• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) causes a major upper respiratory tract infection often leading to severe illness and death in the elderly. Thus, it is important to induce safe and effective mucosal immunity against this pathogen in order to prevent pnuemocaccal infection. However, this is a very difficult task to elicit protective mucosal IgA antibody responses in older individuals. A combind nasal adjuvant consisting of a plasmid encoding the Flt3 ligand cDNA (pFL) and CpG oligonucleotide (CpG ODN) successfully enhanced S. pneumoniae-specific mucosal immunity in aged mice. In particular, a pneumococcal surface protein A-based nasal vaccine given with pFL and CpG ODN induced complete protection from S. pneumoniae infection. These results show that nasal delivery of a combined DNA adjuvant offers an attractive potential for protection against the pneumococcus in the elderly.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2001

Barley yellow dwarf virus PAV (BYDV-PAV) has a 5.7-kb positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome that contains six open reading frames (ORFs). BYDV-PAV produces three subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs). The largest of which encodes the coat, 17-kDa, and readthrough proteins from two initiation codons. To investigate the role of intergenic and 3'-proximal noncoding regions (NCRs) in coat protein (CP) expression and BYDV-PAV replication, a full-length infectious cDNA of the RNA genome of an Illinois isolate of BYDV-PAV was constructed downstream of the Cauliflower mosaic virus-35S promoter. Linear DNA molecules of these cDNAs were infectious, expressed the 22-kDa CP, and produced both genomic RNA sgRNAs in ratios similar to those observed in protoplasts inoculated with viral RNA. The portion of 5'NCR of sgRNA1 between ORFs 2 and 3 was not required for, but enhanced translation of CP from ORF3. Mutants containing deletions in the NCR downstream of ORF5 failed to replicate in oat protoplasts. These results indicate that an intact 3$^1$NCR is required for BYDV-PAV replication.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2008

Prune dwarf virus (PDV) is an Ilarvirus systemically infecting almond trees and other Prunus species and spreading through pollen, among other means. We have studied strategies based on coat protein (cp) gene to block PDV replication in host plant cells. A Portuguese isolate of PDV was obtained from infected almond leaves and used to produce the cDNA of the cp gene. Various constructs were prepared based on this sequence, aiming for the transgenic expression of the original or modified PDV coat protein (cpPDVSense and cpPDVMutated) or for the expression of cpPDV RNA (cpPDVAntisense and cpPDVwithout start codon). All constructs were tested in a PDV host model, Nicotiana benthamiana, and extensive molecular characterization and controlled infections were performed on transformants and their progenies. Transgenic plants expressing the coat protein RNA were able to block the proliferation of a PDV isolate sharing only 91% homology with the isolate used for cpPDV cloning, as evaluated by DAS-ELISA on newly developed leaves. With cp expression, the blockage of PDV proliferation in newly developed leaves was only achieved with the construct cpPDV Mutated, where the coat protein has a substitution in the 14th aa residue, with arginine replaced by alanine. This result points to a possible role of the mutated amino acid in the virus ability to replicate and proliferate. This work reveals the possibility of achieving protection against PDV through either coat protein RNA or mutated cp sequence.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2008

Baculoviruses have been used to control some serious lepidopteran pests. However, their narrow target insect spectrum and slow efficacy are main limitations to be used in various applications. This study introduces a technique to overcome these limitations by inhibiting insect immune defence to enhance the viral pathogenicity. Polydnaviruses are an insect DNA virus group and symbiotic to some ichneumonid and braconid endoparasitoids. Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) is a braconid polydnavirus and encodes several immunosuppressive genes. We selected seven CpBV genes and recombined them to wild type Autographa California multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcNPV). A bioassay of these seven recombinants indicated that most recombinants had similar or superior efficacy to wild type AcNPV against beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, and diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Recombinant AcNPV with CpBV-ELP was the most potent in terms of lethal time by shortening more than 2 days compared to wild type AcNPV. This recombinant was further proved in its dose-dependent pathogenicity and its efficacy by spray application on S. exigua infesting cabbage cultivated in pots. We discussed the efficacy of CpBV-ELP recombinant AcNPV in terms of suppressing antiviral activity of target insects.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) gene contains three different isoform transcripts, Dnmt1s, Dnmt1o, and Dnmt1p, are produced by alternative usage of multiple first exons. Dnmt1o is specific to oocytes and preimplantation embryos, whereas Dnmt1s is expressed in somatic cells. Here we determined that porcine Dnmt1o gene had differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in 5'-flanking region, while those were not found in the Dnmt1s promoter region. The methylation patterns of the porcine Dnmt1o/Dnmt1s DMRs were investigated using bisulfite sequencing and pyrosequencing analysis through all preimplantation stages from one cell to blastocyst stage in in vivo or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The Dnmt1o DMRs contained 8 CpG sites, which located in -640 bp to -30 bp upstream region from transcription start site of the Dnmt1o gene. The methylation status of 5 CpGs within the Dnmt1o DMRs were distinctively different at each stage from one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT, respectively. 55.62% methylation degree of the Dnmt1o DMRs in the $in$ $vivo$ was increased up to 84.38% in the SCNT embryo, moreover, $de$ $novo$ methylation and demethylation occurred during development of porcine embryos from the one-cell stage to the blastocyst stage. However, the DNA methylation states at CpG sites in the Dnmt1s promoter regions were hypomethylated, and dramatically not changed through one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT embryos. In the present study, we demonstrated that the DMRs in the promoter region of the porcine Dnmt1o was well conserved, contributing to establishment and maintenance of genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation in early embryonic development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5563-5568
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• 2012

