The plastic monomer bisphenol A (BPA) is well known as a representative environmental hormones. Recent studies showed that the BPA exposure induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial derived reactive oxygen species (mito-ROS). However, changes of antioxidant enzymes expression and ROS production from mitochondria according to the BPA exposure on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes have not been studied. We hypothesized that regulation of ROS production from mitochondria by BPA may play a critical role in meiotic maturation or expansion of cumulus cells in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). To investigate the negative effects of BPA exposure on oocyte maturation, immature pig oocytes were matured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with BPA (50, 75 and 100 μM) for 44 h. Expectedly, the rates of meiotic maturation and cumulus cell expansion of COCs in the BPA (75 μM) treated group was significantly lower than those of control group (p<0.01). Most of secretion factors expressions from COCs were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the BPA treated COCs. Next, we investigated the intracellular ROS and mitochondrial specific superoxide production according to the BPA exposure using DCF-DA and mito-SOX staining, respectively. BPA exposure were showed that increasing of both intracellular ROS and mito-ROS, as well as mitochondrial related antioxidant enzymes (sod2, prdx3, prdx5) mRNA expression significantly increased (p<0.01) in COCs. And then, mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) dramatically reduced, and mitochondrial-derived apoptotic factors (bax, bcl-xl, caspase 3) mRNA expressions were increased (p<0.01) in BPA treated COCs. In additon, protein levels of mitochondrial-derived apoptosis genes (AIF, cleaved parp1 and caspase 3) were significantly increased (p<0.05) by BPA exposure. To confirm the reduction of BPA-induced mito-ROS, we used to the mitochondrial-targeted ROS scavenger, mito-TEMPO. Interestingly, addition of mito-TEMPO (0.1 μM) to the BPA pre-treated COCs recovered in meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. These results demonstrated that BPA exposure was induced increasing of mitochondrial dysfunction, mito-ROS and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis on pig oocyte maturation. Therefore, we suggest that controlling of mito-ROS plays a critical role in pig oocyte maturation in vitro. These findings will be helpful to solve causes of mitochondrial-related infertility.

Melatonin has an important role as anti-oxidative effect and reducing of endoplasmic reticulum(ER)-stress on oocyte maturation and embryo development. Under ER-stress condition, unfolding protein response (UPR) is a defence mechanism in mammalian cells. Recently, regulation of UPR signaling genes are involved in oocyte maturation, embryo development and female reproduction. However, there is no report on the role of melatonin for UPR signaling and ER-stress mediated apoptosis during pig oocyte maturation progression. Moreover, the changes of UPR genes expression according to the porcine oocyte maturation is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the changes of UPR signal (BIP/GRP78, ATF4, p90/p50ATF6, and XBP1) and ER-stress apoptotic factor CHOP genes expressions in porcine oocyte maturation by Western blot and RT-PCR analysis. During oocyte maturation, UPR marker and CHOP genes expressions were significantly increased in matured oocytes or cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). UPR markers expressions were significantly increased by ER-stress inducer, tunicamycin (Tm), treated (1, 5, 10 μg/ml) groups in a dose-dependent manner compared with control group. To confirm the reducing of ER-stress by melatonin (0.1 μM), we were compared to the effects of ER-stress inhibitor, TUDCA (200 μM), after pre-treated Tm (5 μg/ml) for 22 h maturation. Expressions of UPR markers and meiotic maturation were recovered by melatonin (0.1 μM) in COCs. And, we observed the role of Grp78/Bip as UPR signaling beginning marker using siRNA. In result, reduction of Grp78/Bip gene expression by siRNA was induced the inhibition of oocyte maturation (32.5±10.1 vs control; 77.8±5.3), and p50ATF6 protein level was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in cultured COCs for 44 h. In addition, these results were recovered through the addition of melatonin (0.1 μM) or TUDCA (200 μM) in maturation medium. These results demonstrated that the regulation of UPR signaling via Grp78/Bip gene induction plays a critical role in porcine oocyte maturation in vitro. Furthermore, this present study first confirmed a functional link between inhibition effect of ER-stress by melatonin and regulating of UPR signaling in porcine oocyte maturation. In conclusion, melatonin improves the oocyte maturation and cumulus cells expansion of COCs through the regulation of UPR signal pathway by BIP/GRP78 against the ER-stress during porcine oocyte maturation periods.

