• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1055-1064
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• 2006

Extremely slow growing anammox(anaerobic ammonium oxidation) bacteria were cultivated using a combination of UASB(Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor seeded with anaerobic granular sludge and carbon-fiber cultivating reactor. After 180 days of continuous cultivation, average nitrogen removal rate showed 0.54 kg $N/m^3-day$ when 0.6 kg $N/m^3-day$ of nitrogen loading was applied. The black granule was changed to brown and red granule as continuous operation, and the red granule was highly dependant on the high anammox activity. Microbial community structure of red granule in the UASB reactor was analyzed by molecular methods such as gene cloning, phylogenetic tree analysis, and FISH(Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) method. As a result of gene cloning and phylogenetic tree analysis, 5 kinds of phylum were found to be Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chlorobi and Chloroflexi. 13 clones were matched to anammox bacteria among 51 clones in the red anammox granule. In-silico test which used cloning information and FISH probe of the AMX368 was conducted to detect the presence of anammox bacteria in the red anammox granule. As a result of in-silico test only one clone was exactly matched to AMX368 but 11 clones was mutated one base among 18 bases representing all 12 clones are anammox bacteria. A filamentous Chloroflexi might be related to the granulation of anammox bacteria. As a result of FISH analysis, anammox bacteria was abundant in the red anammox granule.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of chronic hyperglycaemia affecting normal kidney functioning. The ayurvedic medicine curcumin (CUR) is pharmaceutically accepted for its vast biological effects. Objectives: The Curcuma-derived diferuloylmethane compound CUR, loaded on Poly (lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles was utilized to combat DN-induced renal apoptosis by selectively targeting and modulating Bcl2. Methods: Upon in silico molecular docking and screening study CUR was selected as the core phytocompound for nanoparticle formulation. PLGA-nano-encapsulated-curcumin (NCUR) were synthesized following standard solvent displacement method. The NCUR were characterized for shape, size and other physico-chemical properties by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies. For in vivo validation of nephro-protective effects, Mus musculus were pre-treated with CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. and NCUR at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. (dose 1), 12.5 mg/kg b.w (dose 2) followed by alloxan administration (100 mg/kg b.w) and serum glucose levels, histopathology and immunofluorescence study were conducted. Results: The in silico study revealed a strong affinity of CUR towards Bcl2 (dock score -10.94 Kcal/mol). The synthesized NCUR were of even shape, devoid of cracks and holes with mean size of ~80 nm having -7.53 mV zeta potential. Dose 1 efficiently improved serum glucose levels, tissue-specific expression of Bcl2 and reduced glomerular space and glomerular sclerosis in comparison to hyperglycaemic group. Conclusion: This study essentially validates the potential of NCUR to inhibit DN by reducing blood glucose level and mitigating glomerular apoptosis by selectively promoting Bcl2 protein expression in kidney tissue.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.257-270
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• 2019

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in a variety of applications in innovative development; consequently, people are more exposed to this particle. Growing concern about toxicity from AgNP exposure has attracted greater attention, while questions about nanosilver-responsive genes and consequences for human health remain unanswered. By considering early detection and prevention of nanotoxicology at the genetic level, this study aimed to identify 1) changes in gene expression levels that could be potential indicators for AgNP toxicity and 2) morphological phenotypes correlating to toxicity of HepG2 cells. To detect possible nanosilver-responsive genes in xenogenic targeted organs, a comprehensive systematic literature review of changes in gene expression in HepG2 cells after AgNP exposure and in silico method, connection up- and down-regulation expression analysis of microarrays (CU-DREAM), were performed. In addition, cells were extracted and processed for transmission electron microscopy to examine ultrastructural alterations. From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Series database, we selected genes that were up- and down-regulated in AgNPs, but not up- and down-regulated in silver ion exposed cells, as nanosilver-responsive genes. HepG2 cells in the AgNP-treated group showed distinct ultrastructural alterations. Our results suggested potential representative gene data after AgNPs exposure provide insight into assessment and prediction of toxicity from nanosilver exposure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1343-1349
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• 2021

Cockroaches live in places where various pathogens exist and thus are more likely to use antimicrobial compounds to defend against pathogen intrusions. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome and detected periplanetasin-5 using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. In this study, we investigated whether periplanetasin-5 has anticancer activity against the human leukemia cell line K562. Cell growth and survival of K562 cells treated with periplanetasin-5 were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. By using flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and DNA fragmentation, we found that periplanetasin-5 induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in leukemia cells. In addition, these events were associated with increased levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins Fas and cytochrome c and reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Periplanetasin-5 induces the cleavage of pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The above data suggest that periplanetasin-5 induces apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Moreover, caspase-related apoptosis was further confirmed by using the caspase inhibitor carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK), which reversed the periplanetasin-5-induced reduction in cell viability. In conclusion, periplanetasin-5 caused apoptosis in leukemia cells, suggesting its potential utility as an anticancer therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1282-1289
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• 2020

