Early pregnancy results in th production of various signal molecules such as steroids, prostaglandins, and many protein factors. The proteins especially produced by the placenta have been used to detect pregnancy for many years in other species. More recently, pregnancy-specific protein B, which is a placental glycoprotein can be measured by RIA or proteomic methods in serum of pregnant cow. And 2D Fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) is an emerging technique for comparative proteomics, which improves the reproducibility and reliability of differential protein expression analysis between samples. For this reason, we are analyzed serum of bovine. The purpose of this study was to apply DIGE technique for identification of bovine pregnancy-specific proteins using bovine pregnant and non-pregnant serum samples. Serums of 2 pregnant Holstein dairy cattle at day 21 after AI and those of 2 non-pregnant were used in this study. The molecular weight and charge matched cyanine dyes enable pre-electrophoretic labeling of non-pregnancy and pregnant serum proteins which are then mixed and labeled with Cy2 were used as an internal standard. Two pools of proteins are labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescent dyes, respectively. Labeled proteins with Cy2, Cy3 and Cy5 mixed together and separated in same gel and then were detected by fluorescence image analyzer. The 2D DIGE analysis using fluorescence CyDye flour showed higher sensitivity and better reproducible results than conventional 2D gel electrophoresis. Approximately 1,500 protein spots were detected by 2D DIGE. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF Mass spectrometer. Total 16 protein spots differentially expressed in the pregnant serum were detected, among which 7 spots were up-regulated proteins identified as conglutinin precursor, modified bovine fibrinogen, IgG1 etc, and 6 spots were down-regulated proteins identified as hemoglobin, complement component 3, bovine fibrinogen, IgG2a etc. These results indicated that DIGE system could be advantageous for the analysis of serum proteomics diversified by physiological conditions.

Bee venom is a complex mixture of toxic components that induces immediate local inflammatory and allergic responses. However, the presence and role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in bee venom have not been previously investigated. Here, we provide the first demonstration that bee venom contains Cu,Zn SOD (SOD3), a novel extracellular component that promotes local inflammation. Bee venom SOD3 was shown to be an oxidant, rather than an antioxidant, that induces the inflammation-signaling molecule H2O2 in vivo. H2O2 plays a pathological role by triggering an immediate local inflammatory response. Furthermore, bee venom SOD3 significantly induced the activation of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α and COX-2) and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) via the overproduction of H2O2 in mice. Our data demonstrate that bee venom SOD3 induced H2O2, which drives an immediate local inflammatory response, indicating a novel mechanism underlying bee venom-induced local inflammation.

The number of reported mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from the monotypic Lasiocampoidea has been limited until recently. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of the lappet moth, Kunugia undans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), and compared it to those of other lasiocampid species and macroheteroceran superfamilies (59 species in six superfamilies). The 15,570-bp long K. undans genome had the typical set of genes found in animal mitogenomes, with the exception of one additional trnR that are located between trnA and trnN loci. Considering that the two trnR copies are located in tandem with proper secondary structures and identical anticodons, a gene duplication event might be responsible for the presence of the two tRNAs. In summary, the general mitogenome characteristics of Lasiocampoidea did not differ greatly from the remaining macroheteroceran superfamilies, but it did exhibit some unique features.

Currently, only limited number of mitochondrial genomes (mitogenome) is available from Odonata. In order to extend current mitogenome data for comparative biology and phylogeny we sequenced complete mitogenomes of two endangered dragonfly species, Libellula angelina and Nannophya pygmaea (Ododana: Libellulidae). The whole genomes were 15,233 bp in L. angelina and 15,112 bp in N. pygmaea and included a typical set of genes (13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes) and one major non-coding A+T-rich region. The arrangement of the genomes was identical to typical one found in insects. Phylogenetic reconstruction using concatenated sequences of 13 PCGs and two rRNAs of Odonata (17 species in eight families in three suborders) using both Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods have shown a strong support for monophyletic Zygoptera (BI, BPP = 1 and ML, 100%). Currently, further scrutinized analysis is 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.

