• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2022

In the present study we evaluated the efficacy of a bioformulation of Streptomyces cameroonensis for control of black pod disease in cocoa and enhancement of seedling growth. The formulation developed using talc powder and cassava starch as carriers showed high shelf-life of 1.07 × 10⁶ CFU/g after six months storage at 4℃. The formulation was tested for inhibition of spore germination in Phytophthora megakarya and showed 100% inhibition at 10% (w/v) of formulation. To determine the efficacy of the formulation, we performed an in planta assay in the greenhouse on two hybrids of cocoa seedlings, the tolerant SNK413 × (♂) T79/467 and the susceptible UPA 134× (♂) SCA 12. Detached leaf assay showed a significant reduction in the disease severity index of about 67% for the tolerant hybrid and 55% for the susceptible hybrid compared to non-treated plants. A significant enhancement in stem length, leaf surface area and root weight was observed. Analysis of biochemical markers of defense showed a significant increase in total polyphenol, flavonoid, and total protein contents. There was also significant upregulation of PR-proteins such as chitinases, peroxidases and β-1, 3-glucanases following treatment of both tolerant and susceptible hybrids, though with a higher level of synthesis in the tolerant hybrids. A significant increase was also observed in polyphenol oxidase activities in plants treated with the formulation. This work demonstrated the stability and effectiveness of the S. cameroonensis powder formulation in suppressing black pod disease in cocoa and subsequently enhancing the growth of seedlings.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.488-498
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• 2022

The effects of 1,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Pentanediol, and 1,2-Hexanediol in surfactant solutions on cmc, surface tension, foaming and emulsifying properties were determined. The addition of diols in aqueous surfactant solution decreased cmc and surface tension, and enhanced the foaming and emulsifying power. This trend is more significant by the longer hydrocarbon chain length of the diols. This property was confirmed because the diol's alkyl chain and the hydrophobic interaction with the surfactant reduce the cohesive force of water and increase the interaction between the head groups of the surfactant at interface. In addition, MIC test was conducted to determine the preservative power of each diol, and as a result, the antibacterial activity was effective in the order of 1,2-HDO > 1,2-PDO > 1,3-BDO. The results of this study show that diol can be applied to cosmetics as an auxiliary surfactant and antibacterial agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to confirm the quality characteristics of distilled soju with different rice pretreatment processes. The non-steamed fermentation method is a technology that uses starch to produce saccharification and alcohol without going through the steaming of raw materials. It has advantages such as reduction of manpower and cost, prevention of nutrient loss, and minimization of waste water. In this study, rice used were non-steamed and pulverized 'Baromi2', nonsteamed and steamed 'Samgwang', and puffed rice. As the fermenting agent, koji, modified nuruk, N9 yeast, and purified enzyme were used, and lactic acid was added to prevent contamination during fermentation. The amount of water was 300% in total, and after the first watering, 5 days after fermentation, the second watering was carried out. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the non-steamed fermentation method using 'Baromi' was superior to the existing fermentation method in terms of temperature during fermentation, final alcohol content, soluble solids, and pH. By expanding the stability of the production technology of non-steamed fermentation technology, product quality improvement can be expected.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.30-35
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• 2023