The Y chromosome is a type of sex chromosome existing primarily in male mammalian species. The Y chromosome passes through the male gamete and determines male sex in humans, non-human primates, and other mammals. The mammalian Y chromosome varies from the X chromosome and the rest of the chromosomes primarily by size and its male sex-determining/spermatogenesis function. In the Y chromosome, male sex-determining function is exclusively located on the short arm, while the spermatogenesis function is distributed widely on the short and long arm. Deletions or mutations particularly in the male-specific region of Y chromosome (MSY) may cause male infertility. During the last few decades, researchers put forth an enormous effort to discover Y chromosome specific genes, and their encoded RNAs and proteins in humans, primates, and rodents. As a result, most of the genes and encoded proteins responsible for male-sex determination, testis development, and spermatogenesis have been discovered in humans, however not well established in non-human primates and rodents. Also, there might be a percent of proteins missing in human Y chromosome. The aim of this study is to annotate the proteins that encoded on the Y chromosome of humans, chimpanzee, and mouse using extensive bioinformatics tools. The human (annotation release 107), chimpanzee (annotation release 103), and mouse (annotation release 105) proteins were first retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) eukaryotic genome annotation resource database. Then, the annotated human proteins (66 proteins) were compared with the core databases of human proteome project such as neXtProt, PeptideAtlas, and the Human Protein Atlas. The X-homologous of human Y chromosome-encoded proteins were searched using the NCBI Protein BLAST program. The cellular pathways and protein-protein interactions involving human Y chromosome-encoded proteins were searched using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway mapping database, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database, and the Pathway Studio software. Finally, the human Y chromosome-encoded protein homologs/orthologs in chimpanzee and mouse were analyzed using the NCBI bl2seq program. This analysis resulted a significant number of homologous/orthologous proteins between human, chimpanzee and mouse. Our findings provide the scientific community with updated information on the Y chromosome-encoded proteins in humans, chimpanzee, and mouse.

We conducted a investigation for distribution and flavivirus infection of mosquitoes using black –light trap around Incheon international airport there was possible overseas inflow caused by global warming in Korea. Mosquitoes were collected once a week April to October during 6 years (2009~2015). The numbers of mosquitoes collected in Oseong and Eurwang mountain were 8,969 and 7,978 including 12 species 7 genera respectively during collecting period. Culex pipiens complex was dominant species in two collecting area as 4,621(51.5%) in Oseong and 3,761(47.1%) in Eurwang mountain. A total of 16 pools from 88 Aedes albopictus were performed a Dengue virus (DENV) detection and total 628 pools from 11,146 other mosquitoes performed a West nile virus (WNV) detection. Flavivirus was not detected during study period. This study may provide basic information for surveillance of imported diseases and vectors in Korea.

When L. ingenua was captured in a low density of less than 400 flies per sticky trap (25x15cm), yellow color trap is the most excellent, and pink color trap is the lowest. The other colors also have attraction abilities. On the other hands, when total mushroom flies are captured more than 1,000 flies, the attraction difference by the trap color has not been confirmed. Therefore, the use of yellow sticky trap was recommended for insect monitoring of L. ingenua and M. tamilnaduensis. 38.1% of L. ingenua and 31.7% of M. tamilnaduensis were attracted to the black light lamp. We confirmed that black fluorescent lamp(BL) will be effective material to attract two dominant mushroom fly at house(≒70㎡). The treatment of one device that is mushroom fly capturing device built-in black light fluorescent lamp decreases 67.8% of mushroom fly. And the treatment of two device decrease 90.4% of mushroom fly. When black fluorescent light lamp for capturing of mushroom fly only turned on during mushroom production room, Gonji-7ho and Heuktari grew up normally in all treatment. But yield of Chunchu-2ho was decreased 34.6% due to the lack of the amount of light in the treatment of black fluorescent light lamp to 100cm from mushroom medium.

