• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.11.1-11.20
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• 2022

Vibrio harveyi belongs to the Vibrio genus that causes vibriosis in marine and aquatic fish species through double-stranded DNA virus replication. In humans, around 12 Vibrio species can cause gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal illness). A large amount of virus particles can be found in the cytoplasm of infected cells, which may cause death. Despite these devastating complications, there is still no cure or vaccine for the virus. As a result, we used an immunoinformatics approach to develop a multi-epitope vaccine against most pathogenic hemolysin gene of V. harveyi. The immunodominant T- and B-cell epitopes were identified using the hemolysin protein. We developed a vaccine employing three possible epitopes: cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, helper T-lymphocytes, and linear B-lymphocyte epitopes, after thorough testing. The vaccine was developed to be antigenic, immunogenic, and non-allergenic, as well as having a better solubility. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed significant structural stiffness and binding stability. In addition, the immunological simulation generated by computer revealed that the vaccination might elicit immune reactions in the actual life after injection. Finally, using Escherichia coli K12 as a model, codon optimization yielded ideal GC content and a higher codon adaptation index value, which was then included in the cloning vector pET2+ (a). Altogether, our experiment implies that the proposed peptide vaccine might be a good option for vibriosis prophylaxis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.290-295
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• 1994

30 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. canadensis. Out of the these, 6 mAbs were selected for further studies. SDS-PAGE analyses of sonicated antigens of 10 8. thuringiensis strains showed that they generally had both predominant protein antigens of molecular weights of 45 kilodalton (kd) except for shandogiensis and konkukian, and 37kd except for israelensis, tochigiensis, and shandogiensis, respectively. These results indicate that 4kd and 37kd may be important for demonstrating common antigens except for a few strains of B. thuringiensis. In comparing the result of the westem blot using mAbs with that of using polyclonal antibodies to canadensis, we found that immunoreactive proteins of 99 and 39 kd were identified as common antigens, which might act as antigenic determinants, and might be surface or flagella antigens. Reactivities of mAbs with 41 strains of 8. thuringiensis demonstrated that mAbs of C-1, C-3, C-4, C-S and C-6 except C-2 did not recognize epitopes of thuringiensis, but that all of the mAbs recognized epitopes of galleriae, kurstaki, dakota, tolrJokuensis, silo, toguchini, and leesis. The potential applications of the mAbs we produced would be useful tools for the clarification of taxonomy, investigation of antigenic relationship between B. thuringiensis strains, and localization of specific surface and flagella antigens.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.128-134
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• 2013

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi, a Gram-negative food-borne pathogen, causes typhoid fever in humans. OmpC is an outer membrane porin of S. typhi expressed throughout the infection period. OmpC is potentially an attractive antigen for multivalent vaccines and diagnostic kit designs. In this study we combined in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches to analyze various aspects of OmpC's antigenic properties. The conserved region, in addition to secondary and tertiary structures, and linear B cell epitopes, were predicted. A number of results obtained from in silico analyses were validated by experimental studies. OmpC was amplified, cloned and then expressed, with the recombinant protein then being purified. BALB/c mice were immunized by purified denatured OmpC. The titer of antibody was raised. Results of challenges with the pathogen revealed that the immunity is non-protective. Most of the theoretical and experimental results were in consensus. Introduced linear B cell epitopes can be employed for the design of diagnostic kits based on antigen-antibody interactions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.57-60
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• 2004

A highly specific antigenic protein of 31 kDa from plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni (sparganum) was obtained by gelatin affinity and Mono Q anion-exchange column chromatography. The purified 31 kDa protein was subjected to N-glycan enzymatic digestion for structural analysis. The relative electrophoretic mobility was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, before and after digestion. On SDS-PAGE after enzymatic digestion, the 31 kDa protein showed a molecular shift of approximately 2 kDa, which indicated the possession of complex N-linked oligosaccharides (N-glycosidase F sensitive) but not of high-mannose oligosaccharides (endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, non-sensitive). Chemically periodated 31 kDa protein showed statistically non-significant changes with human sparganosis sera by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Therefore, the dominant epitopes of the 31 kDa molecule in human sparganosis were found to be mainly polypeptide, while N-glycans of the antigenic molecule in sparganum was minimal in anti-carbohydrate antibody production.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.499-503
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• 1989

