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Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading seafood-borne pathogen that can cause acute gastroenteritis and even death in humans. In aquatic ecosystems, phages constantly transform bacterial communities by horizontal gene transfer. Nevertheless, biological functions of prophage-related genes in V. parahaemolyticus remain to be fully unveiled. Herein, for the first time, we studied one such gene VpaChn25_0724 encoding an unknown hypothetical protein in V. parahaemolyticus CHN25. This gene deletion mutant ΔVpaChn25_0724 was constructed by homologous recombination, and its complementary mutant ΔVpaChn25_0724-com was also obtained. The ΔVpaChn25_0724 mutant exhibited a sever defect in growth and swimming motility particularly at lower temperatures. Biofilm formation and cytotoxicity capacity of V. parahaemolyticus CHN25 was significantly lowered in the absence of VpaChn25_0724. Comparative secretomic analysis revealed an increase in extracellular proteins of ΔVpaChn25_0724, which likely resulted from its damaged cell membrane. Comparison of transcriptome data showed twelve significantly altered metabolic pathways in ΔVpaChn25_0724, suggesting inactive transport and utilization of carbon sources, repressed energy production and membrane biogenesis in ΔVpaChn25_0724. Comparative transcriptomic analysis also revealed several remarkably down-regulated key regulators in bacterial gene regulatory networks linked to the observed phenotypic variations. Overall, the results here facilitate better understanding of biological significance of prophage-related genes remaining in V. parahaemolyticus.

Thirty-four samples of domestic wheat and barley grains, collected from eight prefectures of different locations in Japan and previously determined to be positive for deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and/or zearalenone (ZEA), were analysed for acetylated derivatives of DON and NIV by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition to DON and NIV, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and 4-acetylnivalenol (4-ANIV) were found in 25, 4 and 14 samples, respectively. A regional difference in the DON and NIV contamination of Japanese wheat and barley was suggested: DON was the major trichothecene in the northern district and NIV in the central districts, whereas in the southern districts the DON level was similar to or slightly higher than the NIV level. 3-ADON occurred together with DON in almost all prefectures examined, whereas 15-ADON was found only in samples from northern districts. In addition, a high correlation (r = 0.974, n = 23) between levels of DON and its acetates (3-ADON and 15-ADON) was noted. These results may also suggest the possibility of a geographic difference in the distribution of different chemotypes of Fusarium species producing these trichothecenes in Japan.

Lactoferrin has been for the first time purified from the porcine cauda epididymal fluid as a 70 kDa protein. Both Western and Northern blot analyses show that lactoferrin is synthesized in the regions from the distal caput to the cauda epididymis and secreted into the luminal fluid. Lactoferrin is first secreted as a 75 kDa glycoprotein and its carbohydrate moieties are gradually digested to form 70 kDa protein in the cauda epididymis. Lactoferrin has already bound to the surface of the epididymal sperm because the anti-lactoferrin antiserum induces the mature sperm tail-to-tail agglutination. These results strongly suggest new physiological functions of lactoferrin on the sperm maturation in the epididymis.

In vitro production of trichothecene mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, T-2 toxins, and their derivatives was studied in rice culture using 30 strains from seven Fusarium species. Six strains of three Fusarium species were selected for the evaluation of mycotoxin production and pathogenicity after artificial inoculation to seven wheat lines with different levels of resistance or susceptibility and their eight F1's. Three criteria were used for the evaluation: the reduction of seed set, the reduction of grain weight, and the concentration of mycotoxins in infected grain. Significant variability was observed among Fusarium strains, wheat genotypes, and in the interaction between them. The contribution of Fusarium strains, however, was far greater than that of the other two factors. The kinds and relative amounts of mycotoxins produced in rice culture were consistent with those present in infected grain with some exceptions. Significant correlations were found between the grain weight reduction and the mycotoxin concentration and between the level of resistance of the wheat genotypes under the artificial and natural conditions of infection. The biological role of Fusarium mycotoxins in pathogenicity and wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight is discussed. Key words: Fusarium head blight (scab), Fusarium mycotoxins, Fusarium pathogenicity, wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight.

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