• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.725-732
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• 2016

Plasmodium vivax produces numerous caveola-vesicle complex (CVC) structures beneath the membrane of infected erythrocytes. Recently, a member helical interspersed subtelomeric (PHIST) superfamily protein, $PcyPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$, was identified as CVCs-associated protein in Plasmodium cynomolgi and essential for survival of this parasite. Very little information has been documented to date about $PHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ protein in P. vivax. In this study, the recombinant $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C termini were expressed, and immunoreactivity was assessed using confirmed vivax malaria patients sera by protein microarray. The subcellular localization of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C termini in blood stage parasites was also determined. The antigenicity of recombinant $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C terminal proteins were analyzed by using serum samples from the Republic of Korea. The results showed that immunoreactivities to these proteins had 61% and 43% sensitivity and 96.9% and 93.8% specificity, respectively. The N terminal of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ which contains transmembrane domain and export motif (PEXEL; RxLxE/Q/D) produced CVCs location throughout the erythrocytic-stage parasites. However, no fluorescence was detected with antibodies against C terminal fragment of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$. These results suggest that the $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ is localized on the CVCs and may be immunogenic in natural infection of P. vivax.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.36-42
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• 2016

Milk-related traits (milk yield, fat and protein) have been crucial to selection of Holstein. It is essential to find the current selection trends of Holstein. Despite this, uncovering the current trends of selection have been ignored in previous studies. We suggest a new formula to detect the current selection trends based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). This suggestion is based on the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and the Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection both of which are trait-dependent. Fisher's theorem links the additive genetic variance to the selection coefficient. For Holstein milk production traits, we estimated the additive genetic variance using SNP effect from BLUP and selection coefficients based on genetic variance to search highly selective SNPs. Through these processes, we identified significantly selective SNPs. The number of genes containing highly selective SNPs with p-value <0.01 (nearly top 1% SNPs) in all traits and p-value <0.001 (nearly top 0.1%) in any traits was 14. They are phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B), serine/threonine kinase 40 (STK40), collagen, type XI, alpha 1 (COL11A1), ephrin-A1 (EFNA1), netrin 4 (NTN4), neuron specific gene family member 1 (NSG1), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), neurexin 3 (NRXN3), spectrin, beta, non-erythrocytic 1 (SPTBN1), ADP-ribosylation factor interacting protein 1 (ARFIP1), mutL homolog 1 (MLH1), transmembrane channel-like 7 (TMC7), carboxypeptidase X, member 2 (CPXM2) and ADAM metallopeptidase domain 12 (ADAM12). These genes may be important for future artificial selection trends. Also, we found that the SNP effect predicted from BLUP was the key factor to determine the expected current selection coefficient of SNP. Under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of SNP markers in current generation, the selection coefficient is equivalent to $2^*SNP$ effect.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.403-411
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• 2015

Plasmodium falciparum can invade all stages of red blood cells, while Plasmodium vivax can invade only reticulocytes. Although many P. vivax proteins have been discovered, their functions are largely unknown. Among them, P. vivax reticulocyte binding proteins (PvRBP1 and PvRBP2) recognize and bind to reticulocytes. Both proteins possess a C-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane domain, which drives adhesion to reticulocytes. PvRBP1 and PvRBP2 are large (>326 kDa), which hinders identification of the functional domains. In this study, the complete genome information of the P. vivax RBP family was thoroughly analyzed using a prediction server with bioinformatics data to predict B-cell epitope domains. Eleven pvrbp family genes that included 2 pseudogenes and 9 full or partial length genes were selected and used to express recombinant proteins in a wheat germ cell-free system. The expressed proteins were used to evaluate the humoral immune response with vivax malaria patients and healthy individual serum samples by protein microarray. The recombinant fragments of 9 PvRBP proteins were successfully expressed; the soluble proteins ranged in molecular weight from 16 to 34 kDa. Evaluation of the humoral immune response to each recombinant PvRBP protein indicated a high antigenicity, with 38-88% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Of them, N-terminal parts of PvRBP2c (PVX_090325-1) and PvRBP2 like partial A (PVX_090330-1) elicited high antigenicity. In addition, the PvRBP2-like homologue B (PVX_116930) fragment was newly identified as high antigenicity and may be exploited as a potential antigenic candidate among the PvRBP family. The functional activity of the PvRBP family on merozoite invasion remains unknown.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.267-273
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• 2003

