• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

Secondary metabolism in actinomycetes has been known to be controlled by a small molecule, ${\gamma}$-butyrolactone autoregulator, the binding of which to each corresponding receptor leads to the regulation of the transcriptional expression of the secondary metabolites. We expected that expression of an autoregulator receptor or a pleiotropic regulator in a non-host was to be gained insight of effective production of new metabolic materials. In order to study the function of the receptor protein (seaR), which is isolated from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we introduced the seaR gene to Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) as host strains. An effective transformation procedure for S. coelicolor A3(2) was established based on transconjugation by Escherichia coli ET12567/pUZ8002 with a ${\varphi}C31$-derived integration vector, pSET152, which contained int, oriT, attP and $ermEp^*$ (erythromycin promotor). Therefore, the pEV615 was introduced into S. coelicolor A3(2) by conjugation and integrated at the attB locus in the chromosome of the recipients by the ${\varphi}C31$ integrase (int) function. Exconjugant of S. coelicolor A3(2) containing the seaR gene was confirmed by PCR and transcriptional expression of the seaR gene in the transformant was analyzed by RT-PCR. In case of S. coelicolor A3(2), a phenotype microarray was used to analyze the phenotype of transformant compared with wild type by seaR expression. After that, in order to confirm the accuracy of the results obtained from the phenotype microarray, an antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out. This test indicated that sensitivity of the transformant was higher than wild type in tetracycline case. These results indicated that some biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline biosynthesis in transformant might be repressed by seaR expression. Therefore, subsequent experiments, analysis of transcriptional pattern of genes for tetracycline production or resistance, are needed to confirm whether biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline are repressed or not.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.180-189
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• 2013

Geophysical exploration is widely used to develop strategic mineral resources in the world because of its efficient method in detecting mineralized zones in the metallic ore deposit. It is important to understand the physical properties of the stratum so that geophysical data can be more accurately interpreted. This paper is to comprehend physical properties of the rock at the Gagok mine, a typical skarn deposit in Korea. Thus, laboratory tests were conducted on specimens of ore and host rocks which were collected from rock outcrops and drill cores at the Gagok mine. Using the measurement system of rock physical property, we investigated the density, magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, and spectral induced polarization. According to the results, all physical properties of specimens had wide differences depending on contents of ore minerals, which are formed by skarnization. Especially, using the chargeability and time constant from the calculated spectral induced polarization data by the Cole-Cole inversion, we could estimate the volume contents as well as the grain size of the sulfide minerals. Therefore, the spectral induced polarization technique may be considered a useful method when exploring metallic ore deposit with sulfide minerals.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2000

Individual genetic susceptibilities to cancers may result from several factors including differences in xenobiotics metabolism to chemical carcinogens, DNA repair, altered oncogenes and suppressor genes, and environmental carcinogen exposures. Among them, genetic polymorphisms of metabolizing enzymes to chemical carcinogens have been recognized as a major important host factors in human cancers. They have two main types of enzymes: the phase I cytochrome P-450 mediating enzymes (CYPs) and phase II conjugating enzymes. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequencies of genotypes of phase I (CYP1A1 and CYP2E1) and phase II (NAT2) metabolizing enzymes in healthy control and head and neck cancer patients of Korean and to identify the relative high risk genotypes of these metabolizing enzymes to head and neck cancer in Korean. The author has analyzed 132 head and neck cancer patients and 113 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The results were as following; 1. The frequencies of genotypes of CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and NAT2 in healthy control were as following; CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism; Ile/Ile: Ile/Val: Val/Val = 59.3%: 36.3%: 4.4% CYP2E1 Pst I polymorphism, C1/C1: C1/C2: C2/C2 = 61.1%: 32.1%: 6.2% NAT2 polymorphism; F/F: F/S: S/S = 43.4%: 48.7%: 8.0% 2. In analysis of phase I enzyme, Val/Val genotype in CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism and C2/C2 genotype in CYP2E1 Pst I polymorphism were associated with relative high risks to head and neck cancers (Odds' ratio: 2.09 and 1.37, respectively). 3. Among the genotypes of NAT2 enzyme polymorphism, S/S genotype of NAT2 enzyme had 1.03 times of relative risk to head and neck cancers. 4. In combined genotyping of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and NAT2 enzymes polymorphisms, the patients with Val/Val and C1/C1, C2/C2 and fast acetylator, and Val/Val and fast acetylator had higher relative risks than the patients with each baseline of combined genotypes (Odds' ratio: 2.82, 1.98 and 2.1, respectively). These results suggest the combined genotypes of Val/Val and C1/C1, C2/C2 and fast acetylator, and Val/Val and fast acetylator were more susceptible to head and neck cancers in Korean. And genotyping of metabolizing enzymes could be useful for predicting individual susceptibility to head and neck cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.224-233
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• 1983

