• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2024

This study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of virus and viroid infections on the growth of trees and the attributes of fruit quality in 'Hongro' apples. Trials were initiated using virus-infected, viroid-infected, combined virus/viroid-infected, and uninfected apple trees in an experimental apple orchard at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in 2019. The growth of each tree was measured annually and compared between virus-free and virus/viroid-infected trees. Fruits were harvested from all apple trees, and selected attributes of fruit quality, including yield, weight, firmness, titratable acidity, and anthocyanin content, were determined in September 2021-2022. The results revealed significant differences among virus-free trees and those infected with either virus, viroid, or a combination of virus and viroid. Infection with viral and viroid diseases led to reductions in tree height (14.0%), trunk area (23.1%), fruit yield (65.0%), fruit weight (34.4%), and anthocyanin content (39.8%), while increasing fruit firmness (33.2%) and titratable acidity (39.8%), respectively. We anticipate that our research findings will also be beneficial for apple virus and viroid disease control, as well as apple cultivation management.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 1997

The identification of serum HBV DNA is very important for the assessment of the disease activity in persistent infection, for the evaluation of the infectivity of an individuals blood. The dot blot, however, has limited sensitivity and sometimes inconsistent with other serological markers and clinical settings. Using the most important recent advance in molecular biology, the polymerase chain reaction(PCR), specific DNA sequences can be amplified more than a million-fold in a few hours and with this technique the detection of the extreme low level of DNA is possible. This study was to determine sensitivity of the PCR for the detection of serum HBV DNA in comparison with dot blot analysis and to investigate the serum HBV DNA status and clinical significance of PCR in patients with chronic HBsAg positive liver disease. The subjects of this study were 17 patients with asymptomatic HBsAg carriers(9 HBeAg positive patients, 8 anti-HBe positive patients), 91 chronic hepatitis B(50 HBeAg positive patients, 41 anti-HBe positive patients), 57 liver cirrhosis(21 HBeAg positive patients, 36 anti-HBe positive patients), 27 hepatocellular carcinoma(10 HBeAg positive patients, 17 anti-HBe positive patients). The results were summerized as following; The detection rates of HBV DNA by dot blot, PCR were 58.9%, 72.2% in HBeAg positive patients, 34.3%, 53.9% in anti-HBe positive patients. The detection rates of HBV DNA by PCR in HBeAg negative patients were 25.0% in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, 61.0% in chronic hepatitis B, 52.8% in liver cirrhosis, 52.9% in hepatocellular carcinoma. The positive rate for HBV DNA is a significant difference between HBeAg positive and negative asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, but not significantly difference in other groups. In conclusions, this study confirmed that the PCR is much more sensitive than the dot blot analysis in detecting the HBV DNA in the sera of patients with chronic liver disease. The presence of HBV DNA in the serum was detected by PCR with higher sensitivity and it suggested that active viral replication is still going on in most patients with chronic HBsAg positive liver disease irrespective of HBeAg/anti-HBe status, and PCR may be used as a prognostic factor in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.162-174
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• 1997

