• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.232-241
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• 2024

Purpose: Brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease, is a worldwide health issue affecting animals and humans. No effective human vaccine and the complications caused by the use of animal vaccines are among the factors that have prevented the eradication of the disease worldwide. However, bio-engineering technologies have paved the way for designing new targeted and highly efficacious vaccines. In this regard, the study aimed to evaluate immunity induced by mannosylated niosome containing Brucella recombinant trigger factor/Bp26/Omp31 (rTBO) chimeric protein in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: rTBO as chimeric antigen (Ag) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and, after purification, loaded on niosome and mannosylated niosome. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were assessed. The mice were immunized using rTBO, niosome, and mannosylated niosome-rTBO in intranasal and intraperitoneal routes. Serum antibodies (immunoglobulin [Ig]A, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a) and splenocyte cytokines (interferon-gamma, interleukin [IL]-4, and IL-12) were evaluated in immunized mice. Finally, immunized mice were challenged by B. melitensis and B. abortus. A high antibody level was produced by niosomal antigen (Nio-Ag) and mannosylated noisomal antigen (Nio-Man-Ag) compared to the control after 10, 24, and 38 days of immunization. The IgG2a/IgG1 titer ratio for Nio-Man-Ag was 1.2 and 1.1 in intraperitoneal and intranasal methods and lower than one in free Ag and Nio-Ag. Cytokine production was significantly higher in the immunized animal with Ag-loaded nanoparticles than in the negative control group (p<0.05). Moreover, cytokine and antibody levels were significantly higher in the injection than in the inhalation method (p<0.05). Results: The combination of mannosylated noisome and rTBO chimeric proteins stimulate the cellular and humoral immune response and produce cytokines, playing a role in developing the protective acquired immune response in the Brucella infectious model. Also, the intraperitoneal route resulted in a successful enhancement of cytokines production more than intranasal administration. Conclusion: Designing an effective vaccine candidate against Brucella that selectively induces cellular and humoral immune response can be done by selecting a suitable nanoniosome formulation as an immunoadjuvant and recombinant protein as an immune response-stimulating Ag.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.416-423
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• 1993

Fish sauces prepared from sardine, Sardinops melanosticta were tested for inhibitory activity against angiotensin-I converting enzyme(ACE). Three kinds of fish sauces were prepared from scrap(S), meat(M) and round(R) of sardine, respectively. ACE inhibitory activity of sardine sauce S and R decreased with the elapse of fermentation period, whereas that of sardine sauce M increased to 30 days and thereafter decreased. ACE inhibitory activity of sardine sauce M fermented with koji was higher than that without koji. And occurrence of $5\%$ TCA soluble peptide-nitrogen was similar to tendancy of the ACE inhibitory activity. The ACE inhibitory activity increased with an increment of amounts added and was stable at heat treatment in boiling water bath for 5hrs. $IC_{50}\%$ (Amounts of inhibitors need for $50\%$ inhibition) of the sardine sauce S, M and R fermented with(without) koji during 90 days was $125{\mu}g(140{\mu}g),\;200{\mu}g(100{\mu}g)$ and $125{\mu}g(135{\mu}g)$, respectively. From the profiles of fractionation of the sardine sauce R fermented without koji for 90 days, the molecular weight of most active fraction was about 1,400 and the amino acids of Glu, Ala, Leu and Lys were found in abundance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.672-677
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• 2012

