• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2006

In this study, a novel strategy was developed for the highly selective immobilization of proteins, using the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerase substrate binding domain (SBD) as an active binding domain. In order to determine the appropriacy of this method for immunodiagnostic assays, the single-chain antibody (ScFv) against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS2 surface protein and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope protein (SCVe) were fused to the SBD, then directly immobilized on PH A-coated slides via microspotting. The fluorescence-labeled HBV antigen and the antibody against SCVe were then utilized to examine specific interactions on the PHA-coated surfaces. Fluorescence signals were detected only at the spotted positions, thereby indicating a high degree of affinity and selectivity for their corresponding antigens/antibodies. Furthermore, we detected small amounts of ScFv-SBD (2.7 ng/mL) and SCVe-SBD fusion proteins (0.6ng/mL). Therefore, this microarray platform technology, using PHA and SBD, appears generally appropriate for immunodiagnosis, with no special requirements with regard to synthetic or chemical modification of the biomolecules or the solid surface.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.307-342
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• 2018

This article is to discuss about a debate on controlling and handling rights of diagnostic instruments for the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease(FMD) in South Korea between 2010 and 2011. The epidemic of FMD caused catastrophic shockwave to the whole Korean society and there was fierce debate what was the best diagnostic tool for the disease and who owned the controlling power. The central government insisted to have the power of controlling the diagnostic tool to maintain the nation-centered disease control while local governments and civil organisations attempted to take over the controlling power of the diagnostic tools. In this article the concept of boundary objects which was suggested by an American STS academic, Susan Leigh Star and her colleagues. The boundary object could be the useful concept for capturing the whole process of constructing and imposing meanings and social orders in the diagnostic tool, called the portable antibody/antigen diagnostic kit. The constructing process of this boundary object must be understood with relation to boundary making activities between different social groups.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2016

Enzyme immunoassay to analyze specific binding activity of antibody to antigen uses horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP). Chemical methods are usually used for coupling of these enzymes to antibody, which is complicated and random cross-linking process. As results, it causes decreases or loss of functional activity of either antibody or enzyme. In addition, most enzyme assays use secondary antibody to detect antigen binding activity of primary antibody. Enzymes coupled to secondary antibody provide a binding signal by substrate-based color development, suggesting secondary antibody is required in enzyme immunoassay. Additional incubation time for binding of secondary antibody should also be necessary. More importantly, non-specific binding activity caused by secondary antibody should also be eliminated. In this study, we cloned AP isolated from Escherichia coli (E. coli) chromosome by PCR and fused to) hAY4 single-chain variable domain fragment (ScFv) specific to death receptor (DR4) which is a receptor for tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ related apoptosis induced ligand (TRAIL). hAY4 ScFv-AP expressed in E. coli showed 73.8 kDa as a monomer in SDS-PAGE. However, this fusion protein shown in size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) exhibited 147.6 kDa as a dimer confirming that natural dimerization of AP by non-covalent association induced ScFv-AP dimerization. In several immunoassay such as ELISA, Western blot and immunocytochemistry, it showed antigen binding activity by color development of substrates catalyzed by AP directly fused to primary hAY4 ScFv without secondary antibody. In summary, hAY4 ScFv-AP fusion protein was successfully purified as a soluble dimeric form in E. coli and showed antigen binding activity in several immunoassays without addition of secondary antibody which sometimes causes time-consuming, expensive and non-specific false binding.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

Type II collagen (CII), major component of hyaline cartilage, has been considered as an auto-antigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the clinical and biological significances with regard to the CII autoimmunity need to be clarified in human RA. The presence of antibodies to CII has been identified in sera, synovial fluid, and cartilage of patients with RA. In our study, the increased titer of IgG anti-CII in sera was well correlated with C-reactive protein, suggesting that this antibody may reflect the inflammatory status of RA. The titer of anti-CII antibodies (anti-CII Abs) tended to be higher in early stages of diseases. In our extending study, among 997 patients with RA, 269 (27.0%) were positive for circulatory IgG antibody to CII, those levels were fluctuated over time. It is hard to assess the significant amount of T cell responses to CII and CII (255~274) in RA. By using a sensitive method of antigen specific mixed lymphocyte culture, we can detect the presence of CII-reactive T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients. Sixty seven (46.9%) of 143 patients showed positive CII reactive T cell responses to CII or CII (255~274). The frequencies of CII reactive T cells were more prominent in inflamed synovial fluid (SF) than in peripheral blood. These T cells could be clonally expanded after consecutive stimulation of CII with feeding of autologous irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC). Moreover, the production of Th1-related cytokine, such as IFN-${\gamma}$, was strongly up-regulated by CII reactive T cells. These data suggest that T cells responding to CII, which are probably presenting the IFN-${\gamma}$ producing cells, may play an important role in the perpetuation of inflammatory process in RA. To evaluate the effector function of CII reactive T cells, we investigated the effect of CII reactive T cells and fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (FLS) interaction on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When the CII reactive T cells were co-cultured with FLS, the production of IL-15 and TNF-${\alpha}$ from FLS were significantly increased (2 to 3 fold increase) and this increase was clearly presented in accord to the expansion of CII reactive T cells. In addition, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-17, T cell derived cytokines, were also increased by the co-incubation of CII reactive T cells with FLS. We also examined the impact of CII reactive T cells on chemokines production. When FLS were co-cultured with CII stimulated T cells, the production of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1${\alpha}$ were significantly enhanced. The increased production of these chemokines was strongly correlated with increase the frequency of CII reactive T cells. Conclusively, immune response to CII was frequently found in RA. Activated T cells in response to CII contributed to increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which were critical for inflammatory responses in RA. The interaction of CII-reactive T cells with FLS further augmented this phenomenon. Taken together, our recent studies have suggested that autoimmunity to CII could play a crucial role not only in the initiation but amplification/perpetuation of inflammatory process in human RA.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2003

An immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) onto a protein G layer by Self-assembly technique was developed for detection of Legionella pneumophila. The protein G layer by self-assembly technique was fabricated on a gold (Au) surface by adsorbing the 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and an activation process for the chemical binding of the free amino (-NH$_2$) of protein G and 11-(MUA) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) in series. The formation of the protein G layer by self-assembly technique on the Au Substrate and the binding of the antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR spectroscopy. The Surface topographies of the fabricated thin films on an Au substrate were also analyzed by using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Consequently, an immunosensor for the detection of L. pneumophila using SPR was developed with a detection limit of up to 10$^2$CFU per mL.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.919-923
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• 2004

Spirodela polyrhiza(L.) Schleid (Lemnaceae) have been used as a traditional drug in treating urticaria and itching. However, the exact role of Spirodela polyrhiza in allergic reaction has not been clarified yet. Type 1 hypersensitivity (immediate hypersensitivity), popularly known as allergy, is a major clinical problem in humans. It has been found that the histamine release from mast cells is an essential step in the pathological process of immediate hypersensitivity. In the present study, the effect of aqueous extract of Spirodela polyrhiza (AESP) on immediate hypersensitivity was investigated. AESP inhibited the antigen-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). AESP in vitro exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of degranulation in RPMC stimulated by compound 48/80. AESP also suppressed the morphological changes and the increase of intracellular free calcium level induced by compound 48/80. These results suggest that inhibitory effect of AESP on immediate hypersensitivity may be mediated through the decrease of intracellular free calcium levels, and AESP importantly contributes to the treatment of anaphylaxis and may be useful for other allergic disease.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2001

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by a chronic inflammatory process, primarily involving the synovial membrane of peripheral j oints, where T cell activation is found. To address the superantigen stimulation in rheumatoid arthritis, T cell clonality and the expression of activation markers were analyzed. Methods: To detect TCRB V usage, inverse PCR and sequencing were done. Monoclonal antibodies were used for flow cytometric analysis of TCRBV8 or TCRBV5. As results, a restricted usage of TCRBV3 gene was detected in synovial lymphocytes from one rheumatoid arthritis patient. However, preferential usage for TCRB V8, which may be one indicator for stimulation by staphylococcal superantigen, was not obvious although general activation of T cells was found as high DR+ percentage in synovial T cells. These data show specific antigen rather than superantigen might involve the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1792-1796
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• 2007

Insulating effects on Au electrode according to the thickness and density of coated materials are well-known. To do electrochemical immunoassay reproducibly the glod electrode would be coated with self-assembled monolayers and antobodies. To get reproducibility, the antobody monolayer should be packed at highest density so that the amount of immobilized antibody at defined area should be the same. The calix[4]crown-5 SAMs could provide the basis for the antibodies to be immobilized reproducibly and at highest density. But the insulating effect would be highest too. We proved that the compactly packed protein monolayers on SAMs inhibited the electron transfer by block the free shuttling of redox molecules. The inhibition was minimized by inserting redox molecules in between the proteins during immobilization process. In this paper, we demonstrated that the calix[4]crown-5 SAMs would provide the protein monolayers with highest density and new method to minimize the insulating effect by inserted redox molecules in between the compactly packed protein monolayers.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1429-1434
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• 2004

Immunoassay is one of the important analytical methods for clinical diagnoses and biochemical studies, but needs a long time, troublesome procedures and expensive reagents. In this study, therefore, we propose the micro filter chip with microbeads for immunoassay, which has pillar structures. The advantage of the proposed micro filter chip is to use simple fabrication process and cheap materials. The mold was made by the photolithography technique with Si wafer and negative photoresist SU-8. The replica was made of PDMS, bonded on the pyrex glass. The micro filter chip consists of inlet channel, filter chamber and outlet channel. HBV (Hepatitius B virus) monoclonal antibody (Ag1) labeled with biotin were immobilized onto streptavidin coated beads of 30∼50 $\mu$m size. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled HBV monoclonal antibody (Ag8) was used to detect HBsAg (Hebatitis B virus surface Antigen), and fluorescence intensity was monitored by epi-fluorescence microscope. In this study, the immune response of less than 30 min was obtained with with the use of 100 $m\ell$ of sample.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2004

Beevenom immunotherapy(BVIT) in allergic patients is a well-established treatment modality for the prevention of systemic anaphylactic reactions caused by insect stings. BVIT is accompanied by increases in allergen-specific IgG, particularly the IgG4 isotype, which blocks not only IgE-dependent histamine release from basophils but also IgE-mediated antigen presentation to T cells. Inhibition of T cells after BVIT also involves decreased induction of the costimulatory molecule ICOS, which, in turn, seems to be dependent on the presence of IL-10, also associated with the inhibited status of T cells after BVIT. Suppression of T cells by IL-10 is an active process, which depends on the expression and participation of CD28. Immune tolerance in specific allergen immunotherapy might be a consequence of decreased Th2 or increased Th1 response of allergen specific T lymphocytes. BVIT shifted cytokine responses to allergen from a TH-2 to a TH-1 dominant pattern, suggesting direct effects on T cells. Many studies showed that severe side effects due to venom immunotherapy are rare. These results suggest that immunological changes after BVIT may be applied to be therapeutic alternative of general allergic diseases including beevenom allergy.