Based on our previous report on gastric cancer which documented ATP4A and ATP4B mRNA down-regulation in gastric tumors relative to normal gastric tissues, we hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms could be responsible. ATP4A and ATP4B mRNA expression in gastric cancer cell lines AGS, SNU638 and NUGC-3 was examined using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). AGS cells were treated with TSA or 5'-AzaDC and methylation specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) analysis were performed. MSP analysis was on DNA from paraffin embedded tissues sections and plasma. Expression analysis revealed downregulation of ATP4A and ATP4B genes in gastric cancer cell lines relative to normal gastric tissue, while treatment with 5'-AzaDC re-activated expression of both. Search for CpG islands in their putative promoter regions did not indicate CpG islands (CGI) but only further downstream in the bodies of the genes. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) in the exon1 of the ATP4B gene and exon7 in ATP4A indicated methylation in all the gastric cancer cell lines tested. MSP analysis in tumor tissue samples revealed methylation in the majority of tumor samples, 15/19, for ATP4B and 8/8 for ATP4A. There was concordance between ATP4B and ATP4A down-regulation and methylation status in the tumour samples tested. ATP4B methylation was detectable in cell free DNA from gastric cancer patient's plasma samples. Thus ATP4A and ATP4B down-regulation involves DNA methylation and methylated ATP4B DNA in plasma is a potential biomarker for gastric cancer.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1999.10b
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• pp.47.2-47
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• 1999

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2007

Previously developed transgenic watermelon rootstocks (gongdae) inserted by CGMMV-CP were examined to test the virus tolerance levels. In the restricted plastic house, the $T_{3}$ watermelon rootstock showed tolerance to CGMMV until 70 days after inoculation on the leaves while the non-transformed watermelon rootstock became susceptible at 20 days after inoculation. In the field, tolerance efficiency of transgenic rootstocks maintained up to 40% at 71 days after contamination with CGMMV in the soil while all of the non-transformed rootstocks became susceptible at 37 days with the same condition. In the same field, transgenic rootstocks showed more tolerance to CGMMV than the non-transformed rootstocks as those were inoculated on the leaves, but it showed only 10 days delay before being susceptible. Therefore, transgenic rootstocks have a characteristic of delay effect against CGMMV susceptibility, rather than resistance character. From $T_{3}$ rootstocks homozygous for the CGMMV-CP horticulturally favorable individuals were selected for further breeding and a transgenic line was finally obtained at the $BC_{1}T_{5}$. A material transfer experiment was conducted to find out if the DNA, RNA or expressed protein in the transgenic rootstocks could move to the grafted scion (non-transformed watermelon, Super-Kumcheon). PCR, northern, and western blot analysis were performed and no evidence of transferring of those materials from rootstock to scion was ever found.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.180-188
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• 2009

Plakoglobin (PKG) is a protein linking cadherin adhesion receptors to the actin cytoskeleton and its overexpression has been known to suppress cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in thyroid cancer. We investigated the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, on the methylation status of the promoter and the expression of the plakoglobin gene in a thyroid carcinoma cell line (ARO) and papillary thyroid carceinoma. In cultures of ARO cell line incubated without 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), five of the fifteen CpG sites in the promoter spanning -225 and -54 were methylated at 4.2 - 12.5%. When the cells were treated with 5-Aza-CdR, all the methylated CpG sites were induced to be demethylated except one. In addition, a new methylation at one CpG site, CpG4, was identified at level of 12.0%. The expression level of PKG decreased approximately 10-fold in the 5-Aza-CdR treated cells compared to untreated cells. Different pattern of promoter methylation and expression of PKG was also observed in the tissue samples. CpG10 and CpG12 sites were methylated at 9.0-27.0% in normal tissues. However, in cancer tissues, CpG5 and CpG10 sites were methylated at 10.0-22.0%. Three of ten normal thyroid tissue samples and one of thirteen papillary carcinoma tumor samples showed increased PKG mRNA expression level. PKG protein expression analyzed by the immunohistochemical staining showed higher expression in the tumor compared with normal.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.7
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• pp.1236-1241
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• 2016

Cancer has been the most frequent in Korea, and pathogenesis and progression of cancer have been known to be occurred through various causes and stages. Recently, the research of chromosomal and genetic disorder and the research about prognostic factor to predict occurrence, recurrence and progress of chromosomal and genetic disorder have been performed actively. In this paper, we analyzed DNA methylation data downloaded from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), open database, to research bladder cancer which is the most frequent among urinary system cancers. Using three level of methylation data which had the most preprocessing, 59 candidate CpG island were extracted from 480,000 CpG island, and then we analyzed extracted CpG island applying data mining technique. As a result, cg12840719 CpG island were analyzed significant, and in Cox's regression we can find the CpG island with high relative risk in comparison with other CpG island. Shown in the result of classification analysis, the CpG island which have high correlation with bladder cancer are cg03146993, cg07323648, cg12840719, cg14676825 and classification accuracy is about 76%. Also we found out that positive predictive value, the probability which predicts cancer in case of cancer was 72.4%. Through the verification of candidate CpG island from the result, we can utilize this method for diagnosing and treating cancer.