• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.280-288
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• 2024

The fusogenic membrane glycoprotein (FMG) derived from the human endogenous retrovirus-W (HERV-W) exhibits fusogenic properties, making it a promising candidate for cancer gene therapy. When cells are transfected with HERV-W FMG, they can fuse with neighboring cells expressing the receptor, resulting in the formation of syncytia. These syncytia eventually undergo cell death within a few days. In addition, it has been observed that an HERV-W env mutant, which is truncated after amino acid 483, displays increased fusogenicity compared to the wild-type HERV-W env. In this study, we observed syncytium formation upon transfection of HeLa and TE671 human cancer cells with plasmids containing the HERV-W 483 gene. To explore the potential of a semi-replication-competent retroviral (s-RCR) vector encoding HERV-W 483 for FMG-mediated cancer gene therapy, we developed two replication-defective retroviral vectors: a gag-pol vector encoding HERV-W 483 (MoMLV-HERV-W 483) and an env vector encoding VSV-G (pCLXSN-VSV-G-EGFP). When MoMLV-HERV-W 483 and pCLXSN-VSV-G-EGFP were co-transfected into HEK293T cells to produce the s-RCR vector, gradual syncytium formation was observed. However, the titers of the s-RCR virus remained consistently low. To enhance gene transfer efficiency, we constructed an RCR vector encoding HERV-W 483 (MoMLV-10A1-HERV-W 483), which demonstrated replication ability in HEK293T cells. Infection of A549 and HT1080 human cancer cell lines with this RCR vector induced syncytium formation and subsequent cell death. Consequently, both the s-RCR vector and RCR encoding HERV-W 483 hold promise as valuable tools for cancer gene therapy.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2009

Retroviruses enter host cells by membrane fusion between the viral Env proteins on the virus membrane and a virus receptor on the cellular membrane. The envelope protein of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus is synthesized as a gp85 precursor and is proteolytically cleaved into an extracellular surface unit (SU) and the transmembrane protein (TM). The cytoplasmic tail (16 amino acid; R peptide) of the TM protein is further cleaved by the viral protease during virion maturation. Unlike the wild type Env protrin bearing the R peptide, R peptide-truncated Envelope induces syncytia in susceptible cells. To understand the mechanism of R peptidetruncated Env in syncytium formation, R peptide-truncated Env expressing full-length molecular clone containing EGFP in PRR (proline rich region) of Env was constructed. This molecular clone induced syncytia in transfected NIH3T3 cells, fluorescence was detected in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane, while the nuclei did not stain and appeared black by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, virions with truncated envelope produced from transfected NIH3T3 cells induced syncytia in NIH3T3 cells, but fluorescence was not detected in the same infected cells. It is believed that cell-free viruses direct the fusion of neighboring cells without infection. Our data suggests that use of EGFP-tagged envelope for monitoring syncytium is a sensitive and convenient method. We also found that virion incorporated the R peptide-truncated Env is able to induce the formation of syncytia by fusion from without.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.28-32
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• 2003

In order to search for the anti-HIV agents from natural products, eighty MeOH extracts of medicinal plants were applied to a syncytia formation inhibition assay which is based on the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120/gp41 and the cellular membrane protein CD4 of T lymphocytes. Among them, Ailanthus altissima showed a potent virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity. Repeated column chromatoghaphy of the methylene chloride fraction of A. altissima afforded compounds 1$({\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside)$, 2(tetramethoxycoumarin), and 3(ocotillone). Virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity of compound 3(ocotillone) was $70.76{\pm}4.09%$ at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 1981

An electron microscopic study was carried out on the morphogenesis of herpes simplex type 2 virus in BHK-21 cells BHK-21 cells was found susceptible to infection and replication of herpes simplex type 2 virus cytopathic effects of the herpes type appeared at approximately 1 day postinoculation. Foci consisting of rounded refractile cells and syncytia were observed. Projection of the nuclear membrane in the infected cells was also seen, Several infected cells showed a track-shaped structure which apparently consisted of multiple layered membranes of the nucleus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.80-80
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• 1993

(목적) 본 연구에서 사용된 바이러스는 HIV-1 nef유전자가 일부 삭제되고 대신 Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT)가 pSVCAT recombinant 바이러스다. 이러한 recombinant 바이러스를 사용하는 이유는 첫째, CAT activity가 매우 민감하므로 바이러스의 복제억제 정도를 정확하게 측정 할 수 있고 둘째, simian immunodeficiency virus(SIV)의 경우 nef 유전가 in vivo에서는 바이러스의 복제에 필수적이므로 HIV가 SIV와 유사한 것으로 미루어 본 연구에서 사용되는 recombinant SVCAT 바이러스가 안전한 것으로 고려되기 때문이다. (방법) 특히 화합물이 HIV-1의 복제에 얼마나 영향이 있는가는 1) 어느정 도의 virus inoculm을 넣었는지 2) 사용하는 cell line 3) 사용한 cell line의 infection kinetics 4) 실험의 지속기간 5) 테스트하는 assay의 sensitivity에 의존한다. 따라서 $10^{5}$ cell의 H9과 sup T1을 24 well plate에 넣고 sup T1 cell line의 경우 3일 후 항 화합물에 의한 syncytia 형성 및 CAT activity의 억제정도를 현재 AIDS drug으로 쓰이고 있는 Zidovudine을 control로 비교 관찰하였다. H9 cell line의 경우 3일 간격으로 media의 3/4을 fresh media로 바꾸어 주고 9일 후 CAT assay를 하였다. 이러한 assay에서 activity를 보이는 화합물을 reverse transcriptase와 P24 ELISA assay를 재확인하였다.다.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1994

