• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.861-868
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• 2011

A xylanase gene, xyn7c, was cloned from Paenibacillus sp. 12-11, an alkalophilic strain isolated from the alkaline wastewater sludge of a paper mill, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The full-length gene consists of 1,296 bp and encodes a mature protein of 400 residues (excluding the putative signal peptide) that belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 10. The optimal pH of the purified recombinant XYN7C was found to be 8.0, and the enzyme had good pH adaptability at 6.5-8.5 and stability over a broad pH range of 5.0-11.0. XYN7C exhibited maximum activity at $55^{\circ}C$ and was thermostable at $50^{\circ}C$ and below. Using wheat arabinoxylan as the substrate, XYN7C had a high specific activity of 1,886 U/mg, and the apparent $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values were 1.18 mg/ml and 1,961 ${\mu}mol$/mg/min, respectively. XYN7C also had substrate specificity towards various xylans, and was highly resistant to neutral proteases. The main hydrolysis products of xylans were xylose and xylobiose. These properties make XYN7C a promising candidate to be used in biobleaching, baking, and cotton scouring processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.102-102
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• 2001

Taurine (2-ethaneaminosulfonic acid) is one of the major intracellular ${\beta}$ -amino acids in mammals and is required for a number of biological processes including membrane stabilization, osmoregulation, antioxidation, detoxification, modulation of calcium flux and neurornodulation. The taurine transporter (TAUT) which contains 12 hydrophobic membrane-spanning domains has been cloned from dog kidney, rat brain, mouse brain, human thyroid, placenta and retina. In this study, The TAUT cDNA from the human intestinal epithelial cell, HT-29 was cloned and sequenced. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to amplify partial cDNA encoding human intestinal TAUT. The coding region of the PCR product was 732 bp long. The primers were designed to encode highly conserved amino acid sequences near the transmembrane domains III (IPYFIFLF) and Ⅵ (KYKYNSYR) both in human and mouse. The TAUT cDNA amplified was ligated into the pGEX 4T-1 expression vector. The resulting sequence of human intestinal TAUT cDNA (Accession number of NCBI Genebank is AF346763) was identical to the sequences of the TAUTs previously determined in the human placenta and retina except 3 base pairs from that of the reported human thyroid. TAUT specific antibodies were generated to use them as biological tools in the studies of the biological role of TAUT. Peptides of 149-162 amino acid residue (14 amino acids) of the TAUT were synthesized. The synthetic peptide used in this study was LFQSFQKELPWAHC. This region was chosen not only to avoid putative glycosylation sites but also to exclude regions of known homology with GABA transporters in the extracellular hydrophilic domains. The synthetic peptide, TAUT-1 was conjugated with carrier protein, kehole lympet hemocyanin (KLH) to use as an antigen. When used for immunization on a rabbit to produce polyclonal antiserum, the conjugates elicited high -titered specific anti-TAUT-1 antibodies, which reacted well with the ovalbumin (OVA) conjugated peptides in ELISA. The KLH-conjugated peptide was also used as immunizing antigen in BALB/c mice to produce TAUT specific monoclonal antibodies. From the culture supernatant of the hybridoma, the specificity of anti-TAUT-1 monoclonal antibodies was confirmed by ELISA. Further applications of more tools in TAUT expression analysis will be performed such as western blotting and flow cytometry.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.583-593
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• 1997

Indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) and enzyme-linked imuunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA) as serological diagnostic tools were conducted to evaluate the usefulness for diagnosis of canine babesiosis infected with Babesia gibsoni in domestic various dog breeds, american pit bullterrier, military shepherd, and mongrel dogs. The results obtained from this study were abstracted as follows. The nonionic detergent Triton X-100 and absorbent bio-bead $SM_2$ were useful reagents for the preparation of pure merozoite antigen of B gibsoni to be used in ELISA. The optimum reaction in ELISA was shown when the protein concentration of ELISA antigen was measured as 625ng/ml and the conjugate concentration was diluted into 1/6000 fold. The average OD value of ELISA in sera determined with negative responses in IFAT was measured as $0.255{\pm}0.051$(490nm) and the cut - off value of OD was determined as 0.399(490nm). The serum antibodies in both of IFAT and ELISA were detected on one week after artificially infected with B gibsoni and these high antibody titers, 512X in IFAT and 1024X in ELISA, were long lasted until 15 weeks after infection. The reproducibility of reaction and stability of the antigen absorbed microtitration polystyrene plate preserved in $4^{\circ}C$ refrigerator and $-20^{\circ}C$ freezer, respectively could be lasted until 135 days after storage. The positive rates in IFAT by dog breeds were shown 8.1%(60/744 heads) in mongrel dogs, 81.3%(78/96 heads) in american pit bullterrier and 15.6%(15/96 heads) in military shepherd, while the positive rate in ELISA shown 17.6%(131/744 heads) in mongrel dogs, 83.3%(80/96 heads) in american pit bullterrier and 36.5%(35/96 heads) in military shepherd, respiectively. In the total of 936 heads surveyed with IFAT and ELISA the positive rates in IFAT and ELISA were 16.4%(153/936 heads) and 26.3%(246/936 heads), respectivily. Agreement of reactions between IFAT and ELISA was shown 82.4% in 936 dog sera. The specificity and sensitivity of ELISA reaction were 83.5% and 76.5%, respectively. From the conclusion obtained in this study it was evaluated that IFAT and ELISA were useful as highly specific, sensitive and stable serelogical tools for the diagnosis of canine babesiosis in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1997

The molecular weight 30 kDa membrane protein of Toxoplusma Sondii (Toxoplasma 30 kDa) apparently conserved in most strains of T. gondii and sera of infected hosts. The present study aimed to elucidate Toxoplasmc 30 kDa as a useful diagnotic antigen for serodiagnisis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA and for induction of protective immunity. Murine spleen cells immunized with the membrane antigen of T. gondii were fused with mouse Sp2/0-Ag 14 myeloma cells. Out of 8 clones selected, five were IgG2b, the others belonged to IgG 1 and IgG2a. The 30 kDa antigen was distributed mainly on the surface membrane of tachyzoites by indirect fluorescence method. Murine peritoneal macrophages which were activated by 30 kDa antigen produced more amounts of NO2 compared with crude antigen-treated group, however there were no significant differences in toxoplamacidal activity between the two groups. Higher specificity of Toxoplosma 30 kDa antigen was recognized for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis than the crude antigen. From these results, ToxopLasmo 30 kDa antigen enhances the cytotoxic effect of macrophages as well as a more reliable means for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA. Key words: Toxoplosma gondii, 30 kDa antigen (p30), mouse, serodiagnosis, macrophage, cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2013

The objective of the present study was to determine the minimum alcohol (ethanol) concentration that gives rise to the coagulation of goat milk for the alcohol precipitation test, and to evaluate the physical parameters of goat milk which include alcohol and heat stability. A total of 1,295 udder-half milk samples from 648 lactating dairy goats were collected from seven farms in Jeonnam province, Republic of Korea, to determine the alcohol and heat stability. The majority (99.6%) of the samples were coagulated when 70% ethanol was added to the milk, while only 11.0% of the samples were precipitated by the addition of an equal volume of 45% ethanol. With the concentration of 65%, 60%, 55% and 50% aqueous ethanol, 99.2%, 96.8%, 81.0% and 52.8% of the milk samples were coagulated, respectively. Of 1,295 dairy goat milk samples tested for heat stability, 127 (9.8%) were coagulated by boiling. Among the 143 alcohol test-positive udder-half milk samples, 52 (4.0%) were unstable by heat test, while 1,032 (79.7%) of the 1,152 alcohol test-negative milk samples were stable by heat test. According to the results of boiling test, sensitivity and specificity of 45% alcohol precipitation test were 0.3023 (95% CI: 0.2346~0.3772) and 0.9190 (95% CI: 0.9017~0.9344), respectively. The contents of protein and the specific gravity were higher in the milk samples of 45% alcohol test-positive than in those of 45% alcohol test-negative. However, lower levels of lactose and milk urea nitrogen were observed in the milk samples of 45% alcohol test-positive compared to the alcohol test-negative milk samples. The lowest pH values ($6.73{\pm}0.20$) were shown in the 45% alcohol test-negative and heat-unstable milk samples, while the lowest values of somatic cell counts and bacterial counts were shown in the 45% alcohol test-negative and heat-stable milk samples. Results of this study suggest that the alcohol precipitation for dairy goat milk may have to be tested with ethanol concentration less than 45% for the determination of freshness and heat-stability.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.758-762
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• 2003

