• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1170-1176
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• 2015

Ginsenosides, the major active component of ginseng, are traditionally used to treat various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and obesity. Among these, compound K (CK), an intestinal bacterial metabolite of the ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂, and Rc from Bacteroides JY-6, is reported to inhibit cancer cell growth by inducing cell-cycle arrest or cell death, including apoptosis and necrosis. However, the precise effect of CK on breast cancer cells remains unclear. MCF-7 cells were treated with CK ($0-70{\mu}M$) for 24 or 48 h. Cell proliferation and death were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Changes in downstream signaling molecules involved in cell death, including glycogen synthase kinase $3\beta$ ($GSK3\beta$), $GSK3\beta$, $\beta$-catenin, and cyclin D1, were analyzed by western blot assay. To block $GSK3\beta$ signaling, MCF-7 cells were pretreated with $GSK3\beta$ inhibitors 1 h prior to CK treatment. Cell death and the expression of $\beta$-catenin and cyclin D1 were then examined. CK dose- and time-dependently inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation. Interestingly, CK induced programmed necrosis, but not apoptosis, via the $GSK3\beta$ signaling pathway in MCF-7 cells. CK inhibited $GSK3\beta$ phosphorylation, thereby suppressing the expression of $\beta$-catenin and cyclin D1. Our results suggest that CK induces programmed necrosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via the $GSK3\beta$ signaling pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1023-1031
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• 2017

The conformational change of cellular prion protein ($PrP^C$) to its misfolded counterpart, termed $PrP^{Sc}$, is mediated by a hypothesized cellular cofactor. This cofactor is believed to interact directly with certain amino acid residues of $PrP^C$. When these are mutated into cationic amino acid residues, $PrP^{Sc}$ formation and prion replication halt in a dominant negative (DN) manner, presumably due to strong binding of the cofactor to mutated $PrP^C$, designated as DN PrP mutants. Previous studies demonstrated that plasminogen and its kringle domains bind to PrP and accelerate $PrP^{Sc}$ generation. In this study, in vitro binding analysis of kringle domains of plasminogen to Q167R DN mutant PrP (PrPQ167R) was performed in parallel with the wild type (WT) and Q218K DN mutant PrP (PrPQ218K). The binding affinity of PrPQ167R was higher than that of WT PrP, but lower than that of PrPQ218K. Scatchard analysis further indicated that, like PrPQ218K and WT PrP, PrPQ167R interaction with plasminogen occurred at multiple sites, suggesting cooperativity in this interaction. Competitive binding analysis using $\small{L}$-lysine or $\small{L}$-arginine confirmed the increase of the specificity and binding affinity of the interaction as PrP acquired DN mutations. Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that the recombinant PrPs used in this study retained the ${\alpha}$-helix-rich structure. The ${\alpha}$-helix unfolding study revealed similar conformational stability for WT and DN-mutated PrPs. This study provides an additional piece of biochemical evidence concerning the interaction of plasminogen with DN mutant PrPs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is present in this country and to analyze the Global BSE Risk (GBR) status in Bangladesh. A total of 2,000 brain samples were collected from cattle older than 30 months of age, slaughtered for human consumption in the district slaughter houses from 2005 to 2006. The brainstem (obex), Pyriform lobe, cerebrum and cerebellum were subjected to histopathological study. Samples that showed some nonspecific lesions were subjected to immunohistochemistry and only brain stem to ELISA for the detection of abnormal prion protein $PrP^{sc}$. In passive surveillance, annual overall diseases of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats in Bangladesh were collected from Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Dhaka to investigate the occurrences of neurological diseases. Import related data were collected from "National Export Promotion Bureau" Kawran Bazar, Bangladesh Bank and DLS to analyze the importing products of animal origin (cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats) from different countries to find whether or not the imported products posed any risk for the BSE. In an actire surveillance conducted in slaughter house, histopathologically BSE specific lesions were not detected in any of the brain samples, but other nonspecific lesions were observed. No $PrP^{sc}$ was detected from the samples by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. DLS report also supported the absence of BSE in cattle and buffalo and scrapie in sheep and goats in Bangladesh. It was also clearly recorded that Bangladesh imported livestock products from countries in GBR level I and II but not from countries in GBR level III and IV. From this study it apparently seems that BSE is not currently present in the indigenous animals in Bangladesh and poses no or negligible risk to human and animal health.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2012

