• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2005

Conidial development of Cordyceps militaris was observed from germinating ascospores and vegetative hyphae through light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ascospores were discharged from fresh specimens of C. militaris in sterile water as well as Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract (SDAY) plates. We observed ascospore germination and conidial formation periodically. Under submerged condition in sterile water, most part-spores germinated unidirectionally and conidia were developed directly from the tips of germinating hyphae of part-spores within 36 h after ascospore discharge, showing microcyclic conidiation. First-formed conidia were cylindrical or clavate followed by globose and ellipsoidal ones. Germination of ascospores and conidial development were observed on SDAY agar by SEM. Slimy heads of conidia on variously arranged phialides, from solitary to whorl, developed 5 days after ascospore discharge. Besides, two distinct types of conidia, elongated pyriform or cylindrical and globose, were observed in the same slimy heads by SEM. Conidia were shown to be uninucleate with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. Conidiogenous cells were more slender than vegetative hyphae, having attenuated tips. Microcyclic conidiation, undifferentiated conidiogenous hyphae (phialides), polymorphic conidia and solitary, opposite to whorled type of phialidic arrangement are reported here as the characteristic features of asexual stage of C. militaris, which can be distinguished from other Cordyceps species.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2022

Objective : To perform a comparative analysis of therapeutic effects associated with two different shapes of ceria nanoparticles, ceria nanorods (Ceria NRs) and ceria nanospheres (Ceria NSs), in an in vitro model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods : In vitro TBI was induced using six-well confluent plates by manually scratching with a sterile pipette tip in a 6×6-square grid. The cells were then incubated and classified into cells with scratch injury without nanoparticles and cells with scratch injury, which were treated separately with 1.16 mM of Ceria NSs and Ceria NRs. Antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects were analyzed. Results : Ceria NRs and Ceria NSs significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species compared with the control group of SH-SY5Y cells treated with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline. The mRNA expression of superoxide dismutases was also reduced in nanoparticle-treated SH-SY5Y cells, but apparently the degree of mRNA expression decrease was not dependent on the nanoparticle shape. Exposure to ceria nanoparticles also decreased the cyclooxygenase-2 expression, especially prominent in Ceria NR-treated group than that in Ceria NS-treated group. Conclusion : Ceria nanoparticles exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in TBI models in vitro. Ceria NRs had better anti-inflammatory effect than Ceria NSs, but showed similar antioxidant activity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.30-41
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• 2024

The dense granule protein of Toxoplasma gondii, inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (IST) is an inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) transcriptional activity that binds to STAT1 and regulates the expression of inflammatory molecules in host cells. A sterile inflammatory liver injury in pathological acute liver failures occurs when excessive innate immune function, such as the massive release of IFN-γ and TNF-α, is activated without infection. In relation to inflammatory liver injury, we hypothesized that Toxoplasma gondii inhibitor of STAT1 transcription (TgIST) can inhibit the inflammatory response induced by activating the STAT1/IRF-1 mechanism in liver inflammation. This study used IFN-γ and TNF-α as inflammatory inducers at the cellular level of murine hepatocytes (Hepa-1c1c7) to determine whether TgIST inhibits the STAT1/IRF-1 axis. In stable cells transfected with TgIST, STAT1 expression decreased with a decrease in interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 levels. Furthermore, STAT1 inhibition of TgIST resulted in lower levels of NF-κB and COX2, as well as significantly lower levels of class II transactivator (CIITA), iNOS, and chemokines (CLXCL9/10/11). TgIST also significantly reduced the expression of hepatocyte proapoptotic markers (Caspase3/8/9, P53, and BAX), which are linked to sterile inflammatory liver injury. TgIST also reduced the expression of adhesion (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and infiltration markers of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) induced by hepatocyte and tissue damage. TgIST restored the cell apoptosis induced by IFN-γ/TNF-α stimulation. These results suggest that TgIST can inhibit STAT1-mediated inflammatory and apoptotic responses in hepatocytes stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.125-127
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• 2013

