Here, we investigated antioxidant defense mechanism in the spermatheca of A. mellifera queens via RNA-seq analysis of spermathecae in both mated and virgin queens. We identified the genes encoding antioxidant proteins, which were differentially expressed in the spermatheca of mated queens. The concentrations of antioxidant proteins, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GTPX), and transferrin (Tf) together with the levels of ROS, H2O2, and iron were higher in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens as opposed to those in the spermathecal fluid of virgin queens; this indicated that increase in antioxidant protein concentration is an antioxidant defense mechanism occurring in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens against ROS; this mechanism involves conversion of ROS using antioxidant enzymes and Tf-mediated inhibition of the Fenton reaction occurring between Fe2+ and H2O2. Our data indicate that an increased expression of antioxidant proteins could facilitate prolonged storage and survival of sperms in the spermatheca of mated queens, suggesting the role of antioxidant proteins in antioxidative defense against ROS.

여행객 휴대 수입금지식물에서 발생하는 금지해충(과실파리류, 코드린 나방 등)의 유입 가능성이 높아짐에 따라 지속적인 모니터링을 통하여 품목별, 국가별로 검출되는 해충의 정보 축적이 필요하며, 검역해충 종 동정을 위하여 표본 확보 및 분류학적 정보가 필요하다. 2018년 1월부터 12월까지 인천공항 및 인천항으로 반입되어 압수한 휴대식물 중 사과, 배, 복숭아에서 검출되는 해충을 조사하였다. 그 결과 형태학적 동정 및 DNA 바코딩 분석을 통하여 Carposina sasakii (복숭아심식나방), Grapholta molesta (복숭아순나방), Grapholita dimorpha (복숭아순나방붙이) 등이 검출되었지만 우려하는 코드린나방은 검출되지 않았다. 본 연구결과는 휴대 반입식물에서 검출되는 해충 종 구성에 대한 검역자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

We investigated developmental characteristic of life cycle of the lawn cutworm, Spodoptera depravata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is one of the most economically damaging pests to grasses. For larval culture the turfgrass, Zoysia japonica (Poales: Poaceae), was provided at 25℃ and 60 ± 5% humidity. Developmental period of each stage was as follows: 4.11 ± 0.19 days for eggs, 25.17 ± 3.02 for larvae, 8.80 ± 0.28 for pupae and 7.57 ± 0.95 for adults. Larvae was grown to 7th instar, unlike pre-existing data, which indicated the final age as the 6th instar. Body length of larvae changed on average from 2.772 mm immediately after hatching to 2.3 cm at 7th instar and head capsule width changed on average from 0.423 mm at 1st instar to 2.82 mm at 7th instar. Pre-period of eggs deposition was 2 days, oviposition period was 4.6 days, average fecundity per female was about 419 eggs, and hatching rate was about 83%.

Periodontal diseases have been associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating evidences have indicated that Porphyromonas gingivalis , a major periodontopathic pathogen, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. We showed that the MMP-9 expression induced by P. gingivalis LPS is mediated by the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of STAT3 activity reduced P. gingivalis LPS-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. Overall, our findings indicate that P. gingivalis LPS stimulates the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via STAT3-mediated MMP-9 expression.

The embryonic genome activation (EGA) is genetically activated states that embryos make the materials such as growth factors for using themselves. EGA is various because they have many materials, different site, different stage, also different species. At this time, transcription factors are expressed. Transcription factors bind to specific DNA region, and regulate the gene expression. Thus, we check the expression of transcription factors, we can know that embryo development is very well or not. The development stages of embryos are basically the stages from fertilization to blastocyst. So, we check the embryos oocyte to blastocyst. In our experiments, we focus the early developmental transcription factors such as Cdx2, Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and E-Cadherin. Above antibody factors showed different expression sites, and there were many differentiated parts from other animal species. In addition, we compared the SCNT and parthenogenetic activation (PA) because these are same methods using electrical activation among the embryo production methods. Our results showed not only similar patterns but also different patterns between pig and mouse. Therefore, we have to investigate that different patterns of transcription factors play a role in pigs, and why occur.

