• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.197-210
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• 2022

Entomopathogenic fungi can be used to control a variety of sucking and chewing insects, with little effect on beneficial insects and natural enemies. Approximately 170 entomopathogenic fungal insecticides have been registered and used worldwide, with the recent focus being on the mode of action and mechanism of insect-fungal interactions. During the initial period of research and development, the industrialization of entomopathogenic fungi focused on the selection of strains with high virulence. However, improvement in productivity, including securing resistance to environmental stressors, is a major issue that needs to be solved. Although conidia are the primary application propagules, efforts are being made to overcome the limitations of blastospores to improve the economic feasibility of the production procedure. Fungal transformation is also being conducted to enhance insecticidal activity, and molecular biology is being used to investigate functions of various genes. In the fungi-based pest management market, global companies are setting up cooperative platforms with specialized biological companies in the form of M&As or partnerships with the aim of implementing a tank-mix strategy by combining chemical pesticides and entomopathogenic fungi. In this regard, understanding insect ecology in the field helps in providing more effective fungal applications in pest management, which can be used complementary to chemicals. In the future, when fungal applications are combined with digital farming technology, above-ground applications to control leaf-dwelling pests will be more effective. Therefore, for practical industrialization, it is necessary to secure clear research data on intellectual property rights.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.574-583
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• 2022

Ficus vasculosa Wall. ex Miq. (FV) has been used as a herbal medicine in Southeast Asia and its antioxidant activity has been shown in previous studies. However, it has not yet been elucidated whether FV exerts anti-inflammatory effects on activated-macrophages. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the ameliorative property of FV methanol extract (FM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses and the underlying molecular mechanisms in RAW264.7 macrophages. The experimental results indicated that FM decreased the production of inflammatory mediators (NO/PGE2) and the mRNA/protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. FM also reduced the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Results also demonstrated that FM improved inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated A549 airway epithelial cells by inhibiting the production of cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, FM suppressed MAPK activation and NF-κB nuclear translocation induced by LPS. FM also upregulated the mRNA/protein expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in RAW264.7 cells. In an experimental animal model of LPS-induced acute lung injury, the increased levels of molecules in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were suppressed by FM administration. Collectively, it was founded that FM has anti-inflammatory properties on activated-macrophages by suppressing inflammatory molecules and regulating the activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Despite several advances in identification of cardiac transcription factors, there are still needs to find new bioactive molecules that promote cardiomyogenesis from stem cells to highly efficient myocardial differentiation. We analyzed Illumina expression microarray data of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)-derived cardiomyocytes. 276 genes were upregulated (≥ 4fold) in mESCs-derived cardiomyocytes compared undifferentiated ESCs. Secreted phosphoprotein 2 (Spp2) is one of candidates and is known to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) signal transduction as a pseudoreceptor for BMP2. However, its function in cardiomyogenesis is unknown. We confirmed that Spp2 expression increased during the differentiation into functional cardiomyocytes using mESCs, TC-1/Kh2 and E14. Interestingly, Spp2 secretion transiently increased 3 days after formation of embryoid bodies (EBs), indicating that the extracellular secretion of Spp2 is involved in the differentiation of ESCs into cardiomyocytes. To characterize Spp2, we performed experiments using the C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line, which has the property of shifting the differentiation pathway from myoblastic to osteoblastic by treatment with BMP2. Similar to the differentiation of ESCs, transcription of Spp2 increased as C2C12 myoblasts differentiated into myotubes. In particular, Spp2 secretion increased dramatically in the early stage of differentiation. Furthermore, treatment with Spp2-Flag recombinant protein promoted the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes. Taken together, we suggest a novel bioactive protein Spp2 that differentiates ESCs into cardiomyocytes. This may be useful for understanding the molecular pathways of cardiomyogenesis and for experimental or clinical promotion of stem cell therapy for ischemic heart diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1029-1042
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• 2023

This study aimed to apply the technology of increasing the volatile aromatic compounds in wine through mixed fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces yeasts to make distilled soju. The expectation was to induce changes in metabolites such as volatile aromatic compounds before the distillation process, followed by concentrating these compounds through distillation to enhance the odor property of distilled soju. Additionally, the study aimed to examine the impact of mixed fermentation with S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces yeasts on distilled soju's free amino acid content. As a result, when Hanseniaspora uvarum yeast was used, there was an increase in the content of low molecular weight volatile aroma compounds, particularly esters. Distilled soju co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum SJ69 exhibited similar amino acid content to distilled soju single-fermented with S. cerevisiae. However, distilled soju co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum S6, a decrease in amino acid content. Sensory evaluation results indicated a higher odor score in distilled soju co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum S6, suggesting that the mixed fermentation technology utilizing H. uvarum could contribute to improving the quality of distilled soju in the future.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2011