We have investigated the effect on inducing substate(s) of positively charged residues replaced in position 172 of the second transmembrane domain in murine inward rectifier potassium channels, formed by stable or transient transfection of Kir2.1 gene in MEL or CHO cells. Single channel recordings were obtained from either cell-attached patches or inside-out patches excised into solution containing 10 mM EDTA to rule out the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ on the channel gating. The substate(s) could be recorded with all mutants D172H, D172K and D172R. The unitary current-voltage (I-V) relation was not linear with D172H at $pH_i$ 6.3, whereas the unitary I-V relation was linear at $pH_i$ 8.0. The relative occupancy at $S_{LC}$ was increased from 0.018 at $pH_i$ 8.0 to 0.45 at $pH_i$ 5.5. In H-N dimer, that was increased from 0.016 at $pH_i$ 8.0 to 0.23 at $pH_i$ 5.5. The larger the size of the side chain or $pK_a$ with mutants (D172H, D172K and D172R), the more frequent the transitions between the fully open state and substate within an opening. The conductance of the substate also depended upon the pKa or the size of the side chain. The relative occupancy at substate $S_{LC}$ with monomer D172K (0.50) was less than that in K-H dimer (0.83). However, the relative occupancy at substate with D172R (0.79) was similar to that with R-N dimer (0.82). In the contrary to ROMK1, positive charge as well as negative charge in position 172 can induce the substate rather than block the pore in murine Kir2.1. The single channel properties of the mutant, that is, unitary I-V relation, the voltage dependence of the mean open time and relative occupancy of the substates and the increased latency to the first opening, explain the intrinsic gating observed in whole cell recordings.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.245-257
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• 2002

The gene encoding the HN protein from the CBP-1 strain, a heat stable Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from diseased pheasants in Korea, was characterized by reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were analyzed following cloning of the HN gene. In all of the NDV strains studied, a 1.75 kb size cDNA fragment for the HN gene was generated by RT-PCR and smaller specific band sizes harboring the internal portions of the HN gene were also detected by using four pairs of primers. The RT-PCR was sensitive enough to detect viral transcripts when the virus titer was above 25 hemagglutination units. The amplified 1.75 kb cDNA was cloned into a BamHI site of the pVL1393 Baculo transfer vector. The nucleotide sequences of the 1,758 bp HN gene from the CBP-1 strain were determined by the dye terminator cyclic sequencing method. The gene sequences were compared among the strains of CBP-1, Texas GB, Beaudette C, LaSota, B1 and Ulster. The homology of the CBP-1 HN gene to other HN variants was 97.8% to Texas GB, 98.4% to Beaudette C, 95.4% to LaSota, 95.6% to B1 and 90.2% to Ulster. As the deduced 577 amino acid sequences were compared among the strains, the homology for CBP-1 HN appeared to be 96.7% to Texas GB, 97.9% to Beaudette C, 95.5% to LaSota, 95.5% to B1 and 92.7% to Ulster. It was evident that the amino acid sequences included 5 sites for N-asparagine linked glycosylation and 12 cysteine residues. The three conserved leucine residues within the predicted transmembrane domain of the HN protein are amino acid 30, 37 and 44. The three antigenic sites on the HN protein of NDV are amino acids 347(Glu), 481(Asn) and 495(Glu). These data indicate that the genotype of the CBP-1 strain is more closely associated with the strains of Texas GB and Beaudette C than it is for the LaSota, B1 and Ulster strains.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.614-628
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• 2019

Objective: The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs) play an important role in innate immunity. The present study represents the first description of the cloning and structural and functional analysis of LILRB1 and LILRB3 isolated from two genetically disparate chicken lines. Methods: Chicken LILRB1-3 genes were identified by bioinformatics approach. Expression studies were performed by transfection, quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Signal transduction was analyzed by western blots, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Amino acid homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that the homologies of LILRB1 and LILRB3 in the chicken line 6.3 to those proteins in the chicken line 7.2 ranged between 97%-99%, while homologies between chicken and mammal proteins ranged between 13%-19%, and 13%-69%, respectively. Our findings indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 subdivided into two groups based on the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) present in the transmembrane domain. Chicken line 6.3 has two ITIM motifs of the sequence LxYxxL and SxYxxV while line 7.2 has two ITIM motifs of the sequences LxYxxL and LxYxxV. These motifs bind to SHP-2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11) that plays a regulatory role in immune functions. Moreover, our data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 associated with and activated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and ${\beta}2-microglobulin$ and induced the expression of transporters associated with antigen processing, which are essential for MHC class I antigen presentation. This suggests that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are transcriptional regulators, modulating the expression of components in the MHC class I pathway and thereby regulating immune responses. Furthermore, LILRB1 and LILRB3 activated Janus kinase2/tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2/TYK2); signal transducer and activator of transcription1/3 (STAT1/3), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 genes expressed in Macrophage (HD11) cells, which induced Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. Conclusion: These data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are innate immune receptors associated with SHP-2, MHC class I, ${\beta}2-microglobulin$, and they activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of immunity and immunopathology.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.67-77
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• 2000

