• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.170-175
• /
• 2009

Purpose : FSGS do not respond well to any kind of therapy and gradually progress to end-stage renal disease. This study was conducted to investigate the difference of protein expression between MCNS and FSGS as a preliminary study for understanding the pathophysiology of FSGS. Methods : Renal biopsy samples of MCNS and FSGS were obtained, which was diagnosed by one pathologist. They were solubilized with a conventional extraction buffer for protein extraction. The solution was applied on immobilized linear gradient strip gel (pH 4-7) using IPGphor system. Silver staining was carried out according to standard method. Protein identification was done by searching NCBI database using MASCOT Peptide Mass Fingerprint software. Results : The differences in protein expressions between MCNS and FSGS were shown by increased or decreased protein spots. Most prominently expressed spot among several spots in FSGS was isolated and analyzed, one of which was glutathione S-transferase (GST) P1-1, whereas it was not found in MCNS. So GSTP1-1 was considered as the one of the key biomarkers in pathogenesis of FSGS. Conclusion : This result would be helpful in diagnosing FSGS and researching FSGS. Further studies for glutathione S-transferase P1-1 might be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms regarding FSGS.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.235-241
• /
• 2003

For the biological control of Phytophthora blight of red-pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici, an antibiotic-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacillus sp. KL 39 was selected from a local soil of Kyongbuk, Korea. The strain KL 39 was identified as Bacillus megaterium by various cultural, biochemical test and API and Microlog system. B. megaterium KL 39 could produce the highest antifungal antibiotic after 40 h of incubation under the optimal medium which was 0.4% fructose, 0.3% yeast extract, and 5 mM KCl at 30 C with initial pH 8.0. The antifungal antibiotic KL 39 was purified by Diaion HP-20 column, silica gel column, Sephadex LH-20 column, and HPLC. Its RF value was confirmed 0.32 by thin-layer chromatography with Ethanol:Ammonia:Water = 8:1:1. The crude antibiotic KL39 was active against a broad range of plant pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinenea, Alteranria kikuchiana, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. The purified antifungal antibiotic KL39 had a powerful biocontrol activity against red-pepper phytophthora blight disease with in vivo pot test as well as the strain B. megaterium KL 39.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

The 44 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from surface-sterilized root of rice cultivated in seven different locations of Chungcheong province, Korea. Each isolate was introduced into rice seedlings grown gnotobiotically by inoculating scissor-cut first true leaf with cell suspensions, and the colonization capacity of each isolate in root tissue was analyzed at 7 days after inoculation. Sixteen out of 44 isolates were re-isolated from root successfully with the frequency of $10^{3-5}$ CFU/g tissue. Interestingly, seven out of 16 isolates were identified as Burkholderia species. The identity between inoculated strains and re-isolates was confirmed by genomic finger-printing and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. By a confocal laser scanning microscopic observation it was revealed that KJ001 strain, one of the sixteen isolates tagged with gfp colonized in root tissue especially around xylem. Six out of seven Burkholderia strains obtained in this study showed antagonizing activities against seven different fungal pathogens, contain nifH gene, and five of them enhanced growth of cucumber over 30%. The isolates showed no hypersensitive response on tobacco leaves and no pathogenecity in rice. From these results it was found that the endophytic Burkholderia strains will be useful in agriculture to develop a biocontrol agent or a bio-fertilizer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.6 no.5
• /
• pp.335-342
• /
• 2012

This study aims to find a way to control infection of community radiology effectively by calculating the degree of contamination, culture and identifying the flora in radiology of five general hospitals in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans were identified as surface flora. These are know to be pathogens of hospital acquired infection and there was no radiology-specific flora. Research subject hospitals were conducting similar infection control education but degree of contamination of each hospital showed significant difference. Difference in degree of contamination according to contact sources were analyzed by Contact sources were classified into technologist-using, patients-using and common-using materials. Analysis of each hospital's degree of contamination showed that patient-using materials were significantly more contaminated than technologist-using and common-using materials (p<0.001). Devices which are similar to each other in monthly average frequency of use showed no significant difference in degree of contamination, but general X-ray devices and chest boards which are used most frequently showed higher degree of contamination than others. In addition, hospital A, B and C which have heavier monthly average caseload showed relatively high degree of contamination on irradiation devices which are used by technologists only or by technologists and patients commonly, office desks and doorpulls. Hence it is considered that intensity of infection control education should be different according to the degree of monthly average caseload. This study provided an opportunity to aware that technologists' feeling of contamination is crucial for infection control of radiology, and the Accupoint ATP public hygiene monitoring system which was used in this study for measuring the degree of contamination was proved to be an effective measuring device for hospital acquired infection management.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.331-338
• /
• 2014

Cystatins (CSTs) are reversible and competitive inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, corresponding to papain-like cathepsins in plants and animals. A viral CST (CpBV-CST1) was identified from a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). Our previous study indicated that a transient expression of CpBV-CST1 interfered with immune response and development of Plutella xylostella larvae. To directly demonstrate the protein function, this study produced a recombinant CpBV-CST1 protein (rCpBV-CST1) using bacterial expression system to determine its inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and to assess its physiological alteration in insect immune and development. The open reading frame of CpBV-CST1 encodes a polypeptide of 138 amino acids (${\approx}15kDa$). rCpBV-cystatin protein in BL21 STAR (DE3) competent cells containing a recombinant pGEX4T-3:CpBV-CST1 was over-expressed by 0.5 mM IPTG for 4 h. In biological activity assay, the purified rCpBV-CST1 showed a significant inhibition against papain activity. It inhibited a cellular immune response of hemocyte nodule formation in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. Moreover, its oral administration retarded larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 may be applied to control insect pest populations.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.401-414
• /
• 2014

