• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2006

The rabbit pyrogen test and Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay have been used to detect endotoxins present in vaccines. Currently, the rabbit pyrogen test is used to detect endotoxins in hepatitis B (HB) vaccines, even though the HB surface protein, which is the active ingredient, is overexpressed in and purified from eukaryotic cells that lack these endotoxins. Although the LAL clot assay is sensitive and reliable and can be used to replace the rabbit pyrogen test, its reaction is limited by the lack of responsiveness to the Gram-positive bacterial components. Furthermore, aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine can interfere with the LAL assay. In contrast, macrophages can detect the endotoxin as well as other pyrogens, and secrete $TNF-{\alpha}$. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the possibility of replacing the animal tests with a more efficient $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. With this in mind, we determined if aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccines affects the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. HB vaccines and the HB protein solutions spiked with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced the same level of dose-dependent $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion and temperature increase in rabbits, indicating that aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine does not interfere with the pyrogenic response in rabbits, nor does it interfere with $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion. In addition, the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay was found to be more sensitive than the LAL assay, and correlated well with the pyrogen test and the LAL assay. These results suggest that the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay in RAW264.7 cells is a good substitute for the current pyrogen assays that are used for detecting LPS in HB vaccines as well as in other vaccines containing aluminum.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.429-433
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• 2003

LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate) test to detect and quantity endotoxin is based on gellation reaction between endotoxin and LAL from a blood extract of Limulus polyphemus. The test is labor intensive requiring dedicated personnel, takes relatively long reaction time (approximately 1 hr), requires relatively large volume of samples and reagents, and its end-point detection method is rather subjective. To solve these problems, we attempted to develop a miniaturized LOC (lab-on-a-chip) prototype using PDMS and glass. Using the 62 mm (length) ${\times}$ 18 mm (width) prototype in which 2 mm (width) ${\times}$ 44.34 mm (length) ${\times}$ 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ (depth) microfluidic channel was provided, we compared the various detection methods of gellation, turbidometric, and chromogenic assays to find the chromogenic method to be the most suitable for small volume assay. In this assay, kinetic point method was more accurate than end point method. We also found the PDMS chip thickness should be minimized to around 2 mm to allow sufficient light transmittance, which necessitated a glass slide bonding for chip rigidity. Through the miniaturization, the test time was reduced from 1 hr to less than 10 minutes, and the sample volume could be reduced from 100 ${\mu}\ell$ to 4.4 ${\mu}\ell$. In sum, this study revealed that the mini LOC could be an alternative for a semi-automated and reliable method for LAL test.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2004

The LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate) test for the detection and quantification of endotoxin is based on the gelation reaction between endotoxin and LAL from a blood extract of Limulus polyphemus. The test is labor intensive, requiring dedicated personnel, a relatively long reaction time (approximately 1 h), relatively large volumes of samples and reagents and the detection of the end-point is rather subjective. To solve these problems, a miniaturized LOC (lab-on-a-chip) prototype, 62mm (L) ${\times}$ 18 mm (W), was fabricated using PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) bonded to glass. Using this prototype, in which 2mm (W) ${\times}$ 44.3mm (L) ${\times}$ 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ (D) microfluidic channel was constructed, turbidometric and chromogenic assay detection methods were compared, and the chromogenic method was found the most suitable for a small volume assay. In this assay, the kinetic-point method was more accurate than the end-point method. The PDMS chip thickness was found to be minimized to around 2 mm to allow sufficient light transmittance, which necessitated the use of a glass slide bonding for chip rigidity. Due to this miniaturization, the test time was reduced from 1 h to less than 10 min, and the sample volume could be reduced from 100 to ca. 4.4 ${\mu}$L. In summation, this study suggested that the LOC using the LAL test principle could be an alternative as a semi-automated and reliable method for the detection of endotoxin.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.14.1-14.6
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• 2015

Antioxidative and free radical scavenging properties of different stem extracts of Euphorbia trigona were evaluated and correlated with its total phenolic content. Aqueous, acetone and methanolic extracts of shade dried stem were obtained and were concentrated in vacuo. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of stem extracts was determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power assay, deoxyribose degradation assay and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating assay. Total phenolic contents (TPC) were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The results confirmed that the plant is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds which are invariably higher compared to other herbs. All extracts showed TPC in the range of 146.6 - 168.6 mg/g gallic acid equivalents at $300{\mu}g/ml$ of extract. Among the three extracts ME showed highest scavenging activity as evidenced by maximum scavenging of DPPH (83.2%), $OH{\bullet}$ radicals (94.81%), $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity (88.59%) and a high reducing power 0.623 at $300{\mu}g/ml$. Our results demonstrate that Euphorbia trigona, an unexplored xerophytic plant could be potential source of natural antioxidants and phytotherapeutic agents. The plant possess invariably high amount of polyphenolic compounds with a broad spectrum of antioxidant properties and could be further used for food, feed and pharmaceutical applications.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.109-112
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• 2020