Canine Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (CSPD) represents a sterile, superficial, pustular skin disease of unknown cause but may be a variant of pemphigus foliaceus. A 7-year-old, intact female, mixed dog presented with 3-month history of pruritic multiple pustules and crusts. Direct smears from intact pustules revealed numerous nondegenerate neutrophils, some acantholytic cells, and bacterial culture was negative. Histologic examination of lesional skin showed subcorneal pustules filled with neutrophils and acantholytic cells. The direct immunofluorescence tests stained with IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 were negative. Oral administration of dapsone (1 mg/kg/q8h) was initiated and it was reduced to 1 mg/kg/q12h with good control of the lesions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2018

The morphology, anatomy and reproduction (tetra/bisporic and male) of Lithothamnion japonicum Foslie was studied, using holotype material and materials collected from Korea. Lithothamnion japonicum is characterized based on the presence of encrusting, warty to fruticose thallus, branched or unbranched short and cylindrical protuberances, conical shaped spermatangial conceptacles, branched (dendroid) spermatangial systems formed on floor, walls, and roof of conceptacle chamber, cylindrical shaped spermatangial conceptacle canal, 9-10 cell layered spermatangial conceptacle roof, raised tetra/bisporangial conceptacles without rims, flattened tetra/bisporangial conceptacle pore plate, 16-50 pores on each pore plate, 6-8 rosette cells surrounded by each pore, pore canal lining filaments composed of tetra/bisporangial conceptacle roof, and buried senescent tetra/bisporangial conceptacles completely infilled with relatively large and irregularly arranged calcified sterile cells. In this study, we report a new record of Lithothamnion japonicum from Korean coasts.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.105-113
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• 2010

A new red algal parasite, Symphyocolax koreana M. S. Kim, gen. et sp. nov., has been found on a specimen of Symphyocladia latiuscula (Harvey) Yamada, a member of the tribe Pterosiphonieae of the Rhodomelaceae; this genus has never before been reported to host red algal parasites. Here, the new parasite from Korea is described in terms of vegetative and reproductive morphology. The thallus has a minute, colored polysiphonous upright axis with many branches attached by pseudoparenchymatous pulvinate bases. There are six pericentral cells, with many corticated cells in the lower part of the main branches. Trichoblasts occur on dioecious male and female gametophytes, but not on tetrasporophytes. Procarps develop on suprabasal cells of trichoblasts and consist of a four-celled carpogonial branch and two sterile cells attached to the supporting cell. Spermatangial branches are borne one per each successive segment on monosiphonous pedicels in spiral positions with fertile trichoblast. Tetrasporangia are formed one per segment in a straight series and are tetrahedrally divided. Features of the vegetative axes, procarp, spermatangial trichoblasts, and tetrasporangial branching show that the new genus is an alloparasite belonging to the tribe Polysiphonieae.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.43-58
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• 2006

As a bioreactor, bird has proved to be most efficient system for producing useful therapeutic proteins. More than half of the egg white protein content derives from the ovalbumin gene with four other proteins(lysozyme, ovomucoid, ovomucin and conalbumin) present at levels of 50 milligrams or greater. And the naturally sterile egg also contains egg white protein at high concentration allowing for a long shelf life of recombinant protein without loss in activity. In spite of these advantages, transgenic procedures for the bird have lagged far behind because of its complex process of fertilized egg and developmental differences. Recently, a system to transplant mouse testis cells from a fertile donor male to the seminiferous tubules of an infertile recipient male has been developed. Spermatogenesis is generated from transplanted cells, and recipients are capable of transmitting the donor haplotype to progeny. After transplantation, primitive donor spermatogonia migrate to the basement membrane of recipient seminiferous tubules and begin proliferating. Eventually, these cells establish stable colonies with a characteristic appearance, which expands and produces differentiating germ cells, including mature spermatozoa. Thus, the transplanted cells self-renew and produce progeny that differentiate into fully functional spermatozoa. In this study, to develop an alternative system of germline chimera production that operates via the testes rather than through developing embryos, the spermatogonial stem cell techniques were applied. This system consisted of isolation and in vitro-culture of chicken testicular cells, transfer of in vitro-maintained cells into heterologous testes, production of germline chimeras and confirmation of germline transmission for evaluating production of heterologous, functional spermatozoa.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2015

