• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.99-113
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• 2018

Recently, global warming has widened the habitat of mosquitoes and infection chances for mosquito-borne diseases are increasing. Flavivirus is a typical mosquito-borne virus. Flaviviruses with a relatively high frequency of infection in Asian countries include Zika, Dengue, and Japanese encephalitis viruses. Although distinctive diagnosis of flaviviruses is required because the symptoms and therapeutic method differ, there is no diagnostic method that can distinguish them accurately yet. In this study, we propose distinctive diagnosis method of flaviviruses using informations and analysis tools constructed in bioinformatic databases. The envelope protein and non-structural protein 1 which are useful protein for the immuno-diagnostics of three flaviviruses were selected. Their homology was analyzed by multiple sequence alignments and epitope candidates consisting of 10-15 amino acids were selected. Finally two epitopes were suggested to be most useful by immunogenicity analysis and 3D structure prediction. These approaches and results are expected to be great value in the distinctive diagnosis of three flaviviruses with a high frequency of infection in Asian countries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1928-1936
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• 2018

Recently, human infections caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which can lead to fatality, have dramatically increased in East Asia. With the unavailability of vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent and/or treat SFTSV infection, early rapid diagnosis is critical for prevention and control of the disease. Here, we report the development of a simple, rapid and sensitive portable detection method for SFTSV infection applying reverse transcription-loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) combined with one-pot colorimetric visualization and electro-free reaction platform. This method utilizes a pocket warmer to facilitate diagnosis in a resource-limited setting. Specific primers were designed to target the highly-conserved region of L gene of SFTSV. The detection limit of the RT-LAMP assay was approximately $10^0$ viral genome copies from three different SFTSV strains. This assay exhibited comparable sensitivity to qRT-PCR and 10-fold more sensitivity than conventional RT-PCR, with a rapid detection time of 30 to 60 minutes. The RT-LAMP assay using SFTSV clinical specimens has demonstrated a similar detection rate to qRT-PCR and a higher detection rate compared to conventional RT-PCR. Moreover, there was no observed cross-reactive amplification of other human infectious viruses including Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), Dengue, Enterovirus, Zika, Influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This highly sensitive, electro- and equipment-free rapid colorimetric visualization method is feasible for resource-limited SFTSV field diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1986

The present surveys were conducted in attempts to investigate the health situation of horses in Korea through mass-screening the samples serologically, bacteriologically and clinically. A total of 575 horses were sampled randomly, comprising 126 from the Korean Horse Affairs Association, 288 from the Korean Equestrian Federation and 161 from the Jeju ponies. Each of the samples taken was tested for diagnoses of 18 horse diseases including African horse sickness. Summarised below are the results obtained from this surveys. 1. From results of the serological survey it is evident that Korea is currently free from African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, vesicular stomatits, equine piroplasmosis, equine viral arteritis, Venezuelan encephalomyelitis and contagious equine metritis. Constant vigilence with strengthened quarantine measures is thus vital for maintaining freedom of any those diseases in Korea. 2. No clinical case was observed with any of signs or symptoms of infectious lymphangitis, anthrax and infestations with ringworm, mange or scab. However, continuous follow-up is required for establishing the evidence of no occurrence of the diseases in Korea. 3. One case of seropositive to equine infectious anemia may fully justify systematic and regular testings for the whole population of horse in Korea. 4. It is manifested that equine rhinopneumonitis, Japanese encephalitis and Getah virus infection are well established in Korea, together with the presence of equine infectious abortion(Salmonella abortus equi). This strongly entails preventive precautions before entry into Korea for the horses participating in the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.401-408
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• 1987

Nine monoclonal antibodies directed against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) were prepared by using cell hybridization technique, and the biological properties of the antibodies were investigated by means of immunofluorescence, serum neutralization, and electrophoretic analysis. Eight of 9 monoclonal antibodies reacted specifically with the antigenic constituents of IBRV, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, Marek's disease virus, turkey herpesvirus, hog cholera virus, porcine parvovirus and transmissible gastroenteritis virus. However, the remaining one, 26-2 clone, was found to be cross-reactive with pseudorabies virus. Two monoclonal antibodies, 7-C-2 and 12-A-2, which had neutralizing activity, were reactive with the molecular weights of 72 kilo daltons (72K) and 125K of IBRV proteins electrophoretically separated, respectively. The monoclonal antibody, 3-H-3, which is corresponding to 94K of IBRV proteins, revealed no neutralizing activity. The cross-reactive monoclonal antibody, 26-2, was proved by electrophoretical analysis to be reactive with 100K of IBRV proteins and 40K of pseudorabies virus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1994

Three viral strains, causing CPE in porcine alveolar macrophage cell, were isolated from aborted fetus, serum from young pig showing blue-ear sign and lung of suspected pig, respectively. The differential diagnostic results showed no characteristics of Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV), hog cholera virus (HCV), Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV), porcine parvovirus(PPV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). However, positive reactions were demonstrated by IFA using monospecific porcine antibodies against Lelystad virus. When the paired sera of experimentally inoculated swine with one of isolate, KPRRSV-l were tested by IPMA, the result indicated that the isolate was related to United States isolate than European LV.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2003