Background : Metabolic cooperation via gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is an important mechanism of the bystander effect in gene therapy using the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSVtk) "prodrug" system. Since retinoids have been reported to increase GJIC by induction of connexin 43 expression, we hyporthesized that treatment of tumor cells with retinoic acid could augment the bystander effect of the HSVtk/GCV system and result in improved tumor cell killing by enhancing GJIC. Methods : We transferred HSVtk gene to SKHep-J cell line that does not express connexin43, and also transferred the gene to human and murine mesothelioma cell lines that express connexin43. We verified that retinoic acid enhanced GJIC utilizing a functional double-dye transfer study and evaluated the effects of retinoic acid on the growth rate of tumor cells. We then tested the effects of retinoic acid on bystander-mediated cell killing. Results : Addition of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) increased GJIC in cell lines expressing connexin 43 and was asspciated with more efficient in vitro bystander killing in cells transduced with HSVtk via adenoviral and retroviral vectors. In contrast, there was no increase in the efficiency of the bystander effect after exposure to RA in a cell line which had no delectable connexin 43. Conclusion : These results provide evidence that retinoids can augment the efficiency of cell killing with the HSVtk/GCV system by enhancing bystander effect and may thus be a promising new approach to improve responses in gene therapy utilizing the HSVtk system to treat tumors.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.456-458
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reference value for electrocardiogram in healthy captive raccoon dogs. Forty-one free-ranging adult raccoon dogs rescued from Wildlife rescue centre, Kangwon National University were enrolled in this study. The 6-lead electrocardiogram was obtained in all raccoon dogs without any chemical restraints. The mean heart rate was $146.10{\pm}43.31$ beats/min (95% confidence interval 132.84~159.36 beats/min). The mean respiration rate was $35.73{\pm}11.56$ breaths/min (95% confidence interval 32.19~39.27 breaths/min). The mean systolic blood pressure was $136{\pm}29.26$ mmHg (95% confidence interval 127.99~145.91 mmHg). Electrocardiographical features were also evaluated in all raccoon dogs. The mean duration and amplitude of P-wave were $38.2{\pm}4.0$ ms (range 28-40 ms) and $0.128{\pm}0.039$ mV (range 0.09~0.20). The mean duration and amplitude of QRS complexes were $48.5{\pm}7.2ms$ (range 36-60 ms) and $1.330{\pm}0.650$ mV (range 0.15~2.30). The range of the mean electrical (QRS) axis was $-91^{\circ}{\sim}+96^{\circ}$ ($10^{\circ}{\sim}60^{\circ}$; 95% of confidence interval). The mean corrected QT (QTc) interval was $273.7{\pm}32.7ms$ (range 212-333 ms), while the mean PR interval was $76.1{\pm}10.0ms$ (range 50-82 ms). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to provide references in electrocardiogram (ECG) in healthy captive raccoon dogs.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate a new rapid diagnostic kit (BIOLINE $RSV^{TM}$; Standard Diagnostics Inc., Yongin, Korea), a lateral-flow immunoassay, in the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from the nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) of children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in comparison with other diagnostic methods. Methods : Three hundred and nineteen NPAs were selected from a large pool of NPAs that had been obtained from children with LRTIs. All specimens had already been tested for RSV by culture and immunofluorescent (IF) test, and had been kept frozen. Tests with BIOLINE $RSV^{TM}$ were performed at least twice. All who conducted the experiments or interpreted the test results were blinded to the results of both culture and IF tests. Results : One hundred seven (97.3%) of 110 specimens that were positive for RSV by both culture and IF test, 29 (87.9%) of 33 that were positive by IF test only, 20 (76.9%) of 26 that were positive by culture only, and 140 (93.3%) of 150 that were negative by both methods were negative for RSV by BIOLINE $RSV^{TM}$. By combining the above results, the following 5 diagnostic values of BIOLINE $RSV^{TM}$ were determined in comparison with viral culture or IF test; sensitivity, 92.3% (156/169, 95% confidence interval [CI], 87.1-97.5%); specificity, 93.3% (140/150, 95% CI, 88.4-98.2%); positive predictive value, 94.0% (156/166, 95% CI, 89.5-98.5%); negative predictive value, 91.5% (140/143, 95% CI, 86.0-97.0%); and agreement, 95.9% (306/319, 95% CI, 92.1-99.7%), respectively. Conclusion : This study revealed that BIOLINE $RSV^{TM}$ demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for the detection of RSV antigen from NPAs of children with LRTIs. Because of simple methods and quick results, this test may be useful for the diagnosis of RSV infection during the epidemic periods.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Nitroxoline is an antibiotic agent. It is used for the treatment of the second bacterial infection by the colibacillosis, salmonellosis and viral disease of the poultry. When the nitroxoline is indiscreetly used, the problem about the abuse of the antibiotics can occur. Therefore, this study presented the residue analytical method of nitroxoline in food for the safety management of animal farming products. METHODS AND RESULTS: A simple, sensitive and specific method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle by high performance liquid chromatograph with PDA was developed. Sample extraction with acetonitrile, purification with SPE cartridge (MCX) were applied, then quantitation by HPLC with C18 column under the gradient condition with 0.1 % tetrabutylammonium hydroxide-phosphoric acid and methanol was performed. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.999, analysed from 0.02 to 0.5 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in chicken muscle showed 0.02 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 72.9 to 88.1 % in chicken muscle. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 12 % in 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Newly developed method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle was applicable to food inspection with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2015

Melon leaves showing yellowing symptoms were analyzed using electron microscopy and RT-PCR for major cucurbit-infecting-viruses (CMV, MNSV, CGMMV, SqMV, WMV, KGMMV, PRSV and ZYMV) reported in Korea, but these viruses were not detected. As the result of further analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS), the virus was identified as Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), and then confirmed by RT-PCR using CABYV-specific primers. When photosynthetic capacity was measured based on chlorophyll fluorescence yield (ChlFY), the leaves of the diseased plants showed $4.09{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, which was one-third of the readings observed for unaffected normal plants ($12.36{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$). The root functions of plants affected by leaf yellowing symptoms (LYS) was $0.28mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, about half that measured for the normal unaffected plants ($0.48mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$). Cytological observations revealed that there were no morphological differences in the palisade parenchyma and mesophyll spongy cells of the leaves between the diseased and the normal plants. However, the same leaf cells of the affected plants contained more starch granules compared to those of the normal, unaffected plants. We conclude that the LYS of muskmelon is not merely a physiological disorder but a viral disease caused by CABYV and spread by aphids.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.779-789
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• 2016

