Sub-theme Authors Achievements
Prof. Hisato Iwata To evaluate the sensitivity and responses to dioxins via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica), we constructed an in vitro reporter gene assay system, and measured the AHR-mediated transactivation potencies by each dioxin congener. The results demonstrated that the seal AHR is very sensitive to 2,3,7,8-TCDD, the most toxic dioxin congener. New!

Eun-Young, Kim, Tomoko Suda, Shinsuke Tanabe, Valeriy Batoev, Evgeny Petrov, Hisato Iwata
Evaluation of relative potencies for in vitro transactivation of the Baikal seal aryl hydrocarbon receptor by dioxin-like compounds

Environ. Sci. Technol., 45(4), 1652-1658 (2011)
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Prof.
Satoru Suzuki
The prevalence of four different tetracycline-resistance genes, tetA, tetC, tetH and tetM, in sediments from four aquaculture farms and their surroundings in the Baltic Sea was monitored by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The presence of three additional tetracycline-resistance genes (tetE, tetG and tetW) was studied qualitatively by standard PCR, and the amount of bioavailable tetracyclines and total amounts of tetracycline and oxytetracycline in samples were also measured.None of the farms were using tetracycline at the time of the sampling and one of the farms had stopped all antibiotic use six years prior to the first sampling. Our results showed greater copy numbers of tetA, tetC, tetH and tetM at the farms compared to pristine sites and demonstrated the presence of tetE, tetG and tetW genes in the sediments under aquaculture farms at most sampling times. However, most resistance genes were not found in samples collected 200 m from any of the farms. None of the samples contained any tetracyclines at any of the sampling times, suggesting that the increase in the prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes is caused by the persistence of these genes in the absence of selection pressure. This work is collaboration product between University of Helsinki and CMES, and the first author was a visiting scientist at CMES in 2009. Part of this work was performed at Matsuyama.  New!

Manu Tamminen, Antti Karkman, Andres Lõhmus, Windi Indra Muziasari, Hiroyuki Takasu, Shigeki Wada, Satoru Suzuki, Marko Virta
.
TETRACYCLINE RESISTANCE GENES PERSIST AT AQUACULTURE FARMS IN THE ABSENCE OF SELECTION PRESSURE

Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, 386-391 (2011)
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Prof.
Hisato Iwata
This study demonstrates that the chicken aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) repressor (AHRR) has the same repressive capabilities as mammalian and zebrafish AHRRs, but the critical regions involved in the repressive activity and the mode of action of repression may be different across species. This paper is selected as a "Highlighted Article" of this issue. 

Jin-Seon Lee, Eun-Young Kim, Koji Nomaru, and Hisato Iwata. (2011).
Molecular and functional characterization of aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor from the chicken (Gallus gallus): interspecies similarities and differences.
Toxicological Sciences,
119(2), 319–334.

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Assistant Prof. 
Kei Nomiyama
In the present study, we determined the residue levels and patterns of PCB and OH-PCB congeners, and examined correlations between OH-PCB metabolites and parent PCBs in the blood from eight species of toothed whales and three species of baleen whales stranded along the Japanese coast. As the results, it revealed that the accumulation profiles of OH-PCBs in cetacean blood are clearly different from the profiles found in other mammals. This study is the first report to comprehensively document the accumulation profiles of OH-PCBs in cetaceans.

Nomiyama, K., Murata, S., Kunisue T., Yamada T.K., Mizukawa H., Takahashi, S.,
& Tanabe S. (2010).
Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Their Hydroxylated Metabolites (OH-PCBs) in the Blood of Toothed and Baleen Whales Stranded along Japanese Coastal Waters
.
Environmental Science and Technology, 44(10), 3732-3738.

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Prof.
Hisato Iwata

We found that the endangered black-footed albatross is contaminated by high levels of dioxins, and a xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P4501A is induced by the dioxins accumulated in the liver. This study is the first direct demonstration indicating the impacts of dioxins in this rare species.  


Kubota, A., Watanabe, M., Kunisue, T., Kim, E. Y., Tanabe, S., & Iwata, H. (2010).

Hepatic CYP1A induction by chlorinated dioxins and related compounds in the endangered black-footed albatross from the North Pacific.

Environmental Science and Technology, 44(9), 3559-3565.

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Prof.
Hisato Iwata
We clarified the the associations between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases and profiles of arsenic metabolites in the residents of northern Vietnam.

Agusa, T., Iwata, H., Fujihara, J., Kunito, T., Takeshita, H., Minh, T. B., Trang, P.T.K., Viet, P.H., Tanabe, S. (2009): Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily and arsenic metabolism in residents of the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 242, 352-362
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Prof.
Takeshi Miura
Trypsin is a multifunctional factor in spermatogenesis Chiemi Miura, Takashi Ohta, Yuichi Ozaki, Hideki Tanaka and Takeshi Miura

Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA. 2009
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Prof.
Hisato Iwata
We clarified that one of nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) in seals is highly reactive to environmental chemicals like PCBs. The methodology established in the present study is valid for the risk assessment of chemicals in wildlife.

Sakai, H., Kim, E. -., Petrov, E. A., Tanabe, S., & Iwata, H. (2009).
Transactivation potencies of baikal seal constitutive active/androstane receptor by persistent organic pollutants and brominated flame retardants.
Environmental Science and Technology, 43(16), 6391-6397.
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Prof.
Takeshi Miura
Zn is an essential trace element for regulation of spermatogenesis, such as maintenance, proliferation and meiosis of germ cells; and sperm motility in Japanese eel. This is the first report on clarification of the direct effects of Zn on spermatogenesis in vertebrates.