Five different composition UV-cured poly(urethane acrylate-co-acrylic acid) (PU-co-AA) films have been prepared by reacting isophorone diisocyanate(IPDI), polycaprolactone triol(PCLT), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate(HEA), and different weight ratio trimethylolpropane triacrylate(TMPTA) and acrylic acid(AA) as diluents, and characterized using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR). The adhesion properties onto the stainless steel, morphology, mechanical hardness, and electrical property of UV-cured PU-co-AA films were investigated as a function of acrylic acid(AA) content. All the PU-co-AA films are structure-less and the molecular ordering and packing density decreased with increasing content of AA due to the flexible structure and -COOH side chains in AA. The crosscut test showed that PU-co-AA films without AA and with low content of AA showed 0% adhesion(0B) and the adhesion of PU-co-AA films in the range of 40-50% AA increased dramatically as the content of AA increases. The pull-off measurements showed that the adhesion force of PU-co-AA films to stainless steel substrate varied from 6 to 31 kgf /$cm^2$ and increased linearly with increasing AA content. The mechanical hardness also decreased as the content of AA increases. This may come from relatively linear and flexible structure in AA and low crystallinity in PU-co-AA films with higher content of AA. The higher AA-containing PU-co-AA films showed higher dielectric constant due to the increase of polarization by introducing AA monomer. In conclusion, the physical properties of UV-cured PU-co-AA films are strongly dependent upon the content of AA and the incorporation of AA in polyurethane acrylate is very useful way to increase the adhesion strength of UV-curable polymers on the stainless steel substrate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.609-615
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• 2013

Glyceollin I has gained attention as a useful therapy for various dermatological diseases. However, the binding property of glyceollin I to the mammalian adenylyl cyclase (hereafter mAC), a critical target enzyme for the down-regulation of skin melanogenesis, has not been fully explored. To clarify the action mechanism between glyceollin I and mAC, we first investigated the molecular docking property of glyceollin I to mAC and compared with that of SQ22,536, a well-known mAC inhibitor, to mAC. Glyceollin I showed superiority by forming three hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018, Trp 1020, and Asn 1025, which exist in the catalytic site of mAC. However, SQ22,536 formed only two hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018 and Asn 1025. Secondly, we confirmed that glyceollin I effectively inhibits the formation of forskolin-induced cAMP and the phosphorylation of PKA from a cell-based assay. Long term treatment with glyceollin I had little effect on the cell viability. The findings of the present study also suggest that glyceollin I may be extended to be used as an effective inhibitor of hyperpigmentation.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.39-42
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• 1999

Perfluoropolymers represent the ultimate resistance to hostile chemical environments and high service temperature, attributed to the presence of fluorine in the polymer backbone, i.e. to the high bond energy of C-F and C-C bonds of fluorocarbons. Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene (TEE) and 2, 2, 4Trifluoro-5Trifluorometoxy- 1, 3Dioxole (TTD), commercially known as HYFLON AD, are amorphous perfluoropolymers with glass transition temperature (Tg)higher than room temperature, showing a thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 40$0^{\circ}C$. These polymer systems are highly soluble in fluorinated solvents, with low solution viscosities. This property allows the preparation of self-supported and composite membranes with desired membrane thickness. Symmetric and asymmetric perfluoropolymer membranes, made with HYFLON AD, have been prepared and evaluated. Porous and not porous symmetric membranes have been obtained by solvent evaporation with various processing conditions. Asymmetric membranes have been prepared by th wet phase inversion method. Measure of contact angle to distilled water have been carried out. Figure 1 compares experimental results with those of other commercial membranes. Contact angles of about 120$^{\circ}$for our amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes demonstrate that they posses a high hydrophobic character. Measure of contact angles to hexandecane have been also carried out to evaluate the organophobic character. Rsults are reported in Figure 2. The observed strong organophobicity leads to excellent fouling resistance and inertness. Porous membranes with pore size between 30 and 80 nanometers have shown no permeation to water at pressures as high as 10 bars. However high permeation to gases, such as O2, N2 and CO2, and no selectivities were observed. Considering the porous structure of the membrane, this behavior was expected. In consideration of the above properties, possible useful uses in th field of gas- liquid separations are envisaged for these membranes. A particularly promising application is in the field of membrane contactors, equipments in which membranes are used to improve mass transfer coefficients in respect to traditional extraction and absorption processes. Gas permeation properties have been evaluated for asymmetric membranes and composite symmetric ones. Experimental permselectivity values, obtained at different pressure differences, to various single gases are reported in Tab. 1, 2 and 3. Experimental data have been compared with literature data obtained with membranes made with different amorphous perfluoropolymer systems, such as copolymers of Perfluoro2, 2dimethyl dioxole (PDD) and Tetrafluorethylene, commercialized by the Du Pont Company with the trade name of Teflon AF. An interesting linear relationship between permeability and the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting the membrane has been observed. Results are descussed in terms of polymer chain structure, which affects the presence of voids at molecular scale and their size distribution. Molecular Dyanmics studies are in progress in order to support the understanding of these results. A modified Theodoru- Suter method provided by the Amorphous Cell module of InsightII/Discover was used to determine the chain packing. A completely amorphous polymer box of about 3.5 nm was considered. Last but not least the use of amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes appears to be ideal when separation processes have to be performed in hostile environments, i.e. high temperatures and aggressive non-aqueous media, such as chemicals and solvents. In these cases Hyflon AD membranes can exploit the outstanding resistance of perfluoropolymers.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.137-143
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• 1994

