Entomopathogenic fungi have been widely studied for their potential as the effective biological control agents. Theyproduce variety of secondary metabolites with insecticidal activities, and it is reasonable to assume that entomopathogenicfungi might produce secondary metabolites modulating juvenile hormone for their survival against defense mechanismsof host insect. In this study, Acetone extracts of 189 entomopathogenic fungi cultured on unpolished rice medium werescreened for their juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) activities using the yeast-two hybrid system. Among them, 14extracts showed high level of JHAN activities and their insecticidal activities against Aedes albopictus were investigated.

Actinobacteria have been known to produce variety of bioactive metabolites that include antibiotics and plant growthfactor. Also, Insecticidal compounds such as avermectin and tetranectin have been reported from actinobacteria. In thisstudy, to identify novel insect growth regulator (IGR)-based insecticidal compounds, 1,283 actinobacteria isolates weretested for their juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) activity using the yeast-two hybrid β-galactosidase assay. Amongthem, 25 isolates showed high level of JHAN activity and insecticidal activity against 3rd larvae of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella. These results suggested that actinobacteria could be unparalleled source of novel IGR-based compounds.

Widespread use of chemical insecticides has resulted in development of insect resistance and natural products withbiological activities could become an attractive alternative to control insect pests. In order to find more effective insecticidesfor controlling mosquito, various mosquitocidal compounds are studied. Recently, juvenile hormone antagonists (JHANs)are known to be to safe and effective insecticides for control mosquito. In order to identify novel insecticidal compoundswith JHAN activity, several chalcones were surveyed on their JHAN activities and larvicidal activities against Aedes albopictuslarvae. Among them, 2’-hydroxychalcone and cardamonin showed high level of JHAN and mosquito larvicidal activities.These results suggested that chalcones with JHAN activity could be useful for control of mosquito larvae.

Streptomyces species have been studied to find potent pest control agents as an alternatives to chemical insecticides.Previously, one of the ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces isolates cultured on unpolished rice medium showed highlevel of juvenile hormone antagonist and larvicidal activities against pest insects including Aedes albopictus, Plutella xylostellaand Laodelphax striatellus. It has been known that the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of Streptomyces could beinfluenced by a variety environments such as nutritional composition and growth conditions. In this study, to optimizeculture conditions for stable production of insecticidal compounds from this isolate, binding assay and bioassay-guidedmonitoring were conducted using various culture conditions.

Recently, it has been reported that plants produce variety of phytochemicals against insect pests as a part of their defencemechanism. In this study, to identify novel compounds that disrupt juvenile hormone (JH) receptor complex, plant essentialoil compounds were tested using in vitro yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor complex.Among the plant essential oil compounds, farnesol interfered with pyriproxyfen-mediated binding of A. aegypti Met-FISC.In contrast, farnesyl acetate induced the binding of A. aegypti Met-FISC. Also, both compounds caused retardation ofovarian development and change of transcription level in female A. albopictus. These results could provide insights onthe plant-insect coevolution and may be useful for the development of insect specific and safe pesticides.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been considered as an alternative strategy to control agricultural pests whereby double-strandedRNA triggers a potent and specific inhibition of its homologous mRNA. Since small double-stranded RNAs are requiredfor various RNAi applications, there is a need for cost-effective methods for producing large quantities of high-qualitydsRNA. Bacillus thuringiensis produces much insecticidal proteins with expression of their encoding genes being drivenby sporulation-dependent promoters. To develop dsRNA mass-production platform utilizing Bt, the pHT1K-EGFP plasmidvector which has cyt1Aa sporulation-dependent promoter was constructed. The transcriptional level of target gene (EGFP)is higher 113 times than Bt reference gene (ssPE). It was applied to protect honeybee from Sacbrood virus, so targetgene was replaced to SBV-vp1. By ingestion of Bt-derived dsRNA to honeybee shows positive effect on SBV suppression.

Three bamboo stands(Phyllostachys pubescens(Mazel) Ohwi, P. bambusoides Sieb. et Zucc, P. nigra var. henonis Stapf ex. Rendle) were selected to determine suitable biomass equations and productivity of Gajwa and Wola National Experimental Forests, Jinju, Southern Korea. Different independent variables such as diameter at breast height(DBH) or the combination of DBH and height(H) were used to develop biomass equations(Allometric model : logY = a + blog DBH; Linear-quadratic model : Y=aDBH + bDBH2; Linear model with DBH and height : Y=a + bDBH2·H) for each bamboo component from two age-sequence(current-year, > 1-year-old) of three bamboo stands. Based on statistical indicators, the most suitable equation model to estimate biomass from bamboo stands was a linear-quadratic model. Aboveground biomass of three bamboo stands estimated by the model was 48.864 Mg ha-1 for the P. pubescens, followed by 36.632 Mg ha-1 for the P. bambusoides, and 36.504 Mg ha-1 for the P. nigra var. henonis stands, respectively. The highest biomass in the P. pubescens stand was attributed to the morphological growth characteristics such as DBH and height. Belowground biomass was also highest for P. pubescens(53.35 Mg ha-1), followed by the P. bambusoides(36.73 Mg ha-1) and the P. nigra var. henonis(29.75 Mg ha-1) stands. The results indicate that the morphological growth characteristics such as DBH and height among bamboo species were the most important factor to determine bamboo biomass productivity at a local level.

Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride), derived from French lilac (Galega officinalis), is a first-line anti-diabetic drug prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the role of metformin in odontoblastic cell differentiation is still unclear. This study therefore undertook to examine the effect of metformin on regulating odontoblast differentiation in MDPC-23 mouse odontoblastic cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells. As compared to controls, metformin significantly accelerated the mineralization, significantly increased and accelerated the expressions of ALP and Col I mRNAs, and significantly increased the accelerated expressions of DSPP and DMP-1 mRNAs, during differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. There was no alteration in cell proliferation of MDPC-23 cells, on exposure to metformin. These results suggest that the effect of metformin on MDPC-23 mouse odontoblastic cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells, facilitates the odontoblast differentiation and mineralization, without altering the cell proliferation.

에너지 음료는 카페인을 주성분으로 타우린, 비타민 같은 다른 energy-enhancing 성분을 함유하고 있다. 미국과 유럽에서는 글루쿠로노락톤이 에너지 음료에 첨가될수 있으나, 국내에서 의약품으로는 허가되어 있다. 따라서 식품 첨가물로는 그 사용이 금지 되어 있어, 지속적으로 수입 및 유통 음료에서 시험검사를 하여 규제하고 있다. 현재 분석법으로 사용하는 LC-PDA 법은 복잡한 유도체화 과 정을 거치고, 음료 중에 당류들이 위양성 결과를 나타내 기도 한다. 이런 기존 방법의 단점을 개선하기 위해 HILICESI- MS/MS (hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry) 를 이용한 분석법을 개발하고, 선택성, 직선성, 검출한계, 정량한계, 정밀도, 정확성, 재현성에 대하여 분석법 유효성 검증을 수행했고, AOAC, EURACHEM 가이드라인에 부합되는 결과를 얻었다.

Plant essential oils have been reported to show repellent, insecticidal and growth-reducing effect on many insect herbivores. Recently, it has been reported that plants synthesize secondary metabolites regulating insect juvenile hormone (JH) receptor complex as a part of their defense mechanisms. We tested 180 plant essential oil compounds using a yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the Aedes aegypti JH receptor as a reporter system. Among them, we identified 17 compounds that showing high JH agonist (JHA) or antagonist (JHAN) activities. They were grouped into 4 groups by their structural similarity and their insecticidal activity was tested against larvae of Aedes albopictus, Plutella xylostella, Plodia interpunctella and Laodelphax striatellus. These results could provide insights on the plant-insect coevolution and may be useful for the development of insect specific and safe pesticides.

Secondary metabolites isolated from Actinomycete have been studied to find potent pest control agents as their insecticidal and growth inhibitory activities. In order to investigate novel insecticidal compounds, second metabolites from 363 Actinomycete isolates were evaluated for their insect growth regulatory activities. Among them, ethyl acetate extracts from ten Streptomyces spp. showed high level of Juvenile hormone antagonist activity. In addition, their insecticidal activities were tested against larvae of Aedes albopictus, Plutella xylostella and Laodelphax striatellus. These results suggested that secondary metabolites from Streptomyces spp. could be used for development of novel IGR-based insecticides.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an universal gene-knockdown mechanism in eukaryotic organisms including insects. RNAi has been considered as an alternative strategy to control agricultural pests whereby double-stranded RNA triggers a potent and specific inhibition of its homologous mRNA. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore-forming bacterium that produces a copious amount of crystal proteins δ-endotoxins under the control of sporulation-dependent promoter. In order to develop dsRNA mass-production platform utilizing recombinant Bt, the pHT1K-EGFP which expresses dsRNA against EGFP under the control of Cyt1-Aa sporulation-dependent promoter was constructed and the expression level of transgene (EGFP) was confirmed by qPCR analysis. These results suggested that Bt’s potential of becoming a new platform in dsRNA production.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are insecticides that disrupt the normal development of target insects by inducing symptoms such as premature molting or supernumerary larval stages. Juvenile hormone (JH)-based IGRs are of particular interest because they simulate or interfere with the formation of juvenile hormone receptor complex. Insect larvae generally have been poorly susceptible to JH agonists (JHAs) because endogenous JH titer is already high in the larval stage. In contrast, JH antagonists (JHANs) might be more effective for control of target pests in larval stages through interference in the status quo action of JHs. In this study, we tested 2,354 chemical compounds using the yeast-two hybrid system to identify JHANs. Among them, K265674 sample was selected and its insecticidal activity was evaluated against Aedes albopictus larvae. These results may be useful for development of novel IGR insecticide.

Entomopathogenic fungi have been widely studied for their potential as the effective biological control agents. They produce variety of secondary metabolites with insecticidal activities, and it is reasonable to assume that entomopathogenic fungi might produce secondary metabolites modulating juvenile hormone for their survival against defense mechanisms of host insect. In this study, acetone extract of the Lecanicillium spp. cultured on unpolished rice medium showed juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) activity in the yeast-two hybrid β-galactosidase assay and high insecticidal activity against Aedes albopictus and Plutella xylostella. In addition, to compare bioactivities of secondary metabolites from solid and liquid culture, the Lecaniciilium spp. strain cultured on unpolished rice medium or PDB medium were serially extracted with acetone and ethyl acetate respectively. Both extracts showed JHAN activity and high insecticidal activity against A.albopictus. Theses results suggested that secondary metabolites of entomopathogenic fungi could be useful for development of novel IGR insecticides.