• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 1999

In order to understand molecular phylogenetics of silkworm (Bombyx mori), we analyzed the sequences of BmoMAR isolated from Bomhyx mori that is partial coding gene of transposase of mariner-like element(MLE). By pairwise comparing nucleotide sequences of BmoMAR with ten previously reported insect MLEs accessed in GeneBank, the average genetic distance was estimated to be 0.4840. The phylogenetics tree constructed from nine insect species except for human MLE(Hsmarl) by UPGMA method indicated that MLEs are divided into three clusters, and Drosophila mariutiana was independently subgrouped. Bombyx mori(BmoMAR) was subgrouped with microcaddishfly (Orthotrichia cristata), webworm(Atteva punctella), almond moth(Ephestia cautella), Hyalopora cecropia which we lepidoptera. Phylogenetics tree according to UPGMA principle, on the basis of informative nucleotide sequences of nine insect MLEs, indicated that Bombyx mori was more closely related to microcaddishfly(Orthotrichia cristata) and webworm (Atteva punctella) of lepidoptera. We suggest that insect MLEs are a useful key for studying molecular phylogenetics among intra species of insects.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2006

Anticoagulant activities of a fermented edible brown alga, Laminaria ochotensis was investigated. L. ochotensis was fermented with 15% sugar (w/v) at $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 weeks. Anticoagulant activity was measured from the supernatant of algal mixture at biweekly intervals up to $10^{th}$ week by activated partial thromboplastin (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) assay using citrated human plasma. Sample having high APTT activity $(6^{th}\;week)$ was filtered, ethanol precipitated and freeze-dried. The polysaccharide compound having anticoagulant activity was purified by DEAE ion exchange chromatography followed by Sepharose-4B gel filtration chromatography. Anticoagulant activity, polysaccharide concentration, and heparin like activity were determined for the collected fractions by APTT, $phenol-H_2SO_4$, and glycosaminoglycan assay, respectively. The anticoagulant activity assay showed that the activity was increased up to $6^{th}$ week, and decreased thereafter. The concentration of our purified compound was $31.0{\mu}g/ml$ and showed higher APTT activity than commercial heparin. At the same concentration of $31.0{\mu}g/ml$, the heparin showed 186.5 sec activity while our purified compound showed an activity of 386 sec. Single spot on agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the compound was purified and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) results revealed that the molecular mass of the purified polysaccharide compound was between 60 and 500 kDa. Therapeutic interest of the algal polysaccharide as an anticoagulant has recently been in highlighted. This purified anticoagulant compound from fermented L. ochotensis can be used as a model for anticoagulant agent or could be developed as an anticoagulant agent. This study can be extended to identify the structure and chemical composition of the purified polysaccharide, and to establish a relationship between structure and the function of the identified anticoagulant compounds.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.343-350
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• 2009

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effects of Samjajihwang-tang (SJT) using OVA-induced asthmatic mice model. Asthmatic mice model was conducted by repeated challenge of OVA using C57BL/6 mice. Each group was treated with distilled water, SJT (400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) extract or cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg) for the later 8 weeks, Penh (plethysmography and enhanced pause), immune cells subpopulation, eotaxin, IL-5, TNF-${\alpha}$, Anti-OVA-lgE in BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage), and lung tissue was analyzed, No cytotoxicity of SJT was shown on hFCs (human fibroblast cells). Administration of SJT significantly decreased Penh levels comparing to control group. SJT treatment significantly ameliorated the increase of total cells number and eosinophil including of immune cell subpopulation of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CCR3^+$, $B220^+/CD22^+$, $B220^+/CD45^+$, and $B220^+/lgE^+$ cells in BALF comparing to control group. Eotaxin, IL-5, TNF-${\alpha}$, and Anti-OVA-lgE level in BALF were significantly decreased by SJT treatment too. Histopathological finding verified the improvement of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen tissue in the SJT groups comparing to control group. These results strongly suggest that SJT would be a effective candidate for herbal-originated anti-asthmatic drug. However, this drug should be further studied for characterization of the accurate action and underlying mechanisms using variant disease model in the future.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.559-565
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• 2001

