Parasites have co-evolved with their host for a long period of time, resulting in unique parasitic systems tailored to each host species. This makes them suitable for research on physiological function control through cross-species molecules like miRNA. The body louse, a vector of bacterial pathogens, is particularly valuable as a model insect due to their frequent feeding on human blood, which results in the continuous ingestion of human-derived miRNA and injection of salivary gland-derived miRNA into the human body. In this study, we conducted miRNA sequencing on body lice with mixed stages and identified 105 miRNAs, including 50 novel miRNAs. Sequence analysis of human miRNAs remaining in body lice and the functional analysis of these miRNAs are in progress.

Humans have lived in relationship with bees for a very long time. In addition, as essential pollinators, Bee also contribute to biodiversity by promoting the reproduction of various plant species, and play an important role in global food security. Therefore, strong and thriving bee populations are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and sustaining food production systems. However, the population of these bees is currently rapidly decreasing due to various causes such as climate change, abnormal temperatures, infectious diseases, and predators. In this presentation, we will learn about the microorganisms that affect bees, including bacteria and fungi, among the various causes of the decline in the bee population, and study their control.

In Korea, ecological research on the goral is underway to restore and increase population size of these ungulates, but clinical research on gorals species is still in its infancy. Owing to the nature of the gorals’ habitat, several animals live together within limited areas; so, the risk of parasitic infection is very high. In this study, we performed physical examination of 17 gorals undergoing breeding and restoration at the Korean Goral Restoration Center. Weight, ear height, horn length, withers height of the anthropometric data of this study were no differences from other researchers. Blood samples from each species were analyzed. There was no significant difference among individuals in terms each value examined, although some hematological and biochemical values, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, glucose and amylase showed differences among individuals. The average values of blood tests in gorals ware lower in lymphocytes, blood urea nitrogen, and calcium than in livestock goats, and hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and glucose were higher in livestock. Helminth eggs were detected in 15 out of 17 gorals by microscopic examination of their fecal samples, and Eimeria spp. and Strongyloides spp. were detected in all the gorals. However, there may be cases of death due to diarrhea, which may lead to a decrease in growth and production. Therefore, proper prevention and treatment are needed. These results may serve as an important reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of gorals. This information helps further understand the current health status of these species and may contribute to a more systematic restoration of the gorals.

In freshwater ecosystems, the types of fish parasites are diverse and routes of infection are complicated because they maintain the life cycle in a variety of host animals, The present study investigated the infestation characteristics of parasites occurring in abdominal cavity of Zacco platypus in Seom River from February to October 2007. At the same time, four streams (Gam Stream, Daepo Stream, Yangsan Stream, and Yulha Stream) were also surveyed for the reference of fish infection. Aquatic insects and shellfish predominated benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages by 90.4% and 7.7% of relative abundance, respectively. Aquatic insects were composed mostly of Ephemeroptera (46.8%) and Trichoptera (29.8%), and shellfish was Gastropods. Freshwater fish was most abundant Cyprinid and Z. platypus by 85.7% and 48.8%, respectively. Among waterfowl, Anas poecilorhyncha and Egretta garzetta were dominant in August. Fish parasites observed in the abdominal cavity of Z. platypus was classified as Ligula intestinalis, belonging to Phylum Platyhelminthes Cestoda Pseudophyllidae. L. intestinalis was observed from Z. platypus in October, as the number of one individual in the Seom River and fifteen individuals in the Yangsan Stream. Infection rate of plerocercoid ranged 1.4~15.8%. We discussed the relationship between the life cycle of the parasite and the host, and hope our results to be useful for understanding the ecology of the fish abdominal parasites in Korean river ecosystem.

