Skin is the outermost organ and acts as a barrier between the organism and environment. Skin protects the organism from environmental insults, such as chemicals, pathogens, and UV light. Much of the protective function of skin is dependent on the epidermis, a multi-layered epithelium that is composed of various cell types such as keratinocytes and melanocytes. Keratinocytes produce protective components through a sophisticated differentiation process. Disturbance of keratinocyte differentiation is related to several skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we prepared extract of combined medicinal plants (ECMP) consisting of Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt, Heartleaf Houttuynia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, and root bark of Ulmus davidiana. We demonstrated that ECMP enhanced keratinocyte differentiation and barrier functionality using an in vitro cell culture system and in vivo animal test. Treatment of cultured keratinocytes with ECMP resulted in induction of keratinocyte differentiation, as evidenced by increased differentiation markers such as involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin. In line with these results, ECMP decreased proliferation of keratinocytes cultured in vitro. ECMP applied topically to tape-stripped mouse skins accelerated reduction of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), indicating fast recovery of barrier function. Immunohistochemistry showed that ECMP increased the filaggrin level in tape-stripped mouse skins. These results suggest that ECMP may be applicable for keratinocyte differentiation-related skin diseases.

Cows may suffer impaired ovarian function, often accompanied by reduced conception rates and increased embryonic loss. Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed gynecological findings in dairy cattle. It causes temporary infertility and is likely to affect reproduction as well as production parameters in cattle. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the expression patterns of apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax), implantation (E-cadherin) and immune related proteins (TNF-α, IL-10) in uterine endometrium of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) with ovarian cyst and normal ovarian follicles. In the Western blot analysis, the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was significantly higher in endometrium with normal ovarian follicles, whereas expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein was significantly lower. Also, the expressions of E-cadherin and TNF-α proteins were significantly higher in uterine endometrium with normal ovarian follicles. On the other hand, the expression of IL-10 protein was significantly lower in uterine endometrium with normal ovarian follicles. Taken together, our results provided that the expressions of apoptosis, adhesion and immune related proteins in uterine endometrium with ovarian cyst were showed the aberrant patterns, and we suggest that different expression changes of these proteins may be affect to pregnancy ability of cattle.

A tremendous increase in the human population has put poultry industry under an increased pressure to meet steep increase in the demand. Poultry is contributing 25% of the total world’s meat production and lesser cost of investment per bird makes it more suitable for the further breeding programmes. Major poultry diseases frequently lead to cardiac damage and cause huge economic losses to poultry industry due to mortality. The in vitro embryonic stem cell (ESC) technology has a futuristic approach for homogeneous populace of differentiated cells, for their further transplantations. During in vitro conditions the differentiated cell populace can be used in grafting and transplantation processes to regenerate damaged tissues. Therefore, the current study targeted the use of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the poultry production system through cardiac regeneration. The current study will also open new boulevard for the similar kind of research in other livestock species for the management of heart diseases.

W.B.예이츠는 자신의 시대의 시인들이나 동료시인들과는 다른 시간을 구상하고 있다. 대부분은 시간을 진행하는 것이거나 은유적인 것으로 사용한다. 예이츠는, 블레이크처럼, 시간과 맞붙어서 영원성과의 관계를 다룬다. 즉, 모든 시간이 순간적으로 인식된다. 이런 견해의 차이는, 음유적, 민속적, 물리적이고 형이상학적 견해의 혼합에서 생긴 것으로, 근본적으로 그의 견해와 작품에 영향을 미친다.

New precursors, poly(acrylonitrile-co-crotonic acid) (poly(AN-CA)) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconic acid-co-crotonic acid) (poly(AN-IA-CA)) copolymers, for the preparation of carbon fibers, were explored in this study. The effects of comonomers with acidic groups, such as crotonic acid (CA) and/or itaconic acid (IA), on the stabilization of nanofibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers were studied. The extent of stabilization, evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealed that the CA comonomer could retard/control the stabilization rate of PAN, in contrast to the IA comonomer, which accelerated the stabilization process. Moreover, the synthesized PAN copolymers containing CA possessed higher Mv than those of the IA copolymers and also showed outstanding dimension stability of nanofibers during the stabilization, which may be a useful property for improving the dimensional stability of polymer composites during manufacturing.