Detergency and surface active properties of mixed anionic surfactants with amphoteric and nonionic were investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ammonium dodecyl sulfate (ADS) as anionic surfactants and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) as an amphoteric surfactant were used. Nonionic surfactants, which are butyl glucoside (BG), octyl glucoside (OG), decyl glucoside (DG), lauryl dimethylamine oxide (AO) and saponin were also used. To study the synergy effects of mixed SDS/ADS anionic surfactant systems, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants were added into the mixed anionic surfactants. Investigated properties of surfactant mixtures were critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension (γ), wettability. In addition, based on these properties, detergency of each sample was examined. Surfactant mixtures are anionics (SDS/ADS), anionic/amphoteric/nonionic (SDS/ADS/CAPB/ saponin), and anionic/nonionic (SDS/ADS/BG/saponin, SDS/ADS/OG/saponin, SDS/ADS/ DG/saponin, and SDS/ADS/AO/saponin). With the addition of amphoteric and nonionic to mixed anionic surfactants, CMC and γ were decreased. Addition of CAPB, which is amphoteric, showed the best property at CMC and γ. Furthermore, as the chain length of hydrocarbon in alkyl glucosides was increased, the CMC and γ were enhanced. However, the wettability did not exactly match up with CMC and γ. The surfactant mixture, which contained DG, showed the best performance at wetting time. Detergency was measured at various temperatures (15 oC, 30 oC, 50 oC). The cleaning performance was enhanced by increasing washing temperature. Moreover, detergency was influenced by not only CMC and γ but also wettability. Although CMC and γ were not minimum at surfactant mixture that included DG, the best cleaning performance showed in that sample.

Most previous studies on dinoflagellates in Korean coastal areas were conducted without morphological descriptions and illustrations of the observed dinoflagellates. This indicates that the species and diversity of dinoflagellates may have been respectively misidentified and underestimated in the past, probably due to cell shrinkage, distortion and loss caused by sample fixation. This study provides information on the morphological observations of four dinoflagellate orders (Prorocentrales, Dinophysiales, Gonyaulacales and Gymnodiniales) from Jangmok Harbour in Jinhae Bay, Korea. The unfixed samples were collected weekly from December 2013 to February 2015. A total of 13 genera and 30 species were identified using light and scanning electron microscopy, although some samples were not clarified at the species level. Harmful dinoflagellates, Prorocentrum donghaiense, Tripos furca, Alexandrium affine, A. fundyense, Akashiwo sanguinea and Cochlodinium polykrikoides, were identified based on the morphological observations. The results also reflect the occurrence and identification of dinoflagellates that had not been previously recorded in Jangmok Harbour.

In order to understand evolutionary characteristics of gene rearrangement in Lepidoptera, we collected all available complete mitogenome (mitogenome) sequences registered in GenBank (274 mitogenomes from 44 families in 23 superfamilies as of August 6, 2015). It turned up six rearrangements that differ from the arrangement of ancestral insects, including that of the gelechioid Mesophleps albilinella that we sequenced in this study. The M. albilinella mitogenome has a unique gene arrangement among the Gelechioidea: ARNESF (the underline signifies an inverted gene) at the ND3 and ND5 junction, as opposed to the ARNSEF that is found in ancestral insects. Most of the rearrangements can be explained by the tandem duplication-random loss model, but inversion, which requires recombination, is also found in two cases, including M. albilinella. Excluding the MIQ rearrangement at the A+T-rich region and ND2 junction, which is found in nearly all Ditrysia, most of the remaining rearrangements found in Lepidoptera appear to be independently derived in that they are automorphic at several taxonomic scales. Current mitogenomic data are limited, particularly for congeneric data. Thus, future research focused on congenerics could clarify evolutionary independency at the generic level also.

The Gelechioidea is the second most species-rich group of Lepidoptera, but only limited number of mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences is available. Thus, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of a gelechioid Hieromantis kurokoi (Lepidoptera: Stathmopodidae) to use the data for future study for the higher phylogeny of Ditrysia in Lepidoptera. The arrangement of the genome was identical to typical one found in Ditrysia (trnM-trnI-trnQ) (underline for inverted gene). The COI began with CGA, which has been designated as the start codon for majority of lepidopteran species, whereas other protein-coding genes (PCGs) began with the typical ATN codon. The 360-bp long A+T-rich region harbored the conserved sequence blocks Phylogenetic analysis using the 13 PCGs both by Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum-likelihood (ML) methods indicated that H. kurokoi belonging to the family Stathmopodidae grouped together with within-familial species Atrijuglans hetaohei with the highest nodal support (BI, 1.0; ML, 100%).

Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used as oriental medicinal plants in Korea, China and Japan and found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. A previous study demonstrated a protection of an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix against β amyloid protein-induced memory impairment. The current study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of SSB against ischemiainduced brain injury. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 2 hr middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 hr reperfusion (MCAO/reperfusion) in rats. Oral administration of SSB (5, 10 and 25 mg/kg) 30 min before and 1 h after MCAO, and 1 h after reperfusion reduced MCAO/ reperfusion-induced brain infarct and edema formation. SSB also inhibited development of behavioral disabilities in MCAO/reperfusion-treated rats. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 500 μM glutamate for 12 hr resulted in neuronal cell death. SSB (1-10 μg/mL) inhibited glutamateinduced neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of SSB against ischemia-induced brain damage might be associated with its anti-excitotoxic activity and that SSB may have a therapeutic role for prevention of neurodegeneration in stroke.

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest antibiotic concentration that inhibits the visible growth of bacteria. Sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (Sub-MIC) is defined as the concentration of an antimicrobial agent that does not have an effect on bacterial growth but can alter bacterial biochemistry, thus reducing bacterial virulence. Many studies have confirmed that sub-MICs of antibiotics can inhibit bacterial virulence factors. However, most studies were focused on Gram-negative bacteria, while few studies on the effect of sub-MICs of antibiotics on Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we examined the influence of sub-MICs of doxycycline, tetracycline, penicillin and amoxicillin on biofilm formation and coaggregation of Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Actinomyces odontolyticus. In this study, incubation with sub-MIC of antibiotics had no effect on the biofilm formation of S. gordonii and A. naeslundii. However, S. mutans showed increased biofilm formation after incubation with sub-MIC amoxicillin and penicillin. Also, the biofilm formation of A. odontolyticus was increased after incubating with sub-MIC penicillin. Coaggregation of A. naeslundii with S. gordonii and A. odontolyticus was diminished by sub-MIC amoxicillin. These observations indicated that sub-MICs of antibiotics could affect variable virulence properties such as biofilm formation and coaggregation in Gram-positive oral bacteria.

In order to know the characteristic roles of salivary protein complex (SPC) the gel-filtration chromatography was performed using the unstimulated and the stimulated whole saliva separately. The first and second dominant SPC peaks were fractionated and analyzed by immunoprecipitation HPLC (IP-HPLC) using antibodies against the essential salivary proteins including α-amylase, mucin-1, proline rich proteins (PRPs), histatin, cystatin, LL-37, lysozyme, lactoferrin, -defensin-1, -2, -3, IgA, transglutaminase 4 (TGase 4), mucocidin, α1-antitrypsin, cathepsin G. In the gel-filtration chromatography the stimulated whole saliva showed much reduced amount of SPCs than the unstimulated whole saliva, but the proportional patterns of both whole saliva were almost similar each other. Through IP-HPLC analysis both of the first and second dominant SPCs were variably positive for the essential salivary proteins, however, α-amylase, mucin-1, PRPs, lysozyme, and cathepsin G were predominant in the first dominant SPC, while cystatin, lactoferrin, β-defensin-1, -2,-3, IgA, mucocidin, TGase 4, and α1-antitrypsin were predominant in the second dominant SPC. And more, the α1-antitrypsin and cathepsin G which were mostly derived from gingival crevicular fluid were also consistently found in the SPCs. These data may suggest that the first dominant SPC, rich in α-amylase, mucin-1, PRPs, lysozyme, and cathepsin G, may play a role in food digestion, protein degradation, and mucosa lubrication, while the second dominant SPC, rich in cystatin, lactoferrin, β-defensin-1, -2, -3, mucocidin, IgA, TGase 4, and α1-antitrypsin, may play a role in the mucosa protection and antimicrobial defense.