• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2003

Background: As all HLA class II genes, the DQ genes show their polymorphic variation mainly in the second exon, which encodes the first extracellular domain of the molecule. PCR-SSOP (Polymerase chain reaction-Sequence specific oligonucleotide probe) techniques were frequently used for HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 typing but certain alleles, $DQA1^*0101/0104/0105$, $^*302/0303$, $*0501/0505$ and $DQB1^*0201/^*0202$ which differ from each other in segment other than exon 2, could not be unequivocally assigned. Methods: To overcome this problem, we applied additional PCR-SSP (PCR-Sequence specific primer) method to analyze DQA1 exons 1, 3 and 4 and DQB1 exon 3. And we investigated the distributions and haplotypes of HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in 406 unrelated Korean healthy individuals. Results: Using this method the indistinguishable alleles of DQA1 and DQB1 in PCR-SSOP were typed definitively. We also found several important associations between DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in the Korean population; $DQA1^*0101-DQB1^*0501$, $DQA1^*0104-DQB1^*0502$ or $-^*0503$, $DQA1^*0105-DQB1^*0501$, $DQA1^*0302-DQB1^*0303$, $DQA1^*0303-DQB1^*0401$ or $-^*0402$, $DQA1^*0501-DQB1^*0201$, $DQA1^*0505-DQB1^*0301$, and $DQA1^*0201-DQB1^*0202$. The haplotypes of DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 associated with $DQA1^*01$, $^*03$, $^*05$, and $DQB1^*02$ subtypes were investigated. Several haplotypes associated with these alleles were observed in the Korean population. Conclusion: Our results can be helpful to find potential unrelated donors for bone marrow registries and study the HLA-associated disease and anthropology at high-resolution allelic level.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.182-189
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• 2011

Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) appear to play an important role in the control and prevention of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. The pp65 antigen is a structural protein, which has been defined as a potential target for effective immunity against HCMV infection. Incorporation of an 11 amino acid region of the HIV TAT protein transduction domain (Tat) into protein facilitates rapid, efficient entry into cells. Methods: To establish a strategy for the generation of HCMV-specific CTLs in vitro, recombinant truncated N- and C-terminal pp65 protein (pp65 N&C) and N- and C-terminal pp65 protein fused with Tat (Tat/pp65 N&C) was produced in E.coli system. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with pp65 N&C or Tat/pp65 N&C protein and immune responses induced was examined using IFN-${\gamma}$ ELISPOT assay, cytotoxicity assay and tetramer staining. Results: DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65N&C protein could induce higher T-cell responses in vitro compared with pp65N&C. Moreover, the DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C could stimulate both of $CD8^+$ and $CD4^+$ T-cell responses. The T cells induced by DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C showed higher cytotoxicity than that of pp65-pulsed DCs against autologous lymphoblastoid B-cell line (LCL) expressing the HCMV-pp65 antigen. Conclusion: Our results suggest that DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C protein effectively induced pp65-specific CTL in vitro. Tat fusion recombinant protein may be useful for the development of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy and DC-based vaccines.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2009

EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) are used as a resource for human genetic, immunological, and pharmacogenomic studies. We investigated the biological activity of 20 LCL strains during continuous long-term subculture up to a passage number of 160. Out of 20 LCL strains, 17 proliferated up to a passage number of 160, at which point LCLs are generally considered as "immortalized". The other three LCL strains lost the ability to proliferate at an average passage number of 41, during which these LCLs may have undergone cellular crisis. These non-immortal LCL strains exhibited no telomerase activity, decreased EBV gene expression, and a lower copy number of the EBV genome and mitochondrial DNA when compared with immortal LCLs. Thus, this study suggests that sustained EBV viral activity as well as telomerase activity may be required for complete LCL immortalization.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.57.1-57.1
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.315-324
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• 2011

Riparian vegetation distribution patterns and diversity relative to various fluvial geomorphic channel patterns, stream bank stabilization methods, and stream flow processes are described and interpreted for selected nature-friendly small stream bank protection of Goesan, central Korea. Idong Stream Pilot Project, which began in May 2003 and finished in December 2003, was selected to develop effective methods which was nature-friendly stream bank protection. The project aim to maintain or increase stream bank stabilization ecosystem goods and services while protecting downstream and stream bank ecosystem. A number of protecting methods which were a Flight of fieldstone, Vegetation block, Green river block, Stone net, Green environment block, Eco friendly cobble, Vegetation mat and Geo-green cell and Firefly block were applied on the bank of Idong stream. The stream sites have been monitored about vegetation conditions each method in 2007. We selected six points to separately investigate in left and right bank. The main purpose of this study was to find out suitable methods and to improve stream restoration techniques for ecosystem. On the stream bank, H environment block method (9.7) was the highest average of vegetation coverage and Firefly block method (3.87) was the lowest average in applied methods.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.2078-2082
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• 2009