Leptotrombidium pallidum is the major vector mite for Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus, in Asian countries, including Korea. The genome size of L. pallidum was previously estimated to be 191 ± 7 Mb (Kim et al., 2014). Genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted from a single female from a 9-generation inbred L. pallidum colony and used for whole genome amplification (WGA). The resulting amplified gDNA was used for the construction of paired-end and mate-pair libraries and sequenced using Illumina platforms (HiSeq2000 and MiSeq). An unamplified gDNA sample extracted from 20 female mites was also used for sequencing in parallel. More than 45Gb sequence reads from both paired-end and mate-pair libraries of the WGA gDNA were trimmed and then de novo assembled using the CLC Asembly Cell v.4.0 for contig assembly and SSPACE for scaffolding. The assembly generated approximately 6,545 scaffolds with N50 value of 92,945 and total size of ~193Mb, which was in a good agreement with our previous estimation. Repeat analysis showed that about 30% of genome (~58Mb) was masked as repeats, most of which were unclassified novel elements. For gene predictions, generated were the PASA models based on genomic alignments of RNA-seq reads from 4 different chigger mite samples (i.e. male, female, larva, and protonymph) and the GeneWise models based on genomic alignments of protein sequences from 4 closely related species with chigger mite. Independently, ab initio gene predictions were performed with AUGUSTUS and FgeneSH with custom trained matrices optimized for L. pallidum and GENEID with pre-trained matrix for Acyrthopsiphon pisum. By combining all together, 15,842 genes were predicted finally. Manual curation is in progress for various groups of genes, including chemosensory receptor genes, immune-related genes, acaricide target genes, etc.

This study was conducted to assess the environmental risk of CMV resistant GM pepper and to evaluate the effects of the transgenic pepper (Line: H15) with CMV resistant gene and non-transgenic peppers (Line: P2377, PM Singang, Berota) without gene introduction on the insect community in the three pepper cultivation areas. Sampling was conducted using yellow sticky traps in Deokso, Anseong and Ochang fields, respectively. The total number of insect individuals caught by sticky trap was not shown significant differences between GM and non-GM pepper at Deokso, Anseong and Ochang fields, respectively. Also, there were no significant differences in density of aphids caught on sticky traps between GM and non-GM pepper, and the species richness and species diversity was no statistical difference between the types of crops, GM and non-GM at three experimental pepper fields.

The spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), was originally observed in a few Asian countries, but is now found even in North America and Europe. Genetic information on geographic variation and relationship may broaden our understanding of origin and migration. As a first step, in this study, a portion of mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced to understand genetic relationship and diversity in Korea. Sequencing of 104 individuals provided 57 haplotypes, with the maximum sequence divergence of 1.5%, suggesting high haplotype diversity and moderate sequence divergence. Comparison to GenBankregistered D. suzukii haplotypes (possibly from Spain, Portugal, USA) has shown 100% sequence identity to most of the haplotypes found in this study, but two USA sequences were found to be independent haplotypes, with the sequence divergence ranging from 0.5% ~ 1.4% from our samples in the 553-bp comparison. Phylogenetically, no separable group was found, but, population genetically, the only Chinese population, Sandong, was significantly differentiated (p < 0.05) from all Korean populations, without sharing any haplotype. Among 28 pairwise comparisons of Korean populations only two comparisons showed a significant genetic differentiation, indicating that no population in Korea is completely isolated. Geographically, one haplotype (SWDBA06) was relatively widespread (five among nine localities) and a few haplotypes were found in more than one locality, but most haplotypes were restricted in a locality as a single individual. Overall, high rate of per generation female migration (Nm = 0.75 ~ infinite) and low level of geographic separation (FST=0~0.40) among localities were characteristic. Current data is limited mainly to Korean localities, thus, an expanded study may provide further scrutinized analysis for the fly.

A new gregarine parasite (Apicomplexa: Protozoa) was observed in the population of the striped cabbage flea-beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Hoengseong-gun. Gregarines are well known species-specific parasites of various Arthropoda. Based on 954bp of 18S rDNA sequence, this gregarine species was grouped in eugregarine and also this new gregarine showed 85% homology that of the reported Gregarina sp. from daikon leaf beetle, Phaedon brassicae (FJ481523). These two coleopteran hosts were generally found coexist in highland cabbage fields. However, after gut dissection (n>50), each species confirmed has their own gregarine parasite species. These results were identical in surveyed three local populations (Pyeongchang-gun, Hoengseong-gun and Inje-gun). Therefore, we suggested that the gregarines and their coleopteran hosts has species specific interaction via co-evolution.

PVY (Potyviridae: potyvirus) is one of the most important potato virus affecting seed potato production and also it is transmitted non-persistently via aphids. For healthy seed potato production, a virus detection system is highly important in addition to aphid monitoring and control. To achieve this detection method, it need to fast and easy to use. About two decades ago RT-PCR based PVY detection method was developed. However that was very time consuming and has low sensitivity. Here, we developed an advanced PVY detection method which a uses the boiling extraction of the viral RNA from aphid stylet and amplification by specific primers located in the viral capsid protein gene. Therefore, it could directly synthesize cDNA of PVY viral capsid gene from extracted RNA of PVY using one-step RT-PCR method in very short time compared to previous methods due to the omission of RNA extraction step. We confirmed this PVY detection method using the two aphid species (Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aphis gossypii) that known as PVY vectors. The efficiency of this PVY detection method was 60% to 80% from two the aphid species. Hence, this method could be potentially applied to virus free seed potato production programs.

