• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.51.1-51.10
• /
• 2022

Background: Due to the unavailability of an effective vaccine or antiviral drug against the African swine fever virus (ASFV), rapid diagnosis methods are needed to prevent highly contagious African swine fever. Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish the ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) assay for the detection of ASFV. Methods: LMTIA primers were designed with the p72 gene of ASFV as the target, and plasmid pUC57 was used to clone the gene. The LMTIA reaction system was optimized with the plasmid as the positive control, and the performance of the LMTIA assay was compared with that of the commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit in terms of sensitivity and detection rate using 200 serum samples. Results: Our results showed that the LMTIA assay could detect the 10⁴ dilution of DNA extracted from the positive reference serum sample, which was the same as that of the commercial real-time PCR kit. The coincidence rate between the two assays was 100%. Conclusions: The LMTIA assay had high sensitivity, good detection, and simple operation. Thus, it is suitable for facilitating preliminary and cost-effective surveillance for the prevention and control of ASFV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제32권7호
• /
• pp.835-843
• /
• 2022

Deinococcus radiodurans is an extremophilic bacterium that can thrive in harsh environments. This property can be attributed to its unique metabolites that possess strong antioxidants and other pharmacological properties. To determine the potential of D. radiodurans R1 lysate (DeinoLys) as a pharmacological candidate for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated the antiinflammatory activity of DeinoLys in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and a colitis mice model. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BMDCs treated with DeinoLys exhibited alterations in their phenotypic and functional properties by changing into tolerogenic DCs, including strongly inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12p70) and surface molecule expression and activated DC-induced T cell proliferation/activation with high IL-10 production. These phenotypic and functional changes in BMDCs induced by DeinoLys in the presence of LPS were abrogated by IL-10 neutralization. Furthermore, oral administration of DeinoLys significantly reduced clinical symptoms against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, including body weight loss, disease activity index, histological severity in colon tissue, and lower myeloperoxidase level in mice. Our results establish DeinoLys as a potential anti-inflammatory candidate for IBD therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제32권9호
• /
• pp.1120-1125
• /
• 2022

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), the causative agent of Japanese encephalitis (JE), is an importantly zoonotic, vector-borne virus widely prevalent in Asia. Although JE has been well controlled in China, its prevalence remains a huge threat to the pig industry as well as human health. Herein, we report on our molecular and serological investigations of JEV among pigs from different regions in Hunan Province of China from 2019 to 2021. Collectively, 19.27% (583/3026, 95% Confidential Interval (CI) 17.86-20.68) of sampled pigs were positive for JEV IgG antibody as revealed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the seroprevalence of JEV among pigs was significantly associated with the development stage and breeding scale (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, 10.99% (42/382, 95% CI 7.86-14.13) of tissue samples of pigs with suspected clinical symptoms of JE and 23.44% (15/64, 95% CI 13.06-33.82) of mosquito batches were JEV-positive via reverse polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the complete E gene sequences of 14 JEV strains identified in this study were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all 14 JEV strains belonged to genotype I-b and displayed a distinct genetic relationship to the present JEV vaccine strain (SA14-14-2). In conclusion, our results revealed not only the severe prevalence of JEV in Hunan Province, but also that JEV I-b might be the predominant genotype in Hunan Province, suggesting therefore that effective measures for JE control are urgently needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.166-172
• /
• 2022

블라우증후군(Blau syndrome)은 nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2) 유전자의변이에 의해 발생하는 질환으로 육아종성 피부염 및 만성 포도막염, 관절염을 특징으로 한다. 증상이 비특이적이고 동시다발적으로 발생하지 않아 진단이 어려운 경우가 많다. 반복되는 피부 발진 및 발열에 대해 두 차례 가와사키병으로 오진되어 면역글로불린과 전신 스테로이드로 치료받은 바 있는 13개월 남자 환자에서 블라우 증후군을 진단한 증례를 보고하고자 한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제51권2호
• /
• pp.125-134
• /
• 2024

