• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2001

Background : Examining the biological susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to pyrazinamide (PZA) in vitro is very difficult as PZA is inactive under normal culture conditions. The biological susceptibility test, an enzyme assay for Pzase activity, and a genetic test for pncA gene mutations, were performed in order to predict PZA resistance. Methods : 28 cultured clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were tested. The biological susceptibility was performed by the absolute concentration method using Lowenstein-Jensen media. The PZase activity was tested by means of Wayne's method. A 710-bp region includes the entire open reading frame of pncA was amplified and sequenced. Results : All six strains with positive PZase activity exhibited no pncA mutations with one strain showing a false resistance in the biological susceptibility test. Among the 22 strains with no PZase activity, 21 exhibited showed pncA mutations. In the biological susceptibility test, 20 strains were resistant, and one was susceptible, and the other flied to test. The mutation types varied with ten missense, one silent and one nonsense mutation 1 slipped-strand mispairing, and 6 frameshift mutations. Three strains had an adenine to guanine mutation at position -11 upstream of the start codon. Conclusion : The mutation at the pncA promotor region is frequent at -11 upstream position. Automatic sequencing of pncA is a useful tool for rapid and accurate detection of PZA resistant M. tuberculosis, and for demonstrating the epidemiological relatedness of the PZA resistant M. tuberculosis strains.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2010

The aim of the present study was to develop polyclonal antibodies to regional inedible adipocytes of pigs and investigate the effect of these antibodies on adipocytes in vitro. As antigens, abdominal and subcutaneous adipocyte PMPs from pigs were injected into sheep 3 times per 3 wk intervals for passive immunization, and non-immunized serum, antisera against abodominal (AAb) or subcutaneous adipocyte PMPs (SAb) were collected before and after the injections. Titers of the antisera obtained from sheep and their cross-reactivities with the heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, and spleen of pig were determined by ELISA. Isolation and culture of abdominal and subcutaneous adipocytes from pigs were performed to analyze LDH concentration. At a 1:1,000 dilution, little antibody reactivity was observed for non-immunized serum whereas both AAb and SAb had relatively strong reactivity up to a dilution of 1:16,000. These findings may indicate that strong antibodies against adipocyte PMPs can be developed using an immunological approach. Extremely low reactivity of AAb and SAb was detected with the PMPs of the organs. Both antisera most strongly reacted with each adipocyte PMPs and showed statistically (p<0.05) higher cross-reactivities compared with the non-immunized serum. In conclusion, these results may indicate that the present polyclonal antibodies against regional inedible adipocyte PMPs are well developed and are safe against cross-reactivities with the organs of pigs. Further studies on the in vivo nutritional safety and fat reduction of these antibodies in pigs will be required fat-reduced high quality pork production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the effect of Rhei Rhizoma (RR; 大黃) water extract on gene expression in a hypoxia model of cultured rat hippocampal neurons. RR water extract $(2.5{\mu}g/ml)$ was added to the culture media on day 10 in vitro (DIV10), and a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 h) was given on DIV13. After maintaining the cultures in normoxia for 24 hr, total RNA was isolated and used for microarray analysis. The MA-plot indicated that most genes were up- or downregulated within 2-fold. There were more downregulated genes (725 ea) than upregulated ones (472 ea) when larger than Global M value 0.2 (i.e., >15% increase) or smaller than Global M value -0.2 (i.e., >15% decrease) were considered. Antiapoptosis genes such as Tegt (2.4-fold), Nfkb1 (2.4-fold) Veg (1.8-fold), Ngfr (1.6-fold) were upregulated, while pro-apoptosis genes such as Bad (-64%), Cstb (-66%) were downregulated. Genes for combating environmental stress (stress response genes) such as Defb3 (2.7-fold), Cygb (2.2-fold), Ahsg (2.18-fold), Alox5 (2-fold) were upregulated. Genes for cell proliferation (cell cycle-related genes) such as Erbb2 (1.84-fold), Mapk12 gene (1.8-fold) was upregulated. Therefore, RR water extracts upregulate many pro-survival genes while downregulating many pro-death genes. It is interpreted that these genes, in combination with other regulated genes, can promote neuronal survival in a stress such as hypoxia.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2022

