Air conditioner filters purify the air of indoor environments by removing air pollutants and supporting the efficiency of the unit’s cooling function. However, an air conditioner filter can become a microenvironment in which some fungi can grow as dust continues to accumulate and favorable humidity conditions are formed. Fungal growth in air conditioner filters could lead to fungal allergies or fungal diseases, in addition to emitting a foul odor. In an effort to understand what species causes this malodorous problem, we investigated the diversity of fungi found in air conditioners. Fungi were sampled from the collected air conditioner filters and grown on DG18 agar media. After purification for pure isolates, species identification was undertaken. Colony morphology was observed on PDA, MEA, CYA, and OA media. Microstructures of fruiting body, mycelia, and spores were examined using a light microscope. Molecular identification was performed by PCR and sequencing of PCR amplicons, and molecular phylogenetic analysis of sequenced DNA markers, including the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU rDNA), the β-tubulin (BenA) gene, the Calmodulin (CaM) gene, and the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2) gene. Through this identification process, we found two fungal species, Aspergillus miraensis and Dichotomopilus ramosissimus, which are unrecorded species in Korea. We will now report their morphological and molecular features.

본 연구는 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼에 대한 이용자 인식, 이용 현황을 알아보고, 본 플랫폼의 발전 방향을 제시하기 위 하여 국내 화훼 장식 종사자 300명을 대상으로 조사 연구하 였다. 연구 결과 화훼 장식 종사자의 99%가 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼에 대해 인지하고 있었으며, 실제 이용 경험 역시 68% 로 높게 나타났다. 이용자들의 서비스 이용 기간은 1~2년이 46.5%로 가장 많았으며 월평균 구매 횟수는 6~15회가 과반 을 차지하였고, 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼의 1회 기준 소비 금 액은 15만 원 미만이 62.4%로 나타났으나, 오프라인 절화 도 매시장의 사용 빈도 및 소비 금액이 더 높은 것으로 나타났다 (p<0.001). 화훼 장식 종사자들은 절화의 품질(4.85) 및 상품 의 다양성(4.75)이 절화 구매 시 가장 중요한 고려 요인이었 으며, 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼에서의 상품 구매 시 과거 구매 경험(3.97)과 상품의 사진(3.87)을 보고 절화 품질을 판단하 는 경우가 가장 많았다. 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼의 가장 큰 장점으로는 시간을 절약(4.39)할 수 있다는 점으로 인식하고 있었으나, 상품 구매 시 불안 요인으로는 절화 신선도(4.30)와 품질(4.02)에 대한 우려가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼에서 제공하는 서비스 품질에 대해 이용자들은 주 문한 상품과 배송 상품이 일치(4.19)하며, 사용하기 쉬운 페이 지로 구성(4.03)되어 있어 구매 과정(4.00)이 편리하다고 응 답하였으나, 상품 품질에 대한 만족도는 모두 보통 이하로 낮 게 나타났다. 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼과 오프라인 절화 도매 시장에서의 절화 구매 후 만족도를 비교한 결과 온라인 절화 도매 플랫폼에서는 가격과 반품 처리에 있어 오프라인에 비해 강점을 가지고 있었으나, 가장 중요한 절화 구매 결정 요인인 절화 신선도와 상품 다양성에 있어서 오프라인 절화 도매시장 에 비해 부족함을 보였다. 결론적으로 온라인 절화 도매 플랫 폼의 발전을 위해서는 절화 상품 품질 향상 및 다양성 확보가 필요하며 국내 화훼산업의 지속적인 발전과 성장을 위하여 새 로운 화훼 시장 형태에 대한 다양한 추가 연구가 필요할 것으 로 판단된다.

