• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.671-680
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• 2019

Cathepsin D (CatD, EC 3.4.23.5) is a member belonging to the subfamily of aspartic endopeptidases, which are classified into the MEROPS clan AA, family A1. Helminth parasites express a large set of different peptidases that play pivotal roles in parasite biology and pathophysiology. However, CatD is less well known than the other classes of peptidases in terms of biochemical properties and biological functions. In this study, we identified 2 novel CatDs (CsCatD1 and CsCatD2) of Clonorchis sinensis and partially characterized their properties. Both CsCatDs represent typical enzymes sharing amino acid residues and motifs that are tightly conserved in the CatD superfamily of proteins. Both CsCatDs showed similar patterns of expression in different developmental stages of C. sinensis, but CsCatD2 was also expressed in metacercariae. CsCatD2 was mainly expressed in the intestines and eggs of C. sinensis. Sera obtained from rats experimentally infected with C. sinensis reacted with recombinant CsCatD2 beginning 2 weeks after infection and the antibody titers were gradually increased by maturation of the parasite. Structural analysis of CsCatD2 revealed a bilobed enzyme structure consisting of 2 antiparallel β-sheet domains packed against each other forming a homodimeric structure. These results suggested a plausible biological role of CsCatD2 in the nutrition and reproduction of parasite and its potential utility as a serodiagnostic antigen in clonorchiasis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.282-286
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• 2002

Objectives : The level of 4-hydroxyproline (4-Hyp) in human urine was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. This method is useful for medical examinations and investigating the radicals induced by physical, chemical, mental stresses. This method is superior to many published several methods in terms of its low cost and ability to analyze many samples. Methods : The urine from workers in a tire manufacturing company (22 male pre- and post-shift workers) and 18 office-workers as controls were analyzed. Data concerning age, the cumulative drinking amount and the cumulative smoking amount was collected with a questionnaire. The optimum applied amount of dansyl-Cl, the optimum reaction temperature and time, the recoveries and the optimum pH of the eluent and buffer were determined.4-Hyp from human urine was derivatized with dansyl-Cl (dimethylamino-naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride) after removing the a-amino acid by a treatment with phthalic dicarboxaldehyde (OPA) and cleaned with Bond Elut C18 column. The 4-Hyp derivatives were separated on a reversed phase column by gradient elution with a phosphate buffer (5 mmol, pH 8.0) and acetonitrile, and detected by fluorescence measurements at 340 nm (excitation) and 538 nm (emission). Results : The detection limit for the urinary free 4-Hyp was $0.364{\mu}mol/l$. The recovery rate of 4-Hyp was 99.7%, and the effective pH of the phosphate buffer and borate buffer were 3.0 and 8.0, respectively. From statistical analysis, age, drinking and smoking did not affect the urinary free 4-Hyp in both the controls and workers. The range of urinary 4-Hyp in the controls, pre-shift, and post-shift workers were 0.33-16.44, N.D-49.06, and $0.32-56.27{\mu}mol/l$. From the pared-sample t-test, the urinary 4-Hyp levels in post-shift workers ($11.82{\pm}6.73\;nmmol/mg\;Cre$) were 2-fold higher than in pre-shift workers ($5.36{\pm}5.53\;nmol;/mg\;Cre$) and controls ($4.91{\pm}4.89\;nmol;/mg\;Cre$). Conclusions : This method was developed with high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The present method was effectively applied to analyze the urinary free 4-Hyp in both controls and workers.

• 정보처리학회논문지D
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• 제15D권2호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2008

DNA 염기 서열이나 단백질 아미노산 서열과 같은 생물학적 서열 데이터들은 일반적으로 많은 수의 항목들을 가지고 있다. 생물학적 데이터 서열들에는 보통 빈번하게 발생하는 수 백개의 항목으로 이루어진 연속된 서열들이 존재한다. 이들 서열들에서 빈번하게 발생하는 연속 서열을 검색하는 것은 생물학적 서열 분석에서 중요한 부분을 차지하고 있다. 이전에는 순차 패턴을 효과적으로 발견하고자 하는 많은 연구들이 수행되었으며 대부분의 기존 순차패턴 마이닝 기법들은 Apriori 알고리즘을 기반으로 한다. PrefixSpan 알고리즘은 Apriori 기반의 가장 효율적인 순차패턴 마이닝 기법이다. 하지만 이 알고리즘은 길이-1인 빈발 패턴들로 부터 서열 패턴을 확장해나가는 방식이다. 따라서 길이가 긴 연속 서열을 포함하는 생물학적 데이터서열들에 대한 검색방법으로는 적합하지 않다. 최근에는 기존의 PrefixSpan방식을 이용하면서도 반복적인 처리과정을 줄인 MacosVSpan이 제안되었다. 하지만 이 알고리즘 또한 길이가 긴 생물학적 데이터 서열들로부터 빈번하게 발생하는 연속 서열들을 검색하기에는 효율적이지 않다. 본 논문에서는 많은 양의 생물학적 데이터 서열들로부터 빈번한 연속서열을 고정길이 확장 트리를 이용하여 효과적으로 찾아내는 방법을 제안한다. 그리고 다양한 환경에서 실험을 통해 제안하는 방식이 MacosVSpan알고리즘에 비해 검색성능이 보다 우수함을 보인다.

