• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.269-276
• /
• 2018

Rabies virus (RABV)-specific antibodies in animals and humans are measured using standard methods such as fluorescent antibody virus neutralization (FAVN) tests and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition tests, which are based on cell culture systems. An alternative assay that is safe and easy to perform is required for rapid sero-surveillance following mass vaccination of animals. Two purified monoclonal antibodies (4G36 and B2H17) against RABV were selected as capture and detection antibodies, respectively. A genetically modified RABV, the ERAGS strain, was propagated and concentrated by polyethylene glycol precipitation. Optimal conditions for the RABV antigen, antibodies, and serum dilution for a blocking enzymelinked immune sorbent assay (B-ELISA) were established. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the B-ELISA using serum samples from 138 dogs, 71 raccoon dogs, and 25 cats. The B-ELISA showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.8-96.3%, specificity of 91.3-100%, and accuracy of 96.0-97.2% compared to the FAVN test. These results suggest that the B-ELISA is useful for sero-surveillance of RABV in dogs, raccoon dogs, and cats.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.257-263
• /
• 2021

Human gnathostomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Gnathostoma nematode infection. A rapid, reliable, and practical immunoassay, named dot immuno-gold filtration assay (DIGFA), was developed to supporting clinical diagnosis of gnathostomiasis. The practical tool detected anti-Gnathostoma-specific IgG4 in human serum using crude extract of third-stage larvae as antigen. The result of the test was shown by anti-human IgG4 monoclonal antibody conjugated colloidal gold. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were both 100% for detection in human sera from patients with gnathostomiasis (13/13) and from healthy negative controls (50/50), respectively. Cross-reactivity with heterogonous serum samples from patients with other helminthiases ranged from 0 (trichinosis, paragonimiasis, clonorchiasis, schistosomiasis, and cysticercosis) to 25.0% (sparganosis), with an average of 6.3% (7/112). Moreover, specific IgG4 antibodies diminished at 6 months after treatment. This study showed that DIGFA for the detection of specific IgG4 in human sera could be a promising tool for the diagnosis of gnathostomiasis and useful for evaluating therapeutic effects.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2023

The rapid development of mRNA vaccines has contributed to the management of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, suggesting that this technology may be used to manage future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Because the antigens targeted by mRNA vaccines can be easily altered by simply changing the sequence present in the coding region of mRNA structures, it is more appropriate to develop vaccines, especially during rapidly developing outbreaks of infectious diseases. In addition to allowing rapid development, mRNA vaccines have great potential in inducing successful antigen-specific immunity by expressing target antigens in cells and simultaneously triggering immune responses. Indeed, the two COVID-19 mRNA vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have shown significant efficacy in preventing infections. The ability of mRNAs to produce target proteins that are defective in specific diseases has enabled the development of options to treat intractable diseases. Clinical applications of mRNA vaccines/therapeutics require strategies to safely deliver the RNA molecules into targeted cells. The present review summarizes current knowledge about mRNA vaccines/ therapeutics, their clinical applications, and their delivery strategies.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.263-270
• /
• 1998

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor system, has rapid response and high sensitivity, can be applicable for detecting reaction times of many biospecific interactions. A SPR sensor system was constructed to detect the antigen-antibody reactions of salmonella and hIgG (human immunoglobulin G). Sensor chips made of gold thin film were used for detecting biological bindings of antigen and antibody reactions. The antigen and antibody reactions for salmonella and hIgG were carried out with various time intervals to observed characteristics of these reactions using SPR sensor system. The resonance angle shift changes were clearly observed at the time of salmonella or hIgG antibody injection into sample cell since each antibody was self-assembled on gold chip surface of the sensor. It was found that the antibodies of salmonella and hIgG reacted with its sensor chip surface in 10 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. And the antigens of both salmonella and hIgG were bound to its antibody within 1 minute.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.124-134
• /
• 2005

Purpose : It has been known that the diagnostic confirmation of group A streptococcal pharyngitis is accompanied with the results of throat culture and/or rapid antigen detection test(RADT). This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness and cost benefits of the RADT in patients with a sore throat compared the empirical antibiotic treated group without using RADT or throat culture with the antibiotic treated group according to the results of RADT test and/or throat culture. Methods : From April 2003 to August 2003, total 369 patients were enrolled this study. They were redistributed into two groups. In one group, the RADT test and throat culture were used and the patients received antibiotic treatment according to the results of test and in the other group, no diagnostic examinations were used and the patients were treated with antibiotics which were chosen empirically. The flow sheet with questionnaire was drawing up and obtained the clinical symptoms, signs and the name of antibiotics that were administered. Results : A total of 244 patients were treated after the throat culture and/or RADT, and 125 patients were treated empirically. The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed group A streptococcal pharyngitis was 20.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of RADT were 89.8% and 86.1%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 62.0% and 97.1%, respectively. The rate of antibiotic use was high in both groups. Because the physician used the antibiotics even if the result of RADT was negative. So about 37% of reduction of antibiotics use might be possible if we used antibiotics according to the results of RADT. There were no cost differences between the RADT applied group and the empirically treated antibiotic group if we could reduce the price of RADT to 63% of the current price. Conclusion : The RADT could be applied for the easy and rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and RADT could reduced the number of antibiotics used if the price of RADT was reduced to 63% of current price. For accurate evaluation of efficacy and cost effect, further controlled study is needed.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.243-246
• /
• 2000

