• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.118-122
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• 2023

In this study, we investigate the emergence of bullous pemphigoid (BP) after the administration of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (SARSCOVID-19) vaccine. The study presents two cases of women, aged 47 and 53, diagnosed with BP following SARS-COVID-19 vaccination. BP is a common autoimmune blistering disorder prevalent among older populations, with an incidence rate ranging from 2 to 40 cases per million individuals. This condition arises when autoantibodies target adhesive proteins in the skin, resulting in blister formation and mucosal erosion. Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid (DIBP) shares similarities with the classic form of BP but may be influenced by medication usage. Notably, DIBP exhibits distinct characteristics, such as affecting a younger demographic and involving mucosal regions more prominently than classic BP. The growing incidence of BP is linked to factors such as an aging population and the rise of drug-induced cases. This case report provides valuable insights into comprehending DIBP, elucidating post-vaccination discomforts, particularly those related to oral lesions and the exacerbation of existing lesions. By elucidating these aspects, we aim to advance the understanding of DIBP within the medical community.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.146-151
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• 2011

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a leading cause of invasive infections including bacteremia and meningitis, as well as mucosal infections such as otitis media and pneumonia among children and adults. The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was licensed for use among infants and young children in many countries including Korea. The routine use of PCV7 has resulted in a decreased incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) by the vaccine serotypes among the vaccinees and substantial declines in IPD among unvaccinated populations such as older children and adults as well. In addition, there are increasing evidences to suggest that routine immunization with PCV7 is changing the epidemiology of pneumococcal diseases such as serotype distribution of IPD, nasopharyngeal colonization, and antibiotic resistance patterns. In contrast, there is an increase in the number of IPDs caused by nonvaccine serotypes, though it is much smaller than overall declines of vaccine serotype diseases. Several vaccines containing additional serotypes have been developed and tested clinically in order to expand the range of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Recently two new pneumococcal protein conjugate vaccines, 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), have been approved for use in several countries including Korea. This report summarizes the recommendations approved by the Committee on Infectious Diseases, the Korean Pediatric Society.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.185-189
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• 2020

Immunogenicity of dendritic cell-derived exosomes stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii lysates (TLA exo), mixed with cholera toxin as an adjuvant, was investigated in mice immunized via 2 mucosal routes (ocular vs intranasal). BALB/c mice were injected 3 times with TLA exo vaccine at 2 week interval, and the levels of IgG in serum and IgA in tear, saliva, feces, and vaginal wash were measured. To observe the expression of T. gondii-specific B1 gene, mice infected with ME49 T. gondii cysts were immunized with TLA exo or PBS exo (not stimulated with TLA), and their brain tissues were examined. The mice vaccinated via intranasal route elicited significantly higher humoral and mucosal immune responses compared with mice treated with PBS alone. Also, mice immunized via ocular route (by eyedrop) induced significantly higher T. gondii-specific IgG in serum and IgA in tear and feces in comparison with PBS controls. B1 gene expression was significantly lower in TLA exo vaccinated mice than in PBS or PBS exo vaccinated mice. These results demonstrated that ocular immunization of mice with TLA exo vaccine has the potential to stimulate systemic or local antibody responses. This study also highlighted an advantage of an eyedrop vaccine as an alternative for T. gondii intranasal vaccines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.663-672
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• 2024

The use of nanoparticles as a delivery system for a specific antigen could solve many limitations of mucosal vaccine applications, such as low immunogenicity, or antigen protection and stabilization. In this study, we tested the ability of nasally administered chitosan nanoparticles loaded with glycoprotein B of murine cytomegalovirus to induce an immune response in an animal model. The choice of chitosan nanoparticle type was made by in vitro evaluation of sorption efficiency and antigen release. Three types of chitosan nanoparticles were prepared: crosslinked with tripolyphosphate, coated with hyaluronic acid, and in complex with polycaprolactone. The hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, stability, loading efficiency, and release kinetics with ovalbumin were evaluated. Balb/c mice were immunized intranasally using the three-dose protocol with nanoparticles, gB, and adjuvants Poly(I:C) and CpG ODN. Subsequently, the humoral and cell-mediated antigen-specific immune response was determined. On the basis of the properties of the tested nanoparticles, the cross-linked nanoparticles were considered optimal for further investigation. The results show that nanoparticles with Poly(I:C) and with gB alone raised IgG antibody levels above the negative control. In the case of mucosal IgA, only gB alone weakly induced the production of IgA antibodies compared to saline-immunized mice. The number of activated cells increased slightly in mice immunized with nanoparticles and gB compared to those immunized with gB alone or to negative control. The results demonstrated that chitosan nanoparticles could have potential in the development of mucosal vaccines.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.251-263
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• 2020

