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Biomedical subjects

R Kano

Publications and source records attributed to R Kano.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Phylogenetic relation of Epidermophyton floccosum to the species of Microsporum and Trichophyton in chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene sequences.

The Nucleotide sequence of the chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of Epidermophyton floccosum, an anthrophophilic dermatophyte which is the type species of the genus Epidermophyton was analyzed to determine its phylogenetic relation to eight other dermatophyte species belonging to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton, which were sequenced in our previous studies. A genomic DNA fragment about 620 bp in length of the CHS1 gene was amplified from E. floccosum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was sequenced. The CHS1 nucleotide sequence showed more than 85% similarity with sequences derived from the other dermatophytes. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences from E. floccosum revealed that the genus Epidermophyton may be genetically distinct from Microsporum and Trichophyton.

Chitin Synthase↗

Molecular confirmation of a Trichophyton violaceum isolate from human black-dot ringworm.

A clinical isolate from a black-dot ringworm lesion of a 28-year-old female Japanese was investigated by morphological and biochemical analyses as well as molecular analyses. The isolate grew well on thiamine enriched agar and did not produce violet pigment, macro-conidia or micro-conidia on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. Approximately 620-bp genomic DNA fragments of the CHS1 gene were amplified from Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans and T. violaceum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) nucleotide sequences of the clinical isolate showed more than 97% similarity to that of T. violaceum and less than 96% similarity to that of T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans. The phylogenetic analysis of their sequences revealed that the clinical isolate was genetically close to T. violaceum and distinct from T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans. Therefore, the isolate was confirmed as T. violaceum by mycological examination and molecular analyses.

Adult↗

Species-specific primers of chitin synthase 1 gene for the differentiation of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex.

Species-specific primers were designed from nucleotide sequences of the chitin synthase 1 gene (CHS1) of Arthroderma benhamiae, A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii. The A. benhamiae-specific primer amplified a 560-bp fragment from A. benhamiae but not from A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii. The A. simii-specific primers amplified a 470-bp fragment from A. simii but not from A. benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii. The A. vanbreuseghemii-specific primers amplified a 360-bp fragment from A. vanbreuseghemii but not from A. benhamiae and A. simii. With these species-specific primers of CHS1 genes, 10 clinical isolates from humans and animals were examined by polymerase chain reaction analyses. These isolates proved to be identical to A. vanbreuseghemii.

Animals↗

Chitin synthase 2 gene sequence of Malassezia species.

Nucleotide sequences of the chitin synthase 2 (CHS2) gene of seven species, Malassezia furfur, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. pachydermatis, M. restricta, M. slooffiae and M. sympodialis, were analyzed for their phylogenetic relationship. About 620-bp genomic DNA fragments of the CHS2 gene were amplified from these Malassezia species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The CHS2 nucleotide sequences of these Malassezia species showed more than 95% similarity between the species. A phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of CHS2 gene fragments of seven Malassezia species revealed that the species were genetically distinct from each other.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene sequences of Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex and T. rubrum.

Nucleotide sequences of chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of dermatophytes, Arthroderma benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (T. interdigitale), and T. rubrum were analyzed for their phylogenetic relationship. About 620-bp genomic DNA fragments of the CHS1 gene were amplified from these dermatophytes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The CHS1 nucleotide sequences of these five dermatophytes showed more than 90% similarity between the species. The phylogenetic analysis of their sequences revealed that A. benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, and T. rubrum were genetically distinct from one another, but T. interdigitale was genetically very close to A. vanbreuseghemii. On the other hand, a specific restriction endonuclease site of HinfI was present in the CHS1 gene fragment of T. rubrum but not in those of A. benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii and T. interdigitale. The molecular analysis of CHS1 genes will provide useful information for the identification of these Trichophyton species and the understanding of their evolution.

Animals↗

The first isolation of Arthroderma benhamiae in Japan.

A clinical isolate of Trichophyton mentagrophytes from rabbit was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and a mating experiment. The species-specific primers designed from the nucleotide sequences of the chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene in the teleomorph of Arthroderma benhamiae amplified a fragment from genomic DNA samples of A. benhamiae and the clinical isolate but not from those of A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii. On the other hand, the species-specific primers of A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii did not amplify any fragment from the genomic DNA of the clinical isolates. When the isolate was respectively crossed with (+) or (-) tester strains of A. benhamiae, A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii, ascospores were produced in the crossing with the A. benhamiae (+) strain. Therefore, the isolate was identified to be A. benhamiae (-), confirming the result of molecular analysis. This is the first report on the isolation of A. benhamiae in Japan.

Animals↗

Phylogenetic analysis of 8 dermatophyte species using chitin synthase 1 gene sequences.

Nucleotide sequences of chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of eight species of dermatophytes, Arthroderma benhamiae, A. fulvum, A. grubyi, A. gypseum, A. incurvatum, A. otae, A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii were obtained and analysed for their phylogenetic relationship. A 600-bp genomic DNA fragment of the CHS1 gene was amplified from these dermatophytes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The CHS1 nucleotide sequences of these eight dermatophyte species showed more than 85% similarity between the species. The phylogenetic analysis of their sequences revealed three clusters, the first cluster consisting of A. benhamiae, A. simii and A. vanbreuseghemii, the second cluster consisting of A. fulvum, A. gypseum and A. incurvatum, and the third cluster consisting of A. grubyi and A. otae. The phylogenetic analysis of CHS1 gene in this study will provide useful information for classification and understanding the evolution of these dermatophyte species.

Arthrodermataceae↗

Differentiation of Arthroderma spp. by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Southern hybridization.