Riparian vegetation distribution patterns and diversity relative to various fluvial geomorphic channel patterns, stream bank stabilization methods, and stream flow processes are described and interpreted for selected stream of Goesan, Central Korea. Idong Stream Pilot Project, which began in May 2003 and finished in December 2003, was selected to develop effective methods. The project aim to maintain or increase stream bank stabilization ecosystem goods and services while protecting downstream and stream bank ecosystem. A number of protecting methods which are a Flight of fieldstone, Vegetation block, Green river block, Stone net, Green environment block, Eco friendly cobble, Vegetation mat and Geo green cell and Firefly block were applied on the bank of Idong stream. The stream sites have been monitored about flora conditions each method in 2007. We selected 12 points for summer seasons to separately investigate in left bank, right bank and river bed. The main purpose of this study was to find out suitable methods and to improve stream restoration techniques for ecosystem. On the stream bank, Eco friendly cobble method(9.57) was the highest average of vegetation cover and Firefly block method(3.87) was the lowest average in applied methods.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.197-198
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• 2016

Although three different research groups have reported successful derivations of human somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived embryonic stem cell (SCNT-ESC) lines using fetal, neonatal and adult fibroblasts, the extremely poor development of cloned embryos has hindered its potential applications in regenerative medicine. Recently, however, our group discovered that the severe methylation of lysine 9 in Histone H3 in a human somatic cell genome was a major SCNT reprogramming barrier, and the overexpression of KDM4A, a H3K9me3 demethylase, significantly improved the blastocyst formation of SCNT embryos. In particular, by applying this new approach, we were able to produce multiple SCNT-ES cell lines using oocytes obtained from donors whose eggs previously failed to develop to the blastocyst stage. Moreover, the success rate was closer to 25%, which is comparable to that of IVF embryos, so that our new human SCNT method seems to be a practical approach to establishing a pluripotent stem cell bank for the general public as well as for individual patients.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2009

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.95), catalyzes the reduction of hydroxycinnamaldehydes to give hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, or "monolignols," the monomeric precursors of lignin. Lignins are important components of cell walls and lignified secondary cell walls play crucial roles in long distance transport of water and nutrients during plant growth and development and in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here a cDNA clone containing a CAD gene, named as PgCAD, was isolated from a commercial medicinal plant Panax ginseng. PgCAD is predicted to encode a precursor protein of 177 amino acid residues, and its sequence shares high homology with a number of other plant CADS. The expression of PgCAD in adventitious roots and hairy roots of P. ginseng was analyzed using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR under various abiotic stresses such as salt, salicylic acid, wounding and chilling treatment that triggered a significant induction of PgCAD at different time points within 2-48 h post-treatment. This study revealed that PgCAD may help the plants to survive against various abiotic stresses.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2013

Marine radars are affected by sea and rain clutters, which can make target discrimination difficult. The clutter standard deviation and improvement factor are applied using multiple parameters-moving speed of radar, antenna speed, angle, etc. When a radar signal is processed, a Data Matrix Bank (DMB) filter can be applied to remove sea clutters. This filter allows detection of a target, and since it is not affected by changes in adjacent clutters resulting from a multi- target signal, sea state clutters can be removed. In this paper, we study the level for clutter removal and the method for target detection. In addition, we design a signal processing algorithm for marine radars, analyze the performance of the DMB filter algorithm, and provide a DMB filter algorithm design. We also perform a DMB filter algorithm analysis and simulation, and then apply this to the DMB filter and cell-average constant false alarm rate design to show comparative results.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 2023

Cockroaches can cause allergic sensitization in humans via contact with their feces or frass. Antibiotics can affect concentration of major allergen and total bacteria production in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica). This study examined the ability of antibiotic-treated German cockroaches to induce allergic airway inflammation and the effect of antibiotics on their lipopolysaccharide and Bla g1, 2, and 5 expression levels. Specifically, we measured the ability of German cockroach extract (with or without prior antibiotic exposure) to induce allergic inflammation in human bronchial epithelial cells and a mouse model of asthma. Bacterial 16S rRNA and lipopolysaccharide levels were lower in ampicillin-treated cockroaches than in the control group. The Bla g1, Bla g2, and Bla g5 expression in ampicillin-treated cockroaches decreased at both the protein and RNA levels. In human bronchial epithelial cell lines BEAS-2B exposed to the ampicillin-treated extract, expression levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were lower than that in the control group. The total cell count and eosinophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was also lower in mice exposed to the ampicillin-treated extract than in those exposed to normal cockroach extract. Mouse lung histopathology showed reduced immune cell infiltration and mucus production in the ampicillin group. Our results showed that ampicillin treatment reduced the symbiont bacterial population and major allergen levels in German cockroaches, leading to reduced airway inflammation in mice. These results can facilitate the preparation of protein extracts for immunotherapy or diagnostics applications.