We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the antimicrobial resistant Enterococcus isolates from the four major rivers of Korea in 2012. A total 316 surface water samples were collected from three distinct sites (nearby livestock farms, tributaries, and major rivers) at two different seasons (dry season: n = 76, wet season: n = 240). A total 654 bacterial cells were isolated from samples and their genus distribution were determined. We found that Gram-negative bacteria including various genera were prevalent (n = 522, 79.8%), and Enterococcus was the most common genus of Gram-positive bacteria (n = 119, 18.2%). The isolation rate of Gram-negative bacteria was higher in wet season, whereas that of Enterococcus isolates was higher in dry season. The prevalence of Enterococcus isolates was also higher nearby livestock farms than on tributaries and main rivers. Since Enterococcus isolate is a key indicator for animal fecal contamination, the following experiments focused on this microorganism. As compared to a previous report in 2006, the resistance rates in E. faecium to erythromycin (40.0% to 69.9%) and chloramphenicol (0% to 16.4%) were increased, whereas those to penicillin (56.0% to 4.1%) and teicoplanin (36.0% to 0%) were decreased. We also found that antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) E. faecium isolates from rivers and livestock samples shared similar pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles, validating the transmission of AMR Enterococcus isolates from livestock to river. Taken together, this study provides us with detailed information about bacterial contamination status in four major rivers, and highlights the changes in AMR pattern of Enterococcus isolates, which are expected to have originated from livestock.

Google Trends is a useful tool not only for setting search periods, but also for providing search volume to specific countries, regions, and cities. Extant research showed that the big data from Google Trends could be used for an on-line market analysis of opinion sensitive products instead of an on-site survey. This study investigated the market share of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor, which is in a great demand pharmaceutical product, based on big data analysis provided by Google Trends. In this case study, the consumer interest data from Google Trends were compared to the actual product sales of Top 3 TNF-α inhibitors (Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira). A correlation analysis and relative gap were analyzed by statistical analysis between sales-based market share and interest-based market share. Besides, in the country-specific analysis, three major countries (USA, Germany, and France) were selected for market share analysis for Top 3 TNF-α inhibitors. As a result, significant correlation and similarity were identified by data analysis. In the case of Remicade’s biosimilars, the consumer interest in two biosimilar products (Inflectra and Renflexis) increased after the FDA approval. The analytical data showed that Google Trends is a powerful tool for market share estimation for biosimilars. This study is the first investigation in market share analysis for pharmaceutical products using Google Trends big data, and it shows that global and regional market share analysis and estimation are applicable for the interest-sensitive products.

본 연구지점은 전라북도 완주군 운주면 고당리에 위치한 왕사봉(300m)의 신갈나무-굴참나무군락으로 주변에 계류가 흐르고 있으며, 소규모 산지와 저수지가 다수 위치해 있다. 또한 인근에 운주계곡 캠핑장이 위치해 있어 인위적 간섭이 잦은 지역이다. 그러므로 산림생태계에서 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있는 곤충 중 하나인 딱정벌레목에 대하여 군집분석을 실시하였다. 조사 방법으로는 직접찾기, 버킷트랩, 함정트랩 을 이용하였으며, 2015년 6월에서 10월까지 매달 1회 채집을 실시하였다. 그 결과 총 24과 70속 88종 417개체의 딱정벌레목을 확인할 수 있었으며, 이 중 붉은칠납작먼지벌레의 우점도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 군집분석 결과 비교 대상들 간의 우점 정도를 나타내는 지표인 우점도 지수(DI)는 0.434, 군집의 복잡성을 나타내는 다양도 지수(H’)는 3.105으로 확인되었다. 또한 군집 내 종조성의 균일한 정도를 나타내는 종균등도 지수(EI)가 0.693이며 단위 지역에 존재하는 종의 수를 뜻하는 종풍부도 지수(RI)가 14.42로 확인되었다.

Turmeric is known for its ability to enhance immunity via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Salmonella enterica species contain a large number of pathogenic serotypes that are adapted to a broad range of vertebrate hosts. Our previous study revealed that bioprocessed polysaccharides from the liquid culture Lentinus edodes fungal mycelia containing turmeric (BPP-turmeric) is able to alter chicken macrophage responses and increases chick survival against Salmonella enterica infection. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory effects of BPP-turmeric on the porcine macrophage 3D4/31 cell line infected with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) or S. Enteritidis. Our experimental analyses demonstrated that BPP-turmeric (i) does not alter phagocytic and killing activity of 3D4/31 against either Salmonella serotypes, but that it (ii) represses mRNA transcription of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α in response to Salmonella infection. Collectively, these results imply that BPP-turmeric has an immunomodulatory effect that represses pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in porcine macrophages, suggesting that it may protect swine from salmonellosis via controlling Salmonella-induced hyperinflammation.

We carried out DNA barcoding of five Korean Lymantria species to establish identification references library for quarantine inspection. Total of 118 samples including 34 samples obtained through quarantine inspection, two from USDA, and one collected from Philiphine were used for this study. And 30 sequences of 10 species from GenBank of NCBI were used as reference sequences. In a result of DNA barcoding of the Korean Lymantria species, sequence divergence of 148 DNA barcodes ranged from null to 17.0%, intraspecific divergence from null to 1.0%, and interspecific divergence from 5.1 to 17.0%. In NJ tree, L. dispar contained three clusters, which were identified as L. dispar asiatica, L. albescens, and L. xylina, respectively. L. xylina was collected through quarantine inspection on a foreign merchant ship in Yeosu port, and L. albescens was obtained by pheromone trap on L. dispar installed in Busan port. And L. monacha known as single species in Korea was revealed as species complex with three species, L. monacha, L. minomonis, and L. sugii. In subspecies level, L. dispar dispar (EGM) built single cluster, but L. d. asiatica (AGM) and L. d. japonica showed as multiple cluster. Therefore, DNA barcoding lead to rapid and accurate identification in species level, but in subspecies level, only a taxon showing geographically far distance was discriminated from the others. And the results could provide a taxonomic outline of the Korean Lymantria fauna and might be used as identification reference for Lymantria species in quarantine inspection.

Improving grain yield and quality of japonica rice continues to be a major breeding objective in Korea. In this study we evaluated genetic divergence among four japonica rice cultivars and assessed the relationship between genetic distance and hybrid perf