• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 1999

To investigate the origin and action mechanism of cytoplasmic factors as regulators of morphogenesis, the embryonic development, RNA synthesis and protein phosphorylation were examined in reconstituted embryos. A half of 1-cell mouse embryo with both pronuclei was electrofused with the enucleated cytoplasm of 1- or 2-cell embryos which were cultured for 24 hrs from post 20 hrs hCG in CZB with or without cycloheximide (CHX, an inhibitor of protein synthesis; P+P-CHX group), genistein (Gen, an inhibitor of tyrosine protein kinase; P+2-Gen group) and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP, an inhibitor of serine-threonine protein kinase; P＋2-DMAP group), and co-cultured with Vero cells for 5 days. And their development, cell numbers at compaction, [5, 6-$^3$H]-uridine incorporation into RNA and the pattern of protein phosphorylation after labeling of [$^{32}$ P] orthophosphate were compared with that of the reconstituted embryos such as P+2 or P+P (control group). Embryonic development and the time of RNA synthesis in P+P-CHX were similar to those in P+P. But the time and the cell stages of embryonic compaction in P+P-CHX were similar to those in P+2. The compaction was initiated at 4-cell in P+2 and P+2-Gen, but at 8-cell in P+P and P+2-DMAP. On a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, phosphorylation of 80KD and 110KD proteins were inhibited after 3 hrs of reconstruction in the embryo of P+2-DMAP when compared with that of P+2 and P+2-Gen. These results suggest that protein synthesis between 1- and 2-cell stage affects the timing of embryonic genome activation, and that cytoplasmic factors derived from oocyte or their modification regulates the time schedule of embryonic compaction in mouse. Also, serine-threonine protein kinase has an important role on the regulation of compaction.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.891-896
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• 2008

Total phenolics and flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity of plum cultivar wines (Prunus salicina L. cv. Soldam and P. salicina L. cv. Formosa) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The total phenolic and flavanoid contents of Soldam wine were $478.4\;{\pm}\;5.6\;mg$ GAE and $202.4\;{\pm}\;7.5\;mg$ CE per L,respectively, and in Formosa wine were $200.6\;{\pm}\;7.5\;mg$ GAE and $64.4\;{\pm}\;6.8\;mg$ CE per L, respectively. Neutral and acidic phenolics in Soldam wine were extracted with ethyl acetate and 0.01 N HCl, respectively. In the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, neutral phenolics (64.5 EDA%) had $3{\sim}4$ times higher antioxidant activity than acidic phenolics (21.5 EDA%) and other related phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid (15.5 EDA%) and quercetin (24.6 EDA%) at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$. The antiviral activities of neutral and acidic phenolics in Soldam wine were investigated in vitro using a virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay. Results showed that neutral and acidic phenolics at concentrations of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ inhibited porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) replication at rates of 78.12% and 58.37%, respectively. The inhibition rate of 10 g/mL neutral phenolics (69.42%) was higher than that of ribavirin as an antiviral reagent (57.86%). At concentrations of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ or less, neutral and acidic phenolics of Soldam wine had no cytotoxic effect against vero cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.541-546
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• 1997

There are two conserved regions with a significantly high amino acid sequence homology among the A subunits of STX, SLTs and ricin. To produce an inactive Verotoxin-2 (VT-2), two different mutants, pE167D and pDE5A, were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, respectively, on the basis of the previous reports that two regions lie within the active-site clefts of the A subunits of ricin and STX family. The cytotoxicity ($10^3$ $CD_{50}/ml$) of VT-2 holotoxin with E167D mutation was reduced by $10^3$-fold compared with wild-type level. In addition, VT-2 with DE5A ($Trp_{202}GlyArgIleSer_{206}$) deletion mutation showed a significantly low cytotoxicity ($10^1$ $CD_{50}/ml$), resulting in $10^5$- and $10^2$-fold reductions, respectively, compared with the wild-type and E167D mutatant. SDS-PAGE for protein samples showed a 33-kDa band corresponding to the A subunit of VT-2. These results indicate that reduction in cytotoxic activity was affected not by amount of VT-2 protein produced but by mutation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.620-626
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• 2004