Protein carboxyl O-methyltransferase (E.C.2.1.1.24) may play a role in the repair of aged protein that is spontaneously incorporated with isoaspartyl residues. The porcine brain carboxyl O-methyltransferase was cloned in the pET32 vector, and overexpressed in E.coh (BL21) that harbors pETPCMT, which encodes 227 amino acids, including tagging proteins at the N-terminus. The protein sequence of the cloned porcine brain PCMT (r-pbPCMT) shares a 98% identity with that of human erythrocyte PCMT and rat brain PCMT. It is 100% identical with that of bovine brain. The r-pbPCMT was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and digested by enterokinase in order to remove the protein tags. Then Superdex 75HR gel filtration chromatography was performed. The r-pbPCMT exhibited similar in vitro substrate specificities with the PCMT that was purified from porcine brain. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 24.5 kDa on the SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The $K_m$ value was $1.1{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ for S-adenosyl-L-methionine. S-adnosyl-L-homocysteine was a competitive type of inhibitor with the $K_i$ value of $1.38{\times}10^{-4}\;M$. The enzyme has optimal activity at pH 6.0 and $37^{\circ}C$. These results indicate that the expressed enzyme is functionally similar to the natural protein. It also suggests that it may be a suitable model to further understand the function of the mammalian enzyme.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3_4
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• pp.29-36
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• 1990

Aflatoxins, produced by strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, can be found worldwide in corn, barley, peanuts, and other commodities. Among this group of toxins, aflatoxin B$_1$was realized to be one of the most potent environmental carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. It is routinely monitored by methods such as thin layer chromatography, liquid chromatography, fluorodensitometric technique and radioimmunoassay. However, these assays are expensive, necessitate radioactive reagents, and require overnight incubation. In this study, the determination of fungal flora in several sorts cereals has been carried out in order to obtain an appropriate information of the population of fungi. The quantitative analysis of aflatoxin B$_1$has been carried out by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results were summarized as follow: 1) From the 100 samples,313 colonies of fungi were isolated. Among the 313 colonies, 274 were possible to identify into 11 genera. The identified genera were Aspergillus Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Alternaria, Cladosorium, Fusarium, Circinella, Chrysosporium, Paecilomyces and Phoma. 2) Six of Aspergillus flavus were aflatoxin-producing strains. Aspergillus flavus isolated from sample barleys was contained the highest content (21.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) of aflatoxin B$_1$. 3) The yield of aflatoxin B$_1$-oxime compound was appromately 75%. Aflatoxin B$_1$-oxime-Human serum albumin was approved by formal consent as complete antigen. 4) Direct competitive ELISA permitted detection of 0.15 ng levels. In the quantitative microanalysis, ELISA was superior to HPLC method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2013

Canthaxanthin (cx) is a potent antioxidant that is chemically synthesized at the industrial scale and has imperative applications in the cosmetic and feed industries. An orange pigmented mesophilic bacterium, designated as K44, was isolated from soil samples of Kargil, India. Biochemical tests, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and FAME analysis of the bacterium indicated it to belong in the genus Dietzia and is distinct from human isolates. The strain showed 98% 16S rRNA gene sequence homology with Dietzia maris DSM 43102. High-performance liquid chromatography profile of the pigments isolated from K44 showed two major peaks absorbing at 465.3 and 475 nm. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of both these peaks revealed their m/z to be 564. The molecular weights, LC-MS/MS fragmentation patterns, and ${\lambda}_{max}$ of these fractions corresponded to all-trans- (475 nm) and 9-cis-(465.3 nm) cx isomers. The antioxidant activities of cis- and trans-cx isomers isolated from this bacterium were found to differ, where the cis-isomer showed higher free radical, superoxide radical, and reactive oxygen species scavenging activities than the alltrans- isomer, suggesting that 9-cis-cx is more effective as an antioxidant than the all-trans-cx.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2020

Incorporating renewable fuel into practice, especially from algae, is a promising approach in reducing fossil fuel dependency. Algae are an exceptional feedstock since they produce abundant biomass and oils in short timeframes. Algae also produce high-valued lipid products suitable for human nutrition and supplement. Achieving goals of producing algae fuels and high-valued lipids at competitive prices involves further improvement of technology, especially better control over cultivation. Manipulating microalgae cultivation conditions to prevent contamination is essential in addition to promoting optimal growth and lipid yields. Contamination of algal cultures is a major impediment to algae cultivation that can however be mitigated by choosing extremophile microalgae. This work describes the isolation of alkali-tolerant / alkaliphilic microalgae native to South Florida with ideal characteristics for cultivation. For that purpose, water samples from Lake Okeechobee were inoculated into Zarrouk's medium (pH 9-12) and incubated for 35 days. Selection resulted in isolation of three strains that were screened for biomass and lipid accumulation. Two alkali-tolerant algae Chloroidium sp. 154-1 and Chlorella sp. 154-2 were poor lipid accumulators. One of the isolates, the diatom Fistulifera sp. 154-3, was identified as a lipid accumulating, alkaliphilic organism capable of producing 0.233 g L^-1 d^-1 dry biomass and a lipid content of 20-30% dry weight. Lipid analysis indicated the most abundant fatty acid within Fistulifera sp. was palmitoleic acid (52%), or omega-7, followed by palmitic acid (17%), and then eicosapentanoic acid (15%). 18S rRNA phylogenetic analysis formed a well-supported clade with Fistulifera species.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.567-574
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• 2021

