• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.498-502
• /
• 2018

Molecular imaging is a powerful method for tracking various infectious disease-causing pathogens in host organisms. Currently, a dual molecular imaging method that can provide temporal and spatial information on infected hosts at the organism, organ, tissue, and cellular levels simultaneously has not been reported for Burkholderia pseudomallei, a high-risk pathogen that causes melioidosis. In this study, we have established an experimental method that provides spatiotemporal information on infected hosts using luminescent and fluorescent dual-labeled B. pseudomallei. Using this method, we visualized B. pseudomallei infection at the organism, organ, and tissue levels in a BALB/c mouse model by detecting its luminescence and fluorescence. The infection of B. pseudomallei at the cellular level was also visualized by its emitted fluorescence in infected macrophage cells. This method could be an extremely useful and applicable tool to study the pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei-related infectious diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2013

The ecologically and economically important honeybee species are susceptible to infections by various pathogens. This study was investigated to detect infectious pathogens in honeybee colonies reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province by PCR in 2010~2011. A total of 11 infectious pathogens, including 6 viruses, 2 bacteria, 2 fungi, and 1 parasite, were investigated in honeybee colonies suffering from symptoms of sudden collapse, depopulation, or paralysis. The infectious pathogens and infection rates among 24 honeybee colonies detected were as follows: sacbrood virus (66.7%), deformed wing virus (4.2%), black queen cell virus (12.5%), Kashmir bee virus (29.2%), American foulbrood (41.7%), European foulbrood (12.5%), stonebrood (45.8%), chalkbrood (4.2%), and Nosema (33.3%), respectively. Since the coinfection rates of multiple pathogens were detected high in honeybee colonies reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province, large-scale investigation and appropriate control programs need to be established in this region.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.137-140
• /
• 2016

The correct and quick diagnosis can be minimized damage from honeybee diseases. This study was carried out to detect infectious pathogens in honeybee in Jeonbuk province. 183 samples were collected from 8 area of Jeonbuk beekeeping farms in 2015 and 10 of infectious pathogens were examined through PCR and RT-PCR. Among 183 samples, positive rates of each disease were as follows; BQCV 43.7%, SBV 24.6%, DWV 16.4%, SB 15.8%, CB 10.4%, Nosemosis 7.1%, AFB 6.6%, EFB 1.1%, CBPV 1.1%, ABPV 0.0%. Among 28 beekeeping farms, 19 farms (67.9%) were infected with a complex of two or more diseases. The highest frequency of complex infections was BQCV.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.5
• /
• pp.551-558
• /
• 2020

The flaviviruses are small single-stranded RNA viruses that are typically transmitted by mosquitoes or tick vectors and are etiological agents of acute zoonotic infections. The viruses are found around the world and account for significant cases of human diseases. We investigated population of culicine mosquitoes in central region of Korean Peninsula, Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si. Aedes vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected mosquitoes (56.5%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.6%), Anopheles spp. (10.9%), and Culex pipiens complex (5.9%). In rural regions of Hwaseong, Aedes vexans nipponii was the highest population (62.9%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.9%) and Anopheles spp. (12.0%). In another rural region of Incheon (habitat of migratory birds), Culex pipiens complex was the highest population (31.4%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (30.5%), and Aedes vexans vexans (27.5%). Culex pipiens complex was the predominant species in the urban region (84.7%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, pooled up to 30 mosquitoes each, and tested for flaviviral RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR and confirmed by cDNA sequencing. Three of the assayed 2,683 pools (989 pools without Anopheles spp.) were positive for Culex flaviviruses, an insect-specific virus, from Culex pipiens pallens collected at the habitats for migratory birds in Incheon. The maximum likelihood estimation (the estimated number) for Culex pipiens pallens positive for Culex flavivirus was 25. Although viruses responsible for mosquito-borne diseases were not identified, we encourage intensified monitoring and long-term surveillance of both vector and viruses in the interest of global public health.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2015

