• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제19권6호
• /
• pp.573-581
• /
• 2009

The complex enzyme pool secreted by the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum in response to glucose or hop cell wall material as sole carbon sources was analyzed. The biochemical characterization of the enzymes present in the supernatant of fungal cultures in the glucose medium revealed only 5 different glycosyl hydrolase activities; by contrast, when analyzing cultures in the cell wall medium, 17 different activities were detected. This dramatic increase reflects the adaptation of the fungus by the synthesis of enzymes targeting all layers of the cell wall. When the enzymes secreted in the presence of plant cell wall were used to hydrolyze pretreated crude plant material, high levels of monosaccharides were measured with yields approaching 50% of total sugars released by an acid hydrolysis process. This report is the first biochemical characterization of numerous cellulases, hemicellulases, and pectinases secreted by F. graminearum and demonstrates the usefulness of the described protein cocktail for efficient enzymatic degradation of plant cell wall.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제52권4호
• /
• pp.239-249
• /
• 2019

Membrane-anchored full-length MET stimulated by its ligand HGF/SF induces various biological responses, including survival, growth, and invasion. This panel of responses, referred to invasive growth, is required for embryogenesis and tissue regeneration in adults. On the contrary, MET deregulation is associated with tumorigenesis in many kinds of cancer. In addition to its well-documented ligand-stimulated downstream signaling, the receptor can be cleaved by proteases such as secretases, caspases, and calpains. These cleavages are involved either in MET receptor inactivation or, more interestingly, in generating active fragments that can modify cell fate. For instance, MET fragments can promote cell death or invasion. Given a large number of proteases capable of cleaving MET, this receptor appears as a prototype of proteolytic-cleavage-regulated receptor tyrosine kinase. In this review, we describe and discuss the mechanisms and consequences, both physiological and pathological, of MET proteolytic cleavages.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제56권4호
• /
• pp.225-233
• /
• 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common form of cancer worldwide and is often fatal. Although the histopathology of HCC is characterized by metabolic pathophysiology, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, the focus of treatment has been on eliminating HCC. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) multicellular hepatic spheroid (MCHS) models have provided a) new therapeutic strategies for progressive fibrotic liver diseases, such as antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs, b) molecular targets, and c) treatments for metabolic dysregulation. MCHS models provide a potent anti-cancer tool because they can mimic a) tumor complexity and heterogeneity, b) the 3D context of tumor cells, and c) the gradients of physiological parameters that are characteristic of tumors in vivo. However, the information provided by an multicelluar tumor spheroid (MCTS) model must always be considered in the context of tumors in vivo. This mini-review summarizes what is known about tumor HCC heterogeneity and complexity and the advances provided by MCHS models for innovations in drug development to combat liver diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권21호
• /
• pp.9361-9365
• /
• 2014

Background: To estimate the pre-vaccination distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) types among women from urban Tunis. Materials and Methods: A total of 611 women aged 18-69 years were enrolled in three local gynaecological outpatient departments. All underwent a gynaecological examination with Pap test and dry swab for HPV detection and typing performed by linear array genotyping test (Roche). Cytological examination was conducted on conventional Pap smears. Results: HPV DNA was found in 6.5% of the women; the most frequent HPV types were HPV 16 and HPV 11 at 3.27% and 1.96%, respectively. The second most frequent high risk (HR) HPV type was HPV 58 (0.82%) followed by HPV 18, HPV 31 and HPV 33 found in only 0.33% of women. Single infections with HPV types, targeted by the quadrivalent vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18), were detected in 3.6 % of the study patients (55% of positive women). HPV infection was found in 3.83% of women with normal cytology and in 47.4% of women with cytological abnormalities. No statistically significant trend in prevalence by age group emerged for any HPV type or for high or low risk types. Conclusions: These data show a relatively low prevalence of HPV infection in women from urban Tunis with a high proportion of HPV16 and HPV58. This should be considered in the upcoming screening programs and vaccination strategy.

• 한국식품영양학회지
• /
• 제16권3호
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2003

포도주 양조에 있어서 가장 중요한 효모배양을 효과적으로 하기 위하여 대표적인 활성건조효모 5종을 선정하여 포도주 특성과 제조공정에 적합한 활성건조 효모를 찾는 기준을 연구한 결과는 다음과 같다. 활성건조효모의 내성시험으로, 17% 에탄올 용액에서 72시간 후에 Lalvin W15 균주의 생존율이 0.007%로 가장 높았고, 1% 구연산 용액에서 72시간 후에 Pasteur Champagne 균주의 생존율은 2.85%로 가장 높았고, 또한 아황산 200ppm 용액에서 72시간 후에 Lalvin W15 >Prise de Mousse > Epernay II > Pasteur champagne > Montrachet 균주 순으로 생존율이 높았고 41.1%, 12.3%, 5.15%, 4.38%, 0.11%이었다. 적포도 Campbell Early 양조시험으로, 총산은 Lalvin W15 균주로 발효중인 must가 가장 높은 0.93g/100ml 이었으며, 에탄올 함량은 Epernay II 균주로 발효중인 must가 13.8%로 가장 높았다. 또한 유기산 함량은 주석산 > 사과산 > 구연산 순으로 많았고, Prise de Mousse 균주로 발효된 포도주가 주석산 1,897mg/l, 사과산 2,204mg/l로 가장 많았다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권4호
• /
• pp.1685-1688
• /
• 2014

