• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

Among the several agents causing carbapenem resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii, the most common cause is OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase, which is known to hydrolyze carbapenem. To effectively control dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), development of both rapid and easy-to-use detection methods are required. The aim of this study is to develop a novel immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for rapid detection of OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase. Of the seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) screened by ELISA, four mAbs (4G6, 4H6, 6G4, 9A4) exhibited high reactivity. Of these four specific antibodies, the combination of 6G4/4G6 showed the greatest reactivity and this combination of mAbs (6G4/4G6 mAbs) was used to develop the OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase ICA. Of 102 A. baumannii isolates tested, the OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase ICA results were consistent with PCR analysis except one false positive and one false negative isolate. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 98.36% and 97.56%, respectively. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, we have developed the first specific antibody set to detect OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase using an ICA kit. This novel ICA can be used as a reliable and easy-to-use immunological assay for detection of OXA-23 ${\beta}$-lactamase producing CRAB in clinical laboratories.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2009

Paragonimiasis typically results from the consumption of raw or improperly cooked crustacea, especially crabs and crayfish. Although previously endemic in Korea, the prevalence of this disease decreased in the early 1970s because of educational campaigns and fewer intermediate hosts as a result of ecological changes. Recently, we were presented with a family where all members were infected with Paragonimus after ingestion of Kejang (= drunken crab). The mother was hospitalized for general myalgia and weakness first, followed by the father, who was hospitalized for dyspnea 2 month later. After the parents were diagnosed with paragonimiasis, we recommended their daughter to visit our hospital for a checkup, because they all had eaten freshwater crabs soaked in soybean sauce. She complained of generalized myalgia, fever, and pleuritic pain, and was also diagnosed with paragonimiasis. Peripheral blood of the 3 patients revealed hypereosinophilia, and computed tomography (CT) scans of their chests showed pleural effusion. The results of antibody tests by ELISA were positive for paragonimiasis. We report here the case series of familial paragonimiasis in a modern urban city, rather than in a typical endemic area.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2005

Background: Costimulation is a critical process in Ag-specific immune responses. Both B7.1 and CD28 molecules have been reported to stimulate T cell responses during antigen presentation. Therefore, we tested whether Ag-specific immune responses as well as protective immunity are influenced by coinjecting with B7.1 and CD28 cDNAs in a mouse HSV-2 challenge model system. Methods: ELISA was used to detect levels of antibodies, cytokines and chemokines while thymidine incorporation assay was used to evaluate T cell proliferation levels. Results: Ag-specific antibody responses were enhanced by CD28 coinjection but not by B7.1 coinjection. Furthermore, CD28 coinjection increased IgG1 production to a significant level, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3, suggesting that CD28 drives Th2 type responses. In contrast, B7.1 coinjection showed the opposite, suggesting a Th1 bias. B7.1 coinjection also enhanced Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 type cytokines and chemokines significantly higher than pgD+pcDNA3. However, CD28 coinjection decreased Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 types of cytokines and chemokine significantly lower than pgD+pcDNA3. Only MCP-1 production was enhanced by CD28. B7.1 coimmunized animals exhibited an enhanced survival rate as well as decreased herpetic lesion formation, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3. In contrast, CD28 vaccinated animals exhibited decreased survival from lethal challenge. Conclusion: This study shows that B7.1 enhances protective Th1 type cellular immunity against HSV-2 challenge while CD28 drives a more detrimental Th2 type immunity against HSV-2 challenge, supporting an opposite role of B7.1 and CD28 in Ag-specific immune responses to a Th1 vs Th2 type.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.278-283
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• 2014

In this study, we propose an immunosensor using zinc oxide nanorods (NRs) inside PDMS channel for detecting the influenza A virus subtype H7N9. ZnO with high isoelectric point (IEP, ~9.5) makes it suitable for immobilizing proteins with low IEP. In this proposed H7N9 immunosensor structure ZnO NRs were grown on the PDMS channel inner surface to immobilize H7N9 capture antibody. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with was used 3,3',5,5' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for detecting H7N9 influenza virus. The immunosensor was evaluated by amperometry at various H7N9 influenza antigen concentrations (1 pg/ml - 1 ng/ml). The redox peak voltage and current were measured by amperometry with ZnO NWs and without ZnO NWs inside PDMS channel. The measurement results of the H7N9 immunosensor showed that oxidation peak current of TMB at 0.25 V logarithmically increased from 2.3 to 3.8 uA as the H7N9 influenza antigen concentration changed from 1 pg/ml to 1 ng/ml. And then we demonstrated that ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel can improve the sensitivity of immunosensor to compare non-ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1092-1096
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• 2008

Commercial food products from major cities of Coahuila, Mexico were screened to identify residues of transgenic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and/or proteins. After performed, an inventory on all products that contained a soybean-based ingredient in a commercial grocery store in the city of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, 245 food products were identified and grouped in 15 classes according to the soybean ingredient as well as the manufacturing process used for their elaboration. Similar sampling was made for the different food classes in the cities of Monclova, Piedras Negras, and Torreon. A total of 88 samples were analyzed and DNA was extracted by the hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) technique with slight modification to obtain better DNA quality (1). In addition, segments of the transgenic genes one that codifies for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (epsps), cry 1A, and the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The transgenic proteins 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4 EPSPS) and insecticidal crystal protein (Cry 1Ab/Ac) were identified using double antibody sandwich-enzymatic linked immunoassay analysis (DAS-ELISA). Presence of transgenic genes and/or proteins was identified in 35.3% of the commercial products samples.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2002

