• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.630-639
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• 2000

The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) establishes long-term chronic infection that can lead to atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. H. pylori, which express cytotoxic genes is now recohnized as a cause of peptic ulcer and is also a major risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. We performed this study 1) to assess the detection rate of H. pylori according to direct investigation of bacteria of gastric biopsy specimen and two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system in the symptomatic and non-symptomatic group 2) to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Forty-nine patients were positive for H pylori infection based on direct investigation of bacteria by histology. The detection rates of H. pylori infection based on direct investigation of bacteria by histology. The detection rates of H. phlori were significantly lower in gastric cancer than in other gastroduodenal disease(p<0.05). The concordance of two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system is poor. There was no statistically significant difference between the expression rate of CagA and VacA in the symptomatic and non-symptomatic group. Although Helico blot 2.0 system may not displace GAP test, it was a very sensitive serologic test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection and it was used to detect IgG antibodies to H. pylori-specific antigens, including CagA, VacA and the various urease subunit. Our data suggest that further investigation is needed to determine whether or not the serologic expression of cytotoxic gene may be clinical usefulness of diagnostic methods in the gastroduodenal disease.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 1996

This study was carried out to determine effectively the sex of rabbit embryos using H-Y antiserum. H-Y antiserum was obtained from inbred SD strain female rat which was immunized by injection of testis cell of inbred SD strain male rate into its spleen. The titer of antiserum was identified by sperm cytotoxicity test and culture of rabbit embryos with antiserum. The developed or undeveloped embryos were separated by exposure the embryos to the antiserum with H-Y antibody. Developed embryo were transferred to the recipients and sex of offspring were examined. 1. In the sperm cytotoxicity test, the rate of dead sperm showed no difference between two antisera from spleen and testis cell as antigens. It is confirmed that H-Y antibody in antiserum was absorbed by H-Y antigen in male rat spleen cells. 2. When rabbit morulae were exposed to antiserum and complement, the rate of embryos developed or arrested was 51 and 49% respectively and the rate was closely same as natural sex ratio of 50:50%. 3. When rabbit morulae were cultured for 12h in the medium containing antiserum produced by antigen of testis cell, the rate of embryos developed or arrested was 48 and 52% respectively and the rate was closely same as natural sex ratio of 50:50%. 4. Eighty rabbit embryos which were not affected by H-Y antiserum were transferred to four recipients. Two recipients were pregnant and born 13 pups among which 2 (14%) were male and 11 (86%) were female. In conclusion, existence of H-Y antibody in the serum from female rat immunized by injecting testis cell from newborn male rat to the spleen of the female rat was confirmed. When rabbitmorulae were exposed to H-Y antiserum and complement, about a half of embryos were developed to blastocysts. When the rabbit embryos not affected by H-Y antiserum were transferred, the rate of female offspring was 86%. Therefore, it was identified that most of embryos which were not affected by H-Y antiserum were female.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 1995

To elucidate pathogenesis of bovine leukemia virus(BLV) in Korean native goats, the goats experimentally infected with BLV were studied especially for the aspects of infectivity and hematological changes. The experimental goats were examined for 27 months by agar-gel immunodiffusion(AGID) test and syncytium formation assay. During this period, changes of total leucocyte, absolute Iymphocyte and atypical Iymphocyte were examined, and the distribution of surface immunoglobulin ( sIg ) -bearing cells and rosette forming cell (RFC) in the peripheral Iymphocyte were also investigated. By indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and complement dependent antibody cytotoxicity (CDAC) assay using monoclonal antibody(Mab) against bovine leukosis tumor-associated anti-gen(BL-TAA), changes of BL-TAA positive Iymphocyte in peripheral blood were measured. The results obtained through the experiment were summarized as follows. 1. Antibody titers were measured by AGID using gP51 and P24 antigens. The animals were serologically converted at 2 months post-inoculation(pi) in gP51 antigen, whereas sero-converted at 4 months pi in P24 antigen. In comparison with antibody titers for gP51, P24 antigen showed lower titers throughout the trial period. 2. The peripheral lymphocytes from all of the infected goats, as co-cultivated with F8l cells manifested syncytial formation at 4 months pi. 3. On counting total leucocyte, Iymphocyte and atypical Iymphocyte, two out of four infected goats showed normal distribution, while No 2 of the remaining two revealed temporal and No 3, Persistant increasing number of the cells. 4. The optimal condition of rosette formation of the peripheral Iymphocyte of normal Korean native goats was shown in the sheep erythrocyte treated with 0.1M AET for 30 nun at $37^{\circ}C$. When the Iymphocytes were treated in nylon wool column, the number of sIg-bear-ing cell were increased in the nylon wool adherent cells, but RFC was increased in the non-adherent cells. Of the infected goats, No 2 and No 3 showed significantly increasing number of sIg-bearing cells at 18 months pi. 5. The Iymphocytes of No 2 and No 3 goats reacted positively in IFA using Mab against BL-TAA at 12 months pi and 18 months pi, respectively. In CDAC test, all of four infected goats revealed positive reaction at 24 months pi. The higher positive rates were observed in No 2 and No 3 as compared with the remainders.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 1988

