• Title/Summary/Keyword: Disease research

Search Result 12,657, Processing Time 0.041 seconds

Intranasal Vaccination with Outer-Membrane Protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi induces Protective Immunity Against Scrub Typhus

  • Sung-Moo Park;Min Jeong Gu;Young-Jun Ju;In Su Cheon;Kyu-Jam Hwang;Byoungchul Gill;Byoung-Shik Shim;Hang-Jin Jeong;Young Min Son;Sangho Choi;Woonhee Jeung;Seung Hyun Han;Hyuk Chu;Cheol-Heui Yun
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
    • /
    • v.21 no.2
    • /
    • pp.14.1-14.17
    • /
    • 2021
  • Scrub typhus develops after the individual is bitten by a trombiculid mite infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Since it has been reported that pneumonia is frequently observed in patients with scrub typhus, we investigated whether intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with the outer membrane protein of O. tsutsugamushi (OMPOT) would induce a protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection. It was particular interest that when mice were infected with O. tsutsugamushi, the bacteria disseminated into the lungs, causing pneumonia. The i.n. vaccination with OMPOT induced IgG responses in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The anti-O. tsutsugamushi IgA Abs in BAL fluid after the vaccination showed a high correlation of the protection against O. tsutsugamushi. The vaccination induced strong Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the both spleen and lungs. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that i.n. vaccination with OMPOT elicited protective immunity against scrub typhus in mouse with O. tsutsugamushi infection causing subsequent pneumonia.

Ursolic acid in health and disease

  • Seo, Dae Yun;Lee, Sung Ryul;Heo, Jun-Won;No, Mi-Hyun;Rhee, Byoung Doo;Ko, Kyung Soo;Kwak, Hyo-Bum;Han, Jin
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
    • /
    • v.22 no.3
    • /
    • pp.235-248
    • /
    • 2018
  • Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural triterpene compound found in various fruits and vegetables. There is a growing interest in UA because of its beneficial effects, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-carcinogenic effects. It exerts these effects in various tissues and organs: by suppressing nuclear factor-kappa B signaling in cancer cells, improving insulin signaling in adipose tissues, reducing the expression of markers of cardiac damage in the heart, decreasing inflammation and increasing the level of anti-oxidants in the brain, reducing apoptotic signaling and the level of oxidants in the liver, and reducing atrophy and increasing the expression levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and irisin in skeletal muscles. Moreover, UA can be used as an alternative medicine for the treatment and prevention of cancer, obesity/diabetes, cardiovascular disease, brain disease, liver disease, and muscle wasting (sarcopenia). In this review, we have summarized recent data on the beneficial effects and possible uses of UA in health and disease managements.

Prevalence state of canine brucellosis in South Korea during 2015 and 2016

  • Jung, Ji-Youl;Yoon, Soon-Seek;Lee, Seung-Hee;Park, Jung-Won;Lee, Jin-Ju;Her, Moon;So, ByungJae;Kim, Jae-Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
    • /
    • v.58 no.3
    • /
    • pp.125-129
    • /
    • 2018
  • We investigated the prevalence of canine brucellosis in companion and stray dogs between March 2015 and December 2016 and determined the disease characteristics based on the geographic distribution, sex and age of the dogs in South Korea. We conducted a large-scale survey using serological and bacteriological tests. Samples were collected from 2,394 dogs (1,825 companions and 569 strays). Thirty (1.3%) samples were positive for Brucella canis antibodies including 16 (0.9%) from companion dogs and 14 (2.5%) from stray dogs. Two (1.0%) of the 196 samples cultured from the stray dogs were positive. When compared with male dogs, the female companion and stray dogs had a significantly higher prevalence of brucellosis. Moreover, the prevalence of canine brucellosis was significantly higher in stray dogs older than 6 years and the prevalence of the disease in companion dogs was highest in Incheon (2.1%) and Jeolla (2.1%) provinces. Stray dogs from the Daejeon metropolitan area had the highest prevalence of brucellosis (7.9%). National control measures for canine brucellosis have not previously been implemented. Our findings suggest that appropriate screening tests and control measures are necessary to improve the health of dogs and to protect public health in Korea, particularly with the rapid growth of the companion animal industry.

