• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2022

Since the pandemic of COVID-19, active investigation to develop immunity to infectious disease by delivering nucleic acids has been proceeded. Particularly, many studies have been conducted on non-viral vector as several vital side-effects which were found on nucleic acid delivery system using viral vectors. In this study, we have developed plasmid DNA (pDNA) loaded-hyaluronic acid derivative (HA) coated-polyethyleneimine (PEI) based polyplex for enhanced nucleic acid delivery efficiency. We have optimized the ratio of pDNA : PEI : HA by measuring size and protein transcription efficiency. The final product, polyplex-HA, was characterized through measuring size, zeta-potential and TEM image. Intracellular uptake and protein transcription efficiency were compared to commercially available transfection reagent, lipofectamine, through fluorescence image and flow cytometry. In conclusion, polyplex-HA presents a novel gene delivery system for efficient and stable protein transcription since it is available for delivering various genetic materials and has less immunoreactivity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2024

Background: Despite the rise in the number of domestic indoor climbing gyms, there is a lack of specific hygiene standards and research on the holds installed in them. Holds can act as vectors for microbial transmission through the hands, posing a risk of infectious diseases, especially with damaged skin. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the contamination level and species of microorganisms on holds according to the management methods practiced in indoor climbing gyms and identify effective strategies for reducing microbial contamination. Methods: We investigated factors that may influence microbial contamination of holds, including hold management methods, user information, and hygiene management at three climbing gyms in Seoul. A total of 72 holds were sampled, 18 for each management method of brushing, high-pressure washing, and ethanol disinfection. Samples were cultured on LB and blood agar at 37℃ for 48 hours to calculate CFUs. PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA was carried out to identify microorganisms. Dunn-Bonferroni was employed to see the microbial reduction effect of the management method and the difference in microbial contamination by management method and climbing gym. Results: As a result of microbial identification, microorganisms such as Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus, which were derived from various environments such as skin and soil, were discovered on the surface of the climbing hold. Among the discovered microorganisms, some species had potential pathogenic properties that could cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal disease, bacteremia, and sepsis. All hold management methods were effective in reducing microorganisms (p<0.05), with ethanol disinfection being the most effective (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that there are potential pathogens on holds that demand thorough management for microbial prevention. Proposed methods include regular brushing and ethanol disinfection in addition to high-pressure washing with long cycles, which are the existing forms of hold management. Further studies on shoe management are advised to curb soil-derived microorganisms.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.450-456
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• 2016

Rhizoctonia leaf blight (large patch) has become a serious problem in Korean lawn grass, which is extremely hard to treat and develops mostly from the roots of lawn grass to wither it away. Rhizoctonia leaf blight (large patch) is caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2 (IV). To develop zoysia japonica with strong disease tolerance against this pathogenic bacterium, ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ was cloned from zoysia japonica, which is one of the PR-Proteins known to play a critical role in plant defense reaction. ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ is known to be generated within the cells when plant tissues have a hypersensitive reaction due to virus or bacterium infection and secreted outside the cells to play mainly the function of resistance against pathogenic bacteria in the space between the cells. This study utilized the commonly preserved part in the sequence of corn, wheat, barley, and rice which had been researched for their disease tolerance among the ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ monocotyledonous plants. Based on the part, degenerate PCR was performed to find out the sequence and full-length cDNA was cloned. E.coli over-expression was conducted in this study to mass purify target protein and implement in vitro activation measurement and antibacterial test. In addition, to interpret the functions of ZjGlu1 gene, each gene-incorporating plant transformation vectors were produced to make lawn grass transformant. Based on ZjGlu1 protein, antibacterial activity test was conducted on 9 strains. As a result, R. cerealis, F. culmorum, R.solani AG-1 (1B), and T. atroviride were found to have antibacterial activity. The gene-specific expression amount in each organ showed no huge difference in the organs based upon the transformant and against 18s gene expression amount.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.2
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• pp.170-175
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect on the habitation of Monochamus alternatus, a vector insect of Pine wood nematode by the tended sound stumps for the developing forestry control methods of Pine wilt disease controls. Field cage plots (1 m ${\times}$ 1 m ${\times}$ 1 m) were established 12 units (Experiment1:4 units, Experiment2:8 Units) and were treated 4 kinds(February in 2010, February, April, June in 2011). The adults of M. alternatus were put into 4~5couples each the cage June in 2011. Presence or absence of the larva entrance holes and larva were detailed November in 2011. The larva were appeared in the sound stumps of sapling and young trees tended at February, April, June, the current emergence year of M. alternatus, but were not appeared in the sound stumps of sapling and young trees tended February in 2010, one year before the emergence of M. alternatus. The larva habitated in stumps of sapling were likely to be smaller in size in compare to the larva in stumps of young trees. In case of young tree, the larva were found at the cleft part of bark, but were not found at ridge part of bark. All observed larva appeared at part of bark and between the bark and the woody parts, but were not found at the woody parts. To develop the control guiding principal of sound stump after forest tending practice, further experiment need is in existence oviposition and larvae of vectors by height of stemps.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

In total, 654,362 adult mosquitoes were captured using black light traps in Gangwon-do Province of the Republic of Korea from 2012 to 2017. The collected mosquitoes were identified to the species level, placed in pools of up to 50 mosquitoes each, by species and date of collection, and screened for flaviviruses using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. A total of 276,224 adult mosquitoes were grouped in 7,721 pools for virus testing, and 68 flavivirus positive pools (0.9%) were detected. Flavivirus-positive products were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Japanese encephalitis viruses were detected in single pools collected from Chuncheon (2012, 2017: Culex pipiens, 2,728 and 1,111 mosquitoes, respectively), Hoengseong (2013: Culex orientalis, 19), and Gangneung (2017: C. pipiens, 724). All the Japanese encephalitis viruses detected were revealed as genotype V. Chaoyang viruses were detected in 63 pools of 5,055 Aedes vexans nipponii and a single pool of 585 C. pipiens collected in Gangwon-do Province from 2012 to 2017. Chuncheon was the region with the highest minimum infection rates (MIR, 0.32) and maximum likehood estimate (MLE, 0.33; confidence interval (CI) 95%, 0.23-0.46) of A. vexans nipponii for Chaoyang virus, followed by Hoengseong (MIR 0.30, MLE 0.30, CI 0.16-0.52) and Gangneung (MIR 0.21, MLE 0.21, CI 0.13-0.31). Monthly MIR and MLE values of A. vexans nipponii for Chaoyang virus were the highest in October (MIR 0.38, MLE 0.38, CI 0.07-1.25).