곤충호텔은 곤충이 서식할 수 있도록 인위적으로 만든 구조 물로서 정원이나 텃밭 등 다양한 곳에서 활용되고 있다. 하지만 식생유형, 재료, 설치 방식 등에 따른 곤충 유입 효과에 대한 검증은 부족하며, 국가 또는 지역에 따른 곤충의 종류와 생육환 경이 다름에도 불구하고 곤충호텔에 대한 국내 연구는 전무한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국립수목원을 대상으로 구체적 인 식생유형 및 재료에 따른 유입 곤충 특성을 확인하고, 국내 실정에 맞는 효과적인 곤충호텔 설치 및 관리방안에 대한 기준 을 제시하고자 하였다. 조사구는 세 가지 식생유형(초지, 침엽수 림, 활엽수림)으로 구분하였으며, 각 식생의 조사구에 두 가지 재료(참나무, 잣나무)를 활용한 곤충호텔을 설치하였다. 조사는 2년동안(2022~2023) 진행되었으며, 매년 4~9월까지 주 1회 씩(총 48회) 곤충호텔의 유입 곤충을 직접 채집하였다. 곤충호 텔에서 채집된 곤충은 총 9목 46과 129종 3,057개체로, 2022 년에는 7목 34과 85종 1,750개체, 2023년에는 8목 35과 77종 1,307개체가 출현하였다. 연도별로 비교하면 1차년도에 유입 된 곤충의 개체수가 2차년도 보다 약 1.3배 많았고, 재료의 부식 에 따른 곤충의 구성도 달라졌다. 식생유형에 따라 구분하면 기간에 상관없이 활엽수림에서 유입 곤충이 가장 많았고, 침엽 수림에서 가장 적었다. 또한 재료에 따른 구분에서는 참나무가 잣나무보다 유입 곤충이 많았다. 참나무의 경우 유입 곤충의 연도별 차이가 적은 반면, 잣나무는 1년차에 비해 2년차에 약 2.3배 줄었다. 상관분석과 계층적 군집분석을 통한 곤충의 유입 특성은 식생유형보다는 재료의 영향이 큰 것으로 확인되었고, 식생유형만 비교했을 경우 초지에 비해 활엽수림과 침엽수림의 유사성이 높았다. 결론적으로 생물 다양성 증진을 목적으로 곤 충호텔을 설치하고자 한다면 초지나 활엽수림에 참나무 재료를 사용하는 것이 유리하며, 잣나무 재료를 이용한다면 1년 주기로 재료 교체가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 하지만 특정 재료를 선호 하는 곤충의 기주특이성이 확인되었기 때문에 다양한 종류의 재료를 같이 사용하는 것도 하나의 방법이라고 사료된다. 향후 이를 기반으로 전시원에서 실질적으로 활용할 수 있는 곤충호텔 모델 개발로 확대해 나갈 예정이다.

이 연구의 목적은 척추 자기공명영상 검사 시 기존의 포화 펄스와 함께 호흡 유도하(respiratory triggering, RTr) 기법을 적용하는 것이 영상화질 개선에 있어 효과적인지를 평가해 보기 위함이다. 이에 본 연구는 2024년 2월부터 2024년 10월까지 척추 MRI 검사를 받은 환자를 대상으로 분석하였다. 사용된 장비는 GE 사의 3.0T SIGNA Premier을 사용하였고, 축상 T2강조영상에서 동일한 부위를 RTr 기법을 적용하지 않은 영상과 RTr 기법을 적용한 영상 두 개를 획득해 평가하였다. 정성평가는 2명의 평가자의 평가점수를 Wilcoxon test로 비교하였다. 정성평가 결과, 경추와 요추에서는 RTr 기법 적용 시 영상화질 개선에 있어서 유의미한 차이를 보이지는 않았지만 흉추에서는 RTr 기법 적용 시 영상화질 개선에 있어서 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 결론적으로 경추와 요추보다는 포화펄스 사용에 있어 제한이 있고 호흡에 영향을 많이 받는 흉추 MRI 검사 시 RTr 기법을 적용하는 것이 더 효과적이다. 다만 RTr 기법 적용 시 검사 시간이 늘어나는 단점이 있어서 환자의 상태에 맞춰 검사하는 것이 요구되는 바이다.

