• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.485-498
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• 1994

Porphyromonas endodontalis is a black-pigmented anaerobic Gram-negative rod which is associated with endodontal infections and this microorganism possesses a potential for pathogenicity. The purpose of this study was to compare the membrane components of Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis and to study the immune reaction patterns of Porphyromonas endodontalis with patients with periapical lesion. Porphyromonas endodontalis (ATCC 35406), Porphyromonas gingivals serotypea (381), serotype b(W50), serotype c(A7A1-28) were cultured in anaerobic condition. Rabbit antisera were prepared by intravenous injection of formalized whole cells and human sera were obtained from patients and dental students. Indirect immunofluorescence method was used to study on the cross reaction between Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis serotype a, b, c antigen. Total membrane protein profiles of Porphyromonas endodontalis antigen were studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the reactivity of antigenic components of Porphyromonas endodontalis against sera of patients and rabbit anti-Porphyromonas endodontalis antisera were assessed by Immunoblotting method. The following results were obtained : 1. Antigens of Porphyromonas endodontalis has multiple antigenic components, and both patients with periapical lesion and normal healthy individual showed immune response to this. 2. Patients group and healthy individual group showed a diversity of immune reaction pattern but they showed immune response against 43kd protein. 3. Patients with periapical lesion showed more diverse immune response than healthy individual and in some patients, much more bands appeared to lower molecular weight protein. 4. According to indirect immunofluorescence and Immunoblotting study, Porphyromonas endodontalis did not share common antigen with Porphyromonas gingivalis serotype a, b, c.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Swiprosin-1 exhibits the highest expression in $CD8^+$ T cells and immature B cells and has been proposed to play a role in lymphocyte biology through actin remodeling. However, regulation of swiprosin-1 gene expression is poorly understood. Here we report that swiprosin-1 is up-regulated in T cells by PKC pathway. Targeted inhibition of the specific protein kinase C (PKC) isotypes by siRNA revealed that $PKC-{\theta}$ is involved in the expression of swiprosin-1 in the human T cells. In contrast, down-regulation of swiprosin-1 by A23187 or ionomycin suggests that calcium-signaling plays a negative role. Interestingly, swiprosin-1 expression is only reduced by treatment with $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitors but not by NF-AT inhibitor, suggesting that the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway is critical for regulation of swiprosin-1 expression. Collectively, these results suggest that swiprosin-1 is a $PKC-{\theta}$-inducible gene and that it may modulate the late phase of T cell activation after antigen challenge.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2013

Adjuvants are immune enhancers that are often used in vaccination to augment the immune response of a vaccine, thereby enhancing the protective immunity against the targeted disease. In the present study, we used the recombinant protein, such as rRbCC1, this protein was produced from rock bream CC chemokine 1. To verify the adjuvant effects of this recombinant protein, the immune responses of rock bream to Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) FKC vaccination, which alone or in combination with recombinant protein was analyzed and then also performed experimental challenge with live S. iniae. The result of serum agglutination titres was showed relatively low levels however, the efficacy of FKC vaccine still conferred protection against S. iniae. Moreover, the adverse effects result showed that no statistically significant difference was revealed between high concentration injected and non-injected fish groups, generally. The relative percent survival (RPS) of FKC + recombinant vaccination group was significantly higher than that of vaccinated group with FKC alone. After experimental challenge to the rock bream by injection with live bacteria (S. iniae), the FKC + rRbCC1 vaccination group was showed 87.0% RPS, however, the RPS of FKC alone vaccination was 68.2%. The results indicated that the recombinant protein as an adjuvant had a clear synergism to injection vaccine of rock bream.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1159-1168
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• 2021

Ovotransferrin (OTF), an egg protein known as transferrin family protein, possess strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. This is because OTF has two iron binding sites, so it has a strong metal chelating ability. The present study aimed to evaluate the improved immune-enhancing activities of OTF hydrolysates produced using bromelain, pancreatin, and papain. The effects of OTF hydrolysates on the production and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 macrophages were confirmed. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated using Griess reagent and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). And the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-6) and the phagocytic activity of macrophages were evaluated using an ELISA assay and neutral red uptake assay, respectively. All OTF hydrolysates enhanced NO production by increasing iNOS mRNA expression. Treating RAW 264.7 macrophages with OTF hydrolysates increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the phagocytic activity. The production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by OTF hydrolysates was inhibited by the addition of specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. In conclusion, results indicated that all OTF hydrolysates activated RAW 264.7 macrophages by activating MAPK signaling pathway.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Coronaviruses are known respiratory pathogens. In the past, most human coronaviruses were thought to cause mild symptoms such as cold. However recently, as seen in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), infectious diseases with severe pulmonary disease and respiratory symptoms are caused by coronaviruses, making research on coronaviruses become important. Considering previous studies, we constructed 'HCoV-IMDB (Human Corona Virus Immune Database)' to systematically provide genetic information on human coronavirus and host immune information, which can be used to analyze the interaction between human coronavirus and host immune proteins. The 'HCoV-IMDB' constructed in the study can be used to search for genetic information on human coronavirus and host immune protein and to download data. A BLAST search specific to the human coronavirus, one of the database functions, can be used to infer genetic information and evolutionary relationship about the query sequence.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2023