Background: CEA and CA 15.3 serum tumor markers are currently used in clinical practice for monitoring therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum level of these markers among healthy females and invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) patients and to determine any relationships with clinicopathological factors. Materials and Methods: 60 Iranian females were enrolled in this study, 30 healthy and 30 diagnosed with breast cancer who had not received any preoperative chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used for the quantitative determination of the cancer associated antigens, CEA and MUC1 (CA15-3). Results: The serological levels of CEA and CA15-3 ($5.0033{\pm}0.49{\mu}g/L$ and $178.1667{\pm}15.11$ U/ml) in the breast cancer patients were significantly higher (p=0.00) than the serum levels of normal controls ($1.1237{\pm}0.11{\mu}g/L$ and $21.13{\pm}3.058$ U/ml). Regarding the CEA marker, a significant correlation with grade of tumor was shown. Furthermore, there was a low correlation between CA15-3 and CEA marker with correlation coefficient r=0.08. Conclusions: Collectively, markedly high levels of CEA and CA15-3 were found in our patients, pointing to their use as additional tools after clinical diagnosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2016

Background: Herbal medicine has becoming a potential source of treatment for different types of cancer including breast cancer. It has been shown that plants from the family Rhamnaceae possess anticancer activity. Objective: In this study, we determined the antiproliferative influence of Ziziphus spina christi- a species from this family- on the MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell line. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of the total extract, ethanol, ethanol-aqueous (1:1) as well as aqueous fractions of Ziziphus spina christi leaves was evaluated through MTT assay against MCF-7 cell line. Cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis induction were assessed by flowcytometry cycle RNase/PI analysis and Annexin V-FLUOS, respectively. Apoptosis was also analyzed by immunoblotting assay. Results: Our results indicated that the ethanolic fraction had the lowest $IC_{50}$ value (0.02 mg/ml), induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase as well as apoptosis after a 48h of treatment. Conclusions: This is the first report on anticancer effect of Ziziphus spina christi ethanolic fraction on breast cancer cells, providing a scientific basis for its utility in traditional medicine. However, further in-depth studies are needed to confirm the precise mechanisms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제9권5호
• /
• pp.534-540
• /
• 1999

Thirty-seven strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were isolated from Korean soil and examined for H-antigen serotyping, toxicity, and different spectra of biological activities. The isolate HL-175 bore a specific H-antigen, different from the 51 known serotypes, a spherical $\delta$-endotoxin crystal, and minor different biochemical characteristics. It was resistant to ampicillin, colistin, and penicillin G. Therefore, it was classified as a new serotype, H52, with the name kim. The other 36 isolates also produced endotoxin crystals and endospores. The crystal shape of eight strains was cuboidal while the others were bipyramidal. Biochemical characteristics of the isolates were only slightly different from the known serotypes of B. thuringiensis. The flagellar (H) antigens of the 36 isolates were identified as: one colmeri (H21), three galleriae (H5a,5b); two pakistani (H13); one toumanoffi (H11a, 11b); and twenty-nine kurstaki (H3a,3b). All 36 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, colistin, penicillin, cephalothin, and chloramphenicol.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.231-236
• /
• 2010

Anopheles fluviatilis James (Oiptera: Culicidae) is one of the known malaria vectors in south and southeastern Iran. Earlier ITS2 sequences analysis of specimens from Iran demonstrated only a single genotype that was identical to species Y in India, which is also the same as species T. We identified 2 haplotypes in the An. fluviatilis populations of Iran based on differences in nucleotide sequences of D3 domain of the 28S locus of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Comparison of sequence data from 44 Iranian specimens with those publicly available in the Genbank database showed that all of the 288-D3 sequences from Kazeroun and Khesht regions in Fars Province were identical to the database entry representing species U in India. In other regions, all the individuals showed heterozygosity at the single nucleotide position, which identifies species U and T. It is argued that the 2 species may co-occur in some regions and hybridize; however, the heterozygosity in the 288-D3 locus was not reflected in ITS2 sequences and this locus for all individuals was identical to species T. This study shows that in a newly diverged species, like members of An. fluviatilis complex, a single molecular marker may not be sufficiently discriminatory to identify all the taxa over a vast geographical area. In addition, other molecular markers may provide more reliable information for species discrimination.

• STI Policy Review
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.96-116
• /
• 2012

The establishment of Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) has been an intercultural experiment, which transplanted a French research organization with many foreign researchers into Korea to grow a new institution as a long-term collaboration. The Mission of the newly founded institute has been to develop more effective ways of generating value with basic life science research in the face of a world-wide Pharma crisis. The challenges have been i.) to invent new technologies and approaches in drug discovery, ii.) to convince the Korean stakeholders of their inherent value, iii.) to induce Pharma industry to adopt the new technologies and iv.) to create a context in the Korean R&D landscape where the new institute could contribute tangible benefits. If Institut Pasteur Korea has succeeded in all counts, then due to a somewhat skewed and unlikely set of cultural complementarities between Korea and France. The abstract and conceptual French approach was matched by Korean pragmatism, linearity and relentless improvement towards the defined development goal. IP-K has become an example for innovation made in Korea, which is now re-imported into Europe. As the project could arguably not have succeeded in either partner county alone, it highlights the benefits of longterm, in depth international collaborations.