• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.43.1-43.10
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• 2023

The continuous emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has provided insights for updating current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. We examined the neutralizing activity of Abs induced by a BA.4/5-containing bivalent mRNA vaccine against Omicron subvariants BN.1 and XBB.1.5. We recruited 40 individuals who had received a monovalent COVID-19 booster dose after a primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations and will be vaccinated with a BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccine. Sera were collected before vaccination, one month after, and three months after a bivalent booster. Neutralizing Ab (nAb) titers were measured against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.5, BN.1, and XBB.1.5. BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccination significantly boosted nAb levels against both ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants. Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection had higher nAb titers against all examined strains than the infection-naïve group. NAb titers against BN.1 and XBB.1.5 were lower than those against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and BA.5 strains. These results suggest that COVID-19 vaccinations specifically targeting emerging Omicron subvariants, such as XBB.1.5, may be required to ensure better protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in high-risk groups.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 1996

The gene encoding gIII of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) PQ strain was cloned and expressed in baculovirus. Although the gIII gene is located in Hind III I fragment as the case of the other BHV-1 strains, differences in size and restriction endonuclease site within the fragment were identified. The gIII expression was predominantly detected on the surface on insect cells by indirect immunofluoresecnce assay using monoclonal antibody. The western blotting analysis also revealed the presence of expressed protein of a similar molecular size to the original gIII protein. The immunogenicity of expressed protein were tested in guinea pigs. The immunized guinea pigs with expressed protein developed the neutralizing antibodies against BHV-1.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.70-73
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• 2016

In late March of 2009, an outbreak of influenza in Mexico, was eventually identified as H1N1 influenza A. In June 2009, the World Health Organization raised a pandemic alert to the highest level. More than 214 countries have reported confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1 influenza A. In Korea, the first case of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 infection was reported on May 2, 2009. Between May 2009 and August 2010, 750,000 cases of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 were confirmed by laboratory test. The H1N1-related death toll was estimated to reach 252 individuals. Almost one billion cases of influenza occurs globally every year, resulting in 300,000 to 500,000 deaths. Influenza vaccination induces virus-neutralizing antibodies, mainly against hemagglutinin, which provide protection from invading virus. New quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine generates similar immune responses against the three influenza strains contained in two types of trivalent vaccines and superior responses against the additional B strain.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.581-588
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• 1998

Eight monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) against bovine coronavirus(BCV) were produced and characterized. Three MAbs(1G9, 4H12, 5C1) specific to the S glycoprotein and two HE glycoprotein-specific MAbs(2A5, 5G4) were found to neutralize the BCV in fluorescence focus neutralization(FFN) test. Two HE-specific MAbs from the neutralizing MAbs inhibited the hemagglutinating activity of the BCV. None of the N protein-specific MAbs(1C1, 5A12, 6H1) neutralized the virus infectivity. Bovine coronavirus and mouse hepatitis virus, which belong to group II coronaviruses, were differentiated from other groups of coronaviruses(porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, canine coronavirus) by all MAbs in fluorescence antibody test(FA), but not in FFN test.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2017

Despite improved treatment outcomes of locally advanced disease over the last 2 decades, the survival of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains dismal. There is a clear need for development of novel therapeutic strategies for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC. Recent advances in understanding tumor immunology have been directly and rapidly translated into clinical success of T cell-directed immunotherapeutic approach in the treatment of several types of solid cancers. Among them, impact of immune checkpoint inhibition using neutralizing antibodies is the most striking. A variety of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting T cells have been also studied in HNSCC, especially in recurrent and/or metastatic setting even with significant survival benefit. The present article reviews the basic concept of T cell-directed immunotherapy and the current status of such approaches in the treatment of HNSCC.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2000

An epidemiological survey was conducted to investigate fowl typhoid outbreaks in Kyungnam province of Korea. The causative agent, salmonella gallinarum was isolated from 68 chicken samples of tentatively diagnosed fowl typhoid cases occurred during the period from January 1996 to September 1999. Comparative studies were also carried out to evaluate the diagnostic methods for detection of S gallinam The results obtained were as follows; 1. Of the 68 cases of tentatively diagnosed fowl typhoid, 56 (82%) cases were determined as fowl typhoid by biochemical test and pathological findings. The other 12 (18%) cases were determined as paratyphoid. 2. Fowl typhoid outbreaks occur continuously all seasons in the year, however the incidence was remarkably increased from May to September. 3. The frequency of incidence of fowl typhoid in terms of regional distribution was relatively high in egg-laying hens facilities, and the mode of transmission is likely to be either egg-to-egg or lateral transfer by wild birds or rats. 4. All of 18 isolates from 56 cases were identified as S gallinarum by biochemical and serological test. 5. Antimicrobial drug susceptibility test against 18 isolates showed that the isolates were highly susceptible to ASH, CZ, CF and GM (above 90%), whereas those strains were 100% resistant to EM, NA and PC. 6. S gallinarum rfbS gene was targeted to be amplified by PCR for comparative detection of S gallinarum in the experimentally infected chickens. The amplified 720bp DNA fragment, which is specific in D serogroup strains of S enterica subspecies was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. 7. A comparison made between fecal culture and PCR-method revealed that later-method was relatively higher in detection rate than that of former method for S gallinarum. 8. Comparison of currently applied methods, rapid serum agglutination test (RST) and microplate agglutination test (MAT), with experimentally infected chickens were made to evaluate sensitivity of detection by neutralizing antibody titration. Both methods detected neutralizing antibodies from the challenged chickens of 5 day post infection. However, positive reactions were determined after 7 and 9 days post infection by MAT and RST, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 1996