Flagellin, a major structural protein of the flagellum found in all motile bacteria, activates the TLR5- or NLRC4 inflammasome-dependent signaling pathway to induce innate immune responses. Flagellin can also serve as a specific antigen for the adaptive immune system and stimulate anti-flagellin antibody responses. Failure to recognize commensal-derived flagellin in TLR5-deficient mice leads to the reduction in anti-flagellin IgA antibodies at steady state and causes microbial dysbiosis and mucosal barrier breach by flagellated bacteria to promote chronic intestinal inflammation. Despite the important role of anti-flagellin antibodies in maintaining the intestinal homeostasis, regulatory mechanisms underlying the flagellin-specific antibody responses are not well understood. In this study, we show that flagellin induces interferon-β (IFN-β) production and subsequently activates type I IFN receptor signaling in a TLR5- and MyD88-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. Internalization of TLR5 from the plasma membrane to the acidic environment of endolysosomes was required for the production of IFN-β, but not for other pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, we found that anti-flagellin IgG2c and IgA responses were severely impaired in interferon-alpha receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-deficient mice, suggesting that IFN-β produced by the flagellin stimulation regulates anti-flagellin antibody class switching. Our findings shed a new light on the regulation of flagellin-mediated immune activation and may help find new strategies to promote the intestinal health and develop mucosal vaccines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2001

Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is considered as an essential immunogenic component for incorporation into acellular vaccines against Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. Classically, antipertussis vaccination has employed an intramuscular route. An alternative approach to stimulate mucosal and systemic immune responses is oral immunization with recombinant live vaccine carrier strains of Salmonella typhimurium. An attenuated live Salmonella vaccine sgrain($\Delta$cya $\Delta$crp) expressing recombinant FHA(rFHA) was developed. Stable expressionof rFHA was achieved by the use of balanced-lethal vector-host system. which employs an asd deletion in the host chromosome to impose in obligate requirement for diaminopimelic acid. The chromosomal $\Delta$asd mutation was complemented by a plasmid vector possessing the asd$^{+}$ gene. A 3 kb DNA fragment encoding immuno dominant regionof FHA was subcloned in-frame downstream to the ATG translation initiation codon in the multicopy Asd$^{+}$ pYA3341 vector to create pYA3457. Salmonella vaccine harboring pYA3457 expressed approximately 105kDa rFHA protein. The 100% maintenance of [YA3457 in vaccine strain was confirmed by stability examinations. Additionally, a recombinant plasmid pYA3458 was constructed to overpress His(8X)-tagged rFHA in Essherichia coli. His-tagged rFHA was purified from the E. coli strain harboring pYA3458 using Ni$^{2+}$-NTA affinity purification system.>$^{2+}$-NTA affinity purification system.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1998

Recombinant polioviruses have been developed by many research groups for use as vaccine vector because poliovirus induces mucosal immunity as well as humoral immunity through oral uptake. We assessed the potential use of poliovirus as a T-cell epitope carrier. Recombinant poliovirus V129 5L was constructed to have a substituted T-helper epitope from the core protein of Hepatitis B virus at neutralization antigenic site 1 on its VP1 capsid protein. The recombinant virus replicated less efficiently than type 1 poliovirus Mahoney strain. The V129 5L formed a little smaller plaques than the Mahoney strain and showed some 1.25 log unit lower titer at the peak in the one-step growth kinetics though it had similar growth profile to that of the Mahoney strain. Since V129 5L recombinant virus was genetically stable even after 24 successive passages in HeLa cells, the antigenic site 1 on VP1 capsid protein was confirmed for its ability of carrying T cell epitope. The genetic stability of V129 5L also indicated that recombinant poliovirus can be successfully utilized for the development of the multivalent vaccines.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes a number of extraintestinal diseases in poultry. A virulence factor, P-fimbriae is firmly associated with the diseases. In this study, to develop an effective vaccine for the prevention of APEC, recombinant attenuatted Salmonella Typhimurium vaccines expressing PapA and PapG of P-fimbriae were evaluated whether these induced protective immune responses in murine models. Female BALB/c mice were primed and boosted orally at 7 and 10 weeks of age. In all immunized mice, the antigen-specific serum IgG levels were remained higher than those in the control mice from the fourth week post inoculation till the end of this study. In addition, antigen-specific serum IgG levels in the prime-booster immunized mice were enhanced as compared to the single immunized mice among each immunized group. The antigen-specific mucosal IgA levels in the mice immunized with each strain also induced higher than those in control mice. In addition, serum IgG and fecal IgA levels in mice administered with the combination of both strains were highly induced compared to those in mice immunized with each strain alone. These results indicated that PapA and PapG worked together for inducing high immune responses. To partly discern the nature of immunity induced by the strains, we quantified serum IgG subtypes IgG1 and IgG2a specific to antigens. The PapA and PapG strains biased the immunity to the Th1-type, as determined by the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio. On the other hand, the immunization with the both strains in combination produced mixed Th1- and Th2-type immune responses. These indicated that immunization with the combination of PapA and PapG could elicit both humoral and cell-mediated immunities.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.255-266
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• 2004

