Pathogenicity of genotype 2.1 classical swine fever virus isolated from Japan in 2019 in pigs.

Classical swine fever (CSF) re-emerged in Japan in 2018 for the first time in 26 years. The disease has been known to be caused by a moderately pathogenic virus, rather than the highly pathogenic virus that had occurred in the past. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains unknown. This study conducted an experimental challenge on specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs in a naïve state for 2, 4, and 6 weeks and confirmed the disease state during each period by clinical observation, virus detection, and pathological necropsy. We revealed the pathological changes and distribution of pathogens and virus-specific antibodies at each period after virus challenge. These results were comprehensively analyzed and approximately 70% of the pigs recovered, especially at 4- and 6-week post-virus challenge. This study provides useful information for future countermeasures against CSF by clarifying the pathogenicity outcomes in unvaccinated pigs with moderately pathogenic genotype 2.1 virus.

Characterization of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated from pigs in Japan using whole genome sequencing.

We conducted whole-genome sequencing to investigate the serotypes, the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, and the genetic relationships among isolates of Actinobacillus. pleuropneumoniae derived from diseased pigs. Serotype 2 (71.2%) was the most common, but the prevalence of serotypes 6 (13.6%) and 15 (6.8%) increased. Existing vaccines are considered ineffective on the isolates belonging to serotypes 6 and 15. The phylogenetic tree based on core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that the isolates were clustered by serotype. Of the isolates, 62.5% did not have an antimicrobial resistance gene, including a florfenicol resistance gene, but 32.2% had a tetracycline resistance gene. The antimicrobial resistant phenotype and genotype were almost identical. The plasmid-derived contigs harbored resistance genes of aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, ß-lactams, phenicols, or sulfonamides. It has been suggested that isolates with different genetic properties from vaccine strains are circulating; however, antimicrobial resistance may not be widespread.

The formation process of button ulcers in pigs experimentally infected with a subgenotype 2.1 isolate of classical swine fever virus.

We evaluated the role of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in the formation of button ulcers in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of pigs experimentally infected with a subgenotype 2.1 isolate of CSFV, which was isolated in Japan in 2019, revealed follicular necrosis in the submucosal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and herniation of crypts as factors that contribute to the development of button ulcers during CSFV infection. These findings indicate that CSFV induces follicular necrosis and is one of the causative agents of button ulcers in pigs.

3,5-Bis(3-alkylaminomethyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-piperidones: A Novel Class of Potent Tumor-Selective Cytotoxins.

Novel 4-piperidone derivatives 2a-f are disclosed as potent cytotoxins. Many of these compounds are more potent than the reference drug melphalan. The compounds in series 2, 4-7 display selective toxicities toward various neoplasms compared to some normal cells. 2a is one of the promising lead molecules that display >11-fold higher growth inhibiting potency than 5-fluorouracil against human colon cancer cells. 2a induces apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase.

Dimeric 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones: a novel cluster of tumour-selective cytotoxins possessing multidrug-resistant properties.

A series of bis[3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-oxo-1-piperidinyl]amides 1 display potent cytotoxic properties towards a wide range of tumours. A number of the CC(50) and IC(50) values are in the range of 10(-8) M. Specifically, these compounds have the following important properties. First, greater toxicity was demonstrated towards certain tumours than various non-malignant cells. Second, various compounds in series 1 are toxic to a number of human colon cancer and leukaemic cells. Third, these compounds reverse P-gp mediated multidrug resistance. Various prototypic molecules such as 1a,b and 1i were identified as lead molecules for further studies. A representative lead molecule 1b induces apoptosis via internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and PARP cleavage in HSC-2 and HL-60 cells while flow cytometry revealed that this compound blocked the G2/M and S-phases in the cell cycle of human colon cancer HCT-116 cells.

Comparative study of biological activity of three commercial products of Sasa senanensis Rehder leaf extract.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that alkaline extract of Sasa senanensis leaves (SE) has several biological activities characteristic of lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC). In the present study, we compared the biological activity of three commercially available products of SE (products A, B and C). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability of mock-infected, HIV-infected, UV-irradiated cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. Radical intensity was determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP)3A4 activity was measured by ß-hydroxylation of testosterone in human recombinant CYP3A4. RESULTS: Product A is a pure SE that contains Fe(II)-chlorophyllin, whereas products B and C contain Cu(II)-chlorophyllin and less LCC. Product C is supplemented with ginseng and pine (Pinus densiflora) leaf extracts. Product A exhibited 5-fold higher anti-HIV, 4-fold higher anti-UV, 5-fold higher hydroxyl radical-scavenging, and 3-fold lower CYP3A4 inhibitory activities as compared to those of product B, and 5-fold higher, 1.5-fold higher, comparable, and 7-fold lower activities, respectively, as compared to those of product C. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates for the first time the superiority of product A over products B and C, suggesting the beneficial role of LCC and Fe(II)-chlorophyllin.

Synthesis of a glandular secretion of the civet cat, (2S,6S)-(6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid and its enantiomer, by using the yeast-reduction product and recovered substrate from yeast reduction.

A glandular secretion of the civet cat, (2S,6S)-(6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid 1 and its enantiomer, were synthesized from the yeast-reduction product and recovered substrate from yeast reduction.