• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.330-338
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• 2019

Chronic infection with intracellular Brucella abortus (B. abortus) in livestock remains as a major problem worldwide. Thus, the search for an ideal vaccine is still ongoing. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a combination of B. abortus recombinant proteins; superoxide dismutase (rSodC), riboflavin synthase subunit beta (rRibH), nucleoside diphosphate kinase (rNdk), 50S ribosomal protein (rL7/L12) and malate dehydrogenase (rMDH), cloned and expressed into a pMal vector system and $DH5{\alpha}$, respectively, and further purified and applied intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice. After first immunization and two boosters, mice were infected intraperitoneally (IP) with $5{\times}10^4CFU$ of virulent B. abortus 544. Spleens were harvested and bacterial loads were evaluated at two weeks post-infection. Results revealed that this combination showed significant reduction in bacterial colonization in the spleen with a log protection unit of 1.31, which is comparable to the average protection conferred by the widely used live attenuated vaccine RB51. Cytokine analysis exhibited enhancement of cell-mediated immune response as IFN-${\gamma}$ is significantly elevated while IL-10, which is considered beneficial to the pathogen's survival, was reduced compared to control group. Furthermore, both titers of IgG1 and IgG2a were significantly elevated at three and four-week time points from first immunization. In summary, our in vivo data revealed that vaccination with a combination of five different proteins conferred a heightened host response to Brucella infection through cell-mediated immunity which is desirable in the control of intracellular pathogens. Thus, this combination might be considered for further improvement as a potential candidate vaccine against Brucella infection.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1551-1555
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• 2012

Second-order rate constants ($k_N$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for the reactions of benzyl 2-pyridyl carbonate $\mathbf{7}$ and $t$-butyl 2-pyridyl carbonate $\mathbf{8}$ with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in $H_2O$ at $25.0^{\circ}C$. Substrate $\mathbf{8}$ is less reactive than $\mathbf{7}$. Steric hindrance exerted by the bulky $t$-Bu group of $\mathbf{8}$ has been suggested to be responsible for the decreased reactivity. The Br${\o}$nsted-type plots for the reactions of $\mathbf{7}$ and $\mathbf{8}$ are linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}=0.49$ and 0.44, respectively, which is typical for reactions reported previously to proceed through a concerted mechanism. Aminolyses of $\mathbf{7}$ and $\mathbf{8}$ were expected to proceed through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate $T^{\pm}$, which would be stabilized through an intramolecular H-bonding interaction. However, the kinetic results suggest that the reactions proceed through a concerted mechanism. The H-bonding interaction in $T^{\pm}$ has been suggested to accelerate the rate of leaving-group expulsion from $T^{\pm}$. Another factor that might accelerate expulsion of the leaving group is the "push" provided by the RO group in $T^{\pm}$ through resonance interactions. Thus, it has been concluded that the enhanced nucleofugality through the H-bonding interaction and the "push" provided by the RO group forces the reactions to proceed through a concerted mechanism.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Obesity is consistently increasing in prevalence and can trigger insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many lines of evidence have shown that macrophages play a major role in inflammation associated with obesity. This study was conducted to determine metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, would regulate inflammation through down-regulation of scavenger receptors in macrophages from obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation, and C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet to generate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mice. Metformin reduced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) through down-regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the protein expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced or maintained by metformin. Also, metformin suppressed secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and reduced the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in obese mice as well as in macrophages. The expression of scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-A, were attenuated by metformin in macrophages and obese mice. These results suggest that metformin may attenuate inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the expressions of scavenger receptors.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1988

Specific or non-specific cytolytic processes of free-living amoebae causing meningoencephalitls have been emphasized and the cytolytic ability related to hydrolases in Entantoeba sp. and Naegleria sp. has also been reported since the latter half of 1970's. However, no information on hydrolase activities in Acanthamoeba sp. is available. Hydrolases in Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, a pathogenic species of free-living amoebae, were assayed and compared with those in a non-pathogenic species, A. royreba. Pathogenicity of these two species was confirmed through experimental infection to BALB/c mice. Hydrolase activities and cytotoxic effects between pathogenic and non.pathogenic species were compared in the trophozoites cultured in CGV media and in CHO cell line, respectively. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The mice infected with A. culbertseni were all dead 15 days after nasal inoculation, and the mean survival time was 8.5 days. Also the mice infected with this pathogenic species manifested typical meningoencephalitis, whereas the mice infected with A. royreba did not. 2. Hydrolases detected both in the cell extracts and culture media were acid phosphatase, ${\beta}-N-acetyl$ galactosaminidase, ${\beta}-N-acetyl$ glucosaminidase, ${\alpha}-mannosidase$, neutral proteinase and acid proteinase, all of which were detected with remarkably higher rate in A. culbertsoni than in A. royreba. 3. A. cuzbertsoni revealed strong cytotoxicity for the target CHO cells, whereas A. royreba did not show any specific cytotoxicity. About 80% of the target cells mixed with A. culbertsoni were dead 48 hours after cultivation, and more than 95% of the target cells were dead 72 hours after cultivation. 4. Hydrolase activities in A. culbertsoni cultured with the target cell line were assayed according to the culture time. The activities of acid phosphatase, ${\beta}-N-acetyl$ galactosaminidase, ${\beta}-N-acetyl$ glucosaminidase, ${\alpha}-mannosidase$ and acid proteinase in this pathogenic amoeba were detected higher in amoeba extracts than in culture media up to 120 hours after cultivation, but after 120 hours of cultivation those activities were detected higher in culture media than in the amoeba Iysates. Neutral proteinase activity in A. culbertsoni increased more in EBSS medium than in the Iysate specimens although the activity in the extracts was generally steady according to the cultivation time. Summarizing the above results, it is concluded that there were differences in hydrolase activities between Pathogenic A. culbertsoni and non-pathogenic A. royreba, and that some hydrolase activities were detected remarkably higher in A. culbertsoni which revealed strong cytotoxicity to the target CHO cell line.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 1999

