The primary therapeutic approach for Brucella species infections has mainly been based on antibiotic treatment. However, the development of vaccines for brucellosis control remains controversial. Furthermore, there is currently no licensed vaccine available for human brucellosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a combination of recombinant protein vaccines against Brucella (B.) abortus infection using a mouse model. Two B. abortus genes, namely dapB and gpm, were cloned and expressed in competent Escherichia (E.) coli DH5α using the pCold-TF vector. Successfully cloned vectors were subjected to PCR amplification using specific primer pairs. The apparent sizes of dapB and gpm were detected at 807 bp and 621 bp, respectively. Besides, the purified recombinant proteins dapB and gpm were detected using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis with correct sizes of 82.86 kDa and 87.61 kDa, respectively. These recombinant proteins were used to immunize mice as a combined subunit vaccine (CSV) to elicit host immunity against B. abortus infection. Mice immunized with CSV exhibited increased proliferation of CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells at week 7th and 9th before sacrifice, in comparison to the control group. Notably, CSV immunization showed a significant decrease in bacterial burden in the spleen compared to the control group. Altogether, CSV using dapB and gpm induced host adaptive immune response against Brucella infection, suggesting its potential as an effective new subunit vaccine candidate.

기후변화 대응과 새로운 소득작물로 아열대작물이 도입되어 재배면적이 증가하고 있다. 그린빈은 아메리카 중남부가 원산지인 콩과 작물로 미성숙 꼬투리를 다양한 요리에 이용하는데 최근 수요가 증가하면서 재배면적 이 확대되고 있다. 새로운 작물이 도입됨에 따라 안정재배를 위한 방제 대상 해충을 설정하기 위하여 재배시기별 해충 종류와 피해정도를 조사하였다. 4월 중순에 파종한 그린빈에서는 생육초기부터 총채벌레 발생이 많았으 며, 5월 하순 이후 발생밀도가 급격하게 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 7월 상순에 파종한 그린빈에서는 8월 하순부터 아메리카잎굴파리 피해가 증가하여 9월 상순에 피해엽률이 50% 이상으로 발생이 심하였으며, 응애류와 총채벌 레류 발생이 많은 경향이었다.

토마토반점위조바이러스(TSWV)는 총채벌레가 매개하는 대표적인 바이러스로 고추 등 여러작물에서 심각 한 피해를 준다. 노지고추에서 토마토반점위조바이러스 발생 경감을 위한 총채벌레 방제시기를 설정하고자 시기별 총채벌레 발생량과 토마토반점위조바이러스병 발생량을 조사하였다. 2023년 전북 익산 노지 고추포장 에서 청색끈끈이트랩을 이용하여 총채벌레 발생량을 조사한 결과 4월 상순부터 채집되기 시작하여 5월 하순과 6월 하순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 반면 고추 꽃에서는 정식 2주후부터 꽃당 10마리 이상 관찰되었다. 토마토반점 위조바이러스병은 정식 30일 이후 증상이 발생하기 시작하여 빠르게 확산되는 경향이었다. 따라서 노지고추에 서 토마토반점위조바이러스병 경감을 위하여 총채벌레 방제를 활착 이후부터 시작하는 것이 좋을 것으로 판단 되었다.

The occurrence level of Metcalfa pruinosa, Halyomorpha halys, and Spodoptera litura was investigated in persimmon tree and bean cultivation fields in 14 cities and counties of the Jeonbuk region in June and July. Metcalfa pruinose was visually inspected, while Halyomorpha halys and Spodoptera litura were investigated by installing pheromone traps and counting the number of captured individuals once, seven days after trap placement. Metcalfa pruinose nymphs occurred in eight cities and counties, which showed an increase compared to the previous year, and Halyomorpha halys nymphs had higher occurrences in the plains, with an average count of 5.5. The average count of Spodoptera litura was 26.7, which was lower than the previous year.

열대거세미나방이 2019년 국내에 첫 비래한 이후 매년 비래하고 있으며 옥수수 등에서 피해를 주고 있음에 따라 전북지역 주요 옥수수 재배지역에서의 열대거세미나방 발생양상과 약제방제 효과를 조사하였다. 2022년 도에 성페로몬트랩을 이용하여 성충유인량을 조사한 결과 7월 1일 첫 채집되었으며 8월 중순이후 채집량이 증가 하여 9월 중순과 10월 중순에 발생최성기를 보였으며 11월 상순까지 유인되었다. 2022년과 2023년에 식용 옥수 수 재배지역에서 열대거세미나방 유충 피해 조사 결과 6월 수확하는 옥수수에서는 열매피해가 없었으나 9월에 수확하는 옥수수에서는 피해열매율이 30% 이상인 포장들이 관찰되어 재배시기에 따라 피해 정도 차이가 매우 큰 경향이었다. 옥수수 포장에서 열대거세미나방 유충 방제를 위해 2~3령기에 인독사카브 액상수화제를 7일 간격으로 2회 살포한 결과 처리 7일 후 방제효과는 91.7%로 높았다.

