In insects, the glutathione S-transferase is initiated in both the detoxification process and the protection of cellular membranes against oxidative damage. In this study, we identified the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of GST-iso1 and 2 from Tenebrio molitor (TmGST-iso1 and 2). To investigate the expression patterrns of TmGST-iso1 and 2 in response to herbicide, 0.06, 0.6, and 6 ㎍/㎕ of butachlor (FarmHannong, Seoul, South Korea) was challenged into T. molitor larvae, resulting that the TmGST-iso1 were highly induced at 3 and 24 h-post injection. Whereas, the highest expression of TmGST-iso2 was detected at 24 h after treatment. This study may contribute to basic information about the detoxifying activities of T. molitor.

It is well known that the JNK pathway regulates AMP production against pathogenic infection in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Tenebrio molitor hep (Tmhep) is an homolog of MAP kinase kinase in mammals. Here, we investigate the immunological function of Tmhep in responses in microbial infection using RNA interference technology. The results showed that silencing of Tmhep increased the larval mortality against microbial challenge, as well as reduced AMP production compared to the control group (dsEGFP-treated group). Conclusively, Tmhep plays an critical role in antimicrobial defense in T. molitor larvae.

Metarhizium은 대표적인 곤충병원성 진균 중 하나로, 종에 따라 매우 다양한 곤충에게 병원성을 일으키는 폭 넓은 기주범위를 형성한다. 이들이 주로 생성하는 것으로 알려진 destruxins (DTXs)이라는 2차 대사산물은 살충 활성 뿐만 아니라 항바이러스, 항증식, 항암 등 다양한 분야에서 효능이 연구되고 있어, 해당 물질에 대한 관심이 집중되고 있다. 살충 물질로서의 DTXs는 여러 곤충에 있어 병원성을 나타내는 것이 확인되었으나, 해충 으로서 전 세계적으로 심각한 경제적 피해를 일으킴과 동시에, 화학 살충제 저항성 문제가 야기되고 있는 목화진 딧물에 대해서는 아직 DTXs의 역할이 연구되지 않고 있는 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 목화진딧물에 대해 곤충병원 성 진균 Metarhizium spp.의 병원성 발현에 DTXs가 미치는 역할을 간접적으로 확인하기 위해, qPCR을 활용하여 진균 처리 후 목화진딧물 사망 시간과 관련하여 충체 내 DTX 합성효소의 발현을 비교 분석하였다.

Mycoviruses are a group of viruses that infect filamentous fungi. While most hosts infected with mycoviruses do not show any symptoms. In some cases, mycoviruses induce various phenotypic changes include alterations in morphology, drug resistance, pathogenicity, virulence, sporulation, and growth. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the integrated pest management agents as an alternative to conventional insecticides. Mycoviruses have the potential as supportive agents, enhancing the efficiency of the insecticidal activity of the fungi. Studies about mycoviruses themselves and their interaction with their hosts, especially entomopathogenic fungi, are needed to realize their full potential. In this work, the sequence of the dsRNA element isolated from the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pinghaense 4-2 strain was determined. Through this study, we report the sequence of a dsRNA virus isolated from the Metarhizium pinghaense for the first time. In further studies, the ORF of the mycovirus that induces a phenotype change in the host will be researched.

마이코바이러스는 곰팡이를 감염시키는 바이러스로 자낭균류, 담자균류 및 난균류에서 주로 발견되며 일부 의 경우 곰팡이의 표현형에 영향을 끼치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이번 연구에서는 대한민국 토양 샘플에서 분리된 65개의 자낭균류 및 접합균류 균주의 전체 핵산을 추출하고, 전기영동을 통해 바이러스 특이적 밴드를 스크리닝 하였다. 스크리닝 결과 65개의 균주 중에서 Tolypocladium spp. 균주 2개와 Marquandomyces marquandii 균주 1개에서 바이러스 특이적 밴드를 발견하였다. 그 후, Cellulose Chromatography를 이용하여 double-stranded RNA 를 분리하고 DNase I 및 S1 Nuclease 처리를 통해 DNA와 single-stranded RNA를 제거하여, Tolypocladium sp. 균주 1개와 Marquandomyces marquandii 균주에서 발견한 특이적 밴드가 dsRNA임을 확인하였다. 추후 virus-free isogenic line을 확보하여 virus 유무에 따른 표현형 변화를 확인하고, 마이코바이러스와 곰팡이 간의 상호작용에 관해 연구할 계획이다.

