• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.351-356
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• 2016

Bacterial blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii is one of the major diseases of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Application of bacteriophages is a very useful tool to decrease the density of pathogens and it has been successful to making disease-free cultivation area, known as phage therapy. Effect of phages on pathogen sterilization is very limited to the specific host strains. Minor variations of the host strains may cause changes in phage sensitivity. The phage-resistant strains of P. tolaasii were isolated and their pathogenic characters were investigated to improve the effectiveness of phage therapy. In the phylogenetic analysis, both phage-resistant strains and the corresponding host strains were identical based on the sequence comparison of 16S rRNA genes. The pathogenic characters, such as hemolytic activity and brown blotch formation, were measured on the phage-resistant strains and no correlation between phage-resistance and pathogenic characters was observed. Nevertheless, pathogenic characters were sometimes changed in the phage-resistant strains depending on the host strains. In order to make the phage therapy successful, the bacteriophages having a wide host range should be isolated.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 1999

In order to investigate the immune response induced by supplementation of herb medical stuff in diet on the nile tilapia. Oreochromis niloticus, experiments were performed with feeding of four different experimental diets supplemented with 2% ginseng. Panax ginseng, 3% Kugija. Lycium chinense, 3% Hasuo, Polygonum multiflorum, 2% Omija, Schizandra chinensis, respectively, for 84 days. The non-specific immune responses changed during the feeding period were investigated at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks in each group. Average body weight of the nile tilapia with supplemented diets was heavier than control group. The fish fed on diet supplemented with 3% Kugija showed the better growth than the other tested groups. Complement activity such as complete hemolytic activity ($CH_{50}$) and bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli tended to be increased by the supplementation of herb medical stuff. The lysozyme activity of serum and adherent phagocyte activity showed higher in the fish fec on diet supplemented with 3% kugija than the other tested groups. In respect to the RPS against experimental Edwardsiella tarda infection, all of the group fed on the herb medical stuff in diet appeared higher response compared with control group. From these results, herb medical stuff (Panax ginseng, Lycium chinense. Polygonum multiflorum, Schizandra chinensis) might be used a additives of diet for the increasing of non-specific immune response or resistance against bacterial fish diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.482-492
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• 2007

Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. We here investigated the effect of SLT-I on tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ production, effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3) expression, and relationship between Gb3 level and differential susceptibility of cells to SLT-I. In this study, we observed that detectable levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ are produced 6 hrs after induction and continued to increase during 48 hrs by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that macrophages had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and showed refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and dendritic cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. These results suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary, but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its receptor, Gb3, in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic effect of plasmapheresis in various pediatric diseases. Methods : Therapeutic plasmapheresis was performed by COBE Spectra centrifugation. Nine cases were included in this study. The number an[;. method of plasmapheresis, together with the progress and prognosis of each case were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The patients' ages ranged from 26 mont]Is to 16 years of age, and the mean age was 9.9 years. There were S males and 4 females. The underlying diseases requiring plasmapheresis included 2 cases of hemolytic uremic svndrome(HUS), 1 case of lupus nephritis, 2 cases of rapidly Progressive glomerulonephritis(RPGN), 1 case of focal segmental glomorulosclerosis(FSGS), 1 case of systemic vasculitis after pulmonary hemorrhage, 1 case of acute renal failure associated with pulmonary hemoIThage, and 1 case of acute rejection after renal transplantation. The average number of plasmapheresis performed was 6.2 times with a range of 3 to 13 times. The patients with HUS, lupus nephritis, ANCA positive systemic vasculitis induced by pulmonary hemorrhage and ARF-associated pulmonary hemorrhage showed a good response to therapeutic plasmapheresis, but the patients with RPGN, refractory FSGS, and acute rejection after renal transplantation were not responsive to treatment. The most common side effect was hypocalcemia which was rarely symptomatic. Vital signs were not compromised. Conclusion : Although it is presumptuous to generalize the therapeutic effects of plasma pheresis in different diseases due to the small number of study subjects, this study shows that plasmapheresis may be an effective therapeutic modality in various pediatrics diseases and should be considered as a therapeutic option.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

The halophilic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is known to be a foodborne pathogen that causes septicemia in human. V. vulnificus infection is characterized by the high fatality rates and the primary attack against a person who have underlying diseases such as liver cirrhosis. However, there is no effective treatment for V. vulnificus septicemia except for classical treatments such as antibiotics. Recently, it has been known that lipoprotein (LDL) plays a major role in the protection against infection and inflammation. Consequently in this paper we analyzed the effects of LDL on V. vulnificus septicemia. We purified V. vulnificus cytolysin, a major virulent factor of V. vulnificus infection and measured inhibitory effects of mouse serum, cholesterol, and LDL on its hemolytic activity. Next experiments were performed to investigate whether LDL has a protective role against septicemia induced by V. vulnificus in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LDL (1mg as protein) into mice 3hr before V. vulnificus $(1\times10^6\;CFU)$ injection, and V. vulnificus -induced lethality was determined. For the determination the relationship between LDL or cholesterol and prognosis, we determined serum levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein from V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15) who had visited the Chonbuk National University Hospital in Chonju. V. vulnificus cytolysin -induced hemolysis of mice erythrocytes was completely inhibited by serum, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein. V. vulnificus- induced lethality of mice injected with LDL showed only 40% compared to 100% of control. In survival groups (n=4) of V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15), their serum LDL and cholesterol revealed normal levels ($153.3{\pm}40.7,\;LDL;\;190.8{\pm}16.3$, Total cholesterol). However, in death groups (n=11) showed very low levels ($35.6{\pm}13.9,\;LDL;\;59.2{\pm}15.1$, Total cholesterol). Our study indicates that cholesterol and LDL are a prognosis indicator of V. vulnificus septicemia as well as an inhibitor of virulent action of V. vulnificus cytolysin. We suggested that the serum levels of cholesterol or LDL would be major index in the treatment and prevention of V. vulnificus septicemia.