• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.93-106
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• 2023

Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses become critical public health, economic, societal, and cultural burdens. The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic reveals needs for effective preparedness and responsiveness against the emergence of variants and the next virus outbreak. The targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) significantly contributes to the acquisition of viral genome sequences directly from clinical specimens. Using this advanced NGS technology, the genomic epidemiology and surveillance play a critical role in identifying of infectious source and origin, tracking of transmission chains and virus evolution, and characterizing the virulence and developing of vaccines during the outbreak. In this review, we highlight the platforms and preparation of targeted NGS for the viral genomics. We also demonstrate the application of this strategy to take advantage of the responsiveness and prevention of emerging zoonotic viruses. This article provides broad and deep insights into the preparedness and responsiveness for the next zoonotic virus outbreak.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2013

Since a large number of Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) infection occurred in the southern part of Korea in 2010, recent information about seroprevalence of Akabane virus (AKAV) and bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) has been required for preventing both diseases. In this study, serological assay against AKAV and BEFV using virus neutralization assay was conducted using 1,743 bovine sera collected from Namwon, Miryang, Yeongju and Uljin which located in Southern part of Korea from March to May in 2012. The overall seropositive rates for AKAV and BEFV were found to be 49.8% and 1.2%, respectively. The regional distribution of seroprevalence for AKAV ranged from 18.1% to 63.7%. Seroprevalences of AKAV were 63.7% in Miryang, 62.3% in Uljin, 50.7% in Namwon, and 18.1% in Yeongju. The seropositive rates for AKAV in southern part of Korea were higher than the annual average at the national level. On the other hand, seropositive rates of BEFV in four regions were from 0.3 to 3.1%. In detail, regional seroprevalences were 3.1% in Miryang, 2.0% in Uljin, and 1.7% in Yeongju, and 0.3% in Namwon. Even only one year after massive outbreaks, overall seropositive rates were very low, similar to the annual average at the nation level. This result indicates that many number of cattle infected with BEFV may be replaced by new born calf or cattle in farm may not be immunized with vaccines. To prevent another epidemic, a national wide warning should be issued and more aggressive control measure must be implied. Recent global warming phenomenon could lead to more vigorous activity of haematophagous vectors and it is possible that arboviral diseases such as AKAV and BEFV are increased. Therefore, continuous sero-monitoring and extensive vaccination combined with control of haematophagous vectors are important to effectively prevent and control diseases caused by AKAV and BEFV.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2011

The amino acid sequence of glycoprotein of Korean VHSV isolate (KR'01-1) was analyzed using the DNAStar Protean system. Based on the flexibility, hydrophilicity, antigenic index and surface probability, three regions (Gp1, Gp2 and Gp3) were selected as potential antigenic determinants. Three oligopeptides containing the amino acid sequences of the three regions were synthesized and polyclonal antibodies were raised against them. The activities of the antibodies were analyzed by Western blotting and virus neutralization test. The results showed that antibodies raised against oligopeptides Gp1 and Gp2 neutralized the infectivity of VHSV, suggesting that they can be possible candidates for subunit vaccines against VHS diseases in olive flounder.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.43.1-43.13
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• 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 is a contagious disease and had caused havoc throughout the world by creating widespread mortality and morbidity. The unavailability of vaccines and proper antiviral drugs encourages the researchers to identify potential antiviral drugs to be used against the virus. The presence of RNA binding domain in the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be a potential drug target, which serves multiple critical functions during the viral life cycle, especially the viral replication. Since vaccine development might take some time, the identification of a drug compound targeting viral replication might offer a solution for treatment. The study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of N protein sequence divergence with other 49 coronavirus species and also identified the conserved regions according to protein families through conserved domain search. Good structural binding affinities of a few natural and/or synthetic phytocompounds or drugs against N protein were determined using the molecular docking approaches. The analyzed compounds presented the higher numbers of hydrogen bonds of selected chemicals supporting the drug-ability of these compounds. Among them, the established antiviral drug glycyrrhizic acid and the phytochemical theaflavin can be considered as possible drug compounds against target N protein of SARS-CoV-2 as they showed lower binding affinities. The findings of this study might lead to the development of a drug for the SARS-CoV-2 mediated disease and offer solution to treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 2022