Background: This study helps to evaluate the Ovarian potential of Cameroonian Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) slaughtered in Etoudi – Yaoundé for implementing Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs). The aim was to enhance the productivity of the cattle sub-sector in Cameroon while conserving local genetic resources. Methods: A total of 144 cows, including 94 cycled cows and 50 pregnant cows, were included in the study. Live weights were determined by measuring the thoracic perimeter of each cow using a Rondo measuring tape. Age was determined postmortem through examination of dentition and horns, while the uterus and ovaries were removed, weighed, and classified based on physiological status (pregnant or nonpregnant). Follicles were counted, and their diameters were measured and categorized into small (Ø < 3 mm), medium (Ø 3-8 mm), and large (Ø > 8 mm). Results: The results revealed an average follicular population of 32.02 ± 9.31 per cow, with 22.43 ± 8.45 small follicles, 8.42 ± 3.87 medium follicles, and 0.76 ± 0.34 large follicles. The weight of the right ovary was significantly higher than that of the left ovary (p < 0.05), and cows aged 6 to 9 years exhibited a higher number of follicles compared to other age groups. Cows with medium (BCS = 3) and large (BCS = 4-5) body reserves had the heaviest ovaries. Additionally, pregnant cows had heavier uteri compared to non-pregnant cows, and cows with a body condition score of 3 or higher had higher uterine weights than lean cows (BCS = 1-2). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that age, body condition score, and pregnancy status influence ovarian weight. Body Condition Score serves as a reliable indicator of cow nutritional status, and cows with BCS of 3-5 are excellent candidates for in vitro production of embryos.

다중 에이전트 강화학습의 발전과 함께 게임 분야에서 강화학습을 레벨 디자인에 적용하려는 연구가 계속되 고 있다. 플랫폼의 형태가 레벨 디자인의 중요한 요소임에도 불구하고 지금까지의 연구들은 플레이어의 스킬 수준이나, 스킬 구성 등 플레이어의 매트릭에 초첨을 맞춰 강화학습을 활용하였다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 레 벨 디자인에 플랫폼의 형태가 사용될 수 있도록 시각 센서의 가시성과 구조물의 복잡성을 고려하여 플랫폼 이 플레이 경험에 미치는 영향을 연구한다. 이를 위해Unity ML-Agents Toolkit과MA-POCA 알고리즘, Self-play 방식을 기반으로2vs2 대전 슈팅 게임 환경을 개발하였으며 다양한 플랫폼의 형태를 구성하였다. 분석을 통해 플랫폼의 형태에 따른 가시성과 복잡성의 차이가 승률 밸런스에는 크게 영향을 미치지 않으나 전체 에피소 드 수, 무승부 비율, Elo의 증가폭에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것을 확인했다.

Rice ratooning is the cultural practice that easily produces secondary rice from the stubble left behind after harvesting the main crop. ‘Daol’ is an extremely early growing rice variety. Planting this variety early allows for an additional ratoon harvest after the primary rice harvest. The plant growth and yield of ratoon rice were very low compared to those of main rice. Protein, amylose content, and head rice rate were higher in ratoon rice than in main rice. The distribution by the rice flour particle size of main and ratoon rice was similar. The damaged starch content in ratoon rice was relatively high at 6.1%. Ratoon rice required a longer time and higher temperature for pasting than main rice. Compared to the original rice, peak viscosity (PV), hot paste viscosity (HPV), cool paste viscosity (CPV), and breakdown (BD) were very low, and setback (SB) was high. As a result of analyzing the gelatinization properties of main and ratoon rice using differential calorimetry, it was found that the onset (To), peak (Tp), and conclusion (Tc) of ratoon rice starch were processed at a lower temperature than those of main rice. The gelatinization enthalpy of both samples was similar. The distribution of amylopectin short chains in ratoon rice was higher than that in main rice.