Bulbophyllum auricomum Lindl. is a rare orchid and has flowers with an attractive fragrance. The present study investigated the tissue culture method for micropropagation. Capsules derived from artificial self-pollination were obtained for the best seed germination in MS basal medium. Plant growth regulators (1.0 mg·L^-1 of BAP and 2.0 mg·L^-1 of NAA) were affected by callus induction from subcultured pseudobulb explants. For the callus subculture, different natural plant extracts were tested in 11 treatment media. Among them, MS medium with 150 mL·L^-1 of coconut water was generally effective in fresh weight (1.75 ± 0.08) and (3.01 ± 0.20) of callus proliferation and PLBs induction at 1 and 2 months, respectively, followed by an MS combination of 30 g·L^-1 of banana and 20 g·L^-1 of potato extract. The results of a comparative study of different MS mediums containing plant growth regulators with a natural extract combination and MS medium supplemented with natural extract only showed that MS medium supplemented with a combination of natural extracts (150 mL·L^-1 of coconut water) and plant growth regulators (2.0 mg·L^-1 of BAP and 1.0 mg·L^-1 of NAA) obtained the highest shoot regeneration (3.37 ± 0.17) and (6.41 ± 0.68) after 1 month and 2 months of culturing, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.407-417
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• 1999

Objective: Mammalian follicle cells are the most important somatic cells which help oocytes grow, mature and ovulate and thus are believed to provide oocytes with various functional and structural components. In the present study we have examined whether cumulus or granulosa cells might playa role in establishing the plasma membrane structure of mouse oocytes during meiotic maturation. Design: In particular the differential resistances of mouse oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment were examined following culture with or without cumulus or granulosa cells, or in these cell-conditioned media. Results: When mouse denuded oocytes, freed from their surrounding cumulus cells, were cultured in vitro for $17{\sim}18hr$ and then treated with 1% chymotrypsin, half of the oocytes underwent degeneration within 37.5 min ($t_{50}=37.5{\pm}7.5min$) after the treatment. In contrast cumulus-enclosed oocytes showed $t_{50}=207.0$. Similarly, when oocytes were co-cultured with cumulus cells which were not associated with the oocytes but present in the same medium, the $t_{50}$ of co-cultured oocytes was $177.5{\pm}13.1min$. Furthermore, when oocytes were cultured in the cumulus cell-conditioned medium, $t_{50}$ of these oocytes was $190.0{\pm}10.8min$ whereas $t_{50}$ of the oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $25.5{\pm}2.9min$. Granulosa cell-conditioned medium also increased the resistance of oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment such that $t_{50}$ of oocytes cultured in granulosa cell-conditioned medium was $152.5{\pm}19.0min$ while that of oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $70.0{\pm}8.2min$. To see what molecular components of follicle cell-conditioned medium are involved in the above effects, the granulosa cell-conditioned medium was separated into two fractions by using Microcon-10 membrane filter having a 10 kDa cut-off range. When denuded oocytes were cultured in medium containing the retentate, $t_{50}$ of the oocytes was $70.0{\pm}10.5min$. In contrast, $t_{50}$ of the denuded oocytes cultured in medium containing the filtrate was $142.0{\pm}26.5min$. $T_{50}$ of denuded oocytes cultured in medium containing both retentate and filtrate was $188.0{\pm}13.6min$. However, $t_{50}$ of denuded oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $70.0{\pm}11.0min$ and that of oocytes cultured in whole granulosa cell-conditioned medium was $156.0{\pm}27.9min$. When surface membrane proteins of oocytes were electrophoretically analyzed, no difference was found between the protein profiles of oocytes cultured in M16 alone and of those cultured in the filtrate. Conclusions: Based upon these results, it is concluded that mouse follicle cells secrete a factor(s) which enhance the resistance of mouse oocytes against a proteolytic enzyme treatment. The factor appears to be a small molecules having a molecular weight less than 10 kDa.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1028-1036
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• 2021

