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Abstract: C-type lectins (CTLs) acting as pattern recognition receptors play essential roles in shrimp innate immune responses. Using WSSV envelope proteins (VP26, VP28, and VP281) to screen a phage display library of Marsupenaeus japonicus, three lectins (termed as MjLecA, MjLecB, and MjLecC) were found to interact with WSSV. Sequence analysis revealed that these MjLecs shared low similarities with each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicated MjLecA and MjLecB are likely to belong to the same lectin sub-family, while MjLecC belongs to another sub-family. These MjLecs showed broad, unique carbohydrate binding spectra. Also, the three MjLecs could interact with several envelope proteins of WSSV and could recognize a wide range of microorganisms. Moreover, binding of MjLecA or MjLecB to WSSV reduced the viral infection rate in vitro. These results suggest that various kinds of CTLs with structural and functional diversities may constitute a recognizing network against invading pathogens such as bacteria and virus, and play essential roles in the defence system of shrimp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is a virulent and widespread dsDNA virus with a wide range of hosts. Although remarkable progress has been made on virus characterization, however, its mechanism of infection is poorly understood. In this study, by analyzing the phage display library of the WSSV genome, a WSSV envelope protein VP187 (wsv209) was found to interact with shrimp integrin. VP187 possesses the RGD motif. The interaction between integrin and VP187 was confirmed with coimmunoprecipitation. These results demonstrate for the first time an interaction between the WSSV envelope protein and a cell surface molecule. Soluble integrin, integrin-specific antibody and an RGD-containing peptide were found to block the WSSV infection in vivo and in vitro. Gene silencing using a sequence-specific dsRNA targeting β-integrin effectively inhibited the virus infection. These findings suggest that β-integrin may function as a cellular receptor for WSSV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Linear Programming Technique for Multidimensional Analysis of Preference (LINMAP) developed by Srinivasan and Shocker [V. Srinivasan, A.D. Shocker, Linear programming techniques for multidimensional analysis of preference, Psychometrika 38 (1973) 337–342] is one of the existing well-known methods for multiattribute decision making (MADM) problems. However, the LINMAP only can deal with MADM problems in crisp environments. Fuzziness is inherent in decision data and decision making processes, and linguistic variables are well suited to assessing an alternative on qualitative attributes using fuzzy ratings. The aim of this paper is further extending the LINMAP method to develop a new methodology for solving MADM problems under fuzzy environments. In this methodology, linguistic variables are used to capture fuzziness in decision information and decision making processes by means of a fuzzy decision matrix. A new vertex method is proposed to calculate the distance between trapezium fuzzy number scores. Consistency and inconsistency indices are defined on the basis of preferences between alternatives given by the decision maker. Each alternative is assessed on the basis of its distance to a fuzzy positive ideal solution (FPIS) which is unknown. The FPIS and the weights of attributes are then estimated using a new linear programming model based upon the consistency and inconsistency indices defined. Finally, the distance of each alternative to the FPIS can be calculated to determine the ranking order of all alternatives. A numerical example is examined to demonstrate the implementation process of this methodology. Also it has been proved that the methodology proposed in this paper can deal with MADM problems under not only fuzzy environments but also crisp environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The concept of intuitionistic fuzzy sets is the generalization of the concept of fuzzy sets. The theory of intuitionistic fuzzy sets is well suited to dealing with vagueness. Recently, intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been used to build soft decision making models that can accommodate imprecise information, and two solution concepts about the intuitionistic fuzzy core and the consensus winner for group decision-making have also been developed by other researchers using intuitionistic fuzzy sets. However, it seems that there is little investigation on multicriteria and/or group decision making using intuitionistic fuzzy sets with multiple criteria being explicitly taken into account. In this paper, multiattribute decision making using intuitionistic fuzzy sets is investigated, in which multiple criteria are explicitly considered, several linear programming models are constructed to generate optimal weights for attributes, and the corresponding decision-making methods have also been proposed. Feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are illustrated using a numerical example. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The concept of an intuitionistic fuzzy set introduced by K. Atanassov is a generalization of that of a fuzzy set. Many similarity/dissimilarity measures have been proposed for measuring the degree of similarity/dissimilarity between fuzzy sets. However, it seems that there is little investigation on dissimilarity measures for measuring the degree of dissimilarity between intuitionistic fuzzy sets. In this paper, two dissimilarity measures between intuitionistic fuzzy sets of a finite set are defined, and it is proved that both of the measures are metrical. The measures can also be generalized to intuitionistic fuzzy structures, such as intuitionistic fuzzy subgraphs, defined on a finite set. The generalization of intuitionistic fuzzy subgraph is of important to investigation on graph dissimilarity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oral administration of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) has attracted much attention as a means for controlling infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. This study evaluated the protective effect of IgY against Vibrio anguillarum infection in ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis. IgY was isolated from egg yolks laid by hens initially immunized with formalin-inactivated V. anguillarum. Lower mortality of ayu was observed in groups treated with anti-V. anguillarum IgY (aVIgY), compared with those treated with saline or with nonspecific IgY (nspIgY). All fish in saline-treated groups died within seven days after bacterial inoculation. The bacterial load in blood, liver, and spleen was significantly lower in fish treated with aVIgY than in fish treated with nspIgY. aVIgY treatment significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (PaTNF-α), interleukin-1β (PaIL-1β), transforming growth factor-β (PaTGF-β), and leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (PaLECT2) transcript levels in the head kidney, spleen, and liver of ayu challenged by V. anguillarum, compared with nspIgY treatment. The phagocytic activity of macrophages for V. anguillarum in the presence of specific IgY was significantly higher than that seen for nonspecific IgY. These results suggest that passive immunization by oral intubation with pathogen-specific IgY may provide a valuable treatment for V. anguillarum infection in ayu. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]