Bovine serum contains various nutrients and growth factors that can be potentially used in biological experiments, drug manufacturing process and food industry. However, almost all the bovine blood has been wasted during slaughter process in Korea, thus there is a high demand for alternative uses of the wasted sera. In order to produce high quality and safe sera, it is necessary to screen zoonotic pathogens as well as other microbial contaminants to prevent any downstream contamination. The present research has been undertaken to assess biological safety of Hanwoo sera by determining microbiological contamination during slaughtering and handling processes. Serological tests have been performed to detect bacteria, mycoplasma and virus contamination in total of 52 Hanwoo sera. No sera were found to be contaminated with mycoplasma or virus, but only two sera were found to be contaminated with Bacillus thuringiensis. The present result shows that Hanwoo sera obtained from slaughtering process are biologically safe and have potentials to be developed as a biological reagent. Moreover, the methods employed in our study may provide basic standard for microbiological screening methods once wasted Hanwoo sera gain industrial values.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 2010

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) is an essential co-factor for over 325 physiological and biochemical processes so that plays a central role of neuronal activity, cardiac excitability, neuromuscular transmission, muscular contraction, vasomotor tone, and blood pressure significantly related to physical performance. However, only limited information on blood ionized $Mg^{2+}$ ($iMg^{2+}$) regarding to physical exercise is available and the data from blood total $Mg^{2+}$ detection are inconsistent. This present study investigated the changes of blood $iMg^{2+}$ correlated with metabolic demands during acute high-intensive exhaustive physical exercise in rats. After exhausted swimming (3-4 hours), blood pH, glucose, $HCO_3{^-}$, oxygen and ionized $Ca^{2+}$ ($iCa^{2+}$) were significantly decreased, whereas lactate, carbon dioxide, $iMg^{2+}$, ionized $Na^+$ and ionized $K^+$ were significantly increased. During the exhausted swimming, the changes in $iMg^{2+}$ showed a significant negative correlation with changes in pH, glucose, $HCO_3^-$ and $iCa^{2+}$, however a significant negative correlation with changes in lactate and anionic gap. It is concluded that the acute high-intensive exhaustive physical exercise could produced hypermagnesemia, an increase in blood $iMg^{2+}$ via stimulation of $iMg^{2+}$ efflux following increase in intracellular $iMg^{2+}$ from muscle induced by metabolic and respiratory acidosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2012

The objective of the present study was to isolate and identify infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDVs) from broiler and layer chickens of outbreaks of infectious bursal disease (IBD) in three districts of Bangladesh. A total of 70 bursal samples were collected from dead broiler (n=40) and layer (n=30) chickens showing specific lesions of IBD from seven commercial poultry farms of three different districts (Mymensingh, Chittagong and Tangail) of Bangladesh during the year 2007. Five representative bursal samples from each farm were used for the isolation of IBDVs using 9-day-old embryonated eggs of seronegative flock of layer birds and for identification the samples were subjected to agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGIDT), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of 35 bursal samples, IBDVs were successfully isolated from 28 (80%) samples. By AGIDT, 32 (91.4%) samples were found positive for IBDV antigen. Results of AGIDT clearly indicated that IBDVs detected in 29 bursal samples of six affected farms were identical to each other but not to IBDVs present in the remaining three samples of another farm. Indirect immunoperoxidase staining of the bursal sections revealed the presence of IBDV antigen in 32 (91.4%) samples and the IBDV antigen was detected mainly in the cortex of the lymphoid follicles of the bursal tissues. In histopathology, cell depletion, atrophy and necrosis were observed in many bursal follicles with severe edema of interfollicular septa. Of the 35 bursal samples, 34 (97.1%) samples generated 254 bp product by RT-PCR. In conclusion, the results of virus isolation and identification by AGIDT, IHC and the analysis of viral genome by RT-PCR confirmed the outbreaks of acute IBD in commercial poultry of Bangladesh. Moreover, histopathological findings and results of AGIDT gave a clear indication that the isolates from six outbreaks were different from classical strain and it seems to be of very virulent strain. On the other hand, the isolates from the other outbreak were similar to the classical strain.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2010

