• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1163-1167
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• 2011

Excessive alcohol consumption causes various degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Absorbed ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetaldehyde is well known as a toxicant through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, ALDH2 activity may play important roles in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced brain diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of ALDH2 enzyme activity on lipid peroxidation in brain tissues and urine of mice exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks. Five male, 8-week old Aldh2 (+/+) and Aldh2 (-/-) mice (C57BL/6J strain) in each group were exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks (2 g/kg wt./day) using gavage, and those in the control group received 0.9% saline alone. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, a marker for lipid peroxidation, was measured in whole brain tissue and urine by high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, chronic ethanol treatment did not show any statistical change on the TBARS level of brain tissue in both Aldh2 (+/+) mice and in Aldh2 (-/-) mice. However, following ethanol exposure for 8 weeks in Aldh2 (-/-) mice, the urinary TBARS levels were significantly increased to more than double compared to the pretreatment group. This result was not observed in Aldh2 (+/+) mice. These results suggest that although ALDH2 enzyme activity plays a role in the generation of ROS in the whole body, it does not seem to be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol induced degenerative brain diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.2-4
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• 1998

Proliferation of Nocardia amarae cells in activated sludge has often been associated with the generation of nuisance foams. Despite intense research activities in recent years to examine the causes and control of Nocardia foaming in activated sludge, the foaming continued to persist throughout the activated sludge treatment plants in United States. In addition to causing various operational problems to treatment processes, the presence of Nocardia may have secondary effects on the fate of heavy metals that are not well known. For example, for treatment plants facing more stringent metal removal requirements, potential metal removal by Nocardia cells in foaming activated sludge would be a welcome secondary effect. In contrast, with new viosolid disposal regulations in place (Code o( Federal Regulation No. 503), higher concentration of metals in biosolids from foaming activated sludge could create management problems. The goal of this research was to investigate the metal sorption property of Nocardia amarae cells grown in batch reactors and in chemostat reactors. Specific surface area and metal sorption characteristics of N. amarae cells harvested at various growth stages were compared. Three metals examined in this study were copper, cadmium and nickel. Nocardia amarae strain (SRWTP isolate) used in this study was obtained from the University of California at Berkeley. The pure culture was grown in 4L batch reactor containing mineral salt medium with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. In order to quantify the sorption of heavy metal ions to N amarae cell surfaces, cells from the batch reactor were harvested, washed, and suspended in 30mL centrifuge tubes. Metal sorption studies were conducted at pH 7.0 and ionlc strength of 10-2M. The sorption Isotherm showed that the cells harvested from the stationary and endogenous growth phase exhibited significantly higher metal sorption capacity than the cells from the exponential phase. The sequence of preferential uptake of metals by N. amarae cells was Cu>Cd>Ni. The specific surFace area of Nocardia cells was determined by a dye adsorption method. N.amarae cells growing at ewponential phase had significantly less specific surface area than that of stationary phase, indicating that the lower metal sorption capacity of Nocardia cells growing at exponential phase may be due to the lower specific surface area. The growth conditions of Nocardia cells in continuous culture affect their cell surface properties, thereby governing the adsorption capacity of heavy metal. The comparison of dye sorption isotherms for Nocardia cells growing at various growth rates revealed that the cell surface area increased with increasing sludge age, indicating that the cell surface area is highly dependent on the steady-state growth rate. The highest specific surface area of 199m21g was obtained from N.amarae cell harvested at 0.33 day-1 of growth rate. This result suggests that growth condition not only alters the structure of Nocardia cell wall but also affects the surface area, thus yielding more binding sites of metal removal. After reaching the steady-state condition at dilution rate, metal adsorption isotherms were used to determine the equilibrium distributions of metals between aqueous and Nocardia cell surfaces. The metal sorption capacity of Nocardia biomass harvested from 0.33 day-1 of growth rate was significantly higher than that of cells harvested from 0.5- and 1-day-1 operation, indicatng that N.amarae cells with a lower growth rate have higher sorpion capacity. This result was in close agreement with the trend observed from the batch study. To evaluate the effect of Nocardia cells on the metal binding capacity of activated sludge, specific surface area and metal sorption capacity of the mixture of Nocardia pure cultures and activated sludge biomass were determined by a series of batch experiments. The higher levels of Nocardia cells in the Nocardia-activated sludge samples resulted in the higher specific surface area, explaining the higher metal sorption sites by the mixed luquor samples containing greater amounts on Nocardia cells. The effect of Nocardia cells on the metal sorption capacity of activated sludge was evaluated by spiking an activated sludge sample with various amounts of pre culture Nocardia cells. The results of the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to the metal sorption by various mixtures of Nocardia and activated sludge indicated that the mixture containing higher Nocardia levels had higher metal adsorption capacity than the mixture containing lower Nocardia levels. At Nocardia levels above 100mg/g VSS, the metal sorption capacity of activate sludge increased proportionally with the amount of Noeardia cells present in the mixed liquor, indicating that the presence of Nocardia may increase the viosorption capacity of activated sludge.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.129-133
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• 2017

