• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.6
• /
• pp.379-391
• /
• 2022

Leishmaniasis is a serious parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp. transmitted through sandfly bites. This disease is a major public health concern worldwide. It can occur in 3 different clinical forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis (CL, MCL, and VL, respectively), caused by different Leishmania spp. Currently, licensed vaccines are unavailable for the treatment of human leishmaniasis. The treatment and prevention of this disease rely mainly on chemotherapeutics, which are highly toxic and have an increasing resistance problem. The development of a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine for all forms of vector-borne disease is urgently needed to block transmission of the parasite between the host and vector. Immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis are complex. IL-12-driven Th1-type immune response plays a crucial role in host protection. The essential purpose of vaccination is to establish a protective immune response. To date, numerous vaccine studies have been conducted using live/attenuated/killed parasites, fractionated parasites, subunits, recombinant or DNA technology, delivery systems, and chimeric peptides. Most of these studies were limited to animals. In addition, standardization has not been achieved in these studies due to the differences in the virulence dynamics of the Leishmania spp. and the feasibility of the adjuvants. More studies are needed to develop a safe and effective vaccine, which is the most promising approach against Leishmania infection.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 1998.07a
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 1998

For improvement of plants in disease resistance, it is most important to elucidate the mechanism to perceive and respond to the signal molecules of invaders. A model system with pea and its pathogen, Mycosphaerella pinodes, showed that the fungal elicitor induced defense responses in all plant species tested but that the suppressor of the fungus blocked or delayed the expression of defense responses and induced accessibility only in the host plant. In the world, many researchers believe that the pathogens` signals are recognized only on the receptors in the plasma membranes. Though we found that the ATPase and polyphosphoinositide metabolism in isolated plasma membranes responded to these fungal signals, we failed to detect specific actions of the suppressor in vitro on these plasma membrane functions. Recently, we found that ATPase (NTPases) and superoxide generating system in isolated cell wall were regulated by these fungal signals even in vitro, especially, by the suppressor in a strictly species-specific manner and also that the cell wall alone prepared an original defense system. The effects of both fungal signals on the isolated cell wall functions in vitro coincide perfectly with those on defense responses in vivo. In this treatise, we discuss the key role of the cell wall, which is plant-specific and the most exterior organelle, in determining host-parasite specificity and molecular target for improvement of plants.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.21 no.4 s.53
• /
• pp.207-210
• /
• 1982

The studies were carried out to examine susceptibility or resistance of junipers as an inform ediate host of pear rust, to select effective fungicides to pear and juniper rust, and to determine their application time. The telia were formed abundanty on Juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka, moderately on J. chinensis, J. chinensis var. sargentii and J. virginiana, but little on J. chinensis var. globosa and J. utilis. The telia from the junipers were pathogenic to pear. Spraying juniper host with the fungicide Actidione in the 1st and End parts of April greaty inhibited swelling of telia as well as germination of teliospores. The two or three applications of Bayleton at the end of April to May 10 were remarkably effective for the control of pear rust. Fungicide sprays just before rain were more effective than those after rain.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.31.1-31.18
• /
• 2023

