• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.160-170
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• 2016

The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has raised the interest in alternative antimicrobial treatments. In our study, the functionally active gram-negative bacterium bacteriophage CP933 endolysin was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by a combination of transient expression and vacuole targeting strategies, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. Expression of the cp933 gene in E. coli led to growth inhibition and lysis of the host cells or production of trace amounts of CP933. Cytoplasmic expression of the cp933 gene in plants using Potato virus X-based transient expression vectors (pP2C2S and pGR107) resulted in death of the apical portion of experimental plants. To protect plants against the toxic effects of the CP933 protein, the cp933 coding region was fused at its Nterminus to an N-terminal signal peptide from the potato proteinase inhibitor I to direct CP933 to the delta-type vacuoles. Plants producing the CP933 fusion protein did not exhibit the severe toxic effects seen with the unfused protein and the level of expression was 0.16 mg/g of plant tissue. Antimicrobial assays revealed that, in contrast to gram-negative bacterium E. coli (BL21(DE3)), the gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis was more susceptible to the plant-produced CP933, showing 18% growth inhibition. The results of our experiments demonstrate that the combination of transient expression and protein targeting to the delta vacuoles is a promising approach to produce functionally active proteins that exhibit toxicity when expressed in plant cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.397-405
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• 1994

Minocline Strip(MS), a local drug delivery developed as a controlling means for microoragnisms in gingival wound and periodontitis, was implanted in the gingiva of experimental animals. The toxic effects and biodegradation of MS were studied in respect to pathological changes induced in gingival tissue. The experimental animals treated with MS had not showed significant difference in symptom, body weights, feed and water intake, and blood analysis throughout 150 days of experimental period, but revealed significantly increased values of total WBC counts and AST (SGOT) on the 7th day, compared with controls. The treated animals revealed petechial hemorrhage and severe edema accompanying degeneration and necrosis of damaged muscle fibers around the surgical wound, but no local inflammatory reaction and concerned lesions were found. The implanted MS became encapsulated by thin connective tissue, and its size and color diminished gradually according to the experimental term. The MS-like material appeared in the nearby lymphatics on the 110th day. The implated MS remained as fine granular particles or disappeared on the 130th day, and the decrease of its volume and density were variable depending on each individual. These results indicate that long-term implantation of MS may not produce inflammation or toxic effects, and eventually lead to complete biodegradation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.462-466
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• 2009

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), found in the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria, only exerts its toxic effects when in free form. LPS has three major parts, lipid A, the toxic component, along with a core polysaccharide and O-specific polysaccharide. LPS monomers are known to have molecular masses between 10 to 30 kDa. Under physiological conditions, LPS exists in equilibrium between monomer and vesicle forms. LPS removal by 100 kDa ultrafiltration was more efficient (99.6% of LPS removed) with a low concentration of protein (2.0 mg/ml) compared to a high concentration (20.1 mg/ml). In the presence of different detergents (0.5% Tween 20, 1.0% taurodeoxycholate and 1.0% Triton X-100), LPS removal was more efficient at low protein concentrations (2.0 mg/ml) compared to high protein concentrations (20.1 mg/ml).

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.66-80
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• 1984

The organic phosphorus compounds have been widely used as an insecticide, since toxicity of these compounds is especially drastic to the insects than to men and other mammals. The organic phosphates are rapidly hydrolized and hence have little cumulative and ecologic effects. However, due to their acute toxic effects organophosphate have recorded rather high fatalities in men and domestic animals. The organic phosphorus compounds are powerful inhibitors to the carboxylic esterase enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase. As a result of firm binding characteristics of phosphate radicals to the active sites of enzyme, the activities of these enzymes are inhibited by the organophosphates. The organophosphates such as diazinon is easily observed from skin, gastrointestinal tract, conjunctivas and respiratory tract, and it is converted to more toxic form during metabolism in the liver The present study was carried out in order to investigate the hepatotoxicity of diazinon by observing the changes in the ultrastructure of cytoplasmic organelles of hepatic cells in albino mice. The animals were killed at 6, 12 and 24 hours after administration of 25mg/kg diazinon. The piece of hepatic tissue obtained from each animal was ultrathinly sectioned. The specimens stained by uranyl acetate and lead citrate double contrast methods were observed with JEM model 100B electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1) A prominent dilatation and sacculation of the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum associated with detachment of membrane bound-ribosomes, and disaggregation of the free ribosomes were recognized. 2) The hypertrophy of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum associated with depletion of the glycogen particles was observed. 3) The atrophy of cisternae of Golgi complex was observed. 4) A large number of secondary lysosomes (autophagic vacuoles and residual bodies) were formed. Consequently it is suggested that diazinon would induce disorganization of the cytoplasmic organelles of hepatocytes in albino mice.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1571-1577
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• 2013

The effects of irradiance on the growth of toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense (Masan Bay strain) and Alexandrium catenella (Jinhae Bay strain) were investigated in the laboratory. At $15^{\circ}C$ and 30 psu for A. tamarense and $25^{\circ}C$ and 30 psu for A. catenella, the irradiance-growth curve showed the maximum growth rate (${\mu}_{max}$) of 0.31 $day^{-1}$ with half-saturation photon flux density (PFD) ($K_I$) of 44.53 ${\mu}molm^{-2}s^{-1}$, and a compensation PFD ($I_c$) was 20.67 ${\mu}molm^{-2}s^{-1}$ for A. tamarense, and ${\mu}_{max}$ of 0.38 $day^{-1}$ with $K_I$ of 59.53 ${\mu}molm^{-2}s^{-1}$, and $I_c$ was 40.80 ${\mu}molm^{-2}s^{-1}$ for A. catenella. The $I_c$ equated to a depth of 8~9 m from March to June for A. tamarense and 6~7 m from March to June for A. catenella. These responses suggested that irradiance at the depth near the middle layer in Masan Bay would provide favorable conditions for two species.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.150-151
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• 2003

