Insect killing fungus Beauveria bassiana has been widely studied as a biological control agent. However, many studies have been focused on lab or field-based management. Herein this work, comparison of three B. bassiana strains was investigated under a molecular level. The whole genome sequences of ERL836, JEF-007 were analyzed by PacBio (35.5 Mb of ERL836 and 36.5 Mb of JEF-007) and ARSEF2860 referenced from GenBank (33.7 Mb). To compare the three strains, virulence, thermotolerance and chemical resistance were assayed. The transcriptomes of non-infecting B. bassiana and infecting B. bassiana against western flower thrips were analyzed using RNA-seq. This work can provide that genome features, functions, morphology and gene expression could be different under the molecular level, even if in the same species.

The global biopesticide market was estimated to become about 4% of the total crop protection market in 2015, mainly due to variability of their efficacy, narrow spectrum or difficulties in long-term storage. Therefore, many people focus on overcoming these issues as a big trend. Suggested solutions include the investigation of synergy between microorganisms, the use of genetic engineering, improving the pesticide life shelf, etc. As a result, biopesticides market has grown by more than 17% over the last decade. In this context and aiming to develop new entomopathogenic fungi–based pest management tools, we constructed a fungal library by isolating insect pathogenic fungi from soil. A total of 581 isolates belonging to 35 species were isolated and characterized. Beauveria bassiana was the most abundant, representing 38.55% of the total strains, followed by Metharizium anisopliae (22.55%) and bubillosa (8.6). …% of the total isolates were highly virulent against Tenebrio molitor killing most of the treated insects in 2 to 3 days.

Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus, is the main pest that mediates pine wilt nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, that causes serious damage to pine forests. In this study, we studied the strategy to control M. alternatus using entomopathogenic fungi. The fungi were collected from soil by an insect-baiting method and two fungal isolates (Metarhizium anisopliae JEF-197 and JEF-279) showed high virulence against M. alternatus. The Metarhizium isolates were evaluated for insecticidal activity against M. alternatus by spray treatment on live pine trees and wintering trees, and the M. anisopliae JEF-197 showed high insecticidal activity. In addition, the interaction of fungi and M. alternatus were analyzed by RNA-seq. This result can contribute to the development of insect control agents using entomopathogenic fungi.

This study is intended to examine the tDCS and Morris Water maze training in Alzheimer’s disease(AD) rats on Tau protein expression. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 16 rats to each group. Group Ⅰ was a control group(AD induced by scopolamine); Group Ⅱ was a experimental control group(AD injured by scopolamine and treatment tacrine); Group Ⅲ was a group of tDCS application after AD injured by scopolamine; Group Ⅳ was a group of morris water maze training after AD injured by scopolamine. In cognition test, the outcome of group Ⅱ was significantly lower than the groups(p<.001). and group Ⅲ, Ⅳ were significantly low result at 14 days(p<.05). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of micro vessels and finding of cell atropy and swelling. Group Ⅲ, Ⅳ were decreased in degeneration of liver and kidney cells. In immuno- histochemistric response of BDNF and tau protein in hippocampus, BDNF expression of Group Ⅱ was more increase than the other groups. and increase of BDNF expression was Ⅲ, Ⅳ were higher than group Ⅰ at 21 days. Tau protein expression of Group Ⅱ was more decrease than the other groups. and decrease of Tau protein expression was Ⅲ, Ⅳ were lower than group Ⅰ at 21 days. These result suggest that improved tDCS and morris water maze training after scopolamine induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of BDNF and Tau protein in hippocampus and that is related with cognitive function.

Background : Extraction is the first and the most important step in the recovery and purification of bio-active compounds from plant materials. Many important factors such as solvent, solvent composition, solvent to solid ratio, pH, and temperature significantly influence the extraction efficiency of bio-active compounds. Factorial design of a limited set of variables is advantageous when compared to the conventional method which varies a single parameter per trial. Methods and Results : The objective of this study was to screen independent factors, namely, ethanol concentration (60 – 100%), extraction temperature (40 – 80℃), time (6 – 18 hours), and liquid to solid ratio (10 – 50 ㎖/g) on the recovery of the extract yield, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and flavonoid contents from Dendropanax morbifera leaf using factorial design. Total flavonoid content of extract was determined by colorimetric method with aluminum chloride, while antioxidant activity was screened using the DPPH radical scavenging activity, TEAC and FRAP assays. Full factorial design was employed to determine the significant contribution of the above factors towards antioxidant capacity (TEAC, DPPH and FRAP), and flavonoid contents. Among, all the factors examined, ethanol concentration and extraction temperature are very significant (p < 0.0001), in obtaining higher antioxidant activity, total flavonoid contents. Conclusion : Two level full factorial design screening was successfully employed to determine the significant factors, which are ethanol concentration, temperature, time and liquid to solid ratio in contributing to high antioxidant capacity (TEAC, DPPH and FRAP), and flavonoid content determination from Dendropanax morbifera leaf. From the results obtained, ethanol concentration and temperature was very significant (p < 0.0001), in obtaining higher antioxidant activity and flavonoid contents. Further work on optimization using these significant factors are in progress.

Background : Ixeris genus has been used in traditional medicines as stomachics, sedatives, and diuretics. Ixeris dentata var albiflora is a kind of perennial herbaceous plant and one of the plants of the genus Ixeris (Asteraceae). It is well-known for edible wild vegetable in Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia. Specially, Korean has its root and young leaf with appetizing vegetable due to bitter taste. Methods and Results : We isolated 8 genes that are involved in carotenoid biosynthesis using the Illumina/Solexa HiSeq2000 platform. In this study, a full-length cDNA clone encoding phytoene synthase (IdPSY), phytoene desaturase (IdPDS), ξ-carotene desaturase (IdZDS), lycopene β-cyclase (IdLCYB), and zeaxanthin epoxidase (IdZEP) and partial-length cDNA clones encoding lycopene ε-cyclase (IdLCYE), ε-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXE), and β-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXB2) were identified in I. dentata. The theoretical molecular weight (MW) and isoelectric point values of 8 genes were investigated. Sequence analyses revealed that these proteins shared high identity and conserved domains with their orthologous genes. IdPSY, IdPDS, IdZDS, IdLCYB, IdCHXB2, and IdZEP were constitutively expressed in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of I. dentata. Conclusion : Our study on the biosynthesis of carotenoids in I. dentata will provide basic data for elucidating the contribution of carotenoids to the considerable medicinal properties of I. dentata.