| 研究実績の概要 |
This year, we collected a total of 180 scallop, Mizuhopecten yessoensis, from the Akkeshi Marine Station in Hokkaido, Japan. We collected these samples in June 2022 (139) and August 2022 (41). Samples were processed for histology, genomic DNA isolation, and also prepared for laser dissection microscopy. During the time, were able to amplified 18S rDNA and also conduct phylogenetic analyses in order to assess relationships of these parasites compared to samples collected in previous studies around the world. As a results, we found two ciliates, Tichodina pectenis and Ancistrum sp. We also were able to isolate and identify an apicomplexan parasite, Merocystis kathae. This was the first report of all three of these organisms in Japan. For each of these organisms, we were able to gather histology and amplify 18S rDNA. However, we only had moderate success with the laser dissection microscopy on these samples. We were able to amplify 700 bp of the samples, but only under certain conditions using specific primers and when the PCR product was short. Moreover, we are also working to optimize our protocol to better identify these small cells using contemporary techniques for laser dissection microscopy; this was likely an issue related to fixation. We also made an interesting discovery of a ciliate, MPX, that to date, has only been reported in Europe. This results are currently being analyzed and a manuscript is being finalized for publication in an international journal.
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