+ signatures have been well documented, how these signals are decoded into distinct physiological responses remains a central question in plant biology. Increasing evidence highlights calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) as key signal decoders in guard cell signaling. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of how CDPKs perceive and translate Ca2+ fluctuations into stomatal responses. We focus on the roles of CDPKs in signaling pathways triggered by diverse stimuli, including phytohormones such as abscisic acid ABA, jasmonates, and salicylic acid, as well as biotic cues such as microbe- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs/PAMPs) and pathogen infection. We also discuss how gaseous signals and metabolic cues are integrated into CDPK-mediated pathways. In addition to their established role as downstream decoders of Ca2+ signals, emerging studies suggest that CDPKs can act upstream of Ca2+ oscillations and may also function through Ca2+-independent mechanisms. Together, these findings highlight the context-dependent and integrative roles of CDPKs in regulating stomatal behavior, contributing to plant fitness under fluctuating environmental conditions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0341-8162 269 2026 Aeolian dust provenance across the Eurasian Asian steppe from grain-size dependent quartz δ18O in surface soils 110109 EN Geer Teni Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba Ryoji Tanaka The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University Maki Asano Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba Kenji Tamura Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba Aeolian dust from the Eurasian interior significantly impacts climate, ecosystems, and soil formation, but the role of the Eurasian steppe as a dust source remains uncertain. We present grain-size-sorted quartz δ18O values in topsoil at 24 sites across the Eurasian steppe, from Ukraine and Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, Mongolia, and Inner Mongolia. Quartz fractions were separated from four fine soil classes (<2, 2–10, 10–20, 20–50 μm) at all sites, with additional coarse classes (50–200, 200–500, 500–2000 μm) at lithologically distinct locations. Coarse quartz grains in the Mongolian–Inner Mongolian Highlands show a relatively low and narrow δ18O range (7.6–9.0‰) over plutonic bedrocks and more variable higher values (8.9–17.8‰) over sedimentary bedrocks, indicating dependence on local lithology. In contrast, fine quartz grains (2–50 μm) exhibit a δ18O trend independent of bedrock lithology, indicating the values of regionally homogenized dust components. The δ18O values of the finest quartz fractions, exhibiting the highest at each site, decreased from the Western Steppe Plain (19.0 ± 0.8‰) through the Central Upland Steppe (18.0 ± 0.7‰) to the Mongolian–Inner Mongolian Highlands (13.8 ± 1.0‰), reflecting the distal dust input. Comparison with published quartz δ18O values for Mongolian and Northern China deserts and East Asian soils suggests that variable mixtures of these steppe end-members with Gobi and northern Chinese desert sources, along different atmospheric pathways of the East Asian winter monsoon, mid-latitude westerlies, and subtropical jets, can explain the aerosol-sized quartz in Japan and Korea. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0304-4238 361 2026 Far-red-enriched ultra-long-day conditions induce constitutive FT expression and rapid flowering in radish rootstocks, promoting graft-mediated floral induction in Brassicaceae crops 114818 EN Ko Motoki Graduate School of Environmental, Life and Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nami Kakita School of agriculture, Okayama University Tanjuro Goto Graduate School of Environmental, Life and Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ken-ichiro Yasuba Graduate School of Environmental, Life and Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Efficient floral induction is essential for breeding and seed production in Brassicaceae crops, particularly for late-bolting cultivars and plant-vernalization–type species such as cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.), which require substantial time and labor for artificial flower induction. A graft-mediated floral induction method was recently developed for cabbage, enabling flowering without vernalization treatment by grafting cabbage scions onto radish (Raphanus sativus L.) rootstocks. Although high expression of florigen gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in the rootstocks is a key determinant of success, environmental conditions capable of inducing strong FT expression in radish have remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a far-red-enriched ultra-long-day photoperiod (ULD-FR) markedly upregulates expression of radish FT homolog RsFTa and greatly enhances graft-mediated floral induction in cabbage. Under the ULD-FR condition, RsFTa expression remained constitutively high throughout the day, with daily transcript abundance increasing more than tenfold compared with standard high red/far-red (R/FR) ratio long-day conditions that employed fluorescent lamps. FT protein accumulation in cabbage scions grafted onto radish rootstocks was also strongly elevated, resulting in rapid flowering approximately 30 days after grafting. ULD-FR also promoted flowering in rapid-cycling Brassica rapa and B. oleracea accessions, and induced flowering in a vernalization-requiring R. sativus cultivar without low temperature treatment, suggesting that the response may be broadly conserved across Brassicaceae. Because ULD-FR can be implemented using standard lighting equipment by adding an FR light source, it presents potential utility as a versatile tool for breeding-related applications, including generation advancement and flowering synchronization among divergent accessions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0168-1702 367 2026 Virome of the fungi associated with mushroom dry bubble disease 199714 EN Lóránt Hatvani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sakae Hisano Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hideki Kondo Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hitomi Sugahara Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Paul Telengech Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sabitree Shahi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sarah Remi Ibiang Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sándor Kocsubé Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged Tünde Kartali Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged David A. Fitzpatrick Genome Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Maynooth University Helen Grogan Teagasc Food Research Center, Horticulture Development Department Nobuhiro Suzuki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Dry bubble disease, attributed to the filamentous fungus Lecanicillium fungicola (Cordycipitaceae) results in huge yield losses in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation worldwide. The possibilities for controlling the disease using commercial fungicides are highly limited, and therefore, there is an increasing demand for novel, alternative means of pest management. Our research objective was the comprehensive examination of viruses in the causal agents of dry bubble disease, which may open up an avenue for its virocontrol in the future. Out of 57 fungal isolates obtained from dry bubble-affected A. bisporus crops in various countries, 47 (82%) were confirmed by ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequence analysis as L. fungicola. In addition, different members of the genera Akanthomyces and Simplicillium (7 and 3 isolates, respectively), yet unknown to cause dry bubble symptoms, have also been detected. Cellulose column chromatography revealed the presence of double-stranded (ds) RNA in seven L. fungicola and three Akanthomyces sp. isolates, suggesting viral infection. The ten dsRNA-positive and eight randomly selected dsRNA-negative fungal strains were subjected to rRNA-depletion high-throughput RNA-sequencing analysis. The presence of seven new viruses representing four new species in the established families, Partitiviridae, Polymycoviridae, Botourmiaviridae and the narna-like virus group, and three previously established/proposed species in the families Chrysoviridae and “Mycovirgaviridae” were confirmed. The impact of the detected and identified viruses on their host fungi, and their potential applicability for virocontrol purposes will be examined in the future. This study provides the first detailed report on viruses of mushroom pathogenic fungi. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0971-5894 2026 Suppression of salt-enhanced apoplastic flow by salicylic acid in rice EN Md. Asadulla Al Galib Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Maoxiang Zhao Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Toshiyuki Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshihiko Hirai Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshitaka Nakashima Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Salinity enhances apoplastic flow, resulting in an increment of Na+ uptake and a lower K+/Na+ ratio. Salicylic acid (SA) plays an important role in improving salinity tolerance in plants. The effect of exogenous SA on apoplastic flow in salt-treated rice seedlings was studied using an apoplastic tracer, 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulphonic acid (PTS) in light. Application of NaCl at 25 mM to the hydroponic solution significantly increased PTS uptake, while 25 mM NaCl did not affect seedling growth. Application of 25 mM NaNO3 increased PTS uptake to the same degree. Salinity significantly increased sodium (Na+) content but had no significant effect on potassium (K+) content, resulting in a lower K+/Na+ ratio. The application of SA at 0.05 mM and 0.1 mM to the hydroponic solution reduced Na-enhanced PTS uptake. Salicylic acid at 0.05 mM and 0.1 mM significantly reduced Na+ content and slightly increased K+ content in the shoots of rice seedlings, resulting in a higher K+/Na+ ratio. However, SA at up to 0.1 mM did not increase SA contents in shoots under salt stress. These results suggest that exogenous SA reduces Na+ uptake by suppressing Na+-enhanced apoplastic flow in rice seedlings. These findings provide insight into modulation of Na+ transport pathways from roots to shoots by SA and may allow us to utilize brackish water for rice cultivation and to improve salt-tolerant rice through suppression of salt-enhanced apoplastic flow by chemicals such as salicylic acid. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学教育推進機構 教師教育開発センター Acta Medica Okayama 2186-1323 16 2026 説明的文章の指導における「内省」を促す批判的読み ―高等学校１年生を対象として― 15 29 EN Yumi SAISHO Graduate School of Education (Professional Degree Corse), Okayama University Masafumi IKEDA Faculty of Education, Okayama University 10.18926/CTED/70357 　批判的読みは，現代では欠かせない能力であり，学習指導要領にも明記されている。近年，批判的読みの指導に関する研究がなされているものの，内容的な価値の検討や社会的な文脈のなかで捉えることが希薄だとする指摘や，「反省性」という観点に着目した批判的読みを求める声もある。そこで，本稿では，文章そのものを批判的に読むだけでなく，自身の持っている考えをも批判的に捉える（内省する）ことを促す授業を開発した。その手立てとして，複数の社会認識が存在する二つの教材の読み比べたうえで，対立する立場からの意見交換を行うことや，教材に対する評価の記述，その記述（自己の読み）を学習者自身が評価するといった活動を取り入れた。学習者の記述の分析からは，意識的な内省に至らなかった学習者も見受けられたものの，約６割の学習者の記述には変容が見られ，用いた手立ては効果があったと推測できることを指摘した。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 16 1 2026 Tribolium castaneum with longer duration of tonic immobility have more variations corresponding to the human Parkinson’s disease genomic region 8840 EN Keisuke Tanaka NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture Ken Sasaki Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University Shunsuke Yajima NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture Takahisa Miyatake Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and is also a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by dopamine deficiency. We established strains artificially selected for longer and shorter durations of tonic immobility, an antipredator behavior that has received much attention recently, in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, a model insect species for molecular analyses different from Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies have shown that the long strains (L-strain) have significantly lower levels of dopamine expression in the brain than the short strains (S-strain) and that they have an abnormal pattern of locomotor activity. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that administering dopamine to L-strain beetles reduces the duration of tonic immobility. Transcriptome analysis of brain and thorax of the L- and S-strains also showed differences in mRNA expression of genes involved in dopamine synthesis and tyrosine metabolism. These results indicate that the phenotype and molecular basis of the L-strain are similar to those of Parkinson’s syndrome symptoms. In order to establish a link between T. castaneum and PD, we compared the DNA sequences of the L- and S-strains to human genes affecting dopaminergic pathways. The DNA comparison revealed many mutated regions in these genes in the L-strain. We discuss the relationship between dopaminergic pathway genes and PD-like phenotypes across humans, Drosophila, and the red flour beetle. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1613-6810 21 50 2025 Collagen Signaling via DDR1 Exacerbates Barriers to Macromolecular Drug Delivery in a 3D Model of Pancreatic Cancer Fibrosis e06926 EN Mayu Ohira Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Moe Kitamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyo Iwasaki Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Haruko Ohta‐Okano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiyori Tsujii Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Reika Nakamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takuya Nakazawa Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Akihiro Nishiguchi Biomaterials Field, Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science Masaya Yamamoto Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University Kensuke Osada Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST) Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Horacio Cabral Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Atsushi Masamune Division of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University Mitsunobu R. Kano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Fibrosis is a significant barrier to drug delivery in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and contributes to its dismal prognosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) drive fibrosis by excessively secreting extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen I. Collagen I is thought to physically obstruct the delivery of macromolecules, such as albumin, antibodies, and nanomedicines. Apart from its structural role, collagen signals through dedicated cell surface receptors, such as the discoidin domain receptors (DDR) 1/2. However, whether and how collagen signaling contributes to fibrotic barrier generation remains uncharacterized. Here, a 3D culture model of PDAC fibrosis constructed from patient PSCs is used to assess the contribution of DDR1/2-mediated collagen signaling. DDR1/2 inhibition diminishes collagen I expression in PSCs to enhance macromolecular delivery. Moreover, MEK inhibitors exacerbate the fibrotic barrier by up-regulating collagen I, an effect reversed by inhibiting DDR1/2. Through isoform-specific targeting, inhibiting DDR1, but not DDR2, is shown to be effective. Downstream of DDR, the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is demonstrated, particularly alternative mTOR complexes involving MEAK7 and GIT1. Altogether, the results show in vitro that DDR1-mediated collagen signaling exacerbates the fibrotic barrier and may be targeted to enhance macromolecular drug delivery in PDAC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院教育学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1883-2423 191 2026 腎機能の理解を促すための教材開発と中学校理科における授業実践 111 117 EN Motonori ANDO Faculty of Education, Okayama University Risa IKEDA Seishin Junior High School/Seishin Girls’ High School Fukuto TANAKA Seishin Junior High School/Seishin Girls’ High School 10.18926/bgeou/70200 　本研究では腎臓におけるろ過後，ろ液の成分がどのような物質で構成されているのか，その後の腎臓での再吸収過程を含めて，中学生の腎機能の理解を促す教材開発を試みた。まず，市販の果汁を含む飲料水をメンブレンフィルターでろ過し，ろ液が透明になるのは不溶性物質が除去されるためであること，また，ろ液の甘さから水溶性の糖分はろ過されることを確認した。開発した腎臓糸球体モデルは，腎小体に見立てた蓋に孔を開けたプラスチック容器，赤血球や血液中に存在する様々な物質を模した色や大きさの異なるビーズ，から構成される。生徒は，この教材を用いた授業実践を経て，血球以外の水溶性成分は要不要に関わらず一旦腎小体でろ過されてしまうこと，生体に必要なブドウ糖は尿細管において能動的に再吸収されることを理解し，腎臓のろ過と再吸収に関する新しい考え方と関連する概念を獲得することができた，と考えられた。本研究で開発した教材を用いることにより，生徒の腎臓の役割についての理解を深化させること，同時に自身の健康への関心を高めさせること，について有効であることが分かった。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 2752-6542 5 1 2025 Chloroplast heat shock protein cpHsc70-1 interacts with thylakoid membrane remodeling protein VIPP1 C-terminal tail and controls VIPP1 oligomer assembly pgaf393 EN Di Li Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sarah Wanjiru Gachie Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shin-ichiro Ozawa Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Martin Scholz Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster Michael Hippler Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Wataru Sakamoto Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms depend on the thylakoid membranes (TMs) for light-driven energy conversion. Recent studies on TM homeostasis (thylakostasis) have highlighted the essential role of the TM remodeling protein vesicle-inducing protein in plastid 1 (VIPP1). As a member of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport-III (ESCRT-III)/phage shock protein A (PspA)/VIPP1 superfamily, VIPP1 forms large ring- and filament-like homo-oligomeric structures that exhibit a membrane remodeling activity. The oligomerization status was proposed to be modulated by the intrinsically disordered C-terminal tail (Vc), whereas its functional role remained unclear. Notably, this Vc region is conserved not only in photosynthetic VIPP1 but also in the PspA proteins of extremophilic species, implicating its role in membrane stress responses. To investigate the role of the Vc region in VIPP1 assembly, we performed coimmunoprecipitation assays in Arabidopsis chloroplasts and identified chloroplast-localized HSP70 proteins (cpHsc70) as major interactors. Among the two isoforms, cpHsc70-1 was found to be specifically required for modulating VIPP1 oligomeric assembly and dynamics in response to heat stress. Genetic analyses revealed that cpHsc70-1 facilitates the disassembly of VIPP1 oligomers, similarly to Vps4 ATPase in ESCRT-III; loss of either the Vc region or cpHsc70-1-impaired VIPP1 disassembly, resulting in more static oligomeric structures. Furthermore, cpHsc70-1 exhibited a broader role in chloroplast proteostasis, as the cphsc70-1 mutant showed impaired accumulation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fusion proteins. Together, our findings uncover a crucial crosstalk between proteostasis and thylakostasis in chloroplasts, coordinated by cpHsc70-1 and VIPP1 in response to membrane stress. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1349-0079 68 1 2026 Insights into the taste of organic acids via TAS1Rs 100731 EN Yuko Yamase Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Katsuki Takebe Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kengo Horie Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yoshihiro Mitoh Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Atsuko Yamashita Institute for Protein Research, The University of Osaka Ryusuke Yoshida Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Objectives: Organic acids contribute significantly to the flavor of fermented foods by imparting sourness. Although mice generally avoid sour taste, previous studies have reported greater consumption of l-lactic acid than its d-enantiomer, suggesting enantiomer-specific recognition. This behavior is hypothesized to involve TAS1Rs, which consists of sweet/umami receptors. However, it remains unclear whether TAS1Rs additionally contribute to the recognition of other chiral organic acids. This study aimed to evaluate the role of TAS1Rs, particularly TAS1R3, in the modulation of enantiomer-dependent behavioral responses to organic acids in mice.<br> Methods: Behavioral responses were evaluated using 48-h and 1-h 2-bottle tests. Binding of organic acids to TAS1Rs was investigated by differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) with the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3.<br> Results: Wild-type mice consumed more d-malic acid than l-malic acid in the 48-h test, whereas Tas1r3-KO mice showed no such difference. This pattern was not observed in the short-term 1-h test, which minimized the contribution of post-ingestion and learned effects. DSF analysis revealed no binding of any of the tested organic acids to the LBD of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3.<br> Conclusions: Organic acids may elicit TAS1R3-dependent post-ingestion signals that contribute to enantiomer-selective consumption in mice. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen-bonding networks within the orthosteric pocket of TAS1Rs may account for the differences in binding affinity to the LBD of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3 between organic acids and L-alanine, a known ligand. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0718-9508 2025 Suppression of Na+ Uptake Via Apoplastic Flow by Chitosan in Rice EN Maoxiang Zhao Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Md. Asadulla Al Galib Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Toshiyuki Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshihiko Hirai Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshitaka Nakashima Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Purpose: Chitosan enhances tolerance to salinity in rice. Apoplastic flow plays a crucial role in the accumulation of sodium (Na+) in rice under salinity. This study investigated the effects of exogenous chitosan on apoplastic flow and Na+ uptake in NaCl-treated rice seedlings. Methods: We employed an apoplastic tracer, trisodium salt of 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulphonic acid (PTS), in order to evaluate apoplastic flow in rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Nipponbare) seedlings that were hydroponically grown in the solution containing NaCl (0 and 25 mM), and chitosan (0 mg L− 1, 10 mg L− 1, and 50 mg L− 1). Results: Application of 25 mM NaCl significantly increased PTS uptake and Na+ content in shoots but did not affect K+ content, resulting in a lower K+/Na+ ratio although 25 mM NaCl did not affect the seedling growth. The application of chitosan suppressed Na+-enhanced PTS uptake and Na+ accumulation in shoots without affecting the K+ content, which led to a higher K+/Na+ ratio. Moreover, chitosan did not affect the reducing sugar content or electrical conductivity in the solution containing NaCl. Conclusions: These results suggest that application of chitosan suppressed Na+-enhanced apoplastic flow to reduce Na+ uptake in rice seedlings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2772-3755 11 2025 Robustness of the RGB image-based estimation for rice above-ground biomass by utilizing the dataset collected across multiple locations 100998 EN Kota Nakajima Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kazuki Saito International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Yasuhiro Tsujimoto Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Toshiyuki Takai Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Atsushi Mochizuki CHIBA Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center Tomoaki Yamaguchi Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University Ali Ibrahim Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Regional Station for the Sahel Salifou Goube Mairoua Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Bruce Haja Andrianary Laboratoire des Radioisotopes, Université d′Antananarivo Keisuke Katsura Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Yu Tanaka Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Above-ground biomass (AGB) is a critical phenotype representing crop growth. Non-invasive evaluations of AGB, including deep-learning-based red-green-blue (RGB) image analyses, are often specific to the training data. The robustness of the estimation model across untrained conditions is essential to monitor crop productivity globally, but it has yet to be fully assessed. This study aims to assess the robustness of a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for rice AGB estimation across five locations in three countries, and to demonstrate the feasibility of robust model via a practical approach. From transplanting to heading, 1957 RGB images were captured vertically downward over the rice canopy, covering approximately 1 m2. First, a base model was established using data collected from a single location. Then, its robustness was assessed using test datasets taken from the other four locations. The CNN model showed a significant variation in estimation accuracy across the untrained four locations, indicating insufficient robustness of the base model. Subsequently, we quantitatively tested the impact of improving training data diversity on model robustness by adding data from each of the four locations to the base model's training data. Adding at most 48 data points from a location achieved practical accuracy for the added location, with R2Ad above 0.8. Interestingly, adding data from one location sometimes improved the accuracy for other untrained locations as well. These findings suggest that collecting diverse training data for RGB-based estimation, combined with evaluation of robustness paves the way for on-site and instant AGB monitoring of rice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0883-2927 187 2025 Nitrogen distribution and nitrogen isotope fractionation in synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicates under hydrothermal conditions at 200 °C and saturated vapor pressure 106403 EN Jaeguk Jo Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshiro Yamanaka Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Youko Miyoshi Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Masaya Suzuki Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Yoshihiro Kuwahara Department of Environmental Changes, Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University Isao Kadota Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hitoshi Chiba Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Bum Han Lee Critical Minerals Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM) This study investigates nitrogen distribution and isotope fractionation within synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicates, simulating submarine hydrothermal environments at 200 °C and saturated vapor pressure. XRD and EDS results revealed the potential coexistence of multiple cations in the interlayer of synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicate, concurrently suggesting cation substitution in the tetrahedral and/or octahedral sheets. Meanwhile, the iron-enriched 25-5 sample exhibited restricted interlayer expansibility. NH4+ absorptions were identified in the NH4-stretching (3200–2800 cm−1) and NH4-bending (1450–1400 cm−1) regions, with wavenumber shifts indicating the influence of interlayer water removal. At pH 10.56, over 95% of nitrogen was released into the gas phase, while at pH 8.88, nitrogen proportions in the liquid and gas phases were comparable (average 48–49%). Experiments with iron at pH ∼8.80 showed that the nitrogen proportion in the gas phase (average 28%) was more than twofold lower than that in the liquid phase (average 68%). Equilibrium isotope fractionation factors indicated discernible preference for heavier nitrogen isotopes in the solid phase (αsolid-liquid = 1.009–1.021 and αsolid-gas = 1.011–1.027). The αliquid-gas range for sample 25–2 was 1.001–1.008, while that for the iron-enriched composite 25–5 was 0.997–1.010. Our experimental studies have confirmed that, in the absence of exchange interactions with external substances possessing different nitrogen isotope ratios, nitrogen isotope fractionation between ammonium and ammonia, controlled by variations in temperature and pH during mineralization, plays a crucial role in the variation of nitrogen isotope ratios. Additionally, we confirmed that metal-amines influence nitrogen isotope fractionation by modulating ammonia gas emission. These findings enhance our understanding of nitrogen cycling across the gas, liquid, and solid phases in submarine hydrothermal systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 2730-6151 5 1 2025 Proliferation of a bloom-forming phytoplankton via uptake of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria under phosphate-limiting conditions ycaf192 EN Seiya Fukuyama Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Fumiko Usami Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ryuichi Hirota Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Ayano Satoh Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Shizuka Ohara Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Ken Kondo Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries , Osaka Prefecture Yuki Gomibuchi Department of Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Takuo Yasunaga Department of Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Toshimitsu Onduka Hatsukaichi Branch, Fisheries Technology Institute , Fisheries Research and Education Agency Akio Kuroda Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Kazuhiko Koike Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Shoko Ueki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Harmful algal blooms negatively impact the ecosystem and fisheries in affected areas. Eutrophication is a major factor contributing to bloom occurrence, and phosphorus is particularly important in limiting the growth of bloom-forming algae. Although algae efficiently utilize orthophosphate (Pi) as a phosphorous source over other molecular forms, Pi is often limited in the marine environment. While uptake and utilization of soluble inorganic and organic phosphorous by bloom-forming algae has been extensively studied, the details of geochemical and biological phosphorous cycling remain to be elucidated. Here, we report for the first time that the bloom-forming alga Heterosigma akashiwo can phagocytose bacteria and grow under phosphate-depleted conditions. The addition of Vibrio comitans to Pi-depleted H. akashiwo enabled the alga propagate to high cell densities, whereas other bacterial strains had only a minor effect. Importantly, V. comitans accumulates polyphosphate―a linear polymer of Pi―at high levels. The extent of algal proliferation induced by the addition of Vibrio species and polyphosphate-accumulating Escherichia coli correlated strongly with their polyphosphate content, indicating that bacterial polyphosphate served as an alternative PO43− source for H. akashiwo. The direct uptake of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria through algal phagocytosis may represent a novel biological phosphorous-cycling pathway in marine ecosystems. The role of polyphosphate-accumulating marine bacteria as a hidden phosphorous source required for bloom formation warrants further investigation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Improving sediment microbial fuel cells for water quality control in shrimp pond drainages in Central Vietnam EN NGUYEN TU UYEN Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The Origin of Stroma Influences the Biological Characteristics of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma EN Haruka OMORI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1999-4923 17 11 2025 Development of Propofol-Encapsulated Liposomes and the Effect of Intranasal Administration on Bioavailability in Rabbits 1446 EN Hitomi Ujita Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital Hitoshi Higuchi Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital Yukiko Nishioka Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital Saki Miyake Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Riko Sato Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takuya Miyawaki Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Background/Objectives: Propofol is frequently used as an intravenous anesthetic and is rapidly metabolized. Therefore, if it could be administered non-invasively (e.g., orally) as premedication, it might hasten emergence from anesthesia, thereby improving patient safety. However, it undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver and intestines, limiting the route for premedication. We evaluated whether intranasal delivery of a propofol-encapsulated liposome solution improves systemic exposure and bioavailability in rabbits. Methods: A propofol-encapsulated liposome solution was administered to rabbits via the intravenous, oral, and intranasal routes. Blood propofol concentrations were measured for up to 60 min after administration and the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC0–60) and bioavailability of the propofol-encapsulated liposome solution were compared with those of the non-encapsulated propofol formulation. The differences were tested by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Šidák’s post hoc multiple-comparisons test and the Mann–Whitney test (α = 0.05). Results: The AUC0–60 for blood propofol concentrations after intravenous administration was significantly higher with the propofol-encapsulated liposome solution than with the non-encapsulated propofol formulation (3038.8 ± 661.5 vs. 1929.8 ± 58.2 ng·min/mL; p = 0.0286). By contrast, no increase in blood propofol concentrations was observed after oral administration, whereas intranasal administration increased blood propofol concentrations and yielded significantly higher bioavailability compared with the non-encapsulated propofol formulation (16.4 ± 7.3% vs. 2.0 ± 1.2%; p = 0.0286). Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that intranasal liposomal propofol increased systemic availability compared with a non-encapsulated formulation, supporting further evaluation as a candidate premedication approach for propofol. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1439-0108 2025 Coupling effects of biochar and sediment microbial fuel cells on CH4 and CO2 emissions from straw-amended paddy soil EN Adhena Tesfau Bekele Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Morihiro Maeda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nozomi Nakahara Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ayumi Hashiguchi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroaki Somura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Satoshi Akao Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University Chiyu Nakano Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, Okayama University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Purpose The independent incorporation of biochar and sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) into paddy soil has been shown to reduce methane (CH4) emissions. However, the application of rice straw into paddy soil enhances the availability of labile carbon that stimulates methanogen growth, counteracting the mitigation effects of both methods. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of coupling biochar and SMFC on CH4 and CO2 emissions from straw-amended paddy soil.<br> Materials and methods Single chamber SMFC setups constructed using acrylic columns (height, 25 cm; inner diameter, 9 cm) with six treatments were established using soil amended with 0% (0BC), 1% (1BC), and 2% (2BC) biochar: with and without SMFC conditions. Stainless steel mesh (15 × 3 cm) and graphite felt (6 × 5 cm) were used as anode and cathode materials, respectively.<br> Results Cumulative emission of CH4 in the 0BC treatment with SMFC was 39% less than in that without SMFC. Biochar addition and SMFC operation together further reduced CH4 emission by 57% and 60% in 1BC and 2BC treatments, respectively, compared to that in the 0BC treatment without SMFC operation. The relative abundance of microbial communities indicated methane-oxidizing bacteria were enriched in the presence of biochar and hydrogenotrophic Methanoregula were suppressed by SMFC operation. This suggested that SMFC mainly inhibited CH4 production by outcompeting hydrogenotrophic archaea.<br> Conclusion The use of biochar made from leftover rice straw has an interactive effect on SMFC operation and both methods can be used to reduce CH4 emission from straw-amended paddy soil. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0013-8703 2025 Artificial Selections for Life-History Traits Affect Effective Cumulative Temperature and Developmental Zero Point in Zeugoducus cucurbitae EN Takahisa Miyatake Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kentarou Matsumura Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo Effective cumulative temperature and developmental zero point are important indicators for estimating the timing of organism development and the area of distribution. These indicators are generally considered to have unique values for different species of organisms and are also important for predicting the distribution range of animals and plants, especially insect pests. These values generally are species-specific, but there is variation within populations in traits having a genetic component. However, there are no studies on what kind of selection pressure affects these indicator values. To address this issue, it would be worthwhile to compare these values using individuals of strains that have been artificially selected for life-history traits by rearing them at various temperatures and calculating these indicators from developmental days and temperatures. In the present study, eggs were taken from adults of strains with many generations of artificial selection on two life-history traits (age at reproduction and developmental period) of the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, under constant temperature conditions. Eggs were reared at five different temperatures, and the effective cumulative temperatures and developmental zero points of the larval and developmental periods were compared. The results demonstrate that artificial selection on life-history traits in Z. cucurbitae induces evolutionary changes in both the effective cumulative temperature and the developmental zero point across successive generations. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japan Society on Water Environment Acta Medica Okayama 1348-2165 23 5 2025 Biochar-amended Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells for Water Quality Improvement in Intensive and Extensive Pond Drainages in Central Vietnam 234 249 EN Uyen Tu Nguyen Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Morihiro Maeda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroaki Somura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nozomi Nakahara Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, Okayama University Gamamada Liyanage Erandi Priyangika Perera Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Chiyu Nakano Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Huu Tien Le Department of Education, Science and Technology Quang Tri Branch, Hue University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University The use of nutrient-rich feed in shrimp farming in Central Vietnam has led to high nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents in the pond sediment. The objectives of the study were to assess the effectiveness of biochar-sediment microbial fuel cells (BC-SMFCs) in suppressing P and N release from two types of sediment in intensive (Int) and extensive (Ext) pond drainages in Central Vietnam. Single chamber SMFCs were set up and operated under open or closed-circuit (no SMFC or SMFC) conditions. Coconut shell biochar (BC) was amended to sediments at 1%. For Int-sediment, total phosphorus (TP) release was reduced by no BC-SMFCs through co-precipitation with Fe. On the other hand, BC-SMFCs did not suppress TP release because P was released from BC and organic matter decomposition was enhanced in the sediment. Application of BC enhanced organic N mineralization in the sediment. Nitrification and denitrification occurred in the overlying water, reducing mineral N concentrations. For Ext-sediment, BC addition and SMFC conditions did not affect TP and total nitrogen (TN) release because of low initial organic matter content, and less reductive condition. Our study suggested that the effect of SMFCs was masked by BC which released more P from Int-sediment to the water. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0962-8819 34 1 2025 Highly efficient transgenesis mediated by Tip100 transposon system in medaka 46 EN Yoshitaka Tanaka Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University Takahide Seki Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University Atsushi Hoshino National Institute for Basic Biology Satoshi Ansai Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Okayama University Transgenesis mediated by transposon is an effective approach for introducing exogenous DNA into the nuclear genome and establishing stable transgenic strains that efficiently express genetic tools. Although the DNA transposon Tol2 is widely used for transgenesis in zebrafish, its endogenous transpositional activity can lead to unintended transgene mobilization, making it unsuitable for transgenesis in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Here, we demonstrated that the DNA transposon Tip100, originally identified in the common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), an ornamental plant, can serve as a useful tool for transgenesis in Japanese medaka. The GFP transgene cassette, when co-injected with Tip100 transposase mRNA, was expressed in significantly higher number of somatic cells in the injected fish. Furthermore, a transgene flanked by truncated recognition sequences (100 bp each) exhibited expression levels comparable to those of the original vector containing the full 2.2 kb recognition sequence. Injection of a transgene driven by a germline-specific promoter revealed that fish injected with Tip100 mRNA exhibited a significantly higher germline transmission rate (42/68; 62.7%) compared to those injected without the mRNA (13/62; 21.0%). We successfully established transgenic strains by outcrossing injected founders with GFP-positive germ cells (7/7; 100%) and demonstrated that the transgenes were randomly integrated into the medaka genome, generating 8-bp duplications at the insertional sites–an insertional signature of the hAT superfamily of transposons. Our findings indicate that the Tip100 system is a promising tool for generating stable transgenic strains that express various genetic tools in medaka and potentially other fish species. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1347-6947 88 9 2024 Solid-state cultivation of multiple industrial strains of koji mold on different Thai unpolished rice cultivars: biotransformation of phenolic compounds and their effects on antioxidant activity 1117 1125 EN Jirayu Jitpakdee Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Hideyuki Yamashita Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd. Takuro Nakagawa Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd. Teruhiko Nitoda Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Hiroshi Kanzaki Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Colored rice is abundant in polyphenols, and koji molds have potential for biotransformation. This study aimed to produce Thai-colored rice koji to study its polyphenolic biotransformation. Four industrial koji mold strains: Aspergillus oryzae 6001, A. oryzae 6020, A. sojae 7009, and A. luchuensis 8035, were cultivated on unpolished Thai-colored rice (Riceberry and Sangyod), unpolished Thai white rice (RD43), and polished Japanese white rice (Koshihikari). We discovered that koji molds grew on all the rice varieties. Methanol extracts of all rice kojis exhibited an approximately 2-fold or greater increase in total phenolic content and DPPH antioxidant activity compared to those of steamed rice. Moreover, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, (+)-catechin, and (–)-epicatechin content increased in Riceberry and Sangyod koji samples. Consequently, Aspergillus solid-state cultivation on unpolished Thai-colored rice exhibited higher functionalization than the cultivation of unpolished Thai white rice and polished Japanese white rice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 2730-6151 5 1 2025 Methanol chemoreceptor MtpA- and flagellin protein FliC-dependent methylotaxis contributes to the spatial colonization of PPFM in the phyllosphere ycaf092 EN Shiori Katayama Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kosuke Shiraishi Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kanae Kaji Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kazuya Kawabata Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Naoki Tamura Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hiroya Yurimoto Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Yasuyoshi Sakai Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) capable of growth on methanol are dominant and versatile phyllosphere bacteria that provide positive effects on plant growth through symbiosis. However, the spatial behavior of PPFMs on plant surfaces and its molecular basis are unknown. Here, we show that Methylobacterium sp. strain OR01 inoculated onto red perilla seeds colonized across the entire plant surface in the phyllosphere concomitant with the plant growth. During its transmission, strain OR01 was found to be present on the entire leaf surface with a preference to sites around the periphery, vein, trichome, and stomata. We found that methanol-sensing chemoreceptor MtpA-dependent chemotaxis (methylotaxis; chemotaxis toward methanol) and flagellin protein FliC-dependent motility facilitated the bacterial entry into the stomatal cavity and their colonization in the phyllosphere. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0003-6072 118 10 2025 Duganella hordei sp. nov., Duganella caerulea sp. nov., and Duganella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from barley rhizosphere 146 EN Katsumoto Kishiro Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Nurettin Sahin Egitim Fakultesi, Mugla Sitki Kocman University Daisuke Saisho Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Naoki Yamaji Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Jun Yamashita Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yuki Monden Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tomoyuki Nakagawa Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University Keiichi Mochida RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Duganella sp. strains R1T, R57T, and R64T, isolated from barley roots in Japan, are Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacteria. Duganella species abundantly colonized barley roots. Strains R1T, R57T, and R64T were capable of growth at 4 °C, suggesting adaptation to colonize winter barley roots. Strains R57T and R64T formed purple colonies, indicating violacein production, while strain R1T did not. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strains R1T, R57T, and R64T were most closely related to D. violaceipulchra HSC-15S17T (99.10%), D. vulcania FT81WT (99.45%), and D. violaceipulchra HSC-15S17T (99.86%), respectively. Their genome sizes ranged from 7.05 to 7.38 Mbp, and their genomic G+C contents were 64.2–64.7%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between R1T and D. violaceipulchra HSC-15S17T, R57T and D. vulcania FT81WT, R64T and D. violaceipulchra HSC-15S17T were 86.0% and 33.2%, 95.7% and 67.9%, and 92.7% and 52.6%, respectively. Their fatty acids were predominantly composed of C16:0, C17:0 cyclo, and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c). Based on their distinct genetic and phenotypic characteristics, and supported by chemotaxonomic analyses, we propose that strains R1T, R57T, and R64T represent novel species within the Duganella genus, for which the names Duganella hordei (type strain R1T = NBRC 115982 T = DSM 115069 T), Duganella caerulea (type strain R57T = NBRC 115983 T = DSM 115070 T), and Duganella rhizosphaerae (type strain R64T = NBRC 115984 T = DSM 115071 T) are proposed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 0032-0889 198 1 2025 The thylakoid membrane remodeling protein VIPP1 forms bundled oligomers in tobacco chloroplasts kiaf137 EN Sarah W Gachie Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Alexandre Muhire Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Di Li Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Akihiro Kawamoto Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University Noriko Takeda-Kamiya Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Yumi Goto Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Mayuko Sato Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Kiminori Toyooka Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Ryo Yoshimura Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Tsuneaki Takami Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Lingang Zhang School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University/Key Laboratory of Herbage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology Genji Kurisu Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University Toru Terachi Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University Wataru Sakamoto Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University The thylakoid membrane (TM) serves as the scaffold for oxygen-evolving photosynthesis, hosting the protein complexes responsible for the light reactions and ATP synthesis. Vesicle inducing protein in plastid 1 (VIPP1), a key protein in TM remodeling, has been recognized as essential for TM homeostasis. In vitro studies of cyanobacterial VIPP1 demonstrated its ability to form large homo-oligomers (2 MDa) manifesting as ring-like or filament-like assemblies associated with membranes. Similarly, VIPP1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii assembles into rods that encapsulate liposomes or into stacked spiral structures. However, the nature of VIPP1 assemblies in chloroplasts, particularly in Arabidopsis, remains uncharacterized. Here, we expressed Arabidopsis thaliana VIPP1 fused to GFP (AtVIPP1-GFP) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) chloroplasts and performed transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A purified AtVIPP1-GFP fraction was enriched with long filamentous tubule-like structures. Detailed TEM observations of chloroplasts in fixed resin-embedded tissues identified VIPP1 assemblies in situ that appeared to colocalize with GFP fluorescence. Electron tomography demonstrated that the AtVIPP1 oligomers consisted of bundled filaments near membranes, some of which appeared connected to the TM or inner chloroplast envelope at their contact sites. The observed bundles were never detected in wild-type Arabidopsis but were observed in Arabidopsis vipp1 mutants expressing AtVIPP1-GFP. Taken together, we propose that the bundled filaments are the dominant AtVIPP1 oligomers that represent its static state in vivo. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 0032-0781 2025 Thylakostasis: key factors in thylakoid membrane organization with emphasis on biogenesis and remodeling proteins in vascular plants pcaf098 EN Wataru Sakamoto Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University The thylakoid membrane (TM), a defining feature for almost all oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms, serves as the structural foundation for light-driven energy conversion. In vascular plants, the TM evolved into a complex architecture composed of single-layered stroma thylakoids and stacked grana thylakoids, enabling the spatial organization of two photosystems (PSII and PSI) to optimize light capture and energy transfer. In addition, two membrane regions, one connecting these two compartments (grana margin) and the other corresponding to the curvature domain in grana, function in dissipating excess energy, balancing electron transfer, and maintaining functional PSII. Recent advances in electron microscopy imaging and proteome analysis of membrane subcompartments have provided new insights into the structure and dynamic adaptations of the TM in response to diverse environmental conditions. To describe the mechanisms that govern TM architecture, dynamics, and integrity, I am introducing the concept of “thylakostasis” (thylakoid homeostasis). Here, I provide an overview of the molecular components and processes central to thylakostasis, including the biosynthesis of lipids, chlorophyll, and proteins. I focus particularly on the membrane remodeling proteins whose functions have been elucidated recently, such as VIPP1, a member of the evolutionarily conserved PspA/ESCRT-III superfamily; FZL, a dynamin-like GTPase; and CURT1, a curvature-inducing protein unique to photosynthetic organisms. Together, these factors orchestrate TM biogenesis, remodeling, and adaptive flexibility that is essential for photosynthetic efficiency. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1751-7362 18 1 2024 Cyanorhodopsin-II represents a yellow-absorbing proton-pumping rhodopsin clade within cyanobacteria wrae175 EN Masumi Hasegawa-Takano Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Toshiaki Hosaka Laboratory for Protein Functional and Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Keiichi Kojima Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yosuke Nishimura Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Marie Kurihara Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yu Nakajima Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Yoshiko Ishizuka-Katsura Laboratory for Protein Functional and Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Tomomi Kimura-Someya Laboratory for Protein Functional and Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Mikako Shirouzu Laboratory for Protein Functional and Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Yuki Sudo Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Susumu Yoshizawa Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Microbial rhodopsins are prevalent in many cyanobacterial groups as a light-energy-harvesting system in addition to the photosynthetic system. It has been suggested that this dual system allows efficient capture of sunlight energy using complementary ranges of absorption wavelengths. However, the diversity of cyanobacterial rhodopsins, particularly in accumulated metagenomic data, remains underexplored. Here, we used a metagenomic mining approach, which led to the identification of a novel rhodopsin clade unique to cyanobacteria, cyanorhodopsin-II (CyR-II). CyR-IIs function as light-driven outward H+ pumps. CyR-IIs, together with previously identified cyanorhodopsins (CyRs) and cyanobacterial halorhodopsins (CyHRs), constitute cyanobacterial ion-pumping rhodopsins (CyipRs), a phylogenetically distinct family of rhodopsins. The CyR-II clade is further divided into two subclades, YCyR-II and GCyR-II, based on their specific absorption wavelength. YCyR-II absorbed yellow light (λmax = 570 nm), whereas GCyR-II absorbed green light (λmax = 550 nm). X-ray crystallography and mutational analysis revealed that the difference in absorption wavelengths is attributable to slight changes in the side chain structure near the retinal chromophore. The evolutionary trajectory of cyanobacterial rhodopsins suggests that the function and light-absorbing range of these rhodopsins have been adapted to a wide range of habitats with variable light and environmental conditions. Collectively, these findings shed light on the importance of rhodopsins in the evolution and environmental adaptation of cyanobacteria. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2073-4409 14 17 2025 Discovery and Functional Characterization of Novel Aquaporins in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): Implications for Ion Transport and Salinity Tolerance 1305 EN Newton Chandra Paul Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shahin Imran Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Anri Mitsumoto Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Maki Katsuhara Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of water and solutes. Among AQPs, plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) play a critical role in maintaining water balance between the internal and external cell environments. This study focuses on the tomato due to its economic importance and cultivation under moderate salinity conditions in Japan. A swelling assay using X. laevis oocyte confirmed that all five examined tomato SlPIP2 isoforms showed water transport activity. Among them, two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) experiments showed that only SlPIP2;1, SlPIP2;4, and SlPIP2;8 transport Na+ and K+, with no transport activity for Cs+, Rb+, Li+, or Cl−. CaCl2 (1.8 mM) reduced ionic currents by approximately 45% compared to 30 µM free-Ca2+. These isoforms function as very low-affinity Na+ and K+ transporters. Expression analysis showed that SlPIP2;4 and SlPIP2;8 had low, stable expression, while SlPIP2;1 was strongly upregulated in roots NaCl treatment (200 mM, 17days), suggesting distinct physiological roles for these ion-conducting AQPs (icAQPs). These data hypothesized that tomato icAQPs play a critical role in ion homeostasis, particularly under salinity stress. In conclusion, the first icAQPs have been identified in the dicotyledonous crop. These icAQPs are essential for plant resilience under salt stress. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1347-6947 89 8 2025 Microbial biotransformation of proteins into amino acids in unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice varieties cultivated with distinct industrial strains of koji mold 1217 1226 EN Jirayu Jitpakdee Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazunari Ito Industrial Technology Center of Okayama Prefecture Yuka Tanino Industrial Technology Center of Okayama Prefecture Hayato Takeuchi Industrial Technology Center of Okayama Prefecture Hideyuki Yamashita Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd. Takuro Nakagawa Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd. Teruhiko Nitoda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroshi Kanzaki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University We previously reported the cultivation of industrial koji mold strains to produce unpolished Thai-colored rice kojis. These kojis, along with those made from unpolished Thai white rice and polished Japanese white rice, showed increased polyphenol content after cultivation, with the highest levels observed in unpolished Thai-colored rice kojis. In this study, an increase in both proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acid contents, particularly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, was observed in both unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice kojis, suggesting the ability of koji mold in the biotransformation of proteins. This increase was almost comparable even when using different rice varieties; in contrast, it varied depending on the koji mold strain used. The observed increase in both polyphenol and functional amino acid contents, especially GABA content, highlights the potential of unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice kojis, particularly unpolished Thai-colored rice koji, as multifunctional materials, benefiting from polyphenol and amino acid functionalities. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2691-3704 5 2 2025 Mechanistic Insights Into Oxidative Response of Heat Shock Factor 1 Condensates 606 617 EN Soichiro Kawagoe Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Motonori Matsusaki Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Takuya Mabuchi Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University Yuto Ogasawara Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kazunori Watanabe Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Koichiro Ishimori Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University Tomohide Saio Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1), a hub protein in the stress response and cell fate decisions, senses the strength, type, and duration of stress to balance cell survival and death through an unknown mechanism. Recently, changes in the physical property of Hsf1 condensates due to persistent stress have been suggested to trigger apoptosis, highlighting the importance of biological phase separation and transition in cell fate decisions. In this study, the mechanism underlying Hsf1 droplet formation and oxidative response was investigated through 3D refractive index imaging of the internal architecture, corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations and biophysical/biochemical experiments. We found that, in response to oxidative conditions, Hsf1 formed liquid condensates that suppressed its internal mobility. Furthermore, these conditions triggered the hyper-oligomerization of Hsf1, mediated by disulfide bonds and secondary structure stabilization, leading to the formation of dense core particles in the Hsf1 droplet. Collectively, these data demonstrate how the physical property of Hsf1 condensates undergoes an oxidative transition by sensing redox conditions to potentially drive cell fate decisions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0168-0102 219 2025 Establishment of a transgenic strain for the whole brain calcium imaging in larval medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) 104944 EN Takahide Seki Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University Kazuhiro Miyanari Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Asuka Shiraishi Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Sachiko Tsuda Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Satoshi Ansai Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University Hideaki Takeuchi Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University GCaMP-based calcium imaging is a powerful tool for investigating neural function in specific neurons. We generated transgenic (Tg) medaka strains expressing jGCaMP7s across extensive brain regions under the control of the gap43 promoter. Using these Tg larvae, calcium imaging successfully detected a tricaine-induced suppression of spontaneous neural activity and topographical visual responses in the optic tectum elicited by moving paramecia or optical fiber stimulation. These results indicate that our Tg medaka strains provide a versatile platform for investigating neural dynamics and their responses to various stimuli. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1040-4651 36 12 2024 The leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase QSK1 regulates PRR-RBOHD complexes targeted by the bacterial effector HopF2Pto 4932 4951 EN Yukihisa Goto Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Yasuhiro Kadota Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Malick Mbengue The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia Jennifer D Lewis Department of Cell and System Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Function and Evolution, University of Toronto Hidenori Matsui Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Noriko Maki Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Bruno Pok Man Ngou Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Jan Sklenar The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia Paul Derbyshire The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia Arisa Shibata Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Yasunori Ichihashi Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) David S Guttman Department of Cell and System Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Function and Evolution, University of Toronto Hirofumi Nakagami Plant Proteomics Research Unit, RIKEN CSRS Takamasa Suzuki College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University Frank L H Menke The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia Silke Robatzek The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia Darrell Desveaux Department of Cell and System Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Function and Evolution, University of Toronto Cyril Zipfel Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich Ken Shirasu Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Plants detect pathogens using cell-surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as ELONGATION Factor-TU (EF-TU) RECEPTOR (EFR) and FLAGELLIN SENSING 2 (FLS2), which recognize bacterial EF-Tu and flagellin, respectively. These PRRs belong to the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (LRR-RK) family and activate the production of reactive oxygen species via the NADPH oxidase RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG D (RBOHD). The PRR-RBOHD complex is tightly regulated to prevent unwarranted or exaggerated immune responses. However, certain pathogen effectors can subvert these regulatory mechanisms, thereby suppressing plant immunity. To elucidate the intricate dynamics of the PRR-RBOHD complex, we conducted a comparative coimmunoprecipitation analysis using EFR, FLS2, and RBOHD in Arabidopsis thaliana. We identified QIAN SHOU KINASE 1 (QSK1), an LRR-RK, as a PRR-RBOHD complex-associated protein. QSK1 downregulated FLS2 and EFR abundance, functioning as a negative regulator of PRR-triggered immunity (PTI). QSK1 was targeted by the bacterial effector HopF2Pto, a mono-ADP ribosyltransferase, reducing FLS2 and EFR levels through both transcriptional and transcription-independent pathways, thereby inhibiting PTI. Furthermore, HopF2Pto transcriptionally downregulated PROSCOOP genes encoding important stress-regulated phytocytokines and their receptor MALE DISCOVERER 1-INTERACTING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 2. Importantly, HopF2Pto requires QSK1 for its accumulation and virulence functions within plants. In summary, our results provide insights into the mechanism by which HopF2Pto employs QSK1 to desensitize plants to pathogen attack. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japan Society on Water Environment Acta Medica Okayama 1348-2165 22 6 2024 Effects of Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells on CH4 and CO2 Emissions from Straw Amended Paddy Soil 271 285 EN Adhena Tesfau Bekele Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Morihiro Maeda Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Satoshi Akao Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University Hiroaki Somura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Chiyu Nakano Organization for Research Strategy and Development, Okayama University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Straw returning into paddy soil enhances soil organic matter which usually promotes the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The application of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) to paddy soil activates power-generating microorganisms and enhances organic matter biodegradation. In the present study, rice straw addition in SMFCs was examined to determine its effect on CH4 and CO2 emissions. Columns (height, 25 cm; inner diameter, 9 cm) with four treatments: soil without and with rice straw under SMFC and without SMFC conditions were incubated at 25°C for 70 days. Anodic potential values at 7 cm depth sediment were kept higher by SMFCs than those without SMFCs. Cumulative CH4 emission was significantly reduced by SMFC with straw amendment (p < 0.05) with no significant effect on CO2 emission. 16S rRNA gene analysis results showed that Firmicutes at the phylum, Closteridiales and Acidobacteriales at order level were dominant on the anode of straw-added SMFC, whereas Methanomicrobiales were in the treatment without SMFC, indicating that a certain group of methanogens were suppressed by SMFC. Our results suggest that the anodic redox environment together with the enrichment of straw-degrading bacteria contributed to a competitive advantage of electrogenesis over methanogenesis in straw-added SMFC system. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0168-1702 351 2025 Evidence for the replication of a plant rhabdovirus in its arthropod mite vector 199522 EN Hideki Kondo Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Miki Fujita Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Paul Telengech Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Kazuyuki Maruyam Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Kiwamu Hyodo Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Aline Daniele Tassi Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida Ronald Ochoa Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA Ida Bagus Andika College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University Nobuhiro Suzuki Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Transmission of plant viruses that replicate in the insect vector is known as persistent-propagative manner. However, it remains unclear whether such virus-vector relationships also occur between plant viruses and other biological vectors such as arthropod mites. In this study, we investigated the possible replication of orchid fleck virus (OFV), a segmented plant rhabdovirus, within its mite vector (Brevipalpus californicus s.l.) using quantitative RT-qPCR, western blotting and next-generation sequencing. Time-course RT-qPCR and western blot analyses showed an increasing OFV accumulation pattern in mites after virus acquisition. Since OFV genome expression requires the transcription of polyadenylated mRNAs, polyadenylated RNA fractions extracted from the viruliferous mite samples and OFV-infected plant leaves were used for RNA-seq analysis. In the mite and plant datasets, a large number of sequence reads were aligned to genomic regions of OFV RNA1 and RNA2 corresponding to transcribed viral gene mRNAs. This includes the short polyadenylated transcripts originating from the leader and trailer regions at the ends of the viral genome, which are believed to play a crucial role in viral transcription/replication. In contrast, a low number of reads were mapped to the non-transcribed regions (gene junctions). These results strongly suggested that OFV gene expression occurs both in mites and plants. Additionally, deep sequencing revealed the accumulation of OFV-derived small RNAs in mites, although their size profiles differ from those found in plants. Taken together, our results indicated that OFV replicates within a mite vector and is targeted by the RNA-silencing mechanism. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0140-7791 2025 Amino Acid Substitutions in Loop C of Arabidopsis PIP2 Aquaporins Alters the Permeability of CO2 EN Shaila Shermin Tania Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shigeko Utsugi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Tsuchiya Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shizuka Sasano Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Maki Katsuhara Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University The transport of CO2 across biomembranes in plant cells is essential for efficient photosynthesis. Some aquaporins capable of CO2 transport, referred to as ‘COOporins’, are postulated to play a crucial role in leaf CO2 diffusion. However, the structural basis of CO2 permeation through aquaporins remains largely unknown. Here, we show that amino acids in loop C are critical for the CO2 permeability of Arabidopsis thaliana PIP2 aquaporins. We found that swapping tyrosine and serine in loop C to histidine and phenylalanine, which differ between AtPIP2;1 and AtPIP2;3, altered CO2 permeability when examined in the Xenopus laevis oocyte heterologous expression system. AlphaFold2 modelling indicated that these substitution induced a conformational shift in the sidechain of arginine in the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter and in lysine at the extracellular mouth of the monomeric pore in PIP2 aquaporins. Our findings demonstrate that distal amino acid substitutions can trigger conformational changes of the ar/R filter in the monomeric pore, modulating CO2 permeability. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis suggested that aquaporins capable of dual water/CO2 permeability are ancestral to those that are water-selective and CO2-impermeable, and CO2-selective and water impermeable. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0031-9317 177 4 2025 CNGC2 Negatively Regulates Stomatal Closure and Is Not Required for flg22- and H2O2-Induced Guard Cell [Ca2+]cyt Elevation in Arabidopsis thaliana e70396 EN Rojina Akter Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yasuhiro Inoue Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Saori Masumoto Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University Yoshiharu Mimata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Takakazu Matsuura Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Toshiyuki Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University In guard cells, cytosolic Ca2+ acts as a second messenger that mediates abscisic acid (ABA)- and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-induced stomatal closure. It was reported that Arabidopsis cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 2 (CNGC2) functions as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- and PAMP-activated Ca2+-permeable channels at the plasma membrane of mesophyll cells and mediates Ca2+-dependent PAMP-triggered immunity. In this study, we examined the role of CNGC2 in the regulation of stomatal movement because CNGC2 is also expressed in guard cells. We found that stomata of the CNGC2 disruption mutant cngc2-3 are constitutively closed even in the absence of ABA or the flagellar-derived PAMP, flg22. Consistently, leaf temperatures of the cngc2-3 mutant were higher than those of wild-type (WT) plants. The stomatal phenotype of the cngc2-3 mutant was restored by complementation with wild-type CNGC2 under the control of the guard cell preferential promoter, pGC1. Elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in guard cells induced by flg22 and H2O2 remained intact in the cngc2-3 mutant. The introduction of the ost1-3 mutation into the cngc2-3 background did not alter the stomatal phenotype. However, the stomatal phenotype of the cngc2-3 mutant was successfully rescued in the double disruption mutant cngc2-3aba2-2. Taken together, these results suggest that CNGC2 negatively regulates stomatal closure response and does not function as flg22– and H2O2-activated Ca2+ channels in guard cells. Though CNGC2 is responsive for H2O2- and flg22-induced [Ca2+]cyt elevation in mesophyll cells, the involvement of CNGC2 in the response to H2O2 and flg22 in guard cells is questionable. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0021-9258 301 7 2025 A repertoire of visible light–sensitive opsins in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris hybisae 110291 EN Yuya Nagata Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Norio Miyamoto Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-Star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) Keita Sato Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yosuke Nishimura Research Center for Bioscience and Nanoscience (CeBN), Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) Yuki Tanioka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuji Yamanaka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Susumu Yoshizawa Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Kuto Takahashi Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kohei Obayashi Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University Hisao Tsukamoto Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University Ken Takai Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-Star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) Hideyo Ohuchi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takahiro Yamashita Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Yuki Sudo Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keiichi Kojima Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Unlike terrestrial environments, where humans reside, there is no sunlight in the deep sea. Instead, dim visible light from black-body radiation and bioluminescence illuminates hydrothermal vent areas in the deep sea. A deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp, Rimicaris hybisae, is thought to detect this dim light using its enlarged dorsal eye; however, the molecular basis of its photoreception remains unexplored. Here, we characterized the molecular properties of opsins, universal photoreceptive proteins in animals, found in R. hybisae. Transcriptomic analysis identified six opsins: three Gq-coupled opsins, one Opn3, one Opn5, and one peropsin. Functional analysis revealed that five of these opsins exhibited light-dependent G protein activity, whereas peropsin exhibited the ability to convert all-trans-retinal to 11-cis-retinal like photoisomerases. Notably, all the R. hybisae opsins, including Opn5, convergently show visible light sensitivity (around 457–517 nm), whereas most opsins categorized as Opn5 have been demonstrated to be UV sensitive. Mutational analysis revealed that the unique visible light sensitivity of R. hybisae Opn5 is achieved through the stabilization of a protonated Schiff base by a counterion residue at position 83 (Asp83), which differs from the position identified in other opsins. These findings suggest that the vent shrimp R. hybisae has adapted its photoreceptive devices to dim deep-sea hydrothermal light by selectively maintaining a repertoire of visible light–sensitive opsins, including the uniquely tuned Opn5. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 0032-0781 2025 Sulfur dioxide-induced guard cell death and stomatal closure are attenuated in nitrate/proton antiporter AtCLCa mutants EN Lia Ooi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Takakazu Matsuura Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Guard cells surrounding the stomata play a crucial role in regulating the entrance of hazardous gases such as SO2 into leaves. Stomatal closure could be a plant response to mitigate SO2 damage, although the mechanism for SO2-induced closure remains controversial. Proposed mediators for SO2-induced stomatal closure include phytohormones, reactive oxygen species, gasotransmitters, and cytosolic acidification. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of stomatal closure in Arabidopsis in response to SO2. Despite an increment in auxin and jasmonates after SO2 exposure, the addition of auxin did not cause stomatal closure and jasmonate-insensitive mutants exhibited SO2-induced stomatal closure suggesting auxin and jasmonates are not mediators leading to the closure. In addition, supplementation of scavenging reagents for reactive oxygen species and gasotransmitters did not inhibit SO2-induced closure. Instead, we found that cytosolic acidification is a credible mechanism for SO2-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis. CLCa mutants coding H+/nitrate antiporter, involved in cytosolic pH homeostasis, showed less sensitive stomatal phenotype against SO2. These results suggest that cytosolic pH homeostasis plays a tenable role in SO2 response in guard cells. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Development of sediment microbial fuel cells to reduce CH4 and CO2 emissions from straw-amended paddy soil EN ADHENA TESFAU BEKELE Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs does not increase surgical site infection or delayed wound healing after orthopaedic surgeries for rheumatoid arthritis EN Yohei KISO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Aspergillus Solid-State Cultivation of Four Different Industrial Strains of Koji Mold on Four Different Rice Cultivars: Microbial Biotransformation of Phenolic Compounds and Proteins EN JITPAKDEE JIRAYU Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Evidence for the relocalization of the ribosome-translocon complex as a key event for the emergence of endoplasmic reticulum during eukaryogenesis EN Isaac CARILO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1347-6947 88 10 2024 Cytosolic acidification and oxidation are the toxic mechanisms of SO2 in Arabidopsis guard cells 1164 1171 EN Mahdi Mozhgani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Lia Ooi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Christelle Espagne Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC) Sophie Filleur Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC) Izumi C Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University SO2/H2SO3 can damage plants. However, its toxic mechanism has still been controversial. Two models have been proposed, cytosolic acidification model and cellular oxidation model. Here, we assessed the toxic mechanism of H2SO3 in three cell types of Arabidopsis thaliana, mesophyll cells, guard cells (GCs), and petal cells. The sensitivity of GCs of Chloride channel a (CLCa)-knockout mutants to H2SO3 was significantly lower than those of wildtype plants. Expression of other CLC genes in mesophyll cells and petal cells were different from GCs. Treatment with antioxidant, disodium 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonate (tiron), increased the median lethal concentration (LC50) of H2SO3 in GCs indicating the involvement of cellular oxidation, while the effect was negligible in mesophyll cells and petal cells. These results indicate that there are two toxic mechanisms of SO2 to Arabidopsis cells: cytosolic acidification and cellular oxidation, and the toxic mechanism may vary among cell types. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Study on ecology of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii in Japan: reproductive biology and the negative effects on native aquatic animal species EN LUONG QUANG TUONG Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Sustainability-Oriented Biology Education: Development of Science Teacher Training Modules EN KHALIFATULLOH FIEL ARDH Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Reduction of internal phosphorus loading in agricultural drainages using iron-incorporated sediment microbial fuel cells EN GAMAMADA LIYANAGE ERANDI PRIYANGIKA PERERA Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Exploring the potential role of transitional elements to understand the past and the future of the Earth’s biosphere EN RATNAYAKE MUDIYANSELAGE DILAN MADUSANKA RATNAYAKE Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1347-6947 87 11 2023 The effect of exogenous dihydroxyacetone and methylglyoxal on growth, anthocyanin accumulation, and the glyoxalase system in Arabidopsis 1323 1331 EN Maoxiang Zhao Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Toshiyuki Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Izumi C Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) occurs in wide-ranging organisms, including plants, and can undergo spontaneous conversion to methylglyoxal (MG). While the toxicity of MG to plants is well-known, the toxicity of DHA to plants remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effects of DHA and MG on Arabidopsis. Exogenous DHA at up to 10 mM did not affect the radicle emergence, the expansion of green cotyledons, the seedling growth, or the activity of glyoxalase II, while DHA at 10 mM inhibited the root elongation and increased the activity of glyoxalase I. Exogenous MG at 1.0 mM inhibited these physiological responses and increased both activities. Dihydroxyacetone at 10 mM increased the MG content in the roots. These results indicate that DHA is not so toxic as MG in Arabidopsis seeds and seedlings and suggest that the toxic effect of DHA at high concentrations is attributed to MG accumulation by the conversion to MG. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学文学部学芸員課程 Acta Medica Okayama 5 2015 学芸員課程 Newsletter 第5号 EN 10.18926/66808 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学文学部学芸員課程 Acta Medica Okayama 3 2014 学芸員課程 Newsletter 第3号 EN 10.18926/66806 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学文明動態学研究所 文化遺産マネジメント部門 Acta Medica Okayama 40 2024 鹿田遺跡 17 ―第22次調査地点―（地域医療人育成センターおかやま新営に伴う発掘調査） EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 135 3 2023 日本組織培養学会第95回大会報告 181 182 EN Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2023 好熱性真正細菌Bellilinea sp.由来の微生物型ロドプシンBeNaRにおける分子機能・特性解析 EN Marie KURIHARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1742-464X 291 6 2023 Hepatitis C virus NS5B triggers an MDA5-mediated innate immune response by producing dsRNA without the replication of viral genomes 1119 1130 EN Hiromichi Dansako Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masanori Ikeda Division of Biological Information Technology, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University Yasuo Ariumi Management Department of Biosafety, Laboratory Animal, and Pathogen Bank, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Nobuyuki Kato Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University During the replication of viral genomes, RNA viruses produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), through the activity of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) as viral replication intermediates. Recognition of viral dsRNA by host pattern recognition receptors – such as retinoic acid-induced gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors and Toll-like receptor 3 – triggers the production of interferon (IFN)-β via the activation of IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-3. It has been proposed that, during the replication of viral genomes, each of RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) form homodimers for the efficient activation of a downstream signalling pathway in host cells. We previously reported that, in the non-neoplastic human hepatocyte line PH5CH8, the RdRp NS5B derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV) could induce IFN-β expression by its RdRp activity without the actual replication of viral genomes. However, the exact mechanism by which HCV NS5B produced IFN-β remained unknown. In the present study, we first showed that NS5B derived from another Flaviviridae family member, GB virus B (GBV-B), also possessed the ability to induce IFN-β in PH5CH8 cells. Similarly, HCV NS5B, but not its G317V mutant, which lacks RdRp activity, induced the dimerization of MDA5 and subsequently the activation of IRF-3. Interestingly, immunofluorescence analysis showed that HCV NS5B produced dsRNA. Like HCV NS5B, GBV-B NS5B also triggered the production of dsRNA and subsequently the dimerization of MDA5. Taken together, our results show that HCV NS5B triggers an MDA5-mediated innate immune response by producing dsRNA without the replication of viral genomes in human hepatocytes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2005 Synthesis and biological active molecular design of tricyclic fused pyrimidines EN Shoeb Ahmed No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学文明動態学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 2436-8326 2 2023 生物遺骸に残された“DNA の記録” を読み解く 46 55 EN Fuzuki MIZUNO 展望： 人文学のための古代DNA セミナー (Perspectives : An Acient DNA Seminer for Humanities) 10.18926/64202 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2022 Standardized incidence ratios of malignant neoplasms among patients with pneumoconiosis EN Tatsuya MICHIBATA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Zoological Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 0289-0003 39 5 2022 Constant Light, Pdp1, and Tim Exert Influence on Free-Running Period of Locomotor Rhythms in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus 459 467 EN Yoshiyuki Moriyama Department of Natural Sciences, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan Kazuki Takeuchi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan Kenji Tomioka Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan Most insects show circadian rhythms of which the free-running period changes in a light-dependent manner and is generally longer under constant light (LL) than under constant dark conditions in nocturnal animals. However, the mechanism underlying this LL-dependent period change remains unclear. Here, using the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, we examined the effects of long-term LL exposure on the free-running period of locomotor rhythms. Initially, the free-running period was considerably longer than 24 h but it gradually became shorter during long-term exposure to LL. The initiallengthening and ensuing gradual shortening under long-term LL exposure were observed evenafter unilateral removal of the optic lobe. Thus, these changes in the free-running period could be attributable to a single optic lobe clock. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of the clock genes Par domain protein 1 (Pdp1) and timeless (tim) revealed that the treatments eliminated the initial period lengthening by LL without reducing circadian photoreceptor gene expression. However, they did not affect the period shortening during long-term LL exposure. The slopes of the regression line for the period change during long-term LL for Pdp1RNAi-treated and timRNAi-treated crickets were not different from that of the dsDsRed2-treated control. These results suggest that the initial period lengthening after transfer to LL requires tim and Pdp1, while the ensuing period shortening during long-term LL exposure is caused by a mechanism independent of tim and Pdp1. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1664-302X 13 2022 Siderophore for Lanthanide and Iron Uptake for Methylotrophy and Plant Growth Promotion in Methylobacterium aquaticum Strain 22A 921635 EN Patrick Otieno Juma Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiko Fujitani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ola Alessa Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Tokitaka Oyama Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Hiroya Yurimoto Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Yasuyoshi Sakai Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum species are facultative methylotrophic bacteria that are abundant in the plant phyllosphere. They have two methanol dehydrogenases, MxaF and XoxF, which are dependent on either calcium or lanthanides (Lns), respectively. Lns exist as insoluble minerals in nature, and their solubilization and uptake require a siderophore-like substance (lanthanophore). Methylobacterium species have also been identified as plant growth-promoting bacteria although the actual mechanism has not been well-investigated. This study aimed to reveal the roles of siderophore in Methylobacterium aquaticum strain 22A in Ln uptake, bacterial physiology, and plant growth promotion. The strain 22A genome contains an eight-gene cluster encoding the staphyloferrin B-like (sbn) siderophore. We demonstrate that the sbn siderophore gene cluster is necessary for growth under low iron conditions and was complemented by supplementation with citrate or spent medium of the wild type or other strains of the genera. The siderophore exhibited adaptive features, including tolerance to oxidative and nitrosative stress, biofilm formation, and heavy metal sequestration. The contribution of the siderophore to plant growth was shown by the repressive growth of duckweed treated with siderophore mutant under iron-limited conditions; however, the siderophore was dispensable for strain 22A to colonize the phyllosphere. Importantly, the siderophore mutant could not grow on methanol, but the siderophore could solubilize insoluble Ln oxide, suggesting its critical role in methylotrophy. We also identified TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs) for the siderophore-iron complex, iron citrate, and Ln, among 12 TBDRs in strain 22A. Analysis of the siderophore synthesis gene clusters and TBDR genes in Methylobacterium genomes revealed the existence of diverse types of siderophores and TBDRs. Methylorubrum species have an exclusive TBDR for Ln uptake that has been identified as LutH. Collectively, the results of this study provide insight into the importance of the sbn siderophore in Ln chelation, bacterial physiology, and the diversity of siderophore and TBDRs in Methylobacterium species. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1664-302X 13 2022 A Periplasmic Lanthanide Mediator, Lanmodulin, in Methylobacterium aquaticum Strain 22A 921636 EN Yoshiko Fujitani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Takeshi Shibata K.K. AB SCIEX Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum species oxidize methanol via pyrroloquinoline quinone-methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs). MDHs can be classified into two major groups, Ca2+-dependent MDH (MxaF) and lanthanide (Ln(3+))-dependent MDH (XoxF), whose expression is regulated by the availability of Ln(3+). A set of a siderophore, TonB-dependent receptor, and an ABC transporter that resembles the machinery for iron uptake is involved in the solubilization and transport of Ln(3+). The transport of Ln(3+) into the cytosol enhances XoxF expression. A unique protein named lanmodulin from Methylorubrum extorquens strain AM1 was identified as a specific Ln(3+)-binding protein, and its biological function was implicated to be an Ln(3+) shuttle in the periplasm. In contrast, it remains unclear how Ln(3+) levels in the cells are maintained, because Ln(3+) is potentially deleterious to cellular systems due to its strong affinity to phosphate ions. In this study, we investigated the function of a lanmodulin homolog in Methylobacterium aquaticum strain 22A. The expression of a gene encoding lanmodulin (lanM) was induced in response to the presence of La3+. A recombinant LanM underwent conformational change upon La3+ binding. Phenotypic analyses on lanM deletion mutant and overexpressing strains showed that LanM is not necessary for the wild-type and XoxF-dependent mutant's methylotrophic growth. We found that lanM expression was regulated by MxcQE (a two-component regulator for MxaF) and TonB_Ln (a TonB-dependent receptor for Ln(3+)). The expression level of mxcQE was altered to be negatively dependent on Ln(3+) concentration in increment lanM, whereas it was constant in the wild type. Furthermore, when exposed to La3+, increment lanM showed an aggregating phenotype, cell membrane impairment, La deposition in the periplasm evidenced by electron microscopy, differential expression of proteins involved in membrane integrity and phosphate starvation, and possibly lower La content in the membrane vesicle (MV) fractions. Taken together, we concluded that lanmodulin is involved in the complex regulation mechanism of MDHs and homeostasis of cellular Ln levels by facilitating transport and MV-mediated excretion. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2022 Exploring the archaeal origin of eukaryotic protein machineries EN TRAN THUY LINH Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター Acta Medica Okayama 38 2022 鹿田遺跡16　― 第20次調査Ｂ・Ｄ地点 ―（岡山大学病院中央診療棟新営に伴う発掘調査） EN Shiho Iwasaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Yoko Oki No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院教育学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1883-2423 179 2022 水産生物栽培キットの設計・製作とSTEAM教育への展開 121 127 EN Hirofumi Noge Division of Life, Health and Sports Education, Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Tatsuya Kajimoto Okayama City Sonan Public Hall Takashi Irie Division of Life, Health and Sports Education, Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Toshinobu Kasai Division of Life, Health and Sports Education, Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Kenji Nito Division of Life, Health and Sports Education, Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Seiji Hirata Division of Life, Health and Sports Education, Graduate School of Education, Okayama University 10.18926/bgeou/63246 中学校技術科における水産生物の栽培では，実習的な活動はほとんど実施されていない。知識だけの習得で，思考を深めることは難しい。実社会での問題発見や解決を科目横断的に進めるSTEAM教育により，思考を抽象化させる必要があると考える。本研究では，はじめに「水産生物栽培キット」を設計・製作し，中学校技術科での教材としての適性を確かめた。次に，水産生物栽培キットをSTEAM教育へ展開するため，ファンバブル発生ノズルを水産生物栽培キットに設置し，ファインバブルがゼブラフィッシュの成長に及ぼす影響を調べた。その結果，水産生物栽培キットは中学校技術科の水産生物の栽培で，学習指導要領の取り扱い内容を満足する教材として使用できることを確認した。また，ファインバブルによるゼブラフィッシュの成長促進や高品質化に関する優位性は確認できなかったが，ものづくりに関するテーマは，STEAM教育に寄与する可能性が高いことを明らかにした。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 133 3 2021 間葉系幹細胞の細胞生物学的特徴づけと，ヒト多能性幹細胞研究への応用 158 165 EN Takeshi Takarada Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Study on the biophysical property of recombinant cancer-testis antigens for autoantibody biomarker analysis EN AHMADIGHADYKOLAEI Hannaneh Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 腫瘍内18F-fluorodeoxyglucose 最大取込み細胞の細胞生物学的特性に関する研究 EN Sachi Sugita Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Molecular and biological properties of diverse fungal and plant partitiviruses EN TELENGECH Paul Kipkemboi Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Evaluation and classification of rice ethanol extracts as a rich source of biologically-active antioxidants EN Hongyan Wu Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media Acta Medica Okayama 1664-302X 12 2021 Comprehensive Comparative Genomics and Phenotyping of Methylobacterium Species 740610 EN Ola Alessa Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshitoshi Ogura Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine Yoshiko Fujitani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hideto Takami Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Tetsuya Hayashi Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Nurettin Sahin Egitim Fakultesi, Mugla Sitki Kocman University Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University The pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), a major bacterial group found in the plant phyllosphere, comprise two genera: Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum. They have been separated into three major clades: A, B (Methylorubrum), and C. Within these genera, however, some species lack either pigmentation or methylotrophy, which raises the question of what actually defines the PPFMs. The present study employed a comprehensive comparative genomics approach to reveal the phylogenetic relationship among the PPFMs and to explain the genotypic differences that confer their different phenotypes. We newly sequenced the genomes of 29 relevant-type strains to complete a dataset for almost all validly published species in the genera. Through comparative analysis, we revealed that methylotrophy, nitrate utilization, and anoxygenic photosynthesis are hallmarks differentiating the PPFMs from the other Methylobacteriaceae. The Methylobacterium species in clade A, including the type species Methylobacterium organophilum, were phylogenetically classified into six subclades, each possessing relatively high genomic homology and shared phenotypic characteristics. One of these subclades is phylogenetically close to Methylorubrum species; this finding led us to reunite the two genera into a single genus Methylobacterium. Clade C, meanwhile, is composed of phylogenetically distinct species that share relatively higher percent G+C content and larger genome sizes, including larger numbers of secondary metabolite clusters. Most species of clade C and some of clade A have the glutathione-dependent pathway for formaldehyde oxidation in addition to the H4MPT pathway. Some species cannot utilize methanol due to their lack of MxaF-type methanol dehydrogenase (MDH), but most harbor an XoxF-type MDH that enables growth on methanol in the presence of lanthanum. The genomes of PPFMs encode between two and seven (average 3.7) genes for pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases, and their phylogeny is distinctly correlated with their genomic phylogeny. All PPFMs were capable of synthesizing auxin and did not induce any immune response in rice cells. Other phenotypes including sugar utilization, antibiotic resistance, and antifungal activity correlated with their phylogenetic relationship. This study provides the first inclusive genotypic insight into the phylogeny and phenotypes of PPFMs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 0031-6903 141 10 2021 光受容タンパク質・ロドプシンの生物物理化学研究 1155 1160 EN Keiichi Kojima Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Opsins (also called animal rhodopsins) are universal photoreceptive proteins that provide the molecular basis of visual and nonvisual photoreception in animals, including humans. Opsins consist of seven helical a-transmembrane domains and use retinal, a derivative of vitamin A, as a chromophore. In many opsins, light absorption triggers photoisomerization from 11-cis retinal to all-trans retinal, resulting in activation via dynamic structural changes in the protein moiety. Activated opsins stimulate cognate trimeric G proteins to induce signal transduction cascades in cells. Recently, molecular and physiological analyses of diverse opsins have progressively advanced. This review introduces the molecular basis and physiological unctions of opsins. Based on the functions of opsins, I will discuss the potential of opsins as target molecules to treat and prevent visual and nonvisual diseases such as sleep disorder and depression. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1664-302X 12 2021 Identification of a Novel Quinvirus in the Family Betaflexiviridae That Infects Winter Wheat 715545 EN Hideki Kondo Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Naoto Yoshida Agricultural Research Institute, HOKUREN Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives Miki Fujita Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Kazuyuki Maruyama Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Kiwamu Hyodo Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Hiroshi Hisano Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Tetsuo Tamada Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Ida Bagus Andika College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University Nobuhiro Suzuki Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Yellow mosaic disease in winter wheat is usually attributed to the infection by bymoviruses or furoviruses; however, there is still limited information on whether other viral agents are also associated with this disease. To investigate the wheat viromes associated with yellow mosaic disease, we carried out de novo RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of symptomatic and asymptomatic wheat-leaf samples obtained from a field in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2018 and 2019. The analyses revealed the infection by a novel betaflexivirus, which tentatively named wheat virus Q (WVQ), together with wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV, a bymovirus) and northern cereal mosaic virus (a cytorhabdovirus). Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analyses showed that the WVQ strains (of which there are at least three) were related to the members of the genus Foveavirus in the subfamily Quinvirinae (family Betaflexiviridae). In the phylogenetic tree, they form a clade distant from that of the foveaviruses, suggesting that WVQ is a member of a novel genus in the Quinvirinae. Laboratory tests confirmed that WVQ, like WYMV, is potentially transmitted through the soil to wheat plants. WVQ was also found to infect rye plants grown in the same field. Moreover, WVQ-derived small interfering RNAs accumulated in the infected wheat plants, indicating that WVQ infection induces antiviral RNA silencing responses. Given its common coexistence with WYMV, the impact of WVQ infection on yellow mosaic disease in the field warrants detailed investigation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Studies on mechanisms of rapid axopodial contraction in the centrohelid Raphidocystis contractilis EN Risa Ikeda Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Microbial fermentation and quality preservation of agro-industrial wet by-products EN Ajmal Wali Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Experimental introduction of mycoviruses into phytopathogenic filamentous fungi and their biologic characterization EN Shahi Sabitree Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2021 Microbial conversion of C-glycoside mangiferin into its aglycone norathyriol: Distribution, isolation, and characterization of active bacteria EN Hasanah Uswatun Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 132 3 2020 Ｃ型肝炎ウイルス（HCV）：抗 HCV 剤の開発と抗 HCV 療法 131 143 EN Nobuyuki Kato Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター Acta Medica Okayama 2019 2021 岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター紀要2019 EN Kentaro Minami Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Yuji Yamaguchi Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Takahiro Nozaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Shiho Iwasaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学教師教育開発センター Acta Medica Okayama 2186-1323 11 2021 気象学と植物学との連携による自然環境系の ESD 的理解への学際的アプローチ―大学における授業実践の試み― 149 163 EN Taro HARADA Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Kuranoshin KATO Graduate School of Education, Okayama University 10.18926/CTED/61571 理科の学問分野である気象学と植物学との連携により，持続可能な開発のための教育（ESD）を志向した自然環境系の理解を目指し，大学の教科・分野横断的な科目における授業実践を行った。最初の試みとして，気象・季節・気候および植物との関連が重要となる理科の教科内容をベースに，学際的な側面を持ついくつかのテーマが見出された。とりわけ，生物季節（フェノロジー）は，ESD に関連した気象・気候の季節サイクルと植物の成長および環境応答との関わりに関する学生の理解を促進するうえで有用であることが，授業分析から示唆された。これらの授業実践から，気象学と植物学との連携が，自然環境系の ESD 的理解の促進のみならず，教科内容構成の分野横断的な検討にも役立ち，教師教育のためのアプローチとして有望である可能性が示された。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

BMC Acta Medica Okayama 2056-306X 6 1 2020 The role of clockwork orange in the circadian clock of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus 12 EN Yasuaki Tomiyama Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tsugumichi Shinohara Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mirai Matsuka Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tetsuya Bando Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Taro Mito Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University Kenji Tomioka Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The circadian clock generates rhythms of approximately 24 h through periodic expression of the clock genes. In insects, the major clock genes period (per) and timeless (tim) are rhythmically expressed upon their transactivation by CLOCK/CYCLE, with peak levels in the early night. In Drosophila, clockwork orange (cwo) is known to inhibit the transcription of per and tim during the daytime to enhance the amplitude of the rhythm, but its function in other insects is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of cwo in the clock mechanism of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. The results of quantitative RT-PCR showed that under a light/dark (LD) cycle, cwo is rhythmically expressed in the optic lobe (lamina-medulla complex) and peaks during the night. When cwo was knocked down via RNA interference (RNAi), some crickets lost their locomotor rhythm, while others maintained a rhythm but exhibited a longer free-running period under constant darkness (DD). In cwo(RNAi) crickets, all clock genes except for cryptochrome 2 (cry2) showed arrhythmic expression under DD; under LD, some of the clock genes showed higher mRNA levels, and tim showed rhythmic expression with a delayed phase. Based on these results, we propose that cwo plays an important role in the cricket circadian clock. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2020 Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Zinc Uptake in Rice EN Sheng Huang Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2020 生物活性天然物の立体発散的合成研究 EN Hiroko Wadas Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 132 2 2020 C型肝炎ウイルス（HCV）：RNAゲノムの多様性と変異性 60 67 EN Nobuyuki Kato Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Acta Medica Okayama 0168-8162 30 1-3 2003 Orchid Fleck Virus: Brevipalpus californicus Mite Transmission, Biological Properties and Genome Structure 215 223 EN Hideki Kondo Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University Takanori Maeda Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University Tetsuo Tamada Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University Orchid fleck virus (OFV) causes necrotic or chlorotic ring spots and fleck symptoms in many orchid species world-wide. The virus has non-enveloped, bacilliform particles of about 40 nm × 100–150 nm and is sap-transmissible to several plant species. OFV is transmitted by the mite Brevipalpus californicus (Banks) in a persistent manner and efficiently transmitted by both adults and nymphs, but not by larvae. Viruliferous mites retain their infectivity for 3 weeks on a virus-immune host. The genome of OFV consists of two molecules of 6431 (RNA1) and 6001 nucleotides (RNA2). The RNAs have conserved and complementary terminal sequences. RNA1 contains five open reading frames (ORF), and RNA2 encodes a single ORF. Although some of the encoded proteins of OFV have sequences similar to those of proteins of plant rhabdoviruses, OFV differs from viruses in the family Rhabdoviridae in having a bipartite genome. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Acta Medica Okayama 0304-8608 154 1 2008 Identification and characterization of structural proteins of orchid fleck virus 37 45 EN Hideki Kondo Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University Takanori Maeda College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University Tetsuo Tamada Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University Orchid fleck virus (OFV) has a bipartite negative-sense RNA genome with sequence similarities to plant rhabdoviruses. The non-enveloped bullet-shaped particles of OFV are similar to those of the internal ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-M protein structure of rhabdoviruses, but they are about half the size of typical plant rhabdoviruses. Purified preparations contained intact bullet-shaped and filamentous particles. The filamentous particles showed a tightly coiled coil structure or a coiled structure with a helical twist, which resembles the RNP complex of rhabdoviruses. OFV bullet-shaped particles were structurally stable in solutions containing 2% Triton X-100 and 0.8 M NaCl. Western blot analyses revealed that the bullet-shaped particles contained N, P and M proteins, while filamentous particles contained mainly N and P proteins. In addition, a small amount of the L protein was detected in both types of particles. Thus, the structural proteins of OFV have properties similar to those of rhabdoviruses, except that the particles are non-enveloped and are relatively resistant to detergent-treatment under high-salt conditions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0032-0862 70 1 2020 Pathogenetic roles of beet necrotic yellow vein virus RNA5 in the exacerbation of symptoms and yield reduction, development of scab‐like symptoms, and Rz1‐resistance breaking in sugar beet 219 232 EN Tetsuo Tamada Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Hirokatsu Uchino Research Center, Nippon Beet Sugar Mfg. Co., Ltd. Toshimi Kusume Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station Minako Iketani‐Saito Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station Sotaro Chiba Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Ida Bagus Andika Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Hideki Kondo Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), Okayama University Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) generally has a four‐segmented positive‐sense RNA genome (RNAs 1–4), but some European and most Asian strains have an additional segment, RNA5. This study examined the effect of RNA5 and RNA3 on different sugar beet cultivars using a Polymyxa‐mediated inoculation system under field and laboratory conditions. In field tests, the degree of sugar yield served as an index for assessing the virulence of BNYVV strains. Japanese A‐II type isolates without RNA5 caused mostly 15%–90% sugar yield reductions, depending on the susceptibility of sugar beet cultivars, whereas the isolates with RNA5 induced more than 90% yield losses in the seven susceptible cultivars, but small yield losses in one Rz1‐resistant and Rizor cultivars. However, a laboratory‐produced isolate containing RNA5 but lacking RNA3 caused higher yield losses in Rizor than in susceptible plants, and induced scab‐like symptoms on the root surface of both susceptible and resistant plants. In laboratory tests, A‐II type isolates without RNA5 had low viral RNA accumulation levels in roots of Rizor and Rz1‐resistant plants at early stages of infection, but in the presence of RNA5, viral RNA3 accumulation levels increased remarkably. This increased RNA3 accumulation was not observed in roots of the WB42 accession with the Rz2 gene. In contrast, the presence of RNA3 did not affect RNA5 accumulation levels. Collectively, this study demonstrated that RNA5 is involved in the development of scab‐like symptoms and the enhancement of RNA3 accumulation, and suggests these characteristics of RNA5 are associated with Rz1‐resistance breaking. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Nature Research Acta Medica Okayama 2058-5276 1 1 2016 A capsidless ssRNA virus hosted by an unrelated dsRNA virus 15001 EN Rui Zhang Agrivirology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sakae Hisano Agrivirology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Akio Tani Agrivirology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hideki Kondo Agrivirology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Satoko Kanematsu NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science Nobuhiro Suzuki Agrivirology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Viruses typically encode the capsid that encases their genome, while satellite viruses do not encode a replicase and depend on a helper virus for their replication1. Here, we report interplay between two RNA viruses, yado-nushi virus 1 (YnV1) and yado-kari virus 1 (YkV1), in a phytopathogenic fungus, Rosellinia necatrix2. YkV1 has a close phylogenetic affinity to positive-sense, single-stranded (+)ssRNA viruses such as animal caliciviruses3, while YnV1 has an undivided double-stranded (ds) RNA genome with a resemblance to fungal totiviruses4. Virion transfection and infectious full-length cDNA transformation has shown that YkV1 depends on YnV1 for viability, although it probably encodes functional RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Immunological and molecular analyses have revealed trans-encapsidation of not only YkV1 RNA but also RdRp by the capsid protein of the other virus (YnV1), and enhancement of YnV1 accumulation by YkV1. This study demonstrates interplay in which the capsidless (+)ssRNA virus (YkV1), hijacks the capsid protein of the dsRNA virus (YnV1), and replicates as if it were a dsRNA virus. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press Acta Medica Okayama 0022-0957 71 16 2020 Low temperature modulates natural peel degreening in lemon fruit independently of endogenous ethylene 4778 4796 EN Oscar W. Mitalo Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Takumi Otsuki Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Rui Okada Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Saeka Obitsu Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Kanae Masuda Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yuko Hojo Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Takakazu Matsuura Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Daigo Abe National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Shikoku Research Station William O. Asiche Department of Research and Development, Del Monte Kenya Ltd Takashi Akagi Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yasutaka Kubo Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Koichiro Ushijima Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Peel degreening is an important aspect of fruit ripening in many citrus fruit, and previous studies have shown that it can be advanced by ethylene treatment or by low-temperature storage. However, the important regulators and pathways involved in natural peel degreening remain largely unknown. To determine how natural peel degreening is regulated in lemon fruit (Citrus limon), we studied transcriptome and physiochemical changes in the flavedo in response to ethylene treatment and low temperatures. Treatment with ethylene induced rapid peel degreening, which was strongly inhibited by the ethylene antagonist, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Compared with 25 degrees C, moderately low storage temperatures of 5-20 degrees C also triggered peel degreening. Surprisingly, repeated 1-MCP treatments failed to inhibit the peel degreening induced by low temperature. Transcriptome analysis revealed that low temperature and ethylene independently regulated genes associated with chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid metabolism, photosystem proteins, phytohormone biosynthesis and signalling, and transcription factors. Peel degreening of fruit on trees occurred in association with drops in ambient temperature, and it coincided with the differential expression of low temperature-regulated genes. In contrast, genes that were uniquely regulated by ethylene showed no significant expression changes during on-tree peel degreening. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that low temperature plays a prominent role in regulating natural peel degreening independently of ethylene in citrus fruit. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2020 Airway bacteria of the recipient but not the donor are relevant to post-lung transplant pneumonia EN Yusuke Konishi Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学文学部国語国文学研究室 Acta Medica Okayama 0386-3123 19 1991 読解・読書能力を高めるための言語・心理・生物学的基礎―失語症患者を対象とした研究― 147 158 EN 10.18926/okadaironkou/60393 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2076-2607 8 6 2020 Lanthanide-Dependent Methanol and Formaldehyde Oxidation inMethylobacterium aquaticumStrain 22A 822 EN Patcha Yanpirat Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yukari Nakatsuji Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shota Hiraga Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiko Fujitani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Terumi Izumi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sachiko Masuda Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ryoji Mitsui Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science Tomoyuki Nakagawa The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Lanthanides (Ln) are an essential cofactor for XoxF-type methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs) in Gram-negative methylotrophs. The Ln(3+)dependency of XoxF has expanded knowledge and raised new questions in methylotrophy, including the differences in characteristics of XoxF-type MDHs, their regulation, and the methylotrophic metabolism including formaldehyde oxidation. In this study, we genetically identified one set of Ln(3+)- and Ca2+-dependent MDHs (XoxF1 and MxaFI), that are involved in methylotrophy, and an ExaF-type Ln(3+)-dependent ethanol dehydrogenase, among six MDH-like genes inMethylobacterium aquaticumstrain 22A. We also identified the causative mutations in MxbD, a sensor kinase necessary formxaFexpression andxoxF1repression, for suppressive phenotypes inxoxF1mutants defective in methanol growth even in the absence of Ln(3+). Furthermore, we examined the phenotypes of a series of formaldehyde oxidation-pathway mutants (fae1,fae2,mchin the tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT) pathway andhgdin the glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (GSH) pathway). We found that MxaF produces formaldehyde to a toxic level in the absence of the formaldehyde oxidation pathways and that either XoxF1 or ExaF can oxidize formaldehyde to alleviate formaldehyde toxicity in vivo. Furthermore, the GSH pathway has a supportive role for the net formaldehyde oxidation in addition to the H4MPT pathway that has primary importance. Studies on methylotrophy inMethylobacteriumspecies have a long history, and this study provides further insights into genetic and physiological diversity and the differences in methylotrophy within the plant-colonizing methylotrophs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press Acta Medica Okayama 0022-0957 70 5 2019 Honeydew-associated microbes elicit defense responses against brown planthopper in rice 1683 1696 EN David Wari Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Md Alamgir Kabir Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Kadis Mujiono Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yuko Hojo Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Tomonori Shinya Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Akio Tani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Hiroko Nakatani Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ivan Galis Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Feeding of sucking insects, such as the rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens; BPH), causes only limited mechanical damage on plants that is otherwise essential for injury-triggered defense responses against herbivores. In pursuit of complementary BPH elicitors perceived by plants, we examined the potential effects of BPH honeydew secretions on the BPH monocot host, rice (Oryza sativa). We found that BPH honeydew strongly elicits direct and putative indirect defenses in rice, namely accumulation of phytoalexins in the leaves, and release of volatile organic compounds from the leaves that serve to attract natural enemies of herbivores, respectively. We then examined the elicitor active components in the honeydew and found that bacteria in the secretions are responsible for the activation of plant defense. Corroborating the importance of honeydew-associated microbiota for induced plant resistance, BPHs partially devoid of their microbiota via prolonged antibiotics ingestion induced significantly less defense in rice relative to antibiotic-free insects applied to similar groups of plants. Our data suggest that rice plants may additionally perceive herbivores via their honeydew-associated microbes, allowing them to discriminate between incompatible herbivores―that do not produce honeydew―and those that are compatible and therefore dangerous. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ネジバナ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama マツバイ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ミズガヤツリ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ヒメイヌビエ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ヒメタイヌビエ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ウリカワ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ミゾカクシ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ムシクサ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama トキワハゼ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ミズハコベ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アオイゴケ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama チョウジタデ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ミゾハコベ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ノジスミレ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama カタバミ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama コイヌガラシ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ヒナタイノコヅチ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama サナエタデ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama クワクサ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ボタンウキクサ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アカミタンポポ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama オオアワダチソウ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ナルトサワギク EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama オオハンゴンソウ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ミズヒマワリ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ウスベニチチコグサ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ハキダメギク EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アメリカタカサブロウ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama オオキンケイギク EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama オオホウキギク EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ツボミオオバコ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama オオカワヂシャ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ハコベホオズキ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ヤブチョロギ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama キクザアサガオ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アレチウリ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アレチヌスビトハギ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama アコウグンバイ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama トゲミノキツネノボタン EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama ツルノゲイトウ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama コハコベ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama コムギセンノウ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学 資源植物科学研究所 野生植物グループ Acta Medica Okayama イトツメクサ EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Acta Medica Okayama 00456535 247 2020 Application of the cellular oxidation biosensor to Toxicity Identification Evaluations for high-throughput toxicity assessment of river water 125933 EN Lia Ooi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Keisuke Okazaki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Carlos R. Arias-Barreiro nstitute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Lee Yook Heng Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (SEADPRI-UKM), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), The National University of Malaysia Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) is a useful method for the classification and identification of toxicants in a composite environment water sample. However, its extension to a larger sample size has been restrained owing to the limited throughput of toxicity bioassays. Here we reported the development of a high-throughput method of TIE Phase I. This newly developed method was assisted by the fluorescence-based cellular oxidation (CO) biosensor fabricated with roGFP2-expressing bacterial cells in 96-well microplate format. The assessment of four river water samples from Langat river basin by this new method demonstrated that the contaminant composition of the four samples can be classified into two distinct groups. The entire toxicity assay consisted of 2338 tests was completed within 12 h with a fluorescence microplate reader. Concurrently, the sample volume for each assay was reduced to 50 μL, which is 600 to 4700 times lesser to compare with conventional bioassays. These imply that the throughput of the CO biosensor-assisted TIE Phase I is now feasible for constructing a large-scale toxicity monitoring system, which would cover a whole watershed scale. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター Acta Medica Okayama 2018 2020 岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター紀要2018 EN Kentaro Minami Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Shiho Iwasaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Etsuyo Yamamoto Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Yuji Yamaguchi Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Takahiro Nozaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター Acta Medica Okayama 2017 2019 岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター紀要2017 EN Takahiro Nozaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Kentaro Minami Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Etsuyo Yamamoto Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Shigeyuki Suzuki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Yuji Yamaguchi Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University Shiho Iwasaki Archaeological Research Center, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学農学部 Acta Medica Okayama 2186-7755 109 2020 酸性鉱山廃水の 効果的な生物的処理プロセスの開発 29 36 EN Kazuo Kamimura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Tadayoshi Kanao Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Acid mine drainage (AMD) is acidic and generally enriched with iron, aluminum, sulfate and heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. AMD is a growing problem of emerging concern that cause detrimental effects to the environment and living organisms. Yanahara mine in Misaki Town, Okayama, Japan, had mainly produced pyrite for sulfuric acid manufacture. Although it was closed in 1991, AMD is being generated from the mine now. A passive treatment based on the biological oxidation of ferrous iron is a promising strategy for AMD remediation. AMD from Yanahara mine is treated in a plant using iron-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Ferrovum spp. The AMD generation continues for several centuries with dramatic consequences on the receiving environments. Therefore, the development of sustainable and cost effective treatment process is required. A development of the effective biological treatment process with an iron oxidation reactor operated at pH 3.5 is described in this report. Economic aspects are also discussed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0140-7791 42 2 2018 The mechanism of SO2 -induced stomatal closure differs from O3 and CO2 responses and is mediated by nonapoptotic cell death in guard cells. 437 447 EN Lia Ooi Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Takakazu Matsuura Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Maki Katsuhara Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Takashi Hirayama Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Plants closing stomata in the presence of harmful gases is believed to be a stress avoidance mechanism. SO2 , one of the major airborne pollutants, has long been reported to induce stomatal closure, yet the mechanism remains unknown. Little is known about the stomatal response to airborne pollutants besides O3 . SLOW ANION CHANNEL-ASSOCIATED 1 (SLAC1) and OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) were identified as genes mediating O3 -induced closure. SLAC1 and OST1 are also known to mediate stomatal closure in response to CO2 , together with RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOGs (RBOHs). The overlaying roles of these genes in response to O3 and CO2 suggested that plants share their molecular regulators for airborne stimuli. Here, we investigated and compared stomatal closure event induced by a wide concentration range of SO2 in Arabidopsis through molecular genetic approaches. O3 - and CO2 -insensitive stomata mutants did not show significant differences from the wild type in stomatal sensitivity, guard cell viability, and chlorophyll content revealing that SO2 -induced closure is not regulated by the same molecular mechanisms as for O3 and CO2 . Nonapoptotic cell death is shown as the reason for SO2 -induced closure, which proposed the closure as a physicochemical process resulted from SO2 distress, instead of a biological protection mechanism. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2019 Developing a High-Rate Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion Model to Deal with Biodegradable Municipal Solid Waste EN PHAM VAN DINH Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 131 2 2019 平成30年度岡山医学会賞 がん研究奨励賞（林原賞・山田賞） 75 77 EN Rie Kinoshita Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2019 複素環式生物活性化合物の合成研究 EN Junki Ando Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2019 マウス歯胚の発育に対する抗がん剤の影響についての組織学的および分子生物学的検討 EN Yoko Tsunoda Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 130 3 2018 S100タンパク質に着眼したがん転移機構の解明とその制御 135 139 EN Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院教育学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1883-2423 170 2019 効果的なチーム支援を引き出すカウンセラーの関わり方 : システムとして機能するチームをつくるために 41 50 EN Tazuko Aoki Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Takahiro Nakatomi Esperance Yokkaichi children’s home Tomoyo Tokuda A Faculty of Literature, Kurume University Atsushi Morimoto Okayama Joto Senior High School 10.18926/bgeou/56529 　人が生物学的な存在であると同時に社会的な存在であることを考えると，カウンセラーが個人を支援しようとする場合，個別の支援の他に、その個人を取り巻く様々な援助資源をうまく機能させて，チームで支援することも不可欠となる。