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Regular exercise has recognized health benefits, partly because it reportedly lowers the levels of the oxidation products of proteins and DNA at rest, in contrast with the effect of acute exercise. However, when we compared oxidative response markers in active middle-aged subjects with those in sedentary ones, the level of urinary 8-OHdG was higher in active subjects. Because neutrophils are the first line of defense against a variety of infectious diseases, we then compared the cell density, functions and apoptosis of neutrophils in active subjects with those in sedentary ones. The cell density of neutrophils and phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by neutrophils were higher in active subjects, being similar with the reported effects of acute exercise. To determine any beneficial effects of oxidative stress in active subjects, we then compared the levels of antibodies against 4- hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts in active subjects with those in sedentary ones, because 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal is one of the most common bioactive aldehyde products of oxidative stress, and because the IgM class of antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with atheroprotective properties. The level of the IgM but not the IgG class of antibodies against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts was higher in active subjects. Overall, this study revealed that our active middle-aged subjects showed both oxidative responses and a higher IgM response to reactive carbonyl derivatives, possibly providing a basis for a health benefit by exercise in our active subjects [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain T7174R is lysed by bacteriophage OP1h and OP1h2. Three mutants tolerant to both OP1h and OP1h2 were isolated by transposon mutagenesis. The mutants had an insertion of the transposon in XOO1687, which is predicted to encode a TonB-dependent receptor gene. Plasmid pHMIroNB that contained XOO1687 of T7174R was constructed, and the mutant was transformed with the plasmid. The transformant recovered sensitivity to OP1h and OP1h2. Electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that OP1h and OP1h2 can adsorb to the wild type and the transformant, but they could not adsorb to the phage-tolerant mutant. These results suggest that the TonB-dependent receptor gene relates to adsorption and infection of T7174R by OP1h2 and OP1h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sequenced and analyzed the genome of OP2 (MAFF 106404), a bacteriophage that lyses Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo). It is 464bp, and the average G + C content is 60.9%. The results suggest that the genome sequence of OP2 is circularly permuted and terminally redundant, like that of coliphages T4 or P22. Sixty-two open reading frames (ORFs) were predicted in the genome. We constructed a circular map of the restriction enzyme sites and a gene map. The genome is clearly divided into four parts according to transcription direction. The directions of 27 ORFs are leftward and those of 35 are rightward. Most leftward ORFs are commonly conserved among many other phages, and some are structure-related or expression-related genes. In contrast, most rightward ORFs contain OP2-specific genes as well as DNA polymerase, helicase, dUTPase, and HNH family endonuclease genes. Nine rightward and 25 leftward ORFs have homology with the ORFs of bacteriophage Bcep1, which lyses Burkholderia cepacia. The leftward-transcribed OP2 genes and their orthologs in Bcep1 conserve a neighboring relationship, although the putative tail fiber gene does not have homology with that of Bcep1. Several ORFs have similarity (

The entire genome of bacteriophage OP1, lytic for Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight of rice, and the partial genomes of related phages were sequenced and analyzed. The OP1 genome comprises double-stranded, 4785-bp long DNA with 51.1% G + C content. Fifty-nine open reading frames (ORFs) were detected. ORF25 had similarity with the tail fiber gene of phages, whose product is related to host specificity. The ORF25 regions were amplified from four host-range mutants (OP1h, OP1hC, OP1h2, and OP1h2C) by polymerase chain reaction, and their deduced amino acid sequences were compared. Three mutants (OP1hC, OP1h2, OP1h2C) had duplications of a small domain in the N-terminal portion, although there were slight differences in the position of the duplicated sequences. One mutant OP1h had substituted amino acids in the duplication region. New mutants isolated in the laboratory (OP1hC and OP1h2C from OP1 and OP1h2) acquired the ability to lyse strain N5874 belonging to phagovar (lysotype) C. However, they rapidly lost this lytic ability when incubated with other phagovars. This loss was always accompanied by a loss of the characteristic repeats, suggesting that the host range of OP1-related phages changed mainly through duplication and deletion of a small domain in ORF25. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasion and colonization of mature apple fruit by a transformant ofErwinia amylovoratagged with bioluminescence genes fromVibrio fischeriwas examined. The transformant was deposited on cut surfaces of fruit stems, wounds on the shoulders and calyces, injured fruit-bearing twigs of harvested apple fruit, and cut fruit flesh. After incubation in closed stainless steel or plastic boxes at 25°C, fruit were periodically observed with a two-dimensional luminometer. The presence of the transformant in luminous areas was confirmed by isolating it on selective media.E. amylovora, when deposited in fruit stems: (1) can invade mature as well as immature apple fruit; (2) vertically and horizontally spreads and colonizes along vascular bundles, increasing its population; (3) reaches the calyx end and the flesh just under the exocarp within 3-4 days after inoculation; (4) when deposited on cut fruit flesh, irrespective of its maturity, can easily increase its population and survive 2-4 weeks or more at 25°C; and (5) even at the time of fruit maturation, can migrate within twigs rapidly and reaches the abscission layers between fruit-bearing twigs and fruit stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a correction to the article "Invasion and colonization of mature apple fruit by Erwinia amylovora tagged with bioluminescence genes," that was previously published in the 2004 issue of the "Journal of General Plant Pathology."

A 30-year-old woman had refractory asthma. She had also experienced twice severe anaphylaxis episodes after ingesting peaches. The patient was extremely wary about reoccurrence of anaphylaxis and avoided ingesting any fruits, including peaches. She visited our hospital for testing and treatment for asthma and the peach allergy. Skin and serologic testing showed that she had a severe allergy to house dust, mites, and peaches. The food challenge test results showed that ingesting 6.5 g of the peach fruit induced dyspnea in the patient. Her asthma could not be controlled despite treatment involving a leukotriene receptor antagonist and combination inhalation of high-dose salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone propionate. We advised the patient to keep strict avoidance ingesting peaches because of her food allergy. However, she hoped to overcome her food restrictions, especially those for fruits. We initiated treatment involving the recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody omalizumab (150 mg, once a month) to ensure that the asthma was controlled well and to improve the patient's diet. The asthmatic symptoms ameliorated, and the peak expiratory flow increased in a short time. We gradually reduced the restriction on peach consumption. This was achieved by rechallenging the patient with increasing doses of 290 mg of the peach fruit and was initiated at 28 weeks after starting omalizumab therapy. The restriction on peach consumption was lifted eventually, and the patient did not experience any allergic symptoms subsequently on ingesting peaches. Thus, for our patient, omalizumab therapy was highly effective in achieving remission from both asthma and peach allergy.