• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2004

FMDV is a viral pathogen that caused foot-and-mouth disease in animals. VP1 is a major capsid protein of FMDV. It is known as one of best materials for the FMDV diagnosis and for the development of protein vaccine. In this study, 633 bp of VP1 gene was modified for the expression of VP1 in plant, based on the VP1 DNA sequence from FMDV taiwan O type and from FMDV isolated vietnam. The. deduced DNA fragment was artificially synthesized using the multiple fragment extension with long-nucleotides. A new plant transgenic vector system, pCAMBIA139011 was constructed on the basis of pBI12l and pCAMBIA1390. Using this vector system and GFP gene or modified VP1 gene, each target gene was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum. The insertion of whole target gene was successfully confirmed in each transgenic plant named GFP-A7 and VP1-4, respectively. The expression level of each gene was estimated by RT-PCR and Real-Time PCR using VP1, GFP specific primers.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2001

Purpose : There was an epidemic of aseptic meningitis in Korea for 3 years from 1996 to 1998. In this study, we reported the time of outbreak, age and sex distribution, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and complications of the children with aseptic meningitis. Methods : We reviewed clinical records of 192 aseptic meningitis patients who had been admitted to Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from 1996 to 1998. Results : Aseptic meningitis occurred most frequently in July and August. The ratio of male to female was 1.91 : 1, and the most prevalent age was 1 to 5 years of age. The main symptoms were fever, vomiting, headache in this order of frequency. Peripheral blood showed leukocytosis(WBC > $10,000/mm^3$) in 44.3% of the cases. CSF examination showed WBC count were less than $500/mm^3$ in 88.0%, protein levels less than 40 mg/dL in 61.5%, and glucose levels more than 40 mg/dL in 94.3% of the cases. We did not isolate the causative viral agents. Conclusion : Aseptic meningitis was prevalent in children in the Pohang area from 1996 to 1998. Clinical manifestations and CSF profiles of aseptic meningitis patients showed no great difference compared to other reported.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2005

Purpose : Human herpsevirus 8(HHV-8), a gamma herpsevirus, was initially identified from Kaposi sarcoma(KS) lesions and has been known to be associated with several malignancies including Kaposi sarcoma. HHV-8 seroprevalence is variable by different geographic areas and populations. The prevalence of HHV 8 infection in Korean children is unclear. So, we investigated the prevalence of HHV-8 specific antibodies in healthy children in Seoul, Korea. Methods : Sera were obtained from 112 children(age 1~15 years, 64 males and 48 females) who visited our hospital for routine health checkup and used for investigating sero-prevalence of anti-HHV-8 antibodies. An indirect immunofluorescent assay was used to detect the IgG antibodies to the lytic viral antigen(Biotrin, Dublin, Ireland). A peptide mix ELISA kit was used to detect the IgG antibodies to peptides specific for HHV-8 open reading frame (ORF)(Biotrin, Dublin, Ireland). Results : Of 112 children, 4 children younger than 6 years of age were seropositive to HHV-8[all 4(3.5%) were positive by IFA and 2(1.8%) were positive by ELISA]. Conclusion : These results suggest that the prevalence of antibody to HHV 8 in children in Korea is very low.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2016

Purpose: Mumps meningitis is a common complication of mumps infection; however, information on mumps meningitis in the postvaccine era is limited. The purpose of the present study was to determine factors associated with mumps meningitis and to discuss the effect of vaccination on this disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients younger than 19 years with mumps, diagnosed at a university hospital in Korea between 2003 and 2013. Patients were divided into groups with and without meningitis, and the clinical features of the 2 groups were compared. Results: The study enrolled 119 patients: 19 patients with meningitis and 100 patients without. Univariate analysis showed that older age (median: 15 years vs. 9.5 years, respectively), a longer interval from last vaccination (median: 10.2 years vs. 4.8 years, respectively), and febrile presentation (94.7% vs. 31.0%, respectively) were significantly associated with mumps meningitis. Sex, number of vaccination doses, bilateral parotitis, and the presence of complications other than meningitis did not differ between the 2 groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.89; P=0.04) and fever (odds ratio, 30.46; 95% confidence interval, 3.27-283.61; P<0.01) remained independent factors for mumps meningitis. Conclusion: Clinicians in the postvaccine era should be aware of the possibility of mumps meningitis in febrile cases of mumps in adolescents, regardless of the number of vaccination doses. To establish the role of vaccination in mumps meningitis, further studies will be necessary.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.152-158
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• 2000

