• Toxicological Research
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.45-63
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• 2019

In view of the growing industrial use of Bacterial cellulose (BC), and taking into account that it might become airborne and be inhaled after industrial processing, assessing its potential pulmonary toxic effects assumes high relevance. In this work, the murine model was used to assess the effects of exposure to respirable BC nanofibrils (nBC), obtained by disintegration of BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages ($BMM{\Phi}$) were treated with different doses of nBC (0.02 and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively 1 and $10{\mu}g$ of fibrils) in absence or presence of 0.2% Carboxymethyl Cellulose (nBCMC). Furthermore, mice were instilled intratracheally with nBC or nBCMC at different concentrations and at different time-points and analyzed up to 6 months after treatments. Microcrystaline $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159, a plant-derived cellulose, was used for comparison. Markers of cellular damage (lactate dehydrogenase release and total protein) and oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity) as well presence of inflammatory cells were evaluated in brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. Histological analysis of lungs, heart and liver tissues was also performed. BAL analysis showed that exposure to nBCMC or CMC did not induce major alterations in the assessed markers of cell damage, oxidative stress or inflammatory cell numbers in BAL fluid over time, even following cumulative treatments. $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159 significantly increased LDH release, detected 3 months after 4 weekly administrations. However, histological results revealed a chronic inflammatory response and tissue alterations, being hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries (observed 3 months after nBCMC treatment) of particular concern. These histological alterations remained after 6 months in animals treated with nBC, possibly due to foreign body reaction and the organism's inability to remove the fibers. Overall, despite being a safe and biocompatible biomaterial, BC-derived nanofibrils inhalation may lead to lung pathology and pose significant health risks.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

In the past decade, structural, molecular, and functional changes in glial cells have become a major focus in the search for the neurobiological foundations of schizophrenia. Glial cells, consisting of oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and nerve/glial antigen 2-positive cells, constitute a major cell population in the central nervous system. There is accumulating evidence of reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes and altered expression of myelin/oligodendrocyte-related genes that might explain the white matter abnormalities and altered inter- and intra-hemispheric connectivities that are characteristic signs of schizophrenia. Astrocytes play a key role in the synaptic metabolism of neurotransmitters ; thus, astrocyte dysfunction may contribute to certain aspects of altered neurotransmission in schizophrenia. Increased densities of microglial cells and aberrant expression of microglia-related surface markers in schizophrenia suggest that immunological/inflammatory factors are of considerable relevance to the pathophysiology of psychosis. This review describes current evidence for the multifaceted role of glial cells in schizophrenia and discusses efforts to develop glia-directed therapies for the treatment of the disease.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.323-330
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• 2012

The glycome consists of all glycans (or carbohydrates) within a biological system, and modulates a wide range of important biological activities, from protein folding to cellular communications. The mining of the glycome for disease markers represents a new paradigm for biomarker discovery; however, this effort is severely complicated by the vast complexity and structural diversity of glycans. This review summarizes recent developments in analytical technology and methodology as applied to the fields of glycomics and glycoproteomics. Mass spectrometric strategies for glycan compositional profiling are described, as are potential refinements which allow structure-specific profiling. Analytical methods that can discern protein glycosylation at a specific site of modification are also discussed in detail. Biomarker discovery applications are shown at each level of analysis, highlighting the key role that glycoscience can play in helping scientists understand disease biology.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.14-21
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• 1996

Molecular genetic approaches contribute to the understanding of the underlying genetic mechanism for schizophrenia. Currently genetic evidence rests on molecular genetic methods. However, the result are contradictory and somewhat confusing due to genetic heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance, misspecification of genetic model. It is expected that molecular genetics could provide key answers to the genetic cause of schizophrenia. The purpose of this article is to call attention of the readers to heterogeneity, linkage, association, basic molecular genetic methods and genetic markers and to the need far further research. It is the author's hope thai continuous research on the molecular genetics con provide clinicians with better understanding of the schizophrenia.

