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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

여행객 휴대 수입금지식물에서 발생하는 금지해충(과실파리류, 코드린 나방 등)의 유입 가능성이 높아짐에 따라 지속적인 모니터링을 통하여 품목별, 국가별로 검출되는 해충의 정보 축적이 필요하며, 검역해충 종 동정을 위하여 표본 확보 및 분류학적 정보가 필요하다. 2018년 1월부터 12월까지 인천공항 및 인천항으로 반입되어 압수한 휴대식물 중 사과, 배, 복숭아에서 검출되는 해충을 조사하였다. 그 결과 형태학적 동정 및 DNA 바코딩 분석을 통하여 Carposina sasakii (복숭아심식나방), Grapholta molesta (복숭아순나방), Grapholita dimorpha (복숭아순나방붙이) 등이 검출되었지만 우려하는 코드린나방은 검출되지 않았다. 본 연구결과는 휴대 반입식물에서 검출되는 해충 종 구성에 대한 검역자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

농촌진흥청 개발 품종인 토종벌 신품종(질병저항성 우수계통)에 대해 전남지역에서의 형질특성(봉세발달, 마리당 수밀력, 청소력 등)을 조사하였다. 질병저항성 계통(RS)으로 육성된 토종벌의 유밀기 마리당 수밀력은 들어오는 일벌의 무게가 80.89±8.95mg, 나가는 일벌의 무게가 63.56±8.90mg으로 조사되었고, 비저항성계통(NRS)은 각각 83.22±1.39, 66.67±1.20mg으로 조사되어 RS에서 그 무게차가 0.7mg 더 높았으나 통계적 유의차는 없었다. Pin killed test에 의한 사충제거능력(청소력)은 제거하지 못한 유충잔존율이 RS에서 12시간과 24시간 경과시 14.00±10.39와 7.00±3.46으로, NRS에서는 20.33±14.29, 13.33±10.41%로 조사되었으며, 특히 RS와 NRS의 사충 비제거율이 24시간 경과하였을 때 4.67±2.08, 8.33±7.77%로 RS가 우수한 특성을 보였다. 신규여왕벌 입식 후 봉군세력발달은 NRS에 비하여 RS의 일벌수, 번데기 및 유충수의 발달율이 안정적이고 다소 빠르게 증가하였다.

기후변화, 외래병해충발생, 밀원수 감소 등 여러 요인으로 인해 우리 나라의 양봉농가는 벌꿀생산량 및 농가소득이 감소하는 추세이다. 또한 밀원이 없는 시기에 가축용 사료가 아닌 고가의 식용설탕을 꿀벌의 인공사료로 급여하고 있어 농가는 ‘생산비 상승’과 ‘밀원수 부족’을 국내양봉업이 직면한 가장 큰 문제점으로 지적하고 있다. 이에 따른 양봉농가의 생산비를 절감하고 꿀벌의 생리·생태의 개선효과를 가지는 저가형 당액사료개발을 위해 농산부산물에서 추출한 천연당을 봉군에 적용시험을 추진하였다. 양파(OS-1, OS-2), 양배추(CS-1, CS-2), 바나나(Banana)부산물에서 추출한 천연당의 봉군당 평균먹이소모량(mL)은 설탕당액(대조구) 처리구와 비교시 바나나추출당액 급여구에서 5500.00±0.00, 5133.33±404.15로 유사하였다. 그러나 꿀벌의 봉세발달은 대조구에 비해 21006.7±2137, 17403.3±2257마리로 조사되어 낮은 경향을 나타내었고 수명조사 결과는 큰 차이가 없었다. 농산부산물을 이용한 천연당은 우선 꿀벌의 기호도 향상을 우선으로 개선시켜야 할 것으로 보인다.

파리목(Diptera) 집파리과(Muscidae)에 속하는 토마토어리줄기집파리(Atherigona orientalis)는 열대·아열대 지역에서 분포하며 고추, 토마토 등 기주 특이성이 없어 여러 식물에 흔히 발견되는 해충이다. 현재까지 우리나라 작물에 피해는 보고되지 않았으나 국외 사례로 볼 때 우리나라 작물에서도 큰 피해를 유발할 것으로 예상되어 식물방역법상 관리해충으로 지정하여 관리하였다. 2016년 경상북도 의 성군에서 첫 국내 분포가 보고되었다. 우리는 이 종의 지역별 분포 현황 등을 확인하기 위하여, 2017년 4월부터 10월까지 전국 각지에 트랩을 설치하여 분포 조사를 실시하였다. 조사결과 총 2,601개체가 전국적으로 조사되어 국내에 널리 분포하고 있음이 확인되었다.

We performed temperature dependent current-voltage (I-V) measurements to characterize the electrical properties of Au/Al2O3/n-Ge metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) diodes prepared with and without H2O prepulse treatment by atomic layer deposition (ALD). By considering the thickness of the Al2O3 interlayer, the barrier height for the treated sample was found to be 0.61 eV, similar to those of Au/n-Ge Schottky diodes. The thermionic emission (TE) model with barrier inhomogeneity explained the final state of the treated sample well. Compared to the untreated sample, the treated sample was found to have improved diode characteristics for both forward and reverse bias conditions. These results were associated with the reduction of charge trapping and interface states near the Ge/Al2O3 interface.

Freesia is one of the most popular flowers over the world including Korea, due to the fragrance and beauty of the plant flower. The first domestic freesia cultivar ‘Shiny Gold’ was developed by NIHHS, RDA, in 2003, which has yellow double and large petals and strong fragrance. Ten years have passed since ‘Shiny Gold’ was cultivated at floral farms, and the deterioration of cut flower quality and yield are reported from the farms. Virus infection causes a reduction in the quantity and quality of the cut freesia flowers and is one of the most serious problems in Korea. Virus detection was carried by reverse transcription polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR) for FreMV, FreSV, BYMV, CMV, and TRV, as known to infect freesia. FreMV, FreSV, BYMV, and TRV were detected single or multiply, and CMV was not found in the freesia leaves collected from the farms. To produce virus-free freesia, meristem culture of ‘Shiny Gold’ was conducted in MS medium added ribavirin at different concentration. As the increased of ribavirin concentration, the growth of ‘Shiny Gold’ plantlets was inhibited in freesia’Shiny Gold’. The plantlets produced by meristem culture in ‘Shiny Gold’ were virus free at the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) level.