To perform the prophylactic study of a vaccine derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) using Balb/c mice, we produced virus like particles consisting of HPV capsid protein L1 which has been reported to induce significant humoral and cellular immunity using various animal model systems. In order to produce HPV16 VLPs, the cDNA of L1 capsid protein in HPV type 16, obtained by polymerase chain reaction, was inserted into yeast expression vector, YEG$\alpha$-HIR525 under the control of GAL10 promoter. The transformation of YEG$\alpha$-HPV16 L1 was performed into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y2805 by the lithium acetate method and the yeast clone expressing the highest level of L1 capsid protein of human papillomavirus type 16 was selected by Western blot analysis using anti-HPV16 L1 antibody. The purification of HPV16 VLP has been performed by the ultracentrifugation and gel-filtration methods. To validate the vaccine efficacy of the purified HPV16 VLPs and investigate the properties of HPV16 VLPs to induce humoral immunity, ELISA assay was performed. A significantly increased production of anti-HPV16 VLP antibodies was observed in sera from immunized mice. The neutralization activity of antibodies in the sera from the vaccinated mice was demonstrated by a rapid and simple assay to detect hemagglutihation inhibition activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.94-94
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to generate and characterize monoclonal antibodies against rat airway mucins, and therefore, should serve as a useful tool in studying the regulation of airway mucins using various in vivo rat models that are currently available. As an antigen, we used a high molecular mass mucin preparation purified from the spent media of rat tracheal surface epithelial cells in primary culture. Seven hybridomas were obtained which secrete monoclonal antibodies against the rat mucin among which mAbRT03 showed the highest immunoreactivity against the mucin based on ELISA. All of the antibodies secreted by these hybridomas recognized carbohydrate epitopes but not sialic acid residues since their immunoreactivity was completely abolished by treatment of the mucin with 20 mM periodate but not with neuraminidase. Further characterization of mAbRT03 showed that: (1) it belongs to the IgM type, (2) it binds to high molecular mass mucins based on both Western blot analysis and indirect immunoprecipitation, (3) it binds to the luminal side of tracheal epithelium as well as some goblet cells based on immunohistochemistry, and (4) it also recognizes in vive airway mucins from rats but not from human nor hamsters which have been purified from the airway lavage fluids. This is the first anti-rat airway mucin monoclonal antibody which has been developed against purified rat airway mucins. Therefore, mAbRT03 should be able to serve as an invaluable tool in studying the regulation of airway mucins using various intact rat models that are currently available.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2009

The potential antiviral effects of the culture filtrates (CF) from Serratia marcescens strain Gsm01 against yellow strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Y) were investigated. The culture filtrate of S. marcescens strain Gsm01 applied on Chenopodium amaranticolor showed high inhibitory activity, likewise no necrosis appeared when applied on the tobacco plants 2 days before CMV-Y inoculation. When plants were challenge inoculated with CMV-Y for eighteen days, the disease incidence in plants with culture filtrate of S. marcescens Gsm01 did not exceed 59%, whereas 100% of control plants were severely infected. The results of double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), dot blotting, and western blotting showed that culture filtrate treatment highly affected the accumulation of CMV-Y or its CP protein gene in the treated plant leaves. It was also observed that the culture filtrate had no RNase activity on genomic RNAs of CMV-Y, suggesting that culture filtrate may not contain ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) or proteins with RNase activity. These data shows that culture filtrate of S. marcescens strain Gsm01 seems to be a promising source of antiviral substance for the practical use.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.126-135
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• 2006

In a previous study, a biological response modifier (BRM) specifically enhancing the function of B-cells was isolated from Korean fermented soybean paste (Kfsp), but not from non-fermented soybeans. In this study, we attempted to isolate the bacteria producing the BRM from Kfsp (KfspBRM) by ELISA using anti-KfspBRM and by B-cell proliferation. Five bacteria whose culture supernatants showed the BRM activities were isolated, and one of them was identified as Bacillus licheniformis E1. The bacterial BRM (bBRM) originated from a slime layer of B. licheniformis El had a molecular weight of 1,594 kDa, and contained $33\%\;(w/w)$ of reduced sugar and $4.6\%\;(w/w)$ of protein content. The bBRM appeared to be a glycoprotein that is physically, structurally, and functionally similar to the KfspBRM, suggesting that the isolates including B. licheniformis El may produce the KfspBRM in the fermentation process of soybean paste. The mass production of the BRM by the bacterium may help to study B-cells in immunology, and the enrichment of the BRM in Kfsp may help patients in future who are medically in need of potentiation of B-cell proliferation and antibody production.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.343-358
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• 2000

Epimedii Herba is an important traditional herb medicine widely used as a tonic. However, the mechanism of action of this drug on the immune system is not well studied. This study was performed to elucidate the effects of the aqueous extract of Epimedii Herba on the production of antibodies in mice. Antibodies in serum were detected in male ICR mice treated with the aqueous extract of Eplmedii Herba (AEEH) at a dosage of 40, 120, and 360mg/kg orally for 2 weeks. Effects of oral administration of AEEH on antibody forming responses were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in serum. The results were as follows; 1. Epimedii Herba slightly decreased body weight gain. 2. Epimedii Herba significantly increased the relative spleen weight. 3. Epimedii Herba significantly increased total serum IgG levels. 4. Epimedii Herba significantly enhanced total serum IgG1 levels. 5. Epimedii Herba significantly increased total serum IgG2a levels. 6. Epimedii Herba markedly increased total serum IgM levels. These findings demonstrate that Epimedii Herba significantly enhances the production of antibodies at therapeutic concentrations, and suggest that administration of Epimedii Herba may prevent the host from immunologic diseases.