Do red tide events promote an increase in zooplankton biodiversity?

Red tides occurring off the southern coast of Korea impact the marine ecosystem and aquaculture industries. Zooplankton are crucial in the food web, connecting primary producers to higher predators and interact diversely with red tide organisms. This study explores dynamics of the zooplankton community over seven years including three red tide and four non-red tide years in Tongyeong using metabarcoding.

Immunostimulatory Effects of Korean Mineral-Rich Seawaters on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice.

Deep seawater (DS), obtained from a depth over 200 m, has health benefits due to its rich nutrients and minerals, and intake of DS has shown diverse immunomodulatory effects in allergies and cancer. Therefore, the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mineral-rich seawaters were examined in a cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immunosuppression model. Three samples of Korean seawater, namely DS from the East Sea off the coasts of Pohang (PDS) and Uljin (UDS), and seawater from the West Sea off the coast of Boryeong (BS), were collected.

Seaweed intake modulates the association between variants and the incidence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Koreans.

Vasoactive intrinsic peptide receptor (), a circadian gene, is involved in metabolic homeostasis and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Seaweeds contain polysaccharides that regulate metabolic homeostasis, possibly by altering the effects of variants. We examined the relationship between expression and the incidence of MetS based on seaweed consumption.

Effect of the Interaction between Seaweed Intake and Polymorphisms on Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Korean Adults.

This study aimed to examine the effect of the interaction between seaweed (laver, kelp, and sea mustard) intake and lipoprotein lipase gene () rs17482735 genotypes on the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) data of Korean adults aged 40-69 years were used in this study. Information on seaweed intake was obtained from the food frequency questionnaire.

Standardized extract of Glehnia Littoralis abrogates memory impairment and neuroinflammation by regulation of CREB/BDNF and NF-κB/MAPK signaling in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice model.

Mild cognitive impairment is a typical symptom of early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glehnia littoralis (G. littoralis), a medicinal halophyte plant commonly used to treat strokes, has been shown to possess some therapeutic qualities.

How Do Brown Seaweeds Work on Biomarkers of Dyslipidemia? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

Dyslipidemia is a common chronic disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Diet plays an important role in the development of dyslipidemia. As people pay increased attention to healthy eating habits, brown seaweed consumption is increasing, particularly in East Asian countries.

Zooplankton diversity monitoring strategy for the urban coastal region using metabarcoding analysis.

Marine ecosystems in urban coastal areas are exposed to many risks due to human activity. Thus, long-term and continuous monitoring of zooplankton diversity is necessary. High-throughput DNA metabarcoding has gained recognition as an efficient and highly sensitive approach to accurately describing the species diversity of marine zooplankton assemblages.

DNA barcoding of coral reef fishes from Chuuk State, Micronesia.

The fish diversity of Chuuk Micronesia is currently under threat due to rapid changes in the coral reef ecosystem. Thus, accurate fish identification using DNA barcodes is fundamental for exploring species biodiversity and resource protection. In this study, we analyzed 162 fish mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcodes from Chuuk Micronesia.

Nucleotide sequencing of the HoxA gene cluster using Gorilla fosmid clones.

We sequenced the western gorilla () HoxA cluster region using seven fosmid clones, and found that the total tiling path sequence was 214,185 bp from the 5' non-genic region of HoxA1 to the 3' non-genic region of Evx1. We compared the nucleotide sequence with the gorilla genome sequence in the NCBI database, and the overall proportion of nucleotide difference was estimated to be 0.0005-0.

Effect of Peat Intervention on Pain and Gait in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study.

Methods: Knee osteoarthritis patients with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of 3 or more and Kellgren-Lawrence osteoarthritis grades 1 to 3 were included. Patients with history of intraarticular injection treatment were excluded. Forty-one participants were randomly allocated to the peat intervention group ( = 22) or the hot-pack-only control group ( = 19).

Effects of Balneotherapy in Jeju Magma-Seawater on Knee Osteoarthritis Model.

Balneotherapy is a common non-pharmacological treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), however, the efficacy is controversial in knee OA. Jeju magma-seawater (JMS) has high contents of various minerals, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties via an oral route. Thus, we examined the effects of JMS bathing on knee OA and the combination effects with diclofenac sodium as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Bathing effects of east saline groundwater concentrates on allergic (atopic) dermatitis-like skin lesions induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in hairless mice.

In the present study, it was evaluated whether east saline groundwater concentration solution (ESGWc) exerted a favorable inhibitory effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced allergic/atopic-like dermatitis (AD). AD was induced and boosted by sensitization with DNCB via topical application on the dorsal back skins. Mice with DNCB-induced AD were bathed in 100-, 200- and 400-fold diluted ESGWc.