Lipids in microalgal biomass were recovered by using pyrolysis method. The pyrolysis experiments of two Chlorella sp. KR-1 samples, which have triglyceride contents of 10.8% and 36.5%, respectively were carried out at $600^{\circ}C$ to investigate the effects of lipid contents in the cells on the reaction characteristics. The conversion and liquid yield of the lipid-rich sample were higher than those of the lipid-lean sample since its carbon to hydrogen ratio was low. There were low molecular weight organic acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols in the liquid products from both KR-1 samples, but the pyrolysis oil of the lipid-rich sample was abundant in free fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid while the content of nitrogen containing organic compounds was low. The microalgal pyrolysis oil had two layers composed of the light hydrophobic fraction and the heavy hydrophilic fraction. The light fraction might be originated from triglycerides and the heavy fraction might be from carbohydrates and proteins. In the light fraction of the liquid products, there were considerable linear alkanes such as pentadecane and heptadecane as well as free fatty acids, implying that deoxygenation reaction including decarboxylation was occurred during the pyrolysis. The yield of the liquid products from the pyrolysis of the KR-1 sample having triglyceride content of 36.5% was 56.9% and the light fraction in the liquid products was 68.2%. Also more than 80% of the light fraction was free fatty acids and pure hydrocarbons, thus showing that most triglycerides could be extracted in the form of suitable raw materials for biofuels.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2011

We investigated quality characteristics of Seoktanju (one of the Korean traditional rice wine) which was fermented using five kinds of Korean commercial Nuruks. The purpose of this study was to research what effects on the quality of Seoktanju by using different Nuruks. We analyzed general component such as each mash's temperature change patterns, pH, titrable acidities, reducing sugar contents, volatile acids, and sugar contents during fermentation periods and studied sensory evaluation of produced Seoktanju (10 days). On the whole, temperature change patterns in the each mashes were depend on room temperature. All Seoktanju's pH was reduced rapidly up to three days after first mashing (pH 3.13-3.57) and after that was increased gradually. The end of fermentation pH was pH 3.6-4.05. Mostly, acidities were indicated high(0.59%) and Nuruk-B was showed highest acid value. These results seems to be different as occasion organic acids producing activity depend on the number of yeast, material contents, optimal temperature in the each mashes by fungi and lactic acid bacteria in Nuruks. In reducing sugar contents and sugar contents, Nuruk-C treatment were showed the highest value with 5.36%, $23^{\circ}brix$, respectively and alcohol content was lowest with 8.6%. In the five kinds of reproduced Seoktanju, alcohol content was the highest in the treated Nuruk-A group. Volatile acid value was the highest with 132.6~263.7 ppm at the 3 day after first mashing day but as the fermentation time goes on, it was reduced sharply by 5.25~5.94 ppm. Sensory evaluation was performed with 5 point scale, the Seoktanju using Nuruk-D was presented by 4 point, while Nuruk-A was presented lowest by 2.77 point on overall acceptability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2009

PAHs(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) compounds may enter into the marine environment in a number of ways, and PAHs in coastal area and estuary adjacent to urban area and industrial activities region are mainly introduced into marine environment via atmosphere or river. The field surveys to evaluate the pollution of PAHs in rivers of Jinhae bay were carried out in August, 2008. The water samples collected from seven main rivers and Deokdong WWTP(Waste water Treatment Plant) which lead to Jinhae bay. 16 PAHs which had been selected as priority pollutants by EPA were analyzed. The range and mean of dissolved Total PAHs concentrations in the rivers and Duckdong WWTP that lead to Jinhae bay were shown to be 9.79~128.25(mean 36.94)ng/L, while the range and mean of Total PAHs concentrations in SPM(Suspended Particulate Matter) were shown to be 1,81434~8,893.37(mean 4,657.73)${\mu}g$/kg dry wt. The dissolved Total PAHs and Total PAHs in SPM were shown to be high concentrations in the Semhocheon which leads to Masan bay that is the most polluted area of Jinhae bay, while those were shown to be low concentrations at rivers which lead to the west area of the bay. The ranges and means of the loading fluxes from rivers and Duckdong WWTP were calculated at 0.06~12.05(mean 1.86)g/day for dissolved Total PAHs and at 0.12~16.00(mean 2.41)g/day tor Total PAH in SPM. The loading flux of Total PAHs from Duckdong WWTP was shown to be the greatest, occupying more than 80% of Total loading flux from all rivers and WWTP to Jinhae bay. The composition patterns of PAHs compound by the number of benzene ring between dissolved PAHs and PAHs of SPM were different each other. Low molecuar weight PAHs of dissoloved compounds were in high concentration, while high molecular weight PAHs of SPM were in high concentration. These results were due to physical and chemical characteristics of PAHs and were similar to those of other studies. The total PAHs concentrations of dissolved and SPM in this study are lower than those of other studies. The extent of PAHs pollution appeared to be not serious in reverine waters of Jinhae bay.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.563-569
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• 2001

