• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.126-130
• /
• 1998

A noninsecticidal strain, Bacillus thuringiensis NTB-88, isolated from Korean soil, had a typical bipyramidal parasporal inclusion and its serotype is identical to B. thuringiensis subspmorrisoni (H8a8b). To elucidate differences between insecticidal and noninsecticidal strains, we compared strain NTB-88 to other toxic B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni strains (HD-12 and PG-14). Restriction endonucleases digested plasmid DNA patterns showed that strain NTB-88 was different from lepidopteran-toxic strain, HD-12, but it was similar to dipteran-toxic strain, PG-14. The gene type of strain NTB-88 was different from those of other insecticidal strains, Furthermore, the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of crystal protein of strain NTB-88 had no relation to those of the previously known $\delta$-endotoxins in other toxic strains as well as HD-12 and PG-14 strains. Therefore, the noninsecticidal crystal protein in strain NTB-88 is novel and its property is different from insecticidal ones.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2015

The skin exposure to solar irradiation and photoreactive xenobiotics may produce abnormal skin reaction, phototoxicity. Phototoxicity is an acute light-induced response, which occurs when photoreacive chemicals are activated by solar lights and transformed into products cytotoxic against the skin cells. Multifarious symptoms of phototoxicity are identified, skin irritation, erythema, pruritis, and edema that are similar to those of the exaggerated sunburn. Diverse organic chemicals, especially drugs, are known to induce phototoxicity, which is probably from the common possession of UV-absorbing benzene or heterocyclic rings in their molecular structures. Both UVB (290~320 nm) and UVA (320~400 nm) are responsible for the manifestation of phototoxicity. Absorption of photons and absorbed energy (hv) by photoactive chemicals results in molecular changes or generates reactive oxygen species and depending on the way how endogenous molecules are affected by phototoxicants, mechanisms of phototoxcity is categorized into two modes of action: Direct when unstable species from excited state directly react with the endogenous molecules, and indirect when endogeneous molecules react with secondary photoproducts. In order to identify phototoxic potential of a chemical, various test methods have been introduced. Focus is given to animal alternative test methods, i.e., in vitro, and in chemico assays as well as in vivo. 3T3 neutral red uptake assay, erythrocyte photohemolysis test, and phototoxicity test using human 3-dimensional (3D) epidermis model are examples of in vitro assays. In chemico methods evaluate the generation of reactive oxygen species or DNA strand break activity employing plasmid for chemicals, or drugs with phototoxic potential.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2000

Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), a chronic enteritis produced by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, affects a large proportion of ruminants in all continents and causes important economic losses. The identification of well-characterized and species-specific components of M paratuberculosis would provide the means to improve the specificity and sensitivity of immunodiagnostic assays for Johne's disease. The aims of this study were to express the recombinant C-terminal of 34kDa protein (rC34P) of M paratuberculosis in E coli and to investigate the effectiveness of this protein in detecting antibodies to the native protein in sera from paratuberculosis infected cattle. The C-terminal of the gene encoding the 34kDa protein was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from the chromosomal DNA of M paratuberculosis (ATCC 19698) and cloned into vector pGEX-4T-2. Then, cloned plasmid was transformed into E coli DH5${\alpha}$ and the rC34P was overexpressed. The rC34P was purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration. The rC34P was examined antigenicity by Western blot. The rC34P was reactive with culture positive bovine serum and hyperimmune rabbit anti-M paratuberculosis serum but was not reactive with culture negative bovine serum and tuberculin positive bovine serum in Western blot. In conclusion, the rC34P produced in this study is expected as a useful candidate for antigen in serological diagnosis of Johne's disease.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 1999

Shigella sonnez is important causes of human enleric infcctions. S. sonnei KNIH104S was isolated from patient of shigellosis in Korea and previously reported. We cloned 1.7 kb BamHI fragment containing the asd gene encoding an aspartate $\beta$-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from chromosomal DNA of S. sonnei KNIH104S. This recombinant plasmid was named as pSAB17. E. coli $\chi$6097, an a d mutant, cannol grow on the LB medium without DL-$\alpha$, $\varepsilon$-diaminopimclic acid (50 pgiml) but E. coli x 6097(pSAB17) can grow on the same medium. We sequenccd the asd gene ol Shigella for the first time. The asd gcne was composed of 1,104 base pairs with ATG initiation codon and TAA termination codon. Sequence comparison of the asd gene exhibited 99.9% nucleolide sequence hornology with that of E. coli. Also, We constructed the balanced-lethal vector using pBluescrip SK(+) and asd gene of S. sonnei KNIH104S.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.144-150
• /
• 1996

During growth of the genetically engineered E. coli CU103 in different media, extracellular DNAs released from the cells were studied. The extracellular DNAs released in the medium were concentrated by an thanol precipitation method and then quantified by a fluorescence method using Hoechst 33258. The released extracellular DNAs were also examined by gel electrophoresis and identified by Southern hybridization for the cloned pcbCD genes. The chromosomal DNAs and recombinant plasmid containing the cloned genes were observed to be released in an exponential growth phase. In Luria-Bertani (LB) broth and MM2-GLUCOSE, 210 and 69 ng/ml of DNAs were detected, respectively, after 3-4 days incubation at $30^{\circ}C$ and at pH 7.0. But the released DNAs were measured to be about 10-15 ng/ml in filtered river water (FW) and Tris-EDTA (TE). The at both $15^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, but the released DNAs were more easily degraded at the higher temperature. The extracellular DNAs were produced about 2 times more at pH 7.0 than at both pH 5.0 and pH 9.0 in MM2-glucose medium at $30^{\circ}C$. Therefore, the extracellular DNAs were found to be released actively from the cells during growth in liquid media.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.392-396
• /
• 1991