자생 부추속 식물 중 강부추(Allium thunbergii for. rheophytum ined.)와 갯부추(A. pseudojaponicum Makino)는 관상용, 식 용 및 약용자원으로 가치가 있으나 육묘를 위한 생육환경조건 구명이 미비하여 연구할 필요성이 있다. 본 연구는 강부추와 갯부추의 육묘에 미치는 플러그 셀 크기, 차광률, 시비처리에 따른 영향을 구명하기 위하여 실험을 수행하였다. 강부추와 갯부추를 육묘한 결과, 플러그 셀 크기에서는 50, 72, 105, 128, 162, 200셀 처리 중 용적이 가장 큰 50셀에서 초장, 엽 수, 근수, 그리고 근장의 생육이 우수하였다. 그러나 생산비용 과 플러그 육묘의 효율성을 고려하여 105셀 이상의 플러그 트레이 중에서 선택하여 육묘하는 것이 효과적이라 판단된다. 차광률에 따른 유묘는 0, 30, 60, 90% 처리 중 30~60% 차 광처리에서 초장, 근수, 그리고 근장이 유의적으로 높게 측정 되어 생육이 양호하였다. 시비처리에서 생중량과 건중량을 제 외한 생육지표를 검토했을 때, 강부추의 적정 시비처리는 속 효성 고형비료(DO-PRO) 0.1g, 갯부추는 속효성 액체비료 (Peters) 주 1회 8mL 엽면시비처리였고 두 종 모두 속효성 시비처리가 효과적이었다. 강부추와 갯부추의 초기 생육에는 30~60% 차광처리가 된 재배플롯에서 원예상토가 충진된 128셀 플러그 트레이에 종자를 파종한후, DO-PRO 0.1g 또 는 Peters 8mL를 주 1회 엽면시비하면서 재배하는 것이 효 과적이라 판단된다.

Background: Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is introduced species that has caused aquatic ecology activity both in vitro and in vivo were investigated for the possibility of application of the bass extract as an alternative feed ingredient. Methods: The bass oil was extracted using a 1-L supercritical extractor, while the protein was extracted from 250 g of bass dry matter, which was dissolved in 1 mL of H2O at 50℃. Both oil and protein extracts were evaluated antioxidant activities and the level of DPPH radical scavenging assay and nitric oxide (NO) production assay with lipopolysaccharide response. Oral administration of 6.6 μL/g bass protein and 5.38 μL/g bass oil conducted for investigating serological and physiological effect. Results: DPPH radical scavenging showed similar radical scavenging ability of 50 μM of ascorbic acid at 200 μg of protein and 10% of oil treatment. NO concentration was diminished by the treatment of bass oil. Oral administration of both bass oil and proteins to mice showed that the body weight increase rate of the bass oil treated group was significantly reduced by 1.55 g compared to the other groups. The number of white blood cells (WBC) was increased by 4.52 k/μL in the bass protein-treated group and 4.44 k/μL in the bass oil-treated group compared to the control group. However, the serum IgG level did not show a significant difference between the bass extract-treated groups and the control group. Conclusions: These studies demonstrate that both bass oil and proteins extracted from the bass not only provide excellent effects of antioxidant and immune activity but can also be used as functional food supplements.

Nasopharyngeal stenosis is defined as a morphological transition of narrowing at the nasopharyngeal region. A 2-yearold, castrated male, Korean short hair cat was referred to the animal medical center, Gyeongsang National University. According to clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, and physical examination, nasopharyngeal stenosis was diagnosed. The staphylectomy was performed using a CO2 laser, and there were not any post-operative complications. The patient was discharged in two days. This report describes the case of nasopharyngeal stenosis in cat and represents that laser ablation could be a good option for surgical management of the nasopharyngeal region with a low complication rate.