A crustose red alga, Lithophyllum neo-okamurae A.Kato, D.Basso, Caragnano, Rodondi, V.Peña & M.Baba, is reported a new record from Korea and its biogeographic distributions are extended in Korea. Lithophyllum neo-okamurae has been known as endemic species in Japan. Despite the resemblance between L. neookamurae and L. okamurae, our molecular and morphological analyses have revealed the simultaneous presence of both species in Korea. Although L. neo-okamurae and L. okamurae share morphological similarities, there are notable variations in gene sequences, with a range of 9.1-11.3% in psbA and 14.8-15.3% in rbcL. Specifically, while L. neo-okamurae is distributed throughout the entire coastline of Korea, L. okamurae is predominantly found in southern region. Furthermore, our analyses have revealed their detailed distributions in Korea.

The alternative food market has attracted much attention due to concerns about climate change, increasing consumer awareness of value consumption, and the development of the Food-Tech industry. This study aimed to analyze the factors that drive consumers to purchase alternative food products and identify the mechanisms that can induce consumers to continue buying. We surveyed 1,200 consumers and estimated data using a logit model. The results showed that the presence of vegetarians in the household, environmental concerns, a vegetable-oriented diet, and a mixed diet of meat and vegetables were positively associated with purchasing plant-based alternatives. Of particular interest was the non-linear relationship between respondents’ age and their purchasing experience with plant-based options, with the likelihood of purchasing alternatives increasing with age from the mid-50s onward. These findings suggest that in addition to the growing number of consumers who share the environmental value, which leads to increased interest in and purchase of plant-based alternatives, alternative foods are also health-oriented and meet the needs of older consumers, who are becoming an increasingly important segment of the super-aged society, suggesting the potential for continued growth in the alternative food market.

거저리는 식품으로 사용되기 때문에 유충기가 오래 지속되면 더 좋다. 반면에 거저리의 개체수 유지를 위 해 성장을 가속화하기 위해서는 유충이 빨리 성충이 되면 더 좋다. 이 연구에서는 개체군 밀도가 거저리의 발달 시 간에 미치는 영향을 구명하였다. 이를 위해 상단 7 cm, 하단 5 cm, 높이 3 cm 크기의 용기를 사용했다. 거저리는 용기 당 1, 2, 5, 10, 20마리의 밀도로 용기에서 서식하였다. 용기에 밀기울 1 g을 넣고 거저리의 먹이 여부에 따라 라벨을 붙였다. 실험은 세 번 반복되었다. 모든 실험에서 개체군 밀도가 높을수록 유충에서 번데기로의 변환 시간이 짧았 지만 번데기에서 성충으로 변환되는 시간은 크게 다르지 않았다. 또한 먹이가 있는 그룹에서 번데기로의 변환 시간 이 단축되었지만, 성충으로 변환되는 시간에는 차이가 없었다. 이 연구 결과는 유충기를 연장하기 위해 더 낮은 밀 도가 필요하고 더 빠른 속도로 성충이 필요하다면 밀도가 더 높아야 한다는 것을 보여주었다. 결론적으로 거저리의 발달 시간은 개체수 밀도에 의해 제어할 수 있을 것이다.

Pseudolithoderma subextensum is a crustose brown algal species in the family Lithodermataceae and order Sphacelariales. This species is distributed in several regions across the world including, Europe, Western Atlantic, Middle East and Asia (Hong Kong and Japan). Recent floristic surveys along the Korean coastal shores have revealed new records of encrusting brown algae. In this study, we report P. subextensum as a new record from Korea. Morpho-anatomical and molecular studies on Ralfsia-like specimens from Korea identified some of them as P. subextensum. Pseudolithoderma subextensum is characterized by dark chestnut brown crust with a hypothallial basal layer and erect perithallial filaments, tufts of hairs occasionally arising from the basal layer, several discoid shaped chloroplasts per cell, plurangia arising terminally on erect filaments and without sterile cells, and unangia arising terminally on erect filaments, elongated cylindrical and without paraphyses. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI-5P (545bp) reveal that P. subextensum are nested within Lithodermataceae and forms the same clade with P. roscoffense. The genetic divergences for COI-5P between them is 24.5%.

