• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.1214-1217
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• 2016

Rebamipoide는 위궤양과 위염치료에 쓰이는 위보호제로 임상에서 사용되고 있지만 위암에서의 역할에 대해서는 알려지바가 거의 없다. 헬리코박토 파일로리(Helicobacter pylori)의 주요독성인자인 CagA는 위암의 발생과 관련이 있다. CagA는 위암세포에서 NFκB의 활성을 증가시켜 PLD1 단백질의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 위암세포의 증식과 침윤을 유도한다. Rebamipide는 NFκB의 활성을 억제함으로써 H. pylori의 CagA에 의해 유도되는 PLD1의 발현을 저해하는것으로 규명되었다. 게다가, rebamipide는 H. pylori의 CagA에 의해 유도되는 β-catenin과 그 표적 유전자로서 인 암줄기세포 마커 단백질의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 위암줄기세포의 자가재생능력을 감소시킨다. 또한 rebamipide는 항암제 내성을 극복하는 화학감수성을 증가시켜서 위암생성을 감소시키는 것으로 나타났다. 그래서 rebamipide는 위암치료제로서의 잠재적 효능을 가지고 있는 약물로서의 가능성이 제시되고 있다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.1335-1342
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• 2020

The identification of bacterial pathogens to humans is critical for environmental microbial risk assessment. However, current methods for identifying pathogens in environmental samples are limited in their ability to detect highly diverse bacterial communities and accurately differentiate pathogens from commensal bacteria. In the present study, we suggest an improved approach using a combination of identification results obtained from multiple databases, including the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) database, virulence factor database (VFDB), and pathosystems resource integration center (PATRIC) databases to resolve current challenges. By integrating the identification results from multiple databases, potential bacterial pathogens in metagenomes were identified and classified into eight different groups. Based on the distribution of genes in each group, we proposed an equation to calculate the metagenomic pathogen identification index (MPII) of each metagenome based on the weighted abundance of identified sequences in each database. We found that the accuracy of pathogen identification was improved by using combinations of multiple databases compared to that of individual databases. When the approach was applied to environmental metagenomes, metagenomes associated with activated sludge were estimated with higher MPII than other environments (i.e., drinking water, ocean water, ocean sediment, and freshwater sediment). The calculated MPII values were statistically distinguishable among different environments (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the suggested approach allows more for more accurate identification of the pathogens associated with metagenomes.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.305-307
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• 2007

락토페린 결합단백질(Lactoferrin-binding proteins, LBP)은 젖소유방염 원인균인 Streptococcus uberis의 막단백질로서 그 특성에 관해서는 잘 규명되어 있지 않지만, 특히 최근에는 스트렙토코커스성 유방염의 독성인자로서 중요시되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 S. uberis 네 가지 균주를 대상으로 LBP를 보다 효율적으로 추출하기 위하여 mutanolysin 및 sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)를 이용한 두 가지 다른 추출 방법을 사용하였다. 추출된 세균단백질을 SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoreis(SDS-PAGE)로 전기영동을 하였고, 겔을 니트로셀룰로스 막으로 이동시켰다. Rabbit anti-bovine lactoferrin 항체와 HRP-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG 항체를 사용하여 LBP를 검출하였다. 이러한 웨스턴 블롯팅 분석을 통해 SDS 추출법이 mutanolysin 추출법에 비해 보다 효율적으로 110 kDa 및 112 kDa의 LBP를 추출할 수 있음을 증명하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권7호
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• pp.517-528
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• 2021

A recent genetic study with Brucella abortus revealed the secretion activator gene A (SagA) as an autolysin component creating pores in the peptidoglycan (PGN) layer for the type IV secretion system (T4SS) and peptidoglycan hydrolase inhibitor A (PhiA) as an inhibitor of SagA. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of both SagA and PhiA. Notably, the SagA structure contained a PGN fragment in a space between the N- and C-terminal domains, showing the substrate-dependent hinge motion of the domains. The purified SagA fully hydrolyzed the meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type PGN, showing a higher activity than hen egg-white lysozyme. The PhiA protein exhibiting tetrameric assembly failed to inhibit SagA activity in our experiments. Our findings provide implications for the molecular basis of the SagA-PhiA system of B. abortus. The development of inhibitors of SagA would further contribute to controlling brucellosis by attenuating the function of T4SS, the major virulence factor of Brucella.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.249-262
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• 2021

The most effective way to control newly emerging infectious disease, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, is to strengthen preventative or therapeutic public health strategies before the infection spreads worldwide. However, global health systems remain at the early stages in anticipating effective therapeutics or vaccines to combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. While maintaining social distance is the most crucial metric to avoid spreading the virus, symptomatic therapy given to patients on the clinical manifestations helps save lives. The molecular properties of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been quickly elucidated, paving the way to therapeutics, vaccine development, and other medical interventions. Despite this progress, the detailed biomolecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains elusive. Given virus invasion of cells is a determining factor for virulence, understanding the viral entry process can be a mainstay in controlling newly emerged viruses. Since viral entry is mediated by selective cellular proteases or proteins associated with receptors, identification and functional analysis of these proteins could provide a way to disrupt virus propagation. This review comprehensively discusses cellular machinery necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding multifactorial traits of the virus entry will provide a substantial guide to facilitate antiviral drug development.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.710-716
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• 2021

