ALBERT

Description: Xanthomonas campestris is one of bacteria carrying a type III secretion system which transports their effector proteins into host plant cells to disturb host defense system for their infection. To establish a genome editing system without introducing any foreign gene, we attempted to introduce genome editing enzymes through the type III secretion system. In a test of protein transfer, X. campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) transported a considerable amount of a reporter protein sGFP-CyaA into tobacco plant cells under the control of the type III secretion system while maintaining cell viability. For proof of concept for genome editing, we used a reporter tobacco plant containing a luciferase (LUC) gene interrupted by a meganuclease I-SceI recognition sequence; this plant exhibits chemiluminescence of LUC only when a frameshift mutation is introduced at the I-SceI recognition site. Luciferase signal was observed in tobacco leaves infected by Xcc carrying an I-SceI gene which secretes I-SceI protein through the type III system, but not leaves infected by Xcc carrying a vector control. Genome-edited tobacco plant could be regenerated from a piece of infected leaf piece by repeated selection of LUC positive calli. Sequence analysis revealed that the regenerated tobacco plant possessed a base deletion in the I-SceI recognition sequence that activated the LUC gene, indicating genome editing by I-SceI protein transferred through the type III secretion system of Xcc.

Description: The number of people addicted to gambling has increased worldwide. They often suffer from debilitating medical conditions associated with stress or depression. This study examined the physiological and psychological reactions of gambling disorder (GD) patients while listening to high-definition forest or city sounds using headphones. In total, 12 Japanese male GD patients were exposed to high-definition forest or city sound waves for 1 min via headphones. Near-infrared spectroscopy of the prefrontal cortex was used to examine oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations. Heart rate and heart rate variability are indicators of autonomic nervous function. We performed subjective evaluation via the modified version of the semantic differential (SD) method with the profiles of the mood states (POMS). Experiencing forest sounds led to substantial differences as opposed to listening to city sounds: (1) oxy-Hb levels of the bilateral prefrontal cortices were lower (2) the modified SD method resulted in increased comfortable and relaxed feelings, (3) the negative POMS subscale scores were significantly lower, indicating that negative emotions diminished markedly when patients listened to forest sounds. This is the first study to show that sounds of forest relaxed individuals physiologically and psychologically to minimize GD.