This study aimed to develop the in vitro method using domestic commercial diets to estimate nutrient digestibility in dogs. The existing in vitro method were tested and compared with literature data to develop new in vitro method. The development of in vitro method progressed as follows: modification of pepsin solution to an activated form and supplementation with 1% lipase. All the in vitro method progressed to 4 hours of stomach simulation and 2 hours of small intestine simulation. In vivo digestibility was measured using the same diets as beagle dogs. The supplementation of lipase methods showed significantly improved (p < 0.05) DM, OM, and EE than the existing and modified pepsin solution methods. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo data in DM, OM, and EE digestibility was high (r2 = 0.889, 0.907, and 0.721, respectively), and the correlation between in vitro and in vivo data in CP and GE digestibility was medium (r2 = 0.681 and 0.536, respectively). The current in vitro method is similar to in vivo digestibility and helps potentially predict digestibility for dogs. In conclusion, this developed in vitro method suggests that it can help estimate the nutrient digestibility of dogs' diets without in vivo experiments.

Recently, it is demonstrate that the invertebrates have a immune memory, called Immune priming (IP). It was partially studied that the IP is mainly regulated by epigenetic modification. Here, to understand the IP on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production, we investigated larval mortality and time-dependent expression patterns of AMP genes in T. molitor larvae challenged with E. coli (two-times injection with a one-month interval). Interestingly, the results indicate that the higher and faster expression levels of most AMP genes were detected compared to the non-primed T. molitor larvae. Our results may used to improve the understanding of mechanisms of invertebrate immune memory.

Pellino, a highly conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase, is known to mediate ubiquitination of phosphorylated Interleukin-1 receptor-related kinase (IRAK) homologs in Toll signaling pathway. To understand the immunological function of TmPellino, we screened the knockdown efficiency of TmPellino by injecting TmPellino-specific dsRNA into T. molitor larvae. Subsequently, we investigated the larval mortality and the tissue-specific expression patterns of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes against microbial challenges. Interestingly, the results indicate that the expression of many AMP genes was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules of TmPellino-silenced T. molitor larvae. This study may provide basic information to understand how Tmpellino regulates AMPs production in T. molitor.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) is known to regulate antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production in mammals. Here, to understand the immunological function of TmTRAF against microbial challenge, the induction patterns of TmTRAF against microbial infection was investigated by qRT-PCR in the whole-body and tissue of young larvae. In addition, the effects of TmTRAF RNAi on larval mortality and expression of 15 AMP genes in response to microbial infection were investigated. Our studies may help to understand the basic role of AMP production.

Tube, an intracellular protein of the Toll-pathway, forms a complex with Pelle and MyD88, and regulates a signal transduction to activate NF-κB in Drosophila. To understand the antimicrobial function of TmTube, the induction patterns of TmTube were investigated at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h-post injection of pathogens into 10th to 12th instar larvae. In addition, we investigated the effects of TmTube RNAi on larval mortality and tissue specific AMP expression in response to microbial challenge. Our results will provide a basic information to elucidate the immunological function of TmTube

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.

Pelle, a serine/threonine kinase, is an intracellular component of the Toll pathway and is involved in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production due to pathogenic infection. It is known that the Pelle phosphorylates Cactus and activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in Drosophila, but it is not studied in Tenebrio molitor. In this study we investigated the tissue-specific expression patterns of the Pelle following pathogenic infection at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Additionally, larval mortality and AMP expression against microbial injection were investigated in dsPelle-treated T. molitor larvae. Our results may help to understand the antimicrobial function of TmPelle.

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.

The moth species and bugs are highly polyphagous that feed on a wide range of field and vegetables crops, including soybean in Korea. The monitoring study was conducted in soybean fields in Southern area Miryang from 2021-2023. Commercial funnel and rocket traps housing species-specific baiting with pheromone were used for monitoring of moth species (Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera litura, Agrotis ipsilon, Helicoverpa armigera, Ostrinia furncalis, Spodoptera exigua, and Mythimna separata) and bean bugs (Riptortus pedestris), respectively. The higher number of Spodoptera species (S. litura and S. exigua) were captured in August to September with several seasonal population peaks. The higher number of R. pedestris was captured in July to September. Climatic components were found as critical and influential factors in the population dynamics of moth species and bean bug. The population information of this study can be used to understand the spring emergence along with number of generations, and integrated into management programs of moths and bugs.