본 연구는 국내 꽃 정기구독 서비스에 대한 소비자의 인식 과 이용 현황 및 선호도를 파악하기 위해 국내 성인 남녀 중 이용자 225명과 비이용자 291명을 대상으로 설문을 진행하 였다. 대부분의 응답자들은 주로 인터넷과 SNS를 통해 꽃 정 기구독 서비스를 접하였고, 꽃 정기구독 서비스 이용자들은 주로 1~2주에 1회(76.9%), 2~4만 원 가격대(60.4%)의 혼합 된 꽃 상품을 구독하고 있었으며, 대부분 이용 기간은 1년 이 내(84.4%)였다. 꽃 정기구독 서비스를 이용하는 곳은 대부분 집(71.6%)으로, 많은 이용자들이 자기 자신(65.8%)을 위해 서비스를 이용하고 있었다. 꽃 정기구독 서비스에 대하여 이 용자와 비이용자 모두 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었으나, 이용자 들은 비이용자들에 비해 꽃 정기구독 서비스의 가격이 합리적 이고, 삶의 질이 향상되었다고 응답해, 서비스 장점에 대하여 이용자가 비이용자에 비해 더욱 긍정적인 것을 알 수 있었다 (p<0.001). 비이용자들은 꽃 정기구독 서비스 단점으로 포장 쓰레기가 많이 나올 것 같고, 신선도가 떨어질 것으로 우려하 였지만, 이와 반대로 이용자들은 그렇지 않다고 응답하였고, 그 외 단점 문항들에 대해서도 서비스 이용 시 크게 불편함을 느끼지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 응답자들은 꽃 정기구독 서비 스 이용 시 선호하는 상품으로 다양한 꽃이 2~4가지 정도 혼 합된 중간 크기(18~20cm×30~40cm, W×H) 상품을 선호 한다고 응답하였고, 꽃 정기구독 서비스 업체를 선정하기 위 해 고려해야 할 요인으로 이용자와 비이용자 모두 신선도, 꽃 구성, 구매 후기를 중요한 요인으로 응답하였다. 꽃 정기구독 서비스 이용 중 추가로 비용을 지불하면서 이용하고 싶은 서 비스에 대하여 응답자들 모두 절화보존제와 프리미엄 디자인 에 대하여 추가 비용을 지불할 의사가 있다고 응답하였다. 꽃 정기구독 서비스 이용자들은 서비스에 대하여 전반적으로 업 체가 제공하는 정보나 상품에 대해 신뢰하고 있었고, 꽃 정기 구독 서비스 비용은 합리적이라며 긍정적으로 평가하였다. 또 한, 본 서비스에 대한 재이용 의사도 높은 것으로 나타났다. 꽃 정기구독 서비스를 통해 본인을 위한 꽃 소비가 점차 늘어 나고 국내 소비자들의 화훼 소비 형태가 다양하게 변화되었음 을 확인하였으며, 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 앞으로 새로운 국 내 화훼산업 시장이 활성화되고, 지속적인 화훼 소비와 국내 화훼 문화의 발전이 이루어질 것으로 기대한다.

Background: Reproductive management practices play crucial roles to maximize the reproductive performance of cows, and thus contribute to farm profitability. We aimed to assess the reproductive management of cows currently practiced in the dairy farms in an urban farming system. Methods: A total of 62 dairy farms were randomly selected considering all size of farms such as small (1-5 cattle), medium (6-20 cattle) and large farms (> 20 cattle) from selected areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The reproductive managementrelated parameters viz. estrus detection, breeding method, pregnancy diagnosis, dry cow and parturition management, vaccination and treatment of reproductive problems etc. were obtained in a pre-defined questionnaire during the farm visit. Results: The visual observation method was only used (100.0%; 62/62) for estrus detection irrespective of size of the farms; while farmers observed cows for estrus 4-5 times a day, but only for 20-60 seconds each time. Regardless of farm size, 89.0% (55/62) farms used artificial insemination (AI) for breeding the cows. Intriguingly, all farms (100.0%) routinely checked the cows for pregnancy at 35-40 days post-breeding using rectal palpation technique by registered veterinarian. However, only 6.5% (4/62) farms practiced dry cow management. Notably, all farms (100.0%) provided nutritional supplements (Vit D, Ca and P) during late gestation. However, proper hygiene and cleanliness during parturition was not practiced in 77.4% (48/62) farms; even though 96.7% (60/62) farms treated cows by registered veterinarian for parturition-related problems. Conclusions: While farmers used AI service for breeding and timely check their cows for pregnancy; however, they need to increase observation time (30 minutes/ observation, twice in a day: early morning and early night) for estrus detection, consider dry cow management and ensure hygienic parturition for maximizing production.