To evaluate the safety of bacteriophages for application of sanitizer, endotoxin content and cell cytotoxicity of two Escherichia coli and four Staphylococcus aureus phages were determined. Endotoxin ratio was determined by the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay as a test for representative biological endotoxin content. The average endotoxin average content of the 9 log PFU/mL lysate was 18.6 EU/mL and that of the 10 log PFU/mL lysate was 5.9 EU/mL, suggesting that the phage lysate was not suitable for clinical applications, but suitable for food pathogen control applications. To confirm the cell cytotoxicity of the phage lysates, MTT assay was performed using Raw 264.7 cells treated with 9 log PFU/mL phages. Results of the assay indicated that the phage lysates did not significantly decrease the cell viability (p>0.05). These results indicated that bacteriophages would be suitable as a food safety sanitizer.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

For the better success of biomedical implant surgery, we used a modified solution combustion method to synthesize Hydroxyapatite (HA) and Chromium ($Cr^{3+}$) modified Cr-HA with different concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5. The Cr-HA nanopowder was characterized by TGA, XRD, SEM-EDS and TEM. The HA and Cr-HA powders were subjected to in vitro biological studies to determine their biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cytotoxicity of HA and Cr-HA were evaluated on Hela (Cervical cancer) cells and L929 (mouse fibroblast) cells by using MTT assay. Hemocompatibility studies demonstrated a noticeable haemolytic ratio below 5%, which confirms that these materials are compatible in nature with human blood. The results of the present work confirm that the synthesised HA and Cr-HA are biocompatible and can be extensively used in the biomedical field to improve overall material biological properties.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host. This study was conducted for the isolation of potential lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic properties from goat milk and yogurt. Several tests were conducted in vitro using the standard procedures for evaluating the inhibitory spectra of LAB against pathogenic bacteria; tolerance to NaCl, bile salt, and phenol; hemolytic, milk coagulation, and bile salt hydrolase activities; gastrointestinal transit tolerance; adhesion properties; and antibiotic susceptibility. Among 40 LAB strains screened according to culture characteristics, five isolates exhibited antagonistic properties. Three were identified as Pediococcus acidilactici, and two were identified as Enterococcus faecium, exploiting 16S rRNA gene sequencing. All the isolates succeeded in the gastrointestinal transit tolerance assay and successively colonized mucosal epithelial cells. Based on the results of these in vitro assays, both P. acidilactici and E. faecium can be considered as potential probiotic candidates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.132-135
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• 2003

Endotoxin concentrations were measured from 69 point-of-use(POU) water treatment system(WTS) by using Limulus amebocyte lysate(LAL) assay, and the results were compared to heterotrophic bacterial data. Endotoxin concentrations in all POU WTS water samples and tap waters varied within the range 0.8-79.1EU mL$\^$-1/ and 0.1-3.4EU mL$\^$-1/, respectively, The correlations between endotoxin concentration and HPC bacteria from the water samples showed not significant(r=0.18).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.156-158
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• 2009

Purpose: Since radiopharmaceuticals are intended for human administration, it is imperative that we should undergo quality control very strictly. Now almost all the PET laboratories have adopted Bacterial Endotoxin Test as the stand quality control method to monitor whether pyrogen is free or not in the product vial containing crude solution. The aim of this study is to find out the reason why false positive result is observed when using commercially available test vial. Materials and Methods: For this experiment, we used commercially available single test kit (Associates of Cape Code. Inc. USA) and we made pH samples by mixing each buffer whose pH ranges are 1.0 to 12.0. Otherwise we made Ethanol samples diluted with distilled water. After making test samples, it added 0.2 mL to the test vial. Assay mixture in the test vial was incubated in a water bath (Chang Shin Co. KOR) for 60 min at $35{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. Results: After incubation period ($60{\pm}1^{\circ}C$), we inverted the test vial about $180^{\circ}$ To know what pH and how many percentage of Ethanol (Fisher Scientific Korea. Ltd) will affect the reaction. With pH buffer, false positive result was observed at pH 1.0 to 5.0 and 7.7 to 12.6 but at pH 5.2 to.7.5, the test results show negative. It's very strange that we couldn't observe negative test result with Tris buffer at pH 8.4, 8.6, 8.8, 9.0. in other case Ethanol, the test result was seen with 5 to 10% Ethanol. But to my surprise we could see very thick gel formation with 100% Ethanol. Conclusions: In this study, we could notice that pH which is too much acidic or alkalic or high concentrated Ethanol would affect Bacterial Endotoxin Test result. As you know, LAL test is sensitive and very reliable method. Therefore, we are needed to elicit the accurate test result as possible as we can.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1282-1289
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• 2020

Previously, we performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome. Antimicrobial peptide candidates were selected using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. It was found that periplanetasin-5 had antimicrobial activity against yeast and gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activities of periplanetasin-5 in mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. No cytotoxicity was observed at 60 ㎍/ml periplanetasin-5, and treatment decreased nitric oxide production in Raw264.7 cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that periplanetasin-5 reduced cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. Periplanetasin-5 controlled inflammation by inhibiting phosphorylation of MAPKs, an inflammatory signaling element, and reducing the degradation of IκB. Through LAL assay, LPS toxicity was found to decrease in a periplanetasin-5 dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these data showed that periplanetasin-5 had anti-inflammatory activities, exemplified in LPS-exposed Raw264.7 cells. Thus, we have provided a potentially useful antibacterial peptide candidate with anti-inflammatory activities.