Cryptosporidium이 인체 내에서 복잡한 life cycle를 거치면서 각 stage마다 만들어지는 단백질 항원의 관계성에 관한 보고가 없어 Cryptosporldiosis에 대한 치료제 개발에 어려움이 있었다. 본 연구는 단일군 항체와 Immunogold labeling 기술을 이용하여 주요 extracellular stages인 sporozoites와 merozoites의 antigenic relatedness를 살펴보았다. BALB/C 쥐로부터 merozoites에 대한 단일군 항체(Jo3)를 분리하였으며 IgG3형이었다. 정제된 sporozoites를 SDS-PAGE로 분리한 후 Western blot을 이용하여 Jo3를 반응시킨 결과 3,500Daltons 크기의 sporozoites 항원을 인식하였다. Jo3를 Cryptosporidium에 감염된 tissue section에 반응시킨 후 Immunoelectron microscopy를 이용하여 3.5-kDa 항원의 위치와 sporozoites와 merozoites가 똑같은 단백질 항원을 만드는가를 추적해 본 결과 3.5-kDa 단백질 항원이 두 stages에서 공동으로 합성되는 것으로 나타났으며 이 항원은 표면과 세포질 내에 위치하고 있었다.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.5.1-5.12
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• 2020

The major glycoproteins of bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) are gB, gH, gM, gL, and gp180 with gB, gH, and gp180 being the most glycosylated. These glycoproteins participate in cell binding while some act as neutralization targets. Glycosylation of these envelope proteins may be involved in virion protection against neutralization by antibodies. In infected cattle, BoHV-4 induces an immune response characterized by low neutralizing antibody levels or an absence of such antibodies. Therefore, virus seroneutralization in vitro cannot always be easily demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neutralizing capacity of 2 Argentine BoHV-4 strains and to associate those findings with the gene expression profiles of the major envelope glycoproteins. Expression of genes coding for the envelope glycoproteins occurred earlier in cells infected with isolate 10/154 than in cells infected with strain 07/435, demonstrating a distinct difference between the strains. Differences in serological response can be attributed to differences in the expression of antigenic proteins or to post-translational modifications that mask neutralizing epitopes. Strain 07/435 induced significantly high titers of neutralizing antibodies in several animal species in addition to bovines. The most relevant serological differences were observed in adult animals. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the expression kinetics of genes coding for BoHV-4 glycoproteins in 2 Argentine strains (genotypes 1 and 2). The results further elucidate the BoHV-4 life cycle and may also help determine the genetic variability of the strains circulating in Argentina.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.11-21
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• 2007

Heat shock protein (HSP) is one of cellular protein commonly present in major periodontopathogenic bacteria as well as mammalian cells. The protein may play a role in the immunopathogenesis by modulating autoimmune reaction due to its high level of sequence homology between bacteria and human counterpart. Hence, identifying immunodomiant epitope of bacteria HSP that is cross-reactive to periodontopathogenic bacteria with a specificity to human HSP may comprise a critical strategy for development of a periodontal vaccine. The present study was performed to establish clones producing monoclonal antibody reactive to Porphyromonas gingivalis (p. gingivalis) HSP with a specificity to human HSP. 4 different hybridomas were cloned producing monoclonal IgG antibodies to P, gingivalis HSP and evaluated for their reactivity and specificity to other periodontopathogenic bacteria as well as to human HSP. These four monoclonal antibodies reacted with p. gingivalis HSP only with specificities to other bacteria tested and human HSP as well. The antigenic epitopes producing the 4 monoclonal antibody may be potentially developed as vaccine candidates. Further investigations are under way to identify more clones producing monoclonal antibodies reactive to P, gingivalis HSP and to other periodontopathogenic bacteria as well, while maintaining specificities to human counterpart.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.235-241
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• 2003