This study was conducted to reset the maximum residue limit (MRL) for didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) in broiler chickens. The disinfectant containing DDAC (10%, w/w) was diluted 160 times and evenly sprayed on the bodies of twenty-four broiler chickens at a rate of 15 mL per day per bird for 7 days. After the disinfectant treatment, tissue samples were collected from six broiler chickens at 0.25, 1, 3 and 5 days, respectively. Residual DDAC concentrations in poultry tissues were determined using LC-MS/MS. Correlation coefficient (0.99 >), the limits quantification (LOQ, 2.0~10.0 μg/kg), recoveries (86.9~118.6%), and coefficient of variations (<19.98%) were satisfied the validation criteria of Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In all tissues except for liver, DDAC was detected more than LOQ at 5 days after the disinfectant treatment. In liver tissues, DDAC was detected more than LOQ at 3 days after treatment. According to the European Medicines Agency’s guideline on determination of withdrawal periods, withdrawal period of DDAC in poultry tissues was established to 26 days. In conclusion, the developed analytical method is sensitive and reliable for detecting DDAC in poultry tissues. When DDAC disinfectant is sprayed on a poultry house in the presence of broiler chickens, it is necessary to keep the disinfectant from contacting the body of the livestock.

A 12-year-old, spayed female, Pomeranian dog was referred for limbs stiffness and circling movement. Computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed a contrast-enhanced space-occupying lesion suggestive of meningioma in the olfactory groove to the right frontal lobe. For a successful and accurate surgery, 3D printing technique for preoperative planning and 3D guide was applied. Surgical excision of the meningioma was successfully performed. The postoperative complications were managed through medical treatment and patient care without the revision surgery.

Background: Canine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an attractive source for veterinary regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug development. Here we used vitamin C (Vc) to improve the reprogramming efficiency of canine iPSCs, and its functions in the reprogramming process were elucidated. Methods: Retroviral transduction of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc (OSKM), and GFP was employed to induce reprogramming in canine fetal fibroblasts. Following transduction, the culture medium was subsequently replaced with ESC medium containing Vc to determine the effect on reprogramming activity. Results: The number of AP-positive iPSC colonies dramatically increased in culture conditions supplemented with Vc. Vc enhanced the efficacy of retrovirus transduction, which appears to be correlated with enhanced cell proliferation capacity. To confirm the characteristics of the Vc-treated iPSCs, the cells were cultured to passage 5, and pluripotency markers including Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Tra-1-60 were observed by immunocytochemistry. The expression of endogenous pluripotent genes (Oct4, Nanog, Rex1, and telomerase) were also verified by PCR. The complete silencing of exogenously transduced human OSKM factors was observed exclusively in canine iPSCs treated with Vc. Canine iPSCs treated with Vc are capable of forming embryoid bodies in vitro and have spontaneously differentiated into three germ layers. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize a straightforward method for enhancing the efficiency of canine iPSC generation and provide insight into the Vc effect on the reprogramming process.