• 한국잠사곤충학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.145-149
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• 2012

세크로핀(cecropin)은 곤충의 체액성 면역에 있어서 효과적인 방어인자로 작용하는 항균 펩타이드로 잘 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 면역 유도된 천잠, Antheraea yamamai 유충 혈림프로부터 세크로핀 항균 펩타이드 분리 및 정제를 실시하였다. 먼저 항균 펩타이드를 분리하기 위해서, 면역 유도된 유충 및 정상 유충으로부터 추출된 혈림프 단백질 시료에 대한 단백질 전기영동(SDS-PAGE)를 통하여 비교분석하였다. 정상누에 혈림프 시료에 비해 면역 유도된 혈림프 추출물에서만 특이적으로 발현되는 분자량 4,223.01 Da의 펩타이드 밴드를 검출하였다. 선발된 면역유도 특이적 발현 펩타이드의 특성 분석을 위해서 이온교환 크로마토그래피 및 gel permeation 크래마토그래피을 수행하여 특이적으로 발현되는 펩타이드를 성공적으로 순수 정제하였다. 정제된 펩타이드는 Edman degradation법으로 N말단 아미노산 서열을 결정하였고 다른 나비목곤충의 세크로핀과 매우 높은 상동성을 나타내어 세크로핀으로 동정하였다. 또한 정제된 천잠 세크로핀 항균 펩타이드는 그람음성세균, 그람양성세균 및 곰팡이에 대해 폭 넓은 항균 스펙트럼을 나타냈었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.631-636
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 산화질소 유도성(nitric oxide-induced, NOI) 유전자를 건조 처리된 고구마 실뿌리의 EST 라이브러리에서 분리하였다. 분리된 IbNOI 유전자의 cDNA는 712 bp의 길이이며, 77개의 아미노산으로 구성되어 있었다. Blast 데이터베이스를 분석한 결과, 식물에서 보고된 NOI 단백질에 속하는 것으로 확인되었다. RT-PCR과 realtime-PCR을 통해 IbNOI 유전자의 발현수준을 고구마 식물체의 조직별로 조사한 결과, 저장뿌리와 현탁배양세포에서 높은 발현 수준을 보였다. 잎에서 산화질소를 유도하는 SNP와 화합물 스트레스들을 처리시, IbNOI의 발현이 증가함을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 고염, 건조와 같은 비생물학적 스트레스 및 병원균 감염에 의해서도 IbNOI의 발현이 유도됨을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구의 결과들을 통해 IbNOI 유전자는 다양한 비생물학적 스트레스 및 병원균 감염 동안 산화질소와 연관된 조절기작을 통해 식물의 방어기능에 관여할 것으로 생각되는 바이다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.1104-1111
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) gene and explore association of this candidate gene with reproductive traits in Jiaxing Black sows. Methods: Six pairs of primers of the gene were designed to amplify all exons thus sequences of which were detected by means of direct sequencing and then SNP loci were scanned. The effects of SNPs on total number of piglets born (TNB), number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of still born piglets (NSB), and litter weight at birth (LWB) of Jiaxing Black sows were analyzed. Results: Three SNP loci, including T3739C, C3878T and T6789C, were identified via comparison of sequencing and two genotypes (AB, BB) at each SNP site were observed. T3739C resulted in the change of amino acid ($Leu{\rightarrow}Pro$) in corresponding protein, and C3878T resulted in synonymous mutation ($Ile{\rightarrow}Ile$). Statistical results demonstrated that allele B was the preponderant allele at the three SNP loci and Genotype BB was the preponderant genotype. Meanwhile, Chi-Square test of these three SNPs indicated that all mutation sites fitted in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). For GPR54-T3739C locus, Jiaxing Black sows with genotype BB had 1.23 TNB and 1.28 NBA (p<0.01) that were more than those with genotype AB, respectively. Jiaxing Black sows that had the first two parities with genotype BB had additional 2.23 TNB, 2.27 NBA (p<0.01), and 1.94 LWB (p<0.05) compared to those with genotype AB, respectively. However, for other two loci, no significant difference was found between TNB, NBA, NSB, and LWB, and different genotypes of Jiaxing Black sows. Conclusion: In conclusion, the polymorphisms of GPR54-T3739C locus were significantly associated to TNB, NBA, and LWB and could be used as a potential genetic marker to improve reproductive function of Jiaxing black sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.1095-1103
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• 2019