In this study, we evaluated the wound healing rate and, inflammatory cells effects of by Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (ADN) extract in mice. We also assessed the stability of the ADN extract upon exposure to sunlight. Treatments were as follows: 1) CON (only saline solution), T1 (CON + 0.0125% ADN extract), T2 (CON + 0.05% ADN extract), and T3 (CON + 0.5% ADN extract). A 4 mm punch was used in the central part of the dorsal area to separate it from the subcutaneous tissue, causing a full-thickness skin wound. An amount of 1 mL of each sample was sprayed onto the treatment section of the wound with a pipette every day from the day of wound creation, with proper application ensured using brush. In the stability test, the pH was measured at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after exposing the samples of each treatment section to sunlight considering, the higher concentrations of the ADN extract. The results of this study indicate that the effectiveness of the wound contraction rate in the mice to which the ADN extract was applied was low. Moreover, the stability of the sample containing a high concentration of the ADN extract could not be verified. In addition, no significant results were obtained in the inflammatory reaction assessment. Therefore, additional research focusing on wound contraction, stability, and inflammatory cell outcomes of the ADN extract is needed.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate probiotic characteristics and immune enhancing effects of Bifidobacterium (B.) longum KBB1-26 and BIF-4, B. breve KBB5-22 isolated from human intestine for probiotic use in humans and animals. We measured acid, bile and heat tolerance, antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia (E.) coli, Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, and Listeria (L.) monocytogenes. Immune enhancing effects of B. longum and B. breve were investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor ($NF-{\kappa}b$), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in RAW 264.7 cells or RAW BLUE cells. B. longum KBB1-26 was survived at pH 2.0. B. longum KBB1-26 and BIF-4, B. breve KBB5-22 also showed tolerance to 0.3% of oxgall bile salt. B. longum KBB1-26 was able to survive at $70^{\circ}C$ and $80^{\circ}C$ for 20 min. KBB1-26 showed the antimicrobial inhibition zone to pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli (12 mm), S. Enteritidis (14 mm), S. aureus (14 mm) and L. monocytogenes (41 mm). The production of NO ($4.5{\pm}0.00{\mu}M/mL$) and $IL-1{\beta}$ ($39.7{\pm}0.55pg/mL$) of KBB1-26 significantly higher than BIF-4 and KBB5-22, respectively. In addition, KBB1-26 and KBB5-22 induce the production of high level of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in macrophages. Collectively, B. longum KBB1-26 have acid, bile, heat tolerance, antimicrobial activity and immune enhancing effects. These results suggest that KBB1-26 can be used as probiotics for humans and animals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.106-113
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• 2023

The supply of microbiological risk-free water is essential to keep food safety and public hygiene. And removal, inactivation, and destruction of microorganisms in drinking water are key for ensuring safety in the food industry. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is an attractive method for efficient disinfection of water without generating toxicity and adversely affecting human health. In this study, the disinfection efficiencies of UV-C irradiation on Shigella flexneri (Gram negative) and Listeria monocytogenes (Gram positive) at various concentrations in drinking water were evaluated using a water purifier. Their morphological and physiological characteristics after UV-C irradiation were observed using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry combined with live/dead staining. UV-C irradiation (254 nm wavelength, irradiation dose: 40 mJ/cm²) at a water flow velocity of 3.4 L/min showed disinfection ability on both bacteria up to 10⁸ CFU/4 L. And flow cytometric analysis showed different physiological shift between S. flexneri and L. monocytogenes after UV-C irradiation, but no significant shift of morphology in both bacteria. In addition, each bacterium revealed different characteristics with time-course observation after UV-C irradiation: L. monocytogenes dramatically changed its physiological feature and seemed to reach maximum damage at 4 h and then recovered, whereas S. flexneri seemed to gradually die over time. This study revealed that UV-C irradiation of water purifiers is effective in disinfecting microbial contaminants in drinking water and provides basic information on bacterial features/responses after UV-C irradiation.