A distinct lineage of giant viruses brings a rhodopsin photosystem to unicellular marine predators.

Giant viruses are remarkable for their large genomes, often rivaling those of small bacteria, and for having genes thought exclusive to cellular life. Most isolated to date infect nonmarine protists, leaving their strategies and prevalence in marine environments largely unknown. Using eukaryotic single-cell metagenomics in the Pacific, we discovered a Mimiviridae lineage of giant viruses, which infects choanoflagellates, widespread protistan predators related to metazoans. The ChoanoVirus genomes are the largest yet from pelagic ecosystems, with 442 of 862 predicted proteins lacking known homologs. They are enriched in enzymes for modifying organic compounds, including degradation of chitin, an abundant polysaccharide in oceans, and they encode 3 divergent type-1 rhodopsins (VirR) with distinct evolutionary histories from those that capture sunlight in cellular organisms. One (VirRDTS) is similar to the only other putative rhodopsin from a virus (PgV) with a known host (a marine alga). Unlike the algal virus, ChoanoViruses encode the entire pigment biosynthesis pathway and cleavage enzyme for producing the required chromophore, retinal. We demonstrate that the rhodopsin shared by ChoanoViruses and PgV binds retinal and pumps protons. Moreover, our 1.65-Å resolved VirRDTS crystal structure and mutational analyses exposed differences from previously characterized type-1 rhodopsins, all of which come from cellular organisms. Multiple VirR types are present in metagenomes from across surface oceans, where they are correlated with and nearly as abundant as a canonical marker gene from Mimiviridae Our findings indicate that light-dependent energy transfer systems are likely common components of giant viruses of photosynthetic and phagotrophic unicellular marine eukaryotes.

[Screening test is for dysphagia in the elderly].

In screening tests for dysphagia conducted using videoendoscopy in 81 subjects over 75-years-old apparent liquid aspiration was found in 26 (32%). In 2 of these 26 saliva aspiration was observed. Logistic analysis of aspiration versus clinical symptoms, including endoscopic findings, showed a significant correlation between aspiration and longer time required for meals, bending forward during swallowing, choking during meals, hypoesthesia of the larynx, delayed swallowing reflex and difficulty in spitting. Results were considered clinically significant although they did not appear to fully agree with those of previous studies. The usefulness of videoendoscopy was confirmed.

[Follow-up of dysphagia in the elderly--clinical survey of deglutition disorder at a private ENT office].

In a one-year-plus follow-up study in 17 of 26 cases involving apparent liquid aspiration during videoendoscopic screening, subjects were instructed in swallowing using video images and in choosing food, utensils, and posture. The amount of sputum decreased in 10 case (59%), and sputum sticking in the throat disappeared in 4 (18%). Body weight also increased in 4 (24%). Choking coughs noted in 11 during initial videoendoscopy disappeared in 2 (18%). We thus, concluded that detecting dysphagia symptoms early and providing follow-up could help prevent aspiration pneumonia.

Comparative Studies of the Fluorescence Properties of Microbial Rhodopsins: Spontaneous Emission Versus Photointermediate Fluorescence.

Rhodopsins are seven-transmembrane photoreceptor proteins that bind to the retinal chromophore and have been utilized as a genetically encoded voltage indicator (GEVI). So far, archaerhodopsin-3 (AR3) has been successfully used as a GEVI, despite its low fluorescence intensity. We performed comparative and quantitative fluorescence analyses of 15 microbial rhodopsins to explore these highly fluorescent molecules and to clarify their fluorescence mechanism. These rhodopsins showed a wide range of fluorescence intensities in mouse hippocampal neurons. Some of them, GR, HwBR, IaNaR, MR, and NpHR, showed fluorescence intensities comparable with or higher than that of AR3, suggesting their potential for GEVIs. The fluorescence intensity in neurons correlated with that of the bright fluorescent photointermediate such as a Q-intermediate (R = 0.75), suggesting that the fluorescence in neurons originates from the fluorescence of the photointermediate. Our findings provide a crucial step for producing next-generation rhodopsin-based GEVIs.

A study of the effectiveness of chemosurgery with trichloroacetic acid for Japanese cedar pollenosis in terms of the chemical mediator levels in the nasal discharge and results of nasal provocation testing.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of chemosurgery with 80w/v% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for the treatment of Japanese cedar pollenosis. The effectiveness of this treatment was evaluated in terms of the levels in the nasal washings of the chemical mediators histamine and eosinophil cationic protein, and the reactivity in the nasal provocation test. METHODS: Patients of cedar pollenosis were divided into two groups, the TCA-treated group (n=90) and the group that was not treated with TCA (nonTCA-treated group) (n=79), according to whether or not they received TCA treatment. In both the groups, the levels of the two aforementioned mediators in the nasal washings were measured during the pollen dispersal season. In addition, allergen provocation tests were performed using the disk method in volunteers from both the groups during the non-pollen dispersal season. The results of the above two determinations were compared statistically between the two groups. RESULTS: The results revealed significantly lower levels of the two mediators in the TCA-treated group than in the nonTCA-treated group (p<0.01). There was also a greater tendency for the subjects in the TCA-treated group as compared to those in the nonTCA-treated group to show negative reactivity in the allergen provocation test (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Regional suppression of the allergic reaction to Japanese cedar pollen appears to occur as a result of chemosurgery with TCA performed as a day surgery.

A new category for chronic sclerosing sialadenitis as an IgG4 related syndrome.

This report presents three cases of IgG4 related sclerosing disease complicated with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis. The clinical, radiographic and pathologic findings later suggested that the patients had chronic sclerosing sialadenitis. The submandibular gland tumour regressed in two patients. These patients were suspected to have Mikulicz's disease or Sjögren's syndrome, but the diagnostic criteria were not satisfied. The workup for chronic sclerosing sialadenitis revealed a significantly elevated value of serum IgG4. The patient was then diagnosed with IgG4 related sclerosing disease complicated with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis. After administering prednisolone to these patients, the serum IgG4 values decreased after 4 weeks. The current cases may represent a new category for Mikulicz's disease or Sjögren's syndrome as an IgG4 related sclerosing disease.

Chemosurgery with trichloroacetic acid for allergic rhinitis: evaluation of the efficacy in terms of inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration.

OBJECTIVE: To examine local inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration as the basis for demonstrating the superior clinical effect of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) treatment for allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Mirror-image sections of the inferior turbinate mucosae of both sides were obtained from 26 patients who underwent TCA treatment on one side because of the nasal anatomy status and who eventually underwent bilateral inferior turbinectomy because of failure of the TCA treatment. Th2 cell counts, defined as counts of cells positive for anti-CD4 antibody and anti-CKR4 antibody (double-positive cells) were obtained for comparison. The differences between the TCA-treated and non-TCA-treated mucosae were analyzed by Mann-Whitney's U test. RESULTS: Th2 cell infiltration was characteristically found just beneath the epithelium and in the periglandular areas. The mean count+/-standard deviation of Th2 cells was 4.96+/-2.72 cells/mm(2) in the TCA-treated mucosae and 12.03+/-7.19 cells/mm(2) in the non-treated mucosae, the difference being significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: TCA treatment induces inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration. This corroborates the suggestion that TCA treatment can inhibit local type I allergic reactions.