• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1621-1628
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• 2015

Chlamydia possesses a conserved 7.5 kb plasmid that is known to play an important role in chlamydial pathogenesis, since some chlamydial organisms lacking the plasmid are attenuated. The chlamydial transformation system developed recently required the use of plasmid-free organisms. Thus, the generation and identification of plasmid-free organisms represent a key step in understanding chlamydial pathogenic mechanisms. A tricolor immunofluorescence assay for simultaneously detecting the plasmid-encoded Pgp3 and whole organisms plus DNA staining was used to screen C. muridarum organisms selected with novobiocin. PCR was used to detect the plasmid genes. Next-generation sequencing was then used to sequence the genomes of plasmid-free C. muridarum candidates and the parental C. muridarum Nigg strain. We generated five independent clones of plasmid-free C. muridarum organisms by using a combination of novobiocin treatment and screening plaque-purified clones with anti-Pgp3 antibody. The clones were confirmed to lack plasmid genes by PCR analysis. No GlgA protein or glycogen accumulation was detected in cells infected with the plasmid-free clones. More importantly, whole-genome sequencing characterization of the plasmid-free C. muridarum organism and the parental C. muridarum Nigg strain revealed no additional mutations other than loss of the plasmid in the plasmid-free C. muridarum organism. Thus, the Pgp3-based immunofluorescence assay has allowed us to identify authentic plasmid-free organisms that are useful for further investigating chlamydial pathogenic mechanisms.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.16.1-16.8
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• 2013

Objectives Fish vitellogenin (VTG) is produced in the female liver during oogenesis through the estradiol cycle and produced in the male liver by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as alkylphenols. In this study, we propose that the VTG concentration in the pale chub could be detected using monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies against vitellin (Vn) in a VTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Methods Monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies were produced using the Vn extracted from the matured ovum of the ovary. The VTG was extracted from the plasma of the male pale chub. The Vn and VTG were confirmed by measuring the molecular weight of their proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the specificity of the antibodies was checked through western blotting methods. The assay system was validated with respect to optimal assay concentrations, specificity, recovery, and intra- and inter-assay variations. Results The Vn consisted of two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 64 and 37 kDa. The SDS-PAGE indicated protein weights of 146 and 77 kDa in the VTG. The assay range was 15.6 ng/mL to 2,000 ng/mL, and the value of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within 10.0% and 14.7%, respectively. The recovery rate was $99.5{\pm}5.5%$. Conclusions A sandwich ELISA was developed that could be used to qualify the VTG of pale chub in screening for EDCs. Pale chub is an ideal species for observing estrogen activity in the environment because of its extensive habitat and extensive food chain. The ELISA developed here would be more favorable than those for other species for determining the effect of long-term food chain accumulation of EDCs in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.965-974
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• 2017

The single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a promising molecule for its potential use in the diagnosis and immunotherapy of atherosclerosis. Producing this scFv in several milligram amounts could be the starting point for further engineering and application of the scFv. In this study, the abundant expression of the anti-LOX-1 scFv was attempted using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Brevibacillus choshinensis (B. choshinensis). The scFv had limited soluble yield in E. coli, but it was efficiently secreted by B. choshinensis. The optimized fermentation was determined using the Plackett-Burman screening design and response surface methodology, under which the yield reached up to 1.5 g/l in a 5-L fermentor. Moreover, the properties of the scFvs obtained from the two expression systems were different. The antigen affinity, transition temperature, and particle diameter size were 1.01E-07 M, $55.2{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$, and 9.388 nm for the scFv expressed by B. choshinensis, and 4.53E-07 M, $52.5{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$, and 13.54 nm for the scFv expressed by E. coli. This study established an efficient scale-up production methodology for the anti-LOX-1 scFv, which will boost its use in LOX-1-based therapy.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.147-151
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• 2006

난생 생물의 알 생성유도 단백질인 비텔로제닌(viteILogenin, VTG)을 성숙한 암컷 황소개구리 (Rana catesbeiana)혈청으로부터 음이온 교환 크로마토그래피를 이용하여 정제 하였으며 정제한 비텔로제닌을 BALB/c mice에 주사하여 폴리크로날 항체를 생산하였고 이것은 protein A column으로 정제 하였다. 이렇게 정제된 폴리크로날 항체를 이용하여 황소개구리 비탈로제닌 측정용 효소면역측정법을 개발하였으며 그 측정 범위는 $12{\sim}1,560ng/mL$였다. 또한 이 효소면역측정법을 평가하기 위해 성숙한 수컷 황소개구리를 청정지역과 폐수처리장 하류 하천에서 서식하는 황소개구리 혈액 속의 비텔로제닌을 측정하였다. 그 결과 폐수처리장 하류 하천에 서식하는 수컷 황소개구리 비텔로제닌이 청정지역보다 현저하게 높게 유도됨을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1166-1172
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• 2010

Kinesin-I exists as a tetramer of two heavy chains (KHCs, also called KIF5s), which contain the amino (N)-terminal motor domain and carboxyl (C)-terminal domain, as well as two light chains (KLCs), which bind to the KIF5s (KIF5A, KIF5B and KIF5C) stalk region. To identify the interaction proteins for KIF5A, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed and a specific interaction with the ${\beta}$ subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins ($G{\beta}$) was found. $G{\beta}$ bound to the amino acid residues between 808 and 935 of KIF5A and to other KIF5 members in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The WD40 repeat motif of $G{\beta}$ was essential for interaction with KIF5A. In addition, these proteins showed specific interactions in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay. An antibody to KIF5s specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF5s associated with heterotrimeric G proteins from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that kinesin-I motor protein transports heteroterimeric G protein attachment vesicles along microtubules in the cell.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1076-1082
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• 2011

