• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.708-711
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• 2010

We report the isolation and characterization of a novel knottin-type antimicrobial peptide from the yellow-spotted long-horned beetle Psacothea hilaris. A cDNA encoding a 56-mer knottin-type propeptide was identified and its predicted molecular mass and pI were 5.92 kDa and 8.28, respectively. A 34-mer mature peptide was also selected and named herein as psacotheasin. The antimicrobial activity of chemically synthesized psacotheasin against human bacterial pathogens was subsequently investigated. The results showed that psacotheasin exerted potent activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The present study suggests that psacotheasin can be applied to develop novel therapeutic agents.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.429-441
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• 2009

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-spotted long horned beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endangered insect species in Korea. The 15,856-bp long P. hilaris mitogenome harbors gene content typical of the animal mitogenome and a gene arrangement identical to the most common type found in insect mitogenomes. As with all other sequenced coleopteran species, the 5-bp long TAGTA motif was also detected in the intergenic space sequence located between $tRNA^{Ser}$(UCN) and ND1 of P. hilaris. The 1,190-bp long non-coding A+T-rich region harbors an unusual series of seven identical repeat sequences of 57-bp in length and several stretches of sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures. Furthermore, it contains one $tRNA^{Arg}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Lys}$-like sequence. Phylogenetic analysis among available coleopteran mitogenomes using the concatenated amino acid sequences of PCGs appear to support the sister group relationship of the suborder Polyphaga to all remaining suborders, including Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata. Among the two available infraorders in Polyphaga, a monophyletic Cucujiformia was confirmed, with the placement of Cleroidea as the basal lineage for Cucujiformia. On the other hand, the infraorder Elateriformia was not identified as monophyletic, thereby indicating that Scirtoidea and Buprestoidea are the basal lineages for Cucujiformia and the remaining Elateriformia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.29-29
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• 2000

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.158-162
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• 1998

The chitin was isolated from various kinds of insects such as exuvia of Psacothea hilaris Pascoe, silkworm pupa, Agrius convolvuli or from cuticle of cockroach by treatment with dilute HCI and NaOH. The chemical and crystalline structure was characterized by FT-IR and X-ray diffractometer. All of the chitins extracted from insects showed characteristic ${\alpha}$-chitin peaks at the Bragg angle 2$\theta$=9.3$^{\circ}$, 19.4$^{\circ}$, and 23.5$^{\circ}$by X-ray diffraction analysis. The transition from chitin to chitosan was confirmed by IR spectra and the degree of deacetylation of the crab shell, silkworm pupa, cockroach, and Psacothea hilaris Pascoe was 70.9, 76.4, 75.5, and 74.1%, respectively. The double diffraction peaks of insect chitosan were observed at 2$\theta$=10$^{\circ}$and 20$^{\circ}$, indication the characteristic of hydrated crystalline structure of chitosan.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the immature development period, fecundity, emergence rate and sex ratio of Sclerodermus harmandi against different host insects, Monochamus alternatus, M. saltuarius and Psacothea hilaris. Full grown larvae and pupae of host insects were provided with foods. The mean larval period of S. harmandi female was $29.2{\pm}0.93\;and\;25.1{\pm}0.47$ days in larvae and pupae of M. alternatus, $27.1{\pm}0.41\;and\;26.0{\pm}0.69$ days in M. saltuarius, and $26.3{\pm}0.38\;and\;31.2{\pm}0.24$ days in P. hilaris, respectively. S. hilaris adults were emerged at $12.9{\pm}0.2$ days in female and $11.9{\pm}0.2$ days in male after pupation when hosted M. alternatus pupa. Development period in male showed shorter one day than in female. Success rate of oviposition against different hosts was higher as 98.6 and 97.5% on full grown larva and pupa of M saltuarius. Emergence rate was higher as 90.1 and 87.3% on M. saltuarius larvae and pupae. Sex ratio of emerged S. harmandi adults was approximately 10:1 (Female : Male), females showed higher emergence rate than males. The period until first oviposition after emergence in S. harmandi female was the shortest in $4.6{\pm}0.1$ days on M. saltuarius pupa. When three females of S. harmandi were inoculated on M. saltuarius larva, the number of laid eggs was the highest $62.7{\pm}2.5$ per female.