To investigate the effect of carnosine on exhaustive exercise, swimming tests were conducted weekly with loads corresponding to 5% of body weight attached to the tails of mice, and the swimming time to exhaustion was measured. Eighty male ICR mice were divided into four groups, to which carnosine was administered at doses of 0 (control), 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg/day, respectively, for a period of four weeks. At the end of swimming exercise challenges, serum biochemistry, oxidative stress enzyme activity, and antioxidant enzyme activity in tissues were determined. Treatment with 250 mg/kg carnosine resulted in a significant increase in swimming times to exhaustion, compared to the control group in the first (P<0.01) and third week (P<0.05). Significantly lower serum lactate levels were observed after the swimming exercise in the carnosine-treated groups (10 and 250 mg/kg), compared with the control (P<0.01). Malondialdehyde levels in the liver (10 and 50 mg/kg carnosine treated groups) and skeletal muscle (250 mg/kg carnosine treated group) were significantly lower, compared with the control (P<0.05). Significantly lower protein carbonyl levels in skeletal muscle were observed in the 50 and 250 mg/kg carnosine treated groups, compared with the control (P<0.01). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in skeletal muscle did not differ significantly among the groups. These results indicate that carnosine may improve swimming exercise capacity by attenuating production of lactate and reducing oxidative stress in mice.

Freeze-dried Ecklonia cava powder was incorporated into cookie dough at 5 levels (0%, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, and 6%, w/w) by replacing equivalent amount of wheat flour of the cookie dough. After aging and sheeting, cookies were baked at 185oC for 14 min in a convection oven. The baked cookies were cooled to room temperature for 30 min and packed in airtight bags prior to all measurements. Lightness (L*) decreased significantly as the E. cava powder content increased (p<0.05) and a decreasing trend in both redness (a*-value) and yellowness (b*-value) was observed. On the other hand, firmness increased significantly with an increase in E. cava powder content (p<0.05). Increases in E. cava powder concentration up to 6% in the cookie formulation significantly increased the intensities of all sensory attributes such as color, flavor, taste, and firmness (p<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that the E. cava concentration correlated significantly with most of the properties except for a*-value (p<0.01, 0.05, or 0.001). Properties such as firmness and sensory color and firmness correlated positively while L*- and b*-values correlated negatively with E. cava concentration. Sensory color correlated negatively with L*- and b*-values. Sensory firmness correlated positively with mechanically measured firmness.

To identify the treatment effect of lactic acid bacteria for diabetes, the treatment effects of a single administration of acarbose (a diabetes treatment drug) or lactic acid bacteria, and the mixture of acarbose and lactic acid bacteria on diabetes in a type 1 diabetes animal model, were studied. In this study, streptozotocin was inoculated into a Sprague-Dawley rat to induce diabetes, and sham control (Sham), diabetic control (STZ), STZ and composition with live cell, STZ and composition with heat killed cell, STZ and composition with drugs (acarbose) were orally administered. Then the treatment effect on diabetes was observed by measuring the body weight, blood glucose, and serum lipid. For the histopathological examination of the pancreas, the Langerhans islet of the pancreas was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the renal cortex, outer medullar, and inner medullar were also observed. The induced diabetes decreased the body weight, and the fasting blood glucose level decreased in the lactic-acid-bacteriaadministered group and the mixture-administered group. In addition, the probiotic resulted in the greatest decrease in the serum cholesterol level, which is closely related to diabetes. Also, the hematoxylin and eosin staining of the Langerhans islet showed that the reduction in the size of the Langerhans islet slowed in the lactic-acid-bacteria-administered group. The histopathological examination confirmed that the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy decreased in the group to which viable bacteria and acarbose were administered, unlike in the group to which dead bacteria was administered. The mixture of lactic acid bacteria and acarbose and the single administration of lactic acid bacteria or acarbose had treatment effects on the size of the Langerhans islet and of the kidney histopathology. Thus, it is believed that lactic acid bacteria have treatment effects on diabetes and can be used as supplements for the treatment of diabetes.