Surface membrane proteins of virulent RH strain and tissue cyst-forming Fukaya strain of Toxoplasma gondii were analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after LPO-catalyzed surface iodination and lectin blotting, then identified the zoite-specific antigens. Prior to the analyses, purification of RH tachyzoites from mouse peritoneal exudate and of Fukaya bradyzoites from mouse brain tissues were performed by centrifugation - on the discontinuous Percoll density-gradient. Ta- chysoites were obtained at the interface of 50U and 60% Percoll solution and brain cysts were harvested at the interfaces of 40-50% and 50-60%, then bradyzoites were obtained by treating the cysts with hypertonic solution. The LPO-catalyzed iodination detected 15 KDa and 14 KDa proteins o( brady- zoites and 30 KDa protein of tachysoites as major bands with several other minor bands. But Con A blotting revealed some bands of 200 K∼50 KDa glycoproteins of bradyzoites and 52 KDa band as major and minor bands of 33 K∼20 KDa of tachyzoites. Phytohemagglutinin did not detect any band in the two forms. EITB with anti- Fukaya antibody and anti-RH antibody revealed cross-reactivities between the two forms. Despite the cross-reactivity, anti-Fukaya antibody reacted with 15 KDa band of bradyzoites specifically and, anti-RH antibody with 52 KDa, 30 KDa, and 25 KDa bands of tachyzoites, respectively. It was identified that 15 KDa protein in bradyzoite, which was not a glycoprotein, was a major membrane protein with sufficient antigenicity, and in the case of tacky- zoite, 52 KDa surface glycoprotein (gp52) with specific antigenicity might be added to the major surface protein, p30.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.311-329
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• 1986

