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Several in situ hybridization studies are conducted to determine the impact of the various uncultured bacterial strains obtained from the sheep rumen on the degradation of fibers. B76 and R-25 are shown to be the common strains that lead to hemicelluloses degradation in rumen.

Background: Undernutrition and underweight are osteoporosis risk factors. Therefore, improving the health of underweight young women in Japan is an important medical issue. However, few studies have evaluated the association between being preconception underweight and postnatal osteoporotic fractures in young women., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used a Japanese nationwide claims database (JMDC Inc.) to evaluate the effect of preconception underweight on the incidence of osteoporotic fracture within two years after delivery. Data from 16,684 mothers who delivered their first singleton babies between January 2006 and December 2020 were analysed. The combination of disease codes of fractures at sites associated with osteoporosis and medical procedures for fractures was defined as the incidence of osteoporotic fractures, whereas the body mass index (BMI) recorded 12-36 months before delivery was used as the exposure. We estimated the incidence of osteoporotic fractures by BMI category using a Kaplan-Meier curve and examined the fracture risk using Cox hazard regression analyses., Results: Fifty-one women (0.31%) were affected by osteoporotic fractures within two years of delivery. More than 80% of these were rib fractures, and approximately 65% of fractures occurred after the first year postpartum. Preconception underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ) was significantly associated with the incidence of postpartum osteoporotic fractures. There was no significant association between low BMI and postnatal fractures, as analysed via multiple categorical logistic regression analysis., Conclusion: Appropriate control of preconception weight might be critical to improving the postpartum quality of life, subsequent bone health, and neonatal care environment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: Although perinatal thrombotic microangiopathy has become increasingly understood, the racial characteristics of patients with this condition remain unclear. Herein, we report the characteristics of patients with perinatal thrombotic microangiopathy at a single institution in Japan., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study over a 5-year period from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021, using the electronic medical records of pregnant women who delivered at the perinatal center of our hospital. We extracted the data of those who developed perinatal thrombotic microangiopathy and evaluated their characteristics at the time of disease onset, final diagnosis, and maternal and fetal outcomes., Results: Of the 10 224 deliveries that occurred during the 5-year period, only seven patients (0.06%) had perinatal thrombotic microangiopathy. The median pre-pregnant body mass index was 18.65 kg/m 2 (minimum 17.3 kg/m 2 , maximum 20.7 kg/m 2 ). More than half of the patients were conceived by in-vitro fertilization, and 42% these had twin deliveries. Four patients had a history of rheumatic disease. The other three patients without underlying diseases developed thrombotic microangiopathy with HELLP syndrome, and one patient transitioned to atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome., Conclusions: Based on low body mass index and in-vitro fertilization, which are characteristic of Japanese women, medical complications and twin pregnancies may be a risk for thrombotic microangiopathy. Additionally, depending on the cause of thrombotic microangiopathy, its timing and onset differed., (© 2023 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Anti-OJ antibody is relatively rarely detected in patients with the anti-synthetase syndrome, which is polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM) with anti-aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthetase antibodies. There have been few case reports of anti-OJ antibody-positive PM/DM complicated by other connective tissue disorders. Herein, we report the case of a 33-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital with fever, muscle weakness, and dyspnoea on exertion. She was diagnosed with anti-OJ antibody-positive PM, overlapping systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Her symptoms and clinical findings improved after treatment with prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day without immunosuppressive agents. This is the first case of overlap syndrome with anti-OJ antibody-positive PM, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Mediterranean fever ( MEFV ) gene mutations are responsible for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and associated with other inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of MEFV gene mutations on intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) are unknown. In this study, we investigated these mutations and clinical features in patients with intestinal BD., Methods: MEFV gene analysis was performed in 16 patients with intestinal BD, 10 with BD without intestinal lesions, and 50 healthy controls. Clinical features of patients with intestinal BD were retrospectively assessed., Results: The rates of MEFV gene mutations in patients with intestinal BD, BD without intestinal lesions, and healthy controls were 75%, 50%, and 38%, respectively. Only 2 of 12 patients with intestinal BD harboring MEFV gene mutations (17%) were controlled without immunosuppressive treatment, while 8 patients (67%) required therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Among patients with intestinal BD without MEFV gene mutations (four patients), three (75%) were controlled by the administration of 5-aminosalicylic acid with or without colchicine, and one (25%) required TNF inhibitors. All patients who underwent intestinal resection had MEFV gene mutations. Immunohistochemical analysis and in situ hybridization with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) showed a high expression of IL-1β only in injured areas, suggesting that IL-1β may be involved in the formation of ulcers in patients with intestinal BD carrying MEFV gene mutations., Conclusion: Mutations in the MEFV gene may be associated with intestinal lesions of BD and refractoriness to treatment.