Yamaguchi S., Miura, C., Kikuchi K., Celino F. T. Agusa T., Tanabe., Miura T. (2009). Zinc is an essential trace element for spermatogenesis.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA. 2009 106:10859-10864
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  Global COE Program We are pleased to inform you that the second volume of our series “Interdisciplinary Studies on Environmental Chemistry” has been published.

http://www.terrapub.co.jp/onlineproceedings/ec/02/index.html

The volume titled “Environmental Research in Asia for Establishing a Scientist's Network” delivers full papers of the research presented at the International Symposium held on November 11-13, 2008 in Ehime University.
Prof.
Hisato Iwata
Associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in As (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) with the As concentrations in residents from the Red River Delta, Vietnam are clarified. 

Agusa, T., Iwata, H., Fujihara, J., Kunito, T., Takeshita, H., Minh, T. B., Trang, P.T.K., Viet, P.H., Tanabe, S. (2009): Genetic polymorphisms in AS3MT and arsenic metabolism in residents of the red river delta, Vietnam. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 236(2), 131-141.
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Prof.  
Satoru Suzuki
Tetracycline resistance gene tet(M) was found to distribute among various environments without drug contamination, such as Antarctic Adelie penguin intestine and marine sediment of Pacific Ocean. Report on various genotyping of tet(M) in these environments is the first evidence.  

Rahman, H.M., Nonaka, L., Tago, R., & Suzuki, S. (2008) Occurrence of two genotypes of tetracycline (TC) resistance gene tet(M) in the TC-resistant bacteria in marine sediments of Japan. Environmental Science and Technology, 42(14), 5055-5061.
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Rahman, H.M., Sakamoto, K.Q., Nonaka, L., & Suzuki, S. (2008) Occurrence and diversity of the tetracycline resistance gene tet(M) in enteric bacteria of Atrantic Adelie penguins. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 62(3), 627-628.
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Prof.  
Shinsuke Tanabe
Levels of dioxins and related compounds and PCBs in Baikal seals have not declined since 1992. Therefore, contamination and risk by these contaminants are expected to last longer. 

Imaeda, D., Kunisue, T., Ochi, Y., Iwata, H., Tsydenova, O., Takahashi, S., Amano, M., Petrov, E. A., Batoev, V. B., Tanabe, S. (2009). Accumulation features and temporal trends of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica). Environmental Pollution, 157(3), 737-747.
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Prof.
Hisato Iwata
Function of avian metallothionein isoforms is characterized and a detoxification mechanism of toxic metals is unveiled. 

Nam, D. H., Kim, E. Y., & Iwata, H. (2008). Functional analysis of avian metallothionein isoforms: An ecotoxicological approach for assessing potential tolerability to element exposure. Environmental Science and Technology, 42(24), 9391-9396.
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  Global COE Program We are pleased to inform you that the first volume of our series “Interdisciplinary Studies on Environmental Chemistry” has been published. 

 http://www.terrapub.co.jp/onlineproceedings/ec/01/index.html

The volume titled “Biological Responses to Chemical Pollutants” delivers full papers of the research presented at the International Symposium on Biological Responses to Chemical Pollutants held on March 6-7, 2008 in Ehime University.
Prof.
Hisato Iwata
The promoter/enhancer regions in common cormorant CYP1A5 (ccCYP1A5) and chicken CYP1A5 (ckCYP1A5) were functionally characterized to clarify the induction mechanism of the avian CYP1A5 by dioxins and to explicate the mechanism of species differences in dioxin-sensitivity. 

Lee, J. -S., Kim, E. -Y., & Iwata, H. (2009): Dioxin activation of CYP1A5 promoter/enhancer regions from two avian species, common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and chicken (Gallus gallus): Association with aryl hydrocarbon receptor 1 and 2 isoforms. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 234(1), 1-13.
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Prof.  
Satoru Suzuki
Original article on genogrouping of marine aquabirnaviruses published in Journal of Fish Diseases (27, 633-643, 2004) was ranked at 17th position as highly cited papers between 2004~2007. (When it was updated on Mar. 19, 2008)

Now it has already been renewed, but there were only two papers by the Japanese including this paper in the best 20 when it was updated on Mar. 19, 2008.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/action/showMostCitedArticles?journalCode=jfd

Zhang, C.X. and Suzuki S.(2004): Aquabirnaviruses isolated from marine organisms form a distinct genogroup from other aquabirnaviruses. Journal of Fish Diseases, 27(11), 633-643.
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Prof.
Hisato Iwata
Information on the publication of our articles in peer-reviewed journals: Russian seals are contaminated by perfluorochemicals, and their receptor-mediated effects are speculated.

Ishibashi, H., Iwata, H., Kim, E. Y., Tao, L., Kannan, K., Amano, M., Miyazaki, N., Tanabe, S., Batoev, V. B. and Petrov, E. A. (2008): Contamination and effects of perfluorochemicals in Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica). 1. Residue level, tissue distribution, and temporal trend. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(7), 2295-2301.
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Ishibashi, H., Iwata, H., Kim, E. Y., Tao, L., Kannan, K., Tanabe, S., Batoev, V. B. and Petrov, E. A. (2008): Contamination and effects of perfluorochemicals in Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica). 2. Molecular characterization, expression level, and transcriptional activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(7), 2302-2308. 
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