농촌진흥청 개발 품종인 토종벌 신품종(질병저항성 우수계통)에 대해 전남지역에서의 형질특성(봉세발달, 마리당 수밀력, 청소력 등)을 조사하였다. 질병저항성 계통(RS)으로 육성된 토종벌의 유밀기 마리당 수밀력은 들어오는 일벌의 무게가 80.89±8.95mg, 나가는 일벌의 무게가 63.56±8.90mg으로 조사되었고, 비저항성계통(NRS)은 각각 83.22±1.39, 66.67±1.20mg으로 조사되어 RS에서 그 무게차가 0.7mg 더 높았으나 통계적 유의차는 없었다. Pin killed test에 의한 사충제거능력(청소력)은 제거하지 못한 유충잔존율이 RS에서 12시간과 24시간 경과시 14.00±10.39와 7.00±3.46으로, NRS에서는 20.33±14.29, 13.33±10.41%로 조사되었으며, 특히 RS와 NRS의 사충 비제거율이 24시간 경과하였을 때 4.67±2.08, 8.33±7.77%로 RS가 우수한 특성을 보였다. 신규여왕벌 입식 후 봉군세력발달은 NRS에 비하여 RS의 일벌수, 번데기 및 유충수의 발달율이 안정적이고 다소 빠르게 증가하였다.

기후변화, 외래병해충발생, 밀원수 감소 등 여러 요인으로 인해 우리 나라의 양봉농가는 벌꿀생산량 및 농가소득이 감소하는 추세이다. 또한 밀원이 없는 시기에 가축용 사료가 아닌 고가의 식용설탕을 꿀벌의 인공사료로 급여하고 있어 농가는 ‘생산비 상승’과 ‘밀원수 부족’을 국내양봉업이 직면한 가장 큰 문제점으로 지적하고 있다. 이에 따른 양봉농가의 생산비를 절감하고 꿀벌의 생리·생태의 개선효과를 가지는 저가형 당액사료개발을 위해 농산부산물에서 추출한 천연당을 봉군에 적용시험을 추진하였다. 양파(OS-1, OS-2), 양배추(CS-1, CS-2), 바나나(Banana)부산물에서 추출한 천연당의 봉군당 평균먹이소모량(mL)은 설탕당액(대조구) 처리구와 비교시 바나나추출당액 급여구에서 5500.00±0.00, 5133.33±404.15로 유사하였다. 그러나 꿀벌의 봉세발달은 대조구에 비해 21006.7±2137, 17403.3±2257마리로 조사되어 낮은 경향을 나타내었고 수명조사 결과는 큰 차이가 없었다. 농산부산물을 이용한 천연당은 우선 꿀벌의 기호도 향상을 우선으로 개선시켜야 할 것으로 보인다.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known functional and medicinal food for human health promotion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), which are the major protein components in RJ, exhibit antimicrobial activities. However, the identities of the MRJPs of RJ responsible for its antioxidant effects have remained unclear. Here, we report that honeybee (Apis cerana) MRJP 2 (AcMRJP2) acts as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in RJ. Using recombinant AcMRJP2, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we established the antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of MRJP 2. AcMRJP2 bound to the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, which then induced structural damage in the microbial cell walls and led to a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. AcMRJP2 protected mammalian and insect cells via the direct shielding of the cell against oxidative stress, which led to reduced levels of caspase-3 activity and oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis, followed by increased cell viability. Moreover, AcMRJP2 exhibited DNA protection activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our data indicate that AcMRJP2 could play a crucial role as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant in RJ, suggesting that MRJP 2 is a component responsible for the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of RJ.

Bee venom, which serves as a weapon to defend the colony from predator attacks, induces an immediate local inflammatory response that causes acute redness and swelling at the site of the sting. This venom-induced inflammation is a rapid anti-predatory defense strategy of the bee against vertebrate predators. Although acute inflammation by venom from venomous arthropods, including bees, is a typical response, how venom acutely elicits inflammatory responses remains unknown. Here, we identify a novel mechanism underlying acute inflammation and provide a rationale for the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in bee venom. In mouse models, paradoxically, SOD3 in bee venom (bvSOD3) acts as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based harm-inducing system to promote acute inflammation. Exogenous bvSOD3 rapidly induced overproduction of H2O2 through endogenously produced superoxide by venom components, such as melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which then upregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes and promoted the acute inflammatory response. Furthermore, a more severe noxious effect by bvSOD3 elevated a type 2 immune response, and bvSOD3 immunization protected against bvSOD3-mediated toxicity. Our findings that bvSOD3 promotes an acute inflammatory response and induces a protective immune response against inflammation may offer a new approach in venom therapy/immunotherapy.

