• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1870-1875
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• 2020

Probiotics are often infused into functional foods or encapsulated in a supplement form to maintain a healthy balance between the gut microbiota and their host. Because there are milk-based functional foods such as yogurt and cheese on the market, it has been suggested that milk-based probiotics could be incorporated into skim milk proteins in a liquid capsule. Skim milk is mainly composed of casein and whey protein, which create a strong natural barrier and can be used to encapsulate probiotics. In this study, we compared the encapsulated probiotics prepared with milk-based concentrated cell mixtures using commercial probiotics. Probiotic capsules were emulsified with skim milk proteins using vegetable oil to form a double coating layer. The product was heat-stable when tested using a rheometer. The survival rate of the milk-based probiotic cells in the lower gastric environment with bile was significantly higher than commercial probiotics. Thus, milk-encapsulated probiotics exhibited greater efficacy in the host than other types of probiotics, suggesting that the former could be more viable with a longer shelf life under harsh conditions than other form of probiotics. Our findings suggested that, compared with other types of probiotics, milk-based probiotics may be a better choice for producers and consumers.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.417-421
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• 2015

Bone grafting is widely used to bridge major bone defects or to promote bone union. Natural calcium carbonate (CC) has been used as a bone substitute material and used to scaffold for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). The aims of this study is to evaluate the biocompatibility of cuttlebone (CB) and hydroxyapatite from CB (CBHA). Each material was shaped into disks (5 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness). To test biocompatibility, the disks were implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue in mice. Fibrous capsule thickness around each disk was evaluated histologically at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation. Concerning biocompatibility, fibrous capsule thickness of CBHA was significantly thinner than that of CB and CHA (p < 0.05) at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation. Based on the clinical and histological results, CBHA would be a safe material for use inside the body and has more effective osteoconduction than CB.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

Objective : For this study, mice on mercurial toxication were given mercuric subcutaneous injection to their abdomen factitiously. After delivering Kami- bangpungtongseong-san(KBT) extracts to the mice by oral administration, we observed changes from liver and kidney of mice. Method : The BALB/c mice were distributed into three groups: No treated group(Normal group), Mercuric chloride subcutaneous injection group(Control group), Kami-bangpungtongseong-san-treated group (Sample group). KBT Extracts were delivered orally in 7 days. We observed involution of liver, necrosis of liver and cell plate loss of liver, lipid peroxidation CYP1A1 expression. We observed involution of proximal convoluted tubules, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)'s positive reaction of proximal convoluted tubules, heat shock protein(HSP)700's positive reaction in glomerulus. For the charting the results, image analysis was taken. The result of image analysis was verified significance by Sigmaplot 2000(P<0.05). Result : The mice' liver on mercurial toxication were relieved involution of liver, necrosis of liver, and cell plate loss of liver and also declined lipid peroxidation and CYP1A1 expression. The mice' kidney on mercurial toxication were relieved involution of proximal convoluted tubules, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule and increasing PAS's positive reaction of proximal convoluted tubules. On the other hand it was declined HSP700's positive reaction in glomerulus. Conclusion : According to the result of study, we think that we can expect to the effect of KBT extracts' therapeutic action to tissue injuries of the mice' liver and kidney on acute mercurial toxication.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.323-325
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• 2002

Bacillus Anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. The major virulence factors are a poly-D glutamic acid capsule and three-protein component exotoxin, which is collectively known as anthrax toxin, protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa), and edema factor (EF, 89 kDa). These three proteins individually have no known toxic activities, but in combination with PA form two toxins (lethal toxin and edema toxin), causing different pathogenic responses in animals and cultured cells. However, it remains to be elucidated for pathogenic mechanism of anthrax toxin. In this study, we constructed toxin component in bacterial overexpression system and purified the native toxin from Bacillus anthracis delta sterne F32 using FPLC system. Recombinant toxin showed high homogeneity and rapid purification processes. Also, this recombinant toxin was comparable to B. anthracis native toxin in terms of cytotoxic effects on cultured cell lines.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

To identity the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide, recombinant plasmids pUEX10 and pLEX10 were constructed from plasmid pLEX3 which was isolated from the recombinant cosmid library of Zoogloea ramigera 115. The complete nucleotide sequence of the 1.7 kb genomic DNA insert in plasmid pUEX10 was determined. Its analysis identified two open reading frames (ORF3 & ORF4) which could encode two proteins. The amino acid sequence derived from ORF3 showed the homology with gumC protein in Xanthomonas campestris as well as exoP protein in Rhizobium melizoti. The partial amino acid sequence of ORF4 showed the homology with polysaccharide export protein in Thermotoga maritima. Z. ramigera 115SLR and Z. ramigera 115SLR/pLEX10 showed the similar pattern for EPS production. Yield of exopolysaccharides produced by Z. ramigera 115SLR and Z. ramigera 115SLR/pLEX10 was 0.26% (w/v) and 0.16% (w/v), respectively.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.369-373
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• 2004