We studied cervical cytology of 175 cases of histologically confirmed microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in Cheil General Hospital from 1991 to 1993. Excluding 32 cases of insufficient smear, 143 cases were reviewed in view of background, cellularity, smear pattern, nuclear chromatin and presence of nucleoli. The characteristic findings of microinvasive carcinoma were syncytia and/or individual tumor cells in the focally necrotic inflammatory background. Nuclear chromatin was clear or fine. Nucleoli were observed in 55%. The prediction rate of microinvasive carcinoma was 74%. There is no significant relationship between the cellular features and depth of invasion.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 1986

Penetration level, female development and histological changes in infected root tissues were investigated following inoculation with different inoculum levels (110,440 and 1760 juveniles/plant) of Heterodera glycines (SCN) race 3 on susceptible 'Lee' and resistant 'Pickett' soybean cultivars. Penetration level was lower in Pickett at the higher inoculum levels but no differences were detected in Lee. However, the lower penetration level in the resistant soybean cultivar appeared not to be directly related to plant resistance (female maturation). The number of females recovered from Lee was lower at the highest inoculum level. The number of females maturing on Pickett was much less than that on Lee, showing that changes of SCN population is associated with the number of SCN maturing rather than nematode penetration. In Lee mono-infection sites (a single nematode per site) syncytia had dense cytoplasm and no central vacuoles. while multi-infected sites (many overlapping nematodes per site) had syncytia with a large central vacuole and many small vacuoles. Resistant responses in mono-and multi-infected root tissues of Pickett were delayed and rapid necrosis, respectively. The differences in tissue response are suggested as a mechanism that controls density-dependent population changes in resistant and/or susceptible soybean cultivars.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 2010

Early nematode development and subcellular responses in resistant soybean lines PI 88788 and PI 437654 infected with races 3 (R3) and 14 (R14) of soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, were compared. SCN R14 nematodes penetrated and developed significantly more than R3 at 5-6 days after inoculation. Both races also penetrated and developed more in PI 88788 than in PI 437654. Syncytia, characterized by cell wall dissolution and cellular hypertrophy, were developed more in PI 88788 than in PI 437654 and more by R14 than R3, for which less necrotic responses occurred in the former than the latter. This suggests that the latter two may be more resistant and less virulent than the former two, respectively. A common structural feature found in each of PI 437654 and PI 88788 in relation to SCN-resistance was the formation of prominent cell wall appositions and nuclear degeneration prior to cytoplasmic degradation in syncytial cells, respectively. Necrosis and cell wall apposition are types of hypersensitive responses occurring at early stages of the nematode infection so that these structural modifications indicate the inhibition of initial syncytial development related to the early nematode development. As soybean cultivars and lines with identical or similar genotypes have the same types of structural features related to SCN-resistance, the structural modifications induced by SCN infection may result from the expression of inheritable resistance genes, of which the information can be used for breeding soybean cultivars and lines specifically resistant to SCN races.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2003

A disease with severe diarrhea occurred in a herd of one thousand, 1-week-old piglets in Chinju, Korea, and was diagnosed as porcine epidemic diarrhea by the detection of N gene of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) from small intestines. A PEDV, named as Chinju99, was also isolated from the intestines after two blind-passages in Vero cells supplemented with trypsin (10 ug/ml). and the biological and physicochemical properties of the isolate were characterized. The virion was roughly spherical in shape and had spike peplomers on its outer surface. The virus exhibited cytopathic effects such as rounding degeneration at initiation of infection and syncytia formation later in Vero cells. The virus was labile to 20% ether and 5% chloroform but stable in acid with pH 4-7 at $4^{\circ}C$. The infectivity of the virus was maintained at $50^{\circ}C$ for 180 min, and the buoyant density of the virus in sucrose was 1.180 g/ml. All biological and physicochemical properties of the virus were typical features of coronaviruses.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2004

Sf9 cells have obvious advantages for the conventional production technology of vaccine. They are useful tools for high concentration and large-scale cultures. Sf9 cells were grown to maximal concentration, 8${\times}$l0$\^$6/ cells/$m\ell$ in a 500$m\ell$ spinner flask, with a doubling time at the exponentially growing phase of 24.5 hours, using serum-free media. To explore the ability of Sf9 cells to be infected by the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus Beijing-l strain, Sf9 cells were infected with the virus. By 4-5 days post-infection, 10-15 % of the Sf9 cells showed cytopathic effect (CPE), from granularity to the formation of syncytia and multinucleated giant cells continuously observed over a period of 35 days. Positive fluorescent reactions were detected in 30-40% of cells infected with the JE virus Beijing-l strain, and the uninfected Sf9 cells were completely negative. Virus particles, propagated in Sf9 and Vero cells, were concentrated by sedimentation on 40% trehalose cushions by ultracentrifugation, and showed identical patterns of viral morphogenesis. Complete virus particles, 40 to 50 nm in diameter, were observed, and JE virus envelope (E) proteins, at 53 kDa, were found in the western blot analysis to the anti-JE virus E protein monoclonal antibody and reacted as a magenta band in the same position to the glycoprotein staining. To evaluate whether the infectious virus was produced in Sf9 cells inoculated with the JE virus Beijing-l stain, Sf9 cells were inoculated with the virus, and sample harvested every 5 days. The titers of the JE virus Beijing-l strain rose from 1.0${\times}$l0$\^$5/ to 1.5${\times}$l0$\^$6/ pfu/$m\ell$. The infected Sf9 cells could be subcultured in serum-free medium, with no change in the plaque sizes formed by the JE virus Beijing-l strain in the plaque assay. It is suggested that the ability of the JE virus Beijing-l strain to infect Sf9 cells in serum-free media will provide a useful insect cell system, where the JE virus replication, cytopathogenicity and vaccine immunogen can be studied.