Several bacteria have been known as the causal agents of certain diseases of the cultivated button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). It is well known as bacterial diseases of the cultivated mushroom such as brown blotch, mummy disease, bacterial pit, bacterial rot and weeping disease, ginger blotch, and drippy gill. Brown blotch is the most critical cause of crop loss in the commercial mushroom industry. The classical bacterial blotch disease of mushrooms is caused by a fluorescent pseudomonad, Pseudomonas tolaasii. Affected mushrooms show lesions which become dark chocolate-brown, are wet, and deeply pit the caps and stalks. Although Pseudomonas tolaasii has been known as the casual agent of bacterial blotch, much controversy exists regarding the identification of this bacterium and whether blotch may be caused by more than one organism. This study was carried out to investigate characterization and biological control of Pseudomonas tolaasi and other possible browning pathogens isolated from cultivated mushrooms. One hundred seventy four bacteria were isolated from the cultivated mushroom and collected from main producing districts throughout the country. The isolates were classified into Pseudomonas tolaasii(20 strains), Pseudomonas gingeri(1 strains), Pseudomonas agarici(4 strains), Pseudomonas putida(11 strains), Pseudomonas sp.(46 strains), Ewingella americana(14 strains), Stenotrophomonas sp.(4 strains), and others(74 strains) on the basis of 16 rDNA analysis. The most dominants of these species were Pseudomonas tolaasii and Ewingella americana. Pseudomonad isolates were mainly divided into two groups in white line test and a sharply defined white line of precipitate forms in Pseudomonas agar F(Difco) between the opaque white colonies of P. tolaasii and translucent colonies of certain unidentified pseudomonads. The white line test was positive when 20 isolates of P. tolaasi from different countries were examined, whereas 62 isolates of pseudomonads did not give the white line reaction with a reacting translucent colony Pseudomonas. All the isolates tested for white line forming bacteria including P. tolaasi were highly pathogenic to mushroom tissue. Although browning of mushrooms in host tests does not perfectly help in the identification of P. tolaasi, a conspicuous pitting produced at the cut surface of mushroom tissue is as specific as the white line test in detecting P. tolaasii in suspension in distilled water. URP2F primers of 20-mer were used to assess the genetic diversity of white line forming bacteria. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by using the neighbor-joining method. In the analysis of RAPD pattern, all isolates of white line precipitate have some of the different genetic traits as collected districts. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA revealed that twenty isolates including white line forming bacteria were closely related to P. tolaasii and showed high similarity. To biological control on bacterial browning disease of cultivated mushrooms, six hundreds plant extracts (332 EtOH extracts, 268 water extracts) was used for control of mushroom disease. Thirty plant extracts in bacterial disease(Pseudomonas tolaasii, P. agarici, B. gladioli, E. americana) and thirty three in fungus disease(T. harzianum, C. mycophilum, V. fungicola) showed strong anti-microbes activity. They showed stronger anti-microbes activity at ethanol extracts than water extracts. MIC of extract BCW128 on Pseudomonas tolaasii was 700ppm and HDE17 was 330ppm. MIC of extract YCE107 on P. agarici was 330ppm, JGE96 was 330ppm and BCW128 was 700ppm. The bacteria inhibit tolaasin secreted by Pseudomonas tolaasii was selected three genus(Bacillus sp. etc). Now we are carrying out more research on these bacteria.

World wide mushroom productions have been increased to 10-20% and more various mushrooms have been attempted to cultivate. Similar trends were also observed in Korea. More diverse mushroom varieties such as Pleurotus eryngii, Hericium erinaceus and Agrocybe aegerita have been attempted to cultivate in larger areas. In these days, 235 varieties of 33 different mushroom species have been cultivated. However only 50 varieties were protected by the law. Since 1960s, mushroom industry had been considered as one of the major export industries in Korea and mushroom production has been rapidly increased. In 2008, total mushroom production was about 198,209 ton, which were about 800 billion won (one trillion won if include mushroom factory products). Major cultivated species are Pleurotus ostreatus, P. eryngii, Flammulina velutipes, Lentinula edodes and Agaricus bisporus, which cover 90% of total production. We believed that the protection of mushroom vavarieties by the law is one of the main problems to be solved. Also, more studies to develop better mushroom production methods with low cost and improve the distribution structures are certainly required. In these days, the export of mushroom has been increased in Korea. We imported more mushrooms than exported for last 4 years, however, it has been changed that export is getting bigger in these days. Because we developed the liquid spawning and automatic cultivation systems, which lead the reduction of mushroom production cost and resulted in the increasement of export. If we develop better post-harvest system, it is certain that the mushroom export should be more important in the future. As an alternative way, some Korean companies are planning to build the plants in main export countries. Mushroom industry has promising future because mushroom is good for your health.

