• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 1995

Epitope tagging is the process of fusing a set of amino acid residues that are recognized as an antigenic determinant to a protein of interest. Tagging a protein with an epitope facilitates various immunochemical analyses of the tagged protein with a specific monoclonal antibody. The monoclonal antibody H8 has subtype specificity for an epitope derived from the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus surface antigen. Previous studies on serial deletions of the preS2 region indicated that the preS2 epitope was located in amino acid residues 130~142. To test whether the amino acid sequence in this interval is sufficient to confer on proteins the antigenicity recognizable by the antibody H8, the set of amino acid residues in the interval was tagged to the amino terminal of ${\beta}$-galactosidase and to the carboxyl terminal of the truncated $p56^{lck}$ fragment. The tagged ${\beta}$-galactosidase, expressed in Escherichia coli, maintained the enzymatic activity and was immunoprecipitated efficiently with H8. The tagged $p56^{lck}$ fragment, synthesized in an in vitro translation system, was also immunoprecipitated specifically with H8. These results demonstrate that the amino acid sequence of the preS2 region can be used efficiently for the epitope tagging approach.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2018

Purpose: Glucose has been recommended as an analgesic for mild to moderately painful procedures in neonates. The goal of this study was to assess the optimal dextrose concentration for pain control in newborns. Methods: This prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial included 116 healthy full-term newborns. The neonates were randomly assigned to the following four groups by drawing straws: groups receiving sterile water or a 10%, 20%, or 40% dextrose solution orally. Each group was treated with the assigned solution prior to hepatitis B vaccination. The Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) and the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) scores were evaluated before, immediately after, and 2 minutes after the injection in all neonates. Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores were evaluated during the injection. All procedures were video-recorded, and pain scores were assessed by two independent observers who were not involved in the care of the newborns studied. The pain scores were compared among the four groups. Results: The 40% dextrose solution significantly reduced the NFCS (P=0.002) and the PIPP scores (P=0.001) compared with sterile water. No hyperglycemic events were noted in the study subjects 2 hours after the injection. Conclusion: The 40% dextrose solution effectively relieved pain due to intramuscular injection in full-term newborns without causing hyperglycemic events. However, the 10% and 20% dextrose solutions did not affect neonatal pain scores.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.823-828
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• 2000

The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus DNA isolated from Korean patient serum was determined and characterized, and its phylogenetic relation was then investigated. The viral genome was 3,215 base pairs long and included four well known open reading frames (i.e. surface antigens, core antigens, X protein and DNA polymerase). The sequence of the surface antigen showed that the HBV genome under investigation, designated HBV 315, was characteristic of subtype adr. A phylogenetic analysis using the total genome sequence revealed that HBV315 was grouped into genomic group C together with isolates from Japan, China, Thailand, Polynesia, and New Caledonia. The mean percent similarity between HBV315 and other HBV isolates in genomic group C was 97.25%, and that with other genomic groups ranged from 86.16% to 91.25%. The predicted amino acid sequences of HBV315 were compared with two closely related subtype adr isolates, M38636 and D12980. The results showed that the X gene product was identical in the three strains, while there were significant amino acid sequence differences between HBV315 and M38636 in the Pre-S1 and Pre-S2 regions.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.598-601
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• 2009

Perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt] seedlings are easy to grow and eaten as the health vegetable sprout. Two day old perilla seedlings since germination were given a mild wounding using cell wall lytic NaOH/SDS solution for infiltration with recombinant Agrobacterium cells treated with phenolic compounds. In the analysis of fluorometric GUS gene expression for the transformed perilla seedlings, GUS enzyme activity was the highest by the combined treatments of 50 mM acetosyringone and 0.5% NaOH solution containing 0.01% SDS implying a synergic effect. This result could be successfully applied for demonstrating hepatitis B virus antigen (HBsAg) protein expression.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1982

To investigate the annual distribution of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) in healthy adults, this study was performed by means of counter-immunoelectrophoresis with sera obtained from 4,856 healthy adults who reside in Seoul and Gyunggi-Do area from January to December, 1981. The experimental procedures were same with the previous reports. The subjectives were consisted of two groups: one is mass life group(3.853 adults) and the other, home life group(1.003 adults). The results were as follows: 1. Among the 4.856 cases tested, 326 cases(6.71%) showed HBs Ag positive. HBs Ag positive rates in the group of mass life and home life were 6.51% and 7.48%, respectively. 2. It showed slightly high positive rates in the home life and long term duration group, and upper class group showed slightly high positive rate. 3. In seasonal variation, it showed relatively high positive rate(7.38%) in winter, and A blood group showed higher rate(7.60%) than the other blood groups. And then, boundary area of Seoul city showed slightly high positive rate(7.36%) in areal distribution.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2014