• ALGAE
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.215-229
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• 2018

In this study, the phylogenetic relationships among the genera Alsidium C. Agardh and Bryothamnion $K{\ddot{u}}tzing$ were investigated. Phylogenetic analyses using the plastid-encoded markers rbcL, psbA, and the mitochondrial barcode region (COI-5P) resolved a well-supported clade that included the species Alsidium corallinum, Bryothamnion seaforthii, and B. triquetrum. Our results indicated that taxonomic recognition of the genus Bryothamnion is not supported and two species of Bryothamnion are reallocated to Alsidium. A reexamination of the morphological definition of Alsidium is provided with an updated diagnosis of the genus and a morphology-based comparison of species that are currently circumscribed under this generic name. Furthermore, we reviewed morphological differences and similarities between Alsidium and the genus Digenea, both belonging to the tribe Alsidieae, discussing the most relevant morphological characters.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.123-126
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• 2023

Members of Allobathynella Morimoto and Miura, 1957 and Hangangbathynella Park and Cho, 2013 belong to the family Parabathynellidae Noodt, 1965 exclusively inhabit subterranean environments including caves, springs, and interstitial groundwater. Among them, two parabathynellid species, Allobathynella cheongdoensis Park and Cho, 2016 and Hangangbathynella taechooni Park and Cho, 2013, have been reported in the hyporheic zones of the Nakdonggang and Namhangang Rivers in South Korea, respectively. To evaluate gene markers as diagnostic characters, we determined mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and nuclear 18S rDNA from the topotypes of two Korean parabathynellid species, and then analyzed the genetic divergence among the two parabathynellids and their congeners. Additionally, we provided their habitus photographs and a brief discussion of the usefulness of the two marker regions for both genera as DNA barcodes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.897-904
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• 2023

본 연구는 Bacillus velezensis K10의 유전체 분석결과에 따른 유전자의 고유한 특성을 이용하여 유전자마커를 탐색하고 확립하여 산업현장에서 활용하기 위해서 수행하였다. B. velezensis K10은 총 4,159,835 bps를 유지하였으며, 5,136개의 단백질을 발현하는 것으로 조사되었다. B. velezensis K10은 표준균주에 비교하여 전반적으로 외부요인에 기인되는 유전자의 이동이 훨씬 많은 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같은 양상에 기인하여 B. velezensis K10은 특유의 유전적 서열을 유지할 수 있는 것으로 추정되었다. 선발마커 발굴을 위해 recombinase, integrase, transposase, phage-related genes, 등 유전자 변이 유발이 쉬운 게놈상의 영역에 대해 탐색을 실시하였다. 그 결과, 선발마커로써 가능성이 높은 9개 부위를 확보하였다. 후보마커는 일부 다른 영역에서 특이성을 보이는 영역들이 존재했지만, phage 연관 유전자들에서 매우 특이성이 높았기 때문에, 모두 phage 관련 부위에서 모두 탐색되었다. 종간 후보 선발마커로써 B. licheniformis K12, B. velezensis K10, B. subtilis, B. cereus 등에 대해 PCR 분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과 BV3, BV5~9까지 총 6 프라이머 세트에서 B. velezensis K10 특이적인 PCR 산물이 형성되는 것을 확인하였다. 다른 한편으로, subspecies 수준에서 분석 결과, BV3, 5, 8, 9 등 4 프라이머 세트에서 B. velezensis K10 특이적인 PCR 산물이 형성되는 것을 관찰했다. 분석된 마커 중에서 BV5와 8가 가장 특이성이 높았기 때문에 종(species) 및 아종(sub-species) 수준에서 B. velezensis K10 유전자 선발마커로써 BV5와 8을 활용 가능할 것으로 제의된다.

• ALGAE
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.127-139
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• 2023