심해에서 서식하며 특이한 조직형태를 갖고 있는 꼼치조직에서 cDNA를 제작하여 클로닝을 통해서, 꼼치에서 특이하게 발현하는 유전인자를 검색하였다. 그 결과 62례의 클론이 알려진 유전자에 동질성이 있었는데 이들은 thioesterase가 9례, myosin이 8례, creatine kinase가 7례, skeletal alpha-actin이 6례, parvalbumin b와 ribosomal protein이 각각 5례, type I collagen과 muscle troponin이 각각 3례, dopamine receptor, histatin, 그리고 heat shock protein이 각각 2례, cystatin, lectin, statherin, secretory carrier membrane protein, keratin type I, desmin, chloroplast, muscle tropomyosin, reticulum calcium ATPase, ribonucleoprotein이 각각 1례로 나타났다. 나머지 클론은 동질성이 낮거나 비반복성으로 나타났으며, 이 중 in situ hybridization으로 조직에서 특이하게 발현되는 5종류의 클론을 선택하여 분석하였으며, C 말단 단백질 구조와 특색(motif)을 분석하였다. 5종류의 클론에서 C9O-77은 약 5000bp 크기로 상피조직, 점액조직, 섬유조직 그리고 교원질 조직에서 강한 양성반응을 보이는 세포의 기질단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-116은 약 1500bp 크기로 섬유조직, 상피조직 그리고 점액조직에서 약한 양성반응을 보였고, 근육 다발 주변 부위 세포에서 매우 강한 양성반응을 보이는 막투과성 단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-130은 약 1200bp 크기로 상피조직, 근육조직 그리고 점액조직에서 양성반응을 나타냈으며, 특히 상피조직에서 강한 양성반응을 나타내는 세포내 단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-161은 약 2000bp 크기로 상피조직 과 근육조직 그리고 점액성 섬유조직에서 약한 양성반응을 보였고, 상피세포에서 강한 양성반응을 보였으며, 근육다발을 둘러싸는 섬유성 세포에서도 강한 양성반응을 보이는 세포외 기질단백질로 추측되었다. C9O-171은 약 1000bp크기로 상피조직, 근육조직 그리고 섬유기질 조직에 널리 강한 양성반응을 나타냈으며 교원띠조직에서도 양성반응을 보이는 전사인자로 추측되었다.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.134-144
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• 2003

생물적 방제균인 Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6는 phenazine, protease와 HCN 등과 같은 여러 가지 2차 대사 산물들을 분비하여 식물병원균의 생육을 억제하였다. 또한 O6 균을 밀종자에 접종하였을 때, F. culmorum에 의한 뿌리 썩음병을 방제하는 효과가 있었다. 오이 뿌리 분비액내의 주 유기산은 fumaric acid, malic acid, benzoic acid, succinic acid 였고, 당으로는 glucose와 fructose가 검출되었으며, 유기산의 농도는 당의 농도보다 10배 정도 높았다. O6 균은 오이 뿌리 분비액을 영양원으로 하는 배지에서 생육하였다. 유기산을 흡수하는데 관여할 것으로 추정되는 O6 균의 dctA 유전자는 1,335 bp의 open reading frame을 가지고 있었으며, 444개의 아미노산으로 구성된 약 47 kD 의 pI가 8.2인 단백질을 암호화하였다. DctA 단백질은 10개의 putative trans-membrane domains를 가지고 있어, 세포막에 내재된 단백질로 추정되었다. 오이의 뿌리 분비액 중 유기산이 O6 균의 뿌리 정착에 중요한 물질로 작용한다면 본 연구에 의해 클로닝된 dctA 유전자는 식물 정착이나 생물적 방제균의 유용 형질의 발현을 연구하는데 중요한 유전자로 이용될 수 있을 것이다.