• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.42.1-42.23
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• 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, one of the most deadly infections in humans. The emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mtb strains presents a global challenge. Mtb has shown resistance to many frontline antibiotics, including rifampicin, kanamycin, isoniazid, and capreomycin. The only licensed vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, does not efficiently protect against adult pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop new vaccines to prevent infections caused by these strains. We used a subtractive proteomics approach on 23 virulent Mtb strains and identified a conserved membrane protein (MmpL4, NP_214964.1) as both a potential drug target and vaccine candidate. MmpL4 is a non-homologous essential protein in the host and is involved in the pathogen-specific pathway. Furthermore, MmpL4 shows no homology with anti-targets and has limited homology to human gut microflora, potentially reducing the likelihood of adverse effects and cross-reactivity if therapeutics specific to this protein are developed. Subsequently, we constructed a highly soluble, safe, antigenic, and stable multi-subunit vaccine from the MmpL4 protein using immunoinformatics. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the stability of the vaccine-bound Tolllike receptor-4 complex on a nanosecond scale, and immune simulations indicated strong primary and secondary immune responses in the host. Therefore, our study identifies a new target that could expedite the design of effective therapeutics, and the designed vaccine should be validated. Future directions include an extensive molecular interaction analysis, in silico cloning, wet-lab experiments, and evaluation and comparison of the designed candidate as both a DNA vaccine and protein vaccine.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.255-259
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• 2014

Physical activity could be considered one of the factors that affect the immune system status and function. To find the relation between exercise and cytokines, we examined the possible effects of an 8-week endurance training program on the serum levels of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) in sedentary men. A total of 30 healthy young male volunteers were randomly divided into an endurance training group and a control group. The training group followed a specific exercise protocol (running on a treadmill for 15~30 min at 50~70% maximal heart rate) for 8 weeks and the control group did not participate in any exercise program. Venous blood samples were collected from both the groups 24 h before and 24 h and 48 h after the exercise. Repeated ANOVA was used for statistical purposes. The serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ were determined by ELISA. Significant (p<0.05) and non-significant (p>0.05) decreases were observed in the serum levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, respectively, after the 8-week endurance training program. Our findings indicated that an 8-week endurance exercise may affect the serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines, suggesting the beneficial role of this training protocol in elderly population and people with certain conditions (inflammation of the vertebrae or other inflammatory diseases).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.856-865
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• 2012

We describe the construction and immunobiological properties of a novel whooping cough vaccine candidate, in which the aroQ gene, encoding 3-dehydroquinase, was deleted by insertional inactivation using the kanamycin resistance gene cassette and allelic exchange using a Bordetella suicide vector. The aroQ B. pertussis mutant required supplementation of media to grow but failed to grow on an unsupplemented medium. The aroQ B. pertussis mutant was undetectable in the trachea and lungs of mice at days 6 and 12 post-infection, respectively. Antigen-specific antibody isotypes IgG1 and IgG2a, were produced, and cell-mediated immunity [CMI], using interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma as indirect indicators, was induced in mice vaccinated with the aroQ B. pertussis vaccine candidate, which were substantially enhanced upon second exposure to virulent B. pertussis. Interleukin-12 was also produced in the aroQ B. pertussis-vaccinated mice. On the other hand, neither IgG2a nor CMI-indicator cytokines were produced in DTaP-vaccinated mice, although the CMI-indicator cytokines became detectable post-challenge with virulent B. pertussis. Intranasal immunization with one dose of the aroQ B. pertussis mutant protected vaccinated mice against an intranasal challenge infection, with no pathogen being detected in the lungs of immunized mice by day 7 post-challenge. B. pertussis aroQ thus constitutes a safe, non-reverting, metabolite-deficient vaccine candidate that induces both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses with potential for use as a single-dose vaccine in adolescents and adults, in the first instance, with a view to disrupting the transmission cycle of whooping cough to infants and the community.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.849-856
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• 2009