Aphids are well-known insect pests that, due to their feeding habits, affect various crops' productivity and marketability. Additionally, they cause significant damage worldwide as vectors of viruses. Chemical pesticides are widely used to control these agricultural pests. However, due to resistance to various chemical pesticides, pest control is becoming difficult in agricultural environments. Entomopathogenic fungi such as the genus Metarhizium and Beauveria are being extensively researched as alternatives to these chemical pesticides. In this study, the mycological properties of isolated from soil Metarhizium pemphigi IPBL-H and the insecticidal activity of this strain against Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii were evaluated for potential of development as a biopesticide.

기후 변화의 가속화로 국내 제주 및 남부 지방을 중심으로 열대 및 아열대 작물의 재배 및 소비가 증가하는 추세이다.오크라는 식용적 가치가 있을 뿐만 아니라, 품종별 고유의 꼬 투리와 잎의 색은 관상적 가치가 있어 조경 식물로 많이 사용 되고 있다. 본 연구는 도심 내 옥상 온실에 관상식물인 오크 라를 도입하기 위해 피트모스와 펄라이트 비율에 따른 기초 종자 발아 및 육묘기 실험을 진행하였다. 피트모스와 펄라이 트 비율은 PT:PL=1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 네 가지로 조성하였다. 발 아율은 파종 후 7일차부터 다른 처리구에 비해 피트모스:펄라 이트=1:2의 처리구에서 가장 높았다. 파종 후 28일차와 70일 차에 줄기길이, 경경, 뿌리길이, 지상부와 지하부의 생체중과 건물중 그리고 엽면적은 피트모스:펄라이트=1:2 처리구에서 가장 높았다. 그러나, 파종 후 56일 이후부터 엽수는 피트모 스:펄라이트=1:2, 2:1, 4:1 처리구에서 감소하였다. 피트모스: 펄라이트=1:1, 2:1, 4:1 처리구에서 식물이 필요로 하는 피트 모스의 비율이 지나치게 높아 높은 피트모스 비율로 인하여 수분함수량이 과도하게 높아 식물이 고사한 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 오크라를 관상식물로 활용하기 위해서는 피트모스와 펄라이트를 1:2로 혼합한 배지가 가장 적합하다.

PURPOSES : Almost every design method for airport concrete pavements considers only traffic loading and not environmental loading. This study proposes a mechanistic design method for airport concrete pavements, that considers both environmental and traffic loading simultaneously. METHODS: First, the environmental loading of concrete pavements in Korean airports was quantified. FEAFAA, a finite element analysis program for airport pavements, was used to calculate the maximum tensile stress (MTS) of the slab, caused by both environmental and traffic loadings. The factors that influence the MTS were identified via sensitivity analysis, and an MTS prediction model was developed using the statistical analysis program SPSS. The ratio of MTS to the tensile strength of slab was calculated using the prediction model. The fatigue model under the AC 150/5320-6E and AC 150/5320-6F standards of the FAA was corrected to make it suitable for the predicted stress-strength ratio. RESULTS : The MTS prediction model and corrected fatigue model were used to redesign the slab thickness and joint spacing of airport concrete pavements originally designed using the AC 150/5320-6D standard, which empirically considers traffic loading only. As a result, different slab thicknesses and joint spacings were redesigned with consideration for environmental loading, specifically the weather conditions of airports. . CONCLUSIONS: The slab thickness and joint spacing can be mechanistically designed at the same time, whereas previously, only the slab thickness was designed, and the joint spacing was determined empirically.

We investigated pollination and foraging activities of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and bumblebee (Bombus terrestris L.) during flowering season of the asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia N.) under different weather conditions. There was no significant statistical difference about the pollination activities of two species. However, the pollination activities of bumblebee were more active than those of honeybee under low temperature and rainfall period. The activities of honeybee and bumblebee were more influenced by temperature than other factors (i.e. illumination and wind velocity). Honeybee was more sensitive to temperature and illumination than bumblebee. At low temperatures (<20℃) on cloudy days (<30,000 lux) with a certain wind velocity (>4.0 m/s), the pollination activity of the honeybee was lower twice than that of bumblebee.

Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insects. Recently, apolipophorin-III in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of the apoLp-III in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-III in fall webworm larvae, we reduced endogenous Hc apoLp-III mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-III reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-III, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in Hyphantria cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-III RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-III is related to the action/expression of antioxidants, especially MnSOD.