A 72-year-old Japanese woman suffered from mild pancytopenia 3 years before her initial hospitalization. On admission, the levels of trace elements, particularly copper, and ceruloplasmin were significantly decreased in her blood serum. Abdominal lymphadenopathy and bone marrow dysplasia were detected. Hemosiderin deposition was observed in her lymph nodes and bone marrow, and magnetic resonance imaging suggested its deposition in various organs. A novel missense pathogenic variant (c.T1670G) was detected in the ceruloplasmin gene, resulting in an amino acid change (p.M557R). When copper deficiency is accompanied by cytopenia and dysplasia in a patient, it is worthwhile to consider a differential diagnosis of aceruloplasminemia.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a neoplasm of lymphoplasmacytic cells that produces monoclonal IgM protein. Although hyperviscosity syndrome is a common feature of WM, central nervous system (CNS) involvement in WM is rare and is known as Bing-Neel syndrome. A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with bed-bound polyneuropathy, edema, splenomegaly, IgM-λ-type monoclonal protein and CD20-positive lymphocyte infiltration in the bone marrow. She was diagnosed with WM accompanying POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes) and was treated with rituximab and thalidomide. She achieved partial remission of WM, and thalidomide was continued for POEMS syndrome. She visited our outpatient clinic 6 years later with sudden onset of vertigo and nausea. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a low-density area 4 cm in diameter in her right cerebrum and right mid-brain and she was referred to our hospital. Pathological analysis of brain biopsy samples revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the CNS. Nucleic acid sequence analysis of the VDJ region using DNA obtained from the original WM tumor cells and brain tissue revealed that the DLBCL cells were derived from the original WM malignant lymphoma cells. She received five cycles of rituximab, methotrexate, procarbazine, and vincristine (R-MPV) therapy and 23.4 Gy of whole-brain irradiation followed by two cycles of high-dose cytarabine, which resolved her neurological symptoms in association with reduction of IgM levels to 367 mg/dL. MRI and computed tomography of the brain demonstrated complete remission of her CNS lymphoma.

Background: Human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) is a novel parvovirus, which like parvovirus B19 (B19V) can be a contaminant of plasma pools used to prepare plasma-derived medicinal products. Inactivation studies of B19V have shown that it is more sensitive to virus inactivation strategies than animal parvoviruses. However, inactivation of PARV4 has not yet been specifically addressed., Study Design and Methods: Treatment of parvoviruses by heat or low-pH conditions causes externalization of the virus genome. Using nuclease treatment combined with real-time polymerase chain reaction, the extent of virus DNA externalization was used as an indirect measure of the inactivation of PARV4, B19V, and minute virus of mice (MVM) by pasteurization of albumin and by low-pH treatment. Infectivity studies were performed in parallel for B19V and MVM., Results: PARV4 showed greater resistance to pasteurization and low-pH treatment than B19V, although PARV4 was not as resistant as MVM. There was a 2- to 3-log reduction of encapsidated PARV4 DNA after pasteurization and low-pH treatment. In contrast, B19V was effectively inactivated while MVM was stable under these conditions. Divalent cations were found to have a stabilizing effect on PARV4 capsids. In the absence of divalent cations, even at neutral pH, there was a reduction of PARV4 titer, an effect not observed for B19V or MVM., Conclusion: In the case of heat treatment and incubation at low pH, PARV4 shows intermediate resistance when compared to B19V and MVM. Divalent cations seem important for stabilizing PARV4 virus particles., (© 2013 American Association of Blood Banks.)