In this study, dietary supplementations of Korean Meju, fermented soybean meal (F-SBM) by Aspergillus oryzae, and A. oryzae itself were evaluated on growth performance, feed utilization, immune responses and phosphorus availability in juvenile parrot fish, a marine aquaculture fish species. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated to contain 8% soybean meal (control diet), 4% Meju (50% soybean meal was replaced by Meju), 4% F-SBM (50% soybean meal was replaced by F-SBM), or 0.08% A. oryzae itself. One of the four experimental diets was fed to triplicate groups of fish for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, no significant differences were found in growth performances and feed utilization. Red blood cell counts in the fish fed the A. oryzae diet were significantly higher than that of fish fed the control diet. The antioxidant activity in Meju diet was significantly higher than that of the control and A. oryzae diets. Fish fed Meju and F-SBM diets showed numerically higher antioxidant activity of serum compared to that of fish fed the control diet, even though it was not significant. Liver superoxide dismutase activity of fish fed the test diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed the control diet. The apparent digestibility coefficients of protein of fish fed all the diets were not significantly different. Phosphorus absorption was numerically increased in fish fed F-SBM and A. oryzae diets compared to that of fish fed the control diet. This study indicates that the fermentation process of soybean meal does not impair growth performance and feed utilization in parrot fish. The fermentation process could enhance the availability of phosphorus in soybean meal and non-specific immune responses of parrot fish.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2016

본 연구는 ${\beta}$-glucan이 첨가된 사료첨가제 (이뮨글루$^{TM}$) 급이시 전복의 비특이 면역력의 증강 효과와 전염성 질병 감염 시 생존율의 변화를 확인하고자 수행되었다. 이를 위하여 참전복 치패와 성패를 대상으로 이뮨글루$^{TM}$ 0, 0.1, 1%가 함유된 사료를 14일간 급이 하면서 면역력, 정균력, 생존율 등을 조사하였다. 조사 결과 이뮨글루$^{TM}$가 함유된 사료를 급이한 전복의 치패와 성패의 식세포작용이 증가하였으며 전복폐사 원인균인 Vibrio alginolyticus에 대한 정균력과 생존율이 상승하였다. 반면 염증량을 나타내는 NO량 역시 증가하였다. 따라서 ${\beta}$-glucan이 첨가된 사료첨가제 이뮨글루$^{TM}$는 전복 사육 시 전복의 면역력을 높이고 폐사율을 낮추는데 유용한 것으로 판단된다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제6권1_2호
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• pp.39-57
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• 1991

The effect of red ginseng ethanol extract on the immunotoxicity of diethylstilbestrol (DES) was studied in ICR mice. ICR male mice were divided into S groups (10 mice/group), and red ginseng ethanol extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt., respectively) and DES (1 mg/kg body wt.) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to ICR mice once a day for 2 weeks. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (S-RBC). Immune response were evaluated by humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity, non-specific immunity, and circulating leukocyte counts. The results of this study were summarized as followings: 1. The DES-treated control group as compared with normal group showed the tendency to decrease body weight rate and relative liver weight, decreased both humoral and cellular immune responses, phagocyte activity, and circulating leukocyte counts, but increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity. 2. Compared with the DES-treated control group, DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract-treated groups significantly decreased the body weight rate (P<0.01). Relative liver weight was significantly decreased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (50mg/kg)-treated group (P<0.01), but significantly increased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (100mg/kg)-treated group (P<0.01). Relative spleen and thymus weights were significantly enhanced in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (100 mg/kg)-treated group (P<0.01), but significantly decreased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (200 mg/kg)-treated group (P<0.01). 3. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were significantly decreased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract-treated groups rather than in the DES-treated control group (P<0.01). Especially, it weakened the decrease in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (100 mg/kg)-treated group. 4. Phagocyte activity and circulating leukocyte counts were significantly decreased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract-treated groups rather than in the DES-treated control group (P<0.01). Especially, it weakened the decrease in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (100 mg/kg)-treated group. NK cell activity was significantly enhanced in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (100 mg/kg)-treated group (P<0.01), but significantly decreased in DES plus red ginseng ethanol extract (50 and 200 mg/kg)-treated groups (P<0.01).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.524-531
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• 2005