An experimental study was carried out to observe the susceptibility of several kinds of laboratory animals to Fibricola seoulensis infection, a diplostomatid fluke of mammals. The metacercariae were obtained from the viscera of the snakes, Natrix tigrina lateralis and 50~2,000 in number each was artificially fed to a total of 127 animals; albino rats, mice, dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens. After 3 days to 8 weeks the animals were sacrificed and the recovery rate of worms as well as their maturity was observed. The results are as follows: 1. The overall worm recovery rates throughout the experimental period was highest in albino rats (40.0%) followed by mice (33.9%), cats (20.9%), dogs (11.4%), rabbits (0.05%) and chickens (0%). However, the recovery rates in the same host decreased as infection progressed longer and variable by the amount of metacercariae given. 2. From albino rats and mice, the highest recovery rates were obtained in 1,000 and 200-metacercariae infection groups respectively, and it is considered that such amount should be the optimum dose for experimental infection of these animals. 3. The main location of F. seoulensis in experimental animals was small intestine especially the duodenum. 4. The maturity index (No. mature worms/ No. examined) was 100% in albino rats and mice, while only 22.7% or 0% in dogs or cats respectively. From the results, it is concluded that albino rats and mice are the most susceptible hosts for F. seoulensis infection among six kinds of laboratory animals examined.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 2014

The study was performed to establish an efficient screening method for resistant cucumber to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. The isolate KR5 was identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum based on molecular analyses of ITS and TEF genes and host-specificity test on cucurbits including melon, oriental melon, cucumber, and watermelon. Then four cucumber and two rootstock cultivars showing different resistance degrees to the Fusarium wilt pathogen KR5 were selected. And development of Fusarium wilt of the six cultivars according to several conditions, including incubation temperature after inoculation, inoculum concentration, root wounding, and growth stages of seedlings, was investigated. Disease severity of Fusarium wilt on the resistant cultivars was changed with incubation temperatures after inoculation. The resistant cultivars showed the higher resistance when inoculated plants were kept at 25 or $30^{\circ}C$ than at $20^{\circ}C$. Among four different growth stages of the seedlings, seven-day-old seedling represented the most difference of resistance and susceptibility to Fusarium wilt. From above results, we suggest that an efficient screening method for resistant cucumber to F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum is to dip the non-cut roots of seven-day-old seedlings in spore suspension of $1.0{\times}10^6-1.0{\times}10^7$ conidia/ml and to transplant the seedling into a non-infected soil, and then to incubate the inoculated plants in a growth room at $25^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks to develop Fusarium wilt.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1345-1351
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• 2011

Vancomycin therapy failure due to the emergence of tolerance in pneumococci is increasing. The molecular mechanism of tolerance is not clear, but lytA and $pep^{27}$ are known to be involved. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of both genes in vancomycin-tolerant Streptococcus pneumoniae (VTSP) strains. Eleven VTSP strains from a total of 309 clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae from 1997 to 2006 were classified according to the criteria of Liu and Tomasz. All VTSP strains were evaluated for susceptibility according to CLSI criteria, serotype by the Quellung test, and clonality by PFGE. The expressions of lytA and $pep^{27}$ were analyzed in different growth phases by RT-PCR with and without vancomycin. Eighty-two percent of VTSP strains showed resistance to penicillin, and 100% were sensitive to vancomycin and cefotaxime. The most frequent serotypes of VTSP strains were 23F (4/11) and 6B (3/11). Clonal relationship was observed in only two strains. No significant changes were observed in $pep^{27}$ expression in the three phases of growth in VTSP strains with and without vancomycin. Interestingly, $pep^{27}$ expression in the stationary phase in the non-tolerant reference strain R6 was significantly higher. However, no significant differences in lytA expression were observed between VTSP and R6 strains during the phases of growth analyzed. The absence of changes in $pep^{27}$ expression in VTSP strains in the stationary phase may be related to their ability to tolerate high antibiotic concentrations, and thus, they survive and remain in the host under the antibiotic selective pressure reflected in therapeutic failure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4525-4530
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• 2015