No Distinction of Orthology/Paralogy between Human and Chimpanzee Rh Blood Group Genes.

On human (Homo sapiens) chromosome 1, there is a tandem duplication encompassing Rh blood group genes (Hosa_RHD and Hosa_RHCE). This duplication occurred in the common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and gorillas, after splitting from their common ancestor with orangutans. Although several studies have been conducted on ape Rh blood group genes, the clear genome structures of the gene clusters remain unknown.

Bathing Effects of Various Seawaters on Allergic (Atopic) Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions Induced by 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene in Hairless Mice.

We evaluated the preventive effects of four types of seawater collected in Republic of Korea on hairless mice with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced allergic/atopic dermatitis (AD). The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by measuring tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α and interleukins (ILs). Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured to evaluate the antioxidant effects.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the mottled skate: Raja pulchra (Rajiformes, Rajidae).

The complete sequence of mitochondrial DNA of a mottled skate, Raja pulchra was sequenced as being circular molecules of 16,907 bp including 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and an AT-rich control region. The organization of the PCGs is the same as those found in other Rajidae species. The nucleotide of L-strand is composed of 29.

Characterization of Cryptopygus antarcticus endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Bombyx mori expression systems.

Endo-β-1,4-glucanase (CaCel) from Antarctic springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus, a cellulase with high activity at low temperature, shows potential industrial use. To obtain sufficient active cellulase for characterization, CaCel gene was expressed in Bombyx mori-baculovirus expression systems. Recombinant CaCel (rCaCel) has been expressed in Escherichia coli (Ec-CaCel) at temperatures below 10°C, but the expression yield was low.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Kwangtung skate: Dipturus kwangtungensis (Rajiformes, Rajidae).

The complete sequence of mitochondrial DNA of a Kwangtung skate, Dipturus kwangtungensis, was determined as being circular molecules of 16,912 bp including 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA, 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) and a control region. The arrangement of the PCGs is the same as that found in other Rajidae species. The nucleotide of L-strand which encodes most of the proteins is composed of 30.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the marine polychaete: Perinereis aibuhitensis (Phyllodocida, Nereididae).

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the marine polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis (Grube, 1878) (Phyllodocida, Nereididae), a dominant species in the mudflat of the West Pacific and Indian Ocean. The complete genome of P. aibuhitensis is 15,852 bp in size including 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA with the same gene order and structure as those of other Nereididae species.

Antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from the internal organs of edible snow crabs.

Antibiotic resistance and microbiota within edible snow crabs are important for the Chionoecetes (snow crab) fishing industry. We investigated these parameters using culture methods and antibiotic susceptibility tests with six internal organs from three species of Chionoecetes. Each sample revealed many unexpected microbial species within Chionoecetes internal organs.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean skate: Hongeo koreana (Rajiformes, Rajidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean skate, Hongeo koreana, the sole member of its genus, is investigated for the first time. The genome consists of 16,906 bp in length including 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA and 13 protein coding genes with the same gene order and structure of the genome as those of other Rajidae species. The overall nucleotide composition of the L-strand is A = 29.

Antioxidant activity of various solvent fractions from edible brown alga, Eisenia bicyclis and its active compounds.

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the antioxidant capacity of Eisenia bicyclis and evaluated its antioxidant activity using various assay systems such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, reducing power ability, and content of total polyphenol. Among all the performed experiments, the ethyl acetate fraction of E. bicyclis exhibited higher antioxidant activities.

Identification and characterization of epoxide hydrolase activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria for biocatalytic resolution of racemic styrene oxide and styrene oxide derivatives.

A novel epoxide hydrolase (EHase) from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria was identified and characterized. EHase activity was identified in four strains of PAH-degrading bacteria isolated from commercial gasoline and oil-contaminated sediment based on their growth on styrene oxide and its derivatives, such as 2,3- and 4-chlorostyrene oxides, as a sole carbon source. Gordonia sp.

Molecular and biochemical characterizations of a novel arthropod endo-beta-1,3-glucanase from the Antarctic springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus, horizontally acquired from bacteria.

Collembolan species have been known to have beta-1,3-glucanase activity and yet the genes coding such enzymes have not been demonstrated. We report here a novel arthropod endo-beta-1,3-glucanase gene CaLam from the Antarctic springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus. The open reading frame consists of 813bp encoding 270 amino acids with a putative signal peptide and a typical motif of glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GHF16), E-I-D-I-T-E.