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is one of the most serious viral diseases affecting farmed olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in Asian countries. VHS, caused by viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), occurs in over 80 different cultured and wild fish species worldwide. Our previous study demonstrated that VHSV infection can be restricted by adjusting the water temperature to over 17℃ from the host optima. We confirmed that the effective VHSV immersion vaccine treatment was a tissue culture infection dose (TCID) of 10^5.5 TCID₅₀/mL at 17℃. However, the safety of live VHSV immersion vaccines remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to 1) demonstrate the safety of the live VHSV immersion vaccine under co-habitant conditions and 2) estimate the pathogenicity of VHSV in live VHSV-vaccinated flounder at 10℃. No mortality was observed in olive flounder treated with the live VHSV immersion vaccine, and the vaccinated flounder challenged with VHSV did not transfer VHSV to naïve fish at 10℃ through cohabitation. VHSV titration was below the detection limit (< 1.3 log TCID₅₀/mL) in live VHSV immersion vaccine-treated flounder challenged with VHSV at 10℃. This study demonstrated that flounder treated with the live VHSV immersion vaccine were resistant to VHSV infection, and the live vaccine was also safe for naïve fish even at a water temperature known to be VHS infectious.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2155-2157
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• 2013

Advances and controversies of skin cancer prevention in the Asian-Pacific region are to be examined in the world's first Global Controversies and Advances in Skin Cancer Conference to be held in Brisbane, Australia this November. APOCP Members are cordially invited to register early for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on a cancer which continues to be a prominent issue in the Asia Pacific and indeed worldwide. We need answers to the questions of why a cancer that is so preventable and easily detectable is still shrouded in controversy. Primary focuses will be on issues like viral involvement, vaccines and novel clinical approaches.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1384-1387
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• 2005

Hantavax(R) is one of the killed Hantavirus vaccines, and is commercially available in South Korea. This vaccine was developed by inactivation of virus isolated from infected suckling mouse brain with formalin. Although Hantavax(R) can induce neutralizing antibodies in vaccinees, the strength of this induction and the duration of the humoral immune response are controversial issues. In this study, we studied the native conformation of the killed vaccine by antigen-capture reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with patient and vaccinee sera containing neutralizing antibodies against Hantavirus. The results showed that Hantavax(R) could bind HTNV patient and vaccinee sera like live virus, suggesting that the integrity of the viral epitope is maintained in Hantavax(R) and induces the protective antibodies, even though the virus was inactivated with formalin.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.209-213
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• 2008

Following the Anthrax bioterrorism attacks in the US in 2001, the Korean government established comprehensive countermeasures against bioterrorism. These measures included the government assuming management of all infectious agents that cause diseases, including smallpox, anthrax, plaque, botulism, and the causative agents of viral hemorrhagic fevers (ebola fever, marburg fever, and lassa fever) for national security. In addition, the Korean government is reinforcing the ability to prepare and respond to bioterrorism. Some of the measures being implemented include revising the laws and guidelines that apply to the use of infectious agents, the construction and operation of dual surveillance systems for bioterrorism, stockpiling and managing products necessary to respond to an emergency (smallpox vaccine, antibiotics, etc.) and vigorously training emergency room staff and heath workers to ensure they can respond appropriately. In addition, the government's measures include improved public relations, building and maintaining international cooperation, and developing new vaccines and drugs for treatments of infectious agents used to create bioweapons.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2020

Snakehead rhabdovirus (SHRV) is different from other fish novirhabdoviruses such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), and hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV) in that it replicates at high temperatures. Therefore, the delivery of foreign proteins to fish living at high water temperature would be possible by using recombinant SHRVs. In the present study, to evaluate the possible use of SHRV as a vehicle for foreign proteins delivery, we generated a recombinant SHRV that contains an enhanced-GFP (eGFP) gene between nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) genes (rSHRV-A-eGFP), and another recombinant SHRV expressing two heterologous genes by inserting an eGFP gene between N and P genes, and mCherry gene between P and M genes (rSHRV-AeGFP-BmCherry). Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells infected with the recombinant SHRVs showed strong fluorescence(s), suggesting the possible availability of recombinant SHRVs for the development of combined vaccines by expressing multiple foreign antigens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal viral disease in pigs, with a short incubation period and causing immediate death. Few studies exist on the Asian epidemic ASF virus (ASFV) challenge in older pigs, including growing and fattening pigs and sows. We aimed to investigate clinical outcomes, pathomorphological lesions, and viral distribution in organs of 3-month-old growing pigs that were inoculated with the ASFV isolated in Vietnam. The clinical outcomes were recorded daily, and the dead or euthanized pigs immediately underwent necropsy. Viral loads were determined in 10 major organs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The average incubation period in growing pigs was more delayed (5.2±0.9 dpi) than that in weaned pigs, and the clinical signs were milder in growing pigs than in weaned pigs. The digestive and respiratory clinical signs in growing pigs showed at the end period of life, but these were observed at an early stage of infection in weaned pigs. The pathomorphological features were severe and nonspecific with hemorrhagic lesions in various organs. The viral loads in organs from growing pigs were higher than those from piglets, and the number of viral copies was related to gross lesions in the tonsil and intestine. In the absence of vaccines against ASF, early clinical detection is important for preventing the spread of the virus. Our findings elucidated that the clinical signs and gross lesions in growing pigs differed from those in weaned pigs, which provide valuable information for diagnosis of pigs with suspected ASF infection.