• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.44-50
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the inflammation mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced stimulation of A549 human epithelial cells. In the present study, A549 cells were stimulated with TNF-$\alpha$, IL-4 and IL-$1{\beta}$ to induce expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. The effects of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-4 and IL-$1{\beta}$ on gene expression profiles in A549 cells were evaluated by oligonucleotide microarray and Real time RT-PCR. The gene expression profiles for the A549 cells varied depending on the cytokines. Also, the results of the microarray and Real time RT-PCR revealed that inflammatory-related genes were up-regulated in cytokine stimulated A549 cells. Cytokines can affect inflammation in A549 cells. A microarray-based genomic survey is a high-throughput approach that enables evaluation of gene expression in cytokine stimulated cell lines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1167-1170
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• 2012

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection leads to many upper gastrointestinal diseases. Migrant workers are the main part of floating population in China. However, up to now, their health status has not been a focus of attention. Methods: In order to assess the status of H. pylori infection among migrant workers in Shijiazhuang, over five years we interviewed 324 individuals between 2007 and 2011. Each underwent a rapid urease test to identify H. pylori infection and socio-demographic indicators were collected using a survey questionnaire. Results: Our results showed that family income (P = 0.003), dietetic hygiene (P = 0.005), education (P = 0.004) and marital status (P = 0.007) were associated with H. pylori infection. Conclusion: We found that migrant workers had little basic knowledge of H. pylori and their prevalence of infection remains high. Therefore, we need to promote education and awareness of H. pylori and to ensure access to diagnosis and treatment for infected workers.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.245-268
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• 2008

The outcome of plant-pathogen interactions is influenced significantly by endogenous small molecules that coordinate plant defence responses. There is currently tremendous scientific and commercial interest in identifying chemicals whose exogenous application activates plant defences and affords protection from pathogen infection. In this review, we provide a survey of compounds known to induce disease resistance in plants, with particular emphasis on how each compound was originally identified, its putative or demonstrated mechanism of defence induction, and the known biological target(s) of each chemical. Larger polymeric structures and peptides/proteins are also discussed in this context. The quest for novel defence-inducing molecules would be aided by the capability for high-throughput analysis of candidate compounds, and we describe some issues associated with the development of these types of screens. Subsequent characterization of hits can be a formidable challenge, especially in terms of identifying chemical targets in plant cells. A variety of powerful molecular tools are available for this characterization, not only to provide insight into methods of plant defence activation, but also to probe fundamental biological processes. Furthermore, these investigations can reveal molecules with significant commercial potential as crop protectants, although a number of factors must be considered for this potential to be realized. By highlighting recent progress in the application of chemical biology techniques for the modulation of plant-pathogen interactions, we provide some perspective on the exciting opportunities for future progress in this field of research.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.650-655
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• 2020

Chilsan-do Island, South Korea, has previously been identified as one of the biggest spawning sites of the small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis in the Yellow Sea. To determine whether Chilsan-do still serves as a spawning site for L. polyactis, three to five stations around Chilsan-do Island were surveyed for eggs from April to June (the main spawning season of L. polyactis) in 2019, using an RN80 net. For the first time, three L. polyactis eggs were identified at two stations, located just in front of Chilsan-do Island and between Chilsan-do and the coastline, only in May. The diameter of L. polyactis eggs (1.26-1.34 mm) was very similar to those of Collichthys niveatus (1.30-1.37 mm) and Setipinna tenuifilis (1.34-1.35 mm). During the survey period, the sea surface salinity remained constant (32.0-32.1 psu), but the sea surface temperature (SST) rapidly rose from 13.6-13.7℃ in April to 22.1℃ in May. Our findings suggest that L. polyactis still spawns near Chilsan-do Island today, but on a very small scale, and that changes in SST promote spawning of L. polyactis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.110-115
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• 2003

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis was conducted using a cDNA library made from the liver mRNA of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In the survey of 421 ESTs, 362 showed significant homology to previously described genes while 59 were unidentified or novel. Comparative analysis of the identified ESTs showed that 69 $(19.0\%)$ clones were identified as homologous to the previously reported olive flounder ESTs, and 279 $(77.1\%)$ clones were identified as orthologs of known genes from other organisms. The remaining 14 $(3.9\%)$ clones were identified as orthologs of known sequences with unknown functions. These tagged cDNA clones, identified and unidentified, could provide fundamental baseline data for genomic studies of this species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.630-636
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• 2010