Two experiments were conducted to standardize in ovo injection of amino acids (AA) and to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection of limiting AA(s) on pre and post hatch growth performance, immune response and development of digestive organs. Combinations of essential and non-essential amino acids (Lys+Arg, Lys+Met+Cys, Thr+Gly+Ser, Ile+Leu+Val and Gly+Pro) were injected into 50 eggs in each treatment group at 14 d of embryonic age. Standardization of injection site, needle length and embryonic age revealed that when AA were injected in to the broad end of the egg with a 11 mm needle and at the narrow end with a 24 mm needle both at the 7$^{th}$ and 14$^{th}$ d of incubation there was poor hatchability. However, better hatchability was recorded when the AA were injected in the narrow end of the egg with a 11 mm needle and in the broad end with a 24 mm needle on the 14$^{th}$ d of incubation. The chick to egg weight ratio was higher (p<0.018) when AA were injected on the 14$^{th}$ d of incubation. When a combination of amino acids were injected a 63.6 or 63.2 g difference in body weight of bird at 21 d was recorded between uninjected control and Ile+Leu+Val or Gly+Pro group, respectively. Higher feed intake (p<0.047) was recorded in the AA injected groups and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was numerically better in Gly+Pro, Lys+Met+Cys AA injected groups than in the uninjected control. Significantly higher immune response to cell mediated (p<0.033) and humoral (p<0.002) immunity was observed in in ovo amino acid injected birds, especially in Lys+Met+Cys, Thr+Gly+Ser or Ile+leu+Val groups. The digestive organ weights at 21 d did not differ between specific AA injected groups and the uninjected control. In ovo injected amino acids may act as immunomodulators and their role in gastrointestinal development needs further research.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.367-374
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• 2009

오매 추출물 첨가 사료의 투여가 양식 뱀장어의 비특이적 면역 반응에 미치는 효과를 조사하였다. 그 결과, 뱀장어의 혈청 내 lysozyme의 활성을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났고, 점액 내 lysozyme 및 혈청의 살균능에 있어서는 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 혈청 내 lysozyme의 활성은 추출물 첨가 사료 투여 후 2주째에 증가하기 시작하여 5주째에 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 어류 병원성 세균인 Edwardsiella tarda와 Aeromonas hydrophila 균에 대한 저항성 실험에 서 오매 추출물 첨가 사료을 투여한 실험구가 대조구에 비해 세균에 대한 저항성이 높게 나타났다. 또한 오매 추출물 첨가 사료를 투여한 실험구에서 대조구에 비해 성장이 좋게 나타났다.

• 약학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.291-302
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• 1992

Effects of Zinc chloride on the immune responses were studied in ICR mice. ICR male mice were divided into 5 groups(10 mice/group) and Zinc chloride at doses of 0.3, 1.2, 4.8 and 19.2 mg/kg were orally administered to ICR male mice once a day for three weeks. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells(S-RBC). The results of this study were summarized as follows; (1) Zinc chloride significantly increased the body weight rate, the weight ratios of spleen and thymus to body weight and the number of circulating leukocyte, but significantly decreased them at the high dose of it, and increased dose-dependently the weight ratio of liver to body weight. (2) Zinc chloride significantly increased hemagglutination titer, Arthus reaction and plaque forming cell related to humoral immunity, but significantly decreased them at the high dose of it. (3) Zinc chloride significantly increased delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and rosette forming cell related to cellular immunity, but significantly decreased them at the high dose of it. (4) Zinc choride significantly enhanced phagocytic activity, but significantly decreased according to the increase of its dose. These results suggest that high dose of zinc chloride decreased humoral, cellular and non-specific immune responses.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.113-121
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• 2008

Objectives In human myeloid leukemia cells, there are no specific features of apoptosis compared with apoptosis in other cell types. Solanum nigrum L.(SNL) is a deciduous tree, which is widely distributed in Korea with reported anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and non-specific immune-enhancing properties. Although the plant has been clinically used for treating a variety of diseases, its bioactive ingredients are unknown and its mode of action potential has never been investigated. Thus anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated. Methods In this study, anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated by determining its in vitro growth-inhibitory effects on human myeloid leukemia cells. XTT proliferation assay, DNA fragmentation, immunoblot analysis, densitometric analysis were used. Results 1. The methanol fraction of the extracts of SNL induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells. 2. The methanol fraction exhibited relatively higher cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner than chloroform, and hexane fraction. 3. Typical ladder profile of Oligonucleosomal fragments were appeared. 4. The secreted cytosolic cytochrome C level was increased by treatment of methanol fraction. Conclusions Methanol fraction of SNL is capable of inducing apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells.