• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.14
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• 2024

Background: Lawsonia intracellularis is the causative agent of proliferative enteropathy and is associated with several outbreaks, causing substantial economic loss to the porcine industry. Objectives: In this study, we focused on demonstrating the protective effect in the mouse model through the immunological bases of two vaccine strains against porcine proliferative enteritis. Methods: We used live-attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) secreting two selected immunogenic LI antigens (Lawsonia autotransporter A epitopes and flagellin [FliC]-peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein-FliC) as the vaccine carrier. The constructs were cloned into a Salmonella expression vector (pJHL65) and transformed into the ST strain (JOL912). The expression of immunogenic proteins within Salmonella was evaluated via immunoblotting. Results: Immunizing BALB/c mice orally and subcutaneously induced high levels of LI-specific systemic immunoglobulin G and mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A. In immunized mice, there was significant upregulation of interferon-γ and interleukin-4 cytokine mRNA and an increase in the subpopulations of cluster of differentiation (CD) 4⁺ and CD 8⁺ T lymphocytes upon splenocytes re-stimulation with LI antigens. We observed significant protection in C57BL/6 mice against challenge with 10^6.9 times the median tissue culture infectious dose of LI or 2 × 10⁹ colony-forming units of the virulent ST strain. Immunizing mice with either individual vaccine strains or co-mixture inhibited bacterial proliferation, with a marked reduction in the percentage of mice shedding Lawsonia in their feces. Conclusions: Salmonella-mediated LI gene delivery induces robust humoral and cellular immune reactions, leading to significant protection against LI and salmonellosis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.340-352
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• 2024

This study measured the potential changes of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract and energy and nutrient digestibility by supplemental bacteriophages in pigs. Twelve castrated male pigs (initial mean body weight = 29.5 ± 2.3 kg) were surgically cannulated using T-cannula. The animals were housed individually in pens equipped with a feeder and a nipple waterer. The pigs were allotted to 1 of 3 experimental diets in a quadruplicated 3 × 2 Latin square design with 3 experimental diets, 2 periods, and 12 pigs resulting in 8 replicates per diet. The 3 diets were a control mainly based on corn and soybean meal with no antibiotics or bacteriophages, a diet containing 0.1% antibiotics, and a diet containing 0.2% bacteriophages. On day 5 of the experimental period, feces were collected and on days 6 and 7, ileal digesta were collected. Genomic DNA for bacteria were extracted from the ileal digesta and feces and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified. The ileal and fecal digestibility of energy, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber was unaffected by dietary antibiotics or bacteriophages. At the phylum level, the supplemental antibiotic or bacteriophage tended to result in a higher proportion of Firmicutes (p = 0.059) and a lower proportion of Bacteroidetes (p = 0.099) in the ileal digesta samples compared with the control group with no difference between the antibiotic and bacteriophage groups. At the genus level, the supplemental antibiotic or bacteriophage tended to result in a higher proportion of Lactobacillus (p = 0.062) and a lower proportion of Bacteroides (p = 0.074) and Streptococcus (p = 0.088) in the ileal digesta compared with the control group with no difference between the antibiotic and bacteriophage groups. In the feces, supplemental antibiotics or bacteriophages reduced the proportion of Bifidobacterium compared with the control group (p = 0.029) with no difference between the antibiotic and bacteriophage groups. Overall, supplemental antibiotics and bacteriophages showed positive effect on the microbiota of in the ileal digesta without largely affecting energy or nutrient digestibility, with no differences between the antibiotic and bacteriophage groups in growing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Recombination activating genes (RAGs) play a crucial role in initiating V(D)J recombination, which is essential for developing adaptive immunity in vertebrates. In this study, we cloned and characterized RAG1/2 cDNA from the marine medaka Oryzias dancena (OdRAG1/2) and investigated their mRNA expression patterns during ontogenetic developmental stages. The OdRAG1 and OdRAG2 cDNA contained open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins containing 1,078 and 531 amino acids, respectively. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that OdRAG1 and OdRAG2 are highly conserved with their corresponding orthologs, featuring distinct core and non-core regions. Notably, expression analysis showed that, in contrast to other fish RAGs studied, OdRAG1/2 expression peaked at 0 days post-hatching (DPH). Additionally, for the expression of T and B cell differentiation markers, CD3γ and CD20, also peaked at 0 DPH. Collectively, adaptive immunity in O. dancena potentially begins during embryonic development, which is critical for V(D)J recombination and essential immune component development, suggesting the early ontogenetic stage interactions between innate and adaptive immunity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.121-141
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• 2011

Objective : This Experimental study was done to investigate the Effect of Taklisodok-um and Hwangryunhaedok-tang(TH) on Atopic Dermatitis. Methods : We assessed effects of TH on the IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IgM, IgG1, IFN-${\gamma}$ in vivo, on the IL-4, IL-5, CCR3 in the skin tissues of ear and dorsum with NC/Nga mice. And we assessed effects of TH on the COX-2, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 with RAW 264.7 cell. Results and Conclusion : 1. IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IgM, IgGl levels in the serum of TH treated NC/Nga mouse group were decreased compared to the untreated control mice. IFN-r showed a increase in the experimental group compared to the untreated control group. The spleen weight of TH treated NC/Nga mice was decreased compared to the untreated control group. 2. mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5 and CCR3 in the skin tissues of TH treated NC/Nga mice were decreased, and expression levels of IL-6 in the skin tissues of TH treated NC/Nga mice were decreased compared to the untreated control group. IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression levels were increased compared to the untreated control group. 3. Judged from that IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 express of gene, effect of inflammatory Cytokines revelation were decreased compared to the untreated control group. 4. Depend on the strength of TH, inflammatory RAW 264.7 in the serum of TH were inhibited compared to the untreated control serum that leaded a COX-2 activity model. 5. Histological observation of the ear and skin tissues showed that the extents of inflammation and infiltrated immune cells in the epidermis and dermis of TH treated NC/Nga mice were highly reduced compared to the untreated control group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.98-108
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• 2015

Staphylococcus aureus is an important foodborne pathogen that causes diverse diseases ranging from minor infections to life-threatening conditions in humans and animals. To further understand its pathogenesis, the genome of the strain S. aureus FORC_001 was isolated from a contaminated food. Its genome consists of 2,886,017 bp double-stranded DNA with a GC content of 32.8%. It is predicted to contain 2,728 open reading frames, 57 tRNAs, and 6 rRNA operons, including 1 additional 5S rRNA gene. Comparative phylogenetic tree analysis of 40 complete S. aureus genome sequences using average nucleotide identity (ANI) revealed that strain FORC_001 belonged to Group I. The closest phylogenetic match was S. aureus MRSA252, according to a whole-genome ANI (99.87%), suggesting that they might share a common ancestor. Comparative genome analysis of FORC_001 and MRSA252 revealed two non-homologous regions: Regions I and II. The presence of various antibiotic resistance genes, including the SCCmec cluster in Region I of MRSA252, suggests that this strain might have acquired the SCCmec cluster to adapt to specific environments containing methicillin. Region II of both genomes contains prophage regions but their DNA sequence identity is very low, suggesting that the prophages might differ. This is the first report of the complete genome sequence of S. aureus isolated from a real foodborne outbreak in South Korea. This report would be helpful to extend our understanding about the genome, general characteristics, and virulence factors of S. aureus for further studies of pathogenesis, rapid detection, and epidemiological investigation in foodborne outbreak.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the UV-resistance of radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from the water of Han River, South Korea. The water sample was irradiated with 3 kGy gamma radiation prior to isolation. Radiation-resistant bacterial strains were isolated by standard serial dilution method on R2A and 1/10 diluted R2A agar. The resulting purely isolated 60 cultures of bacteria were analysed for UV resistance and used in further studies. Based on the comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the bacterial isolates were divided into 3 phyla (4 genera): the phylum Deinococcus-Thermus (the genus Deinococcus) was 61.7%, Bacteroidetes (Hymenobacter and Spirosoma) was 23.4%, and Firmicutes (Exiguobacterium) was 15%. The results suggested that twenty-nine isolates are candidates new species belonging to Deinococcus, Hymenobacter, and Spirosoma, or other new genera. Nine bacterial strains were selected among the novel candidates and the UV-resistance analysis was conducted. All the candidate bacterial strains showed high UV resistance, similar to that of D. radiodurans R1.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2020

Background: The biological and pharmacological effects of BST204, a fermented ginseng extract, have been reported in various disease conditions. However, its molecular action in metabolic disease remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified the antiadipogenic activity of BST204 resulting from its inhibition of the S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) signaling pathway. Methods: The inhibitory effects of BST204 on S6K1 signaling were investigated by immunoblot, nuclear fractionation, immunoprecipitation analyses. The antiadipogenic effect of BST204 was evaluated by measuring mRNA levels of adipogenic genes and by chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: Treatment with BST204 inhibited activation and nuclear translocation of S6K1, further decreasing the interaction between S6K1 and histone H2B in 10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells. Subsequently, phosphorylation of H2B at serine 36 (H2BS36p) by S6K1 was reduced by BST204, inducing an increase in the mRNA expression of Wnt6, Wnt10a, and Wnt10b, which disturbed adipogenic differentiation and promoted myogenic and early osteogenic gene expression. Consistently, BST204 treatment during adipogenic commitment suppressed the expression of adipogenic marker genes and lipid drop formation. Conclusion: Our results indicate that BST204 blocks adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells through the inhibition of S6K1-mediated histone phosphorylation. This study suggests the potential therapeutic strategy using BST204 to combat obesity and musculoskeletal diseases.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2017

Rhus chinensis is a shrub widely distributed in Asia. It has been used for traditional medicine and ecological restoration. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of two R. chinensis genotypes collected from China and Korea. The assembled chloroplast genome of Chinese R. chinensis is 149,094 bp long, consisting of a large single copy (97,246 bp), a small single copy (18,644 bp) and a pair of inverted repeats (16,602 bp). Gene annotation revealed 77 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. A phylogenomic analysis of the chloroplast genomes with 11 known complete chloroplast genomes clarified the relationship of R. chinensis with the other plant species in the Sapindales order. A comparative chloroplast genome analysis identified 170 SNPs and 85 InDels at intra-species level of R. chinensis between Chinese and Korean collections. Based on the sequence diversity between Korea and Chinese R. chinensis plants, we developed three DNA markers useful for genetic diversity and authentication system. The chloroplast genome information obtained in this study will contribute to enriching genetic resources and conservation of endemic Rhus species.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.334-343
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• 2017

Eclipta prostrata and E. alba are annual herbal medicinal plants and have been used as Chinese medicinal tonics. Both species are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in Korea. Both species have similar morphological features but E. alba has smoother leaf blade margins compared with E. prostrata. Although both species are utilized as oriental medicines, E. prostrata is more widely used than E. alba. Morphological semblances have confounded identification of either species. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genomes of both species to provide an authentication system between the two species and understand their diversity. Both chloroplast genomes were 151,733-151,757 bp long and composed of a large single copy (83,285-83,300 bp), a small single copy (18,283-18,346 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (25,075-25,063 bp). Gene annotation revealed 80 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genus Eclipta is grouped with Heliantheae tribe species in the Asteraceae family. A comparative analysis verified 29 InDels and 58 SNPs between chloroplast genomes of E. prostrata and E. alba. The low chloroplast genome sequence diversity indicates that both species are really close to each other and are not completely diverged yet. We developed six DNA markers that distinguish E. prostrata and E. alba based on the polymorphisms of chloroplast genomes between E. prostrata and E. alba. The chloroplast genome sequences and the molecular markers generated in this study will be useful for further research of Eclipta species and accurate classification of medicinal herbs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2003

DNA methylation is involved in epigenetic processes such as X-chromosome inactivation, imprinting and silencing of transposons. DNA methylation is a highly plastic and critical component of mammalian development The DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) are responsible for the generation of genomic methylation patterns, which lead to transcriptional silencing. The maintenance DNA methyltransferase enzyme, Dnmt 1, and the de novo methyltransferase, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, are indispensable for development because mice homozygous for the targeted disruption of any of these genes are not viable. The occurrence of DNA methylation is not random, and it can result in gene silencing The mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. It is well established that DNA methylation and histone deacetylation operate along a common mechanistic pathway to repress transcription through the action of methyl-binding domain proteins (MBDs), which are components of, or recruit, histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes to methylated DNA. As a basis for future studies on the role of the DNA-methyl-transferase in porcine development, we have isolated and characterized a partial cDNA coding for the porcine Dnmt1. Total RNA of testis, lung and ovary was isolated with TRlzol according to the manufacture's specifications. 5 ug of total RNA was reverse transcribed with Super Script II in the presence of porcine Dnmt 1 specific primers. Standard PCRs were performed in a total volume of 50 ul with cDNA as template. Two DNA fragmenets in different position were produced about 700bp, 1500bp and were cloned into pCR II-TOPO according to the manufacture's specification. Assembly of all sequences resulted in a cDNA from 158bp of 5'to 4861bp of 3'compare with the known human maintenance methyltransferase. Now, we are cloning the unknown Dnmt 1 region by 5'-RACE method and expression of Dnmt 1 in tissues from adult porcine animals.