The effects of antibiotics on the reproductive physiology targeting ovaries in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

Ha Young‐Ran,Jeong Se‐Jin,Jang Chang‐Won,Chang Kyu‐Sik,Kim Hyun‐Woo,Cho Shin‐Hyoung,Lee Hee‐Il 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.2

Mosquitoes have adapted to various environmental conditions. Symbionts with mosquitoes impact this adaptation in different environments. In the field, mosquitoes could get exposed to antibiotics during their developmental period, which could reduce or eliminate their symbiotic microbes. However, the side effects of the antibiotics on the ovary and reproductive physiology of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of tetracycline and combinations of rifampicin and tetracycline at environmentally acceptable levels on the reproductive physiology of ovaries in Ae. albopictus. Rifampicin and tetracycline in combination reduced the hatching rate and fertility of Ae. albopictus compared to the untreated control group. These antibiotics induced histopathological damage and reactive oxygen species production in the ovaries. The combination of antibiotics decreased the expression of surface protein of Wolbachia (WSP) in Ae. albopictus. Additionally, the expression of Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Myd88 were triggered by the combinations. The findings demonstrate the detrimental effects of antibiotics, particularly combinations of rifampicin and tetracycline, on the reproductive capacity of Ae. albopictus females.

Original Articles : Clinical significance of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic hepatitis C patients

( Jae Young Jang ),( Soung Won Jeong ),( Sung Ran Cheon1 ),( Sae Hwan Lee1 ),( Sang Gyune Kim ),( Young Koog Cheon ),( Young Seok Kim1 ),( Young Deok Cho1 ),( Hong Soo Kim ),( So Young Jin ),( Yun Soo 대한간학회 2011 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.17 No.3

Background/Aims: We investigated the frequency of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive individuals and the effects of occult HBV infection on the severity of liver disease. Methods: Seventy-one hepatitis B virus surface-antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients were divided according to their HBV serological status into groups A (anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs negative; n=18), B (anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs positive; n=34), and C (anti-HBc negative, anti-HBs positive/negative; n=19), and by anti-HCV positivity (anti-HCV positive; n=32 vs. anti-HCV negative; n=39). Liver biopsy samples were taken, and HBV DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. Results: Intrahepatic HBV DNA was detected in 32.4% (23/71) of the entire cohort, and HBV DNA levels were invariably low in the different groups. Occult HBV infection was detected more frequently in the anti-HBc-positive patients. Intrahepatic HBV DNA was detected in 28.1% (9/32) of the anti-HCV-positive and 35.9% (14/39) of the anti-HCV-negative subjects. The HCV genotype did not affect the detection rate of intrahepatic HBV DNA. In anti-HCV-positive cases, occult HBV infection did not affect liver disease severity. Conclusions: Low levels of intrahepatic HBV DNA were detected frequently in both HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive cases. However, the frequency of occult HBV infection was not affected by the presence of hepatitis C, and occult HBV infection did not have a significant effect on the disease severity of hepatitis C. (Korean J Hepatol 2011;17:206-212)

First Observation of Ferroelectricity in ∼1 nm Ultrathin Semiconducting BaTiO₃ Films

Lee, Seung Ran,Baasandorj, Lkhagvasuren,Chang, Jung Won,Hwang, In Woong,Kim, Jeong Rae,Kim, Jeong-Gyu,Ko, Kyung-Tae,Shim, Seung Bo,Choi, Min Woo,You, Mujin,Yang, Chan-Ho,Kim, Jinhee,Song, Jonghyun American Chemical Society 2019 NANO LETTERS Vol.19 No.4

<P>The requirements of multifunctionality in thin-film systems have led to the discovery of unique physical properties and degrees of freedom, which exist only in film forms. With progress in growth techniques, one can decrease the film thickness to the scale of a few nanometers (∼nm), where its unique physical properties are still pronounced. Among advanced ultrathin film systems, ferroelectrics have generated tremendous interest. As a prototype ferroelectric, the electrical properties of BaTiO<SUB>3</SUB> (BTO) films have been extensively studied, and it has been theoretically predicted that ferroelectricity sustains down to ∼nm thick films. However, efforts toward determining the minimum thickness for ferroelectric films have been hindered by practical issues surrounding large leakage currents. In this study, we used ∼nm thick BTO films, exhibiting <I>semiconducting</I> characteristics, grown on a LaAlO<SUB>3</SUB>/SrTiO<SUB>3</SUB> (LAO/STO) heterostructure. In particular, we utilized two-dimensional electron gas at the LAO/STO heterointerface as the bottom electrode in these capacitor junctions. We demonstrate that the BTO film exhibits ferroelectricity at room temperature, even when it is only ∼2 unit-cells thick, and the total thickness of the capacitor junction can be reduced to less than ∼4 nm. Observation of ferroelectricity in ultrathin <I>semiconducting</I> films and the resulting shrunken capacitor thickness will expand the applicability of ferroelectrics in the next generation of functional devices.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