Background: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is a genetic alteration affecting an enzyme involved in folate metabolism, but its relationship to host susceptibility to prostate cancer remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and prostate cancer by performing a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Pubmed and Web of Science databases were searched for case-control studies investigating the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and prostate cancer. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used to assess any link. Results: A total of 22 independent studies were identified, including 10,832 cases and 11,993 controls. Meta-analysis showed that there was no obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of prostate cancer under all five genetic models. There was also no obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of prostate cancer in the subgroup analyses of Caucasians. In contrast, MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with increased risk for prostate cancer in Asians with the allele model (C vs G: OR=1.299, 95 %CI =1.121-1.506, P=0.001, $P_{heterogeneity}=0.120$, $I^2=45%$), additive genetic model (CC vs TT: OR =1.925, 95 % CI= 1.340-2.265, P=0.00, $P_{heterogeneity}=0.587$, $I^2=0.00%$), recessive model (CC vs TT+TC: OR= 1.708, 95 % CI=1.233-2.367, P=0.001, $P_{heterogeneity}=0.716$, $I^2=0.00%$), and heterozygote genetic model (CT vs TT: OR=2.193, 95 % CI =1.510-3.186, P=0.000, $P_{heterogeneity}=0.462$, $I^2=0.00%$). Conclusions: These results suggest that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism does not contribute to the risk of prostate cancer from currently available evidence in populations overall and Caucasians. However, the meta analysis indicates that it may play a role in prostate cancer development in Asians.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2001

Cytokines are hormone-like proteins which mediate and regulast inflammatory and immune responses. Transforming growth factor -$\beta$1(TGF-$\beta$) plays an important role in the control of the immune response and wound healing, and in the development o various tissues and organs, Nitric oxide(NO) is major messenger molecule regulating immune function and blood vessel dilation and serving as a neurotransmitter in the brain and peripheral nervous system. Also, NO is to be a potent mutagen that cause mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in early phases of human gastric carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Helicobacter phlori lystes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Staphylococcus enterotoxin B(SEB) on production of TGF-$\beta$1 and NO by human fibroblasts. Primary cultured human fibroblasts were incubated with H. pylori lysates(Hp), LPs, SEB, Hp+LPS, Hp+SEB, Hp+LPS+SEB. Cultured supernatants that were collected at 24, 48 and 72 hr were assessed for TGF-$\beta$1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NO production by quantification of nitrite ion. TGF-$\beta$1 production in fibroblasts exposed with Hp, LPS or SEB for 48 hrs was enhanced, but for 72 hrs inhibited. Its production by doble exposure such as Hp+LPS, Hp+SEB, Hp+LPS+SEB was lowered in comparison with single exposure of Hp in cases of 24 and 48 hrs incubation, but for 72 hrs decreased in Hp vaculoating toxin(+), increased in Hp vacuolating toxin(-). No production in fibroblasts increaed at all doses of LPS. But its production by exposure of SEB increased or decreased according to dose and incubation time. Also, NO production by Hp vacuolating toxin(+) increased at all doses, but its production by Hp vacuolating toxin(-) decreased. Its production by doble exposure such as Hp+LPS, Hp+SEB, Hp+LPS+SEB decreased in comparison with single exposure Hp Therefore, quantities pf TGB-$\beta$1 and NO released by human fibroblasts shows differences according to kinds of stimulants. Also, in care stimulated with same kinds of stimulants, its productions exhibit quantitative differences according to exposure times. These results suggest that the decreased of TGF-$\beta$1 in fibroblasts by mixed exposure with Hp producing vacuolating toxin and bacterial toxins such as LPS and SEB may effect negatively in healing of host tissue and increased of NO by infection oh H. pylori may related to the increased susceptibility for human gastric carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.555-562
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• 2012

PCR was performed to analyze the ${\beta}$-lactamase genes carried by ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains isolated from marine environments in Korea between 2006 and 2009. All 36 strains tested showed negative results in PCR with the primers designed from the nucleotide sequences of various known ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. This prompted us to screen new ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. A novel ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was cloned from Vibrio alginolyticus KV3 isolated from the aquaculture water of Geoje Island of Korea. The determined nucleotide sequence (VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase) revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 852 bp, encoding a protein of 283 amino acids (aa), which displayed low homology to any other ${\beta}$-lactamase genes reported in public databases. The deduced 283 aa sequence of VAK-3, consisting of a 19 aa signal peptide and a 264 aa mature protein, contained highly conserved peptide segments specific to class A ${\beta}$-lactamases including the specific amino acid residues STFK (62-65), SDN (122-124), E (158), and RTG (226-228). Results from PCR performed with primers specific to the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene identified 3 of the 36 isolated strains as V. alginolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, indicating the utilization of various ${\beta}$-lactamase genes including unidentified ones in ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains from the marine environment. In a mating experiment, none of the isolates transfered the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene to the Escherichia coli recipient. This lack of mobility, and the presence of a chromosomal acyl-CoA flanking sequence upstream of the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene, led to the assumption that the location of this new ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was in the chromosome, rather than the mobile plasmid. Antibiotic susceptibility of VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase was indicated by elevated levels of resistance to penicillins, but not to cephalosporins in the wild type and E. coli harboring recombinant plasmid pKV-3, compared with those of the host strain alone. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase is a new and separate member of class A ${\beta}$-lactamases.