Microtubule-based kinesin motor proteins are used for long-range vesicular transport. KIF5s (KIF5A, KIF5B and KIF5C) mediate the transport of various membranous vesicles along microtubules, but the mechanism behind how they recognize and bind to a specific cargo has not yet been completely elucidated. To identify the interaction protein for KIF5B, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed and a specific interaction with the unconventional myosin Myo9b, an actin-based vesicle transport motor, was found. The GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain of Myo9s was essential for interaction with KIF5B in the yeast two-hybrid assay. Myo9b bound to the carboxyl-terminal region of KIF5B and to other KIF5 members. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-downs showed that Myo9s specifically interact to the complete Kinesin-I complex. An antibody to KIF5B specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF5B associated with Myo9s from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that kinesin-I motor protein interacts directly with actin-based motor proteins in the cell.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 1985

The present study was undertaken to examine serum concentration of free $T_3,\;T_4$, in various functional states of the thyroid by Amerlex RIA kit method, which uses unidentified $T_3,\;T_4-labelled$ analogues, said to be unreactive with $T_3,\;T_4-binding$ proteins in serum, together with an antibody that binds both analogue and $T_3,\;T_4$. The test method has been compared with free $T_4$ index, which was product of total serum thyroxine and $T_3$ resin uptake ratio. Free $T_4$ value by this method was found to have a highly significant positive correlation with a free $T_4$ index (r; 0.957, p<0.005) and total $T_4$ (r:0.89, p<0.005) also, it was similar to other free $T_4$ measuring methods previously reported. So, it was showen to have the clinical utility as the screening test for thyroid function because it was a rapid; convinient, and reliable method for quantifying the free $T_4,\;T_3$ concentration in various thyroidal functional states.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.758-763
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• 2011

Immunostimulatory CpG-DNA targeting TLR9 is one of the most extensively evaluated vaccine adjuvants. Previously, we found that a particular form of natural phosphodiester bond CpG-DNA (PO-ODN) encapsulated in a phosphatidyl-${\beta}$-oleoyl-${\gamma}$-palmitoyl ethanolamine (DOPE) : cholesterol hemisuccinate (CHEMS) (1 : 1 ratio) complex (Lipoplex(O)) is a potent adjuvant. Complexes containing peptide and Lipoplex(O) are extremely useful for B cell epitope screening and antibody production without carriers. Here, we showed that IL-12 production was increased in bone marrow derived dendritic cells in a CpG sequence-dependent manner when PO-ODN was encapsulated in Lipoplex(O), DOTAP or lipofectamine. However, the effects of Lipoplex(O) surpassed those of PO-ODN encapsulated in DOTAP or lipofectamine and also other various forms of liposome-encapsulated CpG-DNA in terms of potency for protein antigen-specific IgG production and Th1- associated IgG2a production. Therefore, Lipoplex(O) may have a unique potent immunoadjuvant activity which can be useful for various applications involving protein antigens as well as peptides.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.40-46
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• 2001

The use of pluripotent stem cells has tremendous advantages for various purposes but these cell lines with proven germ-line transmission have been completely established only in the mouse. Embryonic germ (EG) cell lines are also pluripotent and undifferentiated stem cells established from primordial germ cells (PGCs). This study was conducted to establish and characterize the chicken EG cells derived from gonadal primordial germ cells. We isolated gonadal PGCs from 5.5-day-old (stage 28) White leghorn (WL) embryos and established chicken EG cells lines with EG culture medium supplemented with human stem cell factor (hSCF), murine leukemia inhibitory factor (mLIF), bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), human interleukin-11 (hIL-11), and human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I). These cells grew continuously for 4 months (10 passages) on a feeder layer of mitotically active chicken embryonic fibroblasts. These cells were characterized by screening with the Periodic acid-Shiff＇s reaction, anti-SSEA-1 antibody, and a proliferation assay after several passages. As the results, the chicken EG cells maintained characteristics of undifferentiated stem cells as well as that of gonadal PGCs. When cultured in suspension, the chicken EG cells successfully formed an embryoid body and differentiated into a variety of cell types when re-seeded onto culture dish. The chicken EG cells were injected into blastodermal layer at stage X and dorsal aorta of recipient embryo at stage 14 (incubation of 53hrs) and produced chimeric chickens with various differentiated tissues derived from the EG cells. The germline chimeras were also successfully induced by using EG cells. Thus, Chicken EG cells will be useful for the production of transgenic chickena and for studies of germ cell differentiation and genomic imprinting.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2013

This study was conducted to isolate the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) and to find out the distribution of 15 serovars mainly in southern Gyeonggi province, Korea. From July 2011 to Nov. 2012, a total of 2,204 slaughter pigs (110 herds) were inspected for evaluation of APP like pneumonic lesions. 48 (33.8%) APP strains were isolated from the 142 lungs and identified using PCR assays (cps, apx/omlA, biovar). Consequently, the serotype ratio were as in the following; type2 41.7% (n=20), type5 33.3% (n=16), type12 10.4% (n=5), type1 6.2% (n=3), type4 and 7 2.1% (n=1) and unknown 4.2% (n=2). Also serological test was implemented for 452 (83 herds) serum samples randomly collected from above slaughter pigs using commercial ELISA kits. The positive ratio of each serotype for tested pigs were 19.1% (77/404) on [2], 7.1% (32/452) on [3, 6, 8], 6.9% (28/404) on [5a, 5b], 6.2% (28/452) on [4, 7], 2.8% (9/320) on [12], 2.0% (9/452) on [1, 9, 11] and 0.0% (0/452) on [10]. And 49.3% (223/452) of pigs were positive on apxIV antibody. On the basis of latter screening test, the infected farm ratio accounted for 71.1% (59/83) and that was much higher than previously reported data.