A risk analysis of Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding bacteriophage was carried out by confirming the transduction phage to non-Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and subsequent expression of the Shiga toxin genes. The virulence factor stx1 was identified in five phages, and both stx1 and stx2 were found in four phages from a total of 19 phage isolates with seven non-O157 STEC strains. The four phages, designated as ϕNOEC41, ϕNOEC46, ϕNOEC47, and ϕNOEC49, belonged morphologically to the Myoviridae family. The stabilities of these phages to temperature, pH, ethanol, and NaClO were high with some variabilities among the phages. The infection of five non-STEC strains by nine Stx-encoding phages occurred at a rate of approximately 40%. Non-STEC strains were transduced by Stx-encoding phage to become lysogenic strains, and seven convertant strains had stx1 and/or stx2 genes. Only the stx1 gene was transferred to the receptor strains without any deletion. Gene expression of a convertant having both stx1 and stx2 genes was confirmed to be up to 32 times higher for Stx1 in 6% NaCl osmotic media and twice for Stx2 in 4% NaCl media, compared with expression in low-salt environments. Therefore, a new risk might arise from the transfer of pathogenic genes from Stx-encoding phages to otherwise harmless hosts. Without adequate sterilization of food exposed to various environments, there is a possibility that the toxicity of the phages might increase.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.7.1-7.14
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• 2022

Background: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a primary cause of livestock diarrhea. Therefore, effective vaccines are needed to reduce the incidence of ETEC infection. Objectives: Our study aimed to develop a multivalent ETEC vaccine targeting major virulence factors of ETEC, including enterotoxins and fimbriae. Methods: SLS (STa-LTB-STb) recombinant enterotoxin and fimbriae proteins (F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41) were prepared to develop a multivalent vaccine. A total of 65 mice were immunized subcutaneously by vaccines and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The levels of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days post-vaccination (dpv). A challenge test with a lethal dose of ETEC was performed, and the survival rate of the mice in each group was recorded. Feces and intestine washes were collected to measure the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Results: Anti-SLS and anti-fimbriae-specific IgG in serums of antigen-vaccinated mice were significantly higher than those of the control group. Immunization with the SLS enterotoxin and multivalent vaccine increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations. Compared to diarrheal symptoms and 100% death of mice in the control group, mice inoculated with the multivalent vaccine showed an 80% survival rate without any symptom of diarrhea, while SLS and fimbriae vaccinated groups showed 60 and 70% survival rates, respectively. Conclusions: Both SLS and fimbriae proteins can serve as vaccine antigens, and the combination of these two antigens can elicit stronger immune responses. The results suggest that the multivalent vaccine can be successfully used for preventing ETEC in important livestock.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2023

Importance of accurate molecular diagnosis and quantification of particular disease-related pathogenic microorganisms is highlighted as an introductory step to prevent and care for diseases. In this study, we designed a primer/probe set for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) targeting rgpA gene, known as the specific virulence factor of periodontitis-related pathogenic bacteria 'Porphyromonas gingivalis', and evaluated its diagnostic efficiency by detecting and quantifying relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis within saliva samples collected from clinical subjects. As a result of qRT-PCR, we confirmed that relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis was detected and quantified within all samples of positive control and periodontitis groups. On the contrary, negative results were confirmed in both negative control and healthy groups. Additionally, as a result of comparison with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 16S metagenome profiling data, we confirmed relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis, which was not identified on bacterial classification table created through 16S microbiome analysis, in qRT-PCR results. It showed that an approach to quantifying specific microorganisms by applying qRT-PCR method could solve microbial misclassification issues at species level of an NGS-based 16S microbiome study. In this respect, we suggest that P. gingivalis-specific primer/probe set introduced in present study has efficient applicability in various oral healthcare industries, including periodontitis-related microbial molecular diagnosis field.

• 생약학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.27-37
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• 2023

This research was conducted to investigate the comprehensive effects of methanol extract of Coptidis rhizoma (MECR) against oral pathogen. We studied the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, anti-gingipain and anti-inflammatory activity of MECR. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of MECR was 100 ㎍/mL against several oral pathogens. The formation of biofilm of Streptococcus mutans was reduced to 8.93~24.12% in the presence of 25 ㎍/mL of MECR. The gingipain activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis were reduced to 3.91~6.23% in case of Kgp and 5.73~7.78% in case of Rgp in the presence of 10 mg/mL of MECR. The expression of fadA mRNA, virulence factor of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) was 3 folds decreased in the presence of 25 ㎍/mL of MECR. In case of YD-38 cells challenged with F. nucleatum, RQ values of IL-8 and IL-6 were reduced about 12 folds and 5.45 folds in the presence of 2 ㎍/mL of MECR. In case of RAW 264.7 murine cell challenged with F. nucleatum, RQ values of IL-1β and IL-6 were 2.52 folds and 2.55 folds reduced in the presences of 2 ㎍/mL of MECR. Conclusively, MECR showed potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects against oral pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.773-783
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• 2023

Background: Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is one of the major fungal diseases in agriculture. Biological methods are preferred over chemical fungicides to control gray mold since they are less toxic to the environment and could induce the resistance to pathogens in plants. In this work, we try to understand if ginseng defense to B. cinerea could be induced by fungal hypovirulent strain △BcSpd1. BcSpd1 encodes Zn(II)₂Cys₆ transcription factor which regulates fungal pathogenicity and we recently reported △BcSpd1 mutants reduced fungal virulence. Methods: We performed transcriptomic analysis of the host to investigate the induced defense response of ginseng treated by B. cinerea △BcSpd1. The metabolites in ginseng flavonoids pathway were determined by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and the antifungal activates were then performed. Results: We found that △BcSpd1 enhanced the ginseng defense response when applied to healthy ginseng leaves and further changed the metabolism of flavonoids. Compared with untreated plants, the application of △BcSpd1 on ginseng leaves significantly increased the accumulation of p-coumaric acid and myricetin, which could inhibit the fungal growth. Conclusion: B. cinerea △BcSpd1 could effectively induce the medicinal plant defense and is referred to as the biological control agent in ginseng disease management.