• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2009

The effect of earthworm and dung beetle on cattle dung pat decomposition was assessed by combining quantification of earthworm density and with or without dung beetle in pats and measurements of the decomposition rate of these pats. Cattle dung decomposition rate was higher in the pots treated with both earthworm and dung beetle than in the pots with either earthworm or beetle alone. After dung beetle and earthworm activity, the growth of oat in earthworm with dung beetle treatment was similar effect with fertilizer treatment. Dung beetle was responsible for dung decomposition until 78% moisture content in the dung, earthworm was responsible for up to 30% moisture of dung, and two group were not shown any activity for decomposition less 30% moisture content of dung. Therefore dung in the different periods could be broken down by each group. The disappearance and conveyance of dung by earthworm and dung beetle was 72% of the initial dung amount. 10.2% of 72% dung was used making brood balls by dung beetle. Earthworm activity was not an impediment on making brood balls by dung beetles. The interaction of earthworm and dung beetle may have a complementary cooperation rather than competition in the same dung pat. Indeed, development of earthworm accelerate to coexist with dung beetles instead without dung beetles. From this result, maximum benefits of the effective earthworm and dung beetle can be achieved, it is needed to preserve population of earthworm and dung beetles in pasture to sustainable agricultural environment.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.357-362
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• 2007

Copris tripartitus Waterhouse is a coprophagus insect which enhances the soil fertility as conveying dung into the soil. We compared preimaginal development, mortality, and size of C. tripartitus at various temperature condition (15, 17.5, 20, 25, 27.5, 30). Total preimaginal periods ranged from 118.0d at $17.5^{\circ}C$ to 49.3d at $27.5^{\circ}C$. Development threshold temperature (DT) and total effective temperature for the development of egg, larva, pupa and for complete development (egg to emergence) were 12.1, 11.2, 12.1 and $9.2^{\circ}C$ and 82.7, 462.0, 225.7 and 947.2 degree days, respectively. The mortality of egg and larva was the lowest at $25^{\circ}C$. The optimum temperature for hatchability and on the development of C. tripartitus was estimated to the $25^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the synthetic CopA3 peptide of Copris tripartitus on skin inflammation. Regulatory mechanisms of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in the immunological activity of RAW 264.7 cells. Tested cells were treated with different concentrations of CopA3 and further cultured for an appropriate time after lipopolyssacharide (LPS) addition. During the entire experimental period, 5, 25, 50, and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ of CopA3 had no cytotoxicity. At these concentrations, CopA3 inhibited tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). CopA3 also inhibited the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). CopA3 inhibited the activity of iNOS and COX-2 by 41% and 59%, respectively, at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. In addition, CopA3 reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6. These results suggest that CopA3 may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and that it may be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2015

Insects represent the largest class within the animal kingdom in terms of species number. Humans had been utilized insect in the broad area, including food, agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and so on. At present, insects are emerging as a leading group for identifying and extracting novel bioactive substances due to enormous number and a high nutritional value. Insects rely on a suite of systemic response to resist infection such as immune cells, hemocytes, activation of enzymes cascades, and antimicrobial peptide/protein. Among the substances, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are main components of potent antimircrobial innate defense system into the insect hemolymph. AMPs raise influential candidate as avenue to resolve the development of antibiotic-resistant microbial organism. Insect AMPs are classified into four main classes: cecropins, insect defensins, glycine/proline-rich peptides. Insect AMPs have been purified, over 150. In this review, AMPs derived from several insects were summarized including honey bee, dung beetle, butterfly and longicorn beetle. These peptides almost exhibited potent antimicrobial activities against human microbial pathogens without causing remarkable hemolysis to erythrocytes excluding melittin, and their mode of action(s) are based on disruption of the plasma membrane or fungal apoptosis. Therefore, study of insect AMPs is expected to be useful for designing novel therapeutic antimicrobial applications.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.664-696
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the insect diversity in the islands of Daecheong-do and Socheong-do, Incheon, Korea. The survey was conducted six times throughout the day and night from June to October 2011. As a result, a total of 336 species, belonging to 78 families of 9 orders of insects were collected: 286 species, of 75 families in 9 orders from Daecheong-do and 106 species, 42 families and 8 orders from Socheong-do. 744 species, belonging to 103 families of 10 orders were identified in total including previous reference. Lepidoptera was the most commonly identified order with 439 species of 29 families (59%), and the next most commonly identified order was Coleoptera with 124 species of 27 families (16%). Among them, Copris tripartitus and Fabriciana nerippe, endangered species of wildlife fauna in Korea, were found in this study. Also, 2 species (Coenonympha oedippus, Lycaena dispar) belonging to IUCN Red List, 25 species belonging to Management of Exportable species, 5 species belonging to Endemic species, 6 species belonging to Korean Red List, 77 species belonging to Designated species and 2 species belonging to Climate-sensitive Indicator species were recorded. In this study, 147 species of 58 families and 43 species of 24 families were newly added in Daecheong-do and Socheong-do, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.526-539
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to identify insects inhabiting Mulyeongari-Oreum wetland and to provide basic information for conservation of wetlands. As a result, a total 229 species, 73 families, 9 orders of insects were collected: 136 species, 39 families, 6 orders from Mulyeongari-Oreum Wetland and 121 species, 52 families, 9 orders from Mt. Sooryeong. Of the 229 species of insects investigated, Copris tripartitus Waterhouse, an endangered species of wildlife fauna in Korea, was found with many individuals. Also, Lychnuris rufa(Olivier), having a narrow habitat near unpolluted water and mountains, was also recorded with 3 individuals and then should be considered as a protected species in Wetlands. To identify the community structure of moth on Mulyeongari-Oreum wetland, a light trap was examined and a total 76 species of moths were collected. Total dominant species was Hydrillodes morosa(Butler) with index of 0.12 and the species diversity on the moth community from survey area was the highest in July with index of 3.42.