This study aims to reveal how EA affects BAX and NF-kB involved in cell deaths from global ischemia, and to do this, observes the changes of BAX and NF-kB caused by EA application after transient global ischemia. The experimental method is to give rise to global ischemia and apply EA to 27 SD rats with the particulars of being six-week-old, male, around-300 gram-weighing, and adapted to laboratory environment for more than a week, and divide them into three groups, that is, GV20 EA group(n=9), L14 EA group(n=9), no-treatment GI group(n=9), and then observe their changes of BAX and NF-kB at the time lapse of 6 hours, 9 hours and 12 hours after ischemia, using western blotting. The numerical decrease of BAX expression at the time lapse of 9 hours after EA application, though not statistically significant, was observed in GV20 EA group and L14 EA group, and the NF-kB expression appeared statistically significant decrease in GV20 EA group and L14 EA group, but the expression was higher in the group with EA application. Therefore, EA application at the early phase of global ischemia is considered to affect BAX and NF-kB and play a positive role in decreasing apoptosis and cell deaths by inflammation.

Insects or insect remains found in beer are one of major issues in consumer claim. Accurate estimation of inflow time isa critical factor for the settlement of such claims related with beer-contaminating insects but no reliable methods have been developed. In an attempt to establish a molecular marker-based diagnostic method, the degradation rates of 18S rRNA genes in the insectssoaked in 500 ml beer were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) over one month period at room temperature. Among the six insect species tested, the house fly (Musca domestica) and honey bee (Apis mellifera) revealed high correlations (r2=0.974-0.990) between the degradation of 18S rRNA gene and inflow time. In these insects, statistically significant distinction was possible between the samples stored in beer less than 14 days and more than 14 days. Other insects, including the fruit fly, common house mosquito, German cockroach and Indian meal moth, displayed poor correlations, which appeared attributed to the inefficient genomic DNA extraction likely due to small sample size or disintegration of body parts during storage in beer. With proper improvement in DNA extraction, this 18S rRNA-based diagnostic method would be applicable for estimating the inflow time of beer-contaminating insects.

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), is one of the most serious pest in seed potato and various vegetable cultivation. The imidacloprid resistant strain (IR) was over 200 fold more resistant to imidacloprid compared to the susceptible strain (S) as judged by the LC50 values and IR showed cross resistant to acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, clothianidin. By using the suppression subtractive hybridization method, a imidacloprid resistant associated cDNA library was constructed in adult cotton aphid. In total 115 differentially expressed cDNA clones were obtained. Any point mutation detected in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 1~5 and beta 1 subunits in the IR. Based on IEF, the IR general esterase isozyme banding patterns were identical with that of S.

This study was conducted to investigate the altitudinal distribution of the ground beetle community in a mountain area during 2007 to 2009, and to examine what habitat characters are most relevant to the distribution of mountain ground beetle species, and finally to identify potential biological indicators for monitoring in forest. The study area was Mt. Sobaeksan National Park (1439 m elevation), in Punggi-up, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall traps, which were installed along the altitudinal gradient 437, 757, 1100 and 1420 m. In total, 3,259 individuals were identified as 32 species in 18 genera. The dominant species were Synuchus cycloderus (29.4%), Eucarabus sternbergi sobaeksanensis (15.4%) and Pterostichus orientalis (9.7%) in order. Overall, the ground beetle community structure was different along the altitude (similarity 65.2%) by NMDS ordination, but also were clustered into 2 groups, 437 and 757 m, and 1100 and 1420 m (similarity 57.9%). Therefore, the ground beetle assemblage could provide basic information for forest management. In this study, some ground beetle species were suggested to potential biological indicators along altitudinal gradient.

This study was conducted to investigate the change of moth communities by the effect of forest fire in Samcheok, Korea. Moths were collected 4 times a year from 2006 to 2009 with UV light traps at 3sites: Unburned area (Site 1), Surface fire area (Site 2), and Crown fire area (Site 3). A total of 3,804 individuals belonging to 727 species from 30 families were captured at the 3 sites. A total of 3,804 individuals belonging to 727 species from 30 families were captured at the 3 sites: 1,727 individuals of 505 species (27 families) at Site 1, 1,193 individuals of 353 species (24 families) at Site 2, 885 individuals of 340 species (25 families). The index of similarity (Index α) was higher between Site 2 and 3 in 2006, while higher between Site 1 and 2 in 2009. Moths were grouped into 16 categories by hosts of the larva stage. Based on our results, we discussed the change of moth communities by the effect of forest fire.

The diapause duration P. ussuriensis eggs is known to either one year or prolonged to additional years. This complex life cycle is mainly caused by the interruption at two embryonic stages: early stage (initial diapause) and fully developed late stage (final diapause). The environmental cues, such as temperature, is critical to determine the diapause duration but the precise diapause mechanism of P. ussuriensis eggs is unclear. We demonstrated temperature effects on the entrance of initial diapause. Newly oviposited eggs were incubated at two temperature conditions (20℃and 30℃) for 60 days. When eggs were incubated at 20℃, egg weights were not significantly changed, but at 30℃ those were gradually increased to 1.5 times for 50 days. Genomic DNA contents of eggs were similarly increased at 30℃. Total RNA contents at 30℃ were highly increased from the 15-days-old but not at 20℃. In addition, we further analysed expression levels of two heat shock protein 70 (hsp70a, hap70b) genes during embryonic development. Our results suggest that initial diapause occurred between 10 and 15 days after oviposition and its entrance was blocked by high temperature incubation.