Oyster mushroom is a type of mushroom that is commonly cultivated and consumed in Korea. P. ostreatus 'Suhan' is a preferred cultivar for many mushroom farmers because it has a dark pileus and thick stipe. However, as it is very sensitive to environmental conditions, farmers consistently demand an alternative cultivar. To develop a new cultivar, the parental strains KMCC01680 ('Suhan') and KMCC00478 ('Gosol') were selected from various collected P. ostreatus strains by cultivating genetic resources. P. ostreatus 'Heuksol' was developed by the method of Mon-Mon crossing between monokaryotic strains derived from 'Suhan' and 'Gosol'. Thirty strains of 174 crossed strains were initially selected by cultivation experiments. After bulk cultivation tests, 'Heuksol' was selected. The nuclear DNA profile of 'Heuksol' was similar to those of the parental strains, 'Suhan' and 'Gosol', when RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) primers and UPF (Universal PCR Fingerprinting) 2, 3, and 4 were used. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was $30^{\circ}C$ for 'Heuksol', but medium-high temperatures were also appropriate, especially $13-20^{\circ}C$. The fruiting body production per bottle (1,100 mL) was approximately 140.8 g. When compared to the control strain 'Suhan', the thickness of the stipe of 'Heuksol' was greater than that of 'Suhan' (13.5 mm vs 9.4 mm). The pileus diameter of 'Heuksol' was similar to that of 'Suhan' and the pileus thickness of 'Heuksol' and 'Suhan' was 19.7 mm and 21.8 mm, respectively. 'Heuksol' had more a productive stipe number than 'Suhan' and the pileus of 'Heuksol' was dark gray, even at high temperatures. Therefore, it was suggested that this new cultivar, 'Heuksol', could provide an alternative to 'Suhan' and contribute to the profit of oyster mushroom farms.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2009

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) caused by the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) has an important economic impact on the poultry industry worldwide. This study examined the adjuvant effects of a plasmid encoding chicken interleukin-6 (pcDNA-ChIL-6) and levamisole (LMS) on in ovo prime-boost vaccination using a genetic vaccine (pcDNA-VP243) to prime in chicken followed by a killed-vaccine boost. A pcDNA-VP243 was injected into the amniotic sac alone or in combination with a pcDNA-ChIL-6 or LMS at embryonation day 18, followed by an intramuscular injection of killed IBD vaccine at 1 week of age. The chicken were orally challenged with very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) strain at 3 weeks of age and observed for 10 days. No mortality was observed in the groups that received the pcDNA-VP243 alone and pcDNA-VP243 plus pcDNA-ChIL-6 or LMS compared to 100% mortality in unvaccinated challenge control group. However, as determined by bursal damage (the presence of IBDV RNA, B/B ratio, and lesion score), a pcDNA-VP243 alone group was superior to pcDNA-VP243 plus pcDNA-ChIL-6 or LMS groups in the protection against post-challenge. These findings suggest that in ovo priming with genetic vaccine and boosting with killed vaccine is an effective strategy for protecting chicken against vvIBDV and the addition of pcDNA-ChIL-6 or LMS did not enhance protective immunity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.829-837
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds on cholesterol adsorption capacity and UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity. In vitro cholesterol adsorption capacity of 2%, 5% and 10% ethanol extracts from red pepper seed groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. Sprague-Dawley strain male rats weighing $100{\pm}10$ g were randomly assigned to one normal diet N group and experimental groups fed high fat and high cholesterol diet, which were divided into HF (0.0%), HEA (0.1%), HEB (0.2%), and HEC (0.5%) groups according to the amount of ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds added to their basal diet. The body weight gain in the HF group was higher than that in the N group, and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that in the HF group However, there were no statistically significant differences among the all the groups. The hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol contents in the N group was significantly lower than that in the HF group, and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that in the HF group. The hepatic UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity in the N group was lower than that of the HF group and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents of the HF group were significantly higher than that of the N group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The serum HDL-cholesterol contents in all groups supplemented with the ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds were significantly higher than that of the HF group. The serum LDL-cholesterol contents of the HF group were significantly higher than that of the N group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The fecal total cholesterol contents were significantly higher in the HF group compared to the N group, and those of the HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The fecal triglyceride contents in the N group was higher than that of the HF group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. This study suggested that the ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds have powerful health benefits by the UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity and lipid metabolism.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1989

