The α-Gal epitope (Galα1,3Galα1,4GlcNAc-R) is responsible for hyperacute rejection (HAR) during transgenic pig-to-non-human primate xenotransplantation. To overcome HAR after xenografts, it is essential for the inactivation of α1,3Galactosyltransferase (GT) gene by the homozygotic knocked out of GT-/- and the isoglobotrihexosylceramide synthase (iGb3s-/-). This study was performed to investigate the generation and characterization of the α1,3GT-MCP/-MCP+iGb3-/- transgenic cells. Ear fibroblast cells from the GT-MCP/-MCP pig were cultured and used to positive control. For iGb3s knock out, the Cas9-GFP-iGb3s vector was transfected into the GT-MCP/-MCP cells. The Cas9-GFP-iGb3s transfected cells were sorted and sequenced for the selection of GT-MCP/-MCP+ iGb3s-/- cells. Among the three sorted cell lines, one transgenic cell line was homozygously deleted 3 bases and 10 bases in each chromosome, respectively. To characterize an expression of α-Gal epitope, a wild type and the transgenic cells were measured by FACS Aria using BS-IB4 lectin antibody. The expression of α-Gal epitope in GT-MCP/-MCP cells (<0.01 %) were significantly down-regulated to the range of wild type (99.4 %) fibroblast cells (p<0.05). To analyze the function of iGb3s, α -Gal epitope expressions were measured for the GT-MCP/-MCP, GT-MCP/-MCP+iGb3s-/+, and GT-MCP/-MCP+iGb3s-/-. The range was 95.8%, 94.2%, and 75.8%, respectively. Interestingly, there was a negative range (16.2%) of α-Gal epitope -/- section in GT-MCP/-MCP+iGb3s-/-, compared to 2.74% of GT-MCP/-MCP+iGb3s-/+ and 1.4% of WT, respectively. Our results demonstrated that iGb3s-/-combined with GT-/- had a function to inhibit α-Gal epitope expression in pig cells. Further studies are needed to evaluate the functions of double gene knock out to minimize a HAR response after xenotransplantation.

The α-Gal epitope (Galα1,3Galα1,4GlcNAc-R) is responsible for hyperacute rejection (HAR) during transgenic pig-to-non-human primate xenotransplantation. There are genes related to the expression of α-Gal epitope such as α1,3Galactosyltransferase gene (GT-/-) and the isoglobotrihexosylceramide synthase (iGb3s-/-). This study was performed to investigate the expression of α-Gal epitope in the skin derived from GT-/- transgenic pig. The skin (7/1000 inches) was obtained by dermatome (Zimmer® Electric Dermatome) from one month old of wildtype (WT) and GT-/- piglets, respectively. The skins were fixed, dehydrated, cleaned, and embedded. To analyze the expression of α-Gal epitope, the paraffin section of WT and GT-/- were stained with BS-IB4 lectin and isoglobotrihexosylceramide synthase antibody. There was a strong BS-IB4 lectin signal in the skin of WT, but not detected in GT-/-. However, the iGb3s positive signals were stained in the skin of both WT and GT-/-. Taken together, it can be postulated that the knocked out of GT gene may not enough to inhibit the expression of α-Gal epitope. Further studies are needed to evaluate the functions of the double knock out of GT and iGb3s on the expression of α-Gal epitope.

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.

Recently, RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been emerged as a potent tool for pest control strategy. Based on the previous studies on RNAi via leaf disc-mediated systemic delivery of dsRNA and in planta expression of hairpin RNA by agroinfiltration, the coatomer subunit alpha (COPA) gene has been found to be a crucial target for RNAi against Tetranychus urticae. In current study, transgenic plants of Arabidopsis thaliana expressing COPA hairpin RNA were generated by the floral dip method. Putative transgenic plants were screened by PCR and positive transformants were subjected to bioassay using age-synchronized and host-adapted T. urticae. T. urticae feeding on plants expressing dsRNA/siRNA showed more than 80% mortality as compared to the mites feeding on control plants at 6 days post-infestation. Our data shows that in planta expression of hairpin gene such as COPA may serve as an effective way for the control of this important pest in ornamental and economically important plants.

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.