The present study was performed reviewing references determine the infection status of Korean freshwater fishes and relation with climate change of Korean peninsula. The most common infections of Korean freshwater fishes are flatworms (trematodes) and spiny-headed worms (acanthocephalans). Total 61 species of Korean freshwater fishes for infectious disease has been reviewed. Among them, 44 species of freshwater fish belong to Cyprinidae and 17 species for Cobitidae, Siluridae, Bagridae, Amblycipitidae, Synbranchidae, Centropomidae, Odontobutidae, Belontiidae, and Channidae. The Korean freshwater fishes had total 35 kinds of parasite pathogenic organisms (Acanthocephala opsariichthydis, Centrocestus sp., Cyathocotyle sp., Diplostomum orientale, Diplostomum sp., Echinochasmus sp., Echinostoma sp., Genarchopsis sp., Holostephanus metorchis, Metacercaria hasegawai, Metagonimus sp., Metorchis taiwanensis, Neoplagioporus zacconis, Palliolisentis chinanensis, Palliolisentis chunjuensis, Prosorhpynchus sp., Centrocestus armatus, Clonorchis sinensis, Holostephanus nipponicus, Metorchis orientalis, Cyathocotyle orientalis, Pseudexorchis major, Exorchis oviformis, Trachelobdella sinensis, Metagonimus miyata, Isoparorchis hypselobagri, Clinostomum complanatum, Centrocestus asadai, Metagonimus yokogawai, Echinostoma cinetorchis, Echinochasmus japonicus, Diplozoon nipponicum, Metagonimus takahashii, Carassotrema koreanum, and Echinostoma hortense). Maximum infections belonged to Pseudorasbora parva as Cyprinidae had 19 kinds of parasite organisms, including Centrocestus armatus, Clinostomum complanatum, Clinostomum complanatum, Clonorchis sinensis, Cyathocotyle orientalis, Echinochasmus japonicus, Exorchis oviformis, Holostephanus metorchis, Holostephanus nipponicus, Metacercaria hasegawai, Metagonimus yokogawai, Metorchis orientalis, Metorchis taiwanensis, Pseudexorchis major, Cyathocotyle sp., Diplostomum sp., Echinochasmus sp., Metagonimus sp. and Prosorhpynchus sp. Human foodborne trematode infections are an important public health concern in Korea. In the future, under the climatic extremes on Korean peninsula such as floods, drought and temperature variability, in particular, the susceptibility of freshwater fishes to infection will be decreased.

Melanization is a unique defence mechanism in arthropods involved in wound healing and pathogen encapsulation. Phenoloxidases (PPOs) are key enzymes of melanization, which mediate the enzymatic conversion of tyrosine to eumelanin. A serine-protease (SP) cascade, similar to the blood-clotting cascade of vertebrates, proteolytically activates prophenoloxidases to phenoloxidases. This proteolytic activation is tightly controlled by serpins and other melanization inhibitors. Melanization has been regarded as one of key immune responses against malaria parasites in mosquitoes. The ookinete melanization of both the simian malaria parasite, Plasmodium cynomolgi, and of the rodent parasite, Plasmodium berghei, prevent parasite development in the human malaria vector, An, gambiae. However, the recent studies revealed a melanization response regulated by Serpin-2 and two C-type lectins (CTL4 and CTLMA-2) was shown to result in ookinete melanization but did not affect the development of the natural human parasite P. falciparum in the mosquito. Instead of melanization, TEP1/APL1/LRIM1 complement-like pathway has been identified as major immune response that regulate parasite loads in the natural association of An. gambiae and P. falciparum. The studies by me and my colleagues revealed another melanization response independent on Serpin-2. Genome analyses of mosquitoes revealed a large expansion of the PPO, SP, and serpin genes potentially involved in the melanization pathway. This expansion was devoted to existence of at least two distinct SP-Serpin regulation modules in controlling separate melanization responses, tissue and hemolymph melanization, in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Tissue melanization regulated by Serpin-2 has role in melanotic tumor formation, but not in ookinete melanization. Hemolymph melanization regulated by Serpin-1 and a couple of SPs was activated by the infection of various pathogens and is involved in anti-malarial defense against the avian malaria parasite, P. gallinaceum. A new type of regulator, CLSP2, negatively modulate this hemolymph melanization. Cross-talk between hemolymph melanization and complement-like pathway will be discussed.

