This study evaluated the immunogenicity of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in a guinea pig model to refine preclinical assessment methods. 24 guinea pigs were divided into four groups for immunohistochemical, histopathological, and molecular analyses, including qRT-PCR and ELISA. The ELISA results revealed significant elevations in interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN- ), and tuberculosis-specific antibodies in vaccinated guinea pigs, particularly γ notable after 6 weeks. Although lung cytokine levels remained unchanged, spleen gene expression showed significant differences in interleukin-17, interleukin-12, interleukin-1β, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 after 6 weeks. Immunohistochemistry revealed peak IL-2 expression at 8 weeks and significant IFN-γ and TNF-α expression at 6 weeks. This study confirmed the effectiveness of BCG vaccine in guinea pigs, providing crucial insights for future tuberculosis vaccine development and standardizing immune response indicators.

Subunit vaccines are being developed as a potential therapy for preventing microbial pathogen infection. In this study, the immunogenicity of recombinant Brucella (B.) abortus Fe/Mn superoxide dismutase (rFe/Mn SOD) protein as a subunit vaccine against B. abortus was investigated in BALB/c mice model. Brucella Fe/Mn SOD gene was cloned into a pcold-TF DNA vector. The bacterial recombinant protein was expressed using the Escherichia coli DH5α strain with a size of 82.50 kDa. The western blotting assay showed that rFe/Mn SOD reacted with Brucella-positive serum, indicating the potential immunoreactivity of this recombinant protein. After the second and third vaccinations, the peripheral CD4+ T cell population was increased significantly in the rFe/Mn SOD-immunized mice group compared to the PBS control group. Moreover, immunization of this recombinant protein increased the CD4+ T cell population from the first vaccination to the third vaccination. Meanwhile, the CD8+ T cells were slightly enhanced after the second vaccination compared to the first vaccination and compared to control groups. Fourteen days after the bacterial infection, the splenomegaly and the number of bacteria in the spleen were evaluated. The result showed that both rFe/Mn SOD and positive control RB51 decreased the bacterial replication in the spleen and the splenomegaly compared to control groups. Altogether, these results suggested that rFe/Mn SOD could induce host immunity against B. abortus infection.

This study aims to investigate the effects of exogenous succinic acid (SCA) on Brucella (B.) abortus infection in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and ICR mice. Firstly, the in vitro experiment was conducted by MTT cytotoxicity and bacterial internalization assay to evaluate the uptake of B. abortus into macrophage cells. Two non-cytotoxic concentrations of SCA demonstrated attenuated invasion of Brucella into macrophages at 30 and 45 min post- infection (pi). Secondly, ICR mice were treated with SCA and infected with B. abortus. On day-14 pi, spleen and blood serum were collected to evaluate the bacterial burden and total spleen weight as well as the production of cytokine/chemokine, respectively. The results showed that SCA treatment promoted bacterial growth and reduced the total spleen weight in mice. Furthermore, SCA treatment increased the level of IL-10 cytokine in the sera, while dampening the production of MCP-1 chemokine compared to the control. The results of bacterial load in spleen and spleen weight together with cytokine/chemokine production profile in the sera indicated that SCA induced the host anti-inflammatory response which is beneficial for the survival of Brucella. Therefore, these findings suggest that SCA contributed to host immunity against Brucella infection and the emerging potential topic-immunometabolism should be invested for further investigations.

This study investigated the efficacy of four Brucella (B.) abortus recombinant proteins, namely adenylate kinase (Adk), nucleoside diphosphate kinase (Ndk), 50S ribosomal protein (L7/L12) and preprotein translocase subunit (SecB), as a combined subunit vaccine (CSV) against B. abortus infection in BALB/c mice. Immunoblotting assay showed that these four recombinant proteins as well as pcold-TF vector reacted individually with Brucella-positive serum, but not with Brucella-negative serum. The peripheral blood CD4+ T cell population was increased in CSV-immunized mice compared to PBS and pcold-TF vector groups. In addition, CSV and pcold-TF groups displayed induced IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies production compared to PBS and RB51 group, whereas IgG2a titer was higher than IgG1 titer in CSV group. The secretion profiles of IgG1 and IgG2a production together with an enhancement of CD4+ T cell population suggested that CSV did not only induce T helper 1 (Th1) T cell immunity but also humoral immunity. Therein, Th1 T cell immunity is more predominant in eliminating intracellular bacteria B. abortus. Furthermore, CSV immunization significantly reduced the bacterial burden in the spleen as well as the spleen weight in comparison to PBS and pcold-TF groups. Altogether, combination of these antigens could be potential to induce protective immunity against B. abortus infection in animals.

Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) has a pivotal role in the colonization and enterotoxicity of F18+Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which causes porcine edema disease (ED). In this study, a Stx2eA mutant, which has a Glu167Gln mutation in Stx2eA that inactivates N-glycosidase activity, was genetically engineered to evaluate its potential immunogenicity and protective efficacy. A significant increase in serum IgG1 (a Th2 indicator) was shown in mice immunized with the mutated Stx2eA. However, only 56% of the mice immunized with the toxoid (5 μg) survived following a challenge with a lethal dose 50 (LD50) of a virulent F18+STEC strain (JOL654), while mice immunized with Salmonella ghosts delivering selected antigens of F18+STEC showed an 86% survival rate. The results suggest that sole use of the mutated Stx2eA toxoid may not be an effective preventive strategy for the control of porcine ED.

The effects of some essential oils and Sopophora extract on Frankliniella occidentalis adults, Myzus persicae adults, Plutella xylostella larvae, and Spodoptera exigua larvae were investigated. Insecticidal and phytotoxicity activities of emulsion in water formulations containing the active essential oils as active ingredients under laboratory and pot conditions were also tested. Based on these results, NRS-13 and NRS-24 formulations were selected to further assess as follows; the GC and GC-MS analysis on the active essential oils, the quantity analysis of the major components contained in the formulations, their insecticidal activities under pot and field conditions, and their oral, dermal, skin and eye irritation, and fish toxicities. Thus, the NRS-13 (BaechooSaferTM) and NRS-24 (JindiOutTM) formulations could be considered as insecticides for pest control.

The occurrence pattern of lepidopteran adults in a paddy-upland rotation field and an organic upland field for 8 maize and 7 sorghum varieties was surveyed from May 8 to September 27, 2016. In addition, their damage ratio and the invasive pores by Ostrinia furnacalis larvae as well as harvest yields were monitored. The density of the lepidopteran adults in two fields showed similar pattern, although a little different pattern in Heliothis assulta. The damage ratio of maize and sorghum varieties by O. furnacalis at harvest periods was depended on both varieties and cultivated environments. A middle negative linear correlation was observed in damage ratios vs yields, the number of invasive pores vs yields, and the number of larvae in corn ears vs yields, but there was not a specific correlation between the damage ratio vs the number of invasive pores. These results may be useful for the establishment of a management strategy to control oriental corn borer in paddy-upland rotation or organic upland fields for maize and sorghum.

Occurrence characterization of oriental corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, in a paddy-upland rotation field for 8 maize and 7 sorghum varieties was surveyed. In a monitoring study using a pheromone trap carried out from 15 May to 10 September, the density of O. furncalis adults increased rapidly from about 2 weeks after corn planting and reached the highest density at mid June. After that, their density was decreased and increased a little at earlier September. In a survey carried out at harvest period using 8 corn varieties, the damage ratio was Daehakchal (94%), Mibaek 2 (92%), Ilmichal (71%), Eolrukchal 1 (64%), Chalok 4 (54%), Miheukchal (52%), Heugjeom 2 (45%). The number of invasive pore per Ilmichal stem by O. furnacalis larvae was 1.4 and those of the others was less than 1.0. In another survey carried out at harvest period using 7 sorghum varieties, their damage ratios were DS-202 (95%), Moktaksusu (76%), Sodamchal (75%), Nampungchal (67%), Anzunbaengisusu (57%), Donganme (46%), and Hwanggeumchal (34%). The damage of sorghum varieties was much higher and severer than that of corn by O. furnacalis larvae. These results may be useful for the establishment of a management strategy to control oriental corn borer in paddy-upland rotation fields for maize and sorghum.

We previously developed a novel attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium (S.Typhimurium) △lon△cpxR vaccine. This study was conducted in order to examine whether this vaccine could effectively protect growing piglets against Salmonella infection. Pregnant sows in group A were primed and boosted with the vaccine, whereas pregnant sows in group B received sterile PBS-sucrose. After farrowing, newborn piglets in groups A and B were challenged with a wild type virulent S. Typhimurium at three weeks of age. During the study, serum IgG titers of piglets in group A were significantly higher than those of piglets in group B (P<0.001). In addition, clinical signs were observed in 5.9% of piglets in group A during the entire experimental period after the challenge, while diarrhea was observed in 81.6% of piglets in group B. These results indicate that vaccination of the pregnant sows resulted in effective protection in piglets against Salmonella infection.