The pyrH Gene of Vibrio vulnificus Is an Essential In Vivo Survival Factor

Lee, Shee Eun,Kim, Soo Young,Kim, Choon Mee,Kim, Mi-Kwang,Kim, Young Ran,Jeong, Kwangjoon,Ryu, Hwa-Ja,Lee, Youn Suhk,Chung, Sun Sik,Choy, Hyon E.,Rhee, Joon Haeng American Society for Microbiology 2007 Infection and immunity Vol.75 No.6

<B>ABSTRACT</B><P>We have suggested an important role of the <I>pyrH</I> gene during the infectious process of <I>Vibrio vulnificus.</I> Previously, we have identified 12 genes expressed preferentially during human infections by using in vivo-induced antigen technology. Among the in vivo-expressed genes, <I>pyrH</I> encodes UMP kinase catalyzing UMP phosphorylation. Introduction of a deletion mutation to the <I>pyrH</I> gene was lethal to <I>V. vulnificus</I>, and an insertional mutant showed a high frequency of curing. We constructed a site-directed mutant strain (R62H/D77N) on Arg-62 and Asp-77, both predicted to be involved in UMP binding, and characterized the R62H/D77N strain compared with the previously reported insertional mutant. We further investigated the essential role of the <I>pyrH</I> gene in the establishment of infection using the R62H/D77N strain. Cytotoxicity was decreased in the R62H/D77N strain, and the defect was restored by an in <I>trans</I> complementation. The intraperitoneal 50% lethal dose of the R62H/D77N strain increased by 26- and 238,000-fold in normal and iron-overloaded mice, respectively. The growth of the R62H/D77N strain in 50% HeLa cell lysate, 100% human ascitic fluid, and 50% human serum was significantly retarded compared to that of the isogenic wild-type strain. The R62H/D77N mutant also had a critical defect in the ability to survive and replicate even in iron-overloaded mice. These results demonstrate that <I>pyrH</I> is essential for the in vivo survival and growth of <I>V. vulnificus</I> and should be an attractive new target for the development of antibacterial drugs and replication-controllable live attenuated vaccines.</P>

Improvement of RT-PCR Sensitivity for Fruit Tree Viruses by Small-scale dsRNA Extraction and Sodium Sulfite

Lee, Sin-Ho,Kim, Hyun-Ran,Kim, Jae-Hyun,Kim, Jeong-Soo The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2004 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.20 No.2

Woody plant tissues contain great amounts of phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. These substances inhibit the activation of reverse transcriptase and/or Taq polymerase in RT-PCR. The commonly used multiple-step protocols using several additives to diminish polyphenolic compounds during nucleic acid extraction are time consuming and laborious. In this study, sodium sulfite was evaluated as an additive for nucleic acid extraction from woody plants and the efficiency of RT-PCR assay of commercial nucleic acid extraction kits and small-scale dsRNA extraction was compared. Sodium sulfite was used as an inhibitor against polyphenolic oxidases and its effects were compared in RNA extraction by commercial extraction kit and small-scale double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) extraction method for RT-PCR. During nucleic acid extraction, addition of 0.5%-1.5%(w/v) of sodium sulfite to lysis buffer or STE buffer resulted in lighter browning by oxidation than extracts without sodium sulfite and improved the RT-PCR detection. When commercial RNA extraction kit was used, optimal concentrations of sodium sulfite were variable according to the tested plant. However, with dsRNA as RT-PCR template, sodium sulfite 1.5% in STE buffer improved the detection efficiency of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in fruit trees, and reduced the unspecific amplifications signi-ficantly. Furthermore, when viruses existed at low titers in host plant, small-scale dsRNA extractions were very reliable.

The roles of Wnt antagonists Dkk1 and sFRP4 during adipogenesis of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Jeong Ran Park,Ji Won Jung,Yong Soon Lee,Kyung Sun Kang 대한인수공통전염병학회 2008 창립총회 및 학술대회 초록집 Vol.2008 No.1

[P10-151] Inhibitory Effect of Wine Made of Ficus carica on LPS-induced NF-<SUB>K</SUB>B Activation by Suppression of ERK, p38 and JNK Phosporylation in Raw 264.7 Cells

Jeong-Dan, Cha,Young-Eun Lee,Mi-Ran Jeong 한국식품영양과학회 2005 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2005 No.10

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Oral Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells by Sophoraflavanone G from Sophora flavescens

Jeong-Dan Cha,Mi-Ran Jeong,Young-Eun Lee,Kyung-Yeol Lee 한국식품과학회 2007 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.16 No.4