Viruses causing acute conjuntivitis were isolated from 675 patients carrying eye infections for year 2001 to 2003 in Busan reagion and their antigenic properties characterized by a serological survey. In 2001, adenoviruses (serotype 8) were found in 5 of 48 cases. In 2002, the isolated viruses were 7 adenoviruses (serotype 8 and 37), 8 coxsakieviruses (serotype A24 and B3) and 1 echoviruses (serotype 6) from 324 specimens that are known as the causative agents of acute hemorrhagic conjuctivitis (AHC). In 2003, 25 case of 303 specimens were 7 adenoviruses (serotype 3, 4, 8 and 37), 7 echoviruses (serotype 6 and 7) and 4 untypable enteroviruses. Although coxsakievirus (serotype B3) and echoviruses (serotype 6 and 7) were generally known as causative agent of aseptic meningitis, it hasn't been reported until now that they were isolated from the conjunctival swabs. The out break of AC was observed from April to October in Busan. These isolated viruses showed a strong cytophatic effects on HEp-2, RD, Vero and BGM cell strains. Analysis of electron micrograph of those viruses showed that adenovirus consists of a 80 nm diameter and nonenvloped icosahedron and then echovirus and coxsackievirus were small nonenveloped and isometric-shaped viruses. Adenovirus showing a cytophatic effect was resulted in a 458 bp single band by PCR and echovirus, coxsackievirus and untypable enterovirus were detected a 437 bp products by RT-PCR.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the embryonic developmental capacity and pregnancy rates in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm or testicular sperm cycles. Materials and Methods: Fertilization was examined in the following morning after IVF (group I), ICSI (group II) or TESE-ICSI cycles (group III). Fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with Vero cells until embryo transfer (ET). On day 2 and $5{\sim}7$, grades of embryos (<4- or $\geq$4-cell) and blastocysts (BG1, 2, 3 or early) were evaluated. Clinical pregnancy rate was determined by detecting G-sac with transvaginal ultrasonogram. We analyzed the results by $X^2$ and Student's t-test and considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. Results: Fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I ($79.0{\pm}21.2%$) than in group II and III ($56.8{\pm}21.6%$ and $36.7{\pm}25.3%$). Cleavage and blastulation rate of group I ($95.8{\pm}13.8%$ and $59.5{\pm}25.3%$) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of group III ($83.4{\pm}18.6%$ and $40.4{\pm}36.5%$). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I and II (40.7% and 41.7%) than that in group III (12.5%). No differences were found in the rates of multiple pregnancy and abortion among three groups. Embryonic implantation rate was higher in group I ($15.1{\pm}20.2%$, p<0.05) and II ($14.7{\pm}20.6%$, NS) than that in group III ($5.1{\pm}15.6%$). However, embryonic implantation rate was increased in ET with blastocyst(s) among three groups. Conclusions: Fertilized oocytes obtained from TESE-ICSI were harder to be successfully cultured to blastocyst stage for 5$\sim$7 days than that from IVF cycles. However, all blastocyst(s) ET increased the embryonic implantation rate equally in IVF, ICSI and TESE-ICSI cycles.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2004

Between 1997 and 1998 in Korea, 56 isolates of Escherichia coli were obtained from pig suffering diarrhea. Among those, 38 isolates that showed the hemolytic activity, antimicrobial resistance, and toxin production were studied. Among 38 isolates, thirty-six isolates $(94.7\%)$ were resistant to tetracycline, 27 isolates $(71.0\%)$ were resistant to ampicillin, 26 isolates $(68.4\%)$ were resistant to chloramphenicol, and 21 isolates $(55.2\%)$ were resistant to trimethoprim, while none was resistant to aztreonam, amikacin, and norfloxacin. Among these iso­lates, 21 isolates $(55.3\%)$ were multiple drug resistant to at least four different class antimicrobial agents. Extended spectrum $\beta-lactamase$ producing isolates were not detected in the double disk synergy test. In these hemolytic Escherichia coli, heat-stable enterotoxin $(89.5\%)$ was the most prevalent toxin, followed by vero­toxins $(47.4\%),$ and then heat-labile enterotoxin $(31.6\%).$ Except 8 isolates $(21.0\%)$ which produced ST only, 12 isolates $(31.6\%)$ produced ST and LT, 13 isolates $(34.2\%)$ produced ST, VT, and VTe, and 5 isolates $(13.2\%)$ produced VT and VTe. However, none produced all 4 types of toxin, simultaneously. The predominant serotype could not be determined by the agglutination method. Sixteen isolates $(42.1\%)$ were strongly adhered to T-24 bladder cell and 17 isolates $(44.7\%)$ were to Caco-2 intestinal cell. Especially, 11 strains $(28.9\%)$ were evaluated as strongly adhesive to both T-24 cells and Caco-2 cells. Genes for toxin and the antimicrobial resistance were transferred to clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from human urine by the filter mating method. Results suggest the possibility that antimicrobial resistance and toxin can be transferred from animals to humans by direct con­tact of resistant bacteria as well as gene transfer, although there was no correlation between toxin production, adherent activity, and antimicrobial resistance among hemolytic E. coli isolated from pig suffering diarrhea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2000

Purpose : Urabe AM-9 strain was known to be associated with increased aseptic meningitis. The reason for high incidence of vaccine-associated meningitis was known that nucleotide(nt) substituted form G to A at position 1081 of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase(HN) gene and therefore, glutamic acid changed to lysine at amino acid 335. We assessed by comparing nt sequence of the HN gene form Urabe AM-9 strain with wild strain and documented the correlation between nt substitution and vaccine-associated meningitis. Methods : Two lots of Urabe AM-9 vaccine distributed in Korea and mumps wild strains isolated from 1998 through 1999 were analysed. Analysis was made by nt sequencing following amplification of HN gene by RT-PCR. Results : Nucleotide substitution at position 343, 1476, 1570 was not found in both Urabe AM-9 vaccines and wild strains. But analysis of vaccine strains and wild strains isolated from patients revealed substitution from G to A at nt 1081 of the HN gene. Therefore, it encodes lysine instead of glutamic acid at amino acid 335. There was no mixture from of G and A at nt 1081. Nt at 1470 of one lot of Urabe AM-9 vaccines changed from C to A after Vero cell passage. Nt at 1727 of vaccines and wild strains was substituted A to G, so it encodes glycine instead of aspartic acid. Conclusion : Nucleotide analysis of HN gene revealed that nt 1081 of Urabe AM-9 vaccines and wild strains had wild type AAA($Lys^{335}$) instead of variant type GAA($Glu^{335}$). The results of this study suggest that there was a probability of vaccine-associated meningitis due to Urabe AM-9 in Korea before. But incidence of actual side effect was not evaluated because there was no reporting system in Korea.