A micro-organism resembling members of the genus Dermatophilus, strain W254(T), which was isolated from the submandibular lymph node of a pig, and an additional 16 strains isolated from swine tonsils, were studied to establish their taxonomic status. Although all 17 strains were isolated anaerobically under an atmosphere of 100 % CO2, all of them were aerotolerant anaerobes. The micro-organisms showed at least five cellular morphologies: (i) a radially protrusive thallus, which proliferated into tuber-like cells; (ii) segmentation in both tubers and thallus followed by multilocule formation, (iii) development of coccoid forms in the locules; (iv) a change from the coccoid forms to zoospores; (v) resting cells, which were able to develop into protrusive thalli again. The micro-organisms were positive for nitrate reduction, but negative for catalase, indole production, hydrolysis of urea and gelatin liquefaction. Milk was not decomposed and none of the strains was haemolytic. A total of 16 compounds, including glucose, were utilized as sole carbon sources and seven compounds, including l-arabinose, were not utilized. Three out of the 17 strains were subjected to further studies. The micro-organisms had meso-diaminopimelic acid in their peptidoglycan and galactose, glucose, madurose and a trace of mannose in their whole-cell sugar patterns. The major phospholipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol.Cellular fatty acids were C15 : 0 (35.7-23.1 %), C16 : 0 (5.9-2.4 %) C17 : 0 (62.9-39.5 %), C17 : 1 (24.4-0 %) and C18 : 0 (3-1.6 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 (H4). The G+C content of the DNA was 69.6-71.8 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strains clustered with the type strains of members of the family Dermatophilaceae. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic characterization carried out, all 17 strains are considered to belong to a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Tonsilliphilus suis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is W254(T) ( = ATCC 35846(T) = CCM 3774(T) = DSM 21880(T) = JCM 15727(T)).

Three anti-H5 influenza virus monoclonal antibody (mAb) clones, IFH5-26, IFH5-115 and IFH5-136, were obtained by immunising a BALB/C mouse with inactivated A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/04 (H5N1). These mAbs were found to recognise specifically the haemagglutinin (HA) epitope of the influenza H5 subtypes by western blotting with recombinant HAs; however, these mAbs have no neutralising activity for A/duck/Hokkaido/84/02 (H5N3) or A/Puerto Ric/8/34 (H1N1). Each epitope of these mAbs was a conformational epitope that was formed from the regions located between 46 to 60 amino acids (aa) and 312 to 322 aa for IFH5-115, from 101 to 113 aa and 268 to 273 aa for IFH5-136 and from 61 to 80 aa and 290 to 300 aa for IFH5-26. The epitopes were located in the loop regions between the receptor region and alpha-helix structure in haemagglutinin 1 (HA1). Influenza A virus H5-specific rapid immunochromatographic test kits were tested as solid phase antibody/alkaline phosphate-conjugated mAb in the following three combinations: IFH5-26/IFH5-115, IFH5-136/IFH5-26 and IFH5-136/IFH5-115. In every combination, only influenza A H5 subtypes were detected. For effective clinical application, rapid dual discrimination immunochromatographic test kits in combination with H5 HA-specific mAb, IFA5-26 and IFA5-115 and the influenza A NP NP-specific mAb, FVA2-11, were developed. The dual discrimination immunochromatographic tests kits detected influenza A virus H5 subtypes as H5 line-positive and all influenza A subtypes as A line-positive simultaneously. The dual discrimination immunochromatographic test kits may be useful for discriminating highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses from seasonal influenza A virus, as well as for confirming influenza infection status in human, avian and mammalian hosts., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Eubacterium pyruvativorans I-6(T) is a non-saccharolytic, amino-acid-fermenting anaerobe from the rumen, isolated by its ability to grow on pancreatic casein hydrolysate (PCH) as sole C source. This study investigated its metabolic properties and its likely ecological niche. Additional growth was supported by pyruvate, vinyl acetate, and, to a lesser extent, lactate and crotonate, and also by a mixture of amino acids (alanine, glycine, serine and threonine) predicted to be catabolized to pyruvate. No single amino acid supported growth, and peptides were required for growth on amino acids. Alanine, followed by leucine, serine and proline, were used most extensively during growth, but only alanine and asparate were extensively modified before incorporation. Growth on PCH, but not on pyruvate, was increased by the addition of acetate, propionate and butyrate. l-Lactate was fermented incompletely, mainly to acetate, but no lactate-C was incorporated. Propionate and butyrate were utilized during growth, forming valerate and caproate, respectively. Labelling experiments suggested a metabolic pattern where two C atoms of butyrate, valerate and caproate were derived from amino acids, with the others being formed from acetate, propionate and butyrate. The metabolic strategy of E. pyruvativorans therefore resembles that of Clostridium kluyveri, which ferments ethanol only when the reaction is coupled to acetate, propionate or butyrate utilization. The fermentative niche of E. pyruvativorans appears to be to scavenge amino acids, lactate and possibly other metabolites in order to generate ATP via acetate formation, using volatile fatty acid elongation with C(2) units derived from other substrates to dispose of reducing equivalents.