In order to utilize the processing wastes of squid, chitosan was prepared by intermittent deacetylation treaoent of $\beta-chitin$ contained richly in the pen of squid. Acetylchitosan also was synthesized from squid pen chitosan with anhydrous acetic acid and their characteristics were investigated. The amounts of nitrogen and ash of squid pen chitosan were $5.80.2\% and 0.2\pm0.03\%$ respectively, the yield of squid pen chitosan was $25\pm3\%$, the degree of deacetylation was $92\%$, and the molecular weight was $1.15\times10^6$, Acetyl contents of N-acetylchitosan powder, acetylchitosan bead, N-ACF-1 (N-acetylchitosan film-1) and N-ACF-2 (N-acetylchitosan film-2) were $55.9\%, 63.2\%, 56\% and 58.7\%$ respectively. Two major peaks, amide I ($1,653 cm^{-1}$) and II ($1,558 cm^{-1}$) bent, on FT-IR spectra of the N-acetylchitosan from squid pen were almost similar to these of $\beta-chitin$, While there was a broad single peak at $1,601 cm^{-1}$assigned to be an amide I bend in squid pen chitosan. The CP/MAS NMR spectra of $\beta-chitin$, squid pen chitosan and N-acetylchitosan from squid pen showed a relative broad and single peak at 74 ppm assigned to fifth carbon (C-5) and third carbon (C-3). In case of $\beta-chitin$ and N-acetylchitosan from squid pen, single peak at 74 ppm was showed as the same of $\beta-chitin$ type.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 1982

These experiments were conducted to investigate the enzymatic characteristics of the purified $\alpha$-amylase (F-2A) of Bacillus circulans F-2 and the digestion rate of various starches. 1. The molecular weight was estimated to be 93000 by SDS-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point was about pH 5.0. The optimum pH for the enzyme action was 6.0-6.5 and the stable pH ranged pH 5.5-12.0. The optimum temperature was 6$0^{\circ}C$, and the purified $\alpha$-amylase was stable below 4$0^{\circ}C$. 2. The purified $\alpha$-amylase was activated by Mn$^{＋＋}$ and Co$^{＋＋}$, whereas it was inhibited by Ag$^{＋}$, HT$^{＋＋}$, Cu$^{＋＋}$ and Pb$^{＋＋}$. 3. The purified $\alpha$-amylase is considered to have no sulfhydryl residue essential for its catalytic activity. 4. Michaelis constant (Km) was 1.704 mg/$m\ell$. Activation energy between 25-4$0^{\circ}C$ was 12.297 Kcal/mole, and between 40-6$0^{\circ}C$, it was 7.831 Kcal/mole. 5. The hydrolysis product from soluble starch, amylose and amylopectin in the early stage of hydrolysis was G$_{6}$, and as hydrolysis proceeds, G$_4$and G$_2$appeared. 6. Products from each oligosaccarides are as follows: G$_4$longrightarrow G$_2$＋ G$_2$,G$_3$ ＋G$_1$,G$_{5}$longrightarrow G$_4$＋G$_1$,G$_{6}$longrightarrowG$_4$＋ G$_2$,G$_{7}$ G$_4$,G$_{8}$longrightarrow G$_4$＋G$_4$, 7. On raw potato starch, raw sago starch and raw yam starch, the purified enzyme exhibited a remarkably high digestion rate than Porcine pancreatic amylase and Streptococcus bovis amylase.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.950-955
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• 2007