Bisphosphonates, estrogen, and calcium supplements are commonly used medications for postmenopausal osteoporosis, but they are associated with various side effects such as vaginal bleeding, deep vein thromembolism, and breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of a compound isolated from the roots of Oryza sativa L. to improve osteoporosis using an ovariectomized mouse model. We isolated and identified oryzativol A, a lignan compound, through chemical analysis of an ethanol extract using a bioassay-guided fractionation protocol. We also examined the metabolism, clearance, and CYP enzyme activity of oryzativol A, and found that it showed plasma stability of over 80% at all analysis times, and indicating a low likelihood of inactivation or excretion by the CYP3A4 enzyme. Our results showed that the high-dose group of oryzativol A exhibited a significant increase in bone mineral density compared to the control group. Although the ALP concentration did not differ significantly compared to the control group, it showed a tendency to increase in the high-dose group of oryzativol A. Furthermore, the abnormal ratio of serum Ca/P, caused by osteoporosis, was improved to a level closer to that of the normal group as the dosage of oryzativol A increased. Taken together, these findings suggest that oryzativol A is stable in vivo and has potential as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis, particularly when administered in high doses.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a developmental neuropsychiatric disorder, is high among children and adolescents. The pathogenesis of ADHD is mediated with genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Most therapeutic drugs for ADHD have so far targeted biological causes, primarily by regulating catecholaminergic neurotransmitters. However, ADHD drugs that are clinically treated have various problems in their addictiveness and drug stability; thus, it is recommended that efficacy and safety should be secured through simultaneous prescription of multiple drugs rather than a single drug treatment. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop drugs that newly target pathogenic mechanisms of ADHD. In this study, we attempt to confirm the possibility of developing new drugs by reviewing dopamine-related developmental mechanisms of neurons and their correlation with ADHD. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can regulate the concentration of intracellular dopamine in neurons by expressing vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and inducing the exocytosis of neurotransmitters to the synaptic cleft, thereby promoting the development of neurons and signal transmission. This cellular modulation of HDACi is expected to treat ADHD by regulating endogenous catecholamines such as dopamine. Although studies are still in the preclinical stage, HDAC inhibitors clearly have potential as a therapeutic agent with low addictiveness and high efficacy for ADHD treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.42.1-42.23
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• 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, one of the most deadly infections in humans. The emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mtb strains presents a global challenge. Mtb has shown resistance to many frontline antibiotics, including rifampicin, kanamycin, isoniazid, and capreomycin. The only licensed vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, does not efficiently protect against adult pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop new vaccines to prevent infections caused by these strains. We used a subtractive proteomics approach on 23 virulent Mtb strains and identified a conserved membrane protein (MmpL4, NP_214964.1) as both a potential drug target and vaccine candidate. MmpL4 is a non-homologous essential protein in the host and is involved in the pathogen-specific pathway. Furthermore, MmpL4 shows no homology with anti-targets and has limited homology to human gut microflora, potentially reducing the likelihood of adverse effects and cross-reactivity if therapeutics specific to this protein are developed. Subsequently, we constructed a highly soluble, safe, antigenic, and stable multi-subunit vaccine from the MmpL4 protein using immunoinformatics. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the stability of the vaccine-bound Tolllike receptor-4 complex on a nanosecond scale, and immune simulations indicated strong primary and secondary immune responses in the host. Therefore, our study identifies a new target that could expedite the design of effective therapeutics, and the designed vaccine should be validated. Future directions include an extensive molecular interaction analysis, in silico cloning, wet-lab experiments, and evaluation and comparison of the designed candidate as both a DNA vaccine and protein vaccine.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.479-487
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• 2023

Copper is cost-effective and abundantly available as a biocidal coating agent for a wide range of material surfaces. Natural oxidation does not compromise the efficacy of copper, allowing it to maintain antimicrobial activity under prolonged exposure conditions. Furthermore, copper compounds exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic yeast, both enveloped and non-enveloped types of viruses, as well as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Contact killing of copper-coated surfaces causes the denaturation of proteins and damage to the cell membrane, leading to the release of essential components such as nucleotides and cytoplasm. Additionally, redox-active copper generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause permanent cell damage through enzyme deactivation and DNA destruction. Owing to its robust stability, copper has been utilized in diverse forms, such as nanoparticles, ions, composites, and alloys, resulting in the creation of various coating methods. This mini-review describes representative coating processes involving copper ions and copper oxides on various material surfaces, highlighting the antibacterial and antiviral properties associated with different oxidation states of copper.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.12
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• 2023

Objective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of different whitening toothpastes on a composite resin during at-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide. Materials and Methods: Sixty samples (7 mm × 2 mm) were used for color and roughness analyses, while another 60 samples (3 mm × 2 mm) were utilized to assess microhardness. The factors analyzed included toothpaste, for which 5 options with varying active agents were tested (distilled water; conventional toothpaste; whitening toothpaste with abrasive agents; whitening toothpaste with abrasive and chemical agents; and whitening toothpaste with abrasive, chemical, and bleaching agents). Brushing and application of whitening gel were performed for 14 days. Surface microhardness (SMH), surface roughness (Ra), and color (ΔL^*, Δa^*, Δb, ΔE^*_ab, and ΔE₀₀) were analyzed. The Ra and SMH data were analyzed using mixed generalized linear models for repeated measures, while the color results were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Results: Between the initial and final time points, all groups demonstrated significant increases in Ra and reductions in SMH. No significant differences were found between groups for SMH at the final time point, at which all groups differed from the distilled water group. Conventional toothpaste exhibited the lowest Ra, while whitening toothpaste with abrasive agent had the highest value. No significant differences were observed in ΔL^*, Δa^*, and Δb. Conclusions: While toothpaste composition did not affect the color stability and microhardness of resin composite, combining toothbrushing with whitening toothpaste and at-home bleaching enhanced the change in Ra.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.545-554
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• 2017