One of recent topics in the case of hepatits B virus(HVB) is the value of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) concentration as a prognostic maker. We developed uantitative method of rapid immunochromatographic assay(ICA) kit for HBsAg using computer image analysis (CIA) for the purpose of home diagnosis. uantitative ICA using CIA demonstrated integrated optical density(IOD) values proportional to log of reference HBsAg concentrations in the range of 2-200 ng/mL and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) demonstrated the same in the range of 0.1-100 ng/mL however the test results with sample sear showed the same concentration on both kits. Furthermore repeated tests with the same samples revealed that this quantitative ICA using CIA would be reproducible and coefficient of variation(CV) of the results was 1.38~6.30%.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Intraoperative peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) is used to determine treatment strategies for gastric cancer with suspected serosal invasion. However, a standard staining method for intraoperative PWC remains to be established. We evaluated the feasibility of a rapid and simple staining method using Shorr's stain for intraoperative PWC in advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Between November 2012 and December 2014, 77 patients with clinical T3 or higher gastric cancer were enrolled. The sensitivity, specificity, and concordance between the Shorr staining method and conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) staining with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunohistochemistry (IHC) were analyzed. Results: Intraoperative PWC was performed laparoscopically in 69 patients (89.6%). The average time of the procedure was 8.3 minutes, and the average amount of aspirated fluids was 83.3 mL. The average time for Shorr staining and pathologic review was 21.0 minutes. Of the 77 patients, 16 (20.7%) had positive cytology and 7 (9.1%) showed atypical findings; sensitivity and specificity were 73.6% and 98.2% for the Shorr method, and 78.9% and 98.2% for the Pap method with CEA IHC, respectively. Concordance of diagnosis between the 2 methods was observed in 90.9% of cases (weighted ${\kappa}$ statistic=0.875) and most disagreements in diagnoses occurred in atypical findings (6/7). In overall survival, there was no significant difference in C-index between the 2 methods (0.459 in Shorr method vs. 0.458 in Pap with CEA IHC method, P=0.987). Conclusions: Shorr staining could be a rapid and reliable method for intraoperative PWC in advanced gastric cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2021

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence have been rapidly increasing in some parts of Korea. We analyzed prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), in the sera of 552 residents in Ganghwagun, 661 ones in Cheorwon-gun, and 305 ones in Goseong-gun, Korea in 2019. IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), glutathione-S-transferase-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. IgG seroprevalence was 28.1% in Ganghwa-gun, 19.5% in Cheorwon-gun and 35.7% in Goseong-gun. Odds ratios comparing Cheorwon vs Ganghwa was 0.63 (P=0.001) and Goesong versus Ganghwa was 1.47 (P=0.01) adjusting age and sex. Goseong had highest seroprevalence among the 3 counties both in crude rates and logistic regression. Although Cheorwon and Goseong are adjacent to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea, seroprevalence rate was much higher in Goseong. Further investigation on other DMZ-closed areas is necessary whether they have high prevalence rates compared to the other areas. T. gondii prevalence in Korea is still persists; proper health policy should be established.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.323-325
• /
• 2002

Bacillus Anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. The major virulence factors are a poly-D glutamic acid capsule and three-protein component exotoxin, which is collectively known as anthrax toxin, protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa), and edema factor (EF, 89 kDa). These three proteins individually have no known toxic activities, but in combination with PA form two toxins (lethal toxin and edema toxin), causing different pathogenic responses in animals and cultured cells. However, it remains to be elucidated for pathogenic mechanism of anthrax toxin. In this study, we constructed toxin component in bacterial overexpression system and purified the native toxin from Bacillus anthracis delta sterne F32 using FPLC system. Recombinant toxin showed high homogeneity and rapid purification processes. Also, this recombinant toxin was comparable to B. anthracis native toxin in terms of cytotoxic effects on cultured cell lines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 1994

We established ELISA method which is more rapid and safe than conventional analytical method, and then analyzed concentration of ochratoxin A in the rices by ELISA method. The results were as follows: 1. Since ochratoxin A molecular does not contain the group for coupling reaction, it was first proposed to have the function of an antigen. As a result of conjugation of ochratoxin A-BSA derivatives, one molecular of BSA was conjugated with 13 moleculars of ochratoxin A. 2. On the basis of established ELISA to apply for immuno analytical method of ochratoxin A, the minimal level of detection by ELISA method was at 0.5 ppb. 3. Rices (42) were collected from homes of Kyoungnam districts through November 1992 to December 1992, as a result of analysis, two of these were positive. Rice samples of R-1 and R-9 represented ochratoxin A levels of 6.0 ng/g and 10 ng/g, respectively.