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for human health worldwide. The mechanisms of vitamin D in the male reproductive system are unknown. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were developed, doubts were raised about their possible effects on male fertility. Based on vitamin D's function in the immune system, its potential role as an adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines is intriguing. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of vitamin D first on sperm parameters and sex hormones, and then as an immune adjuvant on sperm parameters and sex hormones after study participants had received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Phase 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) included 72 men with idiopathic infertility, and phase 2 had 64 participants who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Both groups were instructed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice monthly for 3 months. Sperm parameters and sex hormones were assessed pre-and post-supplementation. Results: Regular vitamin D intake for 3 months significantly increased the participants' vitamin D levels (p=0.0001). Both phases showed a positive correlation between vitamin D intake and sperm parameters. Vaccination had no negative effects on sperm parameters and sex hormones. Vitamin D was associated with follicle-stimulating hormone (p=0.02) and testosterone (p=0.0001) in phase 2 after treatment. Conclusion: Our results support vitamin D supplementation as an immune adjunct to COVID-19 vaccination for improving sperm parameters and hormone levels. COVID-19 vaccination is not harmful for male fertility potential, and vitamin D is an effective factor for male fertility.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제62권2호
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 2024

Malaria is a global disease affecting a large portion of the world's population. Although vaccines have recently become available, their efficacies are suboptimal. We generated virus-like particles (VLPs) that expressed either apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) or microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei and compared their efficacy in BALB/c mice. We found that immune sera acquired from AMA1 VLP- or MIC VLP-immunized mice specifically interacted with the antigen of choice and the whole P. berghei lysate antigen, indicating that the antibodies were highly parasite-specific. Both VLP vaccines significantly enhanced germinal center B cell frequencies in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice compared with the control, but only the mice that received MIC VLPs showed significantly enhanced CD4⁺ T cell responses in the blood following P. berghei challenge infection. AMA1 and MIC VLPs significantly suppressed TNF-α and interleukin-10 production but had a negligible effect on interferon-γ. Both VLPs prevented excessive parasitemia buildup in immunized mice, although parasite burden reduction induced by MIC VLPs was slightly more effective than that induced by AMA1. Both VLPs were equally effective at preventing body weight loss. Our findings demonstrated that the MIC VLP was an effective inducer of protection against murine experimental malaria and should be the focus of further development.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.195-201
• /
• 2008

목 적 : 본 연구는 어린 연령의 소아에서 선천성 면역력의 중요한 인자인 Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL2) 유전자 다형성의 분포를 가와사끼병 환자군과 정상대조군에서 분석함으로써, MBL2 유전자의 다양성이 소아의 가와사끼병의 발생에 기여하는지를 밝히고자 하였다. 방 법 : 대상은 2003년 10월부터 2005년 3월까지 18개월 동안 분당서울대학교병원 소아청소년과에서 가와사끼병으로 진단받고 치료받은 112명의 환자군과 건강한 성인 224명의 대조군으로 선정하였다. 유전형 분석은 선천성 면역의 중추적 역할을 하는 MBL2 유전자의 codon 54의 분포를 환자대조군에서 비교하여 분석하였다. 결 과 : 환자군 112명의 중앙 연령은 27개월로, 24개월 미만이 45.5%, 24개월 이상이 54.5%를 차지하였다. MBL2 codon 54 유전형은 환자군과 대조군에서 모두 Hardy-Weinberg 평형을 이루었다. 환자군에서 MBL2 유전형은 유전형 aa 67.9%, 이형접합 ab 29.5%, 그리고 유전형 bb 2.6%로 나타났다. Codon 54의 다형성은 환자군과 대조군간에 차이가 없었다. 또한 연령 24개월을 기준으로 하여 비교한 유전형의 분포에도 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 결 론 : 본 연구 결과, 한국인 소아에서 MBL2 유전자의 다형성이 가와사끼병의 발병에 기여하는 유전적 인자임을 밝히지 못하였다. 향후 전향적으로 수집한 더 많은 수의 환자군과 적절한 대조군을 통한 연구가 시행 되어야 할 것으로 생각한다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.44-53
• /
• 2017

