• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.431-436
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• 2007

Stem cell-based therapy is being considered as an alternative treatment for cardiomyopathy. Hence understanding the basic molecular mechanisms of cardiomyocyte differentiation is important. Besides BMP or Wnt family proteins, $TGF-{\beta}$ family members are thought to play a role in cardiac development and differentiation. Although $TGF-{\beta}$ has been reported to induce cardiac differentiation in embryonic stem cells, the differential role of $TGF-{\beta}$ isoforms has not been elucidated. In this study, employing the DMSO-induced cardiomyocyte differentiation system using P19CL6 mouse embryonic teratocarcinoma stem cells, we investigated the $TGF-{\beta}$-induced signaling pathway in cardiomyocyte differentiation. $TGF-{\beta}1$, but not the other two isoforms of $TGF-{\beta}$, was induced at the mRNA and protein level at an early stage of differentiation, and Smad2 phosphorylation increased in parallel with $TGF-{\beta}1$ induction. Inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1$ activity with $TGF-{\beta}1$-specific neutralizing antibody reduced cell cycle arrest as well as expression of the CDK inhibitor $p21^{WAF1}$. The antibody also inhibited induction of the cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5. Taken together, these results suggest that $TGF-{\beta}1$ is involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation by regulating cell cycle progression and cardiac gene expression in an autocrine or paracrine manner.

• 대한미생물학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.115-125
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• 1985

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a debilitating disease of humans caused by Hantaan virus (HV), the prototype member of a newly proposed genus of Bunyaviridae. Studies of HV pathogenesis have been limited by the absence of a well defined model for a virus-induced disease state. In an attempt to devise a model for HV pathogenesis in laboratory rodents, newborn outbred suckling ICR mice were shown to be uniformly susceptible to lethal infection with non- mouse adapted HV by intracerebral (IC), intraperitoneal (IP), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC) inoculation routes. Clinical coures, mean time to death, and fatal outcome were age-dependent. With an inoculum of 10 $LD_{50}$, mortality was 100% in mice infected within 72h of birth, but declined to 50% by 7 days. By 2-2.5 weeks, animals developed complete resistance to clinical disease. Virus was consistently detected in serum by day 6 post-infection in IC- and IP- inoculated animals, and reached peak levels of $10^5\;PFU/ml$ by day 8 Mice infected IM and SC showed delays in onset of viremia, but achieved similar titers. Immunofluorescent antibody appeared by 17-18 days, and neutralizing antibody by 15 days, in all experimental groups. Two of 8 inbred mouse strains were identified as resistant to clinical disease : SJL/J and A/J. Manipulation of this model will allow investigation of natural rodent pathogenesis with HV, as well as offer insight into disease mechanisms and therapy of HFRS.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.50-57
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• 2015

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an important infectious swine virus causing postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). PCV2 capsid protein, encoded by ORF2 has type-specific epitopes, is very immunogenic, and is associated with the induction of neutralizing antibodies. For the efficient production of capsid protein, recombinant Autographa californica nucleopolyhedroviruses were generated to express ORF2 fused with two forms of a partial polyhedrin. Recombinant capsid protein was produced successfully with the partial polyhedrin fusion form and the yield was high, as was shown by SDS-PAGE. Production of recombinant capsid proteins in insect cells was confirmed by Western blot analysis using anti-His monoclonal antibody, anti-ORF2 monoclonal antibody, and anti-PCV2 porcine serum. Fusion expression with amino acids 19 to 110 of the polyhedrin increased the production of recombinant capsid protein, but fusion with amino acids 32 to 85 did not. Additionally, PCV2 capsid protein is a glycoprotein; however, the glycosylation of recombinant protein was not observed. The results of an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that recombinant capsid proteins could be utilized as antigens for fast, large-scale diagnosis of PCV2-infected pigs. Our results suggest that the fusion expression of partial polyhedrin is able to increase the production of recombinant PCV2 capsid protein in insect cells.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2004