Seroprevalence of Q-fever in Korean native cattle (국내 서식 한우에서 큐열 항체 양성율 조사)

  • Kim, Ji-Yeon;Sung, So-Ra;Pyun, Ji-In;Her, Moon;Kang, Sung-Il;Lee, Hyang-Keun;Jung, Suk Chan
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
    • /
    • v.54 no.3
    • /
    • pp.147-150
    • /
    • 2014
  • Q-fever is a vector-borne (Coxiella [C.] burnetii) zoonotic disease that is an increasing public health concern. To date, some research about Q-fever prevalence in dairy herds and human patients has been reported in Korea, but information about Korean native cattle is scarce. To measure the prevalence rates of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle, a total of 1,095 bovine serum samples collected during 2010~2013 were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-eight heads of cattle were diagnosed as positive and while 19 heads were suspected (positive rate = 6.2%). Interestingly, Jeju province had a seropositivity rate six times greater than that of other provinces (18.9% vs. 3.2%). High seroprevalence might be caused by wide distribution of ticks in Jeju province compared to other regions. Based on these data, extensive monitoring of C. burnetii infection in cattle, tick distribution, and climate changes is required.

Serological survey for Getah virus in domestic pigs of South Korea

  • Yu-Ri Park;Eun-Ju Kim;Hye Jeong Lee;Bang-Hun Hyun;Dong-Kun Yang
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
    • /
    • v.63 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1.1-1.4
    • /
    • 2023
  • Several outbreaks of Getah virus (GETV) have been reported in horses and pigs, causing large economic losses. However, there have been no reports describing serological survey for GETV in South Korea pigs. The present study conducted serological survey of GETV in South Korean pigs. A total of 670 whole blood samples were collected from domestic pigs. The overall seropositive rate was 26.4%, higher than the rates observed in racehorses in 2013-2014. Preparations for epidemics of novel diseases caused by climate change should include regular serological survey for these diseases, including GETV, and the development of vaccines against novel pathogens.

Current Status of COVID-19 Vaccine Development: Focusing on Antigen Design and Clinical Trials on Later Stages

  • Pureum Lee;Chang-Ung Kim;Sang Hawn Seo ;Doo-Jin Kim
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
    • /
    • v.21 no.1
    • /
    • pp.4.1-4.18
    • /
    • 2021
  • The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still threatening human health, economy, and social life worldwide. As a counteraction for this devastating disease, a number of vaccines are being developed with unprecedented speed combined with new technologies. As COVID-19 vaccines are being developed in the absence of a licensed human coronavirus vaccine, there remain further questions regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of the vaccines, as well as immunological mechanisms in depth. This review article discusses the current status of COVID-19 vaccine development, mainly focusing on antigen design, clinical trials in later stages, and immunological considerations for further study.

Molecular Biological Characterization of the First Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated in Mongolia (몽골에서 최초로 분리된 뉴캣슬병 바이러스의 분자생물학적 특성)

  • Choi, Kang-Seuk;Lee, Eun-Kyoung;Jeon, Woo-Jin;Batchuulon, D.;Sodnomdarjaa, R.;Park, Mi-Ja;Yoo, Ye-Nah;Kwon, Jun-Hun
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
    • /
    • v.38 no.2
    • /
    • pp.89-96
    • /
    • 2011
  • The outbreak of Newcastle disease occurred for the first time at a commercial chicken farm near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in August 2010. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) obtained from infected chickens in Mongolia was characterized by biological and molecular biological approches. Mongolian NDV isolate killed all of chicken embryos within 60 h in the mean death time assay, indicating virulent for chicken. A genomic region of 695 nts between nts 1055 of the M gene and 508 of the F gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of the F protein cleavage site was $^{112}RRQKRF^{117}$, which is a typical sequence of velogenic strains of NDV and is agreement with the result of the MDT assay. The sequence of the partial F gene (nts 47 to 435) was used for genotyping by phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the Mongolian isolate was of genotype VII within class II of NDV. Further phylogenetic analysis on the genotype VII strains revealed that the isolates placed in a genetic sublineage of VIId and most closely related with velogenic strains of NDV circulating in Far-east Asian region especially China, suggesting the introduction of velogenic NDV into Mongolia from neighboring countries.

Genetic Similarity between Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus and Chickpea Stunt Disease Associated Virus in India

  • Mukherjee, Arup Kumar;Mukherjee, Prasun Kumar;Kranthi, Sandhya
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
    • /
    • v.32 no.6
    • /
    • pp.580-583
    • /
    • 2016
  • The cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) is one of the most devastating pathogens of cotton. This malady, known as cotton blue disease, is widespread in South America where it causes huge crop losses. Recently the disease has been reported from India. We noticed occurrence of cotton blue disease and chickpea stunt disease in adjoining cotton and chickpea fields and got interested in knowing if these two viral diseases have some association. By genetic studies, we have shown here that CLRDV is very close to chickpea stunt disease associated virus (CpSDaV). We were successful in transmitting the CLRDV from cotton to chickpea. Our studies indicate that CpSDaV and CLRDV in India are possibly two different strains of the same virus. These findings would be helpful in managing these serious diseases by altering the cropping patterns.