• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.319-324
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• 2021

Incidence of tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is steadily increasing. It is a mite-borne disease transmitted by chigger mites. In this study, the chigger mites were collected from field small mammals in Hwaseong-si (city), Gyeonggi-do (province), Korea, 2019 and 2020. The field small mammals captured were 56 Apodemus agrarius (94.9%) and 3 Crocidura lasiura (5.1%). A total of 7,531 chigger mites were collected from the captured small mammals. Using PCR test, 153 chigger mite pools were examined and 17 pools were reported positive for O. tsutsugamushi. The O. tsutsugamushi were identified to 5 strains; Jecheon strain was most prevalent, followed by Boryong strain. The other strains were OI011, Taguchi, and Shimokoshi. Collectively, these results provide essential regional information on mite-borne tsutsugamushi disease in the Hwaseong-si, and further contribute to bring awareness and rapid diagnosis for the tsutsugamushi disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제61권4호
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• pp.471-475
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• 2023

Archaeoentomological investigations were conducted on soil contents from a grave belonging to the Joseon Dynasty as part of the Urban Environment Maintenance Project (UEMP) in Cheongjin 12-16 dong (districts), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea, from December 01, 2008 to February 19, 2011. A total of 28 insect puparia with hard shells of the common green bottle fly Lucilia sericata were identified in the soil. Evidence suggested that the corpse was placed outside for some days instead of being buried immediately after death. This is the first report of fly puparia in soil samples from a tomb of the Joseon Dynasty during 16-17 AD in Korea. Our findings may help determine the timeframe of burial and offer archaeological insights into the funerary customs of the period.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권5호
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• pp.551-558
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• 2020

The flaviviruses are small single-stranded RNA viruses that are typically transmitted by mosquitoes or tick vectors and are etiological agents of acute zoonotic infections. The viruses are found around the world and account for significant cases of human diseases. We investigated population of culicine mosquitoes in central region of Korean Peninsula, Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si. Aedes vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected mosquitoes (56.5%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.6%), Anopheles spp. (10.9%), and Culex pipiens complex (5.9%). In rural regions of Hwaseong, Aedes vexans nipponii was the highest population (62.9%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.9%) and Anopheles spp. (12.0%). In another rural region of Incheon (habitat of migratory birds), Culex pipiens complex was the highest population (31.4%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (30.5%), and Aedes vexans vexans (27.5%). Culex pipiens complex was the predominant species in the urban region (84.7%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, pooled up to 30 mosquitoes each, and tested for flaviviral RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR and confirmed by cDNA sequencing. Three of the assayed 2,683 pools (989 pools without Anopheles spp.) were positive for Culex flaviviruses, an insect-specific virus, from Culex pipiens pallens collected at the habitats for migratory birds in Incheon. The maximum likelihood estimation (the estimated number) for Culex pipiens pallens positive for Culex flavivirus was 25. Although viruses responsible for mosquito-borne diseases were not identified, we encourage intensified monitoring and long-term surveillance of both vector and viruses in the interest of global public health.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.161-180
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• 2017

As the competition for securing cross-border biological sovereignty becomes intensified due to the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol, this study analyzed patent trends only for freshwater plants in order to secure national biological sovereignty. As a result, freshwater plants include a total of 68 genera and 128 species, and a total of 60 genera and 3,256 patents were surveyed. Among them, iris was the most industrialized, 14.71% followed by angelica(8.48%) and Mentha(6.94%). However, unconfirmed eight genera (Aneilema, Artemisia Cabomba, Nymphoides, Pistia stratiotes L., Pseudoraphis Griff., Ruppia) are not patented freshwater plants and it is expected that patent entry is high and barrier is low in the future. Based on patent results, Cooperative Patent Classification analysis was carried out and as a result, a total of 15 industry sectors were derived. And biopharmaceutical(30.24%) was found to be the most industrialized industry sector followed by agricultural chemistry (28.89%), biochemical industry (16.25%). In the biomedical industry, angelica(17.74%) was the most used and Iris (9.55%), Sium(20.56%) and angelica (20.48%) were found to be the most used in agricultural chemistry, biochemical industry and bio food industry, respectively. The analysis of detailed industry fields for 15 industry sectors showed that medicines of unknown structure containing substances from plants (37.77%), raw materials (46.57%) such as insect repellants, attracting agents and preparation of peptides(16.82%) with more than 21 amino acids were most frequently used in biopharmaceutical, agricultural chemistry and biochemical industry, respectively. This study is of significance as a basic data to know which freshwater plants are used in which field in order to secure biological sovereignty and patent analysis is considered necessary to continuously secure the biological sovereignty for freshwater plants.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.185-190
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• 2001