This study is concerned with the stability of liquid crystal forming emulsifier with localized depend on change of pH using liquid crystal forming agent of advanced company. The liquid crystal emulsifying agent was localized using Sugar Crystal-LC (bio-tech Co., Ltd., Korea), and comparative samples were measured by using Nikkomulese-LC (Nikko Camicarls, Japan) and Alacel-LC (Croda Camicarls, UK). Liquid crystal formation was confirmed microscopically to show the formation of liquid crystal structure at acidic (pH=4.2), neutral (pH=7.0) and alkaline (pH=11.7). The particles of the liquid crystal were observed with a polarizing microscope according to the stirring speed. The stirring time was all the same for 3 minutes with a homo-mixer, and the stirring speed was increased to 2500 rpm, 3500 rpm and 4500 rpm to observe the liquid crystal state. As a result, it was found that the Korean surfactant was more stable and clear liquid crystal structure was formed than the two foreign acids. In the case of the UK in acid zone, the emulsion particle size was uniform and unstable. In the case of Japanese surfactant, it has similar structure and performance to those of localized Korean. It was found that Korean surfactant had superior emulsifying performance in acid zone compared with foreign products. It is possible to develop various formulations such as liquid crystal cream, lotion, eye cream, etc. using Sugar Crystal-LC emulsifier as an application cosmetic field, and it is expected that it can be widely applied as emulsifying technology for skin care external application in the pharmaceutical industry and the pharmaceutical industry as well as the cosmetics industry.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2009

Purpose: We established radiolabeling conditions of NOTA and DOTA with a generator-produced PET radionuclide $^{68}$Ga and studied in vitro characteristics such as stability, serum protein binding, octanol/water distribution, and interference with other metal ions. Materials and Methods: Various concentrations of NOTA 3HCl and DOTA 4HCl were labeled with 1 mL $^{68}$GaCl$_3$ (0.18$\sim$5.75 mCi in 0.1 M HCl in various pH. NOTA 3HCl (0.373 mM) was labeled with $^{68}$GaCl$_3$(0.183$\sim$0.232 mCi/0.1 M HCl 1.0 mL) in the presence of CuCl$_2$, FeCl$_2$, InCl$_3$, FeCl$_3$, GaCl$_3$, MgCl$_2$ or CaCl$_2$ (0$\sim$6.07 mM) at room temperature. The labeling efficiencies of $^{68}$Ga-NOTA and $^{68}$Ga-DOTA were checked by ITLC-SG using acetone or saline as mobile phase. Stabilities, protein bindings, and octanol distribution coefficients of the labeled compounds also were investigated. Results: $^{68}$Ga-NOTA and $^{68}$Ga-DOTA were labeled optimally at pH 6.5 and pH 3.5, respectively, and the chelates were stable for 4 hr either in the reaction mixture at room temperature or in the human serum at 37$^{\circ}C$. NOTA was labeled at room temperature while DOTA required heating for labeling. $^{68}$Ga-NOTA labeling efficiency was reduced by CuCl$_2$, FeCl$_2$, InCl$_2$, FeCl$_3$ or CaCl$_3$, however, was not influenced by MgCl$_2$ or CaCl$_2$. The protein binding was low (2.04$\sim$3.32%). Log P value of $^{68}$Ga-NOTA was -3.07 indicating high hydrophilicity. Conclusion: We found that NOTA is a better bifunctional chelating agent than DOTA for $^{68}$Ga labeling. Although, $^{68}$Ga-NOTA labeling is interfered by various metal ions, it shows high stability and low serum protein binding.