• Advances in environmental research
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Phenol is frequently present as the hazardous pollutant in petrochemical and pesticide industry wastewater. Because of its high toxicity and carcinogenic potential, a proper treatment is needed to reduce the hazards of phenol carrying effluent before being discharged into the environment. Phenol biodegradation with microbial consortium offers a very promising approach now a day's. This study focused on the formulation of phenol degrading bacterial consortium with three bacterial isolates. The bacterial strains Bacillus cereus strain VCRC B540, Bacillus cereus strain BRL02-43 and Oxalobacteraceae strain CC11D were isolated from detergent contaminated soil by soil enrichment technique and was identified by 16s rDNA sequence analysis. Individual cultures were degrade 100 μl phenol in 72 hrs. The formulated bacterial consortium was very effective in degrading 250 μl of phenol at a pH 7 with in 48 hrs. The study further focused on the analysis of the products of biodegradation with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT/IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). The analysis showed the complete degradation of phenol and the production of Benzene di-carboxylic acid mono (2-ethylhexyl) ester and Ethane 1,2- Diethoxy- as metabolic intermediates. Biodegradation with the aid of microorganisms is a potential approach in terms of cost-effectiveness and elimination of secondary pollutions. The present study established the efficiency of bacterial consortium to degrade phenol. Optimization of biodegradation conditions and construction of a bioreactor can be further exploited for large scale industrial applications.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.7.1-7.13
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• 2021

Levodopa (L-DOPA) therapy is normally practised to treat motor pattern associated with Parkinson disease (PD). Additionally, several inhibitory drugs such as Entacapone and Opicapone are also cosupplemented to protect peripheral inactivation of exogenous L-DOPA (~80%) that occurs due to metabolic activity of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Although, both Entacapone and Opicapone have U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval but regular use of these drugs is associated with high risk of side effects. Thus, authors have focused on in silico discovery of phytochemicals and evaluation of their effectiveness against human soluble COMT using virtual screening, molecular docking, drug-like property prediction, generation of pharmacophoric property, and molecular dynamics simulation. Overall, study proposed, nine phytochemicals (withaphysalin D, withaphysalin N, withaferin A, withacnistin, withaphysalin C, withaphysalin O, withanolide B, withasomnine, and withaphysalin F) of plant Withania somnifera have strong binding efficiency against human COMT in comparison to both of the drugs i.e., Opicapone and Entacapone, thus may be used as putative bioenhancer in L-DOPA therapy. The present study needs further experimental validation to be used as an adjuvant in PD treatment.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권4호
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• pp.671-695
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• 2022

The gastrointestinal tract is a complex ecosystem that contains a large number of microorganisms with different metabolic capacities. Modulation of the gut microbiome can improve the growth and promote health in pigs. Crosstalk between the host, diet, and the gut microbiome can influence the health of the host, potentially through the production of several metabolites with various functions. Short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, polyamines, indoles, and phenolic compounds are metabolites produced by the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome can also produce neurotransmitters (such as γ-aminobutyric acid, catecholamines, and serotonin), their precursors, and vitamins. Several studies in pigs have demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in improving growth performance and feed efficiency, alleviating stress, and providing protection from pathogens. The use of probiotics is one of the strategies employed to target the gut microbiome of pigs. Promising results have been published on the use of probiotics in optimizing pig production. This review focuses on the role of gut microbiome-derived metabolites in the performance of pigs and the effects of probiotics on altering the levels of these metabolites.

• BMB Reports
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.30-39
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• 2024

Directed evolution (DE) of desired locus by targeted random mutagenesis (TRM) tools is a powerful approach for generating genetic variations with novel or improved functions, particularly in complex genomes. TRM-based DE involves developing a mutant library of targeted DNA sequences and screening the variants for the desired properties. However, DE methods have for a long time been confined to bacteria and yeasts. Lately, CRISPR/Cas and DNA deaminase-based tools that circumvent enduring barriers such as longer life cycle, small library sizes, and low mutation rates have been developed to facilitate DE in native genetic environments of multicellular organisms. Notably, deaminase-based base editing-TRM (BE-TRM) tools have greatly expanded the scope and efficiency of DE schemes by enabling base substitutions and randomization of targeted DNA sequences. BE-TRM tools provide a robust platform for the continuous molecular evolution of desired proteins, metabolic pathway engineering, creation of a mutant library of desired locus to evolve novel functions, and other applications, such as predicting mutants conferring antibiotic resistance. This review provides timely updates on the recent advances in BE-TRM tools for DE, their applications in biology, and future directions for further improvements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.436-443
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• 2016