Non-point source control system which had been designed only for oil-water separation in the fields of oil refinery and garage was upgraded in this research for the removal of runoff pollutants in impervious urban area. Pollutants including oil from driveway and bridge were eliminated by two types of pathway in the system. One is the coalescence mechanism that the oil droplets in the runoff come into contact with each other in the spiral buoyant media surface and form larger coalesced droplets of oil that are carried upstream to the oil layer. The other is the precipitation that solids in runoff were settled by gravity in the system. In this research, coalescing characteristics of oil and water separation were investigated through image analyses, and efficiencies of the non-point source control system were evaluated using dust in driveway and waste engine oil. Media made of high density and high molecular weight polyethylene was indeterminate helical shape and had sleek surface by analysing SEM photographs and BET. Surface area and specific gravity of media which were measured directly were 1,428 $mm^2$ and 45.3 $kg/m^3$ respectively. From the image analyses of the oil droplets photographs which were taken by using microscope, it was proved clearly that the coalescence was the main pathway in the removal of oil from the runoff. Finally, the performances of the non-point source control system filled up with the media were suspended solid $86.6\sim95.2%$, $COD_{Cr}$, $87.3\sim95.4%$, n-Hexane extractable materials $71.8\sim94.8%$ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2007

We performed the biochemical characteristics, molecular epidemiologocal analysis, and drug susceptibility test on V. vulnificus isolated from environmental sources in Incheon. For this study, 233 strains were isolated from seawater, sediment, shellfish. V. vulnificus isolates were divided into 15 biochemical groups, which were positive for ONPG and Amygdalin test. Among the 209 strains, 206 (98.6%) strains and 110 (52.6%) strains revealed positive for vvhA and viuB gene, and the viuB gene detection rates of V. vulnificus from seawater, shellfish and sediment were 48%, 48.5% and 61.6%, respectively. From disc diffusion test on 175 isolates, most of strains were sensitive to Imipenem (100.0%), Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (98.9%), Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin (98.3%), Ampicillin/sulbactam (97.1%), Ohloramphenicol (96.6%), Cefepime (94.9%) and Ceftriaxone (94.8%), multi-drug resistance rates was 31.5% of seawater, 34.4% of sediment and 29.2% of shellfish. PFGE was performed on 233 V. vulnificus isolates with the objective of investigating the extent of genetic diversity of these isolates in our region. We could find that at least 126 different PFGE patterns were generated according by 90% of similarity and 13 clusters by 58% of similarity. The major cluster was type I (44.6%) during the most of the year, and type J was frequent pattern in June and October. There were 9 distinct PFGE types in July, 8 types in August, 7 types in June, 6 types in September, 5 types in October 3 types in May and 1 type in March.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.473-479
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• 2005

Background : Gefitinib targets the epidermal growth factor receptor r(EGFR), and Gefitinib has antitumor activity in patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only 10 to 20 percent of patients show a clinical response to this drug, and the molecular mechanisms underlying patient sensitivity to gefitinib are unknown. PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten) plays a role for the modulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway (PI3K), which is involved in cell proliferation and survival, so that it can inhibit cell cycle progression and induce G1 arrest. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between PTEN expression and gefitinib's responsiveness in patients having advanced non small cell lung cancer that had progressed after previous chemotherapy. Methods : The expression of PTEN was studied by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tumor blocks that were obtained from 22 patients who had been treated with gefitinib from JAN, 2001 to AUG. 2004. For the evaluation of the relationships between the PTEN expression, the clinical stage and the basal characteristics, those cases that showed the respective antigen expression in >50% of the tumor cells were considered positive. Results : The positive rate of PTEN staining was 55% of the total of 22 patients. There was a significant relationship between the increased expression of PTEN and the response group (p=0.039). However, there was no significant relationship between the expression of PTEN and other clinicopathologic characteristics. Conclusion: The expression of PTEN in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer that has progressed after previous chemotherapy may play a role in gefitinib's responsiveness.