Purpose : Kawasaki disease is an acute illness of unknown cause that affects infants and children. Sometimes, cervical lymphadenitis that seems to be caused by bacterial or viral agents at admission would be changed to Kawasaki disease within several days of hospitalization. Lymphadenopathy is one of major presenting manifestation of both cervical lymphadenitis and Kawasaki disease. We compared Kawasaki disease with cervical lymphadenopathy as the initial manifestation with cervical lymphadenitis without other typical manifestations of Kawasaki disease. Methods : We describe and compare the clinical characteristics of 15 patients with Kawasaki disease which were misdiagnosed as cervical lymphadenitis and 125 patients with cervical lymphadenitis, retrospectively. Results : The clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease with cervical lymphadenopathy as an initial presenting manifestation were older in age and had more frequent abnormalities in markers of systemic inflammation than kawasaki disease without cervical lymphadenopathy. They would have greater abnormalities in markers of inflammation than cervical lymphadenitis alone. They had higher mean WBC, cESR, CRP which were compared with the patients with cervical lymphadenitis. Usually, patients with cervical lymphadenitis responded to antibiotics promptly, but they did not tend to be responded to antibiotics within 48~72hrs. Conclusion : Patients with Kawasaki disease may initially present with findings that strongly suggest bacterial lymphadenitis with or without other manifestations of Kawasaki disease. If they did not response initial antibiotics administration, they should be closed observed for the possible development of the another signs of Kawasaki disease. Earlier diagnosis of Kawasaki disease can avoid the need for unnecessary procedures and antibiotics and lead to more proper therapy directed at Kawasaki disease.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1998

Vaccinia virus is the prototype orthopoxvirus that has been used as a vaccine strain for small pox. This virus has been used to express a variety of cellular and viral genes in mammalian cells at high levels. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been found to stimulate the proliferation of T cells and enhance the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. To test the immunotherapeutic potential of IL-4 delivered in vivo by poxvirus, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the murine IL-4 gene (RVVmIL-4) was constructed. A high level of IL-4 production was confirmed by infecting HeLa cells and measuring IL-4 in cell culture supernatant by ELISA. As a tumor model, two cell lines were used; the murine T leukemic line P388 and the murine breast cancer line TS/A. CDF1 mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with $1\;{\times}\;10^5$ cells of P388. Mice were injected at the same site with $5\;{\times}\;10^5\;PFU$ of recombinant vaccinia virus; first, 3 days after the injection of tumor cells and thereafter once every week for 3 weeks. Intraperitoneal injections of RVVmIL-4 significantly prolonged the survival time of mice inoculated with tumor cells. All mice injected with RVVmIL-4 remained alive for 30 days after the postinoculation of tumor cells, while 100% and 70% of the animals injected with saline or wild type vaccinia virus died, respectively. In another tumor model using TS/A, tumor was established by subcutaneously inoculating $2{\times}10^5$ tumor cells to BALB/c mice. After tumor formation was confirmed on day 4 in all mice, $5\;{\times}\;10^6\;PFU$ of RVVmIL-4 was inoculated subcutaneously three times, once every week for 3 weeks. The TS/A tumor was eradicated in two of the nine mice. Seven of the nine mice treated with RVVmIL-4 developed a tumor, but tumor growth was significantly delayed compared to those treated with saline or wild type vaccinia virus. These results indicate that recombinant vaccinia viruses may be used as a convenient tool for delivering immunomodulator genes to a variety of tumors.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 2000

