• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.42.1-42.6
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• 2023

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the most important emerging transboundary diseases. Recently, LSD has emerged in many countries in the northern hemisphere. The LSD virus has a huge genome and is highly resistant to environmental conditions. The virus is also host-specific and large ruminants, such as cattle and domestic water buffalo, are particularly susceptible. In addition, wild ruminants can serve as potential reservoirs for spreading the LSD virus. The emergence might be related to climate change in various regions because LSD is an arthropod-borne infectious disease. This disease causes enormous economic losses, such as leather damage, decreased milk production, abortion, and death in infected ruminants. The economic importance of LSD in the bovine industry has forced countries to develop and implement control strategies against the disease. With the recent global spread and the economic impact, LSD will be discussed intensively. In addition, effective preventive measures are suggested based on the presence or absence of LSD outbreaks.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is fatal to domestic pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa) and affects the domestic pig industry. ASF is transmitted directly through the secretions of infected domestic pigs or wild boars, an essential source of infection in disease transmission. ASFV is also very stable in the environment. Thus, the virus is detected in the surrounding environment where ASF-infected carcasses are found. In this study, ASF infection monitoring was conducted on the swab and whole blood samples from wild animals, various hematopoietic arthropod samples that could access infected wild boar carcasses or habitats to cause maintenance and spread of disease, and soil samples of wild boar habitats. ASF viral DNA detection was confirmed negative in 317 wildlife and environmental samples through a real-time polymerase chain reaction. However, ASF occurs in the wild boars and spreads throughout the Korean peninsula. Therefore, it is necessary to trace the route of ASF virus infection by a continuous vector. Additional monitoring of various samples with potential ASF infection is needed to help the epidemiologic investigation and disease prevention.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.351-357
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• 2007

Regions (about 3.7-3.8 kb) of the mitochondrial genomes (rrnL-cox1) of two tardigrades, a heterotardigrade, Batillipes pennaki, and a eutardigrade, Pseudobiotus spinifer, were sequenced and characterized. The gene order in Batillipes was $\underline{rrnL}-\underline{V}-\underline{rrnS}-\underline{Q}-\underline{I}$-M-nad2-W-$\underline{C}-\underline{Y}$-cox1, and in Pseudobiotus it was $\underline{rrnL}-\underline{V}-\underline{rrnS}-\underline{Q}$-M-nad2-W-$\underline{C}-\underline{Y}$-cox1. With the exception of the trnI gene, the two tardigrade regions have the same gene content and order. Their gene orders are strikingly similar to that of the chelicerate Limulus polyphemus (rrnL-V-rrnS-CR-I-Q-M-nad2-W-C-Y-cox1), which is considered to be ancestral for arthropods. Although the tardigrades do not have a distinct control region (CR) within this segment, the trnI gene in Pseudobiotus is located between rrnL-trnL1 and trnL2-nad1, and the trnI gene in Batillipes is located between trnQ and trnM. In addition, the 106-bp region between trnQ and trnM in Batillipes not only contains two plausible trnI genes with opposite orientations, but also exhibits some CR-like characteristics. The mitochondrial gene arrangements of 183 other protostomes were compared. 60 (52.2%) of the 115 arthropods examined have the M-nad2-W-C-Y-cox1 arrangement, and 88 (76.5%) the M-nad2-W arrangement, as found in the tardigrades. In contrast, no such arrangement was seen in the 70 non-arthropod protostomes studied. These are the first non-sequence molecular data that support the close relationship of tardigrades and arthropods.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2008

In order to find phenological change of butterflies due to global warming, we analyzed weekly monitoring data of butterfly at Gwangneung forest in 1958 and 2004. It was tested whether the timing of first flight and mean flight of butterflies in 2004 became earlier due to global warming compared with those in 1958 and whether the duration of flight period became longer. No significant difference was found in timing of first flight and in duration of flight period between 1958 and 2004. Furthermore, species showing delayed timing of mean flight was more abundant than species showing earlier timing of mean flight. Hence, the results do not confirm the predicted changes of phonology due to global warming. We discussed reasons on the non-apparent phenological changes despite the increase of temperature, and the problems and solutions in butterfly study on Korean butterfly fauna in utilization of butterflies as indicator for global warming.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.477-485
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• 2018

Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) are transmitted by arthropods such as Culicoides biting midges and cause abortion, stillbirth, and congenital malformation in ruminants, apparently leading to economic losses to farmers. To monitor the distribution of Culicoides and to determine their relationship with different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and altitude of the farms) on 5 cattle farms, Culicoides were collected during summer season (May-September) in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed for identification of species and detection of arboviruses. About 35% of the Culicoides were collected in July and the collection rate increased with increase in temperature and humidity. The higher altitude where the farms were located, the more Culicoides were collected on inside than outside. In antigen test of Culicoides against 5 arboviruses, only Chuzan virus (CHUV) (2.63%) was detected in 2016. The Akabane virus (AKAV), CHUV, Ibaraki virus and Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) had a positive rate of less than 1.8% in 2017. In antigen test of bovine whole blood, AKAV (12.96%) and BEFV (0.96%) were positive in only one of the farms. As a result of serum neutralization test, antibodies against AKAV were generally measured in all the farms. These results suggest that vaccination before the season in which the Culicoides are active is probably best to prevent arbovirus infections.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2011

Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin (Vn), which is the major yolk protein in nearly all oviparous species, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and most invertebrates. It is one of the most important factors during reproduction, and numerous studies have shown that Vg genes are markers of the reproductive cycle and effecter genes induced by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Previously, we isolated two distinct cDNAs encoding vitellogenin homologs Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 from Pandalus shrimp Pandalopsis japonica. In this study, full-length genomic sequences of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were determined using a PCR-based genome walking strategy. Isolated Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 genes were 11,910 and 11,850 bp long, respectively. Both Pj-Vg genes had 15 exons and 14 introns, and the splicing sites were also the same, suggesting that they arose via gene duplication. The similar structural characteristics of decapod Vg genes suggest that they are all orthologs that evolved from the same ancestral gene. Analysis of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 expression revealed that the relative copy numbers of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were similar in the hepatopancreas, whereas Pj-Vg2 transcripts were also detected in the ovary. Expression of both Pj-Vg genes was induced in hepatopancreas of mature individuals, whereas only Pj-Vg2 transcripts were upregulated in the ovaries from mature animals, suggesting that both Pj-Vgs are important for oocyte development. A strong positive correlation was found between Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 transcripts in the same individual, indicating they are under the same control mechanisms. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between ovarian and hepatopancreatic Pj-Vg2 transcripts, suggesting that its dual expression is regulated by similar physiological conditions. Knowledge of the similarities and differences between the two vitellogenin-like genes, Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2, would help us to understand their roles in reproduction and other physiological effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1381-1385
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• 2013

The centipede Scolopendra subpinipes mutilans is a medicinally important arthropod species. However, its transcriptome is not currently available and transcriptome analysis would be useful in providing insight into a molecular level approach. Hence, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of S. subpinipes mutilans using next-generation sequencing. We generated a novel peptide (scolopendrasin II) based on a SVM algorithm, and biochemically evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of scolopendrasin II against various microbes. Scolopendrasin II showed antibacterial activities against gram-positive and -negative bacterial strains, including the yeast Candida albicans and antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria, as determined by a radial diffusion assay and colony count assay without hemolytic activity. In addition, we confirmed that scolopendrasin II bound to the surface of bacteria through a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid and a lipopolysaccharide, which was one of the bacterial cell-wall components. In conclusion, our results suggest that scolopendrasin II may be useful for developing peptide antibiotics.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.210-220
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• 1989

Studies on the distribution pattern of soil arthropods were carried in H.J. Andrews Expt. Forest. Forty-one species of Coleoptera in 14 families were recognized as the dominant group. Also, 7 species of soil mites in 6 families, Typhlodromus, Gymnodaeus, Phauloppia and Scleroribates were recognized without seasonal fluctuation, which made the difference to the outbreak pattern of the Palearctic region. Another species as 16 species of Collembola in 4, families, 16 species of Thysanoptera in 3 families, 10 species of Hymenoptera in 1 family, and 7 species of Acarina in 6 families were recognized. The result showed the importance of the soil arthropod as the primary decomposer in forest ecosystem and the relationship between species diversity and soil condition.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.632-643
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• 2019

In recent years, large scale damages from arbovirus infections by mosquitoes have been reported worldwide due to factors such as change in global climate, increased overseas travel, and increased logistics movement between countries. Among them, Zika virus and dengue virus belonging to genus Flavivirus are representative. In this study, we performed in-depth analyses of the envelope (E) protein that perform essential functions for host infection of Zika virus and dengue virus based on bioinformatics databases. The domain analysis of E protein was performed to determine the type, location, and function, and homology analysis for each domain. From these results, EDIII showing low homology was identified. The homology and immunogenicity of each peptide constituting EDIII were analyzed and three-dimensional structures were modeled. Furthermore, we discussed their biological meaning and how they could be used.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.1 s.137
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• pp.73-79
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• 2006

We evaluated the efficacy of health education in reducing indoor arthropod allergens in Seoul. The mite control measures comprised the use of mite-proof mattress and pillow coverings, regular washing of potentially infested materials, maintenance of a low humidity, removal of carpets, and frequent vacuum cleaning. Cockroach control measures included trapping, application of insecticides, and protecting food. Of 201 homes enrolled in October 1999, 63 volunteers were included in a 2-year follow-up survey between April 2000 and January 2002. Before intervention, the density of mites/g of dust varied greatly; 27.1/g in children's bedding, 20/g in adult bedding, 7.2/g on the floors of children's bedrooms, 6.8/g in sofas, 5.9/g on the floors of adult's bedrooms, 3.9/g on living room floors, 3.7/g in carpets, and 1.9 mites/g on kitchen floors. The predominant mite species and house percentages infested were; Dermatophagoides farinae $93\%$, D. pteronyssinus $9\%$, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae $8\%$. Comparing 1999 and 2001 infestations, before and after 25 mo of education, mite abundance was reduced by $98\%$, from 23.7 to 0.57 mites/g of dust. In 1999, cockroaches were detected in $62\%$ homes: $36\%$ Blattella germanica and $35\%$ Periplaneta spp., including $9\%$ double infestations of B. germanica and P. americana. Following intervention, cockroach infestation rates decreased to $22\%$ of houses in 2000 and $23\%$ in 2001. We conclude that continuous and repetitive health education resulted in the effective control of domestic arthropods.