Sophora flavescens AITON (Leguminosae) is a typical traditional Korean medical herb considered to exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects, and is also used for the treatment of skin and mucosal ulcers, sores, diarrhea, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, arrhythmia, and eczema. In this study, the compound sophoraflavanone G was isolated from the dried roots of S. flavescens by bioassay-guided fractionation. We then investigated the effects of various concentrations of sophoraflavanone G on cell viability and the induction of apoptosis in KB cells after an incubation of 24 hr. The results were determined by the following methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-terazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Hoechst-33258 dye staining, flow cytometry (cell cycle), and Western blotting for caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We found sophoraflavanone G induced the apoptosis of KB cells in a dose-dependent manner that was verified by DNA fragmentation, apoptotic bodies, the sub-G1 ratio, caspase-3 activity, and cleavage of PARP. These results suggest that sophoraflavanone G has potent anti-proliferative effects on human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells, with the induction of apoptosis.

MEASURABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRIGHT GALAXIES AND THEIR FAINT COMPANIONS IN WHL J085910.0+294957, A GALAXY CLUSTER AT<i>z</i>= 0.30: VESTIGES OF INFALLEN GROUPS?

Lee, Joon Hyeop,Lee, Hye-Ran,Kim, Minjin,Seon, Kwang-Il,Kim, Sang Chul,Yang, Soung-Chul,Ree, Chang Hee,Lee, Jong Chul,Jeong, Hyunjin,Ko, Jongwan,Choi, Changsu IOP Publishing 2014 The Astrophysical journal Vol.791 No.2

<P>The properties of satellite galaxies are closely related to their host galaxies in galaxy groups. In cluster environments, on the other hand, the interaction between close neighbors is known to be limited. Our goal is to examine the relationships between host and satellite galaxies in the harsh environment of a galaxy cluster. To achieve this goal, we study a galaxy cluster WHL J085910.0+294957 at z = 0.30 using deep images obtained with CQUEAN CCD camera mounted on the 2.1 m Otto Struve Telescope. After member selection based on the scaling relations of photometric and structural parameters, we investigate the relationship between bright (M-i <= -18) galaxies and their faint (-18 < M-i <= -15) companions. The weighted mean color of faint companion galaxies shows no significant dependence (< 1 sigma to bootstrap uncertainties) on cluster-centric distance and local luminosity density as well as the luminosity and concentration of an adjacent bright galaxy. However, the weighted mean color shows marginal dependence (similar to 2.2 sigma) on the color of an adjacent bright galaxy when the sample is limited to bright galaxies with at least two faint companions. By using a permutation test, we confirm that the correlation in color between bright galaxies and their faint companions in this cluster is statistically significant with a confidence level of 98.7%. The statistical significance increases if we additionally remove non-members using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey photometric redshift information (similar to 2.6 sigma and 99.3%). Our results suggest three possible scenarios: (1) vestiges of infallen groups, (2) dwarf capturing, and (3) tidal tearing of bright galaxies.</P>

Effects of daily quercetin-rich supplementation on cardiometabolic risks in male smokers

Lee, Kyung-Hea,Park, Eun-Ju,Lee, Hye-Jin,Kim, Myeong-Ok,Cha, Yong-Jun,Kim, Jung-Mi,Lee, Hye-Ran,Shin, Min-Jeong The Korean Nutrition Society 2011 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol. No.

Limited information from human studies indicates that dietary quercetin supplementation influences blood lipid profiles, glycemic response, and inflammatory status, collectively termed cardiometabolic risks. We tested the hypothesis that quercetin-rich supplementation, derived from onion peel extract, improves cardiometabolic risk components in healthy male smokers in a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled parallel design. Randomly assigned subjects were instructed to take either the placebo (n=43) or 100 mg quercetin capsules each day (n=49) for 10 weeks. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured, and blood lipids, glucose, interleukin-6, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were determined at baseline and after 10 weeks of quercetin supplementation. Quercetin-rich supplementation significantly reduced serum concentrations of total cholesterol (P<0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.01), whereas these effects were not shown in the placebo group. Furthermore, significant increases were observed in serum concentrations of HDL-cholesterol both in the placebo (P<0.005) and quercetin-rich supplementation group (P<0.001); however, changes in HDL-cholesterol were significantly greater in subjects receiving quercetin-rich supplementation than the placebo. Both systolic (P<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.01) decreased significantly in the quercetin-rich supplementation group. Glucose concentrations decreased significantly after 10 weeks of quercetin-rich supplementation (P<0.05). In contrast, no effects of quercetin-rich supplementation were observed for the inflammatory markers-IL-6 and sVCAM-1. Daily quercetin-rich supplementation from onion peel extract improved blood lipid profiles, glucose, and blood pressure, suggesting a beneficial role for quercetin as a preventive measure against cardiovascular risk.