Potato Virus Y (PVY) (Potyviridae: potyvirus) is one of the serious emerging virus of seed potato world-wide. It affects the seed potato by transmitting non-persistently via aphids. Here, we developed a simple PVY detection method which used the boiling technique for releasing of the viral RNA from aphid such as stylet and amplification by PVY specific primers located in the viral coat protein gene which suitable for various strains. This simplified method could save the time compared to earlier detection method due to the simplified RNA extraction step. Following this procedure, we tested this one step RT-PCR based PVY detection method by using three PVY vectoring aphid species (M. persicae, A. gossypii and M. euphorbiae) as well as other sucking type insect such as thrips (F. occidentalis). This PVY detection method is rapid, easy-to-use and suitable for large-scale testing in laboratories of seed potato.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (DBM) is a major pest of cruciferous vegetables. The insecticide resistance of this pest is very serious and has been reported in more than 600 cases. It is important to evaluate insecticide response to manage the resistant populations In this study, we investigated the insecticide susceptibility of local DBM strains collected from five major cabbage cultivation area in Korea to the ten commercial insecticides with leaf dipping method . As a result, the resistance ratio(R/R) of almost all the tested pesticides was 0.1∼3.3 (low resistant) and there was no differce within local regions. But dinotefuran showed middle resistance with regional differences (R/R , 5.9∼69.4) For the estimate the control effectiveness, we calculated the log value of the recommendation concentration divided by LC90 of pesticides. The result showed that the efficiency of neonicotinoids was generally low and that of emamectin benzoat every high. In conclusion, neonicotinoids was to use carefully and emamectin benzoate was very good alternative in DBM control in Korea

In our previous study, COPA (coatomer subunit alpha) gene from the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, exhibited RNA interference (RNAi)-based lethality when its double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) was systemically delivered via multi-unit chambers or its hairpin RNA was in planta-expressed by agroinfiltration. The cumulative mortality of T. urtcae was 55.0 ±14.2% in soybean plants agroinfiltrated with COPA gene. To investigate the temporal expression profiles of hairpin RNA following agroinfiltration, the amount of hairpin RNA expressed in plants was quantified over time by quantitative real-time PCR. Relative transient expression levels of T. urticae COPA hairpin RNA was highest at 46 h post-agroinfiltration and the extent of COPA gene knockdown was lowest at 12 h post-infestation on soybean plants. To investigate small interference RNA (siRNA) profiling, northern blot assay is currently under progress.

The spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an economically damaging pest that feeds on most thin-skinned fruits. In this study, we sequenced portions of the mitochondrial (mt) COI and ND4 genes from a total of 195 individuals collected mainly from Korea. A total of 139 haplotypes were obtained from the concatenated COI and ND4 sequences. A dataset combining GenBank sequences with our own data identified a total of 94 worldwide COI haplotypes with a maximum sequence divergence of 5.433% (32 bp). A rough estimate of genetic diversity in each country showed higher diversity in ancestral distributional ranges, but the invasion over Asian countries seems to have been substantial because haplotype diversity was only 2.35-3.97-fold lower in the USA, Canada, and Italy than that in the populations ancestral ranges.

There are many other detection methods for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. However, Baermann funnel method, PCR-based methods, which are laborious and time consuming processes that are unsuitable to rapid diagnose the Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) on the field. For these reasons, the aim of our experiment is not only to apply field diagnostic for pine wood nematode (PWN) but also to reduce total time for detection PWN in the pine trees by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with phosphate (Pi)-induced coloration reaction which could be yes or no answer for detection of PWN has not required UV detector but it just could be discriminated by naked eyes within 30 min. Genomic DNA was directly extracted from pine wood chips by Wood Chips Direct Lysis procedure which can be used for LAMP only after simple dilution. Our results suggest that LAMP-Pi detection method, simple and rapid method for detection of PWN, could be applied to the field diagnostic for PWD.

