• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.526-536
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• 2015

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, a genus of which more than 250 serovars have been identified. Commercial bacterin vaccines are limited in that they lack both cross-protection against heterologous serovars and long-term protection. This study investigated in mice the immunogenicity of an anti-leptospirosis vaccine, using the outer membrane proteins LipL32 and Loa22 as antigens. The immunogenicity of this vaccine formulation was compared with those induced by vaccines based on LipL32 or Loa22 alone. A DNA-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticle was used for in vivo DNA delivery. Using a unique DNA plasmid expressing both lipL32 and loa22 for vaccination, higher antibody responses were induced than when combining plasmids harboring each gene separately. Therefore, this formulation was used to test the immunogenicity when administered by a heterologous prime (DNA)-boost (protein) immunization regimen. The specific antibody responses against LipL32 (total IgG and IgG1) and Loa22 (IgG1) were higher in mice receiving two antigens in combination than in those vaccinated with a single antigen alone. Although no significant difference in splenic CD4⁺ T cell proliferation was observed among all groups of vaccinated mice, splenocytes from mice vaccinated with two antigens exhibited higher interferon-γ and IL-2 production than when using single antigens alone upon in vitro restimulation. Taken together, the immunogenicity induced by LipL32 and Loa22 antigens in a heterologous primeboost immunization regimen using chitosan as a DNA delivery system induces higher immune response, and may be useful for developing a better vaccine for leptospirosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.270-276
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• 2016

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), particularly those of the CTX-M types, are the predominant resistance determinants of Escherichia coli that are rapidly spreading worldwide. To determine CTX-M types, E. coli isolates were collected from retail chickens (n = 390) and environmental samples from chicken farms (n = 32) and slaughterhouses (n = 67) in Korea. Fifteen strains harboring bla_CTX-M genes were isolated from 358 E. coli isolates. The most common CTX-M type was eight of CTX-M-15, followed by six of CTX-M-1 and one of CTX-M-14. The bla_CTX-M genes were identified in the isolates from retail chickens (n = 9), followed by feces, water pipes, floors, and walls. Conjugations confirmed the transferability of the plasmids carrying bla_CTX-M genes to the recipient E. coli J53 strain. Furthermore, eight addiction systems carried by the replicons in CTX-M types were confirmed. The dominant system was identified as ccdAB, vagCD, and pndAC in donor strains and transconjugants. The clonal relationship between the two strains carrying bla_CTX-M genes indicates that E. coli may transmit from the farm to retail chickens, suggesting a possible public health risk. Our findings demonstrate that the detection of CTX-M types in E. coli isolates is important for tracking ESBL production in animals, and suggest linkage of multiple addiction systems in plasmids bearing bla_CTX-M genes.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.168-178
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• 2014

Objectives : Mahuang-Chuanwu(Mahwang-Cheonoh) Pharmacopuncture(MCP) has been used to treat obesity in Clinical Korean Medicine. MCP solution(MCPS) is also expected to have strong anti-obesity activities. However, little is known about the mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. Methods : In the present study, we examined the effects of MCPS on differentiation and lipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To elucidate the mechanism of the effects of MCPS on lowering lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we examined whether MCPS modulates the expressions of transcription factors to induce lipogenesis and adipogenic genes related to regulate the accumulation of lipids. Results : Our results showed that MCPS significantly inhibited differentiation and lipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. MCPS suppressed the mRNA expressions of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine(CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$($C/EBP{\alpha}$), C/EBP ${\beta}$, $C/EBP{\delta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$($PPAR{\gamma}$) genes related to the induction of adipose differentiation. MCPS inhibited the mRNA expressions of adipose-specific aP2, adipsin, lipoprotein lipase(LPL), CD36, TGF-${\beta}$, and leptin genes related to the fat formation. MCPS downregulated the mRNA expressions of liver X receptor(LXR) ${\alpha}$ and fatty acid synthase(FAS) genes related to the induction of lipogenesis. In addition, MCPS reduced the production of adipocyte-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions : MCPS could regulate the accumulation of lipids and expression of adipogenic genes via inhibition of transcript factors related to induction of adipose differentiation.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.755-761
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 녹두 및 대두의 용매추출물을 제조하고 hepatoma 1c1c7 세포 및 대식세포인 RAW264.7 배양을 이용하여 항암 및 항염증 효과를 비교분석하였다. 녹두추출물은 대두추출물 보다 ethylacetate 및 ethanol 추출물에서 모두 유의적으로 높은 QR 유도활성과 NO 및 $PGE_2$의 생성 억제 효과를 보였으며 농도 의존적 효과를 나타냈다. C18 silica flash column chromatography를 이용하여 회수된 녹두에탄올 추출물의 7개 분획 중 소수성이 가장 강한 분획은 24 ${\mu}g$/mL의 CD value와 783 ${\mu}g$/mL의 $IC_{50}$를 보였다. 현재 다수의 염증 억제물질의 작용기전이 prostaglandin 합성 억제이며 이는 COX-2의 생성 및 활성저해에 의한 것임을 근거로 할 때 녹두의 ethanol 추출물은 항염증 및 암 발생 예방 성분을 분리하기 위한 중요한 식품 자원으로 생각된다.

