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Simple Summary: Coreoperca herzi is a freshwater fish endemic to Korea. So far, studies on C. herzi have mainly focused on ecological studies, but studies on its genetic diversity are lacking. For the first time, we investigated genetic diversity and structure using mitochondrial DNA data in this study. The genetic diversity was found to be low. In addition, the translocated population, Yangyangnamdaecheon, was confirmed to have originated from the Han River water system population as a result of genetic similarity. This study provides information on the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and translocated populations of C. herzi, providing a basis for the conservation of the species. The Korean endemic aucha perch, Coreoperca herzi, belongs to the family Centropomidae. Thus far, studies on C. herzi have focused on mitochondrial genomes, egg development, and early life history, while studies on their genetic diversity or genetic structure are lacking. We investigated these aspects in this study using mitochondrial DNA data. Haplotypes were divided into the Hangang River, Nakdonggang River, Geumgang River, and southwest region water system populations. A translocated population, the Yangyang Namdaechun Stream, was confirmed to have originated from the Hangang River water system population based on haplotype distribution and genetic structure results. The FST of the mitochondrial DNA indicated distinct genetic differentiation in the Hangang, Nakdonggang, Geumgang, and southwest regions. According to COI and analyses, the analysis of molecular variance revealed a higher variance in the four water system groups (98.41%) than in the southwest region water system versus the Hangang River water system (80.27%) groups. This study presents basic data for conservation by providing extensive information on the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and translocation population of C. herzi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf beetle genus Suinzona, consisting of over 20 species, is mainly known for species from Southwest China, and its closely related genus Potaninia, with only two species, is widely distributed in South China and upper Southeast Asia. Despite recent morphological studies, the status of these taxa has long been controversial. Here, we investigated the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of the genera Suinzona and Potaninia within Chrysomelinae using molecular, morphological and ecological data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supported that they should be regarded as distinct genera, which is consistent with morphological evidence, e.g., well-developed/reduced hind wings. Based on combined evidence from examination of larval and adult morphology, host plants and mitochondrial genomes, we demonstrate that P. cyrtonoides should be placed in the genus Suinzona and that specimens from South Korea represent a new species. Suinzona borowieci sp. nov., occurring in narrow strips of habitat, shows high levels of genetic divergence and distantly related host plants between populations. The population differentiation seems to be correlated with its non-functional wings causing reduced dispersal ability and genetic isolation. Several populations have declined dramatically over the last few decades due to loss of habitat and thus are in need of protection as conservation units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does third-party intervention in civil war influence citizens’ physical quality of life (QOL) after civil war? I find that the effects of intervention on postwar QOL depend on its type, unilateral intervention, and United Nations (UN) intervention. Unilateral interveners seeking self-interest tend to impede the improvement in postwar QOL particularly in terms of life expectancy and infant mortality rate. They are likely to do so through producing their protégé’s military victory or negotiated settlement, expanding their influence on postwar government, and resultingly forming a government less responsive to citizens’ hardship and reducing resources available for welfare. UN intervention on humanitarian grounds tends to promote postwar social development particularly in the fields of public health, although it has no significant effect on literacy rate. It is likely to do so by increasing resources available for postwar reconstruction, even though it goes where postwar social development is relatively difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We propose a face detection method based on skin color likelihood via a boosting algorithm which emphasizes skin color information while deemphasizing non-skin color information. A stochastic model is adapted to compute the similarity between a color region and the skin color. Both Haar-like features and Local Binary Pattern (LBP) features are utilized to build a cascaded classifier. The boosted classifier is implemented based on skin color emphasis to localize the face region from a color image. Based on our experiments, the proposed method shows good tolerance to face pose variation and complex background with significant improvements over classical boosting-based classifiers in terms of total error rate performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The primary goal of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) in face feature extraction is to find an effective subspace for identity discrimination. The introduction of kernel trick has extended the LDA to nonlinear decision hypersurface. However, there remained inherent limitations for the nonlinear LDA to deal with physical applications under complex environmental factors. These limitations include the use of a common covariance function among each class, and the limited dimensionality inherent to the definition of the between-class scatter. Since these problems are inherently caused by the definition of the Fisher''s criterion itself, they may not be solvable under the conventional LDA framework. This paper proposes to adopt a margin-based between-class scatter and a regularization process to resolve the issue. Essentially, we redesign the between-class scatter matrix based on the SVM margins to facilitate an effective and reliable feature extraction. This is followed by a regularization of the within-class scatter matrix. Extensive empirical experiments are performed to compare the proposed method with several other variants of the LDA method using the FERET, AR, and CMU-PIE databases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The complete mitochondrial genome (16,824 bp) of an Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus ussuricus (Mammalia, Carnivora, Ursidae) was newly sequenced and characterized in detail. It is the second mitochondrial genome from this subspecies which has been completely sequenced. The two U. t. ussuricus individuals were compared with each other and then with individuals from the other four U. thibetanus subspecies and the other nine ursid species, focusing especially on the control regions in the 14 mitochondrial genomes. Within these control regions, tandem repeats of basically 10 bp (5′-ACGCACGTGT-3′ or its derivatives) were found in Domain II. Plausible secondary structures of the repeat region were compared between the North and South Korean individuals of U. t. ussuricus. According to the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference trees inferred from the nucleotide sequences of 13 protein-coding and two rRNA genes, the ursine members within the monophyletic ursid clade can be divided into at least three groups: A, B, and C. According to this analysis, U. thibetanus subspecies were found with Ursus americanus