• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.323-325
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• 2002

Bacillus Anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. The major virulence factors are a poly-D glutamic acid capsule and three-protein component exotoxin, which is collectively known as anthrax toxin, protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa), and edema factor (EF, 89 kDa). These three proteins individually have no known toxic activities, but in combination with PA form two toxins (lethal toxin and edema toxin), causing different pathogenic responses in animals and cultured cells. However, it remains to be elucidated for pathogenic mechanism of anthrax toxin. In this study, we constructed toxin component in bacterial overexpression system and purified the native toxin from Bacillus anthracis delta sterne F32 using FPLC system. Recombinant toxin showed high homogeneity and rapid purification processes. Also, this recombinant toxin was comparable to B. anthracis native toxin in terms of cytotoxic effects on cultured cell lines.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.463-468
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• 2000

Anthrax lethal toxin, which consists of two separate protein, protective antigen (83 KDa) and lethal factor (85 KDa) is responsible for major symptoms and death from systemic infection of Bacillus anthracis. High concentrations of this toxin are cytolytic to macrophages, whereas sublytic concentrations of lethal toxin induce these cells to produce interleukin $1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$). It is proposed that melatonin and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may play an important role in modifying immune dysfunction. In this study, we investigated whether or not melatonin and DHEA could prevent $IL-1{\beta}$ production that is induced by anthrax lethal toxin in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Treatment of melatonin or DHEA alone, as well as together, prevented the production of $IL-1{\beta}$ caused by anthrax lethal toxin. We found that melatonin at a concentration of $10^{-6}-10^{-7}$ M inhibits $IL-1{\beta}$ production induced by anthrax lethal toxin. As expect, treatment of DHEA at a concentration $10^{-6}-10^{-7}$ M also suppressed production of $IL-1{\beta}$ by lethal toxin stimulated macrophages. The results of these studies suggest that melatonin and DHEA, immunomodulators, may have an important role in reducing the increase of cytokine production in anthrax lethal toxin-treated macrophages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.1784-1790
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• 2006

Bacillus anthracis is a causative agent of anthrax. Anthrax toxins are composed of a protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF), in which the PA is a central mediator for the delivery of the two enzymatic moieties LF and EF. Therefore, the PA has been an attractive target in the prevention and vaccinization for anthrax toxin. Recently, it has been reported that the molecule consisting of multiple copies of PA-binding peptide, covalently linked to a flexible polymer backbone, blocked intoxification of anthrax toxin in an animal model. In the present study, we have screened novel diverse peptides that bind to PA with a high affinity (picomolar range) from an M13 peptide display library and characterized the binding regions of the peptides. Our works provide a basis to develop novel potent inhibitors or diagnostic probes with a diverse polyvalence.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권12호
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• pp.811-815
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• 2011

Inhalational anthrax is caused by B. anthracis, a virulent sporeforming bacterium which secretes anthrax toxins consisting of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). LF is a Zn-dependent metalloprotease and is the main determinant in the pathogenesis of anthrax. Here we report the identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor of anthrax lethal factor by screening an available synthetic small-molecule inhibitor library using fluorescence-based high-throughput screening (HTS) approach. Seven small molecules were found to have inhibitory effect against LF activity, among which SM157 had the highest inhibitory activity. All theses small molecule inhibitors inhibited LF in a noncompetitive inhibition mode. SM157 and SM167 are from the same family, both having an identical group complex, which is predicted to insert into S1' pocket of LF. More potent small-molecule inhibitors could be developed by modifying SM157 based on this identical group complex.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.275-280
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• 2005

Bacillus anthracis는 탄저병의 병원체이다. 탄저병의 독소는 Bacillus anthracis가 가진 세가지 독소로 이루어져 있다. protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF)그리고 edema factor (EF)로 구성되어 있다. PA는 세포수용체와 결합하여 활성화 과정을 거친 후 LF 흑은 EF를 세포질 안으로 이동시켜 주는 역할을 한다. LF는 금속이온 $(Zn^{2+})$ 의존적 단백질 가수분해 효소로써 탄저병에 감염된 동물들의 치사독소로 작용하게 된다. 따라서 LF에 대한 특성 분석 및 억제재 개발에 관한 연구는 탄저치료제 개발에 매우 중요한 과정이라 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 탄저독소의 치료제 개발을 위해 선행되어야 하는 LF 고처리량 활성검증방법 및 저해제 선별에 더 높은 효율을 가지기 위해 이러한 시스템 방법 등을 이용하여 세포내 검정방법의 기초 자료를 마련하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 yeast를 숙주로 한 LF 발현 vector의 구축과, 구축한 발현 시스템을 yeast에 형질전환 하여 plasmid의 안정성 및 LF유전자의 발현을 확인하였다. 본 연구는 LF유전자의 발현을 진핵세포 내에서 처음으로 시도했으며, 세포내 검증 시스템 도입의 기초적 자료를 제공하였다. Yeast내에서의 LF의 발현은 탄저병의 저해제 선별이나 활성측정검증을 생체 내에서 용이하게 할 수 있다는 가능성을 나타냈다.