• 환경생물
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.581-594
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• 2017

비스페놀 A는 플라스틱과 에폭시 레진에 사용되는 대표적인 내분비계 교란물질이다. BPA가 함유된 플라스틱은 물병, 식품용기, CD, DVD, 그리고 건설현장에서 사용되는 건축자재 등에 사용되고 있으며, BPA가 함유된 에폭시 레진은 상수도관 내의 코팅제, 식품용 캔 그리고 영수증용 감열지 등에 사용되고 있다. BPA의 에스트로젠 유사효과와 다른 유해 영향이 많이 보고되고 있기 때문에 이미 많은 나라에서 BPA가 규제되고 있으며, BPA의 대체재를 만들기 위해 노력 중에 있다. 비스페놀 S와 비스페놀 F가 BPA의 대체재로 사용되고 있으며, 최근에 BPS와 BPF가 함유된 제품들이 광범위하게 소비되고 있다. 하지만, BPA와 비슷한 화학구조 때문에 이 대체재들 또한 BPA처럼 내분비계의 교란을 일으키며 이 대체재들의 유해 영향도 이미 많은 연구들을 통해 보고되고 있는 실정이다. 본 소고에서 비스페놀류의 유해 영향과 규제 현황을 기술하고자 한다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.952-959
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• 1998

To investigate the effect of sea tangle on macrophage activity in normal and diabetic states, 10week old ICR mice were fed control(C) and sea tangle(S) diet containing 5%(w/w) cellulose and 13.6%(w/w) dry sea tangle for four weeks, after which two thirds of mice(CD and SD) were made diabetic by intramuscular injection of streptozotocin(150mg/kg bw). At 4th day after diabetes was apparent by urinary glucose, one half of diabetic mice(CDM and SDM) were treated with metformin(500mg/kg bw) orally. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from 3%-thioglycollate treated mice were cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccaride from Salmonella abortus equi(10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) for 24 hrs and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF$\alpha$), interleukin-1$\beta$(1L-1$\beta$)and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were measured in culture media. Release of IL-1$\beta$and PGE2 from macrophage were increased in normal mice by sea tangle diet and had the same tedency in diabetic mice with or without metformin treatment although not statistically significant. Release of TNF$\alpha$ tended to be reduced by diabetes but were not changed significantly by sea tangle diet. Fatty acid compositions of macrophage and liver phospholipids showed that diabetes reduced arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio and sea tangle diet appeared to increase contentsof polyunsaturated fatty acids.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.752-762
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• 2022

Objective: Microencapsulation is a technique to improve stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of active ingredients at a target site. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of microencapsulated basil oil (MBO) on growth performance, apparent ileal digestibility (AID), jejunal histomorphology, bacterial population as well as antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens in a tropical climate. Methods: A total of 288 one-day-old female broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 4 groups (6 replicates of 12 birds), based on a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were as follows: i) basal diet (NC), ii) basal diet with avilamycin at 10 ppm (PC), iii) basal diet with free basil oil (FBO) at 500 ppm, and iv) basal diet with MBO at 500 ppm, respectively. Results: Dietary supplementation of MBO improved average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio of broilers throughout the 42-d trial period (p<0.05), whereas MBO did not affect average daily feed intake compared with NC group. The broilers fed MBO diet exhibited a greater AID of crude protein and gross energy compared with those in other groups (p<0.05). Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia coli populations were not affected by feeding dietary treatments. Both FBO and MBO had positive effects on jejunal villus height (VH), villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) and villus surface area of broilers compared to NC and PC groups (p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase level in the duodenal mucosa of MBO group was significantly increased (p<0.01), whereas malondialdehyde level was significantly decreased (p<0.01). Conclusion: Microencapsulation could be considered as a promising driver of the basil oil efficiency, consequently MBO at 500 ppm could be potentially used as a feed additive for improvement of intestinal integrity and nutrient utilization, leading to better performance of broiler chickens.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.39-48
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• 2009