The experimental exposure of animals to sources of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which emit their energy primarily in the UVB region (280-320nm) is known to result in a number of well-described changes in the recipient's immune competence. Two such changes include a depressed capacity to effectively respond immunologically to transplants of syngeneic UVR tumors and a markedly reduced responsiveness to known inducers of delayedtype (DTH) and contact hypersensitivity (CH) reactions. The results of experiments that were designed to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for UVR-induced immunomodulation have implicated: 1) an altered pattern of lymphocyte recirculation, 2) suppressor T cells(Ts), 3) deviations in systemic antigen presenting cell (APC) potential. 4) changes in the production of interleukin-1-like molecules, and 5) the functional inactivation of epidermal Langerhans cells in this process. The exposure of skin to UVR, therefore, causes a number of both local and systemic alterations to the normal host immune system. In spite of this seeming complexity and diversity of responses, our recent studies have established that each of the UVR-mediated changes is probably of equal importance to creating the UVR-induced immunocompromised state. Normal animals were exposed to low dose UVR radiation on their dorsal surfaces under conditions where a $3.0\;cm^2$ area of skin was physically protected from the light energy. Contact sensitization of these animals with DNFB, to either the irradiated or protected back skin, resulted in markedly reduced CH responses. This was observed in spite of a normal responsiveness following the skin sensitization to ventral surfaces of the UVR-exposed animals. Systemic treatment of the low dose UVR recipients with the drug indomethacin (1-3 micrograms/day) during the UVR exposures resulted in a complete reversal of the depressions observed following DNFB sensitization to "protected" dorsal skin while the altered responsiveness found in the group exposed to the skin reactive chemical through directly UVR-exposed sites was maintained. These studies implicate the importance of EC as effective APC in the skin and also suggest that some of the systemic influences caused by UVR exposure involve the production of prostaglandins. This concept was further supported by finding that indomethacin treatment was also capable of totally reversing the systemic depressions in CH responsiveness caused by high dose UVR exposure (30K joules/$m^2$) of mice. Attempts to analyze the cellular mechanisms responsible established that the spleens of all animals which demonstrated altered CH responses, regardless of whether sensitization was through a normal or an irradiated skin site, contained suppressor cells. Interestingly, we also found normal levels of T effector cells in the peripheral lymph nodes of the UVR-exposed mice that were contact sensitized through normal skin. No effector cells were found when skin sensitization took place through irradiated skin sites. In spite of such an apparent paradox, insight into the probable mechanisms responsible for these observations was provided by establishing that UVR exposure of skin results in a striking and dose-dependent blockade of the efferent lymphatic vessels in all peripheral lymph nodes. Therefore, the afferent phases of immune responses can apparently take place normally in UVR exposed animals when antigen is applied to normal skin. The final effector responses, however, appear to be inhibited in the UVR-exposed animals by an apparent block of effector cell mobility. This contrasts with findings in the normal animals. Following contact sensitization, normal animals were also found to simultaneously contain both antigen specific suppressor T cells and lymph node effector cells. However, these normal animals were fully capable of mobilizing their effector cells into the systemic circulation, thereby allowing a localization of these cells to peripheral sites of antigen challenge. Our results suggest that UVR is probably not a significant inducer of suppressor T-cell activity to topically applied antigens. Rather, UVR exposure appears to modify the normal relationship which exists between effector and regulatory immune responses in vivo. It does so by either causing a direct reduction in the skin's APC function, a situation which results in an absence of effector cell generation to antigens applied to UVR-exposed skin sites, inhibiting the capacity of effector cells to gain access to skin sites of antigen challenge or by sequestering the lymphocytes with effector cell potential into the draining peripheral lymph nodes. Each of these situations result in a similar effect on the UVR-exposed host, that being a reduced capacity to elicit a CH response. We hypothesize that altered DTH responses, altered alloresponses, and altered graft-versus-host responses, all of which have been observed in UVR exposed animals, may result from similar mechanisms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.971-976
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• 2008

Purpose : Surveillance for detecting and managing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a key component of tuberculosis control. The classic surveillance tool, the tuberculin skin test (TST), may have some limitations when used in the Bacillus Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$ (BCG)-vaccinated population. The object was to perform a blood test $QuantiFERON^{(R)}$-TB Gold In Tube (QFT-G IT) based on the detection of interferon-$\gamma$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$) released by T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens, and to compare the efficacy of this new diagnostic tool for LTBI with that of TST. Methods : For six months, between October 1, 2006 and April 30, 2007, data were collected from 111 patients under 15 years of age at Severance Children's Hospital. TST and QFT-G IT tests were performed with children with or without contact histories of tuberculosis. In addition to these tests, we examined comparative data from 29 adults who had tuberculosis, to detect false negative rates in the QFT-G IT method. Results : Thirty-three children had household contact histories. In this group, 15% and 42% of cases were found to be positive using the QFT-G IT assay and TST, respectively. Agreement was low between these two tests (${\kappa}=0.39$). In the adult active tuberculosis group, the QFT-G IT false negative rate defined as a positive culture and a negative QFT-G IT result was 12.5%. Conclusion : In diagnosing LTBI in children, the usefulness of a whole-blood $IFN-{\gamma}$ assay employing TB-specific antigens will be revealed only by examining additional longitudinal clinical data; this study serves as a starting point in that process.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2005

Background : Recently, two commercialized whole-blood assays, $QuantiFERON^{(R)}-TB$ Gold (QFT) and T $SPOT-TB^{(R)}$ (SPOT), which measure the $IFN-{\gamma}$ released in the whole blood after being incubation with mycobacterial antigens, were approved for the diagnosis of a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, there is data on whether or not the previously used PPD skin tests (TST) have any influence on the diagnostic ability of these ex-vivo $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays. Methods : Forty-six 15 year-old students who did not appear to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis were enrolled in this study. The peripheral blood was collected and used for two $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays and TST were performed at the baseline ($1^{st}$). The TST was repeated two months later ($2^{nd}$), and the $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays were repeated two ($2^{nd}$) and four months ($3^{rd}$) later only in those subjects who had negative results at the baseline in both the $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays and TST. An induration size > 10 mm was considered to be positive in the TST. Results : The mean TST value was $3.1{\pm}5.4mm$ (range: 0-20). Of the 46 subjects examined, 13 subjects (28.3%) showed positive results in the two-step TST. Nine (19.6%) were SPOT-positive and only one (2.2%) was QFT-positive. The $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ QFT were carried out in 23 and 25 all-negative subjects, respectively, and all showed negative results. The $2^{nd}$ SPOT was performed in 23 subjects and only one (4.3%) showed a weak-positive result. Conclusion : Even though there were some discrepancies in the results of the two ex-vivo $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays, it appears that their results were not influenced by a previous TST carried out in two or four months earlier.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-149
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• 1994

