Enhanced Resistance to Fungal and Bacterial Diseases Due to Overexpression of BSR1, a Rice RLCK, in Sugarcane, Tomato, and Torenia.

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is one of the most devastating sugarcane diseases. Furthermore, Rhizoctonia solani causes severe diseases in various crops including rice, tomato, potato, sugar beet, tobacco, and torenia. However, effective disease-resistant genes against these pathogens have not been identified in target crops. Therefore, the transgenic approach can be used since conventional cross-breeding is not applicable. Herein, the overexpression of BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE 1 (BSR1), a rice receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, was conducted in sugarcane, tomato and torenia. BSR1-overexpressing tomatoes exhibited resistance to the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and the fungus R. solani, whereas BSR1-overexpressing torenia showed resistance to R. solani in the growth room. Additionally, BSR1 overexpression conferred resistance to sugarcane smut in the greenhouse. These three BSR1-overexpressing crops exhibited normal growth and morphologies except in the case of exceedingly high levels of overexpression. These results indicate that BSR1 overexpression is a simple and effective tool for conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance to many crops.

[A Case of High-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm].

A 70-year-old woman underwent conservative treatment for abscess-forming appendicitis. A contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography(CT)revealed a cystic lesion at the appendiceal base while the abscess had disappeared posttreatment. With the diagnosis of a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm(LAMN), a laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection was performed. The appendix was distended with mucus in the lumen. Histopathological examination showed that the tumor cells were more atypical than that of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. There were no findings of adenocarcinoma, such as invasive growth. Therefore, high-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm(HAMN)was diagnosed. HAMN is a term advocated by Carr et al in 2016 to classify appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and was noted as a new category of mucinous tumors among appendiceal epithelial tumors in the fifth edition of the 2019 revised WHO classification. HAMN is a rare disease and only one case has been reported in Japan. It has not yet been noted in the Japanese Colorectal Cancer Treatment Manual. Here, we report this rare case with a review of the study.

Enhanced resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases in tomato and Arabidopsis expressing BSR2 from rice.

KEY MESSAGE: The overexpression of rice BSR2 would offer a simple and effective strategy to protect plants from multiple devastating diseases in tomato and Arabidopsis. Many devastating plant diseases are caused by pathogens possessing a wide host range. Fungal Botrytis cinerea and Rhizoctonia solani, as well as bacterial Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum are four such pathogens that infect hundreds of plant species, including agronomically important crops, and cause serious diseases, leading to severe economic losses. However, reports of genes that can confer resistance to broad host-range pathogens via traditional breeding methods are currently limited. We previously reported that Arabidopsis plants overexpressing rice BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE2 (BSR2/CYP78A15) showed tolerance not only to bacterial P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 but also to fungal Colletotrichum higginsianum and R. solani. Rice plants overexpressing BSR2 displayed tolerance to two R. solani anastomosis groups. In the present study, first, BSR2-overexpressing (OX) Arabidopsis plants were shown to be additionally tolerant to B. cinerea, R. solani, and R. pseudosolanacearum. Next, tomato 'Micro-Tom' was used as a model to determine whether such tolerance by BSR2 can be introduced into dicot crops to prevent infection from pathogens possessing wide host range. BSR2-OX tomato displayed broad-spectrum disease tolerance to fungal B. cinerea and R. solani, as well as to bacterial P. syringae and R. pseudosolanacearum. Additionally, undesirable traits such as morphological changes were not detected. Thus, BSR2 overexpression can offer a simple and effective strategy to protect crops from multiple destructive diseases.

[Clinical Experience with 13 Cases of Primary Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma].

Between 2003 and 2017, 13 patients with primary small bowel adenocarcinoma(SBA)were treated at our hospital. Tumors developed in the duodenum in 6 patients and in the jejunum in 7 patients. The median age of the patients was 62 (range: 31-83)years and male/female ratio was 10/3. Initial symptoms were obstruction in 5 patients, bleeding in 3 patients, and abdominal pain in 1 patient. The median diameter of tumor was 50(range: 23-100)mm. Concerning surgical margin, R0 resection was in 8 patients, R1 resection in 3 patients, and R2 resection in 2 patients. The number of patients with stage 0 disease was 1, stage Ⅱ was 2, stage Ⅲ was 6, and stage Ⅳ was 4. Chemotherapy was provided to 8 patients. The median survival time was 31.6(range: 1-118)months and 5-year survival rate were 26.9%. Four patients survived longer than 4 years without recurrence. Although there is no treatment established for SBA, it was thought that proactive resection and chemotherapy can be anticipated in these patients to bring about an improved survival.