Sargassum horneri (SH), a brown macroalgae, has medicinal properties. The present study investigated the immune-enhancing effects of SH extract on peritoneal macrophages (PM). The SH significantly increased the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) in PM. It was confirmed that SH significantly increased NO expression through the increase of iNOS protein expression, which is the up-regulation pathway. Additionally, it was determined if SH activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, an upper regulatory mechanism that influences TNF-α, IL-6, and NO expression. Consequently, SH significantly increased the phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), all of which are MAPK pathway proteins. Moreover, the immune-enhancing effects of SH on another macrophage cell line, bone marrow-derived macrophages were investigated. It was observed that SH significantly enhanced TNF-α, IL-6, and NO production. Overall, this study demonstrates the immune-enhancing effects of SH on macrophages via activated MAPK pathway. Therefore, it suggests that SH has the potential to improve immunological activity in various macrophage cell lines and can be useful as an immune-enhancing treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1626-1631
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• 2010

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary replacement of normal maize (NM) with quality protein maize (QPM) on performance, immune response and carcass characteristics of broiler (Krishibro) chickens. Six experimental diets were prepared separately for starter and finisher phases. Diet 1 was a control diet formulated with NM and soybean meal. In diets 2-5, the NM was replaced with QPM at 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. Diet 6 was the same as the control diet, but supplemented with synthetic lysine similar to the industry standard. Each test diet was fed to 8 replicates, each of 5 chicks, reared in stainless steel battery brooders. The AME content of QPM (3382 kcal/kg) was similar to that of NM (3,352 kcal/kg), but protein (9.91 vs. 8.94%), lysine (0.40 vs. 0.26%) and tryptophan (0.09 vs. 0.07%) contents of QPM were higher than NM. Dietary replacement of NM with 50% QPM significantly (p<0.05) improved body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, humoral immune response, relative bursa weight, and breast muscle yield and lowered abdominal fat content. No further improvement in these parameters was recorded by increasing the level of replacement of NM with QPM to either 75% or 100%. Further, the improvement noticed in the 50% QPM group was similar to the group fed the NM diet with lysine supplementation, and thus dietary replacement of NM with QPM at 50% did not need extra synthetic lysine supplementation. It is concluded that dietary replacement of NM with QPM at the 50% level resulted in optimum performance, higher breast muscle yield and higher immune response in broiler chickens.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.18
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• 2023

Evidence suggests that the human respiratory tract, as with the gastrointestinal tract, has evolved to its current state in association with commensal microbes. However, little is known about how the airway microbiome affects the development of airway immune system. Here, we uncover a previously unidentified mode of interaction between host airway immunity and a unique strain (AIT01) of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a predominant species of the nasal microbiome. Intranasal administration of AIT01 increased the population of neutrophils and monocytes in mouse lungs. The recruitment of these immune cells resulted in the protection of the murine host against infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogenic bacterium. Interestingly, an AIT01-secreted protein identified as GAPDH, a well-known bacterial moonlighting protein, mediated this protective effect. Intranasal delivery of the purified GAPDH conferred significant resistance against other Gram-negative pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii) and influenza A virus. Our findings demonstrate the potential of a native nasal microbe and its secretory protein to enhance innate immune defense against airway infections. These results offer a promising preventive measure, particularly relevant in the context of global pandemics.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.244-250
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• 2006

Gangliosides are receptors for various peptides and proteins including neuropeptides, ${\beta}$-amyloid proteins, and prions. Recently, the role of gangliosides in mucosal immunization has attracted attention due to the emerging interest in oral vaccination. Ganglioside GM1 exists in abundance on the surface of the M cells of Peyer's patch, a well-known mucosal immunity induction site. In the present study we identified a peptide ligand for GM1 and tested whether it played a role in immune induction. GM1-binding peptides were selected from a phage-displayed dodecapeptide library and one peptide motif, GWKERLSSWNRF, was fused to the C-terminus of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The fusion protein, but not EGFP fused with a control peptide, was concentrated around Peyer's patch after incubation in the lumen of the intestine ex vivo. Furthermore, oral feeding of the fusion protein but not control EGFP induced mucosal and systemic immune responses against EGFP resembling Th2-type immune responses.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2016

Exogenous nucleic acids induce an innate immune response in mammalian host cells through activation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). We evaluated RIG-I protein for RNA binding and ATPase stimulation with RNA ligands to investigate the correlation with the extent of immune response through RIG-I activation in cells. RIG-I protein favored blunt-ended, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) ligands over sticky-ended dsRNA. Moreover, the presence of the 5'-triphosphate (5'-ppp) moiety in dsRNA further enhanced binding affinity to RIG-I. Two structural motifs in RNA, blunt ends in dsRNA and 5'-ppp, stimulated the ATP hydrolysis activity of RIG-I. These structural motifs also strongly induced IFN expression as an innate immune response in cells. Therefore, we suggest that IFN induction through RIG-I activation is mainly determined by structural motifs in dsRNA that increase its affinity for RIG-I protein and stimulate ATPase activity in RIG-I.