• Mycobiology
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.207-216
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• 2019

Talaromyces marneffei is the only dimorphic species in its genus and causes a fatal systemic mycosis named talaromycosis. Our previous study indicated that knockdown of AcuD gene (encodes isocitrate lyase of glyoxylate bypass) of T. marneffei by RNA interference approach attenuated the virulence of T. marneffei, while the virulence of the AcuD knockout strains was not studied. In this study, T. marneffei-zebrafish infection model was successfully established through hindbrain microinjection with different amounts of T. marneffei yeast cells. After co-incubated at $28^{\circ}C$, the increasing T. marneffei inoculum doses result in greater larval mortality; and hyphae generation might be one virulence factor involved in T. marneffei-zebrafish infection. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the virulence of the ${\Delta}AcuD$ was significantly attenuated in this Zebrafish infection model.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2023

Harmful algae blooms have become a serious environmental problem in major river basins in Korea. They are known to produce various algal organic matters (AOMs) including intracellular organic matters (IOMs) and extracellular organic matters (EOMs). Generally AOMs cannot be easily removed by coagulation/flocculation process in conventional drinking water plants. AOMs produced by blue-green algae also include various toxins such as Microcystins, Anatoxin-a, and Saxitoxin known to have harmful effects on living organisms in aquatic environment. In this study, toxic effects of EOMs produced by three different algae species (Microcystis sp., Anabaena sp., and Oscillatoria sp.) on zebrafish were investigated using electroencephalography (EEG) recording method, a technology for recording brain activity. Electroencephalographic changes in zebrafish revealed that a low EOM had a negative effect on zebrafish compared to both Anabaena sp. and Oscillatoria sp. at 30 ppm EOM exposures. This result might be due to Microcystins present in EOMs produced by Microcystis sp. As a result of power spectrum density anallysis, exposure to EOMs produced by Microcystis sp. caused a state of vigilance in zebrafish. This EEG based toxicity test can be used to examine effects of harmful materials at low levels on living organisms in an aquatic system.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.6-13
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• 2024

Rare diseases are characterized by a low prevalence, which often means that patients with such diseases are undiagnosed and do not have effective treatment options. Neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders make up around 40% of rare diseases and in the past decade, there has been a surge in the identification of genes linked to these conditions. This has created the need for model organisms to reveal mechanisms and to assess therapeutic methods. Different model animals have been employed, like Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice, to investigate the rare neurological diseases and to identify the causative genes. While the zebrafish has become a popular animal model in the last decade, mainly for studying brain development, understanding neural circuits, and conducting chemical screens, the mouse has been a very well-known model for decades. This review explores the strengths and limitations of using zebrafish as a vertebrate animal model for rare neurological disorders, emphasizing the features that make this animal model promising for the research on these disorders.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.749-752
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• 2020

In the search for novel, natural melanogenesis inhibitors, a new sesquiterpene, inularin, was isolated from the flowers of Inula britannica, and the structure was determined using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The antimelanogenic effects of inularin on B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos were evaluated. Inularin dose-dependently reduced melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanin production and L-DOPA oxidation in B16F10 cells. Zebrafish embryos were used to confirm the antimelanogenic activity. Inularin significantly decreased the pigmentation of embryos compared with untreated controls.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.28-34
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• 2020

Imazosulfuron is globally considered as a relatively safe herbicide that controls plant growth by interfering with amino acid synthesis. It is stable, persists in the soil, and has low toxicity; however, studies about the toxic effects of imazosulfuron on non-targeted aquatic vertebrates are scarce. In this study, imazosulfuron was able to induce acute lethality on zebrafish embryos within 48 h. Imazosulfuron also had adverse effects on heartbeats and induced abnormal development with pericardial edema and scoliosis. Moreover, apoptosis and oxidative stress were increased by imazosulfuron in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, all our results showed that imazosulfuron has toxic effects on zebrafish embryogenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

The impact of mobile phone (MP) radiation on the brain is of specific interest to the scientific community and warrants investigations, as MP is held close to the head. Studies on humans and rodents revealed hazards MP radiation associated such as brain tumors, impairment in cognition, hearing etc. Melatonin (MT) is an important modulator of CNS functioning and is a neural antioxidant hormone. Zebrafish has emerged as a popular model organism for CNS studies. Herein, we evaluated the impact of GSM900MP (GSM900MP) radiation exposure daily for 1 hr for 14 days with the SAR of 1.34W/Kg on neurobehavioral and oxidative stress parameters in zebrafish. Our study revealed that, GSM900MP radiation exposure, significantly decreased time spent near social stimulus zone and increased total distance travelled, in social interaction test. In the novel tank dive test, the GSM900MP radiation exposure elicited anxiety as revealed by significantly increased time spent in bottom half; freezing bouts and duration and decreased distance travelled, average velocity, and number of entries to upper half of the tank. Exposed zebrafish spent less time in the novel arm of the Y-Maze, corroborating significant impairment in learning as compared to the control group. Exposure decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities whereas, increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was encountered showing compromised antioxidant defense. Treatment with MT significantly reversed the above neurobehavioral and oxidative derangements induced by GSM900MP radiation exposure. This study traced GSM900MP radiation exposure induced neurobehavioral aberrations and alterations in brain oxidative status. Furthermore, MT proved to be a promising therapeutic candidate in ameliorating such outcomes in zebrafish.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.104-116
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• 2020