Purpose : Our examination was designed to determine the diagnostic properties of the cutoff point for the prediction of bacteremia in febrile children less than 3 years of age. Cutoff point is the value that simultaneously maximizes both sensitivity and specificity. Methods : We conducted a retrospective study of febrile children, less than 3 years of age, who clinically have no identifiable source of fever. Peripheral blood leukocyte count(WBC), absolute neutrophil count(ANC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) were measured at the same time. All patients received blood culture, urine culture and/or CSF culture. Bacterial infection was defined as single pathogen isolated from the CSF or blood or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Patients were dichotomized into two groups : those with bacterial infection and no bacterial infection. We analyzed the characteristics of the children in the two groups. Results : Seventy-one patients(44 males; 27 females) were enrolled in the study. Twenty patients (28%) had a serious bacterial infection(twelve urinary tract infection, five bacteremia, three meningitis) and fifty-one(72%) had no serious bacterial infection. WBC, ESR and CRP were significantly different between the two groups(P<0.05). The cutoff point of WBC, ESR and CRP were $20,000/mm^3$, 30 mm/hr and 3.0 mg/dL, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of each cutoff point were WBC(75%, 75%), ESR(79%, 68%) and CRP(83%, 77%), respectively. Conclusion : These data show the ability of predictors to identify febrile children less than 3 years of age with bacterial infection. Febrile children who reach the cutoff point must be treated intensively and those who do not reach the cutoff point can be carefully managed without administering antimicrobial agents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.339-353
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• 1994

Background : The p53 gene codes for a DNA-binding nuclear phosphoprotein that appears to inhibit the progression of cells from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Mutations of the p53 gene are common in a wide variety of human cancers, including lung cancer. In lung cancers, point mutations of the p53 gene have been found in all histological types including approximately 45% of resected NSCLC and even more frequently in SCLC specimens. Mutant forms of the p53 protein have transforming activity and interfere with the cell-cycle regulatory function of the wild-type protein. The majority of p53 gene mutations produce proteins with altered conformation and prolonged half life; these mutant proteins accumulate in the cell nucleus and can be detected by immunohistochemical staining. But protein overexpression has been reported in the absence of mutation. p53 protein overexpression or gene mutation is reported poor prognostic factor in breast cancer, but in lung cancer, its prognostic significance is controversial. Method : We investigated the p53 abnormalities by nucleotide sequencing, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP), and immunohistochemical staining. We correlated these results with each other and survival in 75 patients with NSCLC resected with curative intent. Overexpression of the p53 protein was studied immunohistochemically in archival paraffin- embedded tumor samples using the D07(Novocastra, U.K.) antibody. Overexpression of p53 protein was defined by the nuclear staining of greater than 25% immunopositive cells in tumors. Detection of p53 gene mutation was done by PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing from the exon 5-9 of p53 gene. Result: 1) Of the 75 patients, 36%(27/75) showed p53 overexpression by immunohistochemical stain. There was no survival difference between positive and negative p53 immunostaining(overall median survival of 26 months, disease free median survival of 13 months in both groups). 2) By PCR-SSCP, 27.6%(16/58) of the patients showed mobility shift. There was no significant difference in survival according to mobility shift(overall median survival of 27 in patients without mobility shift vs 20 months in patients with mobility shift, disease free median survival of 8 months vs 10 months respectively). 3) Nucleotide sequence was analysed from 29 patients, and 34.5%(10/29) had mutant p53 sequence. Patients with the presence of gene mutations showed tendency to shortened survival compared with the patients with no mutation(overall median survival of 22 vs 27 months, disease free median survival of 10 vs 20 months), but there was no statistical significance. 4) The sensitivity and specificity of immunostain based on PCR-SSCP was 67.0%, 74.0%, and that of the PCR-SSCP based on the nucleotide sequencing was 91.8%, 96.2% respectively. The concordance rate between the immunostain and PCR-SSCP was 62.5%, and the rate between the PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing was 95.3%. Conclusion : In terms of detection of p53 gene mutation, PCR-SSCP was superior to immunostaining. p53 gene abnormalities either overexpression or mutation were not a significant prognostic factor in NSCLC patients resected with curative intent. However, patients with the mutated p53 gene showed the trends of early relapse.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.379-383
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• 2004