In order to accumulate the ecological information of Drosophila suzukii for export negotiations of domestic strawberry, we weekly monitored occurrence of D. suzukii at three strawberry fields located in Gok-seong, Dam-yang and Hwa-sun using the best combination of trap and attractant from November 2017 to May 2018, the period of strawberry production. Monitoring was carried out at three sites (a hill located 150 meter distant to greenhouse, outside greenhouse and inside greenhouse) in Gok-seong. Drosophil suzukii was trapped at three short periods from November to the beginning of December, from the end of December to the beginning of January, and from April in a hill. At outside greenhouse, D. suzukii was trapped at two short periods from November to the early December and the beginning of May. In inside greenhouse, it occurred once after May 24th. Gok-seong data can be summarized as more occurrence for longer period as the distance to greenhouse increases. Dam-yang occurred once in a short period inside greenhouse and hill, respectively on May. In case of Hwa-sun, D. suzukii did not trapped in whole trapping sites during trapping period, except for the surrounding grape and peach cultivation areas at the end of November. Summarized, no occurrence periods are from November 20th, 2017 to May 14th, 2018 inside greenhouse; from December 11th, 2017 to May 3rd, 2018 outside greenhouse; and from January 8th, 2018 to April 12th, 2018 on a hill. In connection with strawberry culture, the D. suzukii tends to occur at the beginning and the end of the strawberry production period. We expect this result can serve as a helpful data for export negotiation for quarantine.

드라세나 묘목은 주요 수입 관상용 묘목 중 하나로 지난 10년간 총 4,026건 수입되어 수입 묘목류 중 건수 기준으로 가장 많이 수입된 품목이다. 드라세나의 규제·잠정규제병해충(묘목의 수입식물검역 과정에서 검출되면 처분을 받는 병해충) 검출률은 20.8%로 전체 묘목류의 검출률 7.2% 보다 약 3배 높았다. Pseudococcus longispinus, Lepidosaphes laterochitinosa 등 깍지벌레류 해충이 자주 검출되었다. 본 발표에서는 농림축산검역본부에서 운영하는 병해충정보시스템(PIS)을 활용하여 병해충 유입위험이 높은 드라세나 묘목의 최근 10년간 수입동향과 수입검역과정에서 검출된 병해충의 동향을 분석하였다.

Bumblebee, Bombus ardens ardens (Apidae: Hymenopera), is an important resource for pollination that is most widely distributed in Korea. This study utilized microsatellite markers for investigation of genetic diversity and geographic relevance of the B. a. ardens populations in Korea. Through Next Generation Sequencing analysis, we identified 10 microsatellite markers and genotyped for 107 individuals of B. ardens collected from 10 populations. At each locus the number of alleles ranged from 10 to 23; the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.8909 to 1.0000 and 0.6641 to 0.8422, respectively; and inbreeding coefficient(FIS) ranged from –0.5053 to –0.0891. Significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was not observed at any locus. Population structure analysis indicated that there are three genetic groups in Korea with each Jeongseon and Ulleung-do composed of different gene pool from the remaining other populations. Similarly, Principal coordinates analysis also showed the same pattern. FST and RST analyses showed that each Jeongseon and Ulleung-do population had a significant genetic distance from other populations. Considering these results, genetic isolation of Ulleung-do may be explained by “Oceanic island” status and Jeongseon, which showed the positive FIS (0.069) and genetic isolation may be caused by its location on the east side of Baekdudaegan and by on-going inbreeding with a small population size.

The nerippe fritillary butterfly, Argynnis nerippe , is listed as an endangered species in Korea. Establishment of effective conservation strategies can be aided by the development and application of molecular markers that can be used to investigate the population genetics of the butterfly. Therefore, in this study, we identified ten microsatellite markers specific to A. nerippe using the Next-Seq 500 platform, and applied these markers to investigate the characteristics of five South Korean butterfly populations. Genotyping of 48 A. nerippe individuals from five localities showed that at each locus the number of alleles ranged from 4 to 14, and that the observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.324–0.863 and 0.138–0.985, respectively. Significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was not observed at any locus. Population structure analysis indicated that there are two genetic groups in Korea, but no population-based gene pool assignments were found. Analysis of FST, RST, and a principal coordinates analysis suggested that the Gureopdo and Yaecheon populations were isolated from other populations. Genetic isolation of the Gureopdo population may be a consequence of unequal population change between Gureopdo and inland populations and to the offshore habitat of Gureopdo. Genetic isolation of the Yaecheon population may be a consequence either of the southernmost location of the population or of the limited sample size available. Further studies with increased sample sizes will be necessary to draw robust conclusions on population isolation and to devise conservation strategies.