한탄바이러스의 내피 단백질 (N)은 이 바이러스에 대한 중요한 항원으로 작용하지만 신증후출혈열 예방과 관련된 작용은 명확히 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구는 이러한 내피 단백질이 한탄바이러스에 대한 중화 항체를 유도할 수 있는가 하는 관점에서 수행되었다. 한탄바이러스의 내피 단백질을 대장균에서 용해된 형태로 발현하고 이를 단클론 항체를 이용한 면역친화 컬럼으로 분리 정제하였다. 정제된 내피 단백질을 기니픽에 면역하여 항혈청을 얻고 이것의 한탄바이러스에 대한 중화능력을 중화항체 플락 감소법 (plaque reduction neutralization test)을 이용하여 조사한 결과 최고 1:160의 중화능이 있음을 관찰하였다. 이는 한탄바이러스의 내피 단백질이 중화 항체를 유도할 수 있는 epitopes을 가지고 있음을 의리하며 이러한 생각은 본 연구에서 수행한 면역침강법과 N 단백질에 대한 단클론항체를 이용한 면역친화법을 통한 한탄바이러스의 정제 실험 결과에서도 뒷받침되고 있다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.482-490
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• 2001

The gene for glycoprotein B (gB2) of HSV-2-strain G was subcloned, sequenced, recombinated into the lacZ-HcNPV, expressed in insect cells, and compared with the homologous gene of other HSV-2 strains. The ORF of the gB2 gene was 2,715 bp. The overall nucleotide sequence homology of te gB2 gene compared ith that of the two previously reported HSV-2 strains appeared to be over 98%. A recombinant virus named Baculo-gB2 protein in insect cells. The recombination was confirmed by a PCR and the expression was demonstrated by radio immunoprecipitation. Insect cells infected with the Baculo-gB2 virus synthesized and processed gB2 with approximately 120 kDa in the cells, and then secreted it into the culture media, where it reacted with a nomoclonal antibody to gB2. The gB2 polypeptide contained two main hydrophobic regions (a signal sequence from 1 to 23 amino acid residues, and a membrane anchor sequence from aa 745 to 798), eight N-glycosylation sites evenly distributed, and was rich in alanine (11.2%). Antibodies to this recombinant protein that were raised in mice recognized the viral gB2 and neutralized the infectivity of the HSV-2 in vitro. There results show that the gB2 protein was successfully porduced in insect cells and could be used to raise a protective neutralizing antibody. Accordingly, this particular recombinant protein may be useful in the development of a subunit vaccine.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2009

To investigate the infection patterns of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in Korean pig farms, a total of 4,768 swine sera samples from 159 pig farms were taken twice, in June (n=82) and October (n=77) in 2007. In each farm selected for the survey, 10 samples from breeding pigs and 4 from each of the 5 age groups (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days) were taken, and all serum samples were tested for PEDV by the serum neutralization test. The overall seroprevalence was 62.6% (2,983/4,768), with the highest prevalence in breeding pigs (93.5%, 1,485/1,589). The prevalence showed an increasing trend with increasing age (30.8, 27.2, 44.7, 61.6, and 71.2% respectively in the 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days age groups) (p<0.0001 for $x^2$ trend test). The association between age and PEDV prevalence was similar in both surveys, indicating that the infection of PEDV seemed to be occurring repeatedly in the farms surveyed. This inference could also be explained by the fact that prevalence in sows was very high despite low vaccination coverage, as they are continuously exposed to PEDV in potentially infected farms for a longer period. Based on the neutralizing antibody levels in sows and growing pigs, the majority of farms (91.8%, n=146 farms) were endemically infected with PEDV, and most of pigs seemed to be intensively infected with PEDV at around early growth (41.8%) and weaning (31.5%). On the other hand, serum neutralizing antibodies were not detected in pigs older than 30 days of age in farms classified as having no PEDV infection (n=13 farms), indicating the level of maternal antibody against PEDV is decreased on a non-detectable level before the piglet is 60 days old in the field situation. The results indicated that most farms surveyed in 2007 were affected with endemic PEDV infection. Therefore, a national monitoring and control program for the endemic type PEDV infection needs further attention.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1090-1097
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• 2015

Traditionally, mistletoe is known as an effective anti-cancer medicinal plant, and lectin is recognized as a major component with cytotoxic and immuno-stimulant activity in mistletoe. A Korean mistletoe lectin (KML) has specificity to galactose and galactosamine and is distinguish from European mistletoe lectin (EML). When we examined the concentration of lectin in mistletoe originated from five different types of host trees, the result indicate that the lectin concentration is variable depending on the host tree. Noticeably, mistletoe from chestnut tree contains ten folds higher lectins than that of an oak tree. We also tested the concentration of KML and crude extract (KM-110) of Korean mistletoe that shows 90% cytotoxicity in L5178Y-ML25 lymphoma cell. In addition, the cells show 90% and 70% viability by the treatment of two neutralizing antibodies of KML, 9H7-D10 and 8B11-2C5 neutralization effect with two monoclonal antibodies of KML, 9H7-D10 and 8B11-2C5. Therefore, the result expected that the mistletoe contain some other cytotoxic components except lectin. Finally, the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 by RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lectin free-crude extract (LFKM-110) following neutralization by 9H7-D10 monoclonal antibody shows higher than that of lectin containing-crude extract (KM-110). These results suggest that the Korean mistletoe lectin ha a great potential to be developed as therapeutic agent of cancer.