A multi-virus detectable microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor for simultaneous detection of H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 virus using ZnO nanorods for sensitivity enhancement

Han, J.H.,Lee, D.,Chew, C.H.C.,Kim, T.,Pak, J.J. Elsevier Sequoia 2016 Sensors and actuators. B Chemical Vol.228 No.-

This paper describes a multi-detectable and nano-flow immunosensor based on ZnO nanorods (NRs) grown on the inner surface of PDMS sensor region for sensing H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 influenza viruses simultaneously using electrochemical method. Nanostructured ZnO NRs with a high isoelectric point (IEP ~9.5) tend to interact electrostatically with proteins with lower IEP such as H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 antibodies. ZnO NRs were hydrothermally grown on the upper inner surface of the nano-flow PDMS sensor region. The forementioned three influenza viruses were successfully detected from three separate sensing regions by measuring the oxidation current of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated on capture antibody of those influenza viruses when proper potential was applied. The proposed immunosensors were evaluated using 1pg/ml, 10pg/ml, 100pg/ml, 1ng/ml, and 10ng/ml of H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 antigens by amperometry. These immunosensors showed high selectivity toward H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9, which was successfully confirmed by distinguishing the target virus individually from a mixture of three virus antigens. A low limit of detection was demonstrated by detecting as low as 1pg/ml of each virus and it is believed that this was possible by enhancing the sensitivity with the ZnO NRs grown on the PDMS surface in the sensing region. The steady-state oxidation current output linearly increased with respect to the logarithm of the H1N1, H5N1, and H7N9 virus concentrations in the range of 1-10ng/ml.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

H.C. Liu,J.F. Huang,S.R. Lee,H.L. Liu,C.H. Hsieh,C.W. Huang,M.C. Huang,C. Tai,J.P. Poivey,R. Rouvier,Y.S. Cheng 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.5

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie (h2 = 0.07±0.03) and M (h2 = 0.07±0.01), moderately low for Dm (h2 = 0.13±0.02), of medium values for H (h2 = 0.20±0.03) and F (h2 = 0.23±0.03). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm (rg = 0.93), between F and H (rg = 0.97) and between Dm and H (rg = 0.90). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings’ feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

Oxygen-dependent enhancement of hydrogen production by engineering bacterial hemoglobin in Escherichia coli

Jo, B.H.,Kim, J.Y.H.,Seo, J.H.,Cha, H.J. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2014 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.39 No.20

H<SUB>2</SUB> production under aerobic conditions has been proposed as an alternative method to overcome the fundamentally low yield of H<SUB>2</SUB> production by fermentative bacteria by maximizing the number of electrons that are available for H<SUB>2</SUB>. Here, we engineered Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) in Escherichia coli to study the effects of this versatile oxygen (O<SUB>2</SUB>)-binding protein on oxic H<SUB>2</SUB> production in a closed batch system that was supplemented with glucose. The H<SUB>2</SUB> yields that were obtained with the VHb-expressing E. coli were greatly enhanced in comparison to the negative control cells in culture that started with high O<SUB>2</SUB> tensions. The formate hydrogen lyase (FHL) activity of oxically cultured, VHb-expressing cells was also much higher than that of the negative control cells. Through inhibitor studies and time-course experiments, VHb was shown to contribute to the improved H<SUB>2</SUB> yield primarily by increasing the efficiency of cellular metabolism during the aerobic phase before the onset of H<SUB>2</SUB> production and not by working as an O<SUB>2</SUB>-scavenger during H<SUB>2</SUB> production. This new approach allowed more substrate to remain to be further utilized for the production of more H<SUB>2</SUB> from limited resources. We expect that VHb can be successfully engineered in potential aerobic H<SUB>2</SUB>-producing microbial systems to enhance the overall H<SUB>2</SUB> production yield. In addition, the remarkably high FHL activity of oxically grown, VHb-expressing cells may make this engineered strain an attractive whole-cell biocatalyst for converting formate to H<SUB>2</SUB>.