An easy and rapid resistance detection protocol for the Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis was established based on the residual contact vial bioassay (RCV), in which insecticide resistance levels can be estimated at 8 h-post treatment of diagnostic doses. The RDA strain was used as a reference susceptible strain, which has been reared under laboratory conditions over 10 years without exposure to any insecticides. Seven insecticides were tested for the determination of diagnostic dose. Among them, five insecticides (chlorfenapyr, acrinathrin, spinosad, emmamectin benzoate and thiamethoxam, ranged as 0.03 ~ 0.42 μg-1cm2) were applicable to the RCV. However, two insecticides (omethoate and imidacloprid) were not able to be used for the RCV because the treated inner surface of glass vials by these insecticides were too viscous, causing non-specific mortality. The RCV detection kit was employed for the estimation of resistance levels for the five insecticides in five local populations. Almost field-collected populations revealed high levels of resistance to the four insecticides (acrinathrin, spinosad, emmamectin benzoate and thiamethoxam) by showing less than 50% mortality. The baseline resistance detection by RCV method will facilitate the selection of proper insecticides for farmers to manage insecticide resistant-populations of F. occidentalis.

Nilaparvata lugens Stål is one of the important migratory pests of rice paddy fields in Korea. Resistance levels to nine insecticides were monitored in 12 local strains and correlation analysis was conducted to determine cross-resistance relationships among the tested insecticides. The local strains revealed 1.3- to 28.0-, 1.6- to 6.0-, 2.8- to 237.0-, 0.6- to 0.9-, and 0.7- to 1.3-fold resistance to carbamates, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, fipronil and etofenprox, respectively. Organophosphates revealed moderate correlations with benzofuranyl methylcarbamate (r = 0.566 - 0.614, p > 0.01). Three neonicotinoids were not correlated each other, but imidacloprid and clothianidin were moderately correlated with several benzofuranyl methylcarbamate and organophosphate insecticides (r = 0.590 - 0.705, p > 0.05), indicating that unknown common factors (such as detoxification enzymes) might contribute to resistance to both insecticides. Fipronil and etofenprox exhibited low levels of resistance and cross-resistance with other insecticides, suggesting their potential as an effective insecticide for field application. Resistance level monitoring and correlation analysis would be valuable for the selection of appropriate insecticides to control insecticide-resistant N. lugenes, a typical migratory pest in Korea.

The phylogenetic relationships of species and genera in the subfamily Nymphalinae from Myanmar were inferred using mtDNA sequence data from 608 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). A total of 20 species in 10 genera were sequenced and used to construct phylogenetic trees. The base composition of COI sequences was 38.1% T, 15.6% C, 31.6% A, 14.7% G, revealing strong AT bias (69.7%). The sequence distance of 20 species of Nymphalinae ranged from 1.5% to 15.5%. The transition of nucleotide substitution was more common than transversion. The transition between T and C were higher than transition between A and G, and the transversion between A and T was the highest amongst other types of transversion. The phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods and showed almost identical topologies. The results indicated that the tribes Junoniini and Nymphalini (sensu Wahlberg et al., 2005) formed monophyletic groups but Kallimini was not monophyletic group. Rhinoplapa polynice formed sister group to Junoniini clade with moderate support in both trees. The relationship of species in Junoniini was ((Junonia + Yoma) + Hypolimnas) and the relationship in Nymphalini was (Symbrenthia + (Vanessa + (Kaniska + Polygonia))). The clustering results were almost identical to current morphological classification.

Field surveys for the genus Reticulitermes were conducted from 2013 to 2014 in Korea, and the results were compared with published data of the genus Reticulitermes. Totally, two species, R. speratus kyushuensis and R. kanmonensis were collected from several provinces, and R.kanmonensis is newly confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea. The R. speratus kyushuensis was mainly collected in various trees, showing 0-2% genetic divergences; whereas, the R. kanmonensis was collected in pine woods of western regions, Gunsan, Wanju, Iksan (Jeollabuk-do), and Seocheon (Chungcheonnam-do). In the morphological comparison, R. kanmonensis is distinguished from R. speratus kyushuensis by more than 15 setae on pronotum and reveals 7.0% genetic difference (in a mitochondrial COII gene) from R. speratus kyushuensis in the molecular comparison.

The genus Diadegma is a well known parasitoid group and some are known to have symbiotic virus, PDV. A novel IV was discovered from the calyx of D. fenestrale female. This virus was named as D. fenestrale Ichnovirus (DfIV). The encapsidated DfIV genome contains 65 circular DNA segments with an aggregate size of 247,191 bp. Based on BLAST analysis, a total of 120 ORFs were predicted as follows: rep; 48, cys-motif; 11, vinnexin; 10, vankyrin; 9, PRRP; 3 and other unassigned genes (39). These viral genes were expressed in lepidopteran hosts (Phthorimaea operculella and Plutella xylostella) after parasitization which means DfIV genome segments were integrated into lepidopteran hosts. This study was focused on this result. Based on gene expression profile, candidate promoter and integration motifs were selected and then, fused with eGFP as a reporter gene. Modified DfIV genome segment was ligated to a commercial containing f1 ori and Ampr gene to propagate in E. coli. We have named this fusion vector as pIN. The construction methodology of pIN and its application would be further discussed in detail.