For the elucidation of substrate specificity to the brown copra meal by Bacillus sp. ${\beta}-mannanase.$, the enzymatic hydrolysate after 24 hr of reaction was heated in a boiling water bath for 10 min, and then centrifuged to remove the insoluble materials from hydrolysates. The major hydrolysates composed of D.P 5 and 7 galactosyl mannooligosaccharides. For the separate of galactosyl mannooligosaccharides, the supernatant solution of 150 ml was put on a first activated carbon column. The column was then washed with 5 l of water to remove mannose and salts. The oligosaccharides in the column were eluted by a liner gradient of $0{\sim}30%$ ethanol, at the flow rate of 250 ml per hour. The sugar composition in each fraction tubes was examined by TLC and FACE analysis. The combined fraction from F3 was concentrated to 30 ml by vacuum evaporator. Then put on a second activated carbon column. The oligosaccharides in the column were eluted by a liner gradient of $0{\sim}30%$ ethanol (total volume: 5 l), at the flow rate of 250 ml per hour. The eluent was collected in 8 ml fraction tubes, and the total sugar concentration was measured by method of phenol-sulfuric acid. The major component of F2 separated by 2nd activated carbon column chromatography were identified $Gal^3Man_4(6^3-mono-{\alpha}-D-galactopyranosyl-{\beta}-mannotetraose)$. To investigate the effects of brown copra meal galactomannooligosaccharides on growth of Bifidobacterium longum, B. bifidum were cultivated individually on the modified-MRS medium containing carbon source such as $Gal^3Man_4$, compared to those of standard MRS medium.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.178-185
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• 2008

Purpose : Our aim was to investigate the predictive factors for detecting grade III-V vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) in young infants less than 3 months with urinary tract infections (UTI). Methods : Data of infants who underwent ultrasonography and VCUG between January 2004 and September 2007 were reviewed. Age, gender, incidence of bacteremia, C-reactive protein(CRP) and imaging studies were compared between group I(grade III-V VUR) and group II (normal or grade I and II VUR) retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, odds ratio, and likelihood ratio of ultrasonography for high grade VUR were evaluated. Results : Among 54 enrolled infants(41 males, 13 females), 14 infants were group I and 40 infants were group II. In the group I, CRP level was significantly higher(6.11$\pm$5.18 vs. 3.27$\pm$3.45, P=0.025), and there were more ultrasonographic abnormal findings(71.4%, vs. 22.5%, P=0.002) compared with group II. However, ultrasonography was the only significant factor after adjusting with logistic regression(P=0.002). Incidence of bacteremia and abnormal DMSA findings were not significantly different in two groups. Sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio of ultrasonography was 71.4%, 77.5%, 6.9 respectively. Negative predictive value was 88.6% and negative likelihood ratio was 0.37. Ultrasonography had significant negative likelihood ratio for grade III-V VUR, but missed 4 infants with grade III VUR. Conclusion : We could not find any alternative predictive factors to reduce VCUG in detecting high grade VUR. Therefore, VCUG must be considered in young infants less than 3 months with UTI.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2015

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a prevalent pathogen that causes significant yield reduction in soybean production worldwide. SMV belongs to potyvirus and causes typical symptoms such as mild mosaic, mosaic and necrosis. SMV is seed-borne and also transmitted by aphid. Eleven SMV strains, G1 to G7, G5H, G6H, G7H, and G7a were reported in soybean varieties in Korea. A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method allowed one-step detection of gene amplification by simple procedure and needed only a simple incubator for isothermal template. This RT-LAMP method allowed direct detection of RNA from virus-infected plants without thermal cycling and gel electrophoresis. In this study, we designed RT-LAMP primers named SML-F3/B3/FIP/BIP from coat protein gene sequence of SMV. After the reaction of RT-LAMP, products were identified by electrophoresis and with the detective fluorescent dye, SYBR Green I under daylight and UV light. Optimal reaction condition was at $58^{\circ}C$ for 60 min and the primers of RT-LAMP showed the specificity for nine SMV strains tested in this study.