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a vector insect of more than 100 plant-diseased viruses as well as a serious pest of various horticultural crops. B. tabaci is a species-complex that consists of at least 24 biotypes, which show different biological characteristics including host range, fecundity, insecticide resistance and virus transmission. Here we identified biotype, endosymbiotic bacteria, and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) acquisition of various B. tabaci populations collected in Korea. In addition, we compared those profiles with B. tabaci collected from Bangladesh and Myanmar, and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum. PCR diagnosis of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) showed that all B. tabaci populations of Korea were Q-biotype and closely related with a subgroup I (MedBasin 1), which is indigenous to the Western Mediterranean area. Ribosomal DNA analysis of 5 endosymbionts showed that both Cardinium and Hamiltonella were detected in most tested populations while the presence of Arsenophonus, Fritschea and Wolbachia dependent on populations. Our results suggest that the acquisition of TYLCV do not related with the endosymbiont profile of B. tabaci.

As an natural enemy against the Monochamus alternatus Hope and M. saltuarius Gebler (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the vector species of the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer), Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is recognized for the first time in Korea. The family Bothrideridae is also reported for the first time in Korea. We provide the diagnosis, illustrations, biological information, and the host insects of D. helophoroides (Fairmaire).

Spider mites are one of major pests in cultivations of various ornamental plants and also important in plant quarantine service. Due to the very small body size and high similarity within the Genus the identification of species is difficult even at the microscopic observation. To identify 5 major species (Tetranychus cinnabarinus, T. urticae, T. phaselus, T. kanzawai and T. truncatus) in the Genus Tetranychus at the molecular level, we designed 4 species-specific primer sets using nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region in the nuclear ribosomal repeat unit. At the PCR diagnosis of extracted genomic DNAs of 5 species using each primer set, specific primers of both T. phaselus and T. truncates were species-specific to their own species samples. However, specific primer set of T. urticae detected T. cinnabarinus as well as T. urticae. Specific primer set of T. kanzawai detected T. truncates as well as T. kanzawai, even though detection intensities were lower in non-target species.

Due to the very small body size of spider mite, it is difficult to prepare DNA extraction simultaneously with slide samples from a single individual. Here we developed non-mashed DNA extraction method from a single spider mite to apply for molecular as well as morphological identification. Total genomic DNA was isolated from a single female adult using Genomic DNA extraction kit without the sample homogenization. DNA content of a single spider mite was 60-90 ng, which is sufficient for the PCR analysis. However, the quantity of extracted DNA and quality of the cuticle sample were dependent on the incubation time into the lysis buffer. Our results suggest that non-mashed DNA extraction method would be useful for the identification of very small mites as well as insects at the levels of DNA and morphology.

본 연구에서는 azoxymethane (AOM)과 dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)로 유도된 대장 발암과정에 대한 셀레늄의 방어 효과를 조사하였다. 셀레늄 결핍(0.02 ppm Se), 정상(0.1 ppm Se), 과다(0.5 ppm Se)사료를 12주간 식이로 급여하여 혈액검사와 대장암 발생의 초기단계인 aberrant crypt foci (ACF)수를 측정했으며, 암 발생율을 조사하였다. ICP-AES 를 사용하여 간의 셀레늄 농도를 측정하였으며, 또한 셀레늄포함 항산화효소인 glutathione peroxidase (GPx) 활성을 알아보았다. 또한 TUNEL assay와 PCNA, β-catenin에 대한 면역조직 염색을 수행하였다. ACF 수 및 종양 발생률에 있어서, 셀레늄과다사료를 급여한 군이 정상셀레늄사료를 급여한 군보다 낮았으며, 셀레늄결핍사료를 급여한 군은 오히려 ACF 수 및 종양 발생률이 높았다. GPx 활성은 셀레늄의 섭취가 과다한 군에서 높게 나타났으며, 이 때, TUNEL 에서 apoptotic positive cell이 증가하는 것을 확인했다. 또 한 셀레늄의 섭취가 과다한 군에서 PCNA와 β-catenin의 발현이 감소됨을 볼 수 있었다. 본 마우스 모델실험에서 셀레늄은 여러 기전에 의해 대장암 발생을 억제할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.