Vaccines are the most effective and cost-efficient method for preventing diseases caused by infectious pathogens. Despite the great success of vaccines, development of safe and strong vaccines is still required for emerging new pathogens, re-emerging old pathogens, and in order to improve the inadequate protection conferred by existing vaccines. One of the most important strategies for the development of effective new vaccines is the selection and usage of a suitable adjuvant. Immunologic adjuvants are essential for enhancing vaccine potency by improvement of the humoral and/or cell-mediated immune response to vaccine antigens. Thus, formulation of vaccines with appropriate adjuvants is an attractive approach towards eliciting protective and long-lasting immunity in humans. However, only a limited number of adjuvants is licensed for human vaccines due to concerns about safety and toxicity. We summarize current knowledge about the potential benefits of adjuvants, the characteristics of adjuvants and the mechanisms of adjuvants in human vaccines. Adjuvants have diverse modes of action and should be selected for use on the basis of the type of immune response that is desired for a particular vaccine. Better understanding of current adjuvants will help exploring new adjuvant formulations and facilitate rational design of vaccines against infectious diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.281-289
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to characterize the seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from April to November 2019 and 2020 on Ganghwa-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. The ticks were collected at grassland, grave site, copse and mountain road using a collection trap method. The ixodid hard ticks comprising three species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) collected were 6,622 in 2019 and 3,811 in 2020. H. longicornis was the most frequent (97.9% in 2019 and 96.0% in 2020), followed by H. flava (2.0% and 3.0% in 2019 and 2020, respectively) and I. nipponensis (less than 0.1%). Our study demonstrated that seasonal patterns of the tick populations examined for two years were totally unsimilar. The hard ticks tested using RT-qPCR were all negative for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2010

Progress in the development of DNA vaccines and their delivery strategies has been made since their initial concept as a next generation vaccine. Since DNA vaccine includes non-infectious DNA parts of pathogens, it can't cause disease yet it closely mimic the natural process of infection and immune responses. Despite their early promising results of controlling infectious diseases and cancer in small animal models, DNA vaccines failed to display a level of immunogenicity required for combating these diseases in humans, possibly due to their lower protein expression levels. However, increasing evidence has shown that DNA vaccines are clinically well-tolerated and safe. Furthermore, one notable advantage of DNA vaccines includes convenient utilities of plasmid DNAs coding for antigens. For instance, any emerging pathogens could be prevented easily and timely by allowing the simple exchange of antigen-encoding genes. In this review, newly developed DNA vaccine strategies, including electroporation, which has emerged as a potent method for DNA delivery, targeting infectious diseases and cancer will be discussed with a focus on any on-going DNA vaccine trials or progress made pre-clinically and in clinics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.1041-1045
• /
• 2013

The xTAG$^{(R)}$ Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) is a multiplexed molecular test for 15 gastrointestinal pathogens. The sensitivity and specificity of this test were assessed in 901 stool specimens collected from pediatric and adult patients at four clinical sites. A combination of conventional and molecular methods was used as comparator. Sensitivity could be determined for 12 of 15 pathogens and was 94.3% overall. The specificity across all 15 targets was 98.5%. Testing for the pathogen identified was not requested by the physician in 65% of specimens. The simultaneous detection of these 15 pathogens can provide physicians with a more comprehensive assessment of the etiology of diarrheal disease.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2021

This is a study on the improvement of the chemical treatment method of the livestock carcass treatment newly introduced in the livestock infectious disease prevention method in order to improve the problems of the existing burial-centered carcass treatment method when a livestock infectious disease occurs. It was conducted to establish detailed treatment standards for the chemical treatment method of pig carcasses based on the results of proof of the absence of infectious diseases in pigs. After inoculating pig carcasses with 10 pathogens (6 viruses [FMDV, ASFV, CSFV, PCV2, PRRSV, PEDV] and 4 bacteria [Lawsonia intracellularis, Clostridium perfringens type C, E. coli, Salmonella Typhimurium]) It was treated at 90℃ for 5 hours in a potassium hydroxide (KOH) liquid solution corresponding to 15% of the body weight. This method liquefies all cadaveric components and inactivates all inoculated pathogens. Based on these results, it was possible to prove that chemical treatment of pig carcasses is effective in killing pathogens and is a safe method without the risk of disease transmission. Although there are problems to be solved in the processing and operation of the chemical treatment products of livestock carcasses, the chemical treatment method of livestock carcasses can be suggested as an alternative to the current domestic burial-centered livestock carcass treatment method, preventing environmental pollution, and contributing to public health.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.185-189
• /
• 2019

Respiratory pathogens of calves including bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus (BPI3V), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) and Mycoplasma spp is well-known for winter pathogens. However, there are no studies about summer pneumonia pathogens of calves in Korea. The aim of this study was to detect respiratory pathogens from calves with summer pneumonia. Eighty calves from 5 regions were chosen and their nasal swabs were used to detect respiratory pathogens with real-time PCR. Mycoplasma spp was major primary respiratory pathogens in calves with summer pneumonia. Although, the detection rates of respiratory viruses were very low, serological assays showed that respiratory viruses exist widely in farms.