• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

CpBV (Cotesia plutellae bracovirus) is a polydnavirus and encodes a cystatin (CpBV-CST1) gene. Its overexpression suppresses insect immunity and alters insect developmental processes. This study aimed to construct a genetically modified (GM) tobacco to further explore the physiological function of the viral cystatin and to apply to control insect pests. To this end, the transgenic tobacco lines were screened in expression of the target gene and assessed in insecticidal activity. A recombinant vector (pBI121-CST) was prepared and used to transform a bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefasciens. The transformed bacteria were used to generate transgenic tobacco lines, which were induced to grow callus and resulted in about 92% of shoot regeneration. The regenerated plants were screened by PCR analysis to confirm the insertion of the target gene in the plant genome. In addition, the expression of the target gene was assessed in the regenerated plants by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the transgenic line plant expressed the target gene about 17 times more than the control tobacco, indicating a stable insertion and expression of the target gene in the transgenic tobacco line. The insecticidal activity was then analyzed using the screened transgenic tobacco lines against the teneral 1st instar larvae of the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta. Though there was a variation in the insecticidal efficacy among transgenic lines, T9 and T12 lines exhibited more than 95% mortality at 7 days after feeding treatment. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 is a useful genetic resource to be used to generate GM crop against insect pests.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Cystatins (CSTs) are reversible and competitive inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, corresponding to papain-like cathepsins in plants and animals. A viral CST (CpBV-CST1) was identified from a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). Our previous study indicated that a transient expression of CpBV-CST1 interfered with immune response and development of Plutella xylostella larvae. To directly demonstrate the protein function, this study produced a recombinant CpBV-CST1 protein (rCpBV-CST1) using bacterial expression system to determine its inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and to assess its physiological alteration in insect immune and development. The open reading frame of CpBV-CST1 encodes a polypeptide of 138 amino acids (${\approx}15kDa$). rCpBV-cystatin protein in BL21 STAR (DE3) competent cells containing a recombinant pGEX4T-3:CpBV-CST1 was over-expressed by 0.5 mM IPTG for 4 h. In biological activity assay, the purified rCpBV-CST1 showed a significant inhibition against papain activity. It inhibited a cellular immune response of hemocyte nodule formation in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. Moreover, its oral administration retarded larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 may be applied to control insect pest populations.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease is much more important in children and adolescents with a relatively longer remaining life span. A practical way to assess the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease is to measure the change of GFR estimated by formulae. To slow the progression, hypertension and proteinuria have to be controlled strictly, and hypoplastic anemia must be treated with erythropoietin. If not contraindicated, ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker is recommended with monitoring of the side effects. Trials to slow the progression should be commenced as soon as the chronic kidney disease is confirmed and needs to be continued until renal transplantation as long as residual renal function remains. An online system, the Korean Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Registry (http://pedcrf.or.kr/), provides tools that are useful in evaluation and management of the children and adolescents with chronic kidney diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.203-213
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• 2017

Serum creatinine-based eGFR and serum cystatin C-based eGFR are the most popular methods for measuring renal function. Thyroid hormone is known to affect serum creatinine-based eGFR and serum cystatin C-based eGFR; however, the clinical significance of thyroid dysfunctional patients of renal function evaluation has not been fully elucidated to date. This study examined the effect of thyroid hormone on serum creatinine-based eGFR and serum cystatin C-based eGFR. Moreover, we also evaluated the correlation analysis between serum creatinine-based eGFR and serum cystatin C-based eGFR in patients with thyroid dysfunction. A total of 442 patients with hypothyroidism and 284 patients with hyperthyroidism were investigated. A correlation analysis between thyroid hormone and serum creatinine- (and cystatin C-) based eGFR was performed. A correlation analysis between thyroid hormone and serum cystatin-C based eGFR indicated that serum cystatin-C based eGFR is more of an independent biomarker than serum creatinine-based eGFR in thyroid dysfunction patients. Therefore, serum cystatin C-based eGFR more accurately reflects renal function than serum creatinine-based eGFR in thyroid dysfunction patients.