목적: 소아 심장이식 환자에서 림프증식성 질환(posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder [PTLD]) 발생과 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) 정량값의 상관관계를 분석하고, PTLD의 발생에 영향을 주는 인자들에 대해서 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 2006년 1월부터 2015년 3월까지 최근 9년간 서울아산병원 어린이병원에서 심장이식을 받은 18세 미만 환자 중 이식 후 최소 1개월 이상 추적 관찰이 가능한 경우를 대상으로 후향적으로 의무기록을 분석하였다. 결과: 총 40명의 심장이식 환자의 진단 시 나이의 중앙값은 11.5세(범위, 0.3-17.8세)였으며 이 중 3명에서 이식 후 4.3개월, 6.3개월 및 17개월째 PTLD가 발생하였다. 이식 후 혈중 EBV 정량 검사를 시행한 28명 중 최소 1회 이상 EBV 바이러스혈증이 관찰된 경우는 7명이었으며, PTLD로 진단받은 환자 3명이 모두 ${\geq}10,000copies/mL$의 EBV 바이러스혈증이 선행되어 있었다. PTLD 발생군은 PTLD 비발생군에 비해 어린 나이에 이식을 받았으며(P=0.021), 초기 및 최고 혈중 EBV 역가가 더 높은 경향을 보였으나 통계적인 차이는 없었다. 결론: 소아 심장이식 환자에서 이식 당시 어린 연령 및 이식 후 EBV 바이러스혈증 동반 여부가 PTLD 발생과 관련이 있었다. 추후 전향적인 연구를 통해서 소아 심장이식 환자에서 PTLD 발생을 적절히 예측할 수 있는 EBV 정량값의 지표를 구하는 것이 필요하겠다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제1권3호
• /
• pp.250-259
• /
• 2001

To determine if initial infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis changes the balance of cytokines between T cells and macrophages, we evaluated interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$), interleukin-12 (IL)-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ productions by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 untreated active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and 12 healthy tuberculin reactors (HTR). Freshly isolated PBMC were stimulated with Triton X-100 solubilized protein (TSP), 30-kDa or purified protein derivatives (PPD) antigen for 6, 18 and 96 hours. IL-12 p40 production by antigen-stimulated PBMC from TB patients was significantly decreased compared with that in HTR. In addition, IFN-${\gamma}$ production was significantly depressed in TB patients than that in HTR at a 96-hr stimulation. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ production was significantly higher in antigen-stimulated PBMC from TB than that of HTR. A pronounced increase in IFN-${\gamma}$ protein followed neutralization of IL-10 in early TB patients. However, neutralization of TNF-${\alpha}$ did not significantly alter IFN-${\gamma}$ induction in PBMC from TB patients. There were no significantly differences in the cytokine productions among three proteins, TSP, 30-kDa or PPD antigen. These results indicate that development of TB may be strongly associated with dysregulated productions of IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, during the initial immune responses to M. tuberculosis. Further understanding of operative cytokine networks during human immune cell responses to protein antigens of M. tuberculosis may improve strategies for vaccine development.

• 정보처리학회논문지:컴퓨터 및 통신 시스템
• /
• 제12권9호
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2023

최근 IoT 기술이 꾸준하게 발전되면서 의료 시스템, 스마트 TV 시계 등에서 많이 활용되고 있다. 소프트웨어 개발의 66%가 메모리 공격에 취약한 C 언어를 통해 개발되고 C 언어를 사용하는 IoT 기기에 위협적으로 작용한다. 스택스매싱 오버플로 공격은 사용자가 정의한 버퍼 크기보다 큰 값을 삽입하여 반환 주소가 저장된 영역을 덮어쓰게 하여 프로그램이 정상적으로 동작하지 못하게 한다. 메모리 가용량이 적은 IoT 기기는 스택스매싱 오버플로 공격에 취약하다. 또한, 기존의 백신 프로그램을 그대로 적용하게 되면 IoT 기기가 정상적으로 동작하지 못한다. 연구에서는 IoT 기기에 대한 스택스매싱 오버플로 공격을 방어하기 위해 여러 탐지 방법 중 카나리아를 사용하여 각각 무작위 값, 체크썸, DSLR(무작위 저장 위치)로 조건을 설정했다. 2개의 카나리아를 버퍼 내에 배치하여 하나는 버퍼의 끝인 반환 주소 앞에 배치하고 나머지 하나는 버퍼 내 무작위 위치에 저장했다. 이는 고정된 위치에 저장된 카나리아 값은 공격자가 위치를 예측하기 쉬우므로 무작위한 위치에 카나리아를 저장하여 공격자가 카나리아의 위치를 예측하기 어렵게 했다. 탐지 프로그램 실행 후 스택스매싱 오버플로 공격이 발생 후 각 조건을 만족하게 되면 프로그램이 종료된다. 설정한 조건을 각각 조합하여 8가지 경우의 수를 만들었고 이를 테스트했다. 이를 통해 IoT 기기에는 다중 조건을 사용한 탐지 방법보다 DSLR을 이용한 탐지 방법을 사용하는 것이 더 효율적이라는 결과를 얻었다.