Exposure to cold may affect growth performance in accordance with the metabolic and immunological activities of animals. We evaluated whether ambient temperature affects growth performance, blood metabolites, and immune cell populations in Korean cattle. Eighteen Korean cattle steers with a mean age of 10 months and a mean weight of 277 kg were used. All steers were fed a growing stage-concentrate diet at a rate of 1.5% of body weight and Timothy hay ad libitum for 8 weeks. Experimental period 1 (P1) was for four weeks from March 7 to April 3 and period 2 (P2) was four weeks from April 4 to May 1. Mean ($8.7^{\circ}C$) and minimum ($1.0^{\circ}C$) indoor ambient temperatures during P1 were lower (p<0.001) than those ($13.0^{\circ}C$ and $6.2^{\circ}C$, respectively) during P2. Daily dry matter feed intake in both the concentrate diet and forage groups was higher (p<0.001) during P2 than P1. Average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.001) during P2 (1.38 kg/d) than P1 (1.13 kg/d). Feed efficiency during P2 was higher (p = 0.015) than P1. Blood was collected three times; on March 7, April 4, and May 2. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher on March 7 than April 4 and May 2. Blood cortisol, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations did not differ among months. Blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ T cell percentages were higher, while CD8+CD25+ T cell percentage was lower, during the colder month of March than during May, suggesting that ambient temperature affects blood T cell populations. In conclusion, colder ambient temperature decreased growth and feed efficiency in Korean cattle steers. The higher circulating NEFA concentrations observed in March compared to April suggest that lipolysis may occur at colder ambient temperatures to generate heat and maintain body temperature, resulting in lower feed efficiency in March.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.819-828
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• 2007

지난 20여년 동안 항생제나 화학 요법의 문제점을 줄이고 외부 환경의 변화에 민감하게 반응하는 장내 미생물들의 균총을 유지시켜주기 위해 살아있는 미생물제제(direct-fed microbial agents, DFM)를 반추가축의 사료에 직접 첨가하고 있다. 반추동물 사료에도 생산성을 개선하기 위하여 여러 종류의 DFM이 널리 이용이 되고 있는데, DFM은 건물섭취량(dry matter intake, DMI)의 증가 및 반추위내에서의 영양소 분해율 향상 그리고 유생산량의 증가와 체온감소 등에 효과적이다(Piva 등, 1993; Higginb- otham 등, 1994; MacGilliard와 Stallings, 1998; Nocek와 Kautz, 2006). 대표적인 DFM으로는 효모균, 곰팡이, 박테리아 및 세포 구성물질 등이 이에 속한다(Beharka와 Nagaraja, 1993; Sullivan과 Martin 1999). 효모 및 효모배양물은 대표적인 DFM의 한 종류인데, 반추가축에게 효모(yeast) 및 효모 배양물(yeast culture)을 급여하였을 때 반추위 내 발효 특성을 변화시키고(Harrison 등, 1988; Martin과 Nisbet, 1990) 반추위 내에서 조단백질과 조섬유의 반추위내 분해율을 개선시키며(Gomez-Alarcon 등, 1990; Williams 등, 1991), 체내 전장소화율(Gomez-Alarcon 등, 1990; Wiede- mier 등, 1987)을 향상시키는 효과가 있다고 보고된 바 있다. 한편, 일반적으로 대부분의 Clostridium 균들은 독소를 생산하거나 인체에 유해한 물질들을 생산하여 사람과 가축에게 좋지 않은 영향을 주고 있으나, Clostridium butyricum은 장내 유익한 균으로서 유산균과의 공생이 가능하고 반추위 내에서 주요 VFA 생산에 관여하기도 하며(Araki 등, 2002a, 2002b) 많은 종류의 비타민 B군을 생산하여 유산균이 이용할 수 있게 한다. 또한 생산되어진 acetic acid와 butyric acid는 장관 상피세포를 흡수되어 상피세포에서 에너지원으로 사용되어진다고 하였다(김 등, 2001). 낙산균은 주로 단위동물에서 사용되어 왔는데, 일부 복합생균제의 형태로 사용하였을 경우 유해세균이 장 점막을 침입하는 것을 방지하고(Fuller와 Brooker, 1974), butyric acid를 생산하여 장내 pH를 저하시키며 항균작용(Under-dahl 등, 1982)을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. S. cerevisiae는 가장 일반적으로 사용되는 균주로써 이의 효과와 효능에 관한 연구는 비육우와 착유우를 대상으로 많이 이루어져 왔지만, 낙산균은 일부 국내 젖소 사육농가에서 사용되고 있음에도 불구하고 이에 대한 연구는 단위동물 및 어린송아지의 경우(최 등, 1991)를 제외하고는 거의 이루어지지 않았다. 따라서 본 연구는 S. cerevisiae 및 C. butyricum을 단독으로 또는 혼합하여 급여할 때 면양에서의 반추위내 발효성상과 소화율, 그리고 젖소를 이용한 사양시험을 통해 산유량과 유조성에 미치는 효과를 비교하기 위하여 실시되었다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.797-803
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• 2017

