Previously, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of Scolopendra subpinipes mutilans using high-throughput sequencing technology and identified several AMP candidates. Among them, a synthetic peptide (CP112) was designed based on the physicochemical properties of antimicrobial peptide such as length, charge, isoelectric point. Here, we have assessed the antimicrobial activities of CP112 against various microbes and the antioxidative effects. The results showed that CP112 had antimicrobial activities in radial diffusion assay and colony count assay. In addition, we found that CP112 bound to the surface of microorganisms via a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, which is one of bacteria cell wall components. Furthermore, CP112 has shown significant DPPH radical scavenging activity. Taken together, the results would be provided the basis for developing of peptide antibiotics and antioxidants.

The purpose of this study was performed to determine the whitening effect of organic solvent extracts from the centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. We prepared different concentrations (50%, 70% and 100%) of ethanol, methanol, 100% ethyl acetate and water extracts. We tested melanin inhibitory effect and tyrosinase activity using B16/F10 melanoma cell. As a result, treatment of organic solvent extracts is decreased the biosynthesis of melanin and tyrosinase activity to 30~60%. Especially the 70% ethanol extracts was the most effective in B16/F10 melanoma cells. In the study on melanogenic protein expression, 70% ethanol extracts of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans blocked glycosylation of tyrosinase. Therefore this result suggests that 70% ethanol extracts could be developed as a skin whitening agents.

Previously, we have performed de novo RNA sequencing of Scolpendra subpinipes mutilans using next generation sequencing technology and identified several AMP candidates. Among them, a synthetic peptide (scolopendrasin I) was designed based on SVM algorithm. In this study, we reported that the synthetic peptide scolopendrasin I had an antimicrobial and anticancer activity. As a result, scolopendrasin I showed antibacterial activities against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria strains in radial diffusion assay and colony count assay without hemolytic activity. In addition, we confirmed that scolopendrasin I bound to the surface of bacteria via a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid and lipopolysaccharide, which is one of bacteria cell membrane components. In addition, we found that scolopendrasin I had anticancer activities in the human leukemic T lymphocyte cell line Jurkat using MTS assay. In conclusion, our results suggested that scolopendrasin I could be useful for developing peptide antibiotics and anticancer agents.

The centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans has been a medically important arthropod species by using it as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we derived a novel lactoferricin B like peptide (LBLP) from the whole bodies of adult centipedes, S. s. mutilans, and investigated the antifungal effect of LBLP. LBLP exerted an antifungal and fungicidal activity without hemolysis. To investigate the antifungal mechanism of LBLP, a membrane study with propidium iodide was first conducted against Candida albicans. The result showed that LBLP caused fungal membrane permeabilization. The assays of the three dimensional flow cytometric contour plot and membrane potential further showed cell shrinkage and membrane depolarization by the membrane damage. Finally, we confirmed the membrane-active mechanism of LBLP by synthesizing model membranes, calcein and FITC-dextran loaded large unilamellar vesicles. These results showed that the antifungal effect of LBLP on membrane was due to the formation of pores with radii between 0.74 nm and 1.4 nm. In conclusion, this study suggests that LBLP exerts a potent antifungal activity by pore formation in the membrane, eventually leading to fungal cell death.

We would like to report a case of bovine lymphosarcoma. Parous cattle from a livestock farmhouse were examined for mutinodular masses in the abdominal cavity after slaughter. For clinical signs, animals presented mild leukemic signs but did not have viral or bacterial infection. Grossly, whitish to yellowish smooth masses similar to fat tissue were covered with a thin membrane. A multilobulated mass formed around the arteri, and there was a large quantity of reddish fluid on the cut surface. Histopathologically, a monomor- phic population of lymphocytes was observed along with small amounts of cytoplasm, round nuclei with coarsely granular chromatin, and numerous mitotic figures in the samples. In the tumor lesion, uniformly round cells had invaded with abundant neovascularization. Especially, the immunohistochemical phenotype of tumor cells was posi- tive for anti-CD3 and negative for anti-CD8 and anti-CD20. Therefore, morphological analysis diagnosed the mass as a multinodular bovine lymphosarcoma of T-cell origin with- out any sign of infection by a viral agent.