For last five years, we are developing the novel local drug delivery devices using biodegradable polymers, especially polylactide (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) due to its relatively good biocompatibility, easily controlled biodegradability, good processability and only FDA approved synthetic degradable polymers. The relationship between various kinds of drug [water soluble small molecule drugs: gentamicin sulfate (GS), fentanyl citrate (FC), BCNU, azidothymidine (AZT), pamidronate (ADP), $1,25(OH)_2$ vitamin $D_3$, water insoluble small molecule drugs: fentanyl, ipriflavone (IP) and nifedipine, and water soluble large peptide molecule drug: nerve growth factor (NGF), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)], different types of geometrical devices [microspheres (MSs), microcapsule, nanoparticle, wafers, pellet, beads, multiple-layered beads, implants, fiber, scaffolds, and films], and pharmacological activity are proposed and discussed for the application of pharmaceutics and tissue engineering. Also, local drug delivery devices proposed in this work are introduced in view of preparation method, drug release behavior, biocompatibility, pharmacological effect, and animal studies. In conclusion, we can control the drug release profiles varying with the preparation, formulation and geometrical parameters. Moreover, any types of drug were successfully applicable to achieve linear sustained release from short period ($1{\sim}3$ days) to long period (over 2 months). It is very important to design a suitable formulation for the wanting period of bioactive molecules loaded in biodegradable polymers for the local delivery of drug. The drug release is affected by many factors such as hydrophilicity of drug, electric charge of drug, drug loading amount, polymer molecular weight, the monomer composition, the size of implants, the applied fabrication techniques, and so on. It is well known that the commercialization of new drug needs a lot of cost of money (average: over 10 million US dollar per one drug) and time (average: above 9 years) whereas the development of DDS and high effective generic drug might be need relatively low investment with a short time period. Also, one core technology of DDS can be applicable to many drugs for the market needs. From these reasons, the DDS research on potent generic drugs might be suitable for less risk and high return.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2008

Purpose : Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a relatively common hematological disease in children. It generally occurs after exposure to a common viral infection episode; however, it may occasionally follow immunization with measles, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis B (HBV), influenza, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), or chickenpox vaccines. In this study, the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcome of vaccination-associated ITP were investigated and compared with non-vaccination-associated ITP. Methods : The admission records of 105 pediatric ITP patients between 0-14 years of age admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1994 to July 2007 were retrospecitively reviewed. Patients were grouped into a vaccination-associated group and a non-vaccination-associated group according to vaccination history within the previous 1 month, and various clinical features between the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results : Thirteen patients (12%) had a preceding vaccination. Eight had received DTP vaccination, 2 had received hepatitis B, and 1 each had received influenza, MMR, and Japanese B encephalitis vaccination. However, none of the patients had a recurrent thrombocytopenia after subsequent vaccinations. In the vaccination-associated group, the age was significantly lower, anemia was more common, and the risk period with blood platelet count $<20{\times}10^9/L$ was significantly shorter than for the in non-vaccination-associated group. Also, wet purpura was less prominent and the remission within 1month was more frequently achieved in the vaccination-associated ITP group. Conclusion : Vaccination-associated ITP patients showed mild symptoms with a more benign and shorter lasting course than non-vaccination-associated ITP patients. Moreover, platelet count assessment at the time of the next immunization may not be necessary.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 1984

This paper is the result of adult female mosquito and larval collection in U.S. Army Installations in Korea from 1979 to 1983. New Jersey light traps were operated for adult collection from May to October. The primary concern of this surveillance is to determine when to recommend insecticide spraying for mosquito control in the Army areas. The 5th Preventive Medicine Unit have developed an "index" level of female mosquitoes in a light trap similar to other U.S. Army Agencies in other parts of the world. When 10 female mosquitoes are reached on two consecutive trap-night, or 5 known vector females are collected, fogging is recommended in the trap areas. 1. Mosquito collections were conducted in 12 U.S. Army areas by operating 39 New Jersey light traps. Mosquitoes collected from the areas were identified to be 17 species comprising 3 genera. Anopheles sinensis (40%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (31%), Aedes vexans nipponii (19 %) and Culex pipiens pallens (10%) appeared to be the most common species in the areas. 2. The species, population density and monthly appearance of adult mosquitoes were found to be almost the same in the all provinces involved. And Japanese Encephalitis vector mosquitoes, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, showed their seasonal fluctuation from July to September with a peak in August each year. 3. Larval habitats confirmed in the Army areas were categorized into 16 types as shown in Table 3. The mosquito larvae collected in those habitats were identified to be 15 species representing 4 genera. Most breeding sites in the Army areas were those which are activated during the wet season. 4. More mosquitoes were collected from the Kyungki Province than from the other Provinces. The reason for more collection of mosquitoes from military installations in the Kyungki Province appears to be the geographic characteristics surrounded by rice fields, marshes and other stagnant water areas.