Fusarium fujikuroi is a pathogenic fungus that infects rice. It produces several important mycotoxins, such as fumonisins. Fumonisin production has been detected in strains of maize, strawberry, and wheat, whereas it has not been detected in strains from rice seedlings infested with bakanae disease in Japan. We investigated the genetic relationships, pathogenicity, and resistance to a fungicide, thiophanate-methyl (TM), in 51 fumonisin-producing strains and 44 nonproducing strains. Phylogenetic analyses based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and two specific genes (a combined sequence of translation elongation factor 1α [TEF1α] and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit [RPB2]) indicated differential clustering between the fumonisin-producing and -nonproducing strains. One of the AFLP markers, EATMCAY107, was specifically present in the fumonisin-producing strains. A specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between the fumonisin-producing and nonproducing strains was also detected in RPB2, in addition to an SNP previously found in TEF1α. Gibberellin production was higher in the nonproducing than in the producing strains according to an in vitro assay, and the nonproducing strains had the strongest pathogenicity with regard to rice seedlings. TM resistance was closely correlated with the cluster of fumonisin-nonproducing strains. The results indicate that intraspecific evolution in Japanese F. fujikuroi is associated with fumonisin production and pathogenicity. Two subgroups of Japanese F. fujikuroi, designated G group and F group, were distinguished based on phylogenetic differences and the high production of gibberellin and fumonisin, respectively. IMPORTANCE Fusarium fujikuroi is a pathogenic fungus that causes rice bakanae disease. Historically, this pathogen has been known as Fusarium moniliforme, along with many other species based on a broad species concept. Gibberellin, which is currently known as a plant hormone, is a virulence factor of F. fujikuroi. Fumonisin is a carcinogenic mycotoxin posing a serious threat to food and feed safety. Although it has been confirmed that F. fujikuroi produces gibberellin and fumonisin, production varies among strains, and individual production has been obscured by the traditional appellation of F. moniliforme, difficulties in species identification, and variation in the assays used to determine the production of these secondary metabolites. In this study, we discovered two phylogenetic subgroups associated with fumonisin and gibberellin production in Japanese F. fujikuroi.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed against monohexaosylceramtde This mAb dtfferenttally reacted on thm-layer chromatograms wtth 3 types of galactosylceramtde (GalCer) obtained from bovme bram Structural analysts of the 3 glycohptds revealed that they consisted of the same galactose and sphmgosme but of apparently dtfferent fatty actds Among the 3 GalCers, the mAb reacted with two GalCers which contamed a-hydroxy fatty actds, but not wtth GalCer composed of nonhydroxy fatty acids These findings suggest not only that the mAb dtscnmmated the fatty actd composttton m the ceramtde moiety of GalCer, but also that the ceramtde structure defines the tmmunologtcal epttope as tt 1s known to do for the carbohydrate motety of glycosphmgohptd Monoclonal antibody, Galactosylceramtde, Ceramtde, Immunologtcal epttope, Thm-layer chromatography tmmunostammg

The expression of PA8-15 antigen and the blood-group-related antigens A, B, O, Le(a), Le(b), Le(x), and Le(y), as well as CA19-9, were examined in the normal pancreas and in specimens from benign and malignant pancreatic tissue by the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique. A correlation was found between the expression of PA8-15, Le(a), and CA19-9 in some cases. However, in the cancer tissues in which neither Le(a) nor CA19-9 could be demonstrated, strong expression of PA8-15 was observed. The reactivity of monoclonal antibody (mAb) PA8-15 with pancreatic cancer tissue was not inhibited by the preincubation of the sections with the mAb anti-Le(a) (CO514) and mAb CA19-9 (CO19-9) indicating that the epitope recognized by PA8-15 is different from that detected by the other two antibodies. Moreover, unlike Le(a) and CA19-9, PA8-15 was also expressed in cancer cells of patients of the Le(a-b-) type. The results suggest that mAb PA8-15 recognizes a sialylated molecule related to Le(a) but different from CA19-9, and seems to be an additional useful marker for pancreatic cancer.

The effects of preoperative radiation plus surgical stress on immunity were examined in 29 patients with esophageal cancer, including 14 patients who experienced radiation therapy and 15 who did not, as well as 15 age-, sex- and body weight-matched control subjects. Absolute numbers of the total lymphocytes and OKT3 (all T cells), OKT4 (helper/inducer T cells) and OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) positive lymphocytes were almost the same in both patient groups before treatment. Both the in vitro response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) were depressed in the patients when compared to the controls before treatment. Dual treatment of radiation and surgery led to a marked reduction of lymphocytes in the numbers and activities of PHA and ADCC, when compared to findings in the non-radiation group. Especially, the number of OKT4 positive lymphocytes and the OKT4 to OKT8 ratio decreased most and recovery was slow. While ADCC activity in the non-radiation group recovered at 28 postoperative days (POD), the response to PHA did not return to the pretreatment levels. Serum levels of IgG, IgM and IgA were within normal limits throughout the course of treatment. The B1 (all B cells) positive lymphocytes significantly decreased after the treatments. These results suggest that radiation plus surgery shifts the host immunity toward immunosuppression and induces a significant impairment of cellular immunity in patients with esophageal cancer.

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