Enhancement or diminution of leukocyte migration to the specific site might be important factors for the development of inflammatory diseases. To investigate the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on chemotaxis of neutrophil, we obtained neutrophils by Hypaque-Ficoll step gradient centrifugation and tested the effects of seven drugs on the n-formyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced migration of neutrophil using a 48-well micro chemotaxis assembly. Oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, sulindac, zomepirac, and ibuprofen suppressed the migration of neutrophil at the therapeutic concentrations, however, indomethacin showed stimulation effect. IC50s for inhibition of neutrophil migration by these drugs are less than 100uM. When drugs were preincubated with FMLP, no inhibition on migration of neutrophil was observed. These results indicated that inhibitory effects of these drugs on migration of neutrophil might be related to the receptor sites of neutrophil rather than molecular inactivation of chemoattractant (FMLP). In conclusion, we suggested that the property of inhibition effects on neutrophil migration of several NSAIDs might be another mode of pharmacological action for anti-iflammatory effect, which showed significant effects at concentrations below therapeutic levels, in addition to cyclooxygenase inhibition.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2002

Research trends in the measurement of foliar uptake of pesticides and the recently proposed action mechanism of the surfactant-induced uptake of pesticides were reviewed with the related reports and studies. Major techniques used in those fields are bioassay, radiotracer techniques with leaves or cuticular membrane. Recently, a new method using Congo Red as a tracer was proposed. The limiting factor in the pesticides uptake into leaves is the waxy layer which consists of the epicuticular and cuticular wax. Physico-chemical parameters such as molar volume, water solubility and partition coefficient of pesticides have limited influences on the pesticide uptake into leaves. Polydisperse ethoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants are well known as the good activator for many pesticides. It is now generally agreed that uptake activation is not related to the intrinsic surface active properties of surfactants such as surface activity, solvent property, humectancy and critical micelle concentration. Recent studies using ESR-spectroscopy revealed that the surfactants have an unspecific plasticising effect on the molecular structure of the wax and cuticular matrix, leading to increased mobilities of pesticides. Penetration of surfactants into waxy layer altered the pesticide mobility in wax and the partition coefficient of pesticide, and then the pesticides penetration into leaves was enhanced temporally. The enhancing effect of surfactant could be significantly different depending on the carbon number of aliphatic moiety and the number of ethoxy group in polyoxyethylene chain of surfactants. It is suggested that the rate of penetration of surfactants should have a significant relationship with the rate of penetration of pesticides.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2009

The adsorption of iodide on untreated bentonite and bentonites modified with organic cation (i.e., hexadecylpyridinium chloride monohydrate ($HDP^+$)) was investigated, and the organobentonites were characterized using uptake measurements, ${\mu}$-XRD, and electrophoretic mobilities measurement. Uptake measurements indicate that bentonite has a high affinity for $HDP^+$. Our ${\mu}$-XRD study indicates that organobentonites significantly expanded in basal spacing and organic cations were substantially intercalated into the interlayer spaces of bentonite. The electrophoretic mobility indicates that organobentonite tht is modified with organic cations in excess of the CEC of bentonite is completely different from untreated bentonite in the surface charge distribution. We found significant differences in adsorption capacities of iodide depending on the bentonite properties as follows: iodide adsorption capacities were 439 mmol/kg for the bentonite modified with $HDP^+$ at an equivalent amount corresponding to 200% of the CEC of bentonite whereas no adsorption of iodide was observed for the untreated bentonite. The molecular environments of iodine adsorbed on organobentonites were further studied using I K-edge and $L_{III}$-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of iodine spectra from organobentonites was similar to that of KI reference solution. Linear combination fitting of EXAFS data suggests the fraction of iodine reacted with the organic compound increased with increasing loading of the organic compound on organobentonites. In this study, we observed significant differences in the adsorption environments of iodide depending on the modified property of bentonite and suggest that an organobentonite has potential as reactive barrier material around a nuclear waste repository containing anionic radioactive iodide.