Histopathological studies on the two lymphomyeloid organs of spleen and head kidney in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were carried out to clarify the significance on the morphological characteristics of melano - macrophage centers (MMCs) which are varied in different physiological and pathological conditions of teleosts. To examine the histological changes by the artificial modification of the immunological states, tilapia were treated intraperitoneally with FKC and LPS of Edwardsiella tarda, and orally with dexamethasone, and then followed by the intraperitoneal injection of colloidal carbon for chasing the macrophages. There were marked differences in phagocytic avidity of macrophages, and accumulating patterns of carbon - ladening macrophages into the MMCs among the test groups. In the non - pretreated control group, carbon - ladening macrophages were densely accumulated at 12th and 20th day within the MMCs of head kidney and spleen, respectively. And, in the groups treated with bacterial antigens (FKC & LPS), the macrophages were more rapidly and densely aggregated within MMCs. But in the group with dexamethasone, only a few carbon particles were detected in both organs. Any compactly isolated form of particles was not found in this group. From the present results, it was strongly suggested that certain changes in immunological states of tilapia influence on the morphology of MMCs including the frequency of appearance, sizes, aggregating patterns or outlines. Therefore, morphology of MMCs would be very important in the interpretation for histopathological findings seen in the teleost's lymphomyeloid organs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 1997

This study was carried out to determine whether dermal mast cell responses to Parasoninn westemoni in an abnormal host, the mouse, were dependent on the site of metacercarial inoculation. In mice during subcutaneous infection, the number of der- mal mast cells were increased significantly (p<0.05) at the first week ($38.3/\textrm{mm}^2$) and then persisted at a high level until the sixth week ($45.2/\textrm{mm}^2$) of infection compared with PBS- injected (control) mice (range: $19.4-25.1/\textrm{mm}^2$). In mice during oral infection, the number of dermal mast cells were increased significantly (p<0.05) at two weeks ($33.5/\textrm{mm}^2$) after infection and remained at these levels thereafter compared loth non-infected (control) mice (range: $17.4-22.3/\textrm{mm}^2$). In mice both during subcutaneous and oral infection, the recruited dermal mast cells showed extensive degranulation at the second week (68.4%) and 60.7%, respectivelyl, reached a peak at the third week (81.4%, and 92.1%, respectively) and then declined slightly thereafter. By contrast, in both control mice, about 10% of dermal mast cells were degranulated. In conclusion, this study suggests that dermal mast cell responses to p. westemcni in mice are dependent on cutaneous sensitization by larval excretory-secretory antigens, irrespective of infection route.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.407-412
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• 2009

This study was performed to produce specific egg yolk antibodies against bovine rotavirus (BRV) and bovine coronavirus (BCV) that are major pathogens causing diarrhea in calves. Chickens were immunized with BRV and BCV intramuscularly in the breast muscle by injection 5 times at two weeks interval. At 6 weeks after the first immunization of BRV or BCV, cross reactivity of each serum derived from BRV- or BCV-immunized hens was tested. Each serum antibody against BRV or BCV was reacted with only specific BRV or BCV antigens. Serum and egg yolk-antibody titers of hens against BRV or BCVwere highest at 8~12 weeks after first immunization. Specific serum and egg yolk-antibody titers against BRV were about 104,000 and 107,000, respectively, and those against BCV were about 145,000 and 155,000, respectively. Hemagglutination inhibition titers in the immunized egg yolk antibodies against BRV and BCV were 5,120 and 1,280, respectively, and were ${\geq}8$ times higher than that in non-immunized control. These results suggested that the immunized egg yolk antibodies could effectively neutralize BRV and BCV.