Abstract: Glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene which catalyzes glucuronic acid transfer to the hydroxyl group at the 3-position in an oleanane-type triterpenoid is identified. Glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene having a desired activity, derived from a Fabaceae plant (soybean, Glycyrrhiza, and Lotus japonicus), and containing nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos: 2, 4, and 6, respectively, is provided.

Abstract: A method for introducing a genome editing enzyme into a plant cell includes: treating the cell with plasma; and then bringing the cell into contact with the genome editing enzyme in the presence of a di- or higher-valent metal cation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having a bagworm silk thread(s) as a reinforcing fiber and being isotropic in terms of elastic modulus and strength. A fiber-reinforced composite material having nonwoven fabric(s) including bagworm silk thread as a reinforcing fiber is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a silkworm-type biotinylated CTLD14 or sRAGE and a method for manufacturing the same. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing biotinylated proteins, wherein the method includes A) a step for inserting a nucleic acid molecule for coding biotin ligase and protein in a coexpressable manner into a silkworm or a living organism that imparts sugar chains that are the same as the sugar chains of the silkworm, B) a step for causing the biotin ligase and protein to be expressed by disposing the silkworm or the living organism that imparts sugar chains that are the same as the sugar chains of the silkworm to conditions with which the nucleic acid molecule will carry out expression, and C) a step for administering biotin to the living organism and obtaining the biotinylated protein.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop: a method of efficiently producing a long bagworm silk thread containing no contaminant while preventing a change in the spinning direction and the runaway of the bagworm from a rail, and alleviating a burden on the bagworm; and an apparatus for implementing the thread-producing method. Provided is an apparatus for producing a bagworm silk thread, having a movable rail having a width smaller than the maximum width between the right and left legs of a bagworm and configured to move in the longitudinal direction and to be able to hold with the legs of the bagworm; and a fixator configured to fix a bagworm, wherein the fixator is placed at a position such that the fixed bagworm can hold the movable rail.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic silkworm that spins bagworm silks and producing a large quantity of bagworm silks by transgenic technology is developed and provided. A gene encoding a modified bagworm Fib H and a transgenic silkworm in which the gene is introduced, wherein the gene is obtained by cloning a gene fragment encoding a bagworm Fib H-like polypeptide comprising a partial amino acid sequence of bagworm Fib H, and fusing the gene fragment to a gene fragment encoding silkworm-derived Fib H, are provided.

Abstract: A semipermeable membrane includes a holding body with a low water absorption property having a lattice structure and having a semipermeable property in a liquid phase. A cell-culturing device is provided with the semipermeable membrane at least at a portion thereof. A tissue-type chip is provided with the cell-culturing device including one type of cells. An organ-type chip is provided with the cell-culturing device including at least two types of cells. A kit for providing a multicellular structure is provided with an openable and closable sealed container including the tissue-type chip or, and a culture medium. An organ-type chip system is provided with at least two of the tissue-type chips or the organ-type chips, and the tissue-type chips or the organ-type chips are connected while maintaining a sealing property. A cell-culturing method is a method of using the cell-culturing device.

Abstract: Developed and provided is a method of collecting a large amount of high-quality bagworm silk threads having no contaminant from bagworm nests in a convenient manner and at low cost. The habit of bagworms is utilized to allow a bagworm to build a nest using solvent-soluble substances or thermally meltable substances as nest materials, followed by dissolving or melting the nest materials to separate the nest material from the bagworm silk threads, whereby only pure bagworm silk threads constituting the bagworm nest can be obtained.

Abstract: The present inventors found that the efficiency of introducing a protein into a plant dramatically increases as compared with conventional methods for cultivating a bacteria-infected plant as it is when the protein of interest is expressed with bacteria having the type III secretion system, the bacteria are brought into contact with the plant, and then the infected tissues are cultured under bacteriostatic conditions for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine composition for preventing bovine mastitis, comprising: an antigen derived from Staphylococcus aureus; and a nanogel comprising a polysaccharide having a cationic functional group and a hydrophobic functional group in side chains. By administering the composition to cattle, it is possible to enhance the titer of an antibody against Staphylococcus aureus immediately after the contact with the bacteria in the udder, and prevent the bovine mastitis.