Field research was undertaken for recovering mosquito larval mermithid parasite, Romanomermis species in rice fields in 54 different areas in period of May through October, 2009. Of 54 area rice fields surveyed, Romanomermis sp. recoveries were made from 4 areas. 32 Anopheles mosquito larvae, malaria disease vector were infected and died from samples collected in Pochon area, and a total of 10 Culex mosquito larvae, house frequenting mosquito were infected to death in 3 different areas, Gimpo, Sangju and Gurae, respectively. On the basis of positive natural infection record, an intensive host-parasite occurrences and/or population study was surveyed in foci area of Pochon in small pond (P) and Rice paddies (A and B) during 5 months till end of October. The natural mermithid infection was continuously occurred from June through October in weekly samples, however the rate of infection was appeared higher in June-July, thereafter the rate gradually decreased in progress of the season. The highest natural infection rate was observed from the Pond 9.1% followed by Rice paddy "A" 5.2%, Rice paddy "B" 2.4%, respectively. Including 2 other Rice paddies "C" and "D", a total mosquito larvae collected was 3,270, an overall average natural infection rate was recorded as 3.7% (121 Anopheles mosquito larvae infected).

This experiment was conducted to prevent the contamination of parasite egg on vegetables for supporting safety production of leafy vegetables. After the chinese cabbages and soil samples were collected at 5 cities of Gyeonggido during 2007-2008, the existence of parasite egg was surveyed. All collected samples had no parasite egg, so the chinese cabbages produced in Gyeonggi area were assumed parasite egg-free. To examine the characteristics of parasite eggs, the pig roundworms, Ascaris suum, were collected from the intestine of infected pig and the parasite eggs were collected from the uterus of A. suum. The eggs of A. suum developed to embryonated eggs, which can infect humans, in 20℃-30℃, but not 15℃ and 35℃, when cultured at different temperatures. The eggs developed to embryonated eggs after drying for 0-24h when cultured after different drying times. Effect of soakage different salt solution and times showed that the eggs developed to embryonated eggs after soakage at 0-25% salt solution for 0-24h. For eliminating the parasite eggs attached leafy vegetables, it was efficient to soak at salt solution for 5 minutes and washing 5 times with water.

Gregarine parasite (Apicomplexa: Protozoa) was observed in the population of daikon leaf beetle, Phaedon brassicae Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Daegwallyeong. Morphological features of the gregarine in gut of P. brassicae have been studied by light microscope and scanning electron microscope with particular attention to the relationship between the epimerite and the host epithelium. On the average of mature trophozoite length and width are 100 and 40㎛, respectively. Based on 1.727kb of 18S rDNA sequence, this gregarine grouped in eugregarine.