Previously, we performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome. Antimicrobial peptide candidates were selected using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. It was found that periplanetasin-5 had antimicrobial activity against yeast and gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activities of periplanetasin-5 in mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. No cytotoxicity was observed at 60 ㎍/ml periplanetasin-5, and treatment decreased nitric oxide production in Raw264.7 cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that periplanetasin-5 reduced cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. Periplanetasin-5 controlled inflammation by inhibiting phosphorylation of MAPKs, an inflammatory signaling element, and reducing the degradation of IκB. Through LAL assay, LPS toxicity was found to decrease in a periplanetasin-5 dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these data showed that periplanetasin-5 had anti-inflammatory activities, exemplified in LPS-exposed Raw264.7 cells. Thus, we have provided a potentially useful antibacterial peptide candidate with anti-inflammatory activities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.361-374
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• 2015

Endocirne disruptors (EDs) can cause fertility decrease, developmental disorder, and even cancer in animals. Until 90's, EDs were used in various synthetic products including paints, coatings, detergents, plastics, and plasticizers. Currently, in several countries, the production, trade and use of EDs or EDs-suspected chemicals have been regulated while activity to screen the alternatives for EDs including bisphenol-A, phthalate and nonylphenol is active. Although various toxicity test method was developed and applied for screening of alternatives, however, the safety of alternatives has been not fully demonstrated. Some alternatives have high structural similarity with existing EDs, raising the possible risk of endocrine disruption by alternatives. In an effort to develop the safe alternatives, we reviewed the effects of EDs such as bisphenol-A, phthalates, nonylphenol and their substituents. In addition, in-silico analysis for endocrine disrupting activities of some alternatives was presented.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.447-453
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• 2009

The quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors that antagonize TraR, a receptor protein for N-3-oxo-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactones (3-oxo-C8-HSL), a QS signal of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were developed. The structural analogues of 3-oxo-C8-HSL were designed by in silico molecular modeling using SYBYL packages, and synthesized by the solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS) method, where the carboxamide bond of 3-oxo-C8-HSL was replaced with a nicotinamide or a sulfonamide bond to make derivatives of N-nicotinyl-L-homoserine lactones or N-sulfonyl-L-homoserine lactones. The in vivo inhibitory activities of these compounds against QS signaling were assayed using reporter systems and compared with the estimated binding energies from the modeling study. This comparison showed fairly good correlation, suggesting that the in silico interpretation of ligand-receptor structures can be a valuable tool for the pre-design of better competitive inhibitors. In addition, these inhibitors also showed anti-biofilm activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.11
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• 2023

The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne intracellular pathogen that is widespread in the environment. The functions of hypothetical proteins (HP) from various pathogenic bacteria have been successfully annotated using a variety of bioinformatics strategies. In this study, a HP Imo0888 (NP_464414.1) from the Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e strain was annotated using several bioinformatics tools. Various techniques, including CELLO, PSORTb, and SOSUIGramN, identified the candidate protein as cytoplasmic. Domain and motif analysis revealed that the target protein is a PemK/MazF-like toxin protein of the type II toxin-antitoxin system (TAS) which was consistent with BLASTp analysis. Through secondary structure analysis, we found the random coil to be the most frequent. The Alpha Fold 2 Protein Structure Prediction Database was used to determine the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the HP using the template structure of a type II TAS PemK/MazF family toxin protein (DB ID_AFDB: A0A4B9HQB9) with 99.1% sequence identity. Various quality evaluation tools, such as PROCHECK, ERRAT, Verify 3D, and QMEAN were used to validate the 3D structure. Following the YASARA energy minimization method, the target protein's 3D structure became more stable. The active site of the developed 3D structure was determined by the CASTp server. Most pathogens that harbor TAS create a crucial risk to human health. Our aim to annotate the HP Imo088 found in Listeria could offer a chance to understand bacterial pathogenicity and identify a number of potential targets for drug development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2004.04b
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• pp.313-315
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• 2004

SNP(Single Nucleotide Polymorphism)은 생물학적 다양성에 관한 연관성 연구(Association Study)에서 이용되어지고 있다. haplotype을 구하기 위해 genotype data를 Haplotype Reconstruction을 하여 한 가닥씩 분리를 한다. Haplotype Reconstruction의 방법은 생물학적 접근법(molecular method)과, 계산적 접근방법(in-silico method)으로 연구되고 있다 계산적 접근법은 생물학적 접근법에 비해 적은 비용과 시간이 소요되는 장점을 지니지만, phase problem으로 인하여 생물학적 접근법에 비해 정확도가 낮다는 단점을 갖는다. 이런 문제를 해결하기 위한 설러 알고리즘들과 프로그램들이 연구 및 개발되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 현재 개발된 프로그램들에 대해서 다양한 테스트를 통한 각 프로그램의 성능 비교를 하였고, 특성과 문제점을 파악하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.14-23
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• 2023

The pressure difference across stenotic blood vessels is a commonly used clinical metric for diagnosing many cardiovascular diseases. At present, most clinical pressure measurements rely solely on invasive catheterization. In this study, we propose a novel method for non-invasive pressure estimation using the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and a 3D multi-path integration approach. We verify spatio-temporal convergence on an in-silico dataset of a cylindrical straight pipe phantom with steady and pulsatile flow fields. We then evaluate the proposed method on an in vitro dataset of reconstructed control, pre-operative, and post-operative carotid artery cases acquired from 4D flow MRI. The performance of our method is compared to existing approaches based on the pressure Poisson equation and work-energy relative pressure. The results demonstrate the proposed method's high accuracy, robustness to spatio-temporal subsampling, and reduced sensitivity to noise, highlighting its great potential for non-invasive pressure estimation.