Benzoyl peroxide is a high production volume chemical, which was produced about 1,375 tons/year in Korea as of 2001 survey. Most of them are used as initiators in polymerization, catalysts in the plastics industry, bleaching agents for flour and medication for acne vulgaris. The substance is one of the sever chemicals of which human and environmental risks are being assessed by National Institute of Environmental Research under the frame of OECD SIDS Program. It has a melting point of 104-106 $^{\circ}C$ and has solubility of 9.1 mg/1 in water at 25 $^{\circ}C$. The substance was readily biodegradable (83 % after 21days) and had toxic effects to aquatic organisms. The range of 72 hr-EbC50 (biomass) for algae was 0.07-0.44 mg/1 and 48 hr-EC50 for daphnia was 0.07-2.91 mg/1. The LC50 of acute toxicity to fish was 0.24-2.0 mg/1. Although the toxic effects of benzoyl peroxide to aquatic organisms were investigated, environmental monitoring data were not studied. In this study, distribution of the chemical among multimedia environment was estimated using EQC model based on the physical-chemical properties to evaluate the risk of benzoyl peroxide in environment. In level I, II calculation the chemical was distributed to soil (68.3 %) and water (28.7 %). In level III calculation it was primarily distributed to soil (99.9 %) and overall residence time of 3.4 years was estimated. Benzoyl peroxide could be persistent in environment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2010

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the principal chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAs). Despite the widespread use of these compounds, relatively little is known about their fate and effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effects of PFOS and PFOA on Daphnia magna. In the acute toxicity test, D. magna were exposed for 48 hours at concentrations of 0, 30, 45, 67.5, 101.25 and 151.88 mg/L PFOS, and 0, 100, 160, 225, 337.5 and 506.25 mg/L PFOA, respectively. In the case of chronic toxicity test, D. magna were exposed through water for 21 days at concentrations of 0, 0.375, 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg/L PFOS, and 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L PFOA, respectively. Acute toxicity was assessed on the basis of immobility, while chronic toxicity was assessed on the basis of fecundity. The acute toxicity test on PFOS and PFOA showed that the values of $EC_{50}$ were 50.90 mg/L and 253.47 mg/L, respectively. In the chronic test, fecundity was reduced significantly at 1.5 mg/L of PFOS and 10 mg/L of PFOA, respectively. These results indicated that PFOS is more toxic to zooplankton than PFOA, and both chemicals have some hazard demonstrates risk for acute or chronic toxicity to freshwater organism.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.775-781
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• 2008

Effects of salinity and standard toxic metals on fertilization and embryo development rates were investigated in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus nudus. Spawning was induced by injecting 1ml of 0.5 M KCl into the coelomic cavity. The fertilization and embryo development rates were below 20% when salinity was 25 psu or lower, but were above 90% when salinity was between 30 and 35 psu. The fertilization and embryo development rates in the control condition (not including Cu and Cd) were greater than 90%, but decreased with a high negative correlation (r) of 0.89 and 0.91 with the increasing of Cu and Cd concentrations, respectively. These results suggest that salinity concentrations for successful fertilization and normal embryogenesis of S. nudus are between 30 and 35 psu, and the biological assays of fertilization and embryo development rates using S. nudus are useful methods for the ecological toxicity test of marine pollution elements.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.560-568
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• 2007

The objectives of this study were to analyze ecological effects on effluents from the Sagok Stream (Chonnam province) as an abandoned mine drainage through necropsy-based health assessments and fish exposure tests, and to conduct In situ field pilot tests for restoration of stream water. Also, we analyzed water quality including general parameters and heavy metals. The tests were performed three times on April 2005, April 2006, and April 2007. Also, we constructed a reactor facility in the outflowing point of the abandoned mine for the remediation of AMD wastewater. In lab test, death rates in all three treatments were ${\geq}50%$ in the experiments. Necropsybased fish tissue assessments using the Health Assessment Index (HAI), indicated that the most frequently damaged tissue was liver (average: 20.8). Values of Health Assessment Index were lower in the control than any other treatments of T1, T2, and T3 and three treatments showed a distinct toxicity impacts by the AMD. In situ lethal test, concentration of Fe, Al and Zn decreased particularly by 85%, 99% and 94%, respectively through the disposal facility. Values of pH, ranged from 3.1 to 7.0, increased by 2.3 fold (mean=5.1) along with the reduction of metal contents. All fishes in P1 cage died 100% on 3 days later after the experimental setting, while all fishes in the P6 died 100% on 9 days later. Overall, these results evidently provide a key methodology for pilot test using the disposal facility and also clarify the toxicity of AMD once again, so this approach used in the pilot facilities here may reduce the acidic and toxic effects in the abandoned mining drainage.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.255-258
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• 1999

The acute toxicity of xylooligosaccharide(XO) was evaluated in SD rats. Groups of 15 male and 15 female rats were orally administered XO (0, 5000 or 10000 mg/kg). The changes of body weight and clinical signs were investigated for 14 days after treatments. No death and toxic effects were observed for 14 days. Soft stool and diarrhea appeared right after treatment for over dose and non-digestive feature of XO but these clinical signs disappeared on the next day. No significant changes in body weight and abnormal gross findings were observed in relation to XO. According to the results, XO has no special toxic effects and LD50 values of XO are above 10000 mg/kg in male and female rats.