돼지 H-FABP 유전자의 다형성 및 경제 형질과의 연관성 구명

최봉환,김태헌,이지웅,조용민,이혜영,조병욱,정일정 한국동물자원과학회 2003 한국축산학회지 Vol.45 No.5

The purpose of this study was to detect association between genetic variation and economic trait in the porcine heart type fatty acid-binding protein gene as a candidate gene for the traits related with growth and meat quality in pigs. The H-FABP is a 15-kDa protein expressed in several tissues with high demand for fat metabolism such as cardiac and skeletal muscle and lactating mammary gland. H-FABP is small intracellular protein involved in fatty acid transport from the plasma membrane to the site of β-oxidation and/or triacylglycerol or phospholipid synthesis. In this study, H-FABP PCR-RFLP was performed in F_(2) population composed of 214 individuals form an intercross between Korean Native Boars and Landrace sows. PCR products form tow primer sets within H-FABP gene were amplified in 850bp and 700bp. Digestion of PCR products with the restriction digestion enzymes HaeⅢ and Hinf Ⅰ, revealed fragment length polymorphisms(RFL. Ps). The genotype frequencies from H-FABP/HaeⅢ was .29 for genotype DD, .53 for genotype Dd, and .15 for genotype dd, respectively. The genotype frequencies of HH, Hh, and hh from H-FABP(hinf Ⅰ was .38, .41, and .20, respectively, in the population.Relationships between their genotypes and economic traits were estimated. In H-FABP/HaeⅢ locus, there were specific genotypes(Dd and dd) associated with economic traits such as body weight. In H-FABP/Hinf Ⅰ Iocus, Genotypes of HH and Hh associated with growth traits such as body weights at 5, 12, and 30 week of age (p<.05 or p<.001) and back fat thickness, body fat including abdominal and trimmed fat (p<.001) and intramuscular fat(p<.05). The 'H'allele was positivecly associated with gaining of body weight and fatness deposition. In conclusion, a significant association of the H-FABP gene from its genetic variation was found on body weight, intramuscular fat and backfat thickness.

On the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) membrane for hydrogen separation from simulated biomass-derived syngas

Yin, H.,Lee, T.,Choi, J.,Yip, A.C.K. Elsevier 2016 Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol.233 No.-

<P>Hydrogen separation from biomass-derived syngas is a critical step in the utilization of gasification technology. Compared with the traditional methods, membrane technology provides an effective and low-cost solution for adjusting the gas composition and collecting H-2 in syngas environments. In this study, a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-based membrane, which is a potential candidate for H-2 separation from biomass-derived syngas, was successfully fabricated through the seeded (secondary) growth method and the subsequent post-treatments. The prepared ZIF-8 membrane exhibited a modest H-2 separation performance for H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO, with separation factors of 4.95 and 6.08, respectively, and a H-2 permeance of 7.81 x 10(-8) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa-1 at 200 degrees C in the simulated biomass-derived syngas environments (H-2/CO2/CO) with the presence of steam. In particular, the H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO separation factors were increased by 36% and 97%, respectively, with respect to those obtained through bare supports. Despite the promising H2 perm-selectivity, the H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO separation factors of ZIF-8 membranes at 200 degrees C under water-containing syngas environments were maintained up to 10 h but the longer exposure led to the gradual degradation and eventual reduction toward those of bare supports after 15 h seemingly due to the water-involved membrane degradation. This study provides the availability and limitation of ZIF-8 membranes for H-2 separations in stimulated biomass-derived syngas environments. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</P>

Genetic and phylogenetic characterizations of a novel genotype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 viruses in 2016/2017 in South Korea

Kim, Y.I.,Park, S.J.,Kwon, H.I.,Kim, E.H.,Si, Y.J.,Jeong, J.H.,Lee, I.W.,Nguyen, H.D.,Kwon, J.J.,Choi, W.S.,Song, M.S.,Kim, C.J.,Choi, Y.K. Elsevier Science 2017 INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION Vol.53 No.-