Bombolitin is a venom peptide originally isolated from bumblebees and possesses various biological activities, including hemolytic activity. Bombolitins exhibit amphipathic α-helical structure in lipid-membrane-mimicking environments. To investigate their pharmacological and toxicological properties, anti-tumor, anti-microbial and cytotoxic activities of bombolitins from Bombus ardens and Bombus ussurensis were evaluated. Bombolitins of the two species exhibited extremely high anti-tumor activity against ovarian tumor cells SK-OV-3 and NIH; OVCAR-3 at 25-50 μM, which is 2-fold more potent than other wasp venom peptides studied to date (Yoon et al., 2015; Yoon et al., 2016). The two bombolitins showed significantly high antimicrobial activity. However, bombolotin of B. ussurensis showed no antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. In addition to their high levels of anti-tumor activity, bombolitins showed considerable levels of hemolytic activity. Thus, to utilize bombolitins as a potential candidate for anti-tumor peptide drugs, further studies for reducing cytotoxic properties of bombolitns is essential.

The jumping plant-lice of Laos are reviewed based on material collected during recent expeditions by the Seoul National University (2012−2015) and the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel (2003−2012). To date, only three psyllid species, viz. Diaphorina citri, Heteropsylla cubana and Pseudophacopteron tuberculatum, are recorded from Laos. In the material at hand, 22 species (of 6 families and 16 genera) are represented. This collection includes the three previously reported species and eight species reported for the first time from Laos. Eleven species are identified only to genus due to insufficient material.

A self-powered time-temperature indicator (TTI) was optimized to enhance the performance of the TTI by modifying a biofuel cell using different immobilization, redox mediators, and status of electrode. The performance of the TTI was measured by output voltage of the TTI. The enzymes and combinations of lacasse mediators (HBT (1-hydroxybenzotriazole), Rupy (Bis-(bipyridine)-(5-aminophenanthroline) ruthenium bis (hexafluorophosphate)), MB (Methylene blue), SDP (4,4- sulfonyldiphenol)) and glucose oxidase mediators (FA (Ferroceneboxaldehyde), DBQ(2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone), HQS (8-hydroxyquinoline-5sulfonic acid hydrate), FHFP (Ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate)) were immobilized with stabilizers (pyrrole) on a glassy carbon electrode by electrodeposition by applying a square wave, cross-linking and physical immobilization. MWCNTs were used to modify glassy carbon electrodes. MWCNTs coated electrodes produced higher output voltage than uncoated electrodes. The optimum and stable performance of the self-powered TTI was that the output voltage of 64 mV and duration time was 3hr at 25°C, when the combination of Rupy, MB for laccase mediators and HQS, FHFP for glucose oxidase mediators were immobilized on MWCNTs coated electrodes by applying a square wave method. In the application, the concentrations of enzyme and glucose were adjusted to prolong the shelf-life of TTI at much lower output voltage.

The pasteurization is employed for extending shelf-life and keeping the quality of products constant. However the pasteurization undesirably accelerates the oxidation of beer which renders volatile compounds concerning off-flavor. The pasteurization conditions was optimized to avoid off-flavor of beer during pasteurization. Under the isothermal condition, thermal destruction kinetics such as D and Z value of Lactobacillus brevis which is reported the most common beer spoilage, was determined. The binomial data (detected or non-detected of off-flavor) was treated with logistic regression to estimate off-flavor development (OFD) times. The temperature dependence of OFD times was established in terms of Arrhenius relationships. Optimized pasteurization temperature and time were found at which OFD times was not detected. The constraint for optimization was that the pasteurization degree should be larger than 5 decimal reduction time. The optimization was conducted through mathematical simulation using kinetics and temperature-dependent models for microbial death and OFD times. The optimized results were validated by the corresponding experimentations, which met the requirements that the concentration of Lactobacillus brevis was 5-Log reduction and the OFD times not detected.

Makgeolli is rich in nutrients such as beneficial microbial species, essential amino acids, oligosaccharides, and organic acids. The lactic acid bacteria contained in Makgeolli provides a healthy function as probiotics for customers. The purpose of this study was to enhance the nutritional properties, lactic acid bacteria propagation and alcohol contents of makgeolli by controlling redox potential balance. An automatic control system was created using ORP sensor, Labview control kit, and air supplier, in which air concentration was controlled by on & off mode. Makgeolli was fermented at three different redox potentials -50 mV, -100 mV, -150 mV. Regulating of aeration according to the redox potentials could give prominence to nutritional benefits of Makgeolli. The profiles of redox potential appeared bathtub curves, and related to lactic acid bacteria growth curve and byproducts. We could find the optimum redox potential balance that affects the factors such as LAB’s, alcohol contents and byproducts. In conclusion it was essential to control redox potential balance in order to produce nutrients rich Makgeolli.