선충절대기생세균(Pasteuria penetrans)이 감염되어 있는 온실토양을 이용하여 세균의 내생포자가 땅콩뿌리혹선충(Meloidogyne arenaria) 유충 표면에 부착하는데 대한 온도의 영향에 대해 시험하였다. 갓 부화된 뿌리혹선충 2령충(J2)을 페트리디쉬 내의 토양에 접종한 후 20℃, 25℃, 30℃, 35℃에서 7일간 처리하였다. 모든 온도에서 내생포자의 J2 부착률은 모두 100%로 나타났으나 J2당 내생포자 부착수는 25℃에서 28.3개로 가장 많았으며 30℃, 20℃ 및 35℃에서 각각 J2 당 20.2, 18.6 및 13.6개로 낮아졌다. J2를 접종하기 전에 세균이 있는 토양을 온도 별로 10일간 전처리하였을 때 내생포자 부착률은 실온에서의 60%에 비해 -30℃, 4℃, 40℃, 50℃ 및 100℃에서 각각 25.0, 31.7, 8.3, 5.0 및 0%로 현저하게 낮아졌다. J2 당 내생포자 부착수도 실온에서의 5.3개에 비해 -30℃, 4℃, 40℃, 50℃ 및 100℃에서 각각 3.5, 4.3, 1, 1, 0개로 적었다. P. penetrans 세균의 내생포자를 뿌리혹선충 종별로 J2에 부착 시험한 결과 땅콩뿌리혹선충에서는 100%였으나 당근뿌리혹선충(M. hapla)과 고구마뿌리혹선충(M. incognita)에서는 모두 0%로 본 균주는 뿌리혹선충 종에 대해 기주선호성을 가진 것으로 나타났다.