Purpose : Rotavirus is a most common etiologic agent of pediatric gastroenteritis. The standard method to diagnose rotavirus infection was the detection of viral particles in specimens through electron microscopy. But it was complex. Enzyme immunoassay and latex agglutinin are preferred because they are relatively handy, inexpensive and take a short time, in comparison with electron microscopy. However, several reports have shown that the use of ELISA to diagnose rotavirus infection in neonates can result in false positive reactions. The main purpose of this study is to compare ELISA and RT-PCR in the diagnosis of neonatal rotavirus infection. Methods : Data presented in this study were obtained form 123 newborn babies in the nursery of the Fatima Hospital, Masan, Korea, form Jury to December, 1997. We obtained two samples of stool from each of the newborn babies and then performed the Rotazyme test and the RT-PCR. In the Rotazyme test, the results were interpreted according to visual findings. The samples were used for the RT-PCR test after at stock $-30^{\circ}C$ to identify rotavirus group A. The result of the two tests were compared. Results : The informations are divided into 73 males and females. Out of the total informations 15 were transferred from other hospitals. Their average gestational age was $38.5{\pm}1.6$ weeks. The average birth weight was $3134.8{\pm}539gm$. In the Rotazyme test, 75 samples turned out to be positive. Out of them, 55 samples(75.3%) were positive and 18 samples(24.7%) were negative in the RT-PCR. On the other hand, in the Rotazyme test, 50 samples turned out be negative. Out of them, 27 samples(54%) were positive and 23 samples(46%) were negative in the RT-PCR. Conclusion : Rotavirus infection in uncommon in neonates. The diagnosis based on visual findings using Rotazyme test has a disadvantage in the sense that it can result in false positive reactions and false negative reactions in the diagnosis of neonatal rotavirus infection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2008

Purpose : Acute gastroenteritis is a frequent childhood disease. The purpose of this study is to determine if certain pathogens are related to more severe clinical disease in children with acute gastroenteritis. Methods : Two hundred seventy one stool samples were obtained from pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis that was associated with virus, bacteria and protozoa infection between January 2006 and December 2006. The clinical severity was assessed by using the 24 point scale Clark score. We evaluate the Clark score according to the pathogens. Results : One hundred thirty seven children were noted to have virus, bacteria or protozoal infection. Rotavirus was the most common pathogen found in the children with gastroenteritis (20.6%). Other frequent pathogens were norovirus (10.7%) and E. coli (12.9%). Vomiting (P=0.049) and diarrhea (P=0.003) symptoms were more frequent in the rotavirus group than that in the rotavirus negative group. There were no statistical differences in the Clark score between the virus positive group and the virus negative group. Conclusion : We concluded that rotavirus was the most common pathogen in children with gastroenteritis, yet the clinical severity was not dependent on the presence of viral or bacterial pathogens.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2019

Enteroviral infections are common in neonates. One important infection pathway is vertical transmission from an infected mother to her neonate. Here, we report the early detection and successful treatment of a vertically transmitted fulminant enteroviral infection associated with myocarditis and hepatitis. The patient had a sudden onset of high fever on the fourth day of life and developed severe, rapidly progressing symptoms of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), hepatitis, and myocarditis accompanied by tachyarrhythmia. As it was the peak season for enteroviral infections and both the mother and the patient's 36-month-old sibling had a high fever around the time of delivery, we suspected an enteroviral infection. Thus, we initiated prompt evaluation of enteroviral infection, as well as close observation and intensive care of the neonate. We strongly recommend evaluation for the possibility of vertical enterovirus infection in neonates when the mother is suspected of having a viral infection (e.g., high fever and negative results from bacterial infectious studies) around the time of delivery and when the neonate shows some early symptoms of infectious diseases such as thrombocytopenia, DIC, hepatitis, and myocarditis. Early detection of enteroviral infections and prompt implementation of proper treatment are key to reduce the risk of complications and mortality associated with enteroviral infections in neonates.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1998

Purpose : In the summer 1997, there was an outbreak of aseptic meningitis in Pusan area. We report the clinical features and viral studies of aseptic meningitis in Pusan area in 1997. Methods : 265 children with aseptic meningitis who had been admitted to Department of Pediatrics, St. Benedict Hospital between April to October 1997 were included. Results : 1) Male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1. 2) Mean age was $6.2{\pm}3.29$ years. 3) It occured mostly April to October. 4) Clinical manifestations were fever 99.6%, vomiting 99.2%, headache 99.2%, rash 6.0%. 5) The duration of fever was $3.34{\pm}2.21$ days. 6) The duration of admission was $5.3{\pm}3.21$ days. 7) WBC count in peripheral blood were $11,200{\pm}4,163/mm^3$. 8) WBC count in CSF were $156.1{\pm}394.7/mm^3$. 9) Causative agents were coxsackievirus B5, echovius 6, 30, type nonspecific enterovirus. Conclusion : Aseptic meningitis in 1997 compared with that in 1996 had clinical feature of increase in age, decrease in duration of fever and incidende of rash. It occurred mostly April to October in 1997 and May to October in 1996. Causative agents were coxackievirus B5, echovirus 6, 30, type nonespecific enterovirus in 1997, and echovirus 9, coxsackievirus A24, type nonespecific enterovirus in 1996.