A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (HcSTAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and transcribed in hemocyte, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malpighian tubule. Especially, hemocyte and Malpighian tubule showed transcriptional activation of HcSTAT upon Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge. Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of HcSTAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vivo treatment with sodium orthovanadatetranslocates HcSTAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is toxic to living organisms, because its high reactivity causes oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme facilitating the removal of superoxide anions from living organisms. This study focused on the cloning of MnSOD cDNA from Hyphantria cunea and its induction upon bacterial infection and various stresses. The open reading frame of MnSOD is composed of 645 bp, encoding 215 amino acid residues. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of putative MnSOD was evaluated to be 24276 Da and 9.14, respectively. The MnSOD from H. cunea is highly similar to human MnSOD (59.5%) as well as Bombyx mori MnSOD (76.2%). MnSOD showed no big induction upon bacterial infection and stresses, compared to that of Cu/ZnSOD.

Apolipophorin-Ⅲ (apoLp-Ⅲ) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insect. Recently, apolipophorin-Ⅲ in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of apoLp-Ⅲ in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-Ⅲ in fall webworm larvae, we reduction of endogenous Hc apoLp-Ⅲ mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-Ⅲ reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in H. cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-Ⅲ is related to the action/expression of antioxidants.

Innate immunity responses are triggered by the immune challenge and therefore involve signaling processes. The cellular response is initiated by hemocytes and mainly involves phagocytosis and encapsulation of intruders by these cells. To address whether Hc-STAT is activated upon bacterial challenge, we examined the subcellular location of STAT protein in hemocyte by immunostaining. A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (Hc-STAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and the protein is present in hemocytes, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malphigian tuble (Mt). Especially, hemocytes and Mt showed transcriptional activation of Hc-STAT upon Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge. Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of Hc-STAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vitro treatment with pervanadate translocates Hc-STAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells. Here we report the first evidence for the involvement hemocyte JAK/STAT pathway upon microbial infection in lepidopteran insect.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is toxic to living organisms, because its high reactivity causes oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme facilitating the removal of superoxide anions from living organisms. This study focused on the cloning of MnSOD cDNA from Hyphantria cuneaand its induction upon bacterial infection and various stresses. The open reading frame of MnSOD is composed of 645 bp, encoding 215 amino acid residues. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of putative MnSOD was evaluated to be 24276 Da and 9.14, respectively. The MnSOD from H. cunea is highly similar to human MnSOD (59.5%) as well as Bombyx mori MnSOD (76.2%). MnSOD showed no big induction upon bacterial infection and stresses, compared to that of Cu/ZnSOD.

Innate immunity responses are triggered by the immune challenge and therefore involve signaling processes. The cellular response is initiated by hemocytes and mainly involves phagocytosis and encapsulation of intruders by these cells. To address whether Hc-STAT is activated upon bacterial challenge, we examined the subcellular location of STAT protein in hemocyte by immunostaining. A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (Hc-STAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and the protein is present in hemocytes, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malphigian tuble (Mt). Especially, hemocytes and Mt showed transcriptional activation of Hc-STAT upon Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge. Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of Hc-STAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vitro treatment with pervanadate translocates Hc-STAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells. Here we report the first evidence for the involvement hemocyte JAK/STAT pathway upon microbial infection in lepidopteran insect.

Slow seedling growth rate and nodulation failure of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) has been limited its good establishment to pastures. The experiment was done to determine the effect of removal of cotyledon and unifoliolate on the shoot, root growth,

Rye has important genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Introduction of these genes to wheat by breeding wheat-rye translocation have been intensively used in wheat breeding program. Rye chromatin 1RS and/or 2RL show superior performance in unfavorable environments. In order to develop high yielding wheat, we applied various molecular breeding strategies. To develop EST-derived 1RS specific markers, we used comparative genomics with public sequence databases of Poaceae family. Putative rye chromatin specific sequences were used to design 1RS specific markers. To identify genes related to water deficiency, cDNA AFLP analysis was used in PEG treated seedlings of 1RS RILs. For functional analysis of identified genes and markers, we used Brachypodium distachyon, as a new model plant of temperate grasses. B. distachyon were recently applied for transformation and we constructed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Integration of those strategies and conventional breeding method would enhance the usefulness of rye chromatins for wheat improvement.