A survey of the endangered orchid Orchis militaris populations was carried out in north-eastern Italy. The occurrence of fungal root endophytes was investigated by light and electron microscopies and molecular techniques. Two main sites of presence were individuated in the Euganean Hills, differing as to the percentage of flowering individuals and of capsules completing maturity. Fluorescence microscopy revealed an intracellular cortical colonization by hyphal pelotons. Two ITS PCR products co-amplified. Sequencing revealed for the former an identity and a high similarity (99%) with a Tulasnellaceae (Basidiomycota) fungus found within tissues of the same host in independent studies in Hungary and Estonia, suggesting an interesting case of tight specificity throughout the Eurosiberian home range. The second amplicon had 99% similarity with Tetracladium species (Ascomycota) recently demonstrated as potential endophytes. TEM revealed two different hyphal structures. Double fungal colonization appears to occur in Orchis militaris and the possible requirement of a specific fungal partner throws light on the causes of this plant's rarity and threatened status.

• Mycobiology
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.391-396
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• 2014

In the past two decades, European ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) have been severely damaged due to ash dieback disease, which is caused by the fungal species Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Chalara fraxinea in the anamorphic stage). Recent molecular phylogenetic and population genetic studies have suggested that this fungus has been introduced from Asia to Europe. During a fungal survey in Korea, H. fraxineus-like apothecia were collected from fallen leaves, rachises, and petioles of Korean ash and Manchurian ash trees. The morphological and ecological traits of these materials are described with the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence comparison of H. fraxineus strains collected from Korea, China and Japan.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.52-57
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• 2020

Bacterial symbionts are common across insects, including ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Reproduction-manipulating endosymbionts, such as Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia, and Cardinium, are closely associated with many aspects of host-insect life. In addition, phage WO plays an essential role in the phenotypic effects of Wolbachia. Although endosymbionts are possible biological control agents, there is a lack of knowledge of their rate of infection of ants in Korea. We tested a range of Korean ant species for the presence of Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia, Cardinium, and phage WO by extracting DNA from the ants and using specific primer sets to test the status of infections. In addition, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene of the host ants was amplified to confirm the molecular identification and phylogenetic relationship between the hosts. We found that infection with Wolbachia (29.6% of species) is relatively common when compared with that of other endosymbionts. Only one species was infected with Spiroplasma. Infection with Rickettsia and Cardinium was not detected in the examined ants. Most Wolbachia in ants were infected with phage WO. Although the phenotypic effects of endosymbionts in ants are still unknown, this first survey of endosymbionts in Korea is the first step toward the use of reproduction-manipulating endosymbionts.

• 천문학회보
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.62.2-62.2
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• 2014

We compiled near-infrared photometric and polarimetric catalog of sources in ~3 $9^{\prime}{\times}69^{\prime}$ size field in the eastern side of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This catalog lists all 1969 sources which are brighter than 14 mag and which signal to noise ratio of degree of polarization is greater than 3 in the J, H, and Ks bands. The photometric and polarimetric data were simultaneously obtained in J, H, and Ks bands using SIRPOL, an imaging polarimeter of the InfraRed Survey Facility (IRSF), in 2008 December and 2011 December. We classified the objects into several groups based on their locations on the color-magnitude diagram and compared their general properties of polarization. We measured wavelength dependence of this field to verify interstellar polarization of the LMC which occurred from the dichroic extinction. We also discuss the polarization structure in this field with the results from molecular cloud studies.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.47-55
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease and has become a major socioeconomic issue in many developed countries. Currently available therapeutic agents for AD provide only symptomatic treatments, mainly because the complete mechanism of the AD pathogenesis is still unclear. Although several different hypotheses have been proposed, mitochondrial dysfunction has gathered interest because of its profound effect on brain bioenergetics and neuronal survival in the pathophysiology of AD. Various therapeutic agents targeting the mitochondrial pathways associated with AD have been developed over the past decade. Although most of these agents are still early in the clinical development process, they are used to restore mitochondrial function, which provides an alternative therapeutic strategy that is likely to slow the progression of the disease. In this mini review, we will survey the AD-related mitochondrial pathways and their small-molecule modulators that have therapeutic potential. We will focus on recently reported examples, and also overview the current challenges and future perspectives of ongoing research.