• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 2006

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is known to playa key role as a negative feedback regulator in JAK/STAT signaling cascade in innate immunity. Our laboratory has recently been interested in elucidating the interactions between Spodoptera exigua (Se) and SeNPV. This context leads us to clone and characterize SeSOCS that may have important functions in response to SeNPV infection. Using the RT-PCR and TA cloning approach, we found a partial fragment (416 bp) of SeSOCS. Blast search and multiple alignment data showed that it has a homology to various insects such as Anopheles gambiae (78%), Aedes aegypti (75%), Drosophila melanogastar (77%), Mus musculus (69%), and Homo sapiens (69%). Temporal induction patterns of SeSOCS were analysed after being immune-challenged with either NPV or laminarin. It showed that the level of SeSOCS mRNA was strongly induced in a biphasic manner in response to SeNPV and laminarin, respectively. It seems that SOCS, a negative regulator of JAK/STAT signaling system is also present in S. exigua and may playa role in innate immunity albeit its precise role should be further elucidated at the molecular and cellular level in the early phase of SeNPV infection in larvae.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.677-684
• /
• 2008

Accurate estimation of dry matter intake (DMI) is a prerequisite to meet animal performance targets without penalizing animal health and the environment. The objective of the current study was to evaluate some of the existing models in order to predict DMI when lactating dairy cows were offered a total mixed ration containing a high level of concentrates and locally produced agricultural by-products. Six popular models were chosen for DMI prediction (Brown et al., 1977; Rayburn and Fox, 1993; Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, 1999; National Research Council (NRC), 2001; Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), Fox et al., 2003; Fuentes-Pila et al., 2003). Databases for DMI comparison were constructed from two different sources: i) 12 commercial farm investigations and ii) a controlled dairy cow experiment. The model evaluation was performed using two different methods: i) linear regression analysis and ii) mean square error prediction analysis. In the commercial farm investigation, DMI predicted by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) was the most accurate when compared with the actual mean DMI, whilst the CNCPS prediction showed larger mean bias (difference between mean predicted and mean observed values). Similar results were observed in the controlled dairy cow experiment where the mean bias by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) was the smallest of all six chosen models. The more accurate prediction by Fuentes-Pila et al. (2003) could be attributed to the inclusion of dietary factors, particularly fiber as these factors were not considered in some models (i.e. NRC, 2001; CNCPS (Fox et al., 2003)). Linear regression analysis had little meaningful biological significance when evaluating models for prediction of DMI in this study. Further research is required to improve the accuracy of the models, and may recommend more mechanistic approaches to investigate feedstuffs (common to the Asian region), animal genotype, environmental conditions and their interaction, as the majority of the models employed are based on empirical approaches.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제29권10호
• /
• pp.1515-1521
• /
• 2016

Anethole and garlic have an immune modulatory effects on avian coccidiosis, and these effects are correlated with gene expression changes in intestinal epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). In this study, we integrated gene expression datasets from two independent experiments and investigated gene expression profile changes by anethole and garlic respectively, and identified gene expression signatures, which are common targets of these herbs as they might be used for the evaluation of the effect of plant herbs on immunity toward avian coccidiosis. We identified 4,382 and 371 genes, which were differentially expressed in IELs of chickens supplemented with garlic and anethole respectively. The gene ontology (GO) term of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from garlic treatment resulted in the biological processes (BPs) related to proteolysis, e.g., "modification-dependent protein catabolic process", "proteolysis involved in cellular protein catabolic process", "cellular protein catabolic process", "protein catabolic process", and "ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process". In GO analysis, one BP term, "Proteolysis", was obtained. Among DEGs, 300 genes were differentially regulated in response to both garlic and anethole, and 234 and 59 genes were either up- or down-regulated in supplementation with both herbs. Pathway analysis resulted in enrichment of the pathways related to digestion such as "Starch and sucrose metabolism" and "Insulin signaling pathway". Taken together, the results obtained in the present study could contribute to the effective development of evaluation system of plant herbs based on molecular signatures related with their immunological functions in chicken IELs.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2006