수국은 수국과(Hydrangeaceae) 수국속(Hydrangea)의 낙엽관목 식물로 크고 화려한 화형을 가져 절화, 분화 및 조 경수로 전세계적 인기가 있는 식물이다. 나무수국은 수국 (H. macrophylla)과 비교하여 삽목율이 낮은 것으로 알려져 있지만 나무수국의 묘목생산을 위한 삽목 연구 및 두 종간 삽목율 차이 원인 규명에 관한 연구는 미미하다. 본 연구는 IBA(Indol-3-butyric acid) 500mg·L-1 처리시 삽수의 침지 시간에 따른 삽목율 조사를 통해 적정 호르몬 처리 시간을 제 시하고 나무수국과 수국의 해부학적 구조 관찰을 통한 삽목율 차이 발생의 원인을 규명하고자 실시하였다. 나무수국의 적정 호르몬 처리 시간을 규명하기 위해 IBA 500mg·L-1을 무처 리, 30분, 2시간, 4시간 침지처리를 하였다. 종간 삽목율 차이 발생의 원인 규명을 위해 나무수국과 수국의 줄기 단면과 삽 목 후 시간 경과에 따른 발근을 해부학적으로 관찰하였다. 연 구의 결과 나무수국의 삽목시 IBA 500mg·L-1에 2시간 이상 침지처리가 다른 처리구와 비교하여 발근율이 높고 발생 뿌리 수가 가장 많았다. 또, 나무수국의 삽목율이 수국과 비교하여 낮은 것은 줄기의 세포 구조상 방사조직의 형태, 섬유세포의 밀도, 도관의 발달, 전분 함유 세포의 수 등에 차이가 관찰되 었고 이러한 세포 구조적 차이들의 영향으로 나무수국이 수국 보다 삽목 후 뿌리 조직 세포분열이 7일 늦게 시작되는 것이 확인되었다. 본 연구의 결과로 나무수국의 삽목 번식의 기초 자료로 활용되어 묘목 생산 효율 증대에 활용되길 바란다.

조셉 파사노는 상당한 학문적, 창의적 포트폴리오를 갖춘 다각적인 인물이다. 그는 하버드 대학에서 학업을 시작했으며, 수학과 천체 물리학을 공부한 후, 철학으로 학문적 궤도를 전환했으며, 특히 비트겐슈타인의 언어 철학에 중점을 두었다. 그 후 그는 마크 스트랜드, 루시 브록-브로이도, 리차즈 하워드와 같은 영향력 있는 멘토들과 함께 일하면서 콜럼비아 대학에서 시 대학원 공부를 했다. 이 인터뷰에서 조셉 파사노는 시적 능력의 참여와 그의 시에 대한 개인적인 관점에 대해 논의한다. 특히 파사노는 독자들이 자신의 시에 대해 부여할 수 있는 다양한 해석에 대해 개방적인 입장을 보여준다. 더욱이 그는 작가로서 자신의 개인적, 직업적 발전에 대한 통찰을 공유하며 이 여정을 ‘생존 방식’으로 규정한다. 시와 소설에 대한 그의 창작 노력의 근간을 이루는 중심 모티브는 ‘개인적인 것과 역사적인 것’을 연결하려는 필요성이다.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a unique mitochondrial membranous protein expressed in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in mammals. While its expression in response to cold temperatures and adipogenic inducers is well-characterized in mammals and human infants, the molecular characterization and expression of UCP1 in fish remain unexplored. To address this gap, we analyzed UCP1 expression in response to adipogenic inducers in a fish cell line, rainbow trout gonadal cells (RTG-2), and compared it with UCP1 expression in three mammalian preadipocytes, 3T3-L1, T37i, and WT1 exposed to the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists, rosiglitazone (Rosi). In mammalian preadipocytes, UCP1 protein was highly expressed by Rosi, with an induction of adipogenesis observed in a time-dependent manner. This suggests that UCP1 plays a significant role in adipogenesis in mammals. However, RTG-2 cells showed no response to adipogenic inducers and exhibited only marginal expressions of UCP1. These results imply that RTG-2 cells may lack crucial responsive mechanisms to adipogenic signals or that the adipogenic response is regulated by other mechanisms. Further studies are needed to confirm these phenomena in fish preadipocytes when an appropriate cell line is established in future research.