Cryptic stages of diverse macroalgae present in natural substrata, "the bank of microscopic forms", were isolated into clonal cultures and identified based on both morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Approximately 120 clonal isolates from 308 natural substratum samples were collected from the entire coastline of Kuwait. Amongst these isolates, 77 (64%) were identified through DNA barcoding using the nuclear ribosomal small subunit, RuBisCO spacer (ITS2, tufa, rbcL, psaA, and psbA) and sequencing. Twenty-six isolates (34%) were identified in the division Chlorophyta, 18 (23%) as Phaeophyceae, and 33 (43%) as Rhodophyta. For all DNA sequences in this study, species-level cut off applied was ≥98% homology which depend entirely on the markers used. Three putative new records of Chlorophyta new for the Arabian Gulf were made: Cladophora laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kützing, Ulva torta (Mertens) Trevisan and Ulvella leptochaete (Huber) R. Nielsen, C. J. O'Kelly & B. Wysor in Nielsen, while Cladophora gracilis Kützing and Ulva ohnoi M. Hiraoka & S. Shimada are new records for Kuwait. For Phaeophyceae, Ectocarpus subulatus Kützing and Elachista stellaris Areschoug were new records for the Gulf and Kuwait. In the Rhodophyta, Acrochaetium secundatum (Lyngbye) Nägeli in Nägeli & Cramer, Ceramium affine Setchell & N. L. Gardner, Gelidium pusillum var. pakistanicum Afaq-Husain & Shameel and Dasya caraibica Børgesen are new records for the Gulf and Kuwait, while the red alga Stylonema alsidii (Zanardini) K. Drew is a new record for Kuwait. Several isolates identified corresponded to genera not previously reported in Kuwait and / or the Arabian Gulf, such as Porphyrostromium Trevisan, a new genus from the Bangiales, and two unidentified species for the Planophilaceae Škaloud & Leliaert. The isolates cultivated from substrata enhance understanding of the marine macroalgal diversity in the region and confirmed that the Germling Emergence Method is suitable for determining the actual diversity of a given study area through isolation from cryptic life-history phases.

• 식물분류학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.63-74
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• 2004

나문재속은 염습지에서 가장 흔히 자라는 식물인데, 한국산 나문재속은 형태적 변이가 심하여 종 식별이 어렵다. 본 연구는 RAPD분석을 통해 한국산 나문재속의 종간 분류학적 한계를 명확히 하고, 서, 남해안에서 칠면초 집단간의 유전적 변이를 알아보고자 수행되었다. 실험에 사용된 6개의 primer로부터 65개의 유용한 band를 얻었는데, 그 중 61개가 다형성이었다. RAPD 분석결과 Schanginia절에 속하는 나문재는 Heterosperma절에 속하는 나머지 종들과 조사된 모든 primer에서 뚜렷한 차이를 보였다. 또한 외부형태적으로 구별이 어려운 칠변초, 해홍나물, 기수초에서 종간에 차이가 있는 DNA band가 발견되었다. 칠면초 집단에 대한 조사에서 지역 집단간에 차이를 보이는 RAPD marker가 나타났으나, 지역 내 생육지에 따른 변이는 없었다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

The causative role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in human carcinogenesis is undisputed. Measurements of PAH-DNA adduct levels in easily accessible white blood cells therefore represent useful early endpoints in exposure intervention of chemoprevention studies. The successful applicability of DNA adducts as early endpoints depends on several criteria:i.adduct levels in easily accessible surrogate tissues should reflect adduct levels in target-tissues, ii. toxicokinetics and the temporal relevance should be properly defined.iii. sources of inter- and intra-individual variability must be known and controllable, and finally iv. adduct analyses must have advantages as compared to other markers of PAH-exposure. In general, higher DNA adduct levels or a higher proportion of subjects with detectable DNA adduct levels were found in exposed individuals as compared with non-exposed subjects, but saturation may occur at high exposures. Furthermore, DNA adduct levels varied according to changes in exposure, for example smoking cessation resulted in lower DNA adduct levels and adduct levels paralleled seasonal variations of air-pollution. Intra-individual variation during continuous exposure was low over a short period of time (weeks), but varied significantly when longer time periods (months) were investigated. Inter-individual variation is currently only partly explained by genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in PAH-metabolism and deserves further investigation. DNA adduct measurement may have three advantages over traditional exposure assessment: i. they can smooth the extreme variability in exposure which is typical for environmental toxicants and may integrate exposure over a longer period of time. Therefore, DNA adduct assessment may reduce the monitoring effort. ii. Biological monitoring of DNA adducts accounts for all exposure routes. iii. DNA adducts may account for inter-individual differences in uptake, elimination, distribution, metabolism and repair amongst exposed individuals. In conclusion, there is now a sufficiently large scientific basis to justify the application of DNA adduct measurement as biomarkers in exposure assessment and intervention studies. Their use in risk-assessment, however, requires further investigation.