Objective: Effects of nitrogen supplementation associated with different levels of starch on voluntary intake, digestibility, and rumen and metabolic characteristics of cattle fed low-quality tropical forage (Brachiaria decumbens hay, 7.4% crude protein, CP) were evaluated using ruminal and abomasal cannulated steers. Methods: Five European${\times}$Zebu young bulls (186 kg body weight, BW) were distributed according to a $5{\times}5$ Latin square. The following treatments were evaluated: control, supplementation with 300 g CP/d (0:1), supplementation with 300 g starch/d and 300 g CP/d (1:1), supplementation with 600 g starch/d and 300 g CP/d (2:1), and supplementation with 900 g starch/d and 300 g CP/d (3:1). A mixture of nitrogenous compounds provided 1/3 from true protein (casein) and 2/3 from non-protein nitrogen (mixture of urea and ammonium sulphate, 9:1) was used as the nitrogen supplement. In order to supply energy a unique source of corn starch was used. Results: Supplements increased (p<0.05) dry matter intake, but did not affect (p>0.05) forage intake. There was a cubic effect (p<0.05) of starch on voluntary intake. This was attributed to the highest forage intake (g/kg BW) when using the 2:1 starch:CP ratio. Supplements increased (p<0.05) organic matter (OM) digestibility, but did not affect (p>0.05) neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) digestibility. There was a positive linear effect (p<0.05) of the amount of starch supplemented on OM digestibility. Total NDFap digestibility was not affected (p>0.05) by the amount of supplemental starch. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentrations were higher (p<0.05) in supplemented animals, however, a negative linear effect (p<0.05) of amount of starch was observed. Supplements increased (p<0.05) the nitrogen balance (NB) and efficiency of nitrogen utilization. These effects were attributed to increased body anabolism, supported by higher (p<0.05) serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1. Increasing the amount of starch tended (p<0.06) to linearly increase the NB. In spite of this, there was a highest NB value for the 2:1 starch:CP ratio amongst the treatments with supplementation. Conclusion: Nitrogen supplementation in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage increases nitrogen retention in the animal's body. An additional supply of starch increases nitrogen retention by increasing energy availability for both rumen and animal metabolism.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.257-264
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• 1992

Diagnostic approaches such as angiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance have limitation for contributing to the early clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Recently, $^{99m}Tc-labelled$ low density lipoprotein was developed to detect early atherosclerotic lesion by external imaging with gamma camera. To determine whether $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ scintigraphy can visualize the active atherosclerotic lesion, rabbits were injected with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$, 3 months after feeding dietary fat (lanolin) and we obtained following results. 1) Labelling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ was $79\sim88%$. 2) Biodistribution study of normal rabbits with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ revealed the high activities in spleen, adrenal gland, liver, kidney which are major organs of high metabolic rate of LDL. 3) Three months after feeding lanolin, serum cholesterol was markedly increased from $74{\pm}17mg/dl$ to $979{\pm}153mg/dl$ and histologic study of aorta after sacrificing the rabbit demonstrated marked atherosclerotic changes. 4) Atherosclerotic lesion of abdominal aorta which was confirmed with histologic study could be demonstrated in $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ scintigraphy after feeding lanolin for 3 months. In conclusion, the results of this preliminary investigation suggest that it may be possible to image active atheromatous lesion with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$. It is anticipated that this promising agent may allow the in vivo monitoring of preclinical atherosclerotic lesions and may be useful to evaluate the metabolic pathway of LDL in humans.