Background: The protective immunity against tuberculosis (TB) involves both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. In our previous study, we defined four Mycobacterium tuberculosis derived peptide epitopes specific for HLA-$A^*0201$ restricted CD8+ T cells ($ThyA_{30-38}$, $RpoB_{127-135}$, $85B_{15-23}$, $PstA1_{75-83}$). In this study, we investigated the immune responses induced by these peptide specific CD8+ T cells in latently and chronically infected people with TB. Methods: We characterized these peptide specific CD8+ T cell population present in PBMC of both TB patients and PPD+healthy people using IFN-${\gamma}$elispot assay, intracellular staining and HLA-A2 dimer staining. Results: The frequency of peptide specific CD8+ T cell was in the range of 1 to 25 in $1.7{\times}10^5$ PBMC based on ex vivo IFN-${\gamma}$ elispot assay, demonstrating that these peptide specific CD8+ T cell responses are induced in both TB patients and PPD+ people. Short term cell lines (STCL) specific for these peptides proliferated in vitro and secreted IFN-${\gamma}$ upon antigenic stimulation in PPD+ donors. Lastly, HLA-$A^*0201$ dimer assays indicated that $PstA1_{75-83}$ specific CD8+ T cell population in PPD+ healthy donors is heterogeneous since approximately 25~33% of $PstA1_{75-83}$ specific CD8+ T cell population in PPD+ healthy donors produced IFN-${\gamma}$ upon peptide stimulation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MHC class I restricted CD8+ T cell mediated immune responses to M. tuberculosis infection are induced in both TB patients and PPD + people; however, the CD8+ T cell population is functionally heterogeneous.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.120-129
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• 2021

Rotavirus A (RVA) is recognized as a major etiology responsible for the development of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to perform the molecular characterization of RVA. A total of 323 stool specimens collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Rai, Thailand, in 2016-2018 were identified for G- and P-genotypes through RT-PCR analysis. RVA was more prevalent in 2017-2018 (37.8%) than in 2016-2017 (23.2%). The seasonal peak of RVA occurred from March to April. G3P[8] was predominant in 2016-2017 (90.6%) and 2017-2018 (58.6%). Other genotypes including G1P[8], G8P[8], G9P[8], and mixed infections were also identified. G3P[8] strains clustered together in the same lineage with other novel human equine-like G3P[8] strains previously identified in multiple countries and presented a genotype 2 constellation (G3-P[8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2). Several amino acid differences were observed in the antigenic epitopes of the VP7 and VP8* capsid proteins of the equine-like G3P[8] compared with those of the RVA vaccine strains. The homology modeling of the VP7 and VP8* capsid proteins of the equine-like G3P[8] strains evidently exhibited that these residue differences were present on the surface-exposed area of the capsid structure. The emergence of the equine-like G3P[8] strains in Thailand indicates the rapid spread of strains with human and animal gene segments. Continuous surveillance for RVA is essential to monitor genotypes and genetic diversity, which will provide useful information for selecting rotavirus strains to develop a safe and effective RVA vaccine that is efficacious against multiple genotypes and variants.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.126-134
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• 2022

Norovirus (NoV) is an important pathogen causing acute gastroenteritis worldwide. The purpose of the present study was the molecular characterization of NoV. A total of 408 stool specimens collected from hospitalized children associated with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Rai, Thailand, 2015-2017 were investigated for the presence of NoVs by RT-PCR. NoV GII was detected in 32 samples (7.8%). Five distinct genotypes were identified, including GII.4 (13/32, 40.6%), GII.3 (11/32, 34.3%), GII.17 (4/32, 12.5%), GII.2 (2/32, 6.3%), and GII.14 (2/32, 6.3%). NoV infection occurred mostly in young children under 3 years of age (31/32, 96.9%) and showed the main peak in summer months from March to April (18/32, 56.3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 13 GII.4 strains clustered with GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant. Representative GII.3 strains were analyzed as a recombinant GII.3P[12] strain. Several amino acid differences were found in the antigenic epitopes and antibody binding sites of the VP1 capsid of the GII.3P[12]. Homology modeling of the P domain of the GII.3P[12] strain demonstrated that 10/13 amino acid differences were predicted to be located on the surface-exposed area of the capsid structure. These amino acid changes might affect the infectivity and the antigenicity of the recombinant GII.3P[12]. The prevalence of GII.4 Sydney 2012 and recombinant GII.3P[12] strains indicates the genetic diversity of circulating NoVs in Thailand, emphazing the importance of continuous surveillance to mornitor newly emerging NoV strains in the future.