Exposure to soluble nickel compound produces toxic effects on immune system, but the mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Differential gene expression was studied to understand the potential molecular mechanism responsible for acute toxicity induced by nickel acetate in spleen cells. We exposed mouse spleen cells to nickel acetate with a nontoxic dose ($40{\mu}M$) and then extracted total RNA at 6 h and 12 h after exposure. The RNA was hybridized onto 10K mouse oligonucleotide microarrays, and data were analyzed using GeneSpring 7.1. Nickel had a modest effects on expression of many genes, in the range of 1.3-3 fold. The expression profile showed time-dependent changes in expression levels of differentially expressed genes, including some important genes related to cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA repair. In hierarchical cluster analysis of duplicate experiments, 111 genes were screened out. Out of these, 44 genes showing time- dependent up-regulation (>1.5 fold) and 38 genes showing down-regulation (>1.5 fold) at all time points were chosen for further analysis. The change in the expression of three genes (GPX1, GADD45B and FAIM) after nickel treatment was validated using RT-PCR. As a rule, a number of genes appear to be coordinately regulated between cell survival and cell death from nickel toxicity. In conclusion, changes in the gene profile in the spleen after nickel treatment are complex and genes with diverse functions are modulated. These findings will be contributed to the understanding of the complicated biological effects of nickel.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제23권5호
• /
• pp.405-412
• /
• 2002

경락에서의 침구효과 원리는 침 자극이 인체의 저하된 기능상태로부터 각성상태, 응급상태, 국부적 쇼크 상태로 만들어줌으로써 인체의 전반적 생리기능이 새로운 평형을 이룰 수 있도록 하는데 있다. 그러나, 서양의학에서는 침구치료효과를 시술자의 생체에너지(기) 전달에 의한 효과보다는 단순한 침자극에 의한 신경-내분비-면역 계통의 작용과 반응으로 간주하고있다. 따라서 침구치료의 효과가 침 자극에 의한 경락의 작용임을 확인하고, 시술방법에 따른 전위 변화를 분석하기 위해서 경혈과 비경혈, 절연자침과 비절연자침, 보법과 사법으로 자극했을 때의 전위변화를 측정한 결과, 각각 다른 반응이 나타났다. 이는 동일 경락에서 침구의 작용효과는 단순한 침 자극에 의한 효과뿐만 아니라, 시술자의 생체에너지 전달에 의해 복합적으로 반응할 수 있음을 의미한다. 임상실험을 분석한 결과, 시술방법에 따른 경락에서의 전위 변화는 해당 경락의 허실과 해당장기의 건강상태에 따라 다르게 나타나고 있어서, 경락의 허실상태를 진단할 수 있는 진단 파라메터로서의 유의성을 확인하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.42-47
• /
• 2012

$Mycoplasma$ $pneumoniae$ (MP), the smallest self-replicating biological system, is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, leading to a wide range of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations. MP pneumonia has been reported in 10 to 40% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and shows an even higher proportion during epidemics. MP infection is endemic in larger communities of the world with cyclic epidemics every 3 to 7 years. In Korea, 3 to 4-year cycles have been observed from the mid-1980s to present. Although a variety of serologic assays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are available for the diagnosis of MP infections, early diagnosis of MP pneumonia is limited by the lack of immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies and variable PCR results in the early stages of the infection. Thus, short-term paired IgM serologic tests may be mandatory for an early and definitive diagnosis. MP infection is usually a mild and self-limiting disease without specific treatment, and if needed, macrolides are generally used as a first-choice drug for children. Recently, macrolide-resistant MP strains have been reported worldwide. However, there are few reports of apparent treatment failure, such as progression of pneumonia to acute respiratory distress syndrome despite macrolide treatment. The immunopathogenesis of MP pneumonia is believed to be a hyperimmune reaction of the host to the insults from MP infection, including cytokine overproduction and immune cell activation (T cells). In this context, immunomodulatory treatment (corticosteroids or/and intravenous Ig), in addition to antibiotic treatment, might be considered for patients with severe infection.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제18권11호
• /
• pp.1617-1624
• /
• 2008

키틴과 그 탈아세틸화된 형태인 키토산은 지구 상에 가장 풍부하게 존재하는 바이오매스의 하나이다. 키틴과 키토산은 항균활성, 면역증강, 중금속 흡착 등 다양한 생리활성을 보이고 있으며 식품, 의약품, 환경산업 등에서 다양하게 응용되고 있다. 이러한 키틴/키토산을 가수분해하는 효소들과 그 3차구조, 유전자들이 세균, 고세균, 진핵생물등 모든 생물종에서 보고되어 왔다. 탄수화물을 가수분해하는 효소들은 그 아미노산 서열에 따라 CAZy (Carbohydrate Active Enzymes) 데이터베이스에 분류되었는데 흥미롭게도 최근까지 키틴가수분해효소와 키토산가수분해효소들은 14개의 glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family들로 분류되어 있다(GH2, GH5, GH7, GH8, GH18, GH19, GH20, GH46, GH48, GH73, GH75, GH80, GH84, GH85). 본 총설에서는 새로운 유전자원를 찾기위한 한 방편으로서 최근에 새롭게 분류된 glycosyl hydrolase family의 분류법에 따라 각각의 GH family에 속하는 키틴/키토산가수분해효소의 종류 및 구조, 그리고 그 효소적 특징에 대하여 논하고자 한다.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• 제11권5호
• /
• pp.442-448
• /
• 2006

