SAMiRNA Targeting Amphiregulin Alleviate Total-Body-Irradiation-Induced Renal Fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a serious unintended side effect of radiation therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether amphiregulin (AREG) plays a critical role in fibrosis development after total-body irradiation (TBI). We found that the expression of AREG and fibrotic markers, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1α1), was elevated in the kidneys of 6 Gy TBI mice.

Comparative transcriptome analyses of the third and fourth stage larvae of Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Anisakidae).

We analyzed transcriptome profiles of Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Anisakidae) 3rd (ASL3) and 4th larvae (ASL4) obtained by RNA-seq, to understand the molecular pathways linked to parasite survival and discover stage-enriched gene expressions. ASL3 were collected from chum salmon and ASL4 were obtained by in vitro culture. Whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted with Illumina sequencer, and de novo assembly was conducted.

Pathogenic potential of two sibling species, Anisakis simplex (s.s.) and Anisakis pegreffii (Nematoda: Anisakidae): in vitro and in vivo studies.

The pathogenic potentials of two sibling nematodes Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) and A.

Occurrence of anisakid nematode larvae in chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) caught off Korea.

Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is a pelagic fish species widely distributing in the Indo-Pacific and a commercially important fish species in Korea. It is known to harbor anisakid nematodes larvae, and ingesting the raw or undercooked fish can accidentally cause human infection. In this study, we isolated the nematode larvae in 417 chub mackerel caught from 7 sampling locations around the Korean Peninsula in 2011 and 2012, and identified them by PCR-RFLP of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) of ribosomal DNA and the direct sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA cox2 gene.

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for detection of Kudoa septempunctata (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and validated for early, rapid, and sensitive detection of Kudoa septempunctata, a myxosporean parasite found in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Recently, several outbreaks associated with ingestion of raw olive flounder muscles harboring mature K. septempunctata spores have been reported, and it is becoming obvious that fresh K.

Reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in Oncorhynchus keta.

A reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for detecting infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) from chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta in South Korea with high specificity, sensitivity and rapidity. A set of 6 IHNV-specific primers was designed, based on the G-protein sequence of IHNV (PRT strain), recognizing 8 distinct sequences of the target RNA. The assay was optimized to detect IHNV at 63 degrees C for 30 min.

Occurrence and identification of Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) isolated from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Korea.

The prevalence of infection and the identification of anisakid larvae in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) from the Namdae River, the east coast of Korea, were investigated. In total, 8,358 larvae were collected from 120 fish samples (male = 58 fish, female = 62 fish) in 2008. Fish samples were collected during October and November 2008.

Detection of megalocytivirus from imported tropical ornamental fish, paradise fish Macropodus opercularis.

Megalocytivirus was detected from paradise fish Macropodus opercularis imported from Indonesia. Four of 11 fish (36%) in 2006 and 40 of 117 fish (34%) in 2008 were found to be PCR-positive for megalocytivirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial major capsid protein (MCP) gene nucleotide sequences revealed that the sequences detected in paradise fish were classified as Genotype II, which includes freshwater fish isolates from Southeast Asian countries, closely related to infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), Murray cod iridovirus (MCIV), and dwarf gourami iridovirus (DGIV-2004).