In an attempt to evaluate licorice quality based on its biological activity, we grafted an on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) bioassay method into the previously established HPLC analysis method. The common antioxidant peaks in licorices of various origin were observed through an on-line HPLC/DPPH system leading to a decrease in absorbance at 517 nm for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Among them, the licorice from Youngju possessed the highest activity. Therefore, three active standard compounds from the dehydroglyasperin C, dehydroglyasperin D, and isoangustone A, were isolated and elucidated by medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) and instrumental analysis such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), respectively. On-line HPLC/ABTS analysis method with the simultaneous determination of three standard compounds and their radical scavenging activity was established for the quality evaluation of licorices. 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radicals (ABTS) which is stable and effective was used in replace of DPPH. The radical scavenging activity of three standards is compared with that of Trolox, known as antioxidant, showing a negative peak with a decrease in absorbance at 734 nm for ABTS. This on-line HPLC/ABTS analysis method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy in compliance with international conference on harmonization (ICH) guideline.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2020

Handwashing with soap is an important practice to reduce the transmission of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, but liquid soaps with refillable dispensers are prone to extrinsic bacterial contamination. This study investigated the bacterial contamination of liquid soaps in 58 public restrooms in six buildings. The bacteria were identified by a biochemical test and MALDI-TOF mass spectrophotometry. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Vitek II system. Of the 58 restrooms examined, 27(46.55%) were using a refill dispenser, of which 25(92.59%) were contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria recovered from the soaps ranged from 1.6×10³ to 2.7×10⁵ CFU/mL. Serratia liquefaciens (12), Achromobacter xylosoxidans (9), S. marcescens (4), Staphylococcus pastueri (1), and Achromobacter spanius (1) were isolated. Except for one A. xylosoxidans, bacteria of the same species isolated in the same building showed a unique resistance pattern. In conclusion, handwashing with contaminated soap may play a role in the transmission of bacteria in public health settings. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the use of refillable liquid soaps in the restrooms of hospitals used by patients with reduced immunity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2015

Based on the genomic analysis of Thermococcus pacificus P-4, we identified a putative GH1 ${\beta}$-glucosidase-encoding gene (Tpa-glu). The gene revealed a 1,464 bp encoding 487 amino acid residues, and the deduced amino acid residues exhibited 77% identity with Pyrococcus furiosus ${\beta}$-glucosidase (accession no. NP_577802). The gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli system. The recombinant protein was purified by metal affinity chromatography and characterized. Tpa-Glu showed optimum activity at pH 7.5 and $75^{\circ}C$, and thermostability with a half life of 6 h at $90^{\circ}C$. Tpa-Glu exhibited hydrolyzing activity against various pNP-glycopyranosides, with kcat/Km values in the order of pNP-${\beta}$-glucopyranoside, pNP-${\beta}$-galactopyranoside, pNP-${\beta}$-mannopyranoside, and pNP-${\beta}$-xylopyranoside. In addition, the enzyme exhibited exo-hydrolyzing activity toward ${\beta}$-1,3-linked polysaccharide (laminarin) and ${\beta}$-1,3- and ${\beta}$-1,4-linked oligosaccharides. This is the first description of an enzyme from hyperthermophilic archaea that displays exo-hydrolyzing activity toward ${\beta}$-1,3-linked polysaccharides and could be applied in combination with ${\beta}$-1,3-endoglucanase for saccharification of laminarin.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2015

Aeromonas hydrophila is the most common water fish pathogen and cause diseases such as hemorrhagic septicemia, dropsy, ulceration and asymptomatic septicemia. A. hydrophila secretes many extracellular products (ECPs) which contribute to effective infection, wide distribution and great adaptability to environmental changes. Crude ECPs of A. hydrophila CK257, a strain used in this study, exhibits a toxic activity to the animals including mouse, rabbit and fish. Toxic symptoms were indicated by tissue damage and skin injuries in animal. When ECPs were subcutaneously injected to animals, skin damages were observed, appearing like necrosis. Preliminary research demonstrated that the active factors are protein component. The crude ECPs were collected after ammonium sulfate precipitation of cell-free culture supernatant. ECPs were fractionated with the use gel filtration chromatography. Five ECP fractions were obtained, of which one fraction was found to be toxic to goldfish. MALDI-TOF analyses provided two interesting proteases called M35 and M28. Both M35 and M28 are known as metalloprotease. Accordingly, proteins in an active fraction exhibited caseinolytic activity. These proteins were difference of caseinolytic activity under different metallic ions. Also active fraction has elastolytic activity. These results suggested that peptidase M28 and M35 may be a candidate factor for tissue necrosis activity about infection with A. hydrophila.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.717-722
• /
• 2005

Formation mechanisms of light-induced volatile compounds were studied using riboflavin-photosensitized oleic acid model systems. Volatile compounds in model systems with 4000 ppm riboflavin at $35^{\circ}C$ under light or in the dark for 39 hr were isolated and identified by a combination of solid phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography (GC), and mass spectrometry (MS). Total volatiles in oleic acid with riboflavin under light for 13, 26, and 39 hr increased by 90, 190, and 270%, respectively, compared to those in oleic acid without riboflavin under light. Total volatiles in samples without riboflavin under light or samples with riboflavin in the dark were not significant in tested conditions (p>10.05). Riboflavin did not act as a photosensitizer when it was dispersed in oleic acid. Heptane, octane, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and 2-nonenal were significantly increased in riboflavin-photosensitized samples compared to those in samples without riboflavin (p<0,05). Light-induced volatile compounds including heptanal and 2-nonenal from oleic acid could be explained using singlet oxygen oxidation, the formation mechanism of which were not understood using triplet oxygen oxidation. These results will help to understand volatile formation in oleic acid containing foods stored under light.