• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

In this study, we focused on natural water-soluble antioxidants from Tetraselmis suecica (T. suecica) and Chlorella ellipsoidea (C. ellipsoidea). They were prepared by enzymatic digestion using five carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, AMG, Termamyl and Ultraflo) and five proteases (Protamex, Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, and Kojizyme), and the potential antioxidant activity of each was assessed. Most enzymatic digests from T. suecica had a higher radical scavenging activity than those from C. ellipsoidea. Among the enzymatic digests, Kojizyme digest from T. suecica exhibited the highest effect on DPPH radical scavenging. Viscozyme (30.2%) and Neutrase (34.6%) digests from T. suecica exhibited higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Kojizyme digest from T. suecica (81.5%) had strong alkyl radical scavenging activity. Neutrase (61.9%) and Kojizyme (61.5%) digest from T. suecica possessed the highest effects on hydrogen peroxide scavenging. Among the tested samples, Neutrase (TN) and Kojizyme (TK) digests from T. suecica showed the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH, alkyl radical, hydrogen peroxide). Therefore, TN and TK digests were selected for use in the further experiments. Those digests showed enhanced cell viability against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage, and relatively good hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity in an African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line. These results suggested that an enzymatic digestion will be an effective way for the production of a potential water-soluble antioxidant from a microalgae, T. suecica.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 2020

Pyropia yezoensis has been used as functional food in East Asia, especially in Korea and Japan, for more than five hundred years. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant effect of polyphenols and proteins-rich extracts from P. yezoensis (PPPs) against 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative cell damage. Among six Korean local strains obtained from Jinhae (JiH), Haenam (HN), Jangheung (JaH), Jindo (JD), Wando (WD), and Sinan (SA) areas, the extracts of P. yezoensis from SA and JD are relatively higher in polyphenols and proteins contents. SA showed the lowest IC₅₀ scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and alkyl radicals and displayed protective effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AAPH-induced Vero cells. Especially, the PPPs extracts from SA and JD showed protective activities against AAPH-induced apoptosis, as observed by nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342. Furthermore, in vivo studies of the SA extract in zebrafish showed significantly reduced ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and cell damage. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to evaluate the antioxidant bioactivity of PPP in the Korean Peninsula using a zebrafish model. Due to SA and JD both located in the west coast of Korea, we deduced that the chemical content of the different PPP extracts was mildly influenced by their geographic location, and this alga has potential of protective activity against AAPH-induced ROS both in vitro and in vivo.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2020

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly emerging viral disease with fatal outcomes. However, no MERS-CoV-specific treatment is commercially available. Given the absence of previous structure-based drug discovery studies targeting MERS-CoV fusion proteins, this set of compounds is considered the first generation of MERS-CoV small molecule fusion inhibitors. After a virtual screening campaign of 1.56 million compounds followed by cell-cell fusion assay and MERS-CoV plaques inhibition assay, three new compounds were identified. Compound numbers 22, 73, and 74 showed IC₅₀ values of 12.6, 21.8, and 11.12 µM, respectively, and were most effective at the onset of spike-receptor interactions. The compounds exhibited safe profiles against Human embryonic kidney cells 293 at a concentration of 20 µM with no observed toxicity in Vero cells at 10 µM. The experimental results are accompanied with predicted favorable pharmacokinetic descriptors and drug-likeness parameters. In conclusion, this study provides the first generation of MERS-CoV fusion inhibitors with potencies in the low micromolar range.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 1986

n-Butyrate (n-BT A) increased the rate and number of infectious units produced in the in vitro reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus. While the mechanism of action of n-BT A is obscure, a continuous presence of n-BT A is necessary for its inductive effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.140-151
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• 2022

Background: Essential oils are of great interest for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to study the content of the essential oil of the Origanum vulgare of the Armenian highlands (OVA) in different periods of vegetation and to investigate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice (in vivo) and cytotoxic action in cultured cells (in vitro). OVA essential oil was extracted from fresh plant material by hydro-distillation. Methods: For OVA essential oil contents determination the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used. Formalin and hot plate tests and analysis of cell viability using the methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay were used. Results: The maximal content of β-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene oxide in OVA essential oil was revealed in the period of blossoming (8.18% and 13.36%, correspondently). In the formalin test, 4% OVA essential oil solution (3.5 mg/mouse) exerts significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects (P = 0.003). MTT assay shows approximately 60% cytotoxicity in HeLa and Vero cells for 2.0 µL/mL OVA essential oil in media. Conclusions: The wild oregano herb of Armenian highlands, harvested in the blossoming period, may be considered as a valuable source for developing pain-relieving preparations.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.23-36
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• 2000

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the causative agent of a mosquito-borne encephalitis and is transmitted to human via persistently infected mosquito vectors. Although the virus is known to cause only acute infection, there were reports that showed neurological sequelae, latent infection in peripheral mononuclear cells, and recurrence of the disease after acute encephalitis. Innate resistance of certain cell lines, abnormal SN1 expression of the virus, and anti-apoptotic effect of cullular bcl-2 have been suggested as probable causes of JEV persistence even in the absence of defective interfering (DI) particles. Although possible involvement of DI particles in JEV persistence was suggested, neither has a direct evidence for DI presence nor its molecular characterization been made. Two questions asked in this study are whether the DI virus plays any role in JEV persistent infection if it is associated with and what type of change(s) can be made in persistently infected cells to avoid apoptosis even with the continuous virus replication, DI-free standard stock of JEV was infected in BHK-21, Vero, and SW13 cells and serial high multiplicity passages were performed in order to generate DI particles. There different-sized DI RNA species which were defective in both structural and nonstructural protein coding genes. Rescued ORFs of the DI genome maintained in-frame and the presence of replicative intermediate or replicative form RNA of the DI particles confirmed their replication competence. On the other hand, several clones with JEV persistent infection were established from the cells survived acute infections during the passages. Timing of the DI virus generation during the passages seemed coincide to the appearance of persistently infected cells. The DI RNAs were identified in most of persistently infected cells and were observed throughout the cell maintenance. One of the cloned cell line maintained the viral persistence without DI RNA coreplication. The cells with viral persistence released the reduced but continuous infectious JEV particle for up to 9 months and were refractory to homologous virus superinfection but not to heterologous challenges. Unlike the cells with acute infection these cells were devoid of characteristic DNA fragmentation and JEV-induced apoptosis with or without homologous superinfection. Therefore, the DI RNA generated during JEV undiluted serial passage on mammalian cells was shown to be biologically active and it seemed to be responsible, at least in part, for the establishment and maintenance of the JEV persistence in mammalian cells. Viral persistence without DI RNA coreplication, as in one of the cell clones, supports that JEV persistent infection could be maintained with or without the presence of DI particles. In addition, the fact that the cells with JEV persistence were resistant against homologous virus superinfection, but not against heterologous one, suggests that different viruses have their own and independent pathway for cytopathogenesis even if viral cytopathic effect could be converged to an apoptosis after all.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2004

Sf9 cells have obvious advantages for the conventional production technology of vaccine. They are useful tools for high concentration and large-scale cultures. Sf9 cells were grown to maximal concentration, 8${\times}$l0$\^$6/ cells/$m\ell$ in a 500$m\ell$ spinner flask, with a doubling time at the exponentially growing phase of 24.5 hours, using serum-free media. To explore the ability of Sf9 cells to be infected by the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus Beijing-l strain, Sf9 cells were infected with the virus. By 4-5 days post-infection, 10-15 % of the Sf9 cells showed cytopathic effect (CPE), from granularity to the formation of syncytia and multinucleated giant cells continuously observed over a period of 35 days. Positive fluorescent reactions were detected in 30-40% of cells infected with the JE virus Beijing-l strain, and the uninfected Sf9 cells were completely negative. Virus particles, propagated in Sf9 and Vero cells, were concentrated by sedimentation on 40% trehalose cushions by ultracentrifugation, and showed identical patterns of viral morphogenesis. Complete virus particles, 40 to 50 nm in diameter, were observed, and JE virus envelope (E) proteins, at 53 kDa, were found in the western blot analysis to the anti-JE virus E protein monoclonal antibody and reacted as a magenta band in the same position to the glycoprotein staining. To evaluate whether the infectious virus was produced in Sf9 cells inoculated with the JE virus Beijing-l stain, Sf9 cells were inoculated with the virus, and sample harvested every 5 days. The titers of the JE virus Beijing-l strain rose from 1.0${\times}$l0$\^$5/ to 1.5${\times}$l0$\^$6/ pfu/$m\ell$. The infected Sf9 cells could be subcultured in serum-free medium, with no change in the plaque sizes formed by the JE virus Beijing-l strain in the plaque assay. It is suggested that the ability of the JE virus Beijing-l strain to infect Sf9 cells in serum-free media will provide a useful insect cell system, where the JE virus replication, cytopathogenicity and vaccine immunogen can be studied.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2000