Purpose: Needlestick injuries (NSI) is the most frequent occupational hazard for healthcare personnel (HCP), and immediate report and adequate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is essential in preventing occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Methods: From June 2010 to October 2010, 544 NSI were reported through websites from 21 general hospitals in Korea. Among those, 499 cases of NSI were analyzed to identify the rate of follow-up treatment completion and for seroconversion. Results: 88.2% of the cases were completed with follow-up treatment, 8.8% of the NSI were not completed with follow-up treatment, and 5 cases were unavailable to trace. 4.2% cases of NSI required a hepatitis B vaccination concurrent with hepatitis B immunoglobulin. 41.1% of the cases and 31.1% of the cases needed to be tested for anti HCV and anti HIV, respectively. Prophylaxis medication for HIV was prescribed in 3 cases, and all cases completed required 1 month of medication. There was 1 case (0.2%) of seroconversion to HCV. Conclusion: The PEP completion rate was not satisfactory, and the importance of completion of PEP treatment should be emphasized through education and counseling. Also, a careful risk assessment is needed for HCP who are exposed to HCV or HIV.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.126-134
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• 2010

Background: $CD8^+$ T cells contribute to the clearance of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and an insufficient $CD8^+$ T cell response may be one of the major factors leading to chronic HBV infection. Since the HBx antigen of HBV can up-regulate cellular expression of several immunomodulatory molecules, we hypothesized that HBx expression in hepatocytes might affect $CD8^+$ T cell activity. Methods: We analyzed the activation and apoptosis of $CD8^+$ T cells co-cultured with primary hepatocytes rendered capable of expressing HBx by recombinant baculovirus infection. Results: Expression of HBx in hepatocytes induced low production of $interferon-{\gamma}$ and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells, with no effect on CD8 T cell proliferation. However, transcriptional levels of H-2K, ICAM-1 and PD-1 ligand did not correlate with HBx expression in hepatocytes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that HBx may inhibit $CD8^+$ T cell response by regulation of $interferon-{\gamma}$ production and apoptosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-105
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• 1998

In the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in the battle against hepatitis B virus. In addition to the immunomodulating agents such as interferon-.alpha., and thymosin, many novel antiviral agents have been discovered, among which nucleoside analogues are the mainstay. New-generation compounds such as 3TC and famciclovir have shown promise in the treatment of patients chronically infected by this virus, and are on the line for approval. However, viral rebound after cessation of therapy still remains a major problem. Additionally, the reports on the drug resistance to these antiviral agents suggest that combination therapy will be the eventual strategy (Bartholomew et al., 1997; Tipples et al., 1996). Therefore, developments of safe and effective antiviral agents which do not cross-resist with currently available antiviral drugs are still much needed.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1998

Recombinant polioviruses have been developed by many research groups for use as vaccine vector because poliovirus induces mucosal immunity as well as humoral immunity through oral uptake. We assessed the potential use of poliovirus as a T-cell epitope carrier. Recombinant poliovirus V129 5L was constructed to have a substituted T-helper epitope from the core protein of Hepatitis B virus at neutralization antigenic site 1 on its VP1 capsid protein. The recombinant virus replicated less efficiently than type 1 poliovirus Mahoney strain. The V129 5L formed a little smaller plaques than the Mahoney strain and showed some 1.25 log unit lower titer at the peak in the one-step growth kinetics though it had similar growth profile to that of the Mahoney strain. Since V129 5L recombinant virus was genetically stable even after 24 successive passages in HeLa cells, the antigenic site 1 on VP1 capsid protein was confirmed for its ability of carrying T cell epitope. The genetic stability of V129 5L also indicated that recombinant poliovirus can be successfully utilized for the development of the multivalent vaccines.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1997

We evaluated Immunochromatographic assay kit to screen HBsAg in human serum. When the reference HBsAg was applyed to ICA, HA and EIA kits, the limit of detection for HBsAg were found out to be 4, 2 and 0.25 ng/ml respectively. But ICA kit required 5 minutes to read the result whereas HA and EIA kit more than one hour. The sensitivity was 97% (29 of 30 samples) and the specificity 100% (45 samples) compared with conventional EIA. The ICA kit needs no instrument or machine to perform the test contrary to the conventional methods. Therefore, this rapid and sensitive ICA kit can be used for HBsAg-screening, especially in the emergency room and in the scene of the accident.