Rhodococcus equi is an important pathogen in foals; however, its incidence in African indigenous animals is poorly understood. Fecal samples (92 from nine indigenous species) and 43 soil samples were collected from two Zambian National Parks. The presence of R. equi was investigated and 533 isolates were tested for the presence of 15- to 17-kDa antigens (VapA) and a 20-kDa antigen (VapB) by immunoblotting and PCR. R. equi was isolated (10(2)-10(4) colony forming units/g) from 75% of fecal and 74% of soil samples. Neither antigen was detected; however, about 20% of the isolates contained cryptic plasmids of various sizes. There was no evidence of virulent R. equi, but the avirulent form was widespread in the animals and the soil.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19) infects cells of erythroid lineage. Production of neutralizing antibodies (Abs) is indispensable for recovery from B19-related disease state. In this study, we used a convenient method to measure neutralizing activities in human sera by using a real-time quantitative PCR based assay. Erythroid cell line KU812Ep6 was incubated with test sera before infection with B19 virus. The copy number of B19-DNA in cultures was decreased in the presence of the sera from patients who recovered from acute B19 infection, whereas no decrease in B19-DNA was in cultures incubated with sera from healthy volunteers who had no B19 infection. The decrease in B19-DNA copy number was calculated and the inhibition percentage was expressed as neutralizing activity to B19. A clinical study showed that the levels of neutralizing ability were high in patients who recovered soon after acute B19 infection, but were low in some patients with a prolonged clinical course for recovery from B19 infection. This method is simple and convenient compared with methods described previously, showing its usefulness to evaluate the neutralizing activity to B19., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.)

Human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is etiologically associated with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and chronic neurological disease, tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). In our study, a unique IL-2 dependent human T cell line, designated TY8-3, was established from a thymoma obtained from a myasthenia gravis patient. The cells were heterogeneous and mainly consisted of those with CD4 , CD8 as well as activation markers and adhesion molecules including IL-2Ralpha,beta,gamma, CD45RO, Tf-R, HLA-DR, LFA-1alpha,beta, LFA-3, ICAM-1 and OX40 but without CD3 surface markers. Furthermore, these cells underwent an efficient and reproducible IL-2 independent transformation upon cocultivation with HTLV-I/II producing cell lines. Interestingly, although the infected cells became IL-2 independent, the growth rate of infected cells was significantly lower than those of parental TY8-3 cells. Clonal HTLV-I proviral DNA and viral particles were detected in the cells. Down-regulation of the lck and fyn genes and activation of the lyn gene was demonstrated in the IL-2 independent HTLV-positive TY8-3 cells. Subclones of TY8-3 cells were again able to be efficiently transformed and became IL-2 independent several months after coculture. Our results thus exhibit that TY8-3 cells and its subclones provide us with a very unique model whereby IL-2 independent transformation events of human T cells by HTLV-I/II in vitro can be studied at a clonal level.

Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) particles were efficiently adsorbed (retained) on a Sulfate-cellulose (S-C) bead column, and then desorbed with sodium chloride solutions (0.5-3.0 M). The HBsAg particles were not efficiently retained onto either sulfopropyl-agarose (SP-A) or quaternary amine-agarose (Q-A) at pH 4.5, 6 and 8. The size-exclusion curve showed that proteins of molecular mass higher than ca. 20,000 cannot penetrate into the pores of S-C beads. The dynamic binding capacity (DBC) values of lysozyme (ca. 7 mg/ml-gel) and of gamma-globulin (ca. 3 mg/ml gel) for S-C did not depend on the flow velocity while the DBC of gamma-globulin for SP-A decreased sharply with an increase in flow velocity. These results indicated that very large molecules are adsorbed only onto the surface of S-C, which resulted in fast adsorption-desorption rates although the equilibrium adsorption capacity is lower than conventional porous gel beads. Because of the rapid adsorption rate, the DBC values of gamma-globulin for S-C at high flow-rate regions are similar to those for SP-A. Bovine serum albumin was not adsorbed onto S-C. As this can not be explained by a simple electrostatic interaction mechanism, molecular recognition of S-C might be different from the agarose-based ion-exchange beads.

Rumen ciliate species and composition were surveyed on the native sheep, Friesian-cattle and dromedary (one-humped) camels kept in Libya. As a result of survey, 5 genera including 14 species with 5 formae in native sheep, 9 genera including 27 species with 6 formae in Friesian-cattle and 6 genera including 13 species and 7 formae in dromedary camels were identified. All of the ciliate species and their percentage composition detected from the Libyan sheep and cattle in this examination were similar to those found from corresponding animals in the other countries. Libyan camels lacked some peculiar ciliate species found from camels in the other countries, but had many cosmopolitan species common with those in the domestic ruminants, suggesting that ciliate faunae of camel are easily affected by the other domestic ruminants kept together. The ciliate density was estimated as 105/ml in every host species.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb), gp21-34, specifically reactive with human T-lymphotropic virus type-II (HTLV-II) transmembranous envelope glycoprotein (p20E) was developed by immunization with a recombinant protein fused with thioredoxin moiety at the N-terminal portion. This MAb, which belongs to the IgG1 kappa subclass, reacted with HTLV-II infected cell lines (TON-1, C3-44, and Si-IIA) by IFA, but not with HTLV-I infected cell lines (TCL-Kan and MT-2). By Western blot analysis, this MAb reacted with p20E of HTLV-II lysates but not with HTLV-I lysates. Some epitope analyses with synthetic peptides were carried out to look for a plausible linear epitope in the C-terminal region of p20E.

The composition of ciliates obtained from the forestomachs of eleven dromedary (one-humped) camels in Egypt was examined. As a result, eight genera containing 24 species with 11 forms were identified. Of them, one species was concluded to be new, then described as Dasytricha kabanii n. sp. This new species was clearly distinguished from D. ruminantium, the other species of the genus, by its lack of somatic cilia on the posterior one-fifth of the body surface. Entodinium nanellum and Epidinium ecaudatum f. caudatum were found in all camels examined. Although the percentage composition of respective species varied with the individual camel, the rate of Entodinium spp. was high in general. Total ciliate density in forestomach fluid was 1.9 x 10(5)/ml on average. Ciliate composition in Egyptian camels was similar to that in Bactrian camels, Camelus bactrianus, in China reported previously. However, more Entodinium species were detected from Egyptian camels than from Bactrian camels.