Usually sputtering and electroless plating methods were used for manufacturing metal-alloy thin film magnetic memory devices. Since electroless plating method has many merits in mass production and product variety com­pared to sputtering method, many researches about electroless plating have been performed in the United State of America and Japan. However, electroless plating method has not been studied frequently in Korea. In these respects the purpose of this research is manufacturing Co-Mn-P alloy thin film on the corning glass 2948 by electroless plating method using sodium hypophosphite as a reductant, and analyzing deposition rate, alloy composition, microstructure, and magnetic characteristics at various pH's and temperatures. For Co-P alloy thin film, the reductive deposition reaction 0$\alpha$urred only in basic condition, not in acidic condition. The deposition rate increased as the pH and temperature increased, and the optimum condition was found at the pH of 10 and the temperature of $80^{\circ}C$. Also magnetic charac­teristics was found to be most excellent at the pH of 9 and the temperature of $70^{\circ}C$, resulting in the coercive force of 8700e and the squareness of 0.78. At this condition, the contents of P was 2.54% and the thickness of the film was $0.216\mu\textrm{m}$. For crystal orientation, we could not observe fcc for $\beta$-Co. On the other hand,(1010), (0002), (1011) orientation of hcp for a-Co was observed. We could confirm the formation of longitudinal magnetization from dominant (1010) and (1011) orientation of Co-P alloy. For Co-Mn-P alloy deposition, coercive force was about 1000e more than that of Co P alloy, but squareness had no difference. For crystal orientation, (l01O) and (lOll) orientation of $\alpha$-Co was dominant as same as that of Co- P alloy. Likewise we could confirm the formation of longitudinal magnetization.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.554-560
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• 1991

The physicochemical properties of Korean yam starches (D. aimadoimo, D. batatas and D. japonica) were investigated. The mean granular size of starches were 23.5 μm for D. aimadoimo, 23.9 μm for D. batatas and 18.2 μm for D. japonica. Amylose content, blue value and water binding capacity was $29{\sim}33%,\;0.42{\sim}0.51%\;and\;109.9{\sim}118.3%$, respectively. The optical transmittance of 0.3% (dry basis) yam starch suspensions were increased at $70{\sim}75^{\circ}C$ and D. japonica showed typical two-step transmittance curve. The swelling power and solubility patterns increased over $60^{\circ}C$, and D. aimadoimo was the highest values. Amylogram patterns of 5% (dry basis) yam starch suspensions, determined by Brabender amylograph, were similar to that of yam flours and the viscosity of D. aimadoimo had 630 BU, which was about 5 times higher than 130 BU for D. batatas and D. japonica. Observation under scanning electron microscope lefted marks of resistance to glucoamylase because these surfaces were similar to the natural granules. In rates of solubiliazation by dimethyl sulfoxide, D. aimadoimo showed the highest value. (3-Amylolysis limits of yam starches and their amylose were $71.8%{\sim}75.5%\;and\;90.2{\sim}92.1%$, respectively. Gel filtration patterns of debranched amylopectin by pullulanase were divided into 3 peaks. The weight ratios of peak III to peak II in yam starches were $2.15%{\sim}2.42%$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2013