벼멸구를 저항성 품종에서 도태시켰을 때 새로운 생태형으로 발전되는 속도와 벼멸구의 생태형과 벼의 품종저항성 간에 유전적으로 대응하고 있는지를 알아보고자, 감수성품종(동진벼)으로 사육하던 벼멸구를 Bph1 gene을 가진 저항성품종(청청벼)으로 각각 3세대 및 6세대 도태시킨 후, 같은 Bph1 gene을 가진 4개 품종(Mudgo, IR26, IR64, 청청벼)과, 다른 bph2 gene을 가진 2개 품종(밀양63호 및 가야벼)및 저항성이 없는 2개 품종(동진벼, TN-1)을 공시하여 각 계통의 벼멸구의 산란 및 섭식선호성, 수명, 발육기간, 사충율, 산란수 등을 조사하였다. 그 결과 감수성 벼멸구(생태형-1)를 저항성 Bph1 유전자를 갖인 청청벼에서 3세대(청청3세대계)및 6세대(청청6세대계)로 도태시켰을 때, 사육세대가 많아질수록 청청벼에서의 성충의 수명은 길어지고, 산란수는 많아지며, 또한 약충의 우화율이 높아지고, 약충기간이 짧아지는 등 빠르게 저항성을 극복하였다. 청청3세대계 및 6세대계 벼멸구는 청청벼와 같은 Bph1저항성 유전자를 가진 다른 품종들(Mudgo, IR26, IR64)에 대해서도 도태세대수가 많아지면서 선호성이 점점 높아지는 경향이었다. 성충의 수명과 산란수에 있어서도 청청3세대계, 청청6세대계 등으로 도태세대가 많아질수록 같은 저항성 Bph1유전자를 가진 Mudgo, IR26, IR64등에서 수명이 길어지고 산란수도 많아졌다. 벼멸구의 약충기간은 품종과 벼멸구 도태계통간에 큰 차이가 없었다. 그러나, 약충기간 중 사망률은 도태가 진행되면서 역시 Bph1저항성 gene의 4개 품종 모두에서 낮아졌고, 죽은 개체의 수명도 길어졌다. 밀양 63호(bph2 gene)와 가야벼(Bph1+bph2 gene) 등 2개 품종에서는 벼멸구의 3개 계통 모두 우화하지 못했다.-44.55개 및 18.1-28.15개로 온도조건에 관계없이 끝동매미충, 흰등멸구, 애멸구 및 벼멸구의 난 순으로 많았다. 하지만 4종 먹이를 함께 제공한 성충의 포식량은 24, 28 및 32에서 각각 3.95-28.9개, 2.9-28.95개 및 1.7-13.6개로 제공된 먹이간에 차이가 현저하였다. 따라서 먹이간 성충 포식량의 현저한 차이는 기주선호성에 따른 것으로 생각된다.군에서 높았으며, elongation index(20:46⇒22:46)는 old군에서 낮았다. 대부분의 elongation과 desaturation 단계는 연령에 따라 유의한 차이를 보이지 못하였으나, 3계 지방산의 전체적 elongation-desaturation 단계를 나타내는 products-fatty acid(3)/a-LNA(3) 비율이 old군에서 young군보다 유의하게 높아, 연령에 따른 PUFA 대사의 변화가 관찰되었다. 이 상에서와 같이, 콩 단백질의 섭취로 흰쥐 혈장 인지질의 ∑MUFA조성은 낮고 ∑SFA 조성은 높아 다른 지질 강화성 분의 섭취와 유사한 결과를 나타내었다. 혈중 콜레스테롤 수준이 높은 old군에서 체내 막조직의 유동성을 유지하기 위해 PUFA의 합성 특히 3계 지방산의 elongation-desaturation이 증가하여 총 PUFA 조성이 young군보다 높았다. 연구결과로 이소플라본을 포함한 콩 단백질의 혈중 지질저하 기전에 대해 체계적인 설명은 할 수 없지만, 콩 단백질이

이 연구에서는 해산 연체동물의 폐사를 유발하는 기생성 원생동물인 Perkinsus를 신속하고 특이적으로 검출하기 위하여 PCR 진단법을 개발하였다. 이를 위해 Perkinsus 속 4종을 공통적으로 증폭하거나 P. atlanticus만을 특이적으로 증폭할 수 있는 두 가지의 primer를 제작하였다. PCR분석은 기존 Perkinsus 진단법인 fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) 방법과 2 M NaOH 기법을 병행하여 실시하였다

바지락포자층 Perkinsus는 Apicomplexa 문에 속하는 기생성 원생동물로서 유럽에서는 바지락의 대량폐사 원인 생물로 잘 알려져 있으며 우리나라에서도 90년대 초반부터 나타나고 있는 바지락 폐사의 원인생물로 추정되고 있다. 이 연구는 우리나라 바지락포자충 감염분포 조사의 일환으로 제주 연안에 서식하는 바지락의 바지락포자충 감염 현황과 감염도, 조직병리학적 현상, 유주자 형성 그리고 서식지의 퇴적물 조성에 따른 감염 특성을 조사하기 위하여 실시되

이 시험은 우리나라 남부지방에 있어서 끝동매미충의 알에 기생율이 높은 Paracentrobia andoi의 포장생태에 대해서 조사한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 월동후 활동은 3월상순부터 활발하였으며 4월상순 이후 부터는 휴한답로 옮겨가는 경향이였다. 2 .휴한답의 둑새풀에서 끝동매미충의 알에 대한 기생율은 끝동매미충의 산란최성기인 4월하순에서 5월상순 사이에 높은 경향이였다. 3. 휴한답에서 지역별 평균 기생율은 거창과 남지는 , 남해, 김해 및 진주는 였다. 4. 본답에 있어서 이 알기생봉은 3회 발생을 하였으며 발생최성기는 8월중순과 10월초순경이였다. 5. 본답기에 있어서 끝동매미충의 2세기충(6월하순경 발생)과 3세대충(8월하순경 발생)에 대한 이 알기생봉의 평균 기생율은 각각 와 였다.