The occurrence of free ceramides at high concentrations was demonstrated in the chloroform-methanol extractable lipids of Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343. The long-chain bases were isolated from the free ceramides and identified as branched and normal saturated dihydroxy bases with carbon chains consisting of 17, 18, and 19 atoms. The major fatty acid was 3-hydroxy 15-methylhexadecanoic acid. The major molecular species of the ceramides were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography of the cleaved products as LCB-d-iso17: 0-3-OH iso17: 0 FA, LCB-d-anteiso17: 0-3-OH iso17: 0 FA, LCB-d-iso18: 0-3-OH iso17: 0 FA, and LCB-d-anteiso19: 0-3-OH iso17: 0 FA.

Cellular fatty acid composition was examined in 61 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci of bovine milk origin and 19 strains of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis serving as reference strains. The 61 strains had been divided into 9 species in accordance with the classification of Kloos & Schleifer. When S. aureus and the coagulase-negative staphylococci were examined, they contained iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, C18:0, and C20:0 as main fatty acids. There was no marked difference in the cellular fatty acid composition between any two staphylococcal species. The percent cellular fatty acid composition of each species was regarded as one of the quantities of continuity and subjected to the analysis of variance by the unary configuration method. As a result, S. capitis, S. cohnii, S. epidermidis, and S. xylosus seemed to have a cellular fatty acid composition a little different from that of any other species. When similarity values among all the strains were calculated, they were 0.89 or more and made it possible to divide all the strains into two large groups at the similarity value of 0.90. In the one group the iso-C15:0 was a characteristic fatty acid. In the other group the anteiso-C15:0 was a characteristic fatty acid. To the first group belonged S. hyicus and S. lentus. To the second group belonged S. cohnii, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. saprophyticus, and S. warneri. In the two groups were distributed S. aureus, S. capitis, S. simulans, and S. xylosus.

Selenomonas spp. were isolated for the first time from lesions and non-digestive organs which were apparently normal in 2 cows, 6 pigs, and 1 human being. Identification as Selenomonas was based firstly on electron microscopical observation and secondly on fermentation products. They were divided into 3 major groups by biological properties, as well as by the patterns of these products. It has been confirmed that the habitats of organisms of the genus Selenomonas are generally digestive organs, including the rumen of the ruminant, the cecum of the guinea pig, and the oral cavity of man. The existence of these organisms in lesions and non-digestive organs in such animals and man, however, has been unknown as yet. Moreover, it has been completely unknown about the habitat of these organisms in swine. The findings obtained suggested the possibility of invasion of Selenomonas into other parts than the digestive organ in some animals and the presumable existence of the organism in the swine digestive organs. The role of Selenomonas as a secondary invader into some animals was proposed.

In young broiler chicks which were inoculated with 10(8) cells of Treponema hyodysenteriae within 24 hr after hatching, numerous treponemes were observed by scanning electron microscopy on the surface of the cecal mucosa 7 and 14 days after the inoculation. However, in the groups inoculated with 10(7) cells, treponemes were not observed on the cecal mucosa 14 days after the inoculation, and the isolation rate from the cecal contents was lower than that from cecal contents of chicks inoculated with 10(8) cells. While the cecal mucosa of noninfected chicks had a smooth surface, that of the chicks infected with treponemes was generally roughened and the epithelium was eroded. Numerous treponemes were also observed within the eroded epithelium.

Numerous Treponema hyodysenteriae were present both on the mucosal surface and in the deep crypts of the cecum of young broiler chicks 7 and 14 days after inoculation with the treponemes. The treponemes in the ceca of chicks inoculated with 10(8) cells were observed more frequently than those of chicks inoculated with 10(7) cells. The treponemes in the ceca were observed by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The lesions were primarily confined to the cecum. Desquamation of epithelial cells, edema, leukocytic infiltration and hemorrhage were observed in the mucosae.

A new inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme, I5B2, was isolated from the culture broth of Actinomadura sp. No. 937ZE-1. This compound contains N-methylvaline, tyrosine and 1-amino-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylphosphonic acid. The microorganism also produced another inhibitor, I5B1, which is identical with K-4 isolated from Actinomadura sp. as an antihypertensive agent.