<P>During the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N6 viruses in 2016 in South Korea, novel H5N8 viruses were also isolated from migratory birds. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the HA gene of these H5N8 viruses belonged to clade 2.3.4.4, similarly to recent H5Nx viruses, and originated from A/Brk/Korea/Gochang1/14(H5N8), a minor lineage of H5N8 that appeared in 2014 and then disappeared. At least four reassortment events occurred with different subtypes (H5N8, H7N7, H3N8 and H10N7) and a chicken challenge study revealed that they were classified as HPAI viruses according to OIE criteria. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

VP2 capsid domain of the H-1 parvovirus determines susceptibility of human cancer cells to H-1 viral infection

Cho, I-R,Kaowinn, S,Song, J,Kim, S,Koh, S S,Kang, H-Y,Ha, N-C,Lee, K H,Jun, H-S,Chung, Y-H Nature America, Inc. 2015 Cancer gene therapy Vol.22 No.5

Although H-1 parvovirus is used as an antitumor agent, not much is known about the relationship between its specific tropism and oncolytic activity. We hypothesize that VP2, a major capsid protein of H-1 virus, determines H-1-specific tropism. To assess this, we constructed chimeric H-1 viruses expressing Kilham rat virus (KRV) capsid proteins, in their complete or partial forms. Chimeric H-1 viruses (CH1, CH2 and CH3) containing the whole KRV VP2 domain could not induce cytolysis in HeLa, A549 and Panc-1 cells. However, the other chimeric H-1 viruses (CH4 and CH5) expressing a partial KRV VP2 domain induced cytolysis. Additionally, the significant cytopathic effect caused by CH4 and CH5 infection in HeLa cells resulted from preferential viral amplification via DNA replication, RNA transcription and protein synthesis. Modeling of VP2 capsid protein showed that two variable regions (VRs) (VR0 and VR2) of H-1 VP2 protein protrude outward, because of the insertion of extra amino-acid residues, as compared with those of KRV VP2 protein. This might explain the precedence of H-1 VP2 protein over KRV in determining oncolytic activity in human cancer cells. Taking these results together, we propose that the VP2 protein of oncolytic H-1 parvovirus determines its specific tropism in human cancer cells.

The H <small>i</small> environment of counter‐rotating gas hosts: gas accretion from cold gas blobs

Chung, Aeree,Bureau, Martin,van Gorkom, J. H.,Koribalski, Bä,rbel Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012 Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol.422 No.2

<P><B>ABSTRACT</B></P><P>We probe the H <SMALL>i</SMALL> properties and the gas environments of three early‐type barred galaxies harbouring counter‐rotating ionized gas: NGC 128, NGC 3203 and NGC 7332. Each system has one or more optically identified galaxy at a similar or as yet unknown redshift within a 50‐kpc projected radius. Using H <SMALL>i</SMALL> synthesis imaging data, we investigate the hypothesis that the counter‐rotating gas in these galaxies has been accreted from their neighbours. In NGC 128 and NGC 3203, we find 9.6 × 10<SUP>7</SUP> and 2.3 × 10<SUP>8</SUP> M<SUB>⊙</SUB> of H <SMALL>i</SMALL>, respectively, covering almost the entire stellar bodies of dwarf companions that appear physically connected. Both the H <SMALL>i</SMALL> morphology and kinematics are suggestive of tidal interactions. In NGC 7332, we do not find any directly associated H <SMALL>i</SMALL>. Instead, NGC 7339, a neighbour of a comparable size at about 10 kpc, is found with 8.9 × 10<SUP>8</SUP> M<SUB>⊙</SUB> of H <SMALL>i</SMALL> gas. More recently in a single dish observation, however, another group discovered a large H <SMALL>i</SMALL> structure which seems to be an extension of NGC 7339’s H <SMALL>i</SMALL> disc and also covers NGC 7332. All these observations thus suggest that H <SMALL>i</SMALL> gas is being accreted in these three galaxies from their companions, which is likely responsible for the kinematically decoupled gas component present in their central region. In particular, the dynamical friction time‐scales of the nearest neighbours with H <SMALL>i</SMALL> gas of NGC 128 and NGC 3203 are comparable to their orbital time‐scales around the counter‐rotators, several ∼10<SUP>8</SUP> yr, implying that those neighbours will likely soon merge with the primary galaxies, fuelling them with gas. NGC 7332 also appears to be in the merging process with its neighbour through the common H <SMALL>i</SMALL> envelope. Besides, we find some other potential gas donors around NGC 128 and NGC 7332: two H <SMALL>i</SMALL>‐rich galaxies with <IMG src='/wiley-blackwell_img/equation/MNR_20679_mu1.gif' alt ='inline image'/> and 2.5 × 10<SUP>9</SUP> M<SUB>⊙</SUB> at a distance of ≈67 kpc from NGC 128 and two dwarf systems with <I>M</I><SUB>HI</SUB>= 3.9 × 10<SUP>7</SUP> and 7.4 × 10<SUP>7</SUP> M<SUB>⊙</SUB> at ≲100 kpc from NGC 7332. Among the seven H <SMALL>i</SMALL> features identified in this study, three of them are associated with dwarf galaxies, two of which have only been recently identified in a blind survey, while the third one is still not catalogued at optical wavelengths. Considering the incompleteness of existing studies of the faint dwarf galaxy population both in the optical and in H <SMALL>i</SMALL>, accretion from cold gas blobs, presumably gas‐rich dwarfs, is expected to occur even more frequently than what is inferred from such cases that have been observed to date.</P>

