New records of three commercial fish hosts for two Unicapsula spp. and Kudoa megacapsula (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Multivalvulida).

Infections caused by multivalvulid myxosporeans belonging to genera Unicapsula and Kudoa (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) occasionally affect commercial marine fish species. Postmortem myoliquefaction caused by a variety of Kudoa spp., including K. thyrsites, and unsightly cyst or pseudocyst formation, caused by K. amamiensis, U. muscularis, and other kudoid species, negatively affect commercial values of fillets. However, multivalvulid infections are often latent and imperceptible in the market. Biodiversity, host range, and epidemiology remain to be explored. Here, myxosporean infection was detected in four commercial fish species from southern China, using morphological and molecular analyses. Three Unicapsula spp. (U. pyramidata in Nemipterus japonicus; U. pflugfelderi in Dentex angolensis transported from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off West African coast; and U. aequilobata in Decapterus macarellus) and Kudoa megacapsula in Nemipterus virgatus were observed to form pseudocysts in the myofibers of the host trunk muscles. All fish hosts identified here, except for U. pyramidata, are new records. Kudoa megacapsula was morphologically characterized by gigantic, cruciform myxospores with four wing-like shell valves morphologically comparable to previous Japanese records of the same species in aquaculture facilities, acquiring fly from China or Korea (Sphyraena pinguis and Seriola quinqueradiata, respectively). Molecular analyses established the conspecificity of the present Chinese isolate with previously recorded Japanese isolates. To our knowledge, for the first time, a partial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence of K. megacapsula was obtained, showing close phylogenetic relationships with Kudoa spp. harboring cruciform myxospores, such as K. thyrsites, K. gunterae, K. whippsi, and K. lateolabracis.

Two novel myxosporean species (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida), Myxobolus marumotoi n. sp. and Cardimyxobolus japonensis n. sp., from the dark sleeper, Odontobutis obscura, in Japan.

Two new myxosporean species, Myxobolus marumotoi n. sp. and Cardimyxobolus japonensis n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida), are described from the dark sleeper, Odontobutis obscura, in Japan, based on their morphological and molecular characterizations. Plasmodia of M. marumotoi n. sp. (Myxobolidae) grew in the myofiber of trunk muscles, forming pseudocysts. The rounded spore was relatively large, measuring 13.3-15.0 µm (average 13.8) in length, 14.2-15.0 µm (14.6) in width, and 10.0-11.7 µm (10.8) in thickness, with two subspherical polar capsules of 7.9-9.6 µm (8.4) in length by 5.4-6.3 µm (5.9) in width (n = 15). The polar capsules were directed toward the apex of the spore, packing five to six spirals of the polar filament. Plasmodia of C. japonensis n. sp. (Ortholineidae) were surrounded by thin fibrous tissue, forming cysts in the lamina propria of the alimentary tract. The spore was ovoid, wider than long, in valvular view and spindle-shaped in sutural view. It measured 8.8-10.4 µm (9.4) in length, 11.3-12.5 µm (11.9) in width, and 5.2-6.7 µm (5.8) in thickness, with two ovoid polar capsules of 4.2-5.0 µm (4.7) in length by 2.9-3.8 µm (3.3) in width (n = 15). The shell valves of spores often showed a flattened anterior border and semicircular posterior border, and the two polar capsules were directed toward opposite lateral sides. In addition, the sporoplasm contained an iodinophilous vacuole. Almost complete small-subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences, except for primer flanking regions, were obtained for both species; 1,996 bp long for the former and 1,588 bp long for the latter. On phylogenetic trees based on the SSU rDNA sequences of representative species of Bivalvulida, M. marumotoi n. sp. and C. japonensis n. sp. formed a distinct branch in the Henneguya/Myxobolus clade or near but outside this clade, respectively. This study is the first report of the genetic characterization for the genus Cardimyxobolus.

Fabrication of Te and Te-Au Nanowires-Based Carbon Fiber Fabrics for Antibacterial Applications.

Pathogenic bacteria that give rise to diseases every year remain a major health concern. In recent years, tellurium-based nanomaterials have been approved as new and efficient antibacterial agents. In this paper, we developed the approach to directly grow tellurium nanowires (Te NWs) onto commercial carbon fiber fabrics and demonstrated their antibacterial activity. Those Te NWs can serve as templates and reducing agents for gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to deposit. Three different Te-Au NWs with varied concentration of Au NPs were synthesized and showed superior antibacterial activity and biocompability. These results indicate that the as-prepared carbon fiber fabrics with Te and Te-Au NWs can become antimicrobial clothing products in the near future.

[Experimental study on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene as wound covering].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a polymer material-expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) as wound covering. METHODS: Forty-five Sprague Dawley (SD) rats inflicted with open wound on the back were divided into 3 groups, each group 15 rats. Wounds in the autograft group were covered with autologous skin. Wounds in the allograft group were covered with skin from 15 Wistar rats (donor). Wounds in the experiment group were covered with ePTFE. Wound healing in each group was observed with naked eye. Tissue specimens collected on 3rd, 7th, and 14th post-operative day (POD) respectively were stained with HE and examined under light microscope. Macrophages, lymphocytes and fibroblasts were quantified. IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels in the infiltrating mononuclear cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry with expression of gray value. RESULTS: Wounds in rats of autograft group and experiment group healed well without redness, swelling or infection. Rejection was evident in the allograft group rats on 8th POD, including epidermis degeneration and focal necrosis in different degree, plus red swelling on wound edge. The numbers of macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes in allograft group were significantly higher than those in autograft group and experiment group (P < 0.01). The average gray values of IL-2 and IFN-gamma of allograft group on 7th POD were 129 +/- 7 and 113.7 +/- 2.7, which were significantly lower than those in the experiment group (144 +/- 8, 137.3 +/- 1.9, respectively, P < 0.01) and allograft group (189 +/- 6, 180.3 +/- 3.7, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: ePTFE will induce minimal inflammatory response and foreign body reaction. It is unlikely to cause side effect when applied to wound surface for a prolonged period. Thus, it is suitable to use ePTFE as wound surface covering.