[A Case of Adenocarcinoma Arising from Ectopic Gastric Mucosa in Meckel's Diverticulum with Abdominal Wall Abscess].

A 47-year-old woman visited a neighboring hospital because of lower abdominal pain and high fever. She was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis and administered(oral)antibiotics. However, there was no sign of improvement. She was referred to our hospital for closer examination. Computed tomography revealed an 8 cm abdominal wall abscess spreading from the prevesical space to the rectus abdominis. Incisional drainage was performed under local anesthesia. She developed rectus abdominis muscle diastasis, and a laparotomy was performed 2 months later. Intraoperative findings showed that her Meckel's diverticulum was continuous with the abdominal wall abscess. Diagnosed with Meckel's diverticulitis with abdominal wall abscess, the patient underwent surgery(excision)for these. Histopathological findings showed adenocarcinoma cells in the abscess tissue and were continuous with gastric pyloric gland-like tissue in Meckel's diverticulum. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma arising from ectopic gastric mucosa in the Meckel's diverticulum. The patient received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for a year. The patient is currently alive and has not experienced recurrence for 2 years since surgery. It is difficult to diagnose carcinoma of Meckel's diverticulum preoperatively due to late onset of symptoms. The diagnosis is often made at the advanced stage, when the prognosis is poor. This case is rare due to the incidental finding of an abdominal abscess and the absence of recurrence 2 years after surgery.

Ralstonia solanacearum novel E3 ubiquitin ligase (NEL) effectors RipAW and RipAR suppress pattern-triggered immunity in plants.

Ralstonia solanacearum is the causal agent of bacterial wilt in solanaceous crops. This pathogen injects more than 70 effector proteins into host plant cells via the Hrp type III secretion system to cause a successful infection. However, the function of these effectors in plant cells, especially in the suppression of plant immunity, remains largely unknown. In this study, we characterized two Ralstonia solanacearum effectors, RipAW and RipAR, which share homology with the IpaH family of effectors from animal and plant pathogenic bacteria, that have a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase (NEL) domain. Recombinant RipAW and RipAR show E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in vitro. RipAW and RipAR localized to the cytoplasm of plant cells and significantly suppressed pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) responses such as the production of reactive oxygen species and the expression of defence-related genes when expressed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. Mutation in the conserved cysteine residue in the NEL domain of RipAW completely abolished the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in vitro and the ability to suppress PTI responses in plant leaves. These results indicate that RipAW suppresses plant PTI responses through the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Unlike other members of the IpaH family of effectors, RipAW and RipAR had no leucine-rich repeat motifs in their amino acid sequences. A conserved C-terminal region of RipAW is indispensable for PTI suppression. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing RipAW and RipAR showed increased disease susceptibility, suggesting that RipAW and RipAR contribute to bacterial virulence in plants.

Low accumulation of chlorogenic acids represses reddening during flesh browning in Japanese peach "Okayama PEH7".

In peaches, fruit flesh browns unattractively after peeling or cutting. A recently developed cultivar, Okayama PEH7, was distinct from other Japanese cultivars, including Okayama PEH8, with respect to its reduced browning potential. Homogenate prepared from Okayama PEH7 flesh had significantly less reddening during the browning reaction. Okayama PEH7 had less soluble phenolic compounds and higher polyphenol oxidase activity than Okayama PEH8. Reduced browning was observed even when phenols prepared from Okayama PEH7 were incubated with crude extract from Okayama PEH8, suggesting that phenols lower the browning potential of Okayama PEH7. In Okayama PEH7, contents of chlorogenic acid and its isomers were about one-tenth compared to Okayama PEH8. Exogenous addition of chlorogenic acid to Okayama PEH7 homogenate increased the browning potential and visibly enhanced reddening. These results indicate that the reduced browning of Okayama PEH7 flesh is due to a defect in chlorogenic acid accumulation.

System A amino acid transporter SNAT2 shows subtype-specific affinity for betaine and hyperosmotic inducibility in placental trophoblasts.