We had evaluated of insecticidal effect from Insecticide-treated net (ITN) that coated by deltamethrin against Monochamus alternatus which serves as a vector for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. In this experiment, vector has been shown that rapid insecticidal effect response time within 1 hour when they were contacted with ITN. In addition, vectors were showed high mortality within 48 hours. To evaluate insecticidal persistency of ITN and whether releasing insecticide to water, ITNs were soaked in water over various time periods. Water has not shown insecticidal effect to vectors and small amount of insecticide were detected that would not be harmful to other non-target organic being such as honeybee. Also, reduction of insecticidal effect was not observed from the ITN. Taken together, our results suggest that ITN had got highly insecticidal effect to vector as well as could be applied to effectively prevent dispersal of the vector on the field.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the committed step for eicosanoid biosynthesis. Two cellular PLA2 genes (iPLA2 and cPLA2) have been identified in Spodoptera exigua. PLA2 activity varied among developmental stages and different tissues. There was a positive correlation between PLA2 activities and their expression levels. Interestingly, there was significant inhibition by sPLA2 inhibitor, suggesting a presence of sPLA2 in S. exigua. An entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii, infection suppressed expression of PLA2 genes and its extract inhibited enzyme activities. Oxindole of a bacterial metabolite of X. hominikii inhibited PLA2 activity and expression.

Genus Phytocoris Fallén, 1814 is the largest genus among Heteroptera, around 700 species are described worldwide. In this presentation, the genus Phytocoris from Korean Peninsula is reviewed for the first time with eight species, includes one new record, P. minakatai and one new species, P. goryeonus sp. nov. For further comprehension of this genus, figures of dorsal habitus, genitalia and diagnosis of each Phytocoris species are provided.

Nuruk, a Korean fermentation starter for Makgeolli, contains a variety of microflora according to province and natural environment. However, the metabolites profiles in traditional Korean Nuruk were not defined yet. In this study, Nuruk were prepared with 20 different fungi originated from Gangwon province (Rhizomucor variabilis, Lichtheimia corymbifera, and Aspergillus species) and their metabolites were profiled / compared with commercial strains (Aspergillus kawachii) through metabolomics analysis. Metabolites were extracted with solvent mixture (Isopropanol: Methanol: Distilled water) and put into MS spectrometry analysis. After processing of full mass spectra data from LC-MS/MS, the characteristics of each strain were compared and analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).Interestingly, strain specific classification was observed by HCA and PCA among samples and significant differences were also indicated from commercial strain Aspergillus kawachii. As a results, 26 metabolites were successfully screened with a validity from a total of 189 metabolites by using of VIP plot through OPLS-DA. These results suggested the uniqueness of Korean traditional home brewed liquor compared to commercial liquor and could be useful information for Korean brewing industry.

Broccoli, one of Brassica vegetables, has been known to possess various health beneficial activities including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-cancer etc. Various metabolites were indicated as active compounds in broccoli. Glucosinolates such as glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin, glucoerucin and isothiocyanates, i.e. sulforaphane, which is produced through the enzymatic action of myrosinase are getting focus as their bioactivities. In this study, we treated broccoli with pulsed electric field (PEF) processing and the metabolite profiles were investigated based on the metabolomics analysis. PEF process was applied to stem and floret of broccolis with three different levels; 500, 1000, 1500 pulses with 2 kV/cm, then metabolites were extracted with 70% methanol. Metabolomic analysis was carried out with mass spectrometry through multivariate statistical analysis based on the OPLS-DA model. Significant changes of metabolite profiles were observed by PEF treatment and specific metabolites were affected as dose dependent manner. Content of major glucosinolates compounds such as glucoerucin, glucoiberin, glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin, 4-hydroxy glucobrassicin, and 4-methoxy glucobrassicin were significantly reduced, while sulforaphane was distinctively increased in PEF treated broccolis. The results implied that myrosinase released from vacuole by PEF processing transformed glucosinolate into isothiocyanate, which would be useful findings for enhancing bioactivity of broccoli by simple PEF treatment.