Endothellial cells are subjected to hemodynamic shear stress, the dragging force generated by blood flow. Shear stress regulates endothelial cell shape, structure, and function, including gene expression. Since endothelial cells must be anchored to their extracellular matrices(ECM) for their survival and growth, we hypothesized that ECMs are crucial for shear-dependent activation of extracellular signalactivated regulated kinase(ERK) that is important for cell proliferation. Shear stress-dependent activation of ERK was observed in cells plated on two different matrices, fibronectin and vitronectin(the two most physiologically relevant ECM in endothelial cells). We then treated bovine aortic endothelial cells(BAECs) with Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD) peptides that block the functional activation of integrin binding to fibronectin and vitronectin, and a nonfunctional peptide as a control. Treatment of cells with the RGD peptides, but not the control peptide, significantly inhibited ERK activity in a concentration-dependent manner. This supports the idea that integrin adhesion to the ligands, fibronectin and vitronectin, mediates shear stress-dependent activation of ERK. Subsequently, whereas antagonists of vitronectin(LM 609, an antibody for integrin ${\alpha}_{\gamma}$/${\beta}_3$ and XT 199, an antagonist specific for integrin ${\alpha}_{\gamma}$/${\beta}_3$) did not have any effect on shear-dependent activation of ERK, antagonists of fibronectin(a neutralizing antibody for integrin ${\alpha}_5$/${\beta}_1$or ${\alpha}_4$${\beta}_1$ and SM256) had an inhibitory effect. These results clearly demonstrate that mechanoactivation of ERK requires anchoring of endothelial cells to fibronectin through integrins.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2000

Since $Hantavax^{TM}$, formalin inactivated Hantaan virus vaccine (10,240 ELISA units/ml), has been developed in 1990 to prevent against haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan or Seoul virus, it has been commercially available in Korea. Twenty-one healthy people were booster shot once and twice after primary basic vaccination with $Hantavax^{TM}$. Seroconversion rates were measured by immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high density composite particle agglutination (HDPA), and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Seroconversion rates of 21 vaccinees at one year after primary basic vaccination were 52.3%, 95.2%, 0.0%, 47.6%, and 28.6%, and 13 vaccinees at one month after 1st booster vaccination were 100%, 100%, 30.7%, 100% and 100% by IFAT, ELISA (IgG, IgM), HDPA and PRNT, respectively. Seroconversion rates declined slightly by twenty months, and they were 84.6%, 92.3%, 0.0%, 84.6% and 69.2% by IFAT, ELISA (IgG, IgM), HDPA and PRNT, respectively. Seroconversion rates of 9 vaccinees at three months after 2nd booster vaccination were 100%, 100%, 0.0%, 100%, and 88.9%, and 16 vaccinees at one year after the 2nd booster vaccination were 87.5%, 93.8%, 0.0%, 87.5% and 81.3% by IFAT, ELISA (IgG, IgM), HDPA and PRNT, respectively. Based on the above result $Hantavax^{TM}$ has proved a vigorous anamnestic response after the 1st and the 2nd booster vaccination and has persisted higher fluorescence, agglutination and neutralizing antibody titers in vaccinees.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.311-323
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• 2005

This study tested the effect of a trivalent (feline panleukopenia; FPV, feline viral rhinotracheitis; FHV, feline calicivirus infection; FCV) inactivated vaccine in cats. The vaccine was tested for the safety in guinea pigs, mice and cats. Also, it was tested for the efficacy in cats. The vaccine was inoculated to cats at 7~9 and 10~12 weeks of age (conventional schedule) and the serological response to vaccination was assessed and was compared to the unvaccinated group. All cats were bled by jugular venipuncture for FPV, FHV and FCV specific serological test (virus neutralizing antibody, VN) at 7~9, 10~12 and 13~15 weeks. After last bleeding, all cats were inoculated with each virus (FPV : orally $2ml\;10^{7.5}\;TCID_{50}/ml$, FHV : nasally $1ml\;10^{7.0}\;TCID_{50}/ml$ and FCV : nasally $1ml\;10^{7.0}\;TCID_{50}/ml$). The Vaccine verified excellent protective effect in guinea pigs, mice and cats. The VN antibody titers of the unvaccinated group cats against FPV, FHV and FCV were <2~16, on the other hand the vaccinated group cats were $512{\sim}{\geq}4096$, 64~1024 and 64~1024, respectively. When all cats were challenged with virulent viruses, the survival rates of the vaccinated group cats were over 80%, while the survival rates of the unvaccinated group cats were less 20%. The typical clinical signs were not observed in the vaccinated group cats, but the typical clinical signs and histopathological lesions were observed in the unvaccinated group cats. As the result of tests, the VN values obtained in this study appeared to be high enough to protect cats from viral challenges. The trivalent (FPV, FHV, and FCV) inactivated vaccine seemed to be very effective, for prevention of feline viral diseases (FPV, FHV, and FCV).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권7호
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• pp.1336-1344
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• 2017