Extensive research and testing continue to be conducted for the development of vaccines targeting zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis. In this study, the potential of the DapB as a recombinant protein vaccine to effectively combat Brucella abortus 544 infection in BALB/c mice was evaluated. Western blotting assay results showed that recombinant protein DapB reacted with Brucella-positive serum, indicating its potential immunoreactivity. In vivo results showed that the peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cell population significantly increased in the DapB-immunized mice group after the first, second and third blood collection, compared to the control group that received PBS. Additionally, at the fourth blood collection, an increase in CD4+ T cell activation was observed in three vaccination groups compared to PBS negative control group. These results indicate the potential of DapB in stimulating cellular immunity. Fourteen days after infection, the bacterial load in the spleen was evaluated. The reduction in bacterial replication in the spleen by both DapB and RB51 highlights their protective efficacy against Brucella infection. These findings contribute to the ongoing efforts in developing effective vaccines against brucellosis and provide valuable insights for further research in this field.

Involving issues of environmental, consumer safety and health, and/or social concerns, a morally controversial action refers to an activity that does not have a single standard of ethics for all people, making it challenging to draw a clear line between what is ethical versus unethical. Despite its ambiguity, any firm can be involved in it, especially when the firm operates in the global marketplace where a variety of social, health, and environmental consequences surrounding a given action are questioned by consumers. If consumers come to know of a familiar brand’s morally controversial behavior, it can create approach-avoidance conflicts in their minds; they may see the brand’s action as mismatched with their own moral standards (“avoidance” manifested through a measurable construct––moral incongruence), while being tempted to justify the action (“approach” manifested through moral rationalization).

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.

MRI는 인체에 수소 밀도에 따른 재현성의 차이가 상대적으로 기존의 영상 장비들에 비교하여 큰 차이가 있으므로 임상 에서 이를 증명하고 문제 발견 시 이를 보완하는 것이 딥러닝 알고리즘은 매우 중요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 현재 특수 의료장비에서 권하는 미국 방사선 의학회(American College of Radiology, ACR)의 두부 전용 MRI 팬텀을 사용하여 영상 품질기준에 현재 임상 적용되고 있는 딥러닝 알고리즘 방법을 적용하여 딥러닝 알고리즘 적용 전후 변화를 평가해 보고자 하였다. 연구 결과 분해능을 측정하는 항목인 고대조도 공간 분해능과 같이 해상도와 관련된 영상 품질은 분해능은 개선되었음을 알 수 있었고, 그뿐만 아니라 위치의 정확도 역시도 기존에 딥러닝 알고리즘의 적용 전 영상과 통계적으로 차이가 있었다. 또한 딥러닝 알고리즘의 강도 차이에도 영상 간 차이는 없었다. 이러한 결과는 특수의료장비 영상품질관리 규정에 적용되고 있는 ACR 팬텀의 평가 기준에 부합 하나, 딥러닝 알고리즘 적용 전후 차이가 통계적으로 있었으며, 이러 한 차이가 재현성과 관련하여 추후에 조금 더 관련된 연구기 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

The effect of five different constant temperatures (18, 21, 24, 27, and 30±1°C) and a photoperiod of 14 : 10 (L : D) h on the reproduction parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda was studied. The longevity of adult female S. frugiperda decreased with increasing temperature (22.4 days at 21°C and 13.9 days at 30°C) but not at 18°C. The pre-oviposition period and oviposition period was the shortest at 30°C compared to the other temperatures. The total fecundity egg count was 887.4, 1,246.4, 1,348.9, 1,154.9, and 1,034.2 at 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30°C, respectively, during its life span. The survival rate of female S. frugiperda decreased rapidly after 13 days at 18°C, after 14 days at 21°C, after 15 days at 27°C, and after 9 days at 24°C, and 30°C. On the third day after the start of oviposition, 50% of the total fecundity was accomplished. In corn fields at less than the 10-leaf stage, the distribution of S. frugiperda egg masses was observed in the middle and lower plant regions, corresponding to 46.8% and 41.4% of the total egg masses, respectively. Egg masses were mostly found on the underside of the leaf blade (abaxial) of corn (66.7%). After releasing S. frugiperda adults on May 12, May 17, May 25, and May 30, the number of eggs per egg mass was 89.9, 88.5, 126.6, and 127.9, respectively. Egg masses of the subsequent generations of S. frugiperda were observed from late June, and the number of eggs per egg mass was 155.8 in late June, 270.7 in early July, and 303.5 in mid-July.