Abstract: In order to identify a novel gene responsible for parthenocarpy and to provide use of the gene, the parthenocarpy regulatory gene of the present invention includes a polynucleotide (1) that encodes an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, (2) that encodes an amino acid sequence (i) having a sequence identity of 75% or higher relative to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, (3) that encodes an amino acid sequence in which 1 to 98 amino acids are substituted, etc. in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or (4) that is hybridized with a polynucleotide, which has a sequence complementary to the polynucleotide for encoding the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 under a stringent condition.

Abstract: A bagworm silk thread spun on a base material was conventionally difficult to be collected, and thus, cannot be utilized. An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a method in which such a bagworm silk thread is peeled off from a base material with a weak force without being damaged and is collected as a thread bundle. Provided is a method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm silk thread, including: applying, to a bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of a base material, a wetting liquid which presents a liquid form at least in the range of 20° C. or more and less than 30° C. and does not damage, denature, or dissolve the silk thread; and then separating the bagworm silk thread from the base material.

Abstract: Provided is a method developed for producing a thread bundle with high efficiency in terms of spun thread collection and without causing mechanical damage to a foothold silk thread spun by a bagworm onto a base material. After a bagworm is placed along with a solvent-soluble base material and allowed to spin the foothold silk thread onto the surface of the base material, the base material is dissolved with a solvent to separate the foothold silk thread therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a soil-borne disease control method capable of simply suppressing a soil-borne pathogen. The method for controlling a soil-borne disease includes applying at least one polyhydroxyalkanoic acid having a structure represented by the following formula (1) to soil: [—CHR—CH2—CO—O—]??(1) (wherein R is an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1 and n is an integer of 1 or more but 15 or less).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring activity of HAO which comprises bringing HAO into contact with hydroxylamine in the presence of a tetrazolium salt. Further, the present invention also provides a method for culturing microorganisms which comprises culturing microorganisms in a storage container of a sample containing microorganisms installed separately in a liquid medium storage container, wherein the storage container of a sample containing microorganisms has pores.

Abstract: An object is to produce a collagen vitrigel, which has a high film strength even without performing a crosslinking treatment, and is easily produced and processed industrially and mechanically, and is also easy to handle and is highly safe, from collagen, and a purified product thereof. In order to achieve the object, it is directed to a method for producing a collagen vitrigel characterized by gelling collagen with a gelling agent containing an inorganic carbonate and a compound selected from the group consisting of an inorganic chloride and an inorganic phosphate, subsequently vitrifying the obtained collagen gel, and further subjecting the vitrified collagen gel to a hydration treatment; a method for producing a purified collagen vitrigel characterized by desalting, equilibrating, and further drying the collagen vitrigel; and a collagen vitrigel and a purified collagen vitrigel obtained by these methods.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having an “elongation” feature in addition to a high strength and a high elastic modulus. Further, an object of the present invention is to address problems of brittleness and peeling in the conventional fiber-reinforced composite materials. A fiber-reinforced composite material containing the bagworm silk thread as reinforcing fibers is provided.

Abstract: ‘Kiyoka’ is a new variety of tea plant bred by crossbreeding FYZ-41 (‘Yabukita’ x ‘Shizuinzatsu 131’), a hybrid, as the female parent and ‘Saemidori’ as the male parent. The steamed leaves and leaf buds of ‘Kiyoka’ have a distinctive floral aroma, and excellent taste.

Abstract: ‘Fukumurasaki’ is a new variety of sweet potato plant bred by crossbreeding variety ‘Kyukei255’ and ‘Purple Sweet Lord’. The plant may be used, e.g., for cultivation of root tubers for consumption. The steamed flesh of ‘Fukumurasaki’ has a purple color, high sugar content, medium to viscous flesh quality, and excellent taste.

Abstract: ‘Churakanasa’ is a new variety of sweet potato bred by hybridizing variety ‘Purple Sweet Lord’ and ‘90IDN-47’ in 2009. The plant may be used, e.g., for cultivation of root tubers for consumption.