We previously reported that Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule attached to the surface protein (JY-Pol) was protective to systemic pneumococcal infection. The JY -Pol antigen induced IgM, IgG, and IgA in mice and provoked cell-mediated immunity. In this current study, we investigated the effect of anti JY-Pol antiserun and monoclonal antibody C2 (Mab C2) specific for the JY-Pol antigen against the pneumococcal disease. Mice that were given the antiserum survived longer than mice that received antiserum pre-absorbed with S.pneumoniae cells or DPBS as a negative control. Heat-treated anti JY-Pol antiserum resulted in survival rates similar to intact fresh JY-Pol antiserum. Mab C2 isolated from JY-Pol-immunized mice also enhanced resistance of naive mice against the pneumococcal diseaser. This protection by Mab C2 appeared to be mediated by opsonization as determined in a RAW 264.7 monocyte/macrophage cell line. Epitope analysis showed that Mab C2 epitope consisted of glucuronic acid and glucose that blocked the interaction of JY-Pol to the C2. Taken together, these data indicate that the antiserum induced by the JY-Pol, a naturally pneumococcal conjugate formula, mediated the protection by passive transfer, which was confirmed by protective effect of Mab C2.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.918-927
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• 2016

Cryptococcus neoformans is a life-threatening pathogenic yeast that causes devastating meningoencephalitis. The mechanism of cryptococcal brain invasion is largely unknown, and recent studies suggest that its extracellular microvesicles may be involved in the invasion process. The 14-3-3 protein is abundant in the extracellular microvesicles of C. neoformans, and the 14-3-3-GFP fusion has been used as the microvesicle's marker. However, the physiological role of 14-3-3 has not been explored. In this report, we have found that C. neoformans contains a single 14-3-3 gene that apparently is an essential gene. To explore the functions of 14-3-3, we substituted the promoter region of the 14-3-3 with the copper-controllable promoter CTR4. The CTR4 regulatory strain showed an enlarged cell size, drastic changes in morphology, and a decrease in the thickness of the capsule under copper-enriched conditions. Furthermore, the mutant cells produced a lower amount of total proteins in their extracellular microvesicles and reduced adhesion to human brain microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. Proteomic analyses of the protein components under 14-3-3-overexpressed and -suppressed conditions revealed that the 14-3-3 function(s) might be associated with the microvesicle biogenesis. Our results support that 14-3-3 has diverse pertinent roles in both physiology and pathogenesis in C. neoformans. Its gene functions are closely relevant to the pathogenesis of this fungus.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2010

The aim of this work is the fabrication of polyelectrolyte microcapsules composed of biocompatible polymers such as chitosan, heparin and alginate, to encapsulate the fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-albumin, and to investigate the protein release behavior therefrom. Polyelectrolyte capsules with 4-layer structures could be prepared with biocompatible materials by oppositely charged adsorption using melamin-foramide as a template. Transmission electron microscope(TEM), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and optical microscope confirmed hollow capsule structures. Protein release before and after encapsulation was monitored with a UV-Vis spectrometer. Microcapsules have different behaviors depending on the kind of polyelectrolyte polymers, chitosan-heparin capsules or chitosan-alginate capsules. In conclusion, the polyelectrolyte multilayer shells can be switched between an open and closed state by means of tuning the pH value.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1206-1211
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• 2005

Purpose : Pneumococcal protein vaccine based on pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is in development with the potential to offer a broad range of protection against different strains. PspA elicits protection in mice against fatal sepsis as well as carriage and lung infection. This study was performed to investigate the frequency of PspA families among Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered from Korean children and adults. Methods : A total of 89 pneumococcal isolates was included in the study. They were capsule serotyped by the slide agglutination assay with commercial antisera. PspA families were determined with polymerase chain reaction using the pair of primers for family 1 and family 2. Results : Seventeen pneumococcal serotypes were found in a total of 89 isolates. PspA typing was able to ascertain 79 of the 89 isolates (88.8 percent). Among these, 20 (22.5 percent) isolates were family 1 PspA, 59 (66.3 percent) were family 2. Moreover, because 9 (10.1 percent) isolates were of positive reactions for both, families 1 and 2 primers, the potential coverage of PspA vaccine was 98.9 percent. PspA families were not associated with age group, source of isolates, or penicillin susceptibility. However, the relative distribution of family 1 isolates to family 2 isolates was significantly different over capsular serotypes. Conclusion : The finding that 98.9 percent of Korean isolates belonging to PspA families 1 and 2 support the hypothesis that a human PspA vaccine covering a few PspA families could be broadly effective. The monitoring of the PspA families derived from large population-based isolates will be necessary in the context of vaccine development.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1219-1224
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• 2008

The embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming an important model organism for studies of early events in vertebrate development. Neural crest-derived pigment cell precursors of the embryonic zebrafish give rise to melanophores, xanthophores, and/or iridophores. Cell-signaling mechanisms related to the development of pigmentation and pigment pattern formation remain obscure. In this study, zebrafish embryos were treated with various signaling-related molecules - LiCl (an inositol-phosphatase inhibitor), forskolin (a protein kinase-A activator), a combination of LiCl/forskolin, and LiCl/heparin (an IP3 inhibitor) in order to identify the mechanisms involved in pigmentation. LiCl treatment resulted in ultrastructural and morphological alterations of melanophores. To identify the possible proteins responsible for this ultrastructural and morphological change, phosphorylation patterns in vitro and in vivo were analyzed. LiCl and LiCl/forskolin treatment elicited dramatic increases in the phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein which was inhibited by heparin treatment. LiCl treatment also induced phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein in melanophores purified from adult zebrafish. Collectively these results suggest that a LiCl-induced 55-kDa phosphoprotein plays a role in melanophore morphology and ultrastructure and ultimately effects gross pigmentation.