Firefly luciferase (FLuc) can function as an efficient marker in the gene and viral therapies. Nonetheless, its clinical translation has been unaccomplished with the concerns on its exogenous nature and the similarity with human fatty acyl-CoA synthetase. In this study, we aimed to show safety of FLuc by conducting a set of preclinical experiments and a human use. Initially, FLuc permeability across the plasma membrane was investigated by delivering the FLuc-carrying viral vector, OTS-412, or the FLuc recombinant protein. After in vitro infection of OTS-412 into different cancer cell lines, FLuc activity was detected only in the cell lysates, but not in culture media. In addition, recombinant FLuc protein further showed the impermeability against the plasma membrane. Similar result was also observed in the in vivo experiment. After being injected into the VX2 tumor-bearing rabbit, the FLuc exclusively resided within the tumor tissue without being detected in the blood plasma or other organs. Human cancer cell lines originated from various organs were lysed and treated to the FLuc, and none of the human substrates was reactive against the FLuc. As a final step, FLuc recombinant protein was intravenously injected into a human. The luciferase was degraded with the half-life of 20 to 30 minutes in blood, and was untraceable from 1.5 hr after the injection. In addition, the blood plasma was nonresponsive against the fatty acids. Hematological analysis was also comparable between the pre- and post-injection. Altogether, our study collectively demonstrates the safety of the firefly luciferase.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the effects according to the time course of glucose exposure on the development of one-cell embryos beyond morula in CR$_laa$ medium. One-cell zygotes from B6CBA F$_1$ mice were recovered at 24 ~ 25h after hCG and cumulus cells were removed with 0.1% hyaluronidase. The embryos were pooled and subsequently divided into each groups and cultured in CR$_laa$ at 37$^{\circ}C$ in 5% CO$_2$ in aIr. The embryos were either, placed in CR$_laa$ containing various concentration (5.5, 16.5, 27.5 and 38.5 mM) of glucose for 1 min. and subsequently returned to the fresh culture medium (without glucose), or were transferred to the same media containing glucose at 72 h post hCG. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. The development rates of zygotes, recovered from the oviducts in M2 and cultured in CR$_laa$ with 3mg/Im FAF-BSA, to expanded blastocysts (25.7%) and hatching bIastocysts (17.6%) were significantly higher than those of zygotes recovered in TL Hepes (0% and 0%, respectively). 2. The development rates of one-cell embryos exposed to 27.5 mM glucose at 72 h post hCG for 1 min, were 68.8% (CR$_1$+BSA) a and 77.1% (CR$_1$+FBS) of expanded blastocyst stage, but there were no significant differences between the embryos exposed for 1 min. or transferred at 72 h. 3. Regardless of glucose concentration (5.5, 16.5, 27.5 & 38.5mM), 45.7~61.5% of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage. There were no significant differences between any of the treatments on the devel-opment of one-cell embryos. Therefore, the detrimental effect of highly concentration was not appeared.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

Although Semisulcospira libertina is generally regarded as a supplement for the alleviation of alcohol hangover, little is known about its effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the constituents of the extracts prepared using different extraction methods and to compare their biochemical properties. The amino acid contents were found to be much higher in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates than hot water extracts from S. libertina. DPPH radical scavenging activities in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates were higher than those of hot water extracts. Three types of S. libertina hydrolysate was added to HepG2 cells damaged by acetaminophen (AAP), after which the survival rate of HepG2 cell were measured. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG2 cells were $77.0{\pm}4.3%$ and $81.5{\pm}1.3%$ at 3 h and 5h enzymatic hydrolysates, respectively. These cell survival rates were higher compared to those of the negative control group ($67.8{\pm}4.3%$) treated only with acetaminophen. Cellular toxicities induced by treatment with AAP were also significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of S. libertina. In addition, the activities of 2 key enzymes that metabolize ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, were upregulated by 4.7- and 2.7-fold respectively in response to treatment with a 3 h enzymatic hydrolysate of S. libertina. Taken together, these results provide biochemical evidence of the method by which S. libertina exerts its biological functions, including the alleviation of alcohol hangover and the protection of liver cells against toxic insults.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2004

A bacterial strain YC4963 with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, a causal organism of cucumber anthracnose was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino in Korea. Based on physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bac­terial strain was identified as Pseudomonas aurantiaca. The bacteria also inhibited mycelial growth of several plant fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani on PDA and 0.1 TSA media. The antifungal activity was found from the culture filtrate of this isolate and the active compound was quantitatively bound to XAD adsorption resin. The antibiotic compound was purified and identified as phenazine-l-carboxylic acid on the basis of combined spectral and chemical analyses data. This is the first report on the production of phenazine-l-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas aurantiaca.