Objective: Among stress responses, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is a well-known mechanism related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is induced by a variety of external and environmental factors such as starvation, ischemia, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and heat stress. Inositol requiring enzyme $1{\alpha}$ ($IRE1{\alpha}$)-X-box protein 1 (XBP1) is the most conserved pathway involved in the UPR and is the main component that mediates $IRE1{\alpha}$ signalling to downstream ER-associated degradation (ERAD)- or UPR-related genes. XBP1 is a transcription factor synthesised via a novel mechanism called 'frame switch splicing', and this process has not yet been studied in the horse XBP1 gene. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm the frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and characterise its dynamics using Thoroughbred muscle cells exposed to heat stress. Methods: Primary horse muscle cells were used to investigate heat stress-induced frame switch splicing of horse XBP1. Frame switch splicing was confirmed by sequencing analysis. XBP1 amino acid sequences and promoter sequences of various species were aligned to confirm the sequence homology and to find conserved cis-acting elements, respectively. The expression of the potential XBP1 downstream genes were analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: We confirmed that splicing of horse XBP1 mRNA was affected by the duration of thermal stress. Twenty-six nucleotides in the mRNA of XBP1 were deleted after heat stress. The protein sequence and the cis-regulatory elements on the promoter of horse XBP1 are highly conserved among the mammals. Induction of putative downstream genes of horse XBP1 was dependent on the duration of heat stress. We confirmed that both the mechanisms of XBP1 frame switch splicing and various binding elements found in downstream gene promoters are highly evolutionarily conserved. Conclusion: The frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and its dynamics were highly conserved among species. These results facilitate studies of ER-stress in horse.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.614-628
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• 2019

Objective: The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs) play an important role in innate immunity. The present study represents the first description of the cloning and structural and functional analysis of LILRB1 and LILRB3 isolated from two genetically disparate chicken lines. Methods: Chicken LILRB1-3 genes were identified by bioinformatics approach. Expression studies were performed by transfection, quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Signal transduction was analyzed by western blots, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Amino acid homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that the homologies of LILRB1 and LILRB3 in the chicken line 6.3 to those proteins in the chicken line 7.2 ranged between 97%-99%, while homologies between chicken and mammal proteins ranged between 13%-19%, and 13%-69%, respectively. Our findings indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 subdivided into two groups based on the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) present in the transmembrane domain. Chicken line 6.3 has two ITIM motifs of the sequence LxYxxL and SxYxxV while line 7.2 has two ITIM motifs of the sequences LxYxxL and LxYxxV. These motifs bind to SHP-2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11) that plays a regulatory role in immune functions. Moreover, our data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 associated with and activated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and ${\beta}2-microglobulin$ and induced the expression of transporters associated with antigen processing, which are essential for MHC class I antigen presentation. This suggests that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are transcriptional regulators, modulating the expression of components in the MHC class I pathway and thereby regulating immune responses. Furthermore, LILRB1 and LILRB3 activated Janus kinase2/tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2/TYK2); signal transducer and activator of transcription1/3 (STAT1/3), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 genes expressed in Macrophage (HD11) cells, which induced Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. Conclusion: These data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are innate immune receptors associated with SHP-2, MHC class I, ${\beta}2-microglobulin$, and they activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of immunity and immunopathology.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.709-714
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• 2020

Knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) of mosquitoes confer resistance to insecticides. Although insecticide resistance has been suspected to be widespread in the natural population of Aedes aegypti in Myanmar, only limited information is currently available. The overall prevalence and distribution of kdr mutations was analyzed in Ae. aegypti from Mandalay areas, Myanmar. Sequence analysis of the VGSC in Ae. aegypti from Myanmar revealed amino acid mutations at 13 and 11 positions in domains II and III of VGSC, respectively. High frequencies of S989P (68.6%), V1016G (73.5%), and F1534C (40.1%) were found in domains II and III. T1520I was also found, but the frequency was low (8.1%). The frequency of S989P/V1016G was high (55.0%), and the frequencies of V1016G/F1534C and S989P/V1016G/F1534C were also high at 30.1% and 23.5%, respectively. Novel mutations in domain II (L963Q, M976I, V977A, M994T, L995F, V996M/A, D998N, V999A, N1013D, and F1020S) and domain III (K1514R, Y1523H, V1529A, F1534L, F1537S, V1546A, F1551S, G1581D, and K1584R) were also identified. These results collectively suggest that high frequencies of kdr mutations were identified in Myanmar Ae. aegypti, indicating a high level of insecticide resistance.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.135-151
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The β-agonists known as phenyl ethanolamine derivatives have a conjugated aromatic ring with amino group. They are used as tocolytic agents and bronchodilator to human and animal generally, and some of them are used as growth promoters to livestock. METHODS AND RESULTS: β-agonists in samples were extracted by 0.4 N perchloric acid and ethyl acetate. The target compounds were analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Validation of method was performed according to CODEX guidelines (CAC/GL-71). The matrix matched calibration gave correlation coefficients>0.98, and the obtained recoveries were in the range of 62.0-109.8%, with relative standard deviation ≤ 20.1%. In addition, a survey was performed to inspect any residual β-agonist from 100 samples of livestock and fishery products and ractopamine was detected in one of the 100 samples. CONCLUSION(S): In this study, we established the analytical method for β-agonists through using the expanded target compounds and samples. And we anticipate that the established method would be used for analysis to determine veterinary drug residues in livestock and fishery products.