Previous studies have shown that proline mutations in the heptad repeat region stabilize the coronavirus spike (S) protein in a pre-fusion state. To understand the impact of proline substitutions on the fusogenicity of the S protein, we engineered the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) S protein with two proline substitutions (S-PP) and examined its fusogenicity using dual-split-protein based cell-cell fusion assay. Unlike the wild-type S (S-WT), S-PP rarely formed syncytia. Additionally, protein expression of S-PP was impaired compared to S-WT, as previously reported. Our results indicate that pre-fusion stabilized S protein is unable to induce membrane fusion and provide a better understanding of SADS-CoV S and vaccine antigen design.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cloven-hoofed animals, is economically important because of its highly contagious nature. FMD virus (FMDV), the causative agent of FMD, involves seven serotypes (O, A, Asia1, C, and SAT 1-3). Serotype Asia1 is unique to the Asian territory and is subdivided into nine genetic groups (G-I-IX) based on nucleotide variations in the VP1 sequence. Asia1 Shamir, the most representative Asia1 vaccine, is not highly protective against the Asia1/MOG/05 (G-V) lineage found in North Korea in 2007. Therefore, we investigated whether a chimeric virus strain (Asia1/MOG/Shamir), in which the VP4, VP2, and VP3 sequences of Asia1/MOG/05 were combined with the VP1 sequence of Asia1 Shamir, can simultaneously protect against both viruses. We determined the optimal viral growth conditions for the commercial utilization of this chimeric virus strain. Of the three types of cell culture media, the Cellvento medium resulted in the highest amount of antigen in the samples. The chimeric strain was proliferated in a small bioreactor to produce a test vaccine, and its immunogenicity was evaluated in pigs. The virus neutralization (VN) titer against the Asia1 Shamir virus was > 1/100 after the second immunization with the chimeric vaccine in pigs. In addition, a single dose of the test vaccine resulted in a VN titer of > 1/100 against the Asia1/MOG/05 strain. Taken together, our chimeric vaccine strain provided sufficient protection against the Asia1/MOG/05 and Asia1 Shamir viruses, suggesting its potential as a novel vaccine for both these strains.

The primary therapeutic approach for Brucella species infections has mainly been based on antibiotic treatment. However, the development of vaccines for brucellosis control remains controversial. Furthermore, there is currently no licensed vaccine available for human brucellosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a combination of recombinant protein vaccines against Brucella (B.) abortus infection using a mouse model. Two B. abortus genes, namely dapB and gpm, were cloned and expressed in competent Escherichia (E.) coli DH5α using the pCold-TF vector. Successfully cloned vectors were subjected to PCR amplification using specific primer pairs. The apparent sizes of dapB and gpm were detected at 807 bp and 621 bp, respectively. Besides, the purified recombinant proteins dapB and gpm were detected using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis with correct sizes of 82.86 kDa and 87.61 kDa, respectively. These recombinant proteins were used to immunize mice as a combined subunit vaccine (CSV) to elicit host immunity against B. abortus infection. Mice immunized with CSV exhibited increased proliferation of CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells at week 7th and 9th before sacrifice, in comparison to the control group. Notably, CSV immunization showed a significant decrease in bacterial burden in the spleen compared to the control group. Altogether, CSV using dapB and gpm induced host adaptive immune response against Brucella infection, suggesting its potential as an effective new subunit vaccine candidate.

This study evaluated the fungicidal efficacy of weakly acidic hypochlorous acid water (WAHW) against Microsporum canis (M. canis) and its therapeutic effect on M. canis-infected mouse skin. WAHW was produced by a WAHW generation module. A fungicidal efficacy test by the broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective concentration of the WAHW. The lowest effective concentration of WAHW was less than 10 ppm. For T-1, T-2, and T-3, 30 ppm of WAHW was applied to the infected skin once, twice, and three times a day, respectively, and for T-4, 50 ppm of WAHW was applied once a day. On the 3rd day after the initiation of treatment, skin scores in all of the WAHW-treated groups were significantly decreased compared to those in the positive control group (PC) (p<0.05), and there were no significant differences compared to the normal control (NC). The area of the infected skin in all of the WAHW-treated groups was significantly decreased compared to PC from the first day after the initiation of WAHW treatment (p<0.05). The results showed that WAHW had a fungicidal efficacy on M. canis at less than 10 ppm, and it was effective in improving skin symptoms when 30 ppm of WAHW was applied to the M. canis-infected area once a day for five days or 50 ppm of WAHW was applied once a day.