In an attempt to investigate the effect of Hymenolepis dana infection on immunological responses to sRBC in ICR strain of mice, cellular and humoral immune responses were chronologically monitored after sensitization with sRBC. Mice weighing about 20 g were allocated into artificial and natural infection groups. The shell-free eggs of H. dana were inoculated into mice on the day 0 (initial) and day 10 in the former group, and praziquantel (25 mg/kg/day) was administered for 3 days to the one half of the mice at the 15th day after the first inoculation and to all of the mice in natural infection group. In artificial infection group, the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to sRBC was considerably decreased on the day 10 after the first inoculation, and then elevated gradually to normal. Eosinophils in the peripheral blood increased slightly. The hemagglutinin (HA) and hemolysin (HE) titers during the early stage were shown to be more or less higher than those of control. Thereafter, the titers were returned to normal, followed by a transient decrease on the day 15 post-infection. The sRBC rosette and antibody-treated rosette-forming capacities on the day 15 post.infection were temporarily lowered but became higher thereafter. The mucosal mast cells (MMC) in the small intestine were gradually increased to make a peak on the day 10 post-infection and then maintained more or less at lower level. After praziquantel treatment, the DTH and the number of eosinophils were decreased slightly and the MMC number and sRBC rosette-forming capacity were considerably decreased. The titers of HA and HE and antibody-treated rosette-forming capacity, however, were elevated in general. In natural infection group, the DTH, the number of eosinophils, and MMC which were elevated due to H. dana infection were gradually returned to normal after prasiquantel treatment. The titers of HA and HE which were decreased by parasite infection were increased to normal after the treatment. However, the capacities of sRBC rosette or antibody-treated rosette formation were maintained at low levels in spite of the treatment. These results revealed that the immune responses to sRBC were significantly activated during H. dana infection, although they were transiently decreased during the days 10~15 post-infection.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.487-501
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• 1986

Previous studies from our laboratory suggested that Korean LJP patients might habor A. actinomycetemcomitans of different serotype from Caucasian LJP patients in whom serotype b was predominant. In order to observe the prevalence and serotype distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans in localized juvenile periodontitis patients and to evaluate leukotoxic activity of oral isolates, this study was performed. A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated by using a selective medium(tryptic soy agar supplemented with 10% serum, $75{\mu}g$ of bacitracin and $5{\mu}g$ of vancomycin per ml). Using immunoabsorbed, ammonium sulfate-fractionated serotype-specific antisera, a total of 69 strains were serologically categorized by ELISA. Leukotoxicity was monitored biochemically by measuring lactate dehydrogenase indicator of cell viability in culture supernatant of PMNL plus viable A. actinomycetemcomitans mixture. The results were as follows: 1. A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected in 75% of 16 LJP patients, and 71% in the LJP lesions and 6% in the control sites. 2. Presence or absence of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the sampled disease sites has no in fluence on clinical measurements. 3. Three serotypes were approximately equally distributed in overall 9 patients. Three patients harbored 2 different serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the same disease site or different disease sites. 4. The proportion of leukotoxic oral isolates was 22% of a total of 46 strains and the prevalence was 69% in 13 sampled sites. The same disease site could harbor both leukotoxic and nonleukotoxic strains. 5. Distribution of leukotoxic strains in 3 serotypes were not different.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to obtain the basic information for the improvement of dental environment by investigating the presence of methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or VRSA) isolated from dental health care workers (DHCWs) and environment of the Chosun University Dental Hospital (CUDH) and a private dental clinic (control group). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was isolated from anterior nares of 42 DHCWS and 38 sites, unit chairss, x-ray devices, computers, etc., at 10 departments of the CUDH and 20 DHCWs and 11 sites at the private dental clinic. S. aureus was isolated on mannitol salt agar plate and confirmed by PCR with S. aureus species-specific primer. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of clinical isolates of S. aureus against several antibiotics including methicillin (oxacillin) was performed by investigating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using broth microdilution assay. In addition, PCR was performed to detect the methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant gene. The data showed that one strain of S. aureus was isolated from DHCWs of the CUDH and three strains of S. aureus was isolated from 3 samples of the private dental clinic, respectively. All of the isolates from the CUDH and the private dental clinic had resistance to penicillin G, amoxicillin and vancomycin and susceptibility to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin. The S. aureus strains were already obtained the resistance to penicillin G and amoxicillin. These results suggest that two dental clinics were under relatively safe environment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1711-1717
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• 2010