Fipronil, the phenylpyrazole insecticide, is effective and used in various fields. Especially, fipronil was reliable because it was known to be specific on invertebrate animals than vertebrate animals including mammals. However, fipronil had potential risks that affect vertebrate animals as it blocks the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors that also exists in vertebrates as well as invertebrates. Therefore, it was necessary that harmful effects of fipronil on vertebrates are clarified. For this purpose, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used on behalf of vertebrate animals in present study. The zebrafish were exposed to 5 ㎍/L, 25 ㎍/L, and 50 ㎍/L of fipronil during 12, 24 and 72 hours. To closely observe toxic process, 12 hours and 24 hours of additional time point were set in the exposure test. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics is an approach to detect metabolic changes in organism resulted from external stimuli. In this study, NMR-based metabolomics showed the metabolic changes in zebrafish caused by fipronil exposure. Metabolic analysis revealed that fipronil interfered with energy metabolism and decreased the antioxidant ability in zebrafish. Antioxidant ability decline was remarkable at high exposure concentration. In addition, metabolic analysis results over time suggested that reactions for alleviating the excessive nerve excitation occurred in zebrafish after fipronil exposure. Through this study, it was elucidated that the adverse effects of fipronil on vertebrate animals are evident. The risk of fipronil on vertebrates can be no longer ignored. Moreover, this study has a meaning of practically necessary research for organism by examining the effects of fipronil at low concentrations existed in real environment.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권10호
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• pp.1184-1195
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• 2015

새로운 실험 동물로 대두되고 있는 제브라피쉬는 척추동물 생식생물학 연구에서도 중요한 역할을 한다. 제브라피쉬의 난자 성숙은 maturation inducing hormone (MIH, 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one)에 의해 촉발된다. 대부분의 동물의 난자성숙에는 cdc2 kinase와 cyclinB 단백질 복합체인 MPF의 활성화가 필요하다. 발톱개구리와 생쥐에서는 MPF 활성이 두 가지 기작에 의해 조절되는데, 하나는 cyclinB 결합이고 또 다른 하나는 Wee1과 Cdc25에 의한 T14/Y15 잔기의 억제성인산화와 탈인산화이다. 발톱개구리나 생쥐와 달리 제브라피쉬를 포함한 대부분의 진골어류(teleost)는 GV 난자에 pre-MPF complex가 존재하지 않으므로 MPF 활성화는 전적으로 cyclinB 단백질의 de novo synthesis에 의존한다. 다른 종과 마찬가지로 제브라피쉬의 모계유래 mRNA도 CPEB, Dazl, Pum1/Pum2, insulin-like growth factor2 mRNA-binding protein 3 등 다양한 RNA binding protein (RBP)의 결합에 의해 번역이 조절된다. 그러나 제브라피쉬 난자에서 단백질 번역 조절에 관여하는 자세한 작용 기작은 확실하게 규명되지 않았다. 그러므로 제브라피쉬 난자의 성숙과정을 연구하는 것은 척추동물 난자 초기 성숙과정에서 단백질 번역 조절의 역할을 규명할 수 있는 새로운 정보를 제공할 것이다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.213-220
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• 1998

Zebrafis(brachydanio rerio), red sword tail(Xiphophorus hellieri)을 이용하여 카르바메이트계 농약인 BPMC, carbaryl 및 carbofuran을 실험 농도 0.05, 0.01, 0.50 ppm 및 각 농약에 대해 측정한 96시간 $LC_{50}$ 농도의 1/100, 1/1000에서 단기간(3일, 5일, 8일) 생물농축계수(Bioconcentration factor (BCF))를 측정하였으며, 아울러 배설 속도 상수(depuration rate constant)를 구하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. BPMC와 carbaryl의 경우 sebrafish의 체내 농축정도와 BCF 값은 red sword tail보다 적었다. 실험농도가 증가할수록 어류 체내에서의농축 정도는 증가하였고, BCF값도 증가하였다. 실험 농도가 같은 경우, BPMC는 실험기간이 증가 할 수록 어류 체내에서의 농축정도와 BCF는 감소하였으며, 이것은 기간이 늘어나면서 체외로 배출되는 농약의 양이 증가하기 때문이라 생각된다. 그러나, carbaryl의 경우는 실험기간이 같은 경우, zebrafish의 0.50ppm에서는 BCF가, 농도가 높을수록 증가하는 경향과는 달리 BCF가 감소하였다. Carbofuran의 경우, 실험 전 기간동안 zebrafish 체내에서 carbofuran이 검출되지 않았으며, red sword tail의 96시간 LC50의 1/1000과 1/100 농도에서는 검출한계 미만으로 BCF값을 산출할 수 없었으며, 실험농도 0.05와 0.10ppm에서, 실험 기간에 따른 어류체내 농축정도와 BCF값은 BPMC, carbaryl과 같은 경향을 나타내고 있다. 아울러, 이들 농약의 배설속도 상수는 carbofuran, carbaryl, BPMCtns으로 높게 나타났다. Carbofuran의 어류 체내 농축정도와 BCF값이 carbaryl과 BPMC보다 상대적으로 낮은 이유는 carbofuran의 수용성과 배설속도 상수가 이들 농약에 비해 상대적으로 크기 때문이며, 이로 인해 실제 환경 중에서도 생물농축효과가 현저히 작을 것으로 예측된다.