Both H4K20 mono-methylation and H3K56 acetylation mark transcription-dependent histone turnover in fission yeast

Yang, H.,Kwon, C.S.,Choi, Y.,Lee, D. Academic Press 2016 Biochemical and biophysical research communication Vol. No.

Nucleosome dynamics facilitated by histone turnover is required for transcription as well as DNA replication and repair. Histone turnover is often associated with various histone modifications such as H3K56 acetylation (H3K56Ac), H3K36 methylation (H3K36me), and H4K20 methylation (H4K20me). In order to correlate histone modifications and transcription-dependent histone turnover, we performed genome wide analyses for euchromatic regions in G2/M-arrested fission yeast. The results show that transcription-dependent histone turnover at 5' promoter and 3' termination regions is directly correlated with the occurrence of H3K56Ac and H4K20 mono-methylation (H4K20me1) in actively transcribed genes. Furthermore, the increase of H3K56Ac and H4K20me1 and antisense RNA production was observed in the absence of the histone H3K36 methyltransferase Set2 and histone deacetylase complex (HDAC) that are involved in the suppression of histone turnover within the coding regions. These results together indicate that H4K20me1 as well as H3K56Ac are bona fide marks for transcription-dependent histone turnover in fission yeast.

Surveillance of avian influenza virus in wild bird fecal samples from South Korea, 2003-2008.

Kang, H M,Jeong, O M,Kim, M C,Kwon, J S,Paek, M R,Choi, J G,Lee, E K,Kim, Y J,Kwon, J H,Lee, Y J [Wildlife Disease Association] 2010 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES Vol.46 No.3

<P>We analyzed the results from nationwide surveillance of avian influenza (AI) from birds in South Korea's major wild bird habitats and the demilitarized zone of South Korea, 2003-2008. Of 28,214 fecal samples analyzed, 225 yielded influenza viruses, for a prevalence of 0.8%. Hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes H1-H12 and all nine neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were detected. The dominant HA subtypes were H6, H1, and H4, and the most common NA subtypes were N2, N1, and N6. Among the 38 HA/NA subtype combinations, the most common were H4N6, H6N1, and H5N2. Thirty-seven low-pathogenic AI (LPAI) viruses of the H5 and H7 subtype were detected. Among them, we identified bird species for 16 H5- and H7-positive fecal samples using a DNA bar-coding system instituted in 2007; all birds were identified as Anseriformes. The HA gene of the H5 wild bird isolates belonged to the Eurasian avian lineage, and could be clearly distinguished from the sublineage H5N1 highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) of the Eurasian and American avian lineages. Whereas H7 LPAI viruses did not group as a separate sublineage with H7 HPAI viruses, H7 isolates were closely related with the Eurasian avian lineage.</P>