• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2013

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become a significant threat to public health. Although broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment option for CDI, its use has evident limitations. Probiotics have been proved to be effective in the treatment of CDI and are a promising therapeutic option for CDI. In this study, 4 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), namely, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR5), Lactococcuslactis (SL3), Bifidobacterium breve (BR3), and Bifidobacterium lactis (BL3) were evaluated for their anti-C. difficile activity. Co-culture incubation of C. difficile ($10^6$ and $10^{10}$ CFU/ml) with each strain of LAB indicated that SL3 possessed the highest antimicrobial activity over a 24-hr period. The cell-free supernatants of the 4 LAB strains exhibited $MIC_{50}$ values between 0.424 mg/ml (SL3) and 1.318 (BR3) mg/ml. These results may provide a basis for alternative therapies for the treatment of C. difficile-associated gut disorders.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.105-110
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• 2018

Background: Otomycosis is a fungal infection that comprises 7~10% of outer ear infections. Although the occurrence is higher in humid climates, relatively few studies have investigated otomycosis occurrences in humid environments. While recurrent chronic otitis media discharge in the ear creates a milieu in which otomycosis is likely to occur, investigations of otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media have been rare. Objective: To examine the characteristics of patients with otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media and identify causative fungi. Methods: The study included 60 patients with chronic otitis media who presented typical otomycosis findings in the outer ear canal and the presence of fungi. Patients were treated in the department of otolaryngology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, between July 2011 and June 2018. Results: The mean patient age was 57.77 years, and our study included 20 men and 40 women (p=0.010). The lesion was on the right in 39 patients and on the left in 21 (p=0.020). Ear discharge was the most common chief complaint at diagnosis. Of the 54 patients over age 19, 10 had diabetes (18.5%). Aspergillus was causative in 29 patients and Candida in 31. Aspergillus niger was identified in 15 patients, Aspergillus sp. in 14, Candida parapsilosis in 12, Candida sp. in six, and Candida albicans in five. Conclusion: Otomycosis and chronic otitis media co-occurrences increase with age. The Aspergillus and Candida genera were similar in proportion. A. niger was the most common Aspergillus species, while C. parapsilosis was the most common Candida.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2003

GX-12 is a naked DNA vaccine developed by the DongA Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Genexine for the treatment of HIV infection. This study was peformed to evaluate the biodistribution and expression of GX-12 mRNA in gonadal tissues, and to investigate the histopathological changes after the repeated intramuscular injection. GX-12 (400 $\mu\textrm{g}$/head) was injected into the left anterior tibialis once a week for four weeks. On day 1, 5, 15, 30 and 45 after the final administration, gonadal tissues (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, penis, prostate glands, ovaries, vagina, uterus) and the injection site (muscle) were harvested and examined for the expression of mRNA by RT-PCR. In addition, histopathological examination was peformed at each time point. At the injection site, mRNA expression of GX-12 was detected only at early time points (1 ~ 15 days after injection) but not thereafter. However, in gonadal tissues, mRNA expression was not identified at all time points both in male and female rats. There were no histopathological changes in all reproductive organs and muscle. Based on these results, it is unlikely that the plasmid DNAs of GX-12 was distributed to- and expressed in gonadal tissues, suggesting that the chance of germline integration and transmission is negligible.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.209-213
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• 2007

In the recent, increased concern has been focused on the pharmacology and clinical utility of herbal extracts and derivatives as a drug or adjunct to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Salicis Radicis Cortex, A decoction has been mainly used for improvement of ozena and a diuretic effect in oriental medicine, but there was no study on the molecular mechanism of Salicis Radicis Cortex as an immunomodulator. Here we investigated the role of the aqueous extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex in the expression of inflammatory mediators, surface molecule, and related receptors in vitro and in vivo. In murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6N mice, water extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex increased the production of secretary TNF-alpha and Nitric oxide, and the expression level of CD14, LPS co-receptor and CD86, co-stimulatory molecule compared to negative natural extract ex vivo. Moreover, i.p. injection of water extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex significantly increased the secretion level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of mice in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that Salicis Radicis Cortex may regulate the immune response by secreting Th1 and Th2 types of cytokines in vivo and the possibility of its as natural immunostimulator.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.700-704
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• 2007