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With recent identification of HBV receptor, inhibition of virus entry has become a promising concept in the development of new antiviral drugs. To date, 10 HBV genotypes (A-J) have been defined. We previously generated two murine anti-preS1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), KR359 and KR127, that recognize amino acids (aa) 19-26 and 37-45, respectively, in the receptor binding site (aa 13-58, genotype C). Each mAb exhibited virus neutralizing activity in vitro, and a humanized version of KR127 effectively neutralized HBV infection in chimpanzees. In the present study, we constructed a humanized version (HzKR359-1) of KR359 whose antigen binding activity is 4.4-fold higher than that of KR359, as assessed by competitive ELISA, and produced recombinant preS1 antigens (aa 1-60) of different genotypes to investigate the binding capacities of HzKR359-1 and a humanized version (HzKR127-3.2) of KR127 to the 10 HBV genotypes. The results indicate that HzKR359-1 can bind to five genotypes (A, B, C, H, and J), and HzKR127-3.2 can also bind to five genotypes (A, C, D, G, and I). The combination of these two antibodies can bind to eight genotypes (A-D, G-J), and to genotype C additively. Considering that genotypes A-D are common, whereas genotypes E and F are occasionally represented in small patient population, the combination of these two antibodies might block the entry of most virus genotypes and thus broadly neutralize HBV infection.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2002

HIV-1의 envelope glycoprotein은 중화항체에 의한 체액성 면역반응의 중요한 target으로 surface glycoprotein인 gp120과 transmembrane glycoprotein인 gp41로 이루어져 있다. gp120과 gp41의 ectodomain으로 이루어진 gp140 유전자를 PCR의 방법으로 증폭하고 Semliki Forest virus(SFV) 유래 expression system을 이용하여 mammalian 세포에서 발현하였다. 발현된 gp140은 natural HIV-1에서와 같이 oligomer를 형성하였다. 발현된 gp140을 정제하여 BALB/c 마우스에 접종하여 항체가 형성되었음을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.817-826
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• 2018

The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a central humoral immune organ unique to birds. Four bursal peptides (BP-I, BP-II, BP-III, and BP-IV) have been isolated and identified from the BF. In this study, the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV were examined in mice immunized with H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) vaccine. The results suggested that BP-I effectively enhanced cell-mediated immune responses, increased the secretion of Th1 (interferon gamma)- and Th2 (interleukin-4)-type cytokines, and induced an improved cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to the H9N2 virus. BP-II mainly elevated specific antibody production, especially neutralizing antibodies, and increased Th1- and Th2-type cytokine secretion. BP-III had no significant effect on antibody production or cell-mediated immune responses compared to those in the control group. A strong immune response at both the humoral and cellular levels was induced by BP-IV. Furthermore, a virus challenge experiment followed by H&E staining revealed that BP-I and BP-II promoted removal of the virus and conferred protection in mouse lungs. BP-IV significantly reduced viral titers and histopathological changes and contributed to protection against H9N2 AIV challenge in mouse lungs. This study further elucidated the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV, providing a novel insight into immunoadjuvants for use in vaccine design.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.1335-1343
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• 2022

COVID-19 is an emerging disease that poses a severe threat to global public health. As such, there is an urgent demand for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Here, we describe a virus-like nanoparticle candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 produced by an E. coli expression system. The fusion protein of a truncated ORF2-encoded protein of aa 439~608 (p170) from hepatitis E virus CCJD-517 and the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 were expressed, purified and characterized. The antigenicity and immunogenicity of p170-RBD were evaluated in vitro and in Kunming mice. Our investigation revealed that p170-RBD self-assembled into approximately 24 nm virus-like particles, which could bind to serum from vaccinated people (p < 0.001) and receptors on cells. Immunization with p170-RBD induced the titer of IgG antibody vaccine increased from 14 days post-immunization and was significantly enhanced after a booster immunization at 28 dpi, ultimately reaching a peak level on 42 dpi with a titer of 4.97 log₁₀. Pseudovirus neutralization tests showed that the candidate vaccine induced a strong neutralizing antibody response in mice. In this research, we demonstrated that p170-RBD possesses strong antigenicity and immunogenicity and could be a potential candidate for use in future SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development.