Evidence suggests that the human respiratory tract, as with the gastrointestinal tract, has evolved to its current state in association with commensal microbes. However, little is known about how the airway microbiome affects the development of airway immune system. Here, we uncover a previously unidentified mode of interaction between host airway immunity and a unique strain (AIT01) of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a predominant species of the nasal microbiome. Intranasal administration of AIT01 increased the population of neutrophils and monocytes in mouse lungs. The recruitment of these immune cells resulted in the protection of the murine host against infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogenic bacterium. Interestingly, an AIT01-secreted protein identified as GAPDH, a well-known bacterial moonlighting protein, mediated this protective effect. Intranasal delivery of the purified GAPDH conferred significant resistance against other Gram-negative pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii) and influenza A virus. Our findings demonstrate the potential of a native nasal microbe and its secretory protein to enhance innate immune defense against airway infections. These results offer a promising preventive measure, particularly relevant in the context of global pandemics.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.25.1-25.13
• /
• 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii is known for its multidrug antibiotic resistance. New approaches to treating drug-resistant bacterial infections are urgently required. Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is a murine antimicrobial peptide that exerts diverse immune functions, including both direct bacterial cell killing and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we sought to identify the role of CRAMP in the host immune response to multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wild-type (WT) and CRAMP knockout mice were infected intranasally with the bacteria. CRAMP^-/- mice exhibited increased bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after A. baumannii infection compared to WT mice. The loss of CRAMP expression resulted in a significant decrease in the recruitment of immune cells, primarily neutrophils. The levels of IL-6 and CXCL1 were lower, whereas the levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the BAL fluid of CRAMP^-/- mice compared to WT mice 1 day after infection. In an in vitro assay using thioglycollate-induced peritoneal neutrophils, the ability of bacterial phagocytosis and killing was impaired in CRAMP^-/- neutrophils compared to the WT cells. CRAMP was also essential for the production of cytokines and chemokines in response to A. baumannii in neutrophils. In addition, the A. baumannii-induced inhibitor of κB-α degradation and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK were impaired in CRAMP^-/- neutrophils, whereas ERK and JNK phosphorylation was upregulated. Our results indicate that CRAMP plays an important role in the host defense against pulmonary infection with A. baumannii by promoting the antibacterial activity of neutrophils and regulating the innate immune responses.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.59 no.4
• /
• pp.351-356
• /
• 2016

Bacterial blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii is one of the major diseases of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Application of bacteriophages is a very useful tool to decrease the density of pathogens and it has been successful to making disease-free cultivation area, known as phage therapy. Effect of phages on pathogen sterilization is very limited to the specific host strains. Minor variations of the host strains may cause changes in phage sensitivity. The phage-resistant strains of P. tolaasii were isolated and their pathogenic characters were investigated to improve the effectiveness of phage therapy. In the phylogenetic analysis, both phage-resistant strains and the corresponding host strains were identical based on the sequence comparison of 16S rRNA genes. The pathogenic characters, such as hemolytic activity and brown blotch formation, were measured on the phage-resistant strains and no correlation between phage-resistance and pathogenic characters was observed. Nevertheless, pathogenic characters were sometimes changed in the phage-resistant strains depending on the host strains. In order to make the phage therapy successful, the bacteriophages having a wide host range should be isolated.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.426-438
• /
• 2016

Plant disease resistance occurs as a hypersensitive response (HR) at the site of attempted pathogen invasion. This specific event is initiated in response to recognition of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and subsequent PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Both PTI and ETI mechanisms are tightly connected with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and disease resistance that involves distinct biphasic ROS production as one of its pivotal plant immune responses. This unique oxidative burst is strongly dependent on the resistant cultivars because a monophasic ROS burst is a hallmark of the susceptible cultivars. However, the cause of the differential ROS burst remains unknown. In the study here, we revealed the plausible underlying mechanism of the differential ROS burst through functional understanding of the Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) AVR effector, AVR-Pii. We performed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening using AVR-Pii as bait and isolated rice NADP-malic enzyme2 (Os-NADP-ME2) as the rice target protein. To our surprise, deletion of the rice Os-NADP-ME2 gene in a resistant rice cultivar disrupted innate immunity against the rice blast fungus. Malic enzyme activity and inhibition studies demonstrated that AVR-Pii proteins specifically inhibit in vitro NADP-ME activity. Overall, we demonstrate that rice blast fungus, M. oryzae attenuates the host ROS burst via AVR-Pii-mediated inhibition of Os-NADP-ME2, which is indispensable in ROS metabolism for the innate immunity of rice. This characterization of the regulation of the host oxidative burst will help to elucidate how the products of AVR genes function associated with virulence of the pathogen.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.389-403
• /
• 2016