In the recent, increased concern has been focused on the pharmacology and clinical utility of herbal extracts and derivatives as a drug or adjunct to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here we investigated the role of the extract of Anethi Fructus in the expression of inflammatory mediators, surface molecule, and related receptors in vitro. In murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6N mice, water extract of Anethi Fructus increased the production of secretary tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and Nitric oxide (NO), and the expression level of CD14, LPS co-receptor and CD86, co-stimulatory molecule compared to negative natural extract ex vivo. The water extract of Anethi Fructus increased the production of interferon (IFN)-g from splenocytes. Also, water extract of Anethi Fructus increased ConA-induced cell proliferation. These results suggest that water extract of Anethi Fructus may enhance the immune response through immune modulation of macrophage and lymphocytes.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-145
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• 2005

Lamerin breed of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. for Northeastern India hosts a vertically transmitted microsporidian parasite for generations, which does not harm significantly the cocoon production. The transversally infected progenies do not exhibit marked external sign or symptom. The microspordian causes inapparent infection and over $(80\%)$ of the infected progeny survives and spin cocoons. There is possibility of co-existence between the breed and the associated micosporidian parasite. To evaluate the impact of the microsporidian on breed the present study was conducted in respect of tranovarial transmitted (observed as T1), secondarily infected (observed as T2) and healthy silkworm (observed as T3). The larval and pupal mortality was $12\%$ and $6\%$ in T1 and $10\%$ and $3\%$ in T2 batch, while in case of T3 batch there was no mortality. Significant changes were also observed in single cocoon weight, single shell weight, denier, reelibility, raw silk recovery $\%$ and neetness. There is no significant impact of the infection on the fecundity and hatchability. The hatchability of the eggs laid by healthy or infected moths are equall as much as control but the progeny had the infection transmitted from the parent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2020

Two suckling piglets, 4 days and 10 days of age, showed lethargy and dyspnea after birth and mortality had been increased after incoming gilts from breeding farm. At necropsy, the lungs showed diffuse fail to collapse with rubbery consistency, edematous dilatation of interlobular septa, and lobular consolidation with purple red color. Heart was diffuse pale in color and had several irregular linear-shaped macules or patches. Histopathologically, diffuse interstitial pneumonia with the proliferation of type II pneumocytes was present in the lungs of 2 piglets. Alveolar lumens contained necrotic cellular debris derived from neutrophils and macrophages. Multifocal hemorrhage and necrotizing pneumonia with protozoan tachyzoites were observed in the lungs. Severe multifocal to confluent necrotic myocarditis, necrotic encephalitis, and necrotic adrenalitis with intralesional protozoan tachyzoites were observed in piglets. According to immunohistochemical analysis (IHC), Toxoplasma (T.) gondii tachyzoites antigens were confirmed in lung, heart, brain, and adrenal gland. And porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antigens were also detected in the cytoplasm of macrophages in lungs using IHC. Based on the gross, histopathologic and immunohistochemical features, two suckling piglets were diagnosed as co-infection of T. gondii and PRRSV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1515-1526
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• 2022

Eukaryotic chromatin is highly organized in the 3D nuclear space and dynamically regulated in response to environmental stimuli. This genomic organization is arranged in a hierarchical fashion to support various cellular functions, including transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Like other host cellular mechanisms, viral pathogens utilize and modulate host chromatin architecture and its regulatory machinery to control features of their life cycle, such as lytic versus latent status. Combined with previous research focusing on individual loci, recent global genomic studies employing conformational assays coupled with high-throughput sequencing technology have informed models for host and, in some cases, viral 3D chromosomal structure re-organization during infection and the contribution of these alterations to virus-mediated diseases. Here, we review recent discoveries and progress in host and viral chromatin structural dynamics during infection, focusing on a subset of DNA (human herpesviruses and HPV) as well as RNA (HIV, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2) viruses. An understanding of how host and viral genomic structure affect gene expression in both contexts and ultimately viral pathogenesis can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.566-573
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attempted to verify the effectiveness of the application of air sterilizers in elementary schools at risk of group infection among vulnerable groups in order to address fears of new infectious diseases that have increased since the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Coronavirus infection-19 (COVID-19). Method: One air sterilizer was installed in each classroom, cafeteria, and bathroom of an elementary school in Seoul, and surface and air samples were collected at a distance of 2m from the air sterilizer, and the bacterial reduction effect was analyzed compared to the uninstalled control group. Result: The sterilization effect on the surface was less than 2log CFU/cm² in both the control group and the test group, and the test group showed 54 to 87% less general bacterial colony formation than the control group. In addition, the sterilization effect in the air differed depending on the location of the air sterilizer, and the wall installation showed a reduction effect of up to 91% compared to the control group, and the central installation showed a reduction effect of up to 93%. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it is expected that the prevention of infectious diseases can be increased by maintaining the current quarantine program in elementary schools that conduct regular disinfection while applying air sterilizers. In addition, it is considered desirable to facilitate the inflow of air into the air sterilizer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.