A total of 33 accessions of pepper (Capsicum spp.), including previously reported and newly discovered sources of resistance to bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, were evaluated for their resistance to bacterial spot. The selected accessions were then grown and their horticultural characteristics were recorded. In a test for hypersensitive resistance (HR) to four races (P1, P3, P7, P8) of the pathogen found in Korea, KC00939 and Chilbok No.2, which carry the Bs2 gene, exhibited a hypersensitive response to all four races, as expected. Chilbok No.3, which carries the Bs3 gene, showed a hypersensitive reaction to race 1 and 7, as expected. KC00939 exhibited a high ASTA color value and tolerance to multiple infections from a viral complex of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Broad bean wilt virus (BBWV). Thus, this accession represents a promising genetic resource for breeding cultivars with multiple disease resistance and strong red coloration. KC01327, KC01617, KC01015, KC01760, KC01779, KC01137, KC01328, KC01006, KC00127, KC01704, and KC00995 did not exhibit hypersensitivity but showed a high level of general resistance when evaluated by spray inoculation. KC01617, KC01760, KC01779, KC01137, KC01704, and KC01777 are newly identified sources of resistance to bacterial spot. The previously and newly identified sources of resistance to bacterial spot evaluated in this study, including information about their resistance to CMV and BBWV complex in the field, the contents of pungent and sweet taste components, and the color values of dry fruits, will be useful for breeding pepper cultivars with resistance to bacterial spot.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.368-374
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• 2004

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female death. Viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are selectively retained and expressed in carcinoma cells infected with HPV (Human papillomavirus) type 16. The HPV is cooperated in immotalization and transformation of primary keratinocyte. E6 and E7 oncoproteins interfere the functions of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and retinoblasoma protein (pRb), respectively. Among a lots of natural products, Artemisia scoparia Waldstein et Kitamura has inhibitory effects on the binding between E6 oncoprotein and tumor suppressor p53, or the binding between E6 and E6 associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. HPV oncoprotein inhibitors from Artemisia scoparia W. were isolated by solvent partition and column chromatography (Silica gel, RP-18) and the inhibitory compounds were finally purified by HPLC using an ELISA screening system based on the binding between E6 and E6AP. The aim of this study is to identify the structure of inhibitory compounds and to investigate whether these compounds have inhibitory effects on the functions of E6 oncoprotein. We investigated whether 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (DCQA) extracted from Artemisia scoparia W. Could inhibit the function of E6 oncoprutein. DCQA inhibited the in vitro binding of E6 and E6AP which are essential for the binding and degradation of the tumor suppressor p53 and also inhibited the proliferation of human cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa and CaSKi) in a dose response manner. These results suggest that DCQA inhibited the function of E6 oncoprotein, suggesting that it can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of cervical cancers infected with HPV.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.238-246
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• 2010

In 2006 fall, a preliminary survey of viruses in two important medicinal plants, Cynanchum wilfordii and C. auriculatum, was conducted on the experimental fields at the Agricultural Research and Extension Services of Chungbuk province in Korea. On each experimental fields, percentage of virus infection was ranged from 20 to 80%, and especially an average of disease incidence propagated by roots was twice higher than that by seeds. The various symptoms were observed in Cynanchum spp. plants, such as mosaic, mottle, necrosis, yellowing, chlorotic spot and malformation etc. In electron microscopic examination of crude sap extracts, filamentous rod particles with 390-730 nm were observed in most samples. The virus particles were purified from the leaves of C. wilfordii with typical mosaic symptom, and the viral RNA was extracted from this sample containing 430-845 nm long filamentous rod. To identify the viruses, reverse transcription followed by PCR with random primers was carried out. The putative sequences of P3 and coat protein of potyvirus were obtained. From a BLAST of the two sequences, they showed 26-38% and 62-72% identities to potyviruses, respectively. In SDS-PAGE analysis, the subunit of coat protein was approximately 30.3 kDa, close to the coat protein of potyvirus. In bioassay with 21 species in 7 families, Chenopodium quinoa showed local lesion on inoculated leave and chlorotic spot on upper leave, but the others were not infected. RT-PCR detection using specific primer of C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum samples, all of 24 samples with virus symptom was positive, and five out of seven samples without virus symptom were also positive. On the basis of these data, the virus could be considered as a new member of potyvirus. We suggested that the name of the virus was Keunjorong mosaic virus (KjMV) after the common Korean name of C. wilfordii.