Objective: In vitro fertilization (IVF) and a prolonging the time of culture may be helpful in establishing a viable pregnancy through a selection effect. Some embryos do not develop beyond the 4-cell stage and some may not develop to the blastocyst stage. We have evaluated the safety of SET and the outcomes of pregnancy. Methods: Sperms were treated with Ham's F-10 supplemented with 10% human follicular fluid (hFF). oocytes or fertilized oocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) with 10% or 20% hFF respectively. Up to five oocytes were inseminated with approximately 200,000 sperm cells/2 ml in each well. Fertilization was examined in the following morning and fertilized oocytes were co-cultured until embryo transfer. Vero cells for co-culture were prepared in Tissue Culture Medium - 199 (TCM-199) with 10% fetal bovine serum. At the two to four cell and blastocyst on day 2 and day 5, embryo and blstocyst grading were evaluated. Pregnancy rate was determined after transfer of human embryos at the two to four cell stage on day 2 (Group I) or subsequent transfer of embryos on day 2 and at the blastocyst stage on day 5 (Group II). For statistical analysis, Student's t-test and Chi-square (${\chi}^2$_test) were used. Results were considered statistically significant when p value was less than 0.05. Results: No differences was found in the fertilization between Group I (81.0%, 98/121) and Group II (81.8%, 180/220). In case of cleavage rate, no difference was found in Group I (95.9%, 94/98) and Group II (97.8%, 174/178). However, the rate of-clinical pregnancy was significantly higher (p=0.014) in Group II (66.7%, 12/18) than in Group I (26.3%, 5/19). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that SET is safe and effective, and significantly increases the pregnancy rate.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

We have investigated efficiency of a recombinant subunit Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) that was mixed with a vaccine consisted of inactivated whole cells of Bordetella bronchiseptica, P. multocida (types A and D). For verification of the efficacy of the vaccine, all experimental pigs (suckling piglets, sow and gilts) in the three farms were vaccinated. Antibody titers against B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida type A of the vaccinated pigs by microplate agglutination were significantly higher than those of the control pigs (p < 0.05). Similar patterns were observed in the analysis of anti- PMT neutralizing antibody by serum neutralizing method using Vero cell (p < 0.05). Anti- P. multocida type D antibody titer of the vaccinated sows and gilts by ELISA showed significant differences with those of the non-vaccinated pigs (p < 0.05). Although antibody titers increased, it was unable to find out the difference in the clinical signs between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs. However, the increase in body weight of the vaccinated piglets was observed in comparison with the non-vaccinated piglets on a farm. At slaughtering of the pigs, pathological lesions in the turbinate bones of the vaccinated pigs were significantly lower than those of the non-vaccinated pigs (p < 0.001). These results suggested that efficacy of the vaccine in pigs demonstrated to protect against atrophic rhinitis in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1238-1243
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• 2009

The susceptibilities of major enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains to antimicrobial agents and the cytotoxicity of these agents were examined using a total of 38 strains of E. coli O26, O111, and O157, which are the major serogroups of EHEC. Among the 38 strains, 35, 36, and 36 were susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, and norfloxacin, respectively. These antimicrobial agents were further examined to determine their cytotoxicity on Vero cells as well as their effect on the release of Shiga toxins along with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Each of the E. coli O26, O111, and O157 strains containing both the stx1 and stx2 genes were grown in the absence or presence of these agents at 1/4 minimal inhibitory concentration for 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h. At the concentrations used in this study, none of the agents significantly altered cell count compared with the control group. The level of cytotoxicity in the imipenem group was lower at 12 hand 18 h than their respective controls. In contrast, the level of cytotoxicity in cultures treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, and amikacin was increased. The strains were also examined for the release of Shiga toxins 1 and 2 following treatment with the agents, which were measured by the reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) method. The RPLA assay showed a suppression of release of Shiga toxin 2 in the strain cultures containing imipenem. These results indicate that imipenem may be a safe and effective agent for inhibition of these bacteria, which has clinical implications for the treatment of EHEC infections.