では，効果的なチーム支援を行うために，カウンセラーはどのように関わればよいのだろうか。本稿では，カウンセラーがチーム支援を引き出した成功例として３つの実践を取り上げた。具体的には高等学校内での転入職員の支援，大学の学生相談での長期欠席者の支援，児童養護施設での児童の支援と，クライエントの援助資源が異なる３つである。しかし，そこでのカウンセラーのかかわり方には，ある共通点が見いだせた。本稿では，その共通点を箕口（2016）の「コミュニティ・アプローチを実践する心理援助の専門家の要件」に沿って考察した。最後に「協働」「どのようにサービスを提供するのか」という観点から考察した。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2018 Molecular players affecting the biological timer system to determine pupation timing in Drosophila EN Hamdy Aly Mohamed Aly Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山実験動物研究会 Acta Medica Okayama 34 2018 マウス視床下部・下垂体・生殖腺系における転写因子Runx3の役割 2 4 EN Sumio Takahashi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Runx3 is a transcription factor that belongs to the Runx family. Female Runx3 knockout (Runx3−⁄−) mouse was anovulatory and infertile. Ovarian transplantation experiment suggested that lack of ovulation in Runx3−⁄− mice was caused by alteration of gonadotropin secretion in Runx3−⁄− mice. Cyp11a1 mRNA expression was less in Runx3−⁄− mouse ovaries than in wt ones. Hypothalamic Gnrh1 mRNA was increased, and Kiss1 mRNA expression in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus was decreased, but Kisspeptin mRNA in the arcuate nucleus was increased in Runx3-/- mice. Pituitary Fshb mRNA levels were increased in Runx3−⁄− mice. Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme gene (Cyp11a1) expression was decreased in ovaries of Runx3−⁄− mice. These findings suggest that anovulation in Runx3−⁄− mice was partly due to the alterations in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary system. Runx3 plays a key role in female reproduction through alteration of gonadotropin secretion. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2018 Unique antimicrobial activity of bioactive compound produced by Aspergillus ustus EN Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2018 キイロショウジョウバエの変態期における発生タイミングを決める生物タイマーの分子機構と栄養シグナルの影響 EN Haruka Nishida Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2018 Streptococcus mutans における分子シャペロンDnaKの分子生物学的解明 EN Eri Yoshida Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2017 Microbiological studies on constraints and opportunities of dairy cattle production in Vietnam EN Tran Thi Minh Tu Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists Acta Medica Okayama 0032-0781 57 8 2016 Involvement of OST1 Protein Kinase and PYR/PYL/RCAR Receptors in Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Stomatal Closure in Arabidopsis Guard Cells 1779 1990 EN Ye Yin Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yuji Adachi Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induces stomatal closure. It has been shown that stomata of many ABA-insensitive mutants are also insensitive to MeJA, and a low amount of ABA is a prerequisite for the MeJA response. However, the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between ABA and MeJA signaling remain to be elucidated. Here we studied the interplay of signaling of the two hormones in guard cells using the quadruple ABA receptor mutant pyr1 pyl1 pyl2 pyl4 and ABA-activated protein kinase mutants ost1-2 and srk2e. In the quadruple mutant, MeJA-induced stomatal closure, H2O2 production, nitric oxide (NO) production, cytosolic alkalization and plasma membrane Ca(2+)-permeable current (ICa) activation were not impaired. At the same time, the inactivation of the inward-rectifying K(+) current was impaired. In contrast to the quadruple mutant, MeJA-induced stomatal closure, H2O2 production, NO production and cytosolic alkalization were impaired in ost1-2 and srk2e as well as in aba2-2, the ABA-deficient mutant. The activation of ICa was also impaired in srk2e. Collectively, these results indicated that OST1 was essential for MeJA-induced stomatal closure, while PYR1, PYL1, PYL2 and PYL4 ABA receptors were not sufficient factors. MeJA did not appear to activate OST1 kinase activity. This implies that OST1 mediates MeJA signaling through an undetectable level of activity or a non-enzymatic action. MeJA induced the expression of an ABA synthesis gene, NCED3, and increased ABA contents only modestly. Taken together with previous reports, this study suggests that MeJA signaling in guard cells is primed by ABA and is not brought about through the pathway mediated by PYR1, PYL1 PYL2 and PYL4. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Cambridge Univ. Press for the Society for General Microbiology Acta Medica Okayama 0022-1317 93 7 2012 Development of hepatitis C virus production reporter-assay systems using two different hepatoma cell lines 1422 1431 EN Midori Takeda Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masanori Ikeda Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasuo Ariumi Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takaji Wakita Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease Nobuyuki Kato Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences 　A hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection system was developed previously using the HCV JFH-1 strain (genotype 2a) and HuH-7 cells, and this cell culture is so far the only robust production system for HCV. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the virological effects of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy differ depending on the HCV strain and the genetic background of the host. Recently, we reported the hepatoma-derived Li23 cell line, in which the JFH-1 life cycle is reproduced at a level almost equal to that in HuH-7-derived RSc cells. To monitor the HCV life cycle more easily, we here developed JFH-1 reporter-assay systems using both HuH-7- and Li23-derived cell lines. To identify any genetic mutations by long-term cell culture, HCV RNAs in HuH-7 cells were amplified 130 days after infection and subjected to sequence analysis to find adaptive mutation(s) for robust virus replication. We identified two mutations, H2505Q and V2995L, in the NS5B region. V2995L but not H2505Q enhanced JFH-1 RNA replication. However, we found that H2505Q but not V2995L enhanced HCV RNA replication of strain O (genotype 1b). We also selected highly permissive D7 cells by serial subcloning of Li23 cells. The expression levels of claudin-1 and Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 in D7 cells are higher than those in parental Li23 cells. In this study, we developed HCV JFH-1 reporter-assay systems using two distinct hepatoma cell lines, HuH-7 and Li23. The mutations in NS5B resulted in different effects on strains O and JFH-1 HCV RNA replication. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Science Acta Medica Okayama 0168-1702 167 1 2012 Identification of host genes showing differential expression profiles with cell-based long-term replication of hepatitis C virus RNA 74 85 EN Hiroe Sejima Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kyoko Mori Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasuo Ariumi Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masanori Ikeda Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuyuki Kato Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences 　Persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently causes hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the mechanisms of HCV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis and disease progression are unclear. Although the human hepatoma cell line, HuH-7, has been widely used as the only cell culture system for robust HCV replication, we recently developed new human hepatoma Li23 cell line-derived OL, OL8, OL11, and OL14 cells, in which genome-length HCV RNA (O strain of genotype 1b) efficiently replicates. OL, OL8, OL11, and OL14 cells were cultured for more than 2 years. We prepared cured cells from OL8 and OL11 cells by interferon-γ treatment. The cured cells were also cultured for more than 2 years. cDNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses were performed using total RNAs prepared from these cells. We first selected several hundred highly or moderately expressed probes, the expression levels of which were upregulated or downregulated at ratios of more than 2 or less than 0.5 in each set of compared cells (e.g., parent OL8 cells versus OL8 cells cultured for 2 years). From among these probes, we next selected those whose expression levels commonly changed during a 2-year culture of genome-length HCV RNA-replicating cells, but which did not change during a 2-year culture period in cured cells. We further examined the expression levels of the selected candidate genes by RT-PCR analysis using additional specimens from the cells cultured for 3.5 years. Reproducibility of the RT-PCR analysis using specimens from recultured cells was also confirmed. Finally, we identified 5 upregulated genes and 4 downregulated genes, the expression levels of which were irreversibly altered during 3.5-year replication of HCV RNA. These genes may play roles in the optimization of the environment in HCV RNA replication, or may play key roles in the progression of HCV-associated hepatic diseases. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 129 2 2017 平成28年度岡山医学会賞　総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 81 83 EN Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biolgy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山実験動物研究会 Acta Medica Okayama 33 2017 下垂体隆起部の発生期に特異的に発現する遺伝子Cytokine-like 1,Gap junction protein alpha 5の同定 31 34 EN Sayaka Aizawa Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuriko Higaki Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Maho Ogoshi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Sakae Takeuchi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Sumio Takahashi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Adenohypophysis delivered from oral ectoderm consists of pars distalis (PD), pars intermedia and pars tuberalis (PT). The mechanisms of development of PD has been well studied, and the cell differentiation of PD has been well understood. However, the morphogenesis and the differentiation of PT are still unclear, and the gene expression during the PT development remains largely unknown. In this study, we explored the specifically expressing genes in PT during development and analyzed its spatiotemporal expressions pattern. Microarray analysis on laser-captured PT and PD tissues obtained from chicken embryos on embryonic day 10 (E10.0) showed high expressing genes, Cytokine-like 1 (CYTL1) and Gap junction protein alpha 5 (GJA5) in PT. A detail analysis of spatiotemporal expressions pattern during chick embryo development by in situ hybridization revealed that CYTL1 mRNA was first detected in lateral head ectoderm and ventral head ectoderm in E1.5. The CYTL1 expressions moved into Rathke’s pouch at E2.5, then it was localized in PT primordium and continuously expressed in PT primordium until E12.0. On the other hand, GJA5 mRNA was transiently detected in PT primordium from E6 to E14.0, while the expression was not detected in PD during development. These results suggested that these genes may be involved in the regulation mechanism of PT development and could be a useful marker in the PT development. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2017 Development of Organic Reactions with Bacteriogenic Amorphous Iron Oxide EN Kyoko Mandai Graduate School of Natural Science and Tchnology, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2017 Abiotic and biotic factors affecting the seedling survival of Fagus crenata in beech forests in western Japan EN Yasuaki Akaji Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2017 Histological and biological comparisons between complete and incomplete discoid lateral meniscus EN Hiroto Inoue Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2017 Tumor-specific delivery of biologics by a novel T-cell line HOZOT EN Teppei Onishi Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院教育学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1883-2423 163 2016 日本とスイス−ドイツ語圏−の後期中等教育段階における生物教育 ─ 生物基礎教科書の比較考察 ─ 69 78 EN Kenji Tanaka Professor Emeritus of Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Keita Tanaka Hisainishi Junior High School 10.18926/bgeou/54698 スイス−ドイツ語圏−のギムナジウムと日本の高等学校とにおける生物基礎に焦点を当て，後期中等教育段階における生物教育の比較考察を行った。スイスの生物基礎は，重点生物・補充生物とは種類が異なるとともに，それらの基礎，日本の生物基礎は，生物履修前の基礎である。そもそも，学習指導要領などが指示しているスイスと日本の生物基礎は，履修年限（3か1），単位数（6か2），指示する内容分野の違いから，大きく異なっていた。教科書も，その目次からは，学習内容の順序・範囲などが大きく異なっていること，索引からは，ともに現代社会の諸問題の理解に必要な要素は含まれているが，スイスでは1/ 20，日本では1/6程度しか重複（共通）していないことなどで，大きく異なっていることを明らかにした。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2016 アルツハイマー病治療薬を指向した新規γ-セクレターゼ調節薬のデザインと合成ならびに生物学的評価 EN Takafumi Takai No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学グローバル・パートナーズ, 岡山大学教育開発センター, 岡山大学言語教育センター, 岡山大学キャリア開発センター Acta Medica Okayama 1881-5952 11 2015 朱子の「情」 55 74 EN Luyi Sun 10.18926/54536 　本稿では、朱子のいう「情」についてできるだけ深く掘り下げて再検討することを試みる。 　「天地の情」は、自然界の、「公正無私、健やか、和やか」といった性格と気の働きとの両義を併せ持つものである。つまり、自然界のあらゆる自然現象や自然物は皆、「公正無私、健やか、和やか」といった性格を持つ気の働きによって作り出されたものである。「公正無私、健やか、和やか」という性格は、「天地の心」が無生物や生物や人間に賦与されることに伴ってそれらの物体にも備わるのである。 　「物の情」は、物体のその自身の性質を現す働きである。「草木禽獣の情」は、「五常の性」から発生した原初的「情」と、原初的「情」が具体的な物に対して向かうことによって生じた志向的情感、及び知覚、といった内面的な働きである。 　「人の情」には、「本然の性」から発生した「四端」と「気質の性」から発生した「七情」の二種類がある。「四端」は原初的「情」であり、「七情」はその一部分が原初的「情」となって現れる。原初的「情」の働き方によって生じた幾つかの異なる心の働きが派生的「情」であり、派生的「情」には「意」「志」「知」「思慮」などといった要素が含まれている。 　「意」と「志」はともに志向的情感であるが、その性格は「志は剛、意は柔」のように正反対であり、意欲、作用、忖度、感応が「意」の具体的な内容である。「知」はつまり「知覚」または「知識」であり、「知覚」は、神経感覚・器官感覚・生命感覚・道徳感覚を意味し、「知識」は認識や見識を意味する。「思慮」はつまり「思」であり、思惟・思索を意味し、派生的「情」においては枢要な働きを担うものであるが、不善を生ずるものと認識されている。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2016 Elucidating physiological and molecular mechanisms of ethylene induced ripening and low temperature modulated ripening in kiwifruit EN WILLIAM OLUBERO ASICHE No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2016 光学活性アルコールを基軸とする香気物質および抗生物質の立体選択的合成研究 EN Hiroyuki Sakauchi No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 7 3 2012 Practical Application of Methanol-Mediated Mutualistic Symbiosis between Methylobacterium Species and a Roof Greening Moss, Racomitrium japonicum e33800 EN Akio Tani Yuichiro Takai Ikko Suzukawa Motomu Akita Haruhiko Murase Kazuhide Kimbara Bryophytes, or mosses, are considered the most maintenance-free materials for roof greening. Racomitrium species are most often used due to their high tolerance to desiccation. Because they grow slowly, a technology for forcing their growth is desired. We succeeded in the efficient production of R. japonicum in liquid culture. The structure of the microbial community is crucial to stabilize the culture. A culture-independent technique revealed that the cultures contain methylotrophic bacteria. Using yeast cells that fluoresce in the presence of methanol, methanol emission from the moss was confirmed, suggesting that it is an important carbon and energy source for the bacteria. We isolated Methylobacterium species from the liquid culture and studied their characteristics. The isolates were able to strongly promote the growth of some mosses including R. japonicum and seed plants, but the plant-microbe combination was important, since growth promotion was not uniform across species. One of the isolates, strain 22A, was cultivated with R. japonicum in liquid culture and in a field experiment, resulting in strong growth promotion. Mutualistic symbiosis can thus be utilized for industrial moss production. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 7 7 2012 High-Throughput Identification and Screening of Novel Methylobacterium Species Using Whole-Cell MALDI-TOF/MS Analysis e40784 EN Akio Tani Sahin Nurettin Yumiko Matsuyama Takashi Enomoto Naoki Nishimura Akira Yokota Kazuhide Kimbara Methylobacterium species are ubiquitous α-proteobacteria that reside in the phyllosphere and are fed by methanol that is emitted from plants. In this study, we applied whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis (WC-MS) to evaluate the diversity of Methylobacterium species collected from a variety of plants. The WC-MS spectrum was reproducible through two weeks of cultivation on different media. WC-MS spectrum peaks of M. extorquens strain AM1 cells were attributed to ribosomal proteins, but those were not were also found. We developed a simple method for rapid identification based on spectra similarity. Using all available type strains of Methylobacterium species, the method provided a certain threshold similarity value for species-level discrimination, although the genus contains some type strains that could not be easily discriminated solely by 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Next, we evaluated the WC-MS data of approximately 200 methylotrophs isolated from various plants with MALDI Biotyper software (Bruker Daltonics). Isolates representing each cluster were further identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In most cases, the identification by WC-MS matched that by sequencing, and isolates with unique spectra represented possible novel species. The strains belonging to M. extorquens, M. adhaesivum, M. marchantiae, M. komagatae, M. brachiatum, M. radiotolerans, and novel lineages close to M. adhaesivum, many of which were isolated from bryophytes, were found to be the most frequent phyllospheric colonizers. The WC-MS technique provides emerging high-throughputness in the identification of known/novel species of bacteria, enabling the selection of novel species in a library and identification without 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 7 11 2013 A Catalytic Role of XoxF1 as La3+-Dependent Methanol Dehydrogenase in Methylobacterium extorquens Strain AM1 e50480 EN Tomoyuki Nakagawa Ryoji Mitsui Akio Tani Kentaro Sasa Shinya Tashiro Tomonori Iwama Takashi Hayakawa Keiichi Kawai In the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens strain AM1, MxaF, a Ca2+-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH), is the main enzyme catalyzing methanol oxidation during growth on methanol. The genome of strain AM1 contains another MDH gene homologue, xoxF1, whose function in methanol metabolism has remained unclear. In this work, we show that XoxF1 also functions as an MDH and is La3+-dependent. Despite the absence of Ca2+ in the medium strain AM1 was able to grow on methanol in the presence of La3+. Addition of La3+ increased MDH activity but the addition had no effect on mxaF or xoxF1 expression level. We purified MDH from strain AM1 grown on methanol in the presence of La3+, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence corresponded to that of XoxF1. The enzyme contained La3+ as a cofactor. The ΔmxaF mutant strain could not grow on methanol in the presence of Ca2+, but was able to grow after supplementation with La3+. Taken together, these results show that XoxF1 participates in methanol metabolism as a La3+-dependent MDH in strain AM1. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Society for Neuroscience Acta Medica Okayama 0270-6474 35 15 2015 Cryptochrome-dependent and -independent circadian entrainment circuits in Drosophila. 6131 6141 EN Taishi Yoshii Christiane Hermann-Luibl Christa Kistenpfennig Benjamin Schmid Kenji Tomioka Charlotte Helfrich-Förster 　Entrainment to environmental light/dark (LD) cycles is a central function of circadian clocks. In Drosophila, entrainment is achieved by Cryptochrome (CRY) and input from the visual system. During activation by brief light pulses, CRY triggers the degradation of TIMELESS and subsequent shift in circadian phase. This is less important for LD entrainment, leading to questions regarding light input circuits and mechanisms from the visual system. Recent studies show that different subsets of brain pacemaker clock neurons, the morning (M) and evening (E) oscillators, have distinct functions in light entrainment. However, the role of CRY in M and E oscillators for entrainment to LD cycles is unknown. Here, we address this question by selectively expressing CRY in different subsets of clock neurons in a cry-null (cry0) mutant background. We were able to rescue the light entrainment deficits of cry0 mutants by expressing CRY in E oscillators but not in any other clock neurons. Par domain protein 1 molecular oscillations in the E, but not M, cells of cry0 mutants still responded to the LD phase delay. This residual light response was stemming from the visual system because it disappeared when all external photoreceptors were ablated genetically. We concluded that the E oscillators are the targets of light input via CRY and the visual system and are required for normal light entrainment. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Company of Biologists Acta Medica Okayama 0950-1991 142 17 2015 Leg regeneration is epigenetically regulated by histone H3K27 methylation in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus 2916 2927 EN Yoshimasa Hamada Tetsuya Bando Taro Nakamura Yoshiyasu Ishimaru Taro Mito Sumihare Noji Kenji Tomioka Hideyo Ohuchi Hemimetabolous insects such as the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus regenerate lost tissue parts using blastemal cells, a population of dedifferentiated proliferating cells. The expression of several factors that control epigenetic modification is upregulated in the blastema compared with differentiated tissue, suggesting that epigenetic changes in gene expression might control the differentiation status of blastema cells during regeneration. To clarify the molecular basis of epigenetic regulation during regeneration, we focused on the function of the Gryllus Enhancer of zeste [Gb'E(z)] and Ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat gene on the X chromosome (Gb'Utx) homologues, which regulate methylation and demethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27), respectively. Methylated histone H3K27 in the regenerating leg was diminished by Gb'E(z)RNAi and was increased by Gb'UtxRNAi. Regenerated Gb'E(z)RNAi cricket legs exhibited extra leg segment formation between the tibia and tarsus, and regenerated Gb'UtxRNAi cricket legs showed leg joint formation defects in the tarsus. In the Gb'E(z)RNAi regenerating leg, the Gb'dac expression domain expanded in the tarsus. By contrast, in the Gb'UtxRNAi regenerating leg, Gb'Egfr expression in the middle of the tarsus was diminished. These results suggest that regulation of the histone H3K27 methylation state is involved in the repatterning process during leg regeneration among cricket species via the epigenetic regulation of leg patterning gene expression. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 9 3 2014 Genetic Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus in Long-Term RNA Replication Using Li23 Cell Culture Systems e91156 EN Nobuyuki Kato Hiroe Sejima Youki Ueda Kyoko Mori Shinya Satoh Hiromichi Dansako Masanori Ikeda Background　 　 The most distinguishing genetic feature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is its remarkable diversity and variation. To understand this feature, we previously performed genetic analysis of HCV in the long-term culture of human hepatoma HuH-7-derived HCV RNA-replicating cell lines. On the other hand, we newly established HCV RNA-replicating cell lines using human hepatoma Li23 cells, which were distinct from HuH-7 cells. 　 Methodology/Principal Findings　 　 Li23-derived HCV RNA-replicating cells were cultured for 4 years. We performed genetic analysis of HCVs recovered from these cells at 0, 2, and 4 years in culture. Most analysis was performed in two separate parts: one part covered from the 5′-terminus to NS2, which is mostly nonessential for RNA replication, and the other part covered from NS3 to NS5B, which is essential for RNA replication. Genetic mutations in both regions accumulated in a time-dependent manner, and the mutation rates in the 5′-terminus-NS2 and NS3-NS5B regions were 4.0–9.0×10−3 and 2.7–4.0×10−3 base substitutions/site/year, respectively. These results suggest that the variation in the NS3-NS5B regions is affected by the pressure of RNA replication. Several in-frame deletions (3–105 nucleotides) were detected in the structural regions of HCV RNAs obtained from 2-year or 4-year cultured cells. Phylogenetic tree analyses clearly showed that the genetic diversity of HCV was expanded in a time-dependent manner. The GC content of HCV RNA was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner, as previously observed in HuH-7-derived cell systems. This phenomenon was partially due to the alterations in codon usages for codon optimization in human cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these long-term cultured cells were useful as a source for the selection of HCV clones showing resistance to anti-HCV agents. 　 Conclusions/Significance　 　 Long-term cultured HCV RNA-replicating cells are useful for the analysis of evolutionary dynamics and variations of HCV and for drug-resistance analysis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 8 8 2013 New Preclinical Antimalarial Drugs Potently Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b RNA Replication e72519 EN Youki Ueda Midori Takeda Kyoko Mori Hiromichi Dansako Takaji Wakita Hye-Sook Kim Akira Sato Yusuke Wataya Masanori Ikeda Nobuyuki Kato BACKGROUND: Persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic liver diseases and is a global health problem. Although new triple therapy (pegylated-interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir/boceprevir) has recently been started and is expected to achieve a sustained virologic response of more than 70% in HCV genotype 1 patients, there are several problems to be resolved, including skin rash/ageusia and advanced anemia. Thus a new type of anti-HCV drug is still needed. 　 METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 　 　 Recently developed HCV drug assay systems using HCV-RNA-replicating cells (e.g., HuH-7-derived OR6 and Li23-derived ORL8) were used to evaluate the anti-HCV activity of drug candidates. During the course of the evaluation of anti-HCV candidates, we unexpectedly found that two preclinical antimalarial drugs (N-89 and its derivative N-251) showed potent anti-HCV activities at tens of nanomolar concentrations irrespective of the cell lines and HCV strains of genotype 1b. We confirmed that replication of authentic HCV-RNA was inhibited by these drugs. Interestingly, however, this anti-HCV activity did not work for JFH-1 strain of genotype 2a. We demonstrated that HCV-RNA-replicating cells were cured by treatment with only N-89. A comparative time course assay using N-89 and interferon-α demonstrated that N-89-treated ORL8 cells had more rapid anti-HCV kinetics than did interferon-α-treated cells. This anti-HCV activity was largely canceled by vitamin E. In combination with interferon-α and/or ribavirin, N-89 or N-251 exhibited a synergistic inhibitory effect.　 　 CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:　 　 We found that the preclinical antimalarial drugs N-89 and N-251 exhibited very fast and potent anti-HCV activities using cell-based HCV-RNA-replication assay systems. N-89 and N-251 may be useful as a new type of anti-HCV reagents when used singly or in combination with interferon and/or ribavirin. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 127 3 2015 血管内皮機能を対象にした基礎および臨床医学研究 187 195 EN Hirokazu Tsukahara No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Blackwell Pub. Acta Medica Okayama 1742-464X 2015 The cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase-STING signaling pathway is required for both the innate immune response against HBV and the suppression of HBV assembly EN Hiromichi Dansako Youki Ueda Nobuaki Okumura Shinya Satoh Masaya Sugiyama Masashi Mizokami Masanori Ikeda Nobuyuki Kato During viral replication, the innate immune response is induced through the recognition of viral replication intermediates by host factor(s). One of these host factors, cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase (cGAS), was recently reported to be involved in the recognition of viral DNA derived from DNA viruses. However, it is uncertain whether cGAS is involved in the recognition of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is a hepatotropic DNA virus. In the present study, we demonstrated that HBV genome-derived dsDNA induced the innate immune response through cGAS and its adaptor protein, STING, in human hepatoma Li23 cells expressing high levels of cGAS. In addition, we demonstrated that HBV infection induced ISG56 through the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. This signaling pathway also showed an antiviral response towards HBV through the suppression of viral assembly. From these results, we conclude that the cGAS-STING signaling pathway is required for not only the innate immune response against HBV but also the suppression of HBV assembly. The cGAS-STING signaling pathway may thus be a novel target for anti-HBV strategies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer International Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 2193-1801 2 2013 Evaluation of rhizosphere, rhizoplane and phyllosphere bacteria and fungi isolated from rice in Kenya for plant growth promoters 606 EN Mwashasha Rashid Mwajita Hunja Murage Akio Tani Esther M Kahangi Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important staple food crop in many developing countries, and is ranked third in Kenya after maize and wheat. Continuous cropping without replenishing soil nutrients is a major problem in Kenya resulting to declining soil fertility. The use of chemical fertilizers to avert the problem of low soil fertility is currently limited due to rising costs and environmental concerns. Many soil micro-organisms are able to solubilize the unavailable phosphorus, increase uptake of nitrogen and also synthesize growth promoting hormones including auxin. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize phyllosphere, rhizoplane and rhizosphere micro-organisms from Kenyan rice with growth promoting habits. In this study whole plant rice samples were collected from different rice growing regions of Kenya. 76.2%, over 80% and 38.5% of the bacterial isolates were positive for phosphate solubilization, nitrogenase activity and IAA production whereas 17.5% and 5% of the fungal isolates were positive for phosphate solubilization and IAA production respectively. Hence these micro-organisms have potential for utilization as bio-fertilizers in rice production. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2015 Culture-dependent and culture-independent analysis of microbiota associated with anaerobic storage and aerobic deterioration of alfalfa silage EN Baiyila Wu No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 69 2 2015 Annexin A1 Negatively Regulates Viral RNA Replication of Hepatitis C Virus 71 78 EN Hiroki Hiramoto Hiromichi Dansako Midori Takeda Shinya Satoh Takaji Wakita Masanori Ikeda Nobuyuki Kato Original Article 10.18926/AMO/53335 Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) often causes chronic hepatitis, and then shows a high rate of progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To clarify the mechanism of the persistent HCV infection is considered to be important for the discovery of new target(s) for the development of anti-HCV strategies. In the present study, we found that the expression level of annexin A1 (ANXA1) in human hepatoma cell line Li23-derived D7 cells was remarkably lower than that in parental Li23 cells, whereas the susceptibility of D7 cells to HCV infection was much higher than that of Li23 cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that ANXA1 negatively regulates persistent HCV infection through the inhibition of viral RNA replication. The results revealed that HCV production was significantly inhibited without a concomitant reduction in the amount of lipid droplets in the D7 cells stably expressing exogenous ANXA1. Further, we demonstrated that ANXA1 negatively regulated the step of viral RNA replication rather than that of viral entry in human hepatocytes. These results suggest that ANXA1 would be a novel target for the development of anti-HCV strategies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学環境管理センター Acta Medica Okayama 0917-1533 36 2015 開発と生物多様性保全 1 2 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター Acta Medica Okayama 2013 2015 岡山大学埋蔵文化財調査研究センター紀要2013 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2014 MRI of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparing the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Scoring and Volume of Synovitis for the Assessment of Biologic Therapy EN Ryuichi Nakahara No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学農学部 Acta Medica Okayama 2186-7755 104 2015 モンゴルの伝統的アルコール発酵乳アイラグに関する微生物学的研究 35 47 EN Taku Miyamoto 　Airag, a traditional fermented milk well loved by Mongolians, has been drunk habitually since ancient times as a unique drink. It is produced from cow, mare and camel milk by a traditional method using indigenous starter cultures containing lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and other fermentative microorganisms. Spontaneously fermented milk products have for centuries been consumed for their therapeutic value in promoting health and well-being, especially among the pastoral communities in Mongolia. Most traditional fermentations are conducted as uncontrolled processes, however, increasing research, such as that focused on compositional properties and microbial biota properties, offers prospective views for improving spontaneous fermented products with respect to safety, shelf life, sensory characteristics, and nutritional and functional qualities. The aim of this article is to investigate progress in the microbiological research on the traditional alcoholic fermented milk, airag, in Mongolia and to give an outline of the traditional preparation processes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学農学部 Acta Medica Okayama 2186-7755 104 2015 Characterization of a putative chromosome segregation and condensation protein (ScpB) in an acidophilic iron‒oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans 5 12 EN Kazuo Kamimura Nozomu Nagata Mei Kikumoto Sultana Sharmin Satoshi Wakai Tadayoshi Kanao 　Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the most widely used microorganisms in bioleaching operations to recover copper from low-grade copper sulfide. This bacterium uses ferrous iron and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) as energy sources. Transcriptions of genes thought to be involved in the oxidation of RISCs have been known to be highly activated in A. ferrooxidans cells grown on RISCs, while transcriptions of genes involved in the iron oxidation were repressed in the cells grown on RISCs. A gene encoding a putative chromosome segregation and condensation protein (ScpB) with a helix-turn-helix motif was found in the upstream region of sulfide : quinone oxidoreductase gene, whose expression was up-regulated in cells grown in sulfur and tetrathionate. A semi-quantitative PCR analysis using cDNA prepared from iron-, sulfur-, or tetrathionate-grown cells revealed that the transcription of scpB was up-regulated in cells grown on sulfur or tetrathionate as the energy source. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays were employed to examine whether the ScpB functions as a transcription factor. The result indicated that the recombinant His-tagged ScpB protein was able to nonspecifically bind in vitro to DNA. This is the first report on a direct association of ScpB with DNA. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Public Library Science Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 9 12 2014 The Nuclear Receptor Genes HR3 and E75 Are Required for the Circadian Rhythm in a Primitive Insect EN Yuichi Kamae Outa Uryu Taiki Miki Kenji Tomioka Insect circadian rhythms are generated by a circadian clock consisting of transcriptional/translational feedback loops, in which CYCLE and CLOCK are the key elements in activating the transcription of various clock genes such as timeless (tim) and period (per). Although the transcriptional regulation of Clock (Clk) has been profoundly studied, little is known about the regulation of cycle (cyc). Here, we identify the orphan nuclear receptor genes HR3 and E75, which are orthologs of mammalian clock genes, Rorα and Rev-erbα, respectively, as factors involved in the rhythmic expression of the cyc gene in a primitive insect, the firebrat Thermobia domestica. Our results show that HR3 and E75 are rhythmically expressed, and their normal, rhythmic expression is required for the persistence of locomotor rhythms. Their RNAi considerably altered the rhythmic transcription of not only cyc but also tim. Surprisingly, the RNAi of HR3 revealed the rhythmic expression of Clk, suggesting that this ancestral insect species possesses the mechanisms for rhythmic expression of both cyc and Clk genes. When either HR3 or E75 was knocked down, tim, cyc, and Clk or tim and cyc, respectively, oscillated in phase, suggesting that the two genes play an important role in the regulation of the phase relationship among the clock genes. Interestingly, HR3 and E75 were also found to be involved in the regulation of ecdysis, suggesting that they interconnect the circadian clock and developmental processes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 126 3 2014 リウマチ性疾患における分子標的治療 227 230 EN Hiroshi Wakabayashi No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 126 3 2014 岡山県下のクリニック・診療所におけるリウマチ診療・病診連携の実態に関する研究 209 215 EN Ken-ei Sada Keiichiro Nishida Takao Yamanaka Kenta Misaki Hiroshi Wakabayashi Junko Shinoda Toru Takagi Ryusuke Yano Akihiko Nakamura Yoshifumi Nanba Yoshitaka Morita Yoshinobu Koyama Keiji Yamamoto Kazuhiko Ezawa Yusuke Ota Yoshiki Yoshihara Shinya Miyoshi Masamitsu Natsumeda Masaaki Usui Yasuhiko Yoshinaga Takashi Hayashi Masahiro Yamamura Hiroyuki Hashizume Objective: To survey the current status and problems of cooperation between clinics and hospitals in Okayama Prefecture, Japan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 　Methods: We distributed a questionnaire to 300 of the 983 Okayama Prefecture clinics that had either an internal medicine or orthopedic surgery department, from December 2013 to February 2014. The questionnaire covered practice pattern for RA treatment in clinics, current status of the hospital and clinic cooperation, and acceptance of the biologic therapy. 　Results: One hundred clinics responded to the questionnaire. Seventy percent of the clinics reported making referrals to rheumatologists before the initiation of RA treatment, and half of the other 30% of the clinics administered methotrexate as the first-line treatment for RA by their own decision. Sixty-six clinics cooperated with flagship hospitals, conducting medical and laboratory examinations, providing prescriptions, and treating common diseases of patients. These clinics expected the cooperating rheumatologists to follow-up patients every 3 to 6 months and to make the diagnosis, make decisions regarding RA treatment changes, and perform surgery. Seventy-one percent of the clinics responded that cooperation with a hospital is possible even for patients who are administered biologics. As reasons for no cooperation with the flagship hospitals, clinics noted the lack of information about rheumatologists in the area and recent trends in the management of RA. 　Conclusion: The current study reported, for the first time, the actual conditions of management of RA in clinics, as well as future problems of hospital and clinic cooperation in Okayama Prefecture. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Ltd. Acta Medica Okayama 0045-6535 120 2015 Toxicity of tetramethylammonium hydroxide to aquatic organisms and its synergistic action with potassium iodide 299 304 EN Izumi C. Mori Carlos R. Arias-Barreiro Apostolos Koutsaftis Atsushi Ogo Tomonori Kawano Kazuharu Yoshizuka Salmaan H. Inayat-Hussain Isao Aoyama The aquatic ecotoxicity of chemicals involved in the manufacturing process of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays was assessed with a battery of four selected acute toxicity bioassays. We focused on tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH, CAS No. 75-59-2), a widely utilized etchant. The toxicity of TMAH was low when tested in the 72 h-algal growth inhibition test (Pseudokirchneriellia subcapitata, EC50 = 360 mg L−1) and the Microtox® test (Vibrio fischeri, IC50 = 6.4 g L−1). In contrast, the 24 h-microcrustacean immobilization and the 96 h-fish mortality tests showed relatively higher toxicity (Daphnia magna, EC50 = 32 mg L−1 and Oryzias latipes, LC50 = 154 mg L−1). Isobologram and mixture toxicity index analyses revealed apparent synergism of the mixture of TMAH and potassium iodide when examined with the D. magna immobilization test. The synergistic action was unique to iodide over other halide salts i.e. fluoride, chloride and bromide. Quaternary ammonium ions with longer alkyl chains such as tetraethylammonium and tetrabutylammonium were more toxic than TMAH in the D. magna immobilization test. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 126 2 2014 柿胃石の成分分析における標準物質としての柿渋の有用性 127 131 EN Masaya Iwamuro Yuko Okamoto Toshihiro Murata Yoshinari Kawai Hidenori Shiraha Hiroyuki Okada Kazuhide Yamamoto The definite diagnosis of persimmon phytobezoar (i.e., diospyrobezoar) is often accomplished by a component analysis using infrared spectroscopy. However, no studies have been conducted to investigate which substance is the best as a standard for the component analysis. Here we analyzed tannic acid, Japanese persimmon (kaki), fermented persimmon extract (kaki-shibu), conventional dried persimmon, and dried persimmon smoked in sulfur (ampo-kaki) by infrared spectroscopy to determine which would be optimal as a component analysis standard. The spectrum between 1,600 to 600cm−1 of a persimmon phytobezoar was quite similar to the spectrum of kaki-shibu rather than that of tannic acid. Consequently, we conclude that kaki-shibu should be used as a standard for infrared spectroscopy analyses of persimmon phytobezoars. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 126 2 2014 平成25年度岡山医学会賞 総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 83 86 EN Hitoshi Murata No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 1995 80年の歴史から21世紀へ向けて : 研究活動と学術的・社会的貢献 : 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所創設80周年記念 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0918-5100 3 1996 資源生物科学研究所年報No.3 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0918-5100 2 1994 資源生物科学研究所年報No.2 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0918-5100 1 1992 資源生物科学研究所年報No.1 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 17 2010 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告17巻 1 45 EN Research Institute for Bioresources Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 16 2009 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告16巻 1 47 EN Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 15 2008 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告15巻 1 43 EN Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 14 2007 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告14巻 1 50 EN Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 13 2005 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告13巻 EN Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 12 2004 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告12巻 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学資源生物科学研究所 Acta Medica Okayama 0916-930X 11 2003 岡山大学資源生物科学研究所報告11巻 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.