In this study, fibrinolytic activities of fermented yellow agabean (FYA) and black agabean (FBA), and the antioxidation efficiencies of 70% ethanol extract of fermented yellow agabean (FYAE) and black agabean (FBAE) were investigated by selecting Bacillus sp. sm26 strain. Fibrinolytic activities of FYA and FBA were $6.38{\pm}0.5$ and $6.83{\pm}0.5\;U/ml$, which were 1.3 and 1.4 times higher than that of FSB, respectively. With regard to total phenolic contents, FYAE and FBAE were $3.40{\pm}0.44\;mg/g$ and $2.45{\pm}0.20\;mg/g$ respectively, suggesting that their contents were about twice as high as that of fermented soybean extract (FSBE) used as a control. In comparison with FSBE, total protein and sugar contents of FYAE were $0.56{\pm}0.11$ and $2.41{\pm}0.48\;mg/g$, respectively, and those of FBAE were $0.39{\pm}0.12$ and $2.72{\pm}0.63\;mg/g$, respectively. This result suggests that FYAE was 4.7 and 1.7 times higher than FSBE, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of FBAE was 79% at 1 mg/ml, which was highest among the fermented bean extracts, and was twice as high as FSBE in regards to activity. In addition, FBAE exhibited the highest reducing power at 1 mg/ml, which was higher than FSBE by two-fold. With regard to lipid peroxidation, FBAE and FYAE were 93% and 80% at 1 mg/ml, which were 3 and 2.5 times higher than FSBE, respectively. Of note, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities of FBAE and FYAE were 82% and 54% at 1 mg/ml, offering activity that was 4 and 2.5 times higher than FSBE, respectively. Based on these results, the fibrinolytic activity and antioxidation efficiency of the fermented agabeans were significantly higher than other soybeans. Therefore, these studies may suggest that the functional agabeans can be a potential candidate for a natural functional food.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2002

Ecological studies on entomopathogenic nematodes are required to increase control efficacy against target insect pests and to obtain basic information for mass production. Thus, effect of temperature and nematode concentration on infectivity and reproduction of Steinernema carpocapsae Pocheon and that of exposure time and soil depth on infectivity were examined using Galleria mellonella larvae. Infectivity and reproduction were examined at five temperatures, 13, 18, 24, 30 and 35$^{\circ}C$ with seven concentrations, 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva. Temperature and nematode concentration influenced infectivity and reproduction of S. carpocapsae Pocheon. Although G. mellonella larvae were killed by S. carpocapsae Pocheon at all given temperatures and nematode concentrations, mortality was higher at 24$^{\circ}C$ than other temperatures. Lethal time of G. mellonella by S. carpocapsae Pocheon was shorter with increasing temperature and nematode concentrations. S. carpocapsae Pocheon was not established in G. mellonella at 13 and $35^{\circ}C$. Time for the first emergence from G. mellonella cadaver was longer $18^{\circ}C$ (about 20 days) than 24 and $30^{\circ}C$ (about 5 days). The highest number of progenies was obtained at $24^{\circ}C$ with 80IJs/1arva, i.e., $18.8$\times$10^4$IJs were produced from a larva. In the exposure time assay, G. mellonella death was recorded in 10 minutes when 300 IJs were inoculated per larva. When S. carpocapsae Pocheon was inoculated at the rate of $10^{9}$ IJs/ha to G. mellonella at the depth of 0, 2, 5 and 10 cm of sand columns, 100% mortality and similar sex ratio were observed but number of established IJs in cadaver was decreased with deepening the soil depth. The results indicated that optimum temperature for infectivity and reproduction of S. carpocapsae Pocheon was $24^{\circ}C$ In addition, S. carpocapsae Pocheon was effective to target insects within 5 cm from the soil surface.