and Ursus malayanus within Group A, showing the following relationships with nodal bootstrap values above 91% and Bayesian posterior probabilities of 1.00: ([( U. t. thibetanus, U. t. formosanus), U. t. spp.], U. t. ussuricus), U. t. mupinensis. In addition, we present a hypothetical scenario of the evolution of the major repeat motifs in the control region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the angiogenic bioactivity and therapeutic angiogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) administration by the heparin-functionalized nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex. The markedly increased bioactivity was observed by the VEGF-loaded nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex, compared to the VEGF-loaded fibrin gel, the nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex without VEGF, or fibrin gel (control) in terms of the capillary density in a mouse subcutaneous implantation model. Furthermore, the VEGF-loaded nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex significantly enhanced the therapeutic angiogenic effect in a rabbit ischemic hind limb model: the noticeable increase in the recovered calf blood pressure, the angiographic score, and the density of collaterals, as well as the stable maintenance of the organized collaterals, compared to the VEGF-loaded fibrin gel. These results show the enhanced angiogenic potential of VEGF administration by the proposed heparin-functionalized nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recently, many Universities in Korea have been encouraging English Medium Instruction (EMI) to cope up with globalization, but many problems have emerged. We use the Structural Equation Model (SME) to understand the causal relationship among potential factors on engineering student’s satisfaction on the EMI. In addition, we develop Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) to estimate the student’s satisfaction about EMI, based on the proposed SEM. This satisfaction index is used to improve the currently employed EMI. In addition, we suggest some alternatives using the cluster analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Criticizes David Gross' defense of the importance of tradition in `The Past in Ruins'. Interpretation as embedded in modernity; Treatment as academic; Question of tradition as arising only in the context of crises; Involvement of critical reflection on the present situation; Need to revitalize communities and institutions; Revitalization as a concrete political project.

Liobagrus obesus (Siluriformes, Amblycipitidae) is an endemic, endangered species in South Korea. Throughout this study, complete mitochondrial genome of L. obesus was sequenced, which is 16,506 bp in length. Its detail characteristics were described in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Korean stumpy bullhead Pseudobagrus brevicorpus, which is an endangered species in Korea. The circle genome (16,526 bp) consists of 13 protein coding, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA genes and 1 control region. It has the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravesical treatment using either reovirus or natural killer (NK) cells serves as an efficient strategy for the treatment of bladder cancer cells (BCCs); however, corresponding monotherapies have often shown modest cytotoxicity. The potential of a locoregional combination using high-dose reovirus and NK cell therapy in an intravesical approach has not yet been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of reoviruses and expanded NK cells (eNK) as potential strategies for the treatment of bladder cancer. The anti-tumor effects of mono-treatment with reovirus type 3 Dearing strain (RC402 and RP116) and in combination with interleukin (IL)-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells were investigated on BCC lines (5637, HT-1376, and 253J-BV) using intravesical therapy to simulate in vitro model. RP116 and IL-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells exhibited effective cytotoxicity against grade 1 carcinoma (5637 cells) when used alone, but not against HT-1376 (grade 2 carcinoma) and 253J-BV cells (derived from a metastatic site). Notably, combining RP116 with IL-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells displayed effective cytotoxicity against both HT-1376 and 253J-BV cells. Our findings underscore the potential of a combination therapy using reoviruses and NK cells as a promising strategy for treating bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic potential of adoptive natural Killer (NK) cells immunotherapy in combination with chemoradiotherapy, the main treatment modality for colorectal cancer (CRC), has not yet been explored. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of NK cells to potentiate primary tumor control and improve survival outcomes, especially in combination with low-dose chemoradiotherapy. Ex vivo activated NK cells (> 90% purity) from healthy donors were obtained. NK cells were administered intravenously to the CRC-bearing mice and intensified in vivo in combination with low-dose 5-fluorouracil (0.5 mg/kg or 1 mg/Kg) and irradiated tumors with low doses (2 Gy or 4 Gy). Real-time NK cell cytotoxicity demonstrated a synergistic killing effect of a combination of low-dose chemoradiotherapy, mainly through NKp30 and NKG2D, showing a decrease in NK cell degranulation after blocking NKG2D and NKp30. In vivo tumor characteristics after combination treatment showed decreased CD112, CD155, MICA, and MICB expression. Under the combination strategy, 70% of the mice had free lung metastasis and 90% without secondary gross tumors, indicating suppressed distant metastasis to lung and axillary regions. This combination therapy resulted in significantly synergistic antitumor activity against primary solid tumors compared to chemoradiotherapy only. Furthermore, the intensified NK cell administration showed significantly better primary tumor control and survival outcomes than the non-intensified NK cell administration in a human colorectal HT-29 model treated with low-dose chemoradiotherapy. Optimized NK cell therapy combined with low-dose chemoradiotherapy can provide effective therapeutic potential for intractable cold human colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of theLamprotula coreana, which is an endangered and endemic species in South Korea, was determined. Its length is 15,819 bp, which mainly consists of 13 protein-coding, 2 rRNA, and 22 tRNA genes. In addition, there were 26 noncoding regions (NC) found throughout the mitogenome ofL. coreana, ranging in size from 3 bp to 287 bp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater leeches belonging to the genus Glossiphonia Johnson, 1816 are fairly common benthic annelids in freshwater ecosystems throughout Eurasia, but the taxonomy of this group remains poorly resolved, and the species content of some local faunas is unsatisfactorily known. For example, it was thought that the only widespread species, Glossiphonia complanata (Linnaeus, 1758), dwells in Northeast Asia. Here, we revise the Northeast Asian Glossiphonia leeches with an integrative taxonomic approach. This revision is based on the largest DNA-sequence and morphological datasets collected to date. Two Glossiphonia species are recorded from the region. First, Glossiphonia koreaensissp. nov., a putative regional endemic species, was discovered in South Korea. Second, a valid name and complete description are provided for Glossiphonia mollissima Moore, 1898 (non-Grube, 1871). The latter name was wrongly applied through misidentification and, according to ICZN (Article 49), is unavailable. Hence, we propose a new name, Glossiphonia mooreisp. nov., in