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, is an economically important pest for greenhouse crops because they cause direct damage by feeding on plant nutrients and indirect damage as transmits many virus vectors. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of insecticide resulting in resistance among greenhouse whitefly population. To overcome these problems, in this study, the biological characteristics and virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus isolated from the cadaver of nymph greenhouse whitefly were investigated. Isolated fungus was identified as Isaria fumosorosea by morphological examinations and genetic identification using sequences of the ITS, ${\beta}$-tubulin, and EF1-${\alpha}$ regions. This fungus was named as I. fumosorosea SDTv and tested for the virulence against nymphs T. vaporariorum and the cold activity, the thermotolerance and the stability of UV-B irradiation on conidia. Mortality rate of greenhouse whitefly showed from 84 to 100% and the virulence increased with increasing conidial concentrations, $1{\times}10^5$ to $10^8$ conidia/ml. Conidia were stable at $35^{\circ}C$, 0.1 $J/cm^2$ of UV irradiation and germinated after 8 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Additionally, the activities of chitinases and proteases produced by I. fumosorosea SDTv were varied according to the medium. In conclusion, I. fumosorosea SDTv which showed high mortality rate against greenhouse whitefly will be used effectively in the integrated pest management programs against the greenhouse whitefly.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.519-526
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• 1992

The gene coding for urease of alkalophilic Bacillus pasteurii had been cloned in Escherichia coli previously. The urease protein was purified 63.1-fold by TEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-150 and Sephadex G-200 chromatographies with a 7.3% yield from the sonicated fluid of the E. coli HB1Ol(pBUll) encoding B. pasteurii urease gene. The ureases of E. coli (pBUll) and B. pasteurii possessed as a $K_m$ for urea, 42.1 mM and 40.4 mM, respectively. They hydrolyzed urea with $V_{max}$ of 86.9$\mu$mol/min and 160$\mu$mol/min, respectively. Both ureases were composed with four subunits (Mrs 67,000) and a subunit (Mr 20,000). The molecular weight of both native enzymes was Mr 280,OOO$pm$10,000 determined by gel filtration chromatography and Coomassie blue staining of the subunits. The optimal reaction pH of both ureases were pH 7.5. The ureases were stabled in pH 5.5-10.5. The optimal reaction temperature of both ureases were $60^{\circ}C$, and the ureases were stable for an hour at $50^{\circ}C$, 40min at $60^{\circ}C$ and 10 min at $70^{\circ}C$ The activity of both enzymes were inhibited completely by $Ag^{2+}$, $Hg^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and were inhibited 60% by CoH, 30% by $Fe^{2+}$ and 10% by $Pb^{2+}$. However it was increased by the addition of $Sn^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ at concentration of $1{\times}10^{-3}$M. Both ureases were inhibited completely by p-CMB and acetohydroxamic acid. The urease expressed in E. coli (pBU11) was inhibited 70% by SDS. The urease of B. pasteurii was inhibited 40% by hydroxyurea, whereas the recombinant urease of E. coli strain was inhibited 17%. Both enzymes were not inhibited by cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) and ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the bioconversion of ginsenosides as well as anti-inflammatory activities of fresh ginseng Kkakdugi during fermentation. Fresh ginseng Kkakdugi reached proper ripeness, pH 4.30, and acidity 1.69% at $15^{\circ}C$ after 10 days. Lactic acid bacteria grew until reaching $1.10{\times}10^9CFU/mL$ after 20 days of fermentation, and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity increased from 1.154 to 1.885 units/g. The bioconversion of ginsenosides was confirmed based on increased content of Rg3, an aglycone, from 0.13 to 0.17 mg/g during fermentation through HPLC. Fresh ginseng Kkakdugi did not display cytotoxicity up to the concentrations of $80{\mu}g/mL$, regardless of ripening period. Nitrite production and expression of inflammation-related proteins, iNOS and COX-2, decreased in a dose-dependent manner regardless of ripening period. From these results, fresh ginseng Kkakdugi showed the bioconversion of ginsenosides to aglycone during the lactic acid fermentation as well as an anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction of NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.563-567
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• 2007

This study evaluated the effect of ANTORIN R-10(pFSH), a commercially available follicle stimulating hormone on ovarian morphology, on follicular development and serum estradiol levels in rats. Immature female Wistar S/T rats(27 day old; 80-100 g B.wt) maintained under controlled environmental conditions($22{\pm}2^{\circ}C$; 50% humidity; 12 h light/12 h dark cycle) with free access to standard laboratory feed and tap water were utilized. Animals were allowed to acclimatize to the new environment for at least 2 weeks before being included in the experiment. Rats were randomly allotted to 5 groups(Control, SL 0.1AU, SH 0.2AU, TL 0.1AU and TH 0.2AU). ANTORIN R-10 was subcutaneously injected twice daily for 3 days. Twenty hours after hormone treatment, blood was collected to estimate the serum estradiol $17-\beta$ concentration. Immediately, all rats were sacrificed and the ovarian morphology, ovary weight and number of follicles were recorded. Ovaries were fixed for histomorphological examination. Higher standard and treatment groups were significantly increased on ovary weight and the number of follicles more than 1mm compared with lower standard and treatment. However, no difference revealed between standard and treatment groups. ANTORIN R-10 was similar effects of follicles development and maturation compared with House standard FSH.