Biology subjects

Takata, Y.

Publications and source records attributed to Takata, Y..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Outbreak of leaf spot disease of Cavendish banana caused by Nigrospora spp. in Mindanao Island, Philippines

Banana leaf diseases are a significant threat to Cavendish banana production. In the Philippines, the main disease has been diagnosed as Black sigatoka disease caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis based on symptoms. However, our study showed that the main pathogen in Mindanao island, the largest banana-producing region in the Philippines, belongs to the genus Nigrospora, contradicting previous assumptions. We clarified the phylogenetic positions of 160 Nigrospora isolates based on molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, {beta}-tubulin, and tef1 sequences, and compared their morphology with known species. Molecular phylogenetic and morphological analysis revealed that Nigrospora isolates comprised N. chinensis, N. lacticolonia, N. cf. singularis, N. sphaerica, N. vesicularifera, and a novel species, N. nigrocolonia. Pathogenicity tests on banana leaves confirmed that these species are pathogenic. Species other than N. sphaerica were for the first time reported as pathogens of banana leaf. The results of the fungicide sensitivity test using 14 fungicides, including pyrimethanil, spiroxamine, and tebuconazole, for the Sigatoka disease showed 100% inhibition of all isolates at 100 ppm of active ingredients. However, low-sensitivity isolates were observed for the remaining 11 fungicides. Our findings indicated the need for a comprehensive review of banana leaf disease prevention strategies.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Commercial ChIP-Seq library preparation kits performed differently for different classes of protein targets

BackgroundChIP-Seq is a powerful method commonly used to study global protein-DNA interactions including both transcription factors and histone modifications. We have found that the choice of ChIP-Seq library preparation protocol plays an important role in overall ChIP-Seq data quality. However, very few studies have compared ChIP-Seq libraries prepared by different protocols using multiple targets and a broad range of input DNA levels. ResultsIn this study, we evaluated the performance of four ChIP-Seq library preparation protocols [NEB NEBNext Ultra II, Roche KAPA HyperPrep, Diagenode MicroPlex, and Bioo (now PerkinElmer) NEXTflex] on three target proteins, chosen to represent the three typical signal enrichment patterns in ChIP-Seq experiments: sharp peaks (H3K4me3), broad domains (H3K27me3) and punctate peaks with a protein binding motif (CTCF). We also tested a broad range of different input DNA levels from 0.10 to 10 ng for H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 experiments. ConclusionsOur results suggest that the NEB protocol may be better for preparing H3K4me3 (and potentially other histone modifications with sharp peak enrichment) libraries; the Bioo protocol may be better for preparing H3K27me3 (and potentially other histone modifications with broad domain enrichment) libraries, and the Diagenode protocol may be better for preparing CTCF (and potentially other transcription factors with well-defined binding motifs) libraries. For ChIP-Seq experiments using novel targets without a known signal enrichment pattern, the NEB protocol might be the best choice as it performed well for each of the three targets we tested across a wide array of input DNA levels.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2019

Comparison of muscle activity, strength and balance, before and after a 6-month training using the FIFA11+ program (part 2)

PurposeSports injuries can significantly impact an athletes career, as well as impose a high financial burden on teams. Therefore, the prevention of sports injuries is an essential aspect of sports medicine. To evaluate the effects of a 6-month training period, using part 2 of the FIFA11+, on the activation and strength of core and lower limb muscles, and on static and dynamic balance performance. Materials and MethodsEight college male soccer players, 20.4{+/-}0.5 years old, completed the FIFA11+ program (part 2) at least 3x per week for 6 months. The following variables were measured, before and after the 6-month training program: activity of more than 30 muscles (with a focus on core and lower limb muscles), measured using the standardized uptake values of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET-CT); isokinetic strength of the knee flexor and extensor and hip abductor muscles, measured at 60{degrees}/s; static balance over a 60-s period, measured using a Gravicorder; and dynamic balance, measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test. ResultsTraining improved activity levels of core (obliquus externus abdominis and erector spinae) and lower limb (tibialis anterior of the both legs) muscles (p[≤]0.03), corrected the between-limb difference in activation of the semimembranosus and improved dynamic balance, with a greater training effect on the non-dominant limb (p[≤]0.02). Training also improved knee flexor force of the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.02). ConclusionRoutine performance of the FIFA11+ (part 2) program can improve activation of core and lower limb muscles, with a concomitant improvement in dynamic balance.

physiology↗