The cultivation methods of Acanthopanax in Korea need to be optimized. Hence, this study investigated the effect of different fertilizer ratios and planting dates on the growth and acanthoside D content of two (2) Acanthopanax species. The current recommended fertilizer rate of 10.5-8.5-8.5 kg/ha- (N-P2O5-K2O, respectively) produced the best plant growth of Acanthopanax. For the first year, the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P (2x phosphate) rate was higher than that from the other fertilizer ratios, yet there were no significant differences resulting from the various treatments for either Acanthopanax divaricatus or Acanthopanax koreanum. Similarly, for the second year, there were no significant differences in the acanthoside D content resulting from the various fertilizer ratios, although for both species the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P rate was slightly higher than that from the other treatments. Therefore, the results indicated that doubling the amount of phosphate increased the acanthoside D content. Plus, the optimum planting date with respect to growth and productivity for Acanthopanax divaricatus was identified as April 15. The cultivation methods of Acanthopanax in Korea need to be optimized. Hence, this study investigated the effect of different fertilizer ratios and planting dates on the growth and acanthoside D content of two (2) Acanthopanax species. The current recommended fertilizer rate of 10.5-8.5-8.5 kg/ha- (N-P2O5-K2O, respectively) produced the best plant growth of Acanthopanax. For the first year, the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P (2x phosphate) rate was higher than that from the other fertilizer ratios, yet there were no significant differences resulting from the various treatments for either Acanthopanax divaricatus or Acanthopanax koreanum. Similarly, for the second year, there were no significant differences in the acanthoside D content resulting from the various fertilizer ratios, although for both species the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P rate was slightly higher than that from the other treatments. Therefore, the results indicated that doubling the amount of phosphate increased the acanthoside D content. Plus, the optimum planting date with respect to growth and productivity for Acanthopanax divaricatus was identified as April 15. The cultivation methods of Acanthopanax in Korea need to be optimized. Hence, this study investigated the effect of different fertilizer ratios and planting dates on the growth and acanthoside D content of two (2) Acanthopanax species. The current recommended fertilizer rate of 10.5-8.5-8.5 kg/ha- (N-P2O5-K2O, respectively) produced the best plant growth of Acanthopanax. For the first year, the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P (2x phosphate) rate was higher than that from the other fertilizer ratios, yet there were no significant differences resulting from the various treatments for either Acanthopanax divaricatus or Acanthopanax koreanum. Similarly, for the second year, there were no significant differences in the acanthoside D content resulting from the various fertilizer ratios, although for both species the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P rate was slightly higher than that from the other treatments. Therefore, the results indicated that doubling the amount of phosphate increased the acanthoside D content. Plus, the optimum planting date with respect to growth and productivity for Acanthopanax divaricatus was identified as April 15. The cultivation methods of Acanthopanax in Korea need to be optimized. Hence, this study investigated the effect of different fertilizer ratios and planting dates on the growth and acanthoside D content of two (2) Acanthopanax species. The current recommended fertilizer rate of 10.5-8.5-8.5 kg/ha- (N-P2O5-K2O, respectively) produced the best plant growth of Acanthopanax. For the first year, the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P (2x phosphate) rate was higher than that from the other fertilizer ratios, yet there were no significant differences resulting from the various treatments for either Acanthopanax divaricatus or Acanthopanax koreanum. Similarly, for the second year, there were no significant differences in the acanthoside D content resulting from the various fertilizer ratios, although for both species the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P rate was slightly higher than that from the other treatments. Therefore, the results indicated that doubling the amount of phosphate increased the acanthoside D content. Plus, the optimum planting date with respect to growth and productivity for Acanthopanax divaricatus was identified as April 15. The cultivation methods of Acanthopanax in Korea need to be optimized. Hence, this study investigated the effect of different fertilizer ratios and planting dates on the growth and acanthoside D content of two (2) Acanthopanax species. The current recommended fertilizer rate of 10.5-8.5-8.5 kg/ha- (N-P2O5-K2O, respectively) produced the best plant growth of Acanthopanax. For the first year, the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P (2x phosphate) rate was higher than that from the other fertilizer ratios, yet there were no significant differences resulting from the various treatments for either Acanthopanax divaricatus or Acanthopanax koreanum. Similarly, for the second year, there were no significant differences in the acanthoside D content resulting from the various fertilizer ratios, although for both species the acanthoside D content resulting from the 2P rate was slightly higher than that from the other treatments. Therefore, the results indicated that doubling the amount of phosphate increased the acanthoside D content. Plus, the optimum planting date with respect to growth and productivity for Acanthopanax divaricatus was identified as April 15.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) contains high levels of dietary fibers and antioxidants, including vitamin C, D, and folates. Onion is also known as a quercetin-rich vegetable with high flavonoid content. Onion peel contains over 20 times more quercetin than onion flesh. The aim of this study was to examine the question of whether onion peel extract supplementation has an effect on maximal exercise performance in rat. Onion peel extracts were extracted with hot water. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a pellet diet for one week, and then randomly divided into five groups: Normal control, Positive control (quercetin 20 mg/kg), Onion peel 4 mg/kg, Onion peel 20 mg/kg, and Onion peel 100 mg/kg. Oral administration was performed daily. The experimental period was four weeks. Thereafter, animals were then forced to swim in water and the maximal exercise performance period from the swimming start time to the exhausted time, in which they failed to rise to the surface of the water to breathe within a 7 second period, was measured. After necropsy, weights of gastrocnemius muscles were measured. Lactate dehydrogenase concentration in serum was measured using an enzymatic method, using a commercial kit. The maximal exercise performance period was significantly longer in the onion peel extracts fed groups, compared with the control group. The lactate dehydrogenase concentration of the onion peel extracts fed groups was significantly lower, compared with the control group. Based on these results, we suggest that onion peel water extract supplementation can enhance exercise capacity caused by the mechanism of decreasing lactate dehydrogenase concentration.

The oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, is an oligophagous insect feeding on a few species of Solanaceae plants, including Nicotina tabacum. This study investigated the relationship between H. assulta and plants, focusing on oviposition preference and larval performance of the specialist in host and non-host plants. (1) In choice experiments, N. tabacum and Phaseolus vulgaris were put in a cage with 5 females and 10 males. Most of eggs (ca. 98%) were layed in N. tabacum, whereas few eggs in P. vulgaris. (2) In non-choice experiments, N. tabacum, Datura stramonium, or P. vulgaris was individually put in a cage with 3 females and 6 males, resulting that N. tabacum was the most preferred host, followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris. Oviposition was delayed about 2 days in P. vulgaris (a non-host plant) compared to the two host plants. (3) Larval performances were also compared with the three plants. Larval growth was better in N. tabacum followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris, High mortality (ca. 100%) of larvae was observed in P. vulgaris, suggesting toxic component(s) derived from the non-host plant might cause the death. The ovipositional avoidance in P. vulgaris is current being investigated to search for the oviposition deterrent, which could be useful for the environment-friendly pest management of H. assulta.

After pine wilt disease (PWD) at Korean pine, Pinus koraiensis has been first reported in the middle area of South Korea in 2006, it spread rapidly to the nearest area. However, it is difficult to predict the spread of damage and set up the proper control strategy specific to P. koreaiensis because the pathology and the biology of PWD in P. koraiensis are not the same with PWD in P. densiflora and P. thunbergii distributed in middle southern area. So, we selected 25 of dead P. koraiensis in PWD damaged area and analyzed the inner-tree distribution of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the entrance holes of Monochamus saltuarius. There was no statistical significance between height or direction of wood extracted and the distribution of B. xylophilus among 25 dead pines. The entrance holes of M. saltuarius were concentrated on 7 dead pines without leaves and the maximum number of entrance holes in individual tree was 543. It indicates that the event of spawning of M. saltuarius adult and entrance of hatched M. saltuarius larvae to wood may be dependent on the time of death of host. The entrance holes were frequently found in a southward direction. These result shows that M. salutuarius larvae prefer relatively weak woody parts to enter easily. However, the relation between the thickness of bark of P. koraiensis and the frequencies of entrance holes of M. saltuarius was not observed.

A 14-year-old female South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) with persistent vaginal secretion and chronic hemorrhagic diarrhea was encountered. During postmortem examination, the uterus was found to resemble a balloon with mucosal congestion and was filled with grayish milky material. The ovaries also had abnormal features, including necrotic surface lesions and multiple whitish foci in the cut section. Hemorrhages and ulcerated changes due to toxemia were observed in other organs, including the liver, spleen, lung, intestines, and lymph nodes. Microscopically, the left ovary contained interlacing fascicles of fibroblast-like cells with blunt-end nuclei showing cytoplasmic positive immunoreactivity against alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin. The right ovary contained cells with round to cigar-shaped nuclei showing cytoplasmic positive immunoreactivity against vimentin. In conclusion, based on classification of bilateral ovarian tumors as a leiomyoma in the left region and a fibroma in the right region, this sea lion was diagnosed with chronic closed pyometra.

본 연구는 베트남 하노이 지역에서 8가지 한국 토마토 품종 (핑크탑, 큐피랑, 슈퍼도태랑, 선레드, 선글러브, TP-7 플러스, 러블리 250, 광복)과 1가지 베트남 품종(FM 120)을 대상으로 봄-여름 및 가을-겨울 작기에 따른 수확량 및 과실 특성을 비교 분석하였으며, 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 작기에 따라 초장, 경장, 주당 과실수 및 수확량(kg)은 유의성이 있었으며 가을-겨울 작기에서 높게 나타났다. 전체적으로 한국품종이 베트남 품종에 비해 높은 생육특성을 보인 반면, 과실수와 수확량에서는 베트남 품종이 우수하였다. 2. 토마토 과실의 주요 특성인 과장, 과폭 및 과중은 작기에 따라 유의한 차이를 보였으며 가을-겨울 작기에서 높은 수치를 나타내었지만 TSS 함량은 봄-여름 작기에서 높았다. 건물중과 비타민C 함량은 작기에 따라 유의한 차이가 없었다. 품종별 과실 특성은 한국 품종이 우수하였지만 비타민C 함량은 베트남 품종이 높았다. 3. 봄-여름 작기에서 한국품종의 경우 수확량 및 과실특성에서 가을-겨울 작기 재배에 비해 큰 감소를 보인 반면 베트남 품종은 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 따라서 본 실험에 이용된 8가지 한국 품종의 경우 봄-여름 작기보다는 가을-겨울 작기 재배가 적합할 것으로 판단된다.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are about 21-25 nucleotides in length and regulate mRNA translation by base pairing to partially complementary sites, predominantly in the 3’-untranslated region (3’-UTR) of the target mRNA. In this study, the expression profile of miRNAs was compared and analyzed for the establishment of miRNA-related odontoblast differentiation using MDPC-23 cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells. To determine the expression profile of miRNAs during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, we employed miRNA microarray analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Alizaline red-S staining. In the miRNA microarray analysis, 11 miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated more than 3-fold between day 0 (control) and day 5 of MDPC-23 cell differentiation among the 1,769 miRNAs examined. In qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of two of these molecules, miR-194 and miR-126, were increased and decreased in the control MDPC-23 cells compared with the MDPC-23 cells at day 5 of differentiation, respectively. Importantly, the overexpression of miR-194 significantly accelerated mineralization compared with the control cultures during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. These results suggest that the miR-194 augments MDPC-23 cell differentiation, and potently accelerates the mineralization process. Moreover, these in vitro results show that different miRNAs are deregulated during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, suggesting the involvement of these genes in the differentiation and mineralization of odontoblasts.