To develop the molecular differentiation analysis of dermatophytes, we carried out RAPD and Southern hybridization analyses using genomic DNAs of six Arthroderma species, including A. fulvum, A. grubyi, A. gypseum, A. incurvatum, A. otae and A. racemosum. The RAPD analysis gave different band patterns specific to each of the six Arthroderma fungi. However, minor differences in the banding patterns were observed between the strains of plus (+) and minus (-) mating types of A. gypseum, A. fulvum and A. incurvatum. Southern blot analysis using a probe (1S) obtained from A. grubyi DNA gave specific bands only in the DNA samples of A. grubyi and A. incurvatum. On the other hand, Southern blot analysis using a probe (C3) obtained from A. otae DNA gave specific bands in all six Arthroderma species examined, and the size of the bands were specific to each species. These findings indicate that RAPD and Southern hybridization analyses are useful in the differentiation of these Arthroderma species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A case of feline cryptococcosis treated with itraconazole.

We successfully treated a feline case of cryptococcosis with itraconazole (ITZ) at a lower dosage. The patient was a 2-year-old castrated male Abyssinian cat weighing 4.1 kg and with two masses on the head. Clinical signs were sneezing and nasal discharge. The plasma cryptococcal antigen titer measured by the latex agglutination test was proved to be high (512). The biopsy specimen from the masses disclosed yeast cells which were cultured and identified to be Cryptococcus neoformans. The cat was treated with ITZ 5 mg kg-1 given orally once a day with food. After 4 weeks, treatment of ITZ discontinued, because the cat was clinically normal and the antigen titer was low (128). However, about 7 months later, a subcutaneous nodule was detected on the same area. The nasal discharge appeared again, and the cryptococcal antigen titer was 256. ITZ treatment was continued again at the same dosage for 3 months until the antigen titer was negative (< 8). Four months after discontinuation of ITZ, the cat did not relapse and the antigen titer was in the negative range. No side-effects of ITZ were detected by physical and laboratory examination.

Animals↗

Canine parvovirus binds to multiple cellular membrane proteins from both permissive and nonpermissive cell lines.

For identification of canine parvovirus (CPV) binding protein, the SDS-solubilized cell membrane fraction from a permissive cell line. CRPK, was subjected to the virus overlay protein blot assay (VOPBA). Competitive inhibition experiments showed the presence of multiple CPV-binding proteins with molecular masses of 36, 35, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25, and 23 kDa. CPV-binding proteins of same molecular masses were also detected in membrane fractions from nonpermissive, as well as other permissive, cell lines. We confirm that the mechanism of nonpermissiveness to CPV is not operative at the cellular attachment level.

Animals↗

Application of a screening test for depression in the Health Counselling Center.

This paper outlines the process of development and the clinical usefulness of a screening test for depression. First we developed a draft questionnaire consisting of 13 items, each of which had three answers--(1) often, (2) sometimes, (3) none--, with reference to certain kinds of rating scales. After each answer was quantified by the sigma method, each item was statistically analyzed among 75 depressive patients and 250 almost healthy subjects visiting the AMHTS (Automated Multiphasic Health Testing and Services) center. Then 12 items effective for discriminating between the two groups were computed by discriminant analysis to produce depression scores which varied from 0 to almost 100 in proportion to the severity of depression. This questionnaire was applied to all consultees visiting the AMHTS, and revealed that almost 1% of them showed higher scores than the threshold score. Psychiatric interviews with the subjects suspected of depression indicated that all of them were in the transient maladapted state although only ten out of 16 were referred to a psychiatric outpatient clinic for further examination and treatment. The validity of this questionnaire was also confirmed by the fact that 86% of 50 additional depressive patients showed higher scores than the threshold score.

Algorithms↗

A case of intestinal myiasis in Japan.

A case of intestinal myiasis caused by larvae of Sarcophaga peregrina (Japanese name: senchi-nikubae) is reported. The patient passed stools containing live fly larvae for 2 days, but was otherwise asymptomatic. The patient seems to have been infested accidentally as a result of having eaten "yakitori" in which the fly had deposited its larvae. This paper is the first report of intestinal myiasis caused by the 3rd instar of this species.

Adult↗

Phylogeny and geographical distribution of the genus Boettcherisca Rohdendorf (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).

The phylogeny of the genus Boettcherisca Rohdendorf was investigated by numerical techniques. The phenetic and phyletic dendrograms were obtained by mean character difference (MCD) and Russell and Rao's coefficient (SRR) proximity analyses and unweighted pair-group (UPGA) cluster analysis, and then related to the classification of the species group and the geographical distribution of the group. Two monophyletic and one paraphyletic groups were recognized: peregrina-group, septentrionalis-group and karnyi-group, respectively. A biological evolution was postulated commencing with a hypothetical ancestor having occurred in Sundaland and involving two lines of specialization, the peregrina-group found in and around Sundaland and the septentrionalis-group in Far East, Walacea and Papualand. On the basis of the cladogram and the present geographical distribution, a Sundaland origin was postulated for the genus.

Animals↗

A case report of intestinal myiasis.

A case of mixed infection of Salmonella (type C2) and Parasarcophaga crassipalpis (an intestinal myiasis) in a two-year-old girl is reported. A girl after dining in a restaurant developed typical Salmonella food-poisoning symptoms. Stool culture showed both Salmonella and fly larvae. This paper is to report a first case of this fly larvae infection and to review the recent trends of food-poisoning in Japan.

Child, Preschool↗

Susceptibility of the Danish housefly, Musca domestica Linné to pyrethroid.

The insecticidal activity of a new pyrethroid, fenvalerate, and the effects of its synergists were evaluated using te 49-s and 381-s strains from Denmark which are both resistant to pyrethroid. It was found that the effect of fenvalerate was poor on the pyrethroid-resistant strains and little was expected from the addition of its synergists. Rapid development of resistance was observed in the 49-s strain during the selection with permethrin.

Animals↗