Background: We conducted this experimental study to examine whether human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are effective in achieving a recovery of damaged renal tubular epithelial cells in an animal model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury using rats. Methods: To examine the in vitro effects of ADSCs in improving nephrotoxicity, we treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells with both ADSCs and cisplatin mouse renal tubular epithelial cells. And we equally divided 30 male white Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into the three groups: the control group (intraperitoneal injection of a sterile saline), the cisplatin group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin) and the ADSC group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin and the hADSC via the caudal vein). At five days after the treatment with cisplatin, serum levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured from each SD rat. We performed histopathologic examinations of tissue samples obtained from the kidney. Results: The degree of the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and that of Bcl-2 were significantly higher and lower respectively, in cisplatin group (P<0.05). Serum levels of BUN (P=0.027) and creatinine (P=0.02) were significantly higher in cisplatin group. On histopathologic examinations, there was a significant difference in the ratio of the renal injury between cisplatin group and ADSC group (P=0.002). Conclusion: The ADSCs might have a beneficial effect in regenerating the damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.112-126
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• 1970

This paper deals with cytogenetical and cytochemical studies of the carp (Cyprinus carpio), the funa (Carassius carassius) and their hybrids. When kept under a confined condition, the carp and the funa mate andcan produce hybrids. Reciprocal crosses are also possible with similar results. The hybrids grow regularly with no observed abnormalities in the course of their development. They rank intermediate between the parent species in several characters. The hybrid males are completely sterile, while a hybrid female laid eggs in backcrossing. The spermatogenetic activity in hybrid testes is greatly disturbed. The chromosomes as observed in spermatogonial devision of hybrids are 100 in number, being the total sum of the haploid numbers of the parents, 50 for the carp and 50 for the funa. Meiosis in the hybrid testes is highly disturbed being arrested at early stages of the meiotic prophase. Most of the germ-cells undergo pycnotic degeneration during the period from late leptotene, and no spermatozoa are produced. In some hybrid specimens, the gonads show mosaic structures composed of testicular and ovarian elements, anevidence suggesting that sterility is associated with intersexuality caused by genetic unbalance between the parent species. The DNA amount in spermatogonial nuclei of thehybrids is approximately the same as that of liver nuclei, showing the 2n value. The DNA amount in the pachytene nuclei of the hybrids is less than the 4n value, while the parent species have the reduced amount of DNA in their pachytene nuclei. A consideration was made that the reduced amount of DNA in the hybrid cells may cause the disturbance of cellular activity leading to the subsequent degeneration of cells. Some aspects of enzymatic pattern in the carp, funa and their hybrids are. going on.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2020

The striped fruit fly, Zeugodacus scutellata, is endemic in Korea, but it has been regarded as one of the serious quarantine pests throughout the world. Sterile insect release technique (SIT) has been used to eradicate quarantine fruit flies. This study developed a technique to generate sterile males and applied SIT to control Z. scutellata. First of all, the reproductive systems of Z. scutellata adults were examined with fluorescent microscope. Polytrophic ovaries comprises of around 100 follicles with developing oocytes. Each follicle contains an oocyte with several nurse cells and are surrounded with follicular epithelium. Oocyte development began at 10 days after adult emergence (DAE) and formed chorionated oocytes after 20 DAE. On the other hand, male testes were well developed just after adult emergence. The vas deferens was filled with motile sperms. To generate sterile males, different doses (0~1,000 Gy) doses of electron beam were irradiated to 3~5 days old pupae of Z. scutellata. When male pupae were irradiated with electron beam at 200 Gy, they developed and mated with females without any significant difference compared to untreated males. Although the untreated females mated with the 200 Gy-irradiated males laid eggs, no eggs did not hatch. The 200 Gy-irradiated males were then applied to untreated male and female flies in a density ratio of 1:9 (untreated males : treated males). The laid eggs suffered significant infertility. These results suggest that electron beam-irradiated pupae at 200 Gy resulted in male sterility and the resulting males would be applied to SIT.