Acteoside acts as an anti-oxidative activity and anti-apoptosis in the cells. But, it has been not studied on maturation and development of porcine oocytes. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of acteoside on the morphological progress of meiosis, developmental competence, and ROS in porcine oocytes. Oocytes were matured in tissue culture medium-199, supplemented with acteoside at various concentrations: 0 (control), 10, 30 and 50 μM. The oocytes maturation rates of groups supplemented with acteoside were no significantly different (81.13, 85.96, 82.95 and 83.68%, respectively). Level of ROS was significantly decreased in acteoside treated group. Furthermore, the parthenogenetic blastocyst rate was significantly improved in 10 μM acteoside treated group compared with control group (44.83 vs. 27.75%). And we investigated effect of acteoside on the oocytes condition represented by cytoplasmic maturation by homogeneous distribution and formation of cytoplasmic organelles and regulation of apoptosis-related genes. In the results. during IVM, 10 μM acteoside treated oocytes showed that the mitochondria and lipid droplet were smaller and homogeneous distribution in cytoplasm compare with control oocytes. And reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) of parthenogenetic blstocysts revealed that acteoside increased the anti-apoptotic genes (Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), whereas reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bak). In conclusion, based on the results, the effect of acteoside on IVM was not attractive. However, in acteoside treated group, cytoplasmic maturation seemed to be improved with morphologically uniform distribution of cytoplasmic organelles. Furthermore, embryonic development in acteoside treated group was significantly highly increased than that of non-treated group. Our results represents that addition of acteoside to the IVM medium has a beneficial effect in physiology of porcine oocytes, providing a improved method for porcine oocytes in vitro. * This work was supported by a grant (Code# PJ008148) from BioGreen21 Program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

An assessment was made of the biological control potential of mud loaches, Misgurnus mizolepis, toward Culex pipiens molestus, in laboratory condition and septic tank and rainwater storage tank (RST) systems. Results were compared with those of temephos 20% emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). In the laboratory tests, all M. mizolepis survived on waters from the settling tank of aerobic septic tank (AST), sump tank of AST, and RST. However, all M. mizolepis died within 3 h after introduction in the settling tank and sump tank waters of anaerobic septic tank (AnAST). Gill or dorsal fin inflammation was detected in the dead mud loaches. M. mizolepis consumed an average of 968–1087, 901–986, and 993–1087 of 1500 third instars of Cx. p. molestus in AST settling tank, AST sump tank, and RST waters, respectively. In the AST and RST systems, predation of Cx. p. molestus by mud loaches at a release rate of 900 larvae/fish resulted in complete mosquito control from the first wk after treatment through the end of the survey period for 16 wk. The average mosquito reduction rates by temephos 20% EC and BTI treatments were 28.6 and 2.1% 2 wk post-treatment, respectively. Mud loaches merit further study as a potential biological control agent for the control of mosquito populations in light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in the aquatic environment.