Hematological and serum biochemical values were assessed from 20 clinically healthy Japanese Macaques raised in Everland Zoological Gardens and compared to the International Species Information System (ISIS) reference range that is used internationally as standard for wildlife animals. Taking our standard on sexual maturation at age 4, tRBC values in Macaques under age 4 were significantly lower than those over age 4, but the Hb and PCV values were significantly higher. Compared to the ISIS standard, the tRBC values in Macaques under age 4 were significantly lower whereas the Hb and MCHC values were significantly higher. Moreover, in the samples of Macaques over age 4, the PCV and MCV values were significantly lower than the ISIS standard. On serum biochemistry values the creatinine and amylase values in the Macaques under age 4 were significantly lower than those over age 4. In comparison with the ISIS standard, the values of ALT, ALP, BUN, IP, $Ca^{2+}$ and $K^+$ in the Macaques under age 4 did have no significant difference. The values of TP, GGT, tBil, amylase, TG and UA were significantly higher than the ISIS standard, but the values of albumin, AST, glucose, creatinine, cholesterol, CPK, LDH, $Na^+$ and Clwere significantly lower. In contrast, the values of TP, albumin, ALT, ALP, creatinine, cholesterol, amylase, TG, IP and $Na^+$ in the Macaques over age 4 did have no significant difference, but the values of GGT, BUN, tBil, UA and $Ca^{2+}$ were significantly higher, while the values of AST, glucose, CPK, LDH, $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ were significantly lower. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in hematological and serum biochemical values between the groups of male and female.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2007

Objectives : Cases of human brucellosis in Korea have recently increased due to the increasing incidence of bovine brucellosis. The authors conducted this study to elucidate the status of brucellosis through seroepidemiologic study. Methods : We selected our study population from a high risk group. We conducted a questionnaire survey and obtained blood samples to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis antibodies for 10 days in February, 2005. The titers of brucellosis were measured by the combination of standard tube agglutination test (STA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Results : Our study subjects comprised 1,075 cases: 971 livestock workers, 51 veterinarians, and 53 artificial inseminators. In the STA test, 27 cases (2.5%) had titers of greater than or equal to 1:20. Of 1,068 cases (7 cases were excluded due to previous brucellosis), 7 cases of brucellosis were diagnosed with titers of 1:160, giving a seroprevalence of brucellosis of 0.66%. The seroprevalence in the male group was 0.95%, and that of livestock workers, veterinarians, and artificial inseminators was 0.52%, 4.17%, and 0.00%, respectively. The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the positive rate of bovine brucellosis per capita and household and human brucellosis was 0.806 and 0.744, respectively. The concordance rate between the Korea National Institute of Health and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment by the STA and ELISA tests was 94.7% and 100.0%, respectively. Conclusions : The study results indicated in higher seroprevalence rate among veterinarians than among livestock workers and artificial inseminators. Because veterinarians may be exposed to this high risk, effective working guidelines for veterinarians to guard against brucellosis must be developed. Moreover, more extensive epidemiologic research for laboratory workers and meat handlers is needed.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2023

Over the last decade, avian influenza (AI) has been considered an emerging disease that would become the next pandemic, particularly in countries like South Korea, with continuous animal outbreaks. In this situation, risk assessment is highly needed to prevent and prepare for human infection with AI. Thus, we developed the risk assessment matrix for a high-risk area of human infection with AI in South Korea based on the notion that risk is the multiplication of hazards with vulnerability. This matrix consisted of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry farms and the number of poultry-associated production facilities assumed as hazards of avian influenza and vulnerability, respectively. The average number of HPAI in poultry farms at the 229-municipal level as the hazard axis of the matrix was predicted using a negative binomial regression with nationwide outbreaks data from 2003 to 2018. The two components of the matrix were classified into five groups using the K-means clustering algorithm and multiplied, consequently producing the area-specific risk level of human infection. As a result, Naju-si, Jeongeup-si, and Namwon-si were categorized as high-risk areas for human infection with AI. These findings would contribute to designing the policies for human infection to minimize socio-economic damages.