• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.489-497
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• 2019

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus at the larval stage, predominantly develops in the liver and lungs of intermediate hosts and eventually results in organ malfunction or even death. The interaction between E. granulosus and human body is incompletely understood. Exosomes are nanosized particles ubiquitously present in human body fluids. Exosomes carry biomolecules that facilitate communication between cells. To the best of our knowledge, the role of exosomes in patients with CE is not reported. Here, we isolated exosomes from the sera of patients with CE (CE-exo) and healthy donors and subjected them to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Proteomic analysis identified 49 proteins specifically expressed in CE-exo, including 4 proteins of parasitic origin. The most valuable parasitic proteins included tubulin alpha-1C chain and histone H4. And 8 proteins were differentially regulated in CE-exo (fold change>1.5), as analyzed with bioinformatic methods such as annotation and functional enrichment analyses. These findings may improve our understanding about the interaction between E. granulosus and human body, and may contribute to the diagnosis and prevention of CE.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.213-224
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• 2014

Previously we have shown that human abdominal adipose derived-stem cells (ADSCs) could aggregate during the high-density culture in the presence of human serum (HS). In the present study, we observed that human cord blood serum (CBS) and follicular fluid (HFF) also induced aggregation. Similarly, porcine serum could induce aggregation whereas bovine and sheep sera induced little aggregation. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that, compared to FBS-cultured ADSCs, HS-cultured cells exhibited higher level of mRNA expression of CLDN3, -6, -7, -15, and -16 genes among the tight junction proteins. ADSCs examined at the time of aggregation by culture with HS, BSA, HFF, CBS, or porcine serum showed significantly higher level of mRNA expression of JAM2 among JAM family members. In contrast, cells cultured in FBS, bovine serum or sheep serum, showed lower level of JAM2 expression. Immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated that the aggregates of HS-cultured cells (HS-Agg) showed intense staining against the anti-JAM2 antibody whereas neither non-aggregated cells (HS-Ex) nor FBS-cultured cells exhibited weak staining. Western blot results showed that HS-Agg expressed JAM2 protein more prominently than HS-Ex and FBS-cultured cells, both of latter reveled weaker intensity. These results suggest that the aggregation property of ADSCs during high-density culture would be dependent on the specific components of serum, and that JAM2 molecule could play a role in the animal sera-induced aggregation in vitro.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 1988

To observe the antigenic protein fractions in saline extract of Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid (sparganum), the crude extract was separated in reducing conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE). The proteins, transferred by celctrophoresis to introcillulose paper, were reacted with sera from 15 surgically confirmed sparganosis and 24 cysticercosis patients for immunoblotting. Out of 30 identified protein bands in the extract, bands of 29 and 36 kilodaltons (kDa) were the strongest and the most frequently reacting with specific antibody (IgG) in sparganosis sera. Bands of highter molecular weight also reacted with the sera but their frequency of reactions was lower. Sera of cysticercosis reacted with different protein bands in saline extract of sparganum, but the cross reactions were observed in strong antigenic bands of 29 and 36 kDa.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 1988

In order to observe the antigenic fractions in saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani, proteins in the crude extract were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS.PAGE) in reducing conditions. The separated protein fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose paper on which 20 sera from human paragonimiasis were reacted and immunoblottrd. Out of 15 stained protein bands in SDS-PAGE, 7 reacted with infected sera while 8 did not. Additionally, 7 unstained protein bands in SDS-PAGE reacted with the sera. Of 14 reacted bands, 30 kilodalton(kDa) band was the most frequently reacted (95%) and was a strong antigen. Protein bands of 23 and 46 kDa were also strong antigens. Bands of over 150 kDa, 120 kDa, 92 kDa, 86 kDa, 74 kDa, 62 kDa, 51 kDa, 32 kDa, 28 kDa, 16.5 kDa and 15.5 kDa were also reactive but their frequencies of the reaction were variable. Key words: Paragonimus westermani, human paragonimiasis, antigenic proteins, SDS-PAGE/ immunoblot

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the distribution of non-ortho and mono-ortho PCB congeners and homologues in adipose tissues and sera of women with breast cancer. The collected samples were 25 adipose tissues and 33 sera from women with breast cancer. The samples from the control group were 49 adipose tissues and 52 sera. The levels of three non-ortho and eight mono-ortho PCBs identified in adipose tissue and serum samples were determined by GC/MSD and GC/ECD analyses. Non-ortho and mono-ortho PCB congeners were more dominant in the control group than in the case group for serum samples. The Tetra-PCB and the Hexa-, Hepta-PCB were more dominant in tale and control groups, respectively. The level of PCB homologues in normal women was similar to that of the normal human milk samples. However, the levels of PCB homologues from breast cancer patients were almost same the level of sample from environment. As a result of this study, it is suggested that breast cancer could be related to environmental factors such as PCB level in stack gas and soil sample. More extended research should be to verify this result.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.435-437
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• 2019