memory of Dr. J. Percy Moore, who discovered this leech. It is a prospective trans-Beringian species, ranging through Eastern Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Alaska (although Alaskan records are based on nonsequenced samples), showing a significant proportion of melanic individuals in samples north of the Arctic Circle. The latter pattern may reflect substrate-induced cryptic coloration (camouflage), but this hypothesis needs to be statistically checked in the future. Finally, a complete checklist of Glossiphonia species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation causes a protective immune response, which can be observed by examining the inflammatory responses of macrophages. Macrophages release various immunostimulatory factors when destroying external pathogens. We induced lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells, a macrophage cell line, to determine whether Helixor-M can cause immuno-suppression. Helixor-M is known to have anticancer and immune effects. However, an indicator that regulates immunity has not been clearly confirmed. To this end, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was conducted to confirm Helixor-M was not cytotoxic. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, immunofluorescence assay confirmed the translocation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65, a representative inflammatory pathway. Helixor-M was found to be non-cytotoxic, induce the NF-κB pathway, and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We found Helixor-M affected the PI3K/AKT/JNK pathway. Therefore, we confirmed Helixor-M acts as an anti-inflammatory agent through NF-κB, TLR4 and PI3K inhibition and that it could be an effective immunosuppressive drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the validity of many nominal bivalve species of the genus Corbicula endemic to the Russian Far East and South Korea needs a critical reassessment. In this study, we clarify the taxonomic status of Corbicula species of this area based on a combination of molecular genetic, conchological and anatomical data. According to our results, four Corbicula lineages, corresponding to the nominal species Corbicula japonica , Corbicula elatior , Corbicula leana and Corbicula fluminea , can be delineated in samples collected in the Primorye and Khabarovsk regions of Russia and South Korea. Two species endemic to the Russian Far East (i.e. Corbicula finitima and Corbicula lindholmi) are considered here as junior synonyms of the species C. japonica , which is widely distributed in estuarine habitats around the Japanese Archipelago, Sakhalin Island, southern Kurile Islands, Primorye and Khabarovsk regions, Korean Peninsula and China. Three nominal species described from the Lower Amur basin (Corbicula amurensis , Corbicula nevelskoyi and Corbicula sirotskii) appeared to be synonyms of C. elatior , whose range covers the Korean Peninsula, Primorye and Khabarovsk regions and, perhaps, China. We delineated several colour morphs of C. fluminea and C. japonica. The distinctness between these colour morphs can be attributed to both heritable and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysin is a flavonoid found abundantly in substances, such as honey and phytochemicals, and is known to exhibit anticancer effects against various cancer cells. Nevertheless, the anticancer effect of chrysin against oral cancer has not yet been verified. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying autophagy is yet to be clearly elucidated. Thus, this study investigated chrysin-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MC-3) cells. The change in MC-3 cell viability was examined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assay, as well as 40,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, annexin V, and propidium iodide staining. Western blotting was used to analyze the proteins related to apoptosis and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In addition, the presence or absence of autophagy and changes in the expression of related proteins were investigated using acridine orange staining and Western blot. The results suggested that chrysin induced apoptosis and autophagy in MC-3 oral cancer cells via the MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Moreover, the induced autophagy exerted a cytoprotective effect against apoptosis. Thus, the further reduced cell viability due to autophagy as well as apoptosis induction highlight therapeutic potential of chrysin for oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive natural killer (NK) cells expressing self-specific inhibitory killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) can be expanded in vivo in response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Developing a method to preferentially expand this subset is essential for effective targeting of allogeneic cancer cells. A previous study developed an in vitro method to generate single KIR+ NK cells for enhanced targeting of the primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells; however, the expansion rate was quite low. Here, we present an effective expansion method using genetically modified K562-HLA-E feeder cells for long-term proliferation of adaptive NK cells displaying highly differentiated phenotype and comparable cytotoxicity, CD107a, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. More importantly, our expansion method achieved more than a 10,000-fold expansion of adaptive NK cells after 6 weeks of culture, providing a high yield of alloreactive NK cells for cell therapy against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukaemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin, characterised by haemorrhagic papules, nodules, and plaques. LC has been reported in human leukaemia patients, but it is extremely rare in dogs. A 13‐year‐old spayed female Golden Retriever that was previously diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was managed with chlorambucil (20 mg/m2 orally, every 2 weeks) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg orally, every other day) for 8 months; however, immunosuppression was temporarily discontinued because of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Cutaneous signs, including multifocal ecchymosis and white plaques, appeared 1 month after cessation of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed small‐ to intermediate‐sized lymphocytes with mild atypia in a perivascular to interstitial pattern within the superficial dermis. The bands of atypical cells within the superficial dermis were strongly and extensively positive for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the biopsied skin revealed clonal rearrangement of the T‐cell receptor gamma locus gene. Given the evidence of clinical signs, peripheral immunophenotyping, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and clonal gene arrangement, LC was diagnosed. The lesions disappeared when chemotherapy was restarted but were occasionally observed when chemotherapy was stopped. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first case report of LC in a dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immunity. IL-15 is also a promising cytokine for treating cancer. Despite the growing importance of the clinical use of IL-15 for immunotherapy, no attempts have been made to generate a recombinant canine IL-15 (rcIL-15) and to examine its effects on the antitumor activities of immune effector cells in dogs. Here, we generated an rcIL-15 protein consisting of Asn-49–Ser-162 with a C-terminal His tag and examined its functions ex vivo in terms of the proliferation and antitumor effects on canine non-B, non-T, large granular natural killer (NK) cells. Non-B, non-T, large granular NK cells rapidly expanded in response to stimulation with rcIL-15 in the presence of IL-2, and a majority of the cells that selectively expanded over 21 days exhibited a CD3 − CD5 − CD4 − CD8 +/− CD21 − phenotype. Purified rcIL-15 significantly enhanced the expansion rate of canine NK cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to human IL-15, or culture in the absence of IL-15 for 21 days ( p < 0.05). Purified rcIL-15 was superior at enhancing the effector function of NK cells compared to human IL-15. The cytotoxic activity against canine thyroid adenocarcinoma (CTAC) cells, interferon-γ production, and the mRNA expression levels of perforin and granzyme B of expanded NK cells cultured with rcIL-15 were significantly elevated compared to those cultured with human IL-15 or without IL-15 ( p < 0.05). Intravenous administration of rcIL-15 significantly increased the numbers of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of dogs on days 6, 8, and 11 after injection compared to numbers before administration ( p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the rcIL-15 protein, consisting of Asn-49–Ser-162, enhanced the proliferation and antitumor effects of canine NK cells and promoted the generation of lymphocytes in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycodin D (PD) is the main component of triterpene saponins found in Platycodi radix. In this study, we observed a decrease in cell viability, an increase in apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the rate of apoptosis. Also, we observed an increase in cleaved PARP and Bax, a decrease in Bcl-2, and p-ERK, and an increase in p-p38 and p-JNK. Furthermore, a change in cell viability and the expression of p-p38, Bax, and Bcl-2 using the p38 inhibitor revealed a decrease in p-p38 and Bax and an increase in Bcl-2 in the inhibitor treatment group. In addition, we observed an increase in vacuole formation through morphological changes and an increase in acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). We also observed an increase in the expression of beclin 1, LC 3-I, and -II. There was no significant decrease in cell viability in the group treated with 3-MA, but a decrease in cell viability was noted in the group treated with HCQ. HCQ treatment resulted in an increase in Bax and a decrease in Bcl-2. These findings reveal that in HT-29 colon cancer cells, PD induces apoptosis through the MAPK pathway, thereby exerting anticancer effects. Moreover, autophagy caused by PD inhibits apoptosis by protecting the cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracking administered natural killer (NK) cells in vivo is critical for developing an effective NK cell-based immunotherapy against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here the authors established a new molecular imaging using ex vivo -activated NK cells and investigated real-time biodistribution of administered NK cells during HCC progression. Ex vivo -expanded NK cells from healthy donors were labeled with a near-infrared lipophilic cytoplasmic dye, and their proliferation, surface receptor expression and cytotoxicity activity were evaluated. Human HCC HepG2 cells were implanted into the livers of NOD.Cg- Prkdcscid IL2rgtm1Wjl/ SzJ (NSG) mice. The authors administered 1,1'-dioctadecyltetramethyl indotricarbocyanine iodide (DiR)-labeled NK cells intravenously to non-tumor-bearing and intrahepatic HCC tumor-bearing NSG mice. Fluorescent imaging was performed using a fluorescence-labeled organism bioimaging instrument. Single cell suspensions from the resected organs were analyzed using flow cytometry. The fluorescent DiR dye was nontoxic and did not affect the proliferation or surface receptor expression levels of the NK cells, even at high doses. The administered DiR-labeled NK cells immediately migrated to the lungs of the non-tumor-bearing NSG mice, with increased NK cell signals evident in the liver and spleen after 4 h. NK cells migrated to the intrahepatic tumor-bearing livers of both early- and late-stage HCC mice within 1 h of injection. In early-stage intrahepatic tumor-bearing mice, the fluorescence signal increased in the liver until 48 h post-injection and decreased 7 days after NK injection. In late-stage HCC, the NK cell fluorescence signal was the highest in the liver for 7 days after NK injection and persisted for 14 days. The purity of long-term persistent CD45+CD56+CD3− NK cells was highest in early- and late-stage HepG2-bearing liver compared with normal liver 2 weeks after NK injection, whereas highest purity was still observed in the lungs of non-tumor-bearing mice. In addition, Ki-67 expression was detected in migrated human NK cells in the liver and lung up to 72 h after administration. With HepG2 tumor progression, NK cells reduced the expression of NKp30 and NKG2D. Administered NK cells were successfully tracked in vivo by labeling the NK cells with near-infrared DiR dye. Highly expanded, activated NK cells migrated rapidly to the tumor-bearing liver, where they persisted for 14 days after administration, with high purity of CD45+CD56+CD3− NK cells. Liver biodistribution and persistence of administered NK cells showed significantly different accumulation patterns during HCC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of cellular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels on the generation of leukemic dendritic cells (DCs). Leukemic DCs were successfully generated in vitro from bone marrow cells of 16 of 21 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and the cellular VEGF concentrations in the leukemic cells and the neutralization of VEGF with anti-VEGF antibody were determined. AML cells that failed to generate leukemic DCs showed significantly higher cellular VEGF levels compared with generated leukemic DCs, and down-regulation of cellular VEGF levels induced the generation of leukemic DCs from AML cells. Inhibition of cellular VEGF levels increased interleukin (IL)-12 production and the allostimulatory capacity of leukemic DCs. These results suggest that the generation of leukemic DCs from AML cells is inversely related to the VEGF production of the cells and that the down-regulation of cellular VEGF levels can induce potential differentiation of leukemic cells to functional leukemic DCs in patients with AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated whether adoptive cell therapy with ex vivo-activated natural killer (NK) cells enhances the therapeutic efficacy of local tumor radiation therapy (RT) using a human triple-negative breast cancer xenograft model.Methods and Materials: NK cells from healthy donors were expanded ex vivo. MDA-MB-231/Luc-GFP cells were subcutaneously implanted into the thighs of NSG mice. The animals were divided into 4 experimental groups: control, RT, NK, and RT + NK. On day 17 after tumor implantation, tumors from the RT groups were irradiated. The ex vivo-expanded NK cells were intravenously administered twice, on days 17 and 19. Primary and secondary tumors were evaluated using long-term bioluminescence imaging, and histopathology was performed on resected tumor tissue specimens.Results: The luciferase signals of the primary tumors in the RT + NK group were significantly lower than those of comparably sized primary tumors in the RT group. The long-term migration and infiltration of NK cells into the primary tumor sites were significantly higher in RT + NK than in NK mice. Moreover, lymphatic metastasis to the axillary lymph nodes and liver and lung metastases were highly suppressed in the RT + NK group, as demonstrated by BLI and p53 immunohistochemistry. The long-term survival of the RT + NK group was significantly higher than that of the RT or