This study was carried out to evaluate the physical characteristics of total mixed rations (TMR) prepared in Korea for improving productive effectiveness of dairy and beef cattle. The 40 samples of commercial TMR for dairy and beef cattle in 6 municipals were collected and analyzed for chemical composition and physical properties. There were significant regional differences (p<0.05) in dry matter and crude protein contents of TMR for dairy and beef cattle. In roughage value index (RVI), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, and physically effective NDF (peNDF)1.18 content, there were no regional differences in TMR for dairy cattle, but there were significant regional differences (p<0.05) in TMR for beef cattle. Thus the results from this study support that because RVI, NDF content, and peNDF content in TMR for dairy and beef cattle exceeded recommended ranges, a little adjustment in TMR for dairy cattle will be necessary to obtain optimal productivity.

본 연구는 반추동물의 조사료 자원으로서 거대억새를 개발하기 위한 목적으로 수행되었다. 우리나라에서 새롭게 개발된 품종인 거대억새 1호를 완숙기 이후에 채취하여 in vitro 반추위 발효를 이용해반추위내 pH, 암모니아태 질소, 가스발생량, 휘발성 지방산 생성량 및 건물소화율을 조사하였으며,볏짚과 비교하여 평가하였다. 거대억새는 볏짚에 비하여 유의적으로 높은 반추위내 pH를 나타내었다(p<0.01). 암모니아태 질소의 경우 배양 12시간 이후에는 두 처리구간의 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다 (p>0.05). 배양 6시간 이후 부터는 거대억새의 가스발생량이 볏짚에 비하여 유의적으로 낮게 나타났다 (p<0.05). 휘발성 지방산 생성량에 있어 acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate 및 총생상량에서 볏짚이 거대억새보다 높게 나타났다. 그러나 iso-butyrate와 iso-valerate에서는 두 조사료원별 차이는 발견되지 않았다. 건물소화율에 있어 배양 12~24시간 사이의 거대억새 소화율이 볏짚에 비하여 유의적으로 나타났다. 결론적으로 거대억새의 이용성은 볏짚의 약 80% 수준인 것으로 나타났다.

In DNA barcoding, the DNA degradation of old museum specimens has been limited full-length (658bp) sequencing. The challenges associated with the retrieval and authentication of degraded DNA extracts from fossil and old museum specimens were principally limited to analyze the relatively short sequences (<300 bp). Furthermore, almost protocols in other to analyzed the degraded DNA contained the cloning process after PCR causing the time-consuming and the rising costs. To overcome these problematic circumstances, we tried a modified method to analyze full-length of DNA barcoding region in 30~60 year-old butterfly specimens (225 samples in 28 species), using direct sequencing after PCR with species-specific overlapping primer sets per each species. As a result, all of 28 species have been successfully analyzed, although 178 samples (79%) are completely generated barcoding sequences ranged from 640 to 658 bp and 47 samples (21%) are partially sequenced ranged from 100 to 500 bp. Thus, the result showed that the direct PCR sequencing using the overlapping primer sets per species appears to have great potential efficiency for analysis of degraded DNA without incorrect sequences.

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics and changes in isoflavone content of Cheonggukjang with added Chaga mushroom by secondary fermentation at 40 for 48 h with or without a starter, Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3925. Cheonggukjang samples were divided into three groups: Control (unsterilized Cheonggukjang fermented without a starter), NS (unsterilized Cheonggukjang inoculated with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925), and YS (heat-sterilized Cheonggukjang inoculated with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925). The approximate composition of the three types of Cheonggukjang was 49.79-51.44% moisture, 4.54-4.72% crude ash, 43.21-44.37% crude protein, 11.58-13.65% crude fat, 37.41-40.07% carbohydrate, 31.92-33.82% dietary fiber. The mineral content included 5.43– 9.64 mg% Na, 1,792.86–1,824.39 mg% K, 253.69–326.09 mg% Ca, 619.37–691.20 mg% P, 92.59–110.59 mg% Fe, and 0.01–0.02 mg%Cd. Free amino acid contents of NS (2,520.92 mg%) and YS (2,421.94 mg%) were significantly higher than that of the control (2,236.76 mg%). Amino-type nitrogen content for the three types of Cheonggukjang ranged from 837.20-920.27 mg% with no significant difference. Ammonia-type nitrogen content ranged from 137.09-169.36 mg%. Supplement of Cheonggukjang with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925 increased production of aglycone isoflavons compared to that of control. Therefore, our results show that fermenting Chaga Cheonggukjang with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925 leads to improved quality characteristics and increased isoflavone aglycone content.