Human lactoferrin (hLf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that has been considered to play many biological roles in the human, including the stimulation of the immune system, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, and regulation of iron absorption. We generated transgenic Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) cell cultures producing a functional hLf protein using the signal peptide sequence from the endoplasmic reticulum and driven by an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter which is highly expressed in plant cell cultures. The production of hLf increased proportionally to cell growth and showed a maximal level (up to 3.6% of total soluble protein) at the stationary phase in suspension cultures. Full-length hLf protein was identified by immunoblot analysis in transgenic cell cultures of Siberian ginseng. Recombinant hLf (rhLf) was purified from suspension cells of Siberian ginseng by ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. N-terminal sequences of rhLf were identical to native hLf (nhLf). The overall monosaccharide composition of rhLf showed the presence of plant specific xylose while sialic acid is absent. Antibacterial activity of purified rhLf was higher than that of nhLf. Taken together, we anticipate that medicinal Siberian ginseng cultured cells, as demonstrated by this study, will be a biotechnologically useful source for commercial production of functional hLf not requiring further purification.

• 한국가금학회지
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2004

It has been recognized that the hen, like its mammalian counterparts, provides young chicks with antibodies as protection against hostile invaders. This system facilitates the transfer of specific antibodies from serum to egg yolk, and provides a supply of antibodies called immunoglobulin Y(IgY) to the developing embryo and the hatched chick. The protection against pathogens that the relatively immune-incompetent newly hatched chick has, is through transmission of antibodies from the mother via the egg. Egg yolk, therefore, can be loaded with a large amount of IgY against pathogens which can immobilize the existing or invading pathogens during the embryo development or in day-old chicks. Thus, the immunization of laying hens to various pathogens results in production of different antigen-specific IgY in eggs. Egg yolk contains 8∼20 mg of jmmunoglobulins (IgY) per ml or 136∼340 mg per yolk suggesting that more than 30 g of IgY can be obtained from one immunized hen in a year. By immunizing laying hens with antigens and collecting IgY from egg yolk, low cost antibodies at less than $10 per g compared to more than $20,000 per g of mammalian IgG can be obtained. This IgY technology opens new potential market applications in medicine, public health, veterinary medicine and food safety. A broader use of IgY technology could be applied as biological or diagnostic tool, nutraceutical or functional food development, oral-supplementation for prophylaxis, and as pathogen-specific antimicrobial agents for infectious disease control. This paper has emphasized that when IgY-loaded chicken eggs are produced and consumed, the specific antibody binds, immobilizes and consequently reduces or inhibits the growth or colony forming abilities of microbial pathogens. This concept could serve as an alternative agent to replace the use of antibiotics, since today, more and more antibiotics are less effective in the treatment of infections, due to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2002

The human complement receptor type 1 (CR 1, C3 b/C4b receptor) is a polymorphic membrane glycoprotein expressed on human erythrocytes, peripheral leukocytes, plasma and renal glomerular podocytes, which consists of transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains with 30 repeating homologous protein domains known as short consensus repeats (SCR). CR1 has been used as an inhibitor for inflammatory and immune system for the past several years. Recently; it is reported that CRl was found to suppress the hyper-acute rejection in xeno-transplantation and can be used to cure autoimmune diseases. A soluble form of CRl, called sCRl, is a recombinant CRl by cleaving the transmembrane domain at C-terminus and has been expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Several purification methods for sCR1 from CHO cells have been reported, but most of them require complicated steps at high cost. Moreover, such methods are mostly performed under the pH condition apt to denaturing sCR1 and causes sCRl losing its activity. We here report a rapid and efficient method to purify sCR1 from CHO cell. The new method consists of a two-stage of cell culture by cultivating cells in serum medium followed by serum-free medium, and a two-stage of column purification by means of heparin and gel filtration column chromatography. By using this novel method, sCR1 can be purified in a simple and effective way with high yield and purity, furthermore, the purified sCR1 was confirmed to retain its activity to suppress the complement activation in vivo and ex vivo.