Sugar beet nematode (Heterodera schachtii Schmidt) was first detected in 2011, in Chinese cabbage grown in the highland areas of Korea. Chemical control of the nematode by nematicides is not feasible due to its cyst-forming characteristics; therefore, the cultivation of non-host crops is a preferable alternative to utilize nematode-infected fields. In this study, a total of 276 plant cultivars belonging to 18 different families were screened to evaluate their resistance to the nematode. Based on the number of cysts formed following nematode inoculation, the tested crops were classified into 3 levels: susceptible, moderately susceptible, and resistant/immune. Among the 276 cultivars tested, 106 cultivars were susceptible, 40 cultivars were moderately susceptible, and 130 cultivars were resistant/immune. Among the resistant/immune cultivars, cyst formation was not observed on eggplant, tomato, lettuce, perilla, carrot, celery, watermelon, oriental melon, cucumber, pumpkin, chives, onion, welsh onion, balloon flower roots, deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata), Jandae (Adenophora triphylla), and bean. Therefore, these plants are regarded as immune to the cyst nematode. However, many crops belonging to Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Poaceae families showed moderate susceptibility or immunity, depending on the crop or cultivar. This study provides a basis for alternative crop recommendations for sugar beet nematode cyst-infected farms in Chinese cabbage production areas.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2005

A summer annual weed of monochoria (Monochoria vaginalis) grows in the edges of rice paddies, ditches, and moist upland throughout Korea. It is very difficult to control with herbicide because of its sulfonylurea resistance. It is very competitive with fast growing pattern, that can cause reducing yields of rice. Brown leaf blight of monochoria (Monochoria vaginalis) occurred naturally in rice paddy, is first reported in Korea. The fungal isolate BWC01-54 was successfully isolated from the diseased leaves of monochoria. The fungus BWC 01-54 was grown well at $25-28^{\circ}C$, conidia of the greysh black brown mycelia were abundant produced on PDA at 15 days. The fungus was grown well in potato dextrose broth at $28^{\circ}C$ and fully grown within 10 days in 250 ml of flask. In host and pathogenicity test, conidia suspension of BWC01-54 was the most effective to control of monochoria compare to others isolates. Typical symptoms having pin point brown lesions were formed on stem and leaf and which severely affected the whole plants ware blighted within two weeks, respectively. Under paddies field condition, conidial suspension of the fungus BWC01-54 gave around 90% control. Therefore, we conclude that the fungus may have a potential as a biological control agent against sulfonylurea resistance weed in rice paddy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2015

Pigeonpea Sterility Mosaic Disease (PSMD) is an important foliar disease caused by Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) which is transmitted by eriophyid mites (Aceria cajani Channabasavanna). In present study, a F2 mapping population comprising 325 individuals was developed by crossing PSMD susceptible genotype (Gullyal white) and PSMD resistant genotype (BSMR 736). We identified a set of 32 out of 300 short decamer random DNA markers that showed polymorphism between Gullyal white and BSMR 736 parents. Among them, eleven DNA markers showed polymorphism including coupling and repulsion phase type of polymorphism across the parents. Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA), revealed that the DNA marker, IABTPPN7, produced a single coupling phase marker (IABTPPN $7_{414}$) and a repulsion phase marker (IABTPPN $7_{983}$) co-segregating with PSMD reaction. Screening of 325 F2 population using IABTPPN7 revealed that the repulsion phase marker, IABTPPN $7_{983}$, was co-segregating with the PSMD responsive SV1 at a distance of 23.9 cM for Bidar PPSMV isolate. On the other hand, the coupling phase marker IABTPPN $7_{414}$ did not show any linkage with PSMD resistance. Additionally, single marker analysis both IABTPPN $7_{983}$ (P<0.0001) and IABTPPN $7_{414}$ (P<0.0001) recorded a significant association with the PSMD resistance and explained a phenotypic variance of 31 and 36% respectively in $F_2$ population. The repulsion phase marker, IABTPPN7983, could be of use in Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) in the PPSMV resistance breeding programmes of pigeonpea.