Objectives : To clarify the possible effect of JS (Juglans sinensis), PCF (Psoralea corylifolia L.), and J+P(JS+PCF), we examined their influence on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in the asthmatic murine model. Methods : All mice were immunized on two different days (21 days and 7 days before inhalational exposure) by intraperitonial injections of 0.2 ml alum-precipitated Ag containing 100 ${\mu}$g of OVA bound to 4 mg of aluminum hydroxide in PBS. Seven days after the second sensitization, mice were exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 30 minutes/day on 3 days/week for 8 weeks (at a flow rate of 250 L/min, 2.5% ovalbumin in normal saline) and, JS, PCF and J+P (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) were orally administered 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Results : The suppressive effects of JS, PCF, and J+P were demonstrated by the accumulation of eosinophils into airways, with the reduction of eosinophils and lung leukocytes. These were correlated with the marked reduction of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 levels in the BALF and serum. OVA-specific IgE levels were also decreased in serum and BAL from these mice. And also JS, PCF, and J+P decreased eosinophilic CCR3 and CD11b expression in lung tissue. Conclusions : These results indicate that JS, PCF, and J+P have deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness in the asthmatic murine model. The suppression of IL-5, IgE, and eosinophilils and the increase of IFN-${\gamma}$ production in BALF seem to contribute to these effects. Specially, esosinophils and TNF-a in J+P combination group were significantly reduced in BALF and lung tissue. Hence, the results indicated that JS, PCF, and J+P could act as an immuno-modulator which possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic property by modulating the imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.47-57
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyze the current status of augmented reality picture books, which have been steadily developed since 2010, as a genre of electronic picture books, and to reveal how children's immersion in augmented reality picture books differs from paper picture books. To this end, 30 augmented reality picture books on the market were analyzed according to genre, life theme, implementation method, and augmented reality scene ratio. As a result of the study, it was found that the genre of picture books was in the order of information fairy tales, daily fairy tales, and historical fairy tales, and there were no traditional or fantasy fairy tales. Animals and plants accounted for about half of the life topics, and in some cases, there were only a few or no other life topics. In the augmented reality implementation scene, it consisted of only one page in the early days, but all pages are now possible to implement augmented reality due to technology development, production cost reduction, and improved hardware performance of smartphones. It was found that the augmented reality implementation method used CD-ROM in the early days, but gradually became possible to implement using only mobile phones and tablets that were easy for readers to access. In addition, after presenting four picture books to eight 5-year-old infants, the immersion time was measured and the immersion behavior was observed. As a result, augmented reality picture books showed higher immersion[immersion time, immersion behavior] than paper picture books, but compared by literature genre, life fairy tales were higher in paper picture books and natural fairy tales in augmented reality picture books. It was higher when presenting augmented reality picture books after presenting paper picture books according to the order of presentation of picture book types. The results of this study suggest that more diverse life topics and augmented reality picture books in the genre of children's literature should be developed to increase the utilization of augmented reality picture books. In addition, considering that there are differences in immersion between types, literary genres, and reading experience [presentation order], it is expected to increase the educational effect by using picture books complementarily.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.3.1-3.10
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• 2023

Characterization as well as prediction of the secondary and tertiary structure of hypothetical proteins from their amino acid sequences uploaded in databases by in silico approach are the critical issues in computational biology. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which is responsible for pneumonia alike diseases, possesses a wide range of proteins of which many are still uncharacterized. The current study was conducted to reveal the physicochemical characteristics and structures of an uncharacterized protein Q6S8D9_SARS of SARS-CoV. Following the common flowchart of characterizing a hypothetical protein, several sophisticated computerized tools e.g., ExPASy Protparam, CD Search, SOPMA, PSIPRED, HHpred, etc. were employed to discover the functions and structures of Q6S8D9_SARS. After delineating the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein, some quality evaluating tools e.g., PROCHECK, ProSA-web etc. were performed to assess the structures and later the active site was identified also by CASTp v.3.0. The protein contains more negatively charged residues than positively charged residues and a high aliphatic index value which make the protein more stable. The 2D and 3D structures modeled by several bioinformatics tools ensured that the proteins had domain in it which indicated it was functional protein having the ability to trouble host antiviral inflammatory cytokine and interferon production pathways. Moreover, active site was found in the protein where ligand could bind. The study was aimed to unveil the features and structures of an uncharacterized protein of SARS-CoV which can be a therapeutic target for development of vaccines against the virus. Further research are needed to accomplish the task.