Mu d1(Ap lac) bacteriophage can be used to search for genes which are members of a common regulatory network without having to know the functions of the genes in advance. Aim was for obtaining the loci in the SOS network as well as temperature inducible loci. For this purpose, recA441 allele was used. This allele encodes a thermosensitive recA gene product; thus, the recA441 allele can be activated upon temperature upshift without by external DNA damage. Approximately 10, 000 colonies were screened, and then searched for the colonies which expressed .betha.-galactosidase higher level at 42.deg.C than at 30.deg.C. The strains identified fell into two dlasses; (i) ones in which the increased expression was $recA^{+}$ $lexA^{+}$ -dependent, that is, din(damage-inducible) genes which were due to the activation of recA441 allele and (ii) ones in which the increased expression was $recA^{+}$ $lexA^{+}$ -independent and only temperature-inducible, tin genes. Rough mapping position was obtained for these genes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2001

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium that causes the disease anthrax. The anthrax toxin contains three components, including the protective antigen (PA), which binds to eucaryotic cell surface receptors and mediates the transport of toxins into the cell. In this study, the entire 2,294-nucleotide protective antigen gene (pag) was sequenced from 4 of B. anthracis strains to identify potential variation in the toxin and to further our understanding of B. anthracis evolution in Korea. Sequence alignment of the entire PA gene from 30 strains representative of the four B. anthracis diversity groups revealed mutations. The mutation of B. anthracis BAK are located adjacent to a highly antigenic region crossing the junction between PA domains 3 and 4 shown to be critical to LF binding. The different mutational combinations observed in this study give rise to 11 PA genotypes and 4PA phenotypes. Three-dimensional analysis of all the amino acid changes (Ala to Val) observed in BAK indicated that these changes are not only close sequentially but also very close in three-dimensional space to the antigenic region importan tfor LF binding. Phylogenetic (cladistic) analysis of the pag corresponded with previous strain grouping based on chromosomal variation, suggesting that plasmid evolution in B. anthracis has occurred with little or no horizontal transfer between the different strains.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.189-197
• /
• 2006

Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary hormone involved in various physiological processes, including lactation, mammary development, and immune function. To further investigate the in vivo and comparative endocrine roles of PRL, mouse PRL cDNA fused to the cytomegalovirus promoter, was introduced into muscle by direct injection. Previously we studied the function of rat PRL using the same protocol. PRL mRNA was detected in the muscle following injection by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern blot analysis. PRL was also detected and Western blot analysis revealed a relatively high level of serum PRL. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected female mice, the estrous cycle was extended, especially in diestrus stage and the uterus thickening that was shown in normal estrous stage was not observed. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected male mice, new blood vessels were first found at 5 weeks of age and fully developed blood vessels were found after 8 weeks in the testis. The number of Leydig cells increased within the testis and the testosterone level in serum was observed high. Finally, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) increased in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. The augmentation of WBCs persisted for at least 20 days after injection. When injection was combined with adrenalectomy, there was an even greater increase in number of WBCs, especially lymphocytes. This increase was returned normal by treatment with dexamethansone. Taken together, our data reveal that intramuscularly expressed mouse PRL influences reproductive functions in female, induces formation of new blood vessels in the testis, and augments WBC numbers. Of notice is that the Leydig cell proliferation with increased testosterone was conspicuously observed in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. These results also suggest subtle difference in function of PRL between mouse and rat species.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.38 no.sup2
• /
• pp.335-342
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) considered as a key factor of localized aggressive periodontitis, endocarditis, meningitis, and osteomyelitis is composed of five open reading frames (ORFs). Among of them, the individual role of CdtA and CdtC is not clear; several reports presents that CDT is an AB2 toxin and they enters the host cell via clathrin-coated pits or through the interaction with GM3 ganglioside. So, CdtA, CdtC, or both seem to be required for the delivery of the CdtB protein into the host cell. Moreover, recombinant CDT was suggested as good vaccine material and antibody against CDT can be used for neutralization or for a detection kit. Materials and Methods: We constructed the pET28a-cdtC plasmid from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Y4 by genomic DNA PCR and expressed in BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli system. We obtained the antibody against the recombinant CdtC in mice system. Using the anti-CdtC antibody, we test the native CdtC detection by ELISA and Western Blotting and confirm the expression time of native CdtC protein during the growth phase of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Results: In this study we reconstructed CdtC subunit of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 and generated the anti CdtC antibody against recombinant CdtC subunit expressed in E. coli system. Our anti CdtC antibody can be interacting with recombinant CdtC and native CDT in ELISA and Western system. Also, CDT holotoxin existed at 24h but not at 48h meaning that CDT holotoxin was assembled at specific time during the bacterial growth. Conclusion: In conclusion, we thought that our anti CdtC antibody could be used mucosal adjuvant or detection kit development, because it could interact with native CDT holotoxin.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.123-127
• /
• 2003

Sphingomonas chungbukensis DJ77 is able to metabolize phenanthrene as the sole carbon and energy source. The plasmid pUPX5 includes phnS gene encoding 2-hydroxychromene-2-carboxylate (HCCA) isomerase, which is needed for phenanthrene and naphthanene degradation. We determined the nucleotide sequence of DNA fragment of 3271 bp which included the phnS gene. The fragment included an open reading frame of 594 bp which has ATG initiation codon and TAA termination codon and GGAA ribosomal binding site. The predicted amino acid sequence of the enzyme consists of 198 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the phnS enzyme exhibited 94％ identity with that of the corresponding enzyme in Sphingomonas aromaticivorans F199. The phnS gene is located downstream and in the same operon as phnQ and phnR, encoding a 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase and a ferredoxin component of biphenyl dioxygenase, respectively.