Papillomaviruses infect a wide variety of animals, including humans. The human papillomavirus (HPV), in particular, is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease. More than 200 types of HPV have been identified by DNA sequence data, and 85 HPV genotypes have been well char­acterized to date. HPV can infect the basal epithelial cells of the skin or inner tissue linings, and are, accordingly, categorized as either cutaneous or mucosal type. HPV is associated with a panoply of clin­ical conditions, ranging from innocuous lesions to cervical cancer. In the early 1980s, studies first reported a link between cervical cancer and genital HPV infection. Genital HPV infections are now rec­ognized to be a major risk factor in at least $95\%$ of cervical cancers. 30 different HPV genotypes have been identified as causative of sexually transmitted diseases, most of which induce lesions in the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and anus, as the result of sexual contact. There is also direct evidence demon­strating that at least four of these genotypes are prerequisite factors in cervical cancer. The main aim of this review was to evaluate the current literature regarding the pathovirology, diagnostics, vaccines, therapy, risk groups, and further therapeutic directions for HPV infections. In addition, we reviewed the current status of HPV infections in South Korean women, as evidenced by our data.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2005

Shigellosis is a global human health problem. Four species of Shigella i.e. S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. sonnei are able to cause the disease. These species are subdivided into serotypes on the basis of O-specific polysaccharide of the LPS. Shigella dysenteriae type 1 produces severe disease and may be associated with life-threatening complications. The symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhoea and/or dysentery with frequent mucoid bloody stools, abdominal cramps and tenesmus. Shigella spp. cause dysentery by invading the colonic mucosa. Shigella bacteria multiply within colonic epithelial cells, cause cell death and spread laterally to infect and kill adjacent epithelial cells, causing mucosal ulceration, inflammation and bleeding. Transmission usually occurs via contaminated food and water or through person-to-person contact. Laboratory diagnosis is made by culturing the stool samples using selective/differential agar media. Shigella spp. are highly fragile organism and considerable care must be exercised in collecting faecal specimens, transporting them to the laboratories and in using appropriate media for isolation. Antimicrobial agents are the mainstay of therapy of all cases of shigellosis. Due to the global emergence of drug resistance, the choice of antimicrobial agents for treating shigellosis is limited. Although single dose of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin has been shown to be effective, they are currently less effective against S. dysenteriae type 1 infection. Newer quinolones, cephalosporin derivatives, and azithromycin are the drug of choice. However, fluoroquinolone-resistant S. dysenteriae type 1 infection have been reported. Currently, no vaccines against Shigella infection exist. Both live and subunit parenteral vaccine candidates are under development. Because immunity to Shigella is serotype-specific, the priority is to develop vaccine against S. dysenteriae type 1 and S. flexneri type 2a. Shigella species are important pathogens responsible for diarrhoeal diseases and dysentery occurring all over the world. The morbidity and mortality due to shigellosis are especially high among children in developing countries. A recent review of literature (KotIoff et al.,1999) concluded that, of the estimated 165 million cases of Shigella diarrhoea that occur annually, $99\%$ occur in developing countries, and in developing countries $69\%$ of episodes occur in children under five years of age. Moreover, of the ca.1.1 million deaths attributed to Shigella infections in developing countries, $60\%$ of deaths occur in the under-five age group. Travellers from developed to developing regions and soldiers serving under field conditions are also at an increased risk to develop shigellosis.