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is known to cause cervical cancers. Human papillomavirus-like particles (VLP) have been studied as preventive vaccines of cervical cancers. To develop VLP as a therapeutic gene carrier, we studied the method to encapsulate cytokine genes in virus-like particles. HPV type 16 capsid L1 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into T vector. L1 gene was then inserted into baculovirus transfer vector. The clone of baculovirus encoding L1 gene was isolated and used to express L1 protein in Sf 21 insect cells. VLP were purified by CsCl density gradient and ultracentrifugation. VLP were disassembled to capsomer units by treatment of a reducing agent. Given that interleukin-2 (IL-2) genes have been used in anticancer gene therapy and as a molecular adjuvant, IL-2 cytokine plasmids were chosen as a model gene. IL-2 plasmids were incubated with the disassembled capsomer suspension. To reassemble the particles, the mixture of capsomers and cytokine plasmids was dialyzed. The disassembly and reassembly of VLP were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The entrapment of cytokine plasmids in reassembled VLP was tested by the stability of plasmids against DNase I. After treatment of reassembled virus-like particles with DNase I, discrete IL-2 DNA band was observed. Our results indicate that IL-2 cytokine plasmid (3.5 kb size) can be encapsulated in the virus-like particles, suggesting the potential of VLP as a gene delivery system. Moreover, VLP containing the adjuvant cytokine plasmids might function as more effective subunit vaccines.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.262-265
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• 2017

Bombyx mori (silkworm pupae) is a unique and biologically significant insect, which is a recognized source of high quality protein that provides all the essential amino acids required for human health. Recently, many studies have focused on various biomedical applications of B. mori proteins. The purpose of this study was to manufacture protein-fortified kefir containing different concentrations of B. mori powder according to pH and sensory evaluations. The value of the protein-fortified kefir increased but the pH decreased with increasing incubation time, indicating that the amount of B. mori powder did not affect and pH. Addition of B. mori powder also did not affect the sensory properties of overall acceptability, texture, and color compared to control group without addition of B. mori powder. However, flavor and taste were affected by increasing the amounts of B. mori powder, with a significant difference in both flavor and taste between the control and treated groups (both p<0.05). There was no significant difference in overall acceptability, texture, and color. Further studies are needed for producing kefir as a dietary supplement utilizing the functional properties of B. mori.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.425-429
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• 2021

INS-1 췌장 β 세포에서 Allomyrina dichotoma 혈림프 처리에 의한 early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) 유전자 발현을 조사되었다. 이 연구에서 새로운 발견은 EGR1 유전자 발현을 A. dichotoma 혈림프의 용량 및 시간 의존적으로 상향 조절하는것과 혈림프와 병행한 저체온효과 또는 소포체(endoplasmic reticulum, ER) 스트레스에 의해서도 유전자 발현이 상승하였다. A. dichotoma 혈림프가 EGR1의 유전자발현을 상승 조절을 할 수 있기 때문에, EGR1 관련 질병 치료 및 예방의 실마리를 제공 할 수 있을 가능성을 시사한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.721-726
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• 2016

누에(Bombyx mori)에서 short neuropeptide F (sNPF) receptor를 encoding하고 있는 cDNA를 cloning하여서 BsNPF-R라고 이름을 붙였다. BsNPF-R는 이미 보고된 sNPF-R들과 아미노산 수준에서 사람(36%), 쥐(34%), 제브라피쉬(35%), 초파리(51%)와 상동성을 보였다. BsNPF-R는 계산적으로 분자량이 42,731 Da이고 원형질막을 관통하는 단백질이다. BsNPF-R 유전자발현은 중장, 후견사선, 말피기관, 정소에서 강한 반면 지방체, 혈세포, 난소에서 약하게 발현하였다. 그리고 합성된 sNPF에 의해서도 BsNPF-R의 유전자발현이 조절되었다.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제66권
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• pp.236-243
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• 2023

혈소판은 1차 및 2차 지혈에서 근본적인 역할을 하는 세포지만 혈소판의 과도한 활성화는 혈전증을 유발할 수 있다. 따라서 혈소판 응집의 적절한 조절은 혈전증 매개 질환을 예방하는 데 중요하다. 최근 곤충소재의 개발이 주목을 받고 있다. 다양한 곤충 자원 중 고영양 기능성 식품원으로는 쌍별귀뚜라미(Gryllus bimaculatus)와 같은 곤충류가 있다. 쌍별귀뚜라미 는 고단백 및 불포화지방산을 함유하고 있으며 2015년 9월 식품의약품안전처로부터 식품원료로 등록되었다. 본 연구에서는 쌍별귀뚜라미 에탄올 추출물(G. bimaculatus extract)이 혈소판 응집, 세포 내 Ca²⁺ 조절, thromboxane A₂ 생산 및 glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIb/β3) 활성화를 억제하는지 여부를 확인하고. 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor type I, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cytosolic phospholipase A₂, mitogen-activated protein kinases p38, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β 및 SYK 같은 신호 분자를 조절할 수 있는지 여부를 조사했다. 우리는 쌍별귀뚜라미 추출물이 혈소판 관련 혈전증 및 심혈관 질환을 예방할 수 있는 잠재적인 치료 약물로 가치가 있음을 규명하였다.