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is endemic in many Latin American countries. Diagnosis is based on serologic testing and the WHO recommends two or more serological tests for confirmation. Acidic ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi showed strong reactivity against positive sera of patients, and we cloned the protein after fragmenting it to enhance its antigenicity and solubility. Twelve positive sera of Chagas disease patients were reacted with the fragmented ribosomal P protein using western blot. Detection rate and density for each fragment were determined. Fragments F1R1, F1R2, and F2R1 showed 100% rate of detection, and average density scoring of 2.00, 1.67, and 2.42 from a maximum of 3.0, respectively. Therefore, the F2R1 fragment of the ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi could be a promising antigen to use in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with high specificity and sensitivity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 1995

Soluble protein of purified Pneumocvstis cnrinii was prepared from experimentally infected rats. SDS-PAGE of the crude antigen resolved about 20 protein bands from 20 to 200 kDa. Out of thenl, 116 kDa band strongly reacted and 45-55 and 100 kDa bands reacted weakly to the positive reference human serum from U.S.A. Western blot analysis with sera of 130 normal children and 15 newborns in Korea revealed specific IgG antibody reaction to 40-55 and 116 kDa protein bands. Forty percent (40.0%) of the 145 sera were positive with any of the antigenic protein bands of R corinii. The positive rate was 56% in 50 males and 33.3% in 48 females. The protein bands 40-55 and 116 kDa from rat P. carinii were confirmed to cross-react with human sera in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.751-754
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• 2013

Neurognathostomiasis is a severe form of human gnathostomiasis which can lead to disease and death. Diagnosis of neurognathostomiasis is made presumptively by using clinical manifestations. Immunoblotting, which recognizes antigenic components of molecular mass 21 kDa and 24 kDa in larval extracts of Gnathostoma spinigerum (Gs 21/24), has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of neurognathostomiasis. However, only very small amounts of the Gs 21/24 antigens can be prepared from parasites harvested from natural or experimental animals. To overcome this problem, we recently produced a recombinant matrix metalloproteinase (rMMP) protein from G. spinigerum. In this study, we evaluated this rMMP alongside the Gs 21/24 antigens for serodiagnosis of human neurognathostomiasis. We studied sera from 40 patients from Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, with clinical criteria consistent with those of neurognathostomiasis, and sera from 30 healthy control adults from Thailand. All sera were tested for specific IgG antibodies against both G. spinigerum crude larval extract and rMMP protein using immunoblot analysis. The sensitivity and specificity for both antigenic preparations were all 100%. These results show that G. spinigerum rMMP protein can be used as an alternative diagnostic antigen, in place of larval extract, for serodiagnosis of neurognathostomiasis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.4102-4102
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• 2001

In multivariate analysis, absorbance spectrum is measured over a band of wavelengths. One does not often pay attention to the size of this wavelength band. However, it is desirable that spectrum is measured at only necessary wavelengths as long as the acceptable accuracy of prediction can be met. In this paper, the method of selecting an optimal band of wavelengths based on the loading vector analysis was proposed and applied for determining total protein in human serum using near-infrared transmission spectroscopy and PLSR. Loading vectors in the full spectrum PLSR were used as reference in selecting wavelengths, but only the first loading vector was used since it explains the spectrum best. Absorbance spectra of sera from 97 outpatients were measured at 1530∼1850 nm with an interval of 2 nm. Total protein concentrations of sera were ranged from 5.1 to 7.7 g/㎗. Spectra were measured by Cary 5E spectrophotometer (Varian, Australia). Serum in the 5 mm-pathlength cuvette was put in the sample beam and air in the reference beam. Full spectrum PLSR was applied to determine total protein from sera. Next, the wavelength region of 1672∼1754 nm was selected based on the first loading vector analysis. Standard Error of Cross Validation (SECV) of full spectrum (1530∼l850 nm) PLSR and selected wavelength PLSR (1672∼1754 nm) was respectively 0.28 and 0.27 g/㎗. The prediction accuracy between the two bands was equal. Wavelength selection based on loading vector in PLSR seemed to be simple and robust in comparison to other methods based on correlation plot, regression vector and genetic algorithm. As a reference of wavelength selection for PLSR, the loading vector has the advantage over the correlation plot since the former is based on multivariate model whereas the latter, on univariate model. Wavelength selection by the first loading vector analysis requires shorter computation time than that by genetic algorithm and needs not smoothing.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1999

Thyroxine (3,5,3',5'-L-tetraiodothyronine; T$_4$) is the most commonly measured thyroid hermono for the diagnosis of various thyroid disorders. Although radioimmunoassay (RIA) is still considered as the reference technique for the measurement of T$_4$, it is generally regarded that RIA has its primary disadventages in handling the wastes and controling the human and material resources. Therefore, establishment of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has of great significance. To verify the usefulness of our enzyme immunoassay, we have obtained the standard dose response curve of T$_4$ in patient's sera which is inversely proportional to the amount of herseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated monoclonal antibody of T$_4$ bound to the wells. The correlation coefficient (r) between the ELISA and chemiluminescent assay was 0.444 (n=38). Thus we have investigated the establishment of rapid and sensitive competitive ELISA assay method for detection of T$_4$ in patient's sera.