• 상하수도학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.405-415
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• 2021

MMBR system has been suggested as a promising system to resolve harvesting problems induced from low settling efficiency of microalgae. And recently, a lot of research on reducing fouling at the MMBR system has investigated focused on EPS in many cases. EPS of microalgae mainly consists of polysaccharides and protein components, and is produced through photosynthesis and nitrogen-carbon metabolic pathways. Especially, P-EPS is one of major compounds which occur membrane fouling phenomenon, as its hydrophobic protein components cause floc formation and cake layer accumulation. And it is already known that almost every microalgae can metabolize P-EPS or Chl-a when nitrogen sources as a substrate is insufficient or exhausted situation. With the above backgrounds, uptake rates of P-EPS or Chl-a by Scenedesmus quadricauda according to the type of carbon source and nitrogen concentration were evaluated in order to verify correlation between carbon source vs P-EPS production, and indeed Scenedesmus quadricauda uses P-EPS or Chl-a when the amounts of nitrogen sourc es in the feed is not satisfied. As a result, it was shown that P-EPS and Chl-a production were increased proportional to nitrogen concentration under organic carbon condition. And especially, the amo unts of P-EPS and Chl-a in the cell were diminished with the nitrogen source becomes insufficient or exhausted. Because P-EPS accelerates fouling at the MMBR system, P-EPS degradation by Scenedesmus quadricauda in order to get nitrogen source may contribute to reducing fouling. About a affects of N-consumed Chl-a to the MMBR fouling, more survey is needed. On the contrary, considering the purpose of MMBR system of this study, i.e. harvesting useful high value microalgae efficiently feeding adequate industrial process wastewater, it seems like difficult to maintain satisfied metabolic activity and to harvest with high yield rate using nitrogen-poor MMBR feed.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.53-61
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• 2022

This study aimed to increase the targeting ability against PSMA in cell therapy using metabolic glycoengineering and biorthogonal chemistry and to visualize cell trafficking using PET imaging. Cellular membranes of THP-1 cells were decorated with azide(-N₃) using Ac₄ManNAz by metabolic glycoengineering. Engineered THP-1 cells were conjugated with DBCO-bearing fluorophore (ADIBO-Cy5.5) for 1 h at different concentrations and analyzed by confocal fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. For PSAM ligand conjugation to THP-1 cells, Ac₄ManNAz treated THP-1 cells were incubated with DBCO-PSMA ligand (ADIBO-GUL) at a final concentration with 100 µM for 1 h. To evaluate the effect on cell recognition, PSMA ligand conjugated THP-1 cells(as effectors) were co-cultured with PSMA positive 22RV1 (as target cells) at 3 : 1 a effector-to-target cell (E/T) ratio. The interaction between THP-1 and 22RV1 was monitored by confocal fluorescence microscopy. For preparing the radiolabeled THP-1, the cells were treated at the activity of ~ 740 kBq of [⁸⁹Zr]Zr(oxinate)₄/5 × 10⁶ cells. Radiolabeled cells were analyzed for determination of cell-associated radioactivity by gamma counting and viability using MTS assay. In the cytotoxicity assay, THP-1 cells did not have any cytotoxicity even when the Ac₄ManNAz concentration was 100 µM. In confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, THP-1 cells were efficiently labeled ADIBO-Cy5.5 in a dose-dependent manner, and the dose of 100 µM was the optimal concentration for the following experiments. The clusters of PSMA ligand-conjugated THP-1 cells and 22RV1 cells were identified, indicating cell-cell recognition over the cell surface between two types of cells. Cell radiolabeling efficiency was 54.5 ± 17.8%. THP-1 labeled with 0.09 ± 0.03 Bq/cell showed no significant cytotoxicity compared to unlabeled THP-1 up to 7 days. We successfully demonstrated that Ac₄ManNAz treated cells were efficiently conjugated with ADIBO-GUL for preparing the PSMA-targeting cells, and [⁸⁹Zr]Zr(oxinate)₄ could be used to label cells without toxicity. It suggested that PSMA-ligand conjugated cell therapy could be improved cell targeting and be monitored by PET imaging.