Betaine uptake is induced by hypertonic stress in a placental trophoblast cell line, and involvement of amino acid transport system A was proposed. Here, we aimed to identify the subtype(s) of system A that mediates hypertonicity-induced betaine uptake. Measurement of [(14)C]betaine uptake by HEK293 cells transiently transfected with human or rat sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters (SNATs), SNAT1, SNAT2 and SNAT4 revealed that only human and rat SNAT2 have betaine uptake activity. The Michaelis constants (Km) of betaine uptake by human and rat SNAT2 were estimated to be 5.3 mM and 4.6 mM, respectively. Betaine exclusively inhibited the uptake activity of SNAT2 among the rat system A subtypes. We found that rat SNAT1, SNAT2 and SNAT4 were expressed at the mRNA level under isotonic conditions, while expression of SNAT2 and SNAT4 was induced by hypertonicity in TR-TBT 18d-1 cells. Western blot analyses revealed that SNAT2 expression on plasma membrane of TR-TBT 18d-1 cells was more potently induced by hypertonicity than that in total cell lysate. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the induction of SNAT2 expression in TR-TBT 18d-1 cells exposed to hypertonic conditions and indicated that SNAT2 was localized on the plasma membrane in these cells. Our results indicate that SNAT2 transports betaine, and that tonicity-sensitive SNAT2 expression may be involved in regulation of betaine concentration in placental trophoblasts.

The crucial role of PpMYB10.1 in anthocyanin accumulation in peach and relationships between its allelic type and skin color phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Red coloration of fruit skin is one of the most important traits in peach (Prunus persica), and it is mainly due to the accumulation of anthocyanins. Three MYB10 genes, PpMYB10.1, PpMYB10.2, and PpMYB10.3, have been reported as important regulators of red coloration and anthocyanin biosynthesis in peach fruit. In this study, contribution of PpMYB10.1/2/3 to anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit skin was investigated in the Japanese peach cultivars, white-skinned 'Mochizuki' and red-skinned 'Akatsuki'. We then investigated the relationships between allelic type of PpMYB10.1 and skin color phenotype in 23 Japanese peach cultivars for future establishment of DNA-marker. RESULTS: During the fruit development of 'Mochizuki' and 'Akatsuki', anthocyanin accumulation was observed only in the skin of red 'Akatsuki' fruit in the late ripening stages concomitant with high mRNA levels of the last step gene leading to anthocyanin accumulation, UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT). This was also correlated with the expression level of PpMYB10.1. Unlike PpMYB10.1, expression levels of PpMYB10.2/3 were low in the skin of both 'Mochizuki' and 'Akatsuki' throughout fruit development. Moreover, only PpMYB10.1 revealed expression levels associated with total anthocyanin accumulation in the leaves and flowers of 'Mochizuki' and 'Akatsuki'. Introduction of PpMYB10.1 into tobacco increased the expression of tobacco UFGT, resulting in higher anthocyanin accumulation and deeper red transgenic tobacco flowers; however, overexpression of PpMYB10.2/3 did not alter anthocyanin content and color of transgenic tobacco flowers when compared with wild-type flowers. Dual-luciferase assay showed that the co-infiltration of PpMYB10.1 with PpbHLH3 significantly increased the activity of PpUFGT promoter. We also found close relationships of two PpMYB10.1 allelic types, MYB10.1-1/MYB10.1-2, with the intensity of red skin coloration. CONCLUSION: We showed that PpMYB10.1 is a major regulator of anthocyanin accumulation in red-skinned peach and that it activates PpUFGT transcription. PpMYB10.2/3 may be involved in functions other than anthocyanin accumulation in peach. The peach cultivars having two MYB10.1-2 types resulted in the white skin color. By contrast, those with two MYB10.1-1 or MYB10.1-1/MYB10.1-2 types showed respective red or pale red skin color. These findings contribute to clarifying the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation and generating gene-based markers linked to skin color phenotypes.

[A Case of Sigmoid Colon Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastasis, Treated with Laparoscopic Liver Resection after SOX plus BV Chemotherapy].

We performed laparoscopic liver resection in a patient with synchronous liver metastasis from advanced sigmoid colon cancer after induction with S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) plus bevacizumab (BV) chemotherapy. A 61-year-old woman underwent laparoscopy-assisted sigmoidectomy for locally advanced sigmoid colon cancer with synchronous liver metastasis. SOX plus BV chemotherapy was initiated. After 3 courses, the liver tumor was downsized, and metastasectomy was performed laparoscopically with R0 resection. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 11th postoperative day. She has been free from recurrence. Induction with SOX plus BV chemotherapy is considered to be not only effective, but also beneficial for maintaining the quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.