A novel nanocomposite LDPE film with UV protective properties was developed for active packaging applications. Initially, undoped and Mn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the sol-gel method and the resulting particles were characterized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed an agglomerated nature and spherical morphology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies indicated that all products were crystalline and in the form of rutile. The reflectance spectrum of undoped TiO2 NPs demonstrated a characteristic sharp edge at 410 nm. Subsequently, nanocomposite (NC) LDPE samples were prepared with the NPs by solvent precipitation followed by film casting. The optical and thermal properties of the NC samples were investigated. Incremental increases in Mn concentration from 0.25 mol % to 1.00 mol % were associated with progressive decreases in light transmission in the UV region. The melting and maximum decomposition temperatures of all NCs were 107 and 442-449 °C, respectively. The UV protective LDPE-based NC films exhibited superior photostability. Absorption in the FTIR spectra at 1716 and 1734 cm-1 changed after 4-wk exposure to UV for all film samples as a consequence of photodegradation. Finally, the photooxidation of perilla oil was assessed as an example of a UV protective packaging application. After 12 days, protection with 1.00 mol% Mn-doped TiO2-LDPE was associated with a gradual increase in PV, while protection with TiO2-LDPE was associated with a significant increase and protection with the control treatment was associated with a dramatic increase in PV. Hence, a 1.00 mol% Mn-doped TiO2-LDPE NC showed promise for UV shielding packaging applications.

Time-temperature indicators or integrators (TTIs) indicate food quality changes based on time-temperature history. Whilst many types of TTIs have been developed and commercialized, educated consumers often refuse to purchase food products with attached TTI labels showing even a slight color change. In this study, a novel on-off diffusion-based TTI coupled with polydiacetylene/silica nanocomposites has been proposed. The prototype TTI tag has a multilayer structure comprised of a self-adhesive base layer, a middle microporous sheet, and an upper opaque white layer coupled with a square reservoir of Tween 20 attached to an activation stripe. At the end of the diffusion path, polydiacetylene/silica nanocomposites were injected into a loading site as a fine blue stripe. After activation, Tween 20 diffused and reached the loading site, where it rapidly changed from blue-to-red via solvatochromism. This alternative and innovative TTI continuously showed a blue color until reaching the end point, at which stage a red color rapidly appeared, indicating product rejection. Thus, this novel TTI it is of great benefit to the brand owner. The developed prototype was characterized and evaluated for its ability to monitor microbial quality based on published, isothermal, microbial growth data of modified-atmosphere packaged minced beef, Mediterranean fish, and ground pork. The diffusion of Tween 20 in the TTI system was measured under various isothermal conditions and a kinetic model, based on the association between diffusion and time-temperature, was investigated. The Gaussian-estimated activation energy value was 51.082kJ mol-1. Tween 20 diffusion of 6.10, 5.15 and 6.15mm along the TTI systems were considered to be end points and the 95% confidence interval between the times taken for TTI to display OFF and for the foods to reach their deterioration thresholds were 23.30-23.70, 23.00-23.50 and 23.44-24.05h for total aerobic bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens, and Pseudomonas spp. respectively. The TTI performance test for reproducibility and accuracy revealed a normal frequency distribution with 35004.90, 1200.254.82 and 549.811.09min at 0, 11 and 25C, respectively in accordance with the investigation of diffusion in the TTI.

The intermediate product resulting from the radical degradation experiment of PCE and the atomic charge gained through Gaussian03W were compared against each other. The result was that the ratio of PCE radical degradation was almost 98% or higher after the 9 hr point in reaction time. The reaction speed constant was 0.16 hr-1 and it followed the first reaction. We could see that at each location of the PCE molecule, dechlorination happened at a point where the negative atomic charge was the greatest. Moreover, the intermediate product of PCE radical degradation that was confirmed in the experiment and literature coincided exactly with the intermediate product in the atomic charge calculation. Therefore, when the atomic charge is calculated, the radical degradation pathway of the organic chlorine compound could be forecast.