In this study, a two-factor-six-level factorial design was adopted for optimizing brine (saturated salt solution) and water flow rates in electrolyzed water generator in order to produce electrolyzed water (EW) having best performance for vegetable washing. The pH, electro-conductivity, chlorine contents of produced EW were determined. The optimum EW for broccoli sprouts washing was produced at flow rates of brine and water of 100 mL/min and 300 mL/min respectively. The optimum washing time was 20 s based on the quality of washed broccoli sprouts. The microbial counts were decreased by 1.4 log for aerobic bacteria and 1.0 log for yeasts and mold. The functional quality and sensory characteristics of broccoli sprouts were unaffected by the EW washing. The results demonstrated the applicability of EW for the improvement of hygiene of broccoli sprouts without affecting quality.

In this study, the use of corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) for the improvement of hygienic quality of semi-dried mackerel pike (Gwamegi) was investigated. Different microbial contaminants, namely aerobic and marine bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and yeasts and mold, were detected in the range 4.2-6.2 log CFU/g in Gwamegi samples. The CDPJ generated using 20 kV DC and at 58 kHz frequency was used for the treatment of Gwamegi for 0-10 min. The bacterial contaminants were inactivated in the range of 1.9-3.3 log CFU/g on the treatment for 10 min. Additionally, yeasts and mold were inactivated by 3.2 log CFU/g. The inactivation pattern fitted well to the first-order kinetics model. The CDPJ treatment for 10 min did not exert statistically significant changes (P > 0.05) in pH, moisture content, water activity, peroxide value, acid value and volatile basic nitrogen content of Gwamegi in comparison to untreated control samples. On the contrary, significant changes (P < 0.05) were noted in color and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels upon the CDPJ treatment. However, the CDPJ-treated Gwamegi samples displayed better sensory properties in terms of appearance, visual color, and flavor as compared to controls.

Driven by market, consumer preferences and recent climate change discussions, the usage of ‘sustainability’ standards has over the last decade gained ground worldwide. Sustainability standards are largely voluntary, non-mandatory and an increasingly important component of the green economy. While on the one hand the usage of sustainability standards helps achieve several economic and environment objectives, on the other hand they can potentially act as barriers to trade in particular for small producers. This paper examines the potential trade and commercial aspects of sustainability standards in terms of their diversity, cost of incorporation and interaction with supply chains. It considers the compatibility of sustainability standards with the existing trade architecture of the World Trade Organization, drawing on relevant case law developments. Finally, it recommends the usage of international platforms such as the UNFSS and ITC Standards map, to enable product/ service specific information sharing, conformity assessment and business networking.

It is imperious to know the reproductive parameters of the subsisting swine breed for profitable farming in Bangladesh. This study was designed to compare the reproductive parameters of sows at hilly areas between the local and crossbred at farm and backyard level. A total of 116 breedable sows were included. The data on age at puberty, litter size, birth weight, weaning weight, gestation length, interval between farrowing and number of piglets born per sow in local and crossbred sows were determined and direct questionnaire method was used for data collection. The present study revealed that age at puberty between farm and backyard system of crossbred sows was 8.88±0.153 and 9.85±0.221 months, respectively. The farrowing interval was shorter in crossbred sows which were kept in farming system rather than backyard system. The interval between farrowing and onset of estrus was shorter in crossbred sows. The gestation length was almost similar between backyard and farm condition. The number of litter size per sow per farrowing was 8.45±0.41 in crossbred and 7.17±0.250 in local pigs at backyard system. The birth weight and weaning weight were more in farm conditions than backyard system. The age at puberty in local breed was lower than the crossbred and litter size was 8.45±0.407 in crossbred which was higher than local breed 7.17±0.250 in backyard system. These results suggest that reproductive parameters of local sow need to be improved for better production and crossbred sows should be reared for obtaining desired productivity.