• 한국군사과학기술학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.710-718
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• 2011

Edema factor(EF) is a portion of anthrax toxin which produces edema when combined with protective antigen. This paper describes about technique for cloning, expression, purification and activity test of EF. Using the E. coli expression system, we could make recombinant EF protein although it's origin is Bacillus anthracis. And also we could culture massively and purify highly pure protein. Finally we confirm a enzyme activity of purified EF to increase intracellular cAMP level. Through establishing this technique, it can be possible to research about EF in depth and apply to expression and purification of many other protein in biology.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 1998년도 국제심포지움 및 추계학술대회
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• pp.47-47
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• 1998

• 미생물학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2001

탄저(anthrax)는 그람양성이고 포자형성 세균인 탄저균(Bacillus anthracis)으로부터 발명되어진다. 탄저독소는 세가지 요소로 구성되어 있으며, 방어항원(PA)은 숙주세포 표면에서 탄저 독소단백질 및 이종단백질을 세포질 내로 이동시키는 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 PA의 분자적 다양성과 국내에서 탄저균의 진화를 이해하고 확인하기 위해 국내외에서 발견된 탄저균 4 균주와 기존에 보고된 탄저균 26 균주로부터 2,294 bp의 PA유전자(pagA)의 DNA 염기서열을 분식하였다. 탄저균 30 균주으로부터 PA유전자의 염기서열을 비교 분식한 결과, 8개 부위에서 돌연변이를 확인 하였다. 돌연변이가 일어난 부위에 따라서 탄저균을 10종류의 PA 유전자형과 4 종류의 PA 표현형으로 구분하였다. 한국 경주에서 분류된 B. anthracis BAK는 600번째 아미노산 alanine이 valine으로 바뀌어서 B. anthracis ATCC 14185 보다 LF와 PA의 결합 위치를 근접하게 하였다. 탄저균의 Pag의 염기서열을 통한 계통분석학적인 분석 결과는 염색체상에서의 분류와 일치하여 탄저균사이에서 pXO1 플라스미드의 수평적인 이동은 없는 것으로 사료된다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.262-268
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• 2005

탄저 치사독소는 생쥐 대식세포 (RAW 264.7)의 유전자 발현에 많은 변화를 초래한다. 이들 변화를 초래하는 치사독소의 역할은 아직 확실하게 밝혀지지 ???았다. 본 연구에서는, 치사독소가 처리된 생쥐 대식세포의 단백질 프로파일을 이차원 전기영동으로 분석하였고, MALDI-TOF 질량분석기를 사용하여 해당 단백질의 질량을 측정하였다. 펩타이드 질량 분석 데이터는 ProFound 데이터베이스를 이용하여 동정하였다. 차별화되어 발현된 단백질 중에서 절단된 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (Mek1)와 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)가 치사독소 처리된 대식세포에서 각각 증가하였다. 치사독소를 처리하였을 경우, Mek1의 절단은 신호전달과정을 방해하고, 증가된 G6PD는 생성된 활성산소로부터 세포를 보호하는 역할을 하는 것으로 보인다. 단백질체 분석기술은 치사독소처리에 의한 생쥐 대식세포의 세포사멸 관련 단백질을 동정하는데 도움을 주어, 치사독소의 잠정적인 기질을 찾는데 유용할 것이다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.301-310
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• 1999

Anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases. The bacterium produces several virulence factors. Of the factors, protective antigen (PA) of tripatite toxin has been identified as a central component in the pathogenesis of anthrax. However, precise roles of PA and other cellular components in the reaction with the target cells remain to be elucidated, especially in the initial stage of the disease. Three B anthracis antigens were prepared for investigation; PA, sonicated cellular antigens (S-Ag) and formalin-inactivaed whole cell antigens (W-Ag). PA was purified from culture supernatant of the bacterium using FPLC system with MonoQ. S-Ag and W-Ag were prepared by sonication and formalin inactivation of the cultured cells, respectively. Purity of the antigens was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The roles of these antigens in the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, IL-6 and $TNF{\alpha}$ from mouse peritoneal macrophages were investigated. PA alone did not induce the production of the inflammatory mediators while the other antigens, S-Ag and W-Ag, did in a dose and time dependent manner. These results suggested that in addition to major virulence factors, other cellular antigens are also involved in the initial stage of the disease by the induction of inflammatory mediators.