NK groups.Conclusions: Reduction in tumor burden by combining RT and systemic NK cell therapy improved the suppression of primary tumor growth, with efficient NK cell migration and penetration into the primary tumor site. Administered NK cells were maintained in the primary tissue for a significantly longer time in RT + NK group compared with NK group. Both lymphatic spread and distant metastasis to the lungs and liver were effectively suppressed by the combined therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the cockscomb pearl mussel Cristaria plicata, which is an endangered species in South Korea, was sequenced. The circle genome (15,708 bp in size) consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. There were 26 noncoding regions (NCs) found throughout the mitogenome of C. plicata, ranging in size from 2 to 327 bp, and the two largest NC regions, NC286 and NC326, were found between ND5 and tRNA Gln (286 bp) and between tRNA Glu and ND2 (326 bp), respectively. The 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of a female individual of C. plicata collected from Korea (15,708 bp) were compared to those of the Chinese individual (15,712 bp) published before. The result showed that ND3 is the most conserved with 100% nucleotide similarity, and each of the other protein-coding genes has ca. 99%, respectively. The two largest NCs among 26 NCs have totally 98% nucleotide similarity between Korean and Chinese ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first complete mitochondrial genome (17,159 bp) of the Hodgson's bat Myotis formosus, which is an endangered species in South Korea, was sequenced and characterized. The genome included 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region. It has high AT content and the same gene arrangement pattern as those of typical vertebrate mitochondrial genome. Within the control region, a 80 bp tandem repeat unit was iterated five times which was found in Domain I. It has been observed only in the vespertilionid bat group, and could contribute to identifying the species or genus, and also distinguishing it from other bat families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background aims Irradiation enhances the adhesion between natural killer (NK) cells and target cells by up-regulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on target cells. Therefore, we investigated the effect of irradiation-induced ICAM-1 expression on human cancer cells on NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. Methods Expression levels of ICAM-1 on the target cell surface before and after irradiation of six human cancer cell lines (HL60, SKBR-3, T47D, HCT-116, U937 and U251) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Ex vivo expansion of NK cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed by co-culture with irradiated K562 cells. The related adhesion molecule lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) on NK cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and WST-8 assays were performed to check NK cell cytotoxicity. Finally, blocking assays were performed using monoclonal antibodies against ICAM-1 or LFA-1. Results LFA-1 expression increased on NK cells after expansion ( P  <   0.001). The expression of ICAM-1 was significantly upregulated by irradiation after 24 h in various cell lines, including HL60 ( P  <   0.001), SKBR-3 ( P  <   0.001), T47D ( P  <   0.001) and U937 ( P  <   0.001), although the level of expression depended on the cell line. ICAM-1 expression was extremely low before and after irradiation in U251 cells. NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity increased after irradiation of HL60 ( P  <   0.001), SKBR-3 ( P  <   0.001), T47D ( P  = 0.003), and U937 ( P  = 0.004) cells, in which ICAM-1 expression was significantly increased after irradiation. IFN-γ production by NK cells in response to HL60 ( P  <   0.001) and T47D ( P  = 0.011) cells significantly increased after irradiation. NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity against irradiated SKBR-3 ( P  <   0.001) and irradiated T47D cells ( P  = 0.035) significantly decreased after blocking of ICAM-1. Blocking of LFA-1 on NK cells resulted in reduced cytotoxicity against irradiated HL60 ( P  <   0.001) and irradiated SKBR-3 ( P  <   0.001). Conclusions Irradiation upregulates ICAM-1 expression on the surface of human cancer cells and enhances activated NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. Therefore, irradiation combined with NK cell therapy may improve the antitumor effects of NK cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress can lead to inflammation, accelerated aging, and some chronic diseases condition. Mentha arvensis (MA) is a traditional medicine having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated the anti-stress role of MA and fermented MA (FMA) extract in immobilized rats. We studied the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and rats were immobilized for 2 h per day for 14 days using a restraining cage. MA (100 mg/kg) and FMA (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats 1 h prior to immobilization. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, we determined the rosmarinic acid content of MA and FMA. The generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 246.7 cells were suppressed by both MA and FMA. In rats, MA and FMA notably improved the body weight, daily food intake, and duodenum histology. MDA and NO level were gradually decreased by MA and FMA treatment. MA and FMA significantly controlled the stress-related hormones by decreasing corticosterone and β-endorphin and increasing serotonin level. Moreover, protein expression levels of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were markedly downregulated by MA and FMA. Taken together, MA and FMA could ameliorate immobilized-stress by reducing oxidative stress, regulating stress-related hormones, and MAPK/COX-2 signaling pathways in rats. Particularly, FMA has shown greater anti-stress activities than MA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The plant species Taraxacum coreanum (TC), Youngia sonchifolia (YS), and Ixeris dentata (ID) belong to the family Compositae and are used for medicinal purposes in traditional medicine. However, the anticancer effects of TC, YS, and ID extracts and the underlying molecular mechanisms in melanoma cells have not been elucidated. Aim of the study To investigate the potential anticancer effects of TC, YS, and ID extracts on human melanoma cells and explore the potential pharmacological mechanisms in vitro and in vivo . Materials and methods In this comparative study, we investigated the effects of TC, YS, and ID extracts on cell proliferation in human melanoma A375P and A375SM cells using MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)−2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assays. Apoptotic cells were detected by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylinodole (DAPI) staining. We also investigated whether the growth-inhibitory effects were associated with the induction of apoptosis and whether the mechanisms of cell death were the result of signaling molecules such as p53, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-9, Poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and Erk (Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase) 1/2. The in vivo antitumor effects were evaluated by measuring the tumor volume and weight and performing Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tumor xenograft models. Results TC, YS, and ID extracts effectively inhibited the growth of A375P and A375SM cells. In addition, several apoptotic events were observed following treatment, including DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation by DAPI staining. The extracts increased p53, Bax, cleaved-caspase-9 and cleaved-PARP expression, whereas the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased in both cell lines. Furthermore, ID extract significantly inhibited the activation of Erk1/2 in both cell lines. Among the three extracts, ID had the strongest apoptotic effects. The administration of ID extract to mice inhibited tumor growth without any toxicity following 4 weeks of treatment. This extract increased the expression of apoptotic cells and p53 protein and decreased phospho-Erk1/2 protein. Conclusion TC, YS, and ID extracts suppress the growth of human melanoma cells through apoptosis. Among these extracts, ID has the strongest anticancer and apoptotic effects. It induces apoptosis through the inhibition of Erk1/2 in A375P and A375SM human melanoma cells and in tumor xenograft models and may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent against melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasal delivery is a convenient and acceptable route for drug administration, and has been shown to elicit a much more potent local and systemic response compared with other drug delivery routes. We previously demonstrated that rectal administration of poly(lactide- co -glycolide)-encapsulated honeybee venom (P-HBV) could enhance systemic Th 1-specific immune responses. We therefore synthesized chitosan-coated P-HBV (CP-HBV) and then evaluated the immune-boosting efficacy of nasally administered CP-HBV on systemic and local intestinal immunity compared with non-chitosan-coated P-HBV. The nasally delivered CP-HBV effectively enhanced Th 1-specific responses, eliciting a significant increase in the CD3 + CD4 + CD8 − Th cell population, lymphocyte proliferation capacity, and expression of Th 1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, these immune-boosting effects persisted up to 21 days post CP-HBV administration. Nasal administration of CP-HBV also led to an increase of not only the CD4 + Th 1 and IFN-γ secreting CD4 + Th 1 cell population but also Th 1-specific cytokines and transcription factors, including IL-12, IFN-γ, STAT4, and T-bet, in isolated mononuclear cells from the spleen and ileum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copepods, small aquatic crustaceans, are the most abundant metazoan zooplankton and outnumber every other group of multicellular animals on earth. In spite of ecological and biological importance in aquatic environment, their morphological plasticity, originated from their various lifestyles and their incomparable capacity to adapt to a variety of environments, has made the identification of species challenging, even for expert taxonomists. Molecular approaches to species identification have allowed rapid detection, discrimination, and identification of cryptic or sibling species based on DNA sequence data. We examined sequence variation of a partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I gene (COI) from 133 copepod individuals collected from the Korean Peninsula, in order to identify and discriminate 94 copepod species covering six copepod orders of Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Harpacticoida, Monstrilloida, Poecilostomatoida and Siphonostomatoida. The results showed that there exists a clear gap with ca. 20 fold difference between the averages of within-specific sequence divergence (2.42%) and that of between-specific sequence divergence (42.79%) in COI, suggesting the plausible utility of this gene in delimitating copepod species. The results showed, with the COI barcoding data among 94 copepod species, that a copepod species could be distinguished from the others very clearly, only with four exceptions as followings: Mesocyclops dissimilis–Mesocyclops pehpeiensis (0.26% K2P distance in percent) and Oithona davisae–Oithona similis (1.1%) in Cyclopoida, Ostrincola japonica–Pseudomyicola spinosus (1.5%) in Poecilostomatoida, and Hatschekia japonica–Caligus quadratus (5.2%) in Siphonostomatoida. Thus, it strongly indicated that COI may be a useful tool in identifying various copepod species and make an initial progress toward the construction of a comprehensive DNA barcode database for copepods inhabiting the Korean Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou masou , is an economically important fish species in the Far East and occurs in two life history forms: sea-run migratory (anadromous) and freshwater resident (non-anadromous). The non-anadromous form has recently become a popular freshwater food and game fish during a well-known Korean winter festival. However, the genetic background of this species remains largely unknown, partly due to a lack of molecular genetic markers. In this study, we developed new polymorphic microsatellite markers for masu salmon using next-generation sequencing technology. From 40 primer sets, 11 primer sets (27.5% of the primer sets selected) were successfully amplified with 106 alleles (range 2–9) in 64 individuals from different populations: two wild and one hatchery. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.304 to 0.947 and 0.278 to 0.865, respectively. Significant departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were detected for four markers (OMM11, OMM17, OMM28, and OMM33) in a single population. All pair-wise F ST values were highly significant between the wild and hatchery populations (range 0.084–0.183, P < 0.0001). We identified a set of robust microsatellite markers that worked well even in formalin-fixed samples, which will be suitable for biogeographical and population structure analyses of the masu salmon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin (IL)-21 is an important modulator of natural killer (NK) cell function. However, little is known about IL-21 function in canine NK cells because the phenotype of these cells remains undefined. In this study, we selectively expanded non-B and non-T large granular NK lymphocytes (CD3 − CD21 − CD5 − CD4 − TCRαβ − TCRγδ − ) ex vivo from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy dogs using a combination of IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21 in the presence of 100 Gy-irradiated K562 cells. We investigated the effects of varying the duration and timing of IL-21 treatment on stimulation of proliferation, expression of NK-related receptors, anti-tumor activity and production of interferon (IFN)-γ. The expanded NK cells in each treatment group became enlarged and highly granular after 21 days in culture. NK cells proliferated rapidly in response to activation by IL-21 for 3 weeks, and IL-21 was able to induce changes in the mRNA expression of NK cell-related receptors and enhance the effector function of NK cells in perforin- and granzyme-B-dependent manners. The duration, frequency and timing of IL-21 stimulation during culture affected the rate of proliferation, patterns of receptor expression, cytokine production, and anti-tumor activity. The optimal conditions for maximizing the IL-21-induced proliferation and effector function of NK cells in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15 were seen in cells treated with IL-21 for the first 7 days of culture but without any further IL-21 stimulation other than an additional 2-day treatment prior to harvesting on day 21. The results of this study suggest that synergistic interactions of IL-21 with IL-2 and IL-15 play an important role in the proliferation, receptor expression, and effector function of canine NK cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells play critical roles in induction of antiviral effects against various viruses of humans and animals. However, few data on NK cell activities during canine distemper virus (CDV) infections are available. Recently, we established a culture system allowing activation and expansion of canine non-B, non-T, large granular NK lymphocytes from PBMCs of normal dogs. In the present study, we explored the ability of such expanded NK cells to inhibit CDV infection in vitro. Cultured CD3 − CD5 − CD21 − NK cells produced large amounts of IFN-γ, exhibited highly upregulated expression of mRNAs encoding NK-cell-associated receptors, and demonstrated strong natural killing activity against canine tumor cells. Although the expanded NK cells were dose-dependently cytotoxic to both normal and CDV-infected Vero cells, CDV infection rendered Vero cells more susceptible to NK cells. Pretreatment with anti-CDV serum from hyperimmunized dogs enhanced the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of NK cells against CDV-infected Vero cells. The culture supernatants of NK cells, added before or after infection, dose-dependently inhibited both CDV replication and development of CDV-induced cytopathic effects (CPEs) in Vero cells. Anti-IFN-γ antibody neutralized the inhibitory effects of NK cell culture supernatants on CDV replication and CPE induction in Vero cells. Such results emphasize the potential significance of NK cells in controlling CDV infection, and indicate that NK cells may play roles both during CDV infection and in combating such infections, under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Repeated administration of rcIL-15 was well tolerated and did not cause any serious side effects. • Infusion of rcIL-15 promoted the selective proliferation and activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes, and NK lymphocytes. • Repeated administration of rcIL-15 did not stimulate T reg lymphocytes. • Injection of rcIL-15 stimulated the expression of molecules and transcription factors associated with the activation and effector functions of NK cells. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays pivotal roles in innate and adaptive immunity. It is also a promising cytokine for treating cancer. Despite growing interest in its use as an immunotherapeutic, its safety and immunological effects in dogs have not been reported. In this study, healthy dogs were given recombinant canine IL-15 (rcIL-15) intravenously at a daily dose of 20 μg/kg for 8 days and monitored for 32 days to determine the safety and immunological effects of rcIL-15. The repeated administration of rcIL-15 was well tolerated, did not cause any serious side effects, and promoted the selective proliferation and activation of canine anti-cancer effector cells, including CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD3+CD5dimCD21–, and non-B/non-T NK cell populations, without stimulating T reg lymphocytes. The rcIL-15 injections also stimulated the expression of molecules and transcription factors associated with the activation and effector functions of NK cells, including CD16, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, perforin, granzyme B, Ly49, T-bet, and Eomes. These results suggest that rcIL-15 might be a valuable therapeutic adjuvant to improve immunity against cancer in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Canine NK cells still are not well-characterized due to the lack of information concerning specific NK cell markers and the fact that NK cells are not an abundant cell population. In this study, we selectively expanded the canine cytotoxic large granular lymphocytes (CLGLs) that exhibit morphologic, genetic, and functional characteristics of NK cells from normal donor PBMCs. The cultured CLGLs were characterized by a high proportion of CD5(dim) expressing cells, of which the majority of cells co-expressed CD3 and CD8, but did not express TCRαβ and TCRγδ. The phenotype of the majority of the CLGLs was CD5(dim)CD3+CD8+ TCRαβ−TCRγδ−CD4−CD21−CD11c+/−CD11d+/−CD44+. The expression of mRNAs for NK cell-associated receptors (NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, Ly49, perforin, and granzyme B) were highly upregulated in cultured CLGLs. Specifically, NKp46 was remarkably upregulated in the cultured CLGLs compared to PBMCs. The mRNAs for the NKT-associated iTCRα gene in CLGLs was present at a basal level. The cytotoxic activity of the CLGLs against canine NK cell-sensitive CTAC cells was remarkably elevated in a dose-dependent manner, and the CLGLs produced large amounts of IFN-γ. The antitumor activity of CLGLs extended to different types of canine tumor cells (CF41.Mg and K9TCC-pu-AXC) without specific antigen recognition. These results are consistent with prior reports, and strongly suggest that the selectively expanded CLGLs represent a population of canine NK cells. The results of this study will contribute to future research on canine NK cells as well as NK cell-based immunotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The compositional dependence of co-sputtered Ti–In–Zn–O film properties was investigated by means of a combinatorial technique. The X-ray diffraction result showed that the amorphous Ti–In–Zn–O films were fabricated regardless of the Ti contents [Ti/(Ti+In+Zn), at.%] of 4.5–34.4at.%. The surface of amorphous Ti–In–Zn–O film is quite smooth. The obtained surface roughness (RRMS) values ranged from 0.5nm to 1.7nm. The superior resistivity of 3.8×10−4 Ωcm and the transmittance of 92% (at 550nm) was obtained for the Ti–In–Zn–O film with the elemental composition ratio of 18.6/68.5/12.9at.% [Ti/In/Zn, at.%]. The indium quantity actually could be reduced to as high as ~15at.% compared to that of commercial indium tin oxide or indium zinc oxide having similar resistivity value of ~10−4 Ωcm. Overall, the amorphous Ti–In–Zn–O films may serve as a viable, low-cost alternative for flexible transparent conducting electrode applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the usefulness of allogeneic monocyte-derived dendritic cells (allogeneic mDCs) pulsed with leukemic lysates in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Allogeneic mDCs showed higher expressions of several molecules (HLA-DR, CD80, CD83 or CD86), higher production of IL-12 and higher capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells compared to both leukemic DCs and autologous mDCs. Autologous T cells primed by allogeneic mDCs displayed a larger number of interferon-γ-secreting cells against leukemic cells than those primed by either leukemic DCs or autologous mDCs. These results suggest that monocyte-derived DCs from HLA-matched allogeneic donors can be used as an alternative to generate leukemia-specific cytotoxic T cells and to overcome the limitation of leukemic DCs or autologous mDCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated the possibility of immunotherapy for multiple myeloma (MM) using myeloma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that were stimulated in vitro by dendritic cells (DCs) pulsing with purified and optimized myeloma lysates. CD14+ cells were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. On day 6, the immature DCs were pulsed with the purified myeloma cell lysates, and then maturation of the DCs was induced by the addition of a cytokine cocktail. There were no differences in the phenotypic expressions of mature DCs that were generated by pulsing with CD138+ cell lysates or total cell lysates. In optimization of the concentration of myeloma lysates, DCs pulsed with 10 µg/mL of myeloma lysate had greater allogeneic T-cell stimulatory capacities than those pulsed with higher concentrations of myeloma lysates. The CTL lines generated by DCs pulsed with myeloma lysates demonstrated potent cytotoxic activities against autologous target cells, but not against HLA-A2- cell lines or K562 cell lines. The DCs pulsed with myeloma lysates demonstrated a higher stimulatory capacity for autologous CTL compared with mature nonpulsed DCs. These results suggested that the DCs pulsed with purified and optimized myeloma cell lysates could generate potent myeloma-specific CTLs for approaches in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since the prevalence of bovine norovirus (BNoV) and their genetic diversity have only been reported in the USA, England, Germany and The Netherlands, this study examined the prevalence and genetic diversity of BNoVs in diarrheic calves in South Korea using 645 diarrheic fecal specimens from calves by RT-PCR and nested PCR assays. Overall, 9.3% of the diarrheic fecal samples tested positive for BNoVs by either RT-PCR or nested PCR, of which 5.9% samples also tested positive for other enteric pathogens including the bovine coronavirus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine torovirus, bovine groups A, B and C rotaviruses, bovine enteric Nebraska-like calicivirus and Escherichia coli. The genetic diversity was determined by direct sequencing of the partial RdRp region of 12 BNoVs detected from the fecal samples by nested PCR. Among the BNoVs examined, one Korean BNoV strain had the highest nucleotide (86.8%) and amino acid (99.1%) identity with the genotype 1 BNoV (GIII-1) strain, while the remaining 11 Korean BNoVs shared a higher nucleotide (88.0–90.5%) and amino acid (93.5–99.1%) identity with the genotype 2 BNoV (GIII-2) strains. The phylogenetic data for the nucleotide and amino acid sequences also demonstrated that one Korean BNoV strain clustered with GIII-1 but the remaining eleven strains clustered with GIII-2. In conclusion, BNoV infections are endemic and there are two distinct genotypes with GIII-2 being the main genotype circulating in the calf population in South Korea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sapoviruses (SaVs) within the Caliciviridae family are an important cause of gastroenteritis in both humans and animals. Although the widespread occurrence of divergent human SaV strains has been reported, there have only been a few studies of porcine SaVs examining their genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of porcine SaVs in piglets with diarrhea in South Korea. Two hundred and thirty-seven fecal specimens from piglets with diarrhea were examined from 78 farms over a 2-year period from six provinces in South Korea. Overall, 69 (29.1%) of the samples from five provinces tested positive for porcine SaVs by either RT-PCR or nested PCR with the primer pairs specific to porcine SaVs. An analysis of the partial capsid gene (757bp) of 12 porcine SaVs detected from fecal samples showed genetic divergence, not only among the Korean porcine SaVs (67.7–99.1%), but also between Korean and American porcine SaVs (69.1–90.2%). Interestingly, one strain (Po/SaV/JN-MA113/05/Korea), formed a second porcine SaV/GIII genotype, and is tentatively called GIII/2. This strain had a 0.236–0.405 inter-cluster distance with the other strains in the same genogroup, which is comparable to the distances between the established GI and GII SaVs. Furthermore, two potential recombinant porcine SaVs were identified. In conclusion, porcine SaV infections are common in diarrheic piglets in South Korea. The infecting strains are genetically diverse, and include a newly recognized genotype and recombinant viruses within genogroup III. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on the complete mitochondrial genome, Eumetopias jubatus of a Steller sea lion. As stated it is the second complete mitochondrial genome sequenced from this species. The complete mitochondrial genome consists of 13 protein coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA genes. A table is also presented showing the mitochondrial genome characteristics of Eumetopias jubatus.

The article offers information on the study regarding the mitochondrial genome of Elaphe schrenckii, a colubrid snake from Korea. It says that the complete mitochondrial genome of Elaphe schrenckii consists of 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding. It mentions that one of the purpose of the study is to help in the preservation of the genetic resources of endangered species and assist in the species identification of culobroid systematics.

Freshwater mussels (Unionida) are one of the most imperiled animal groups worldwide, revealing the fastest rates of extinction. Habitat degradation, river pollution and climate change are the primary causes of global decline. However, biological threats for freshwater mussels are still poorly known. Here, we describe a diverse ecological group of leeches (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) inhabiting the mantle cavity of freshwater mussels. So far, examples of mussel-associated leech species are recorded from East Asia, Southeast Asia, India and Nepal, Africa, and North America. This group comprises a dozen glossiphoniid species with a hidden life style inside the mantle cavity of their hosts largely overlooked by researchers. We show that the association with freshwater mussels evolved independently in three leech clades, i.e. Batracobdelloides, Hemiclepsis, and Placobdella, at least since the Miocene. Seven mussel-associated leech species and two additional free-living taxa are described here as new to science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a cell-mediated immune defense mechanism in which effector immune cells actively lyse antibody-coated target cells. The ADCC of tumor cells is employed in the treatment of various cancers overexpressing unique antigens, and only natural killer (NK) cells are known to be major effectors of antibody mediated ADCC activity. Canine NK cells are still defined as non-B, non-T large granular lymphocytes because of the lack of information regarding the NK cell-restricted specific marker in dogs, and it has never been demonstrated that canine NK cells have ADCC ability against tumor cells. In the present study, we investigated whether canine non-B, non-T NK cells have ADCC ability against target antibody-coated tumor cells, using cetuximab and trastuzumab, the only human antibodies reported binding to canine cancer cells. Results: Activated canine non-B, non-T NK cells (CD3−CD21−CD5−TCRαβ−TCRγδ−) for 13~17 days ex vivo showed ADCC ability against trastuzumab- or cetuximab-coated target tumor cells expressing various levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Trastuzumab and cetuximab induced significant ADCC responses of canine NK cells even in CMT-U334 and CF41.Mg cells expressing low levels of HER-2 and/or EGFR, as well as in SKBR3 and DU145 cells overexpressing HER-2 and/or EGFR. The trastuzumab-mediated ADCC activity of NK cells was significantly enhanced by treatment with rcIL-21. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that canine non-B, non-T NK lymphocytes have a potential ADCC function and that combinational strategies of monoclonal antibodies with either cytokines, which activate NK cells in vivo, or adoptive transfer of NK cells may be a feasible method for amplifying the efficacy of immunotherapy against malignant cancers even with very low expression of target molecules in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a report regarding the mitochondrial genome of a Korean Phoca largha (KPL). It states that Phoca largha is an endangered marine mammal that has a small genetic variety. Arnason and his colleagues mention the similarity of the nucleotides of KPL and Alaskan Phoca largha which run from 99.4% adenosine triphosphate 6 (Atp6) to 99.9% (12S rDNA). Furthermore, it says that the mitochondrial genomes of Phoca vitulina have low level similarity compared to Phoca largha.