SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbates the cellular pathology of Parkinson's disease in human dopaminergic neurons and a mouse model.

While an association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and viral infections has been recognized, the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on PD progression remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection heightens the risk of PD using human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived dopaminergic (DA) neurons and a human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) transgenic (Tg) mouse model. Our findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbates PD susceptibility and cellular toxicity in DA neurons pre-treated with human preformed fibrils (hPFFs).

The First Report on the Complete Sequence Characterization of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 in the Republic of Korea.

The bluetongue virus (BTV) is a significant animal pathogen with economic implications in the ruminant industry. Despite global reports on BTV detection and epidemiologic investigations, limited studies have focused on the virus in the ROK. In this study, BTV epidemiological research was conducted on blood samples from cattle and goat farms across nine regions during 2013-2014.

Identification of a novel risk factor for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk: S100G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the prion protein gene (PRNP).

Prion diseases are fatal and malignant infectious encephalopathies induced by the pathogenic form of prion protein (PrP) originating from benign prion protein (PrP). A previous study reported that the M132L single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) is associated with susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk. However, a recent meta-analysis integrated previous studies that did not find an association between the M132L SNP and susceptibility to CWD.

Association Study of the M132L Single Nucleotide Polymorphism With Susceptibility to Chronic Wasting Disease in Korean Elk: A Meta-Analysis.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a deleterious brain proteinopathy caused by a pathogenic form of prion protein (PrP), which is converted from a benign form of prion protein (PrP) encoded by the prion protein gene (). In elk, the M132L single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the gene likely plays a pivotal role in susceptibility to CWD. However, the association of the M132L SNP with susceptibility to CWD has not been evaluated in Korean elk to date.

Identification of the prion-related protein gene (PRNT) sequences in various species of the Cervidae family.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is caused by abnormal deleterious prion protein (PrP), and transmissible spongiform encephalopathy occurs in the Cervidae family. In recent studies, the susceptibility of prion disease has been affected by polymorphisms of the prion gene family. However, the study of the prion-related protein gene (PRNT) is rare, and the DNA sequence of this gene was not fully reported in all Cervidae families.

Sodium hydroxide treatment effectively inhibits PrP replication in farm soil.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) agents are shed into biological samples, facilitating their horizontal transmission between cervid species. Once prions enter the environment, binding of PrP by soil particles may maintain them near the soil surface, posing a challenge for decontamination. A 2 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution is traditionally recommended for prion decontamination of equipment and surfaces.

Application of the fragment molecular orbital method to discover novel natural products for prion disease.

Conformational conversion of the normal cellular isoform of the prion protein PrP into an infectious isoform PrP causes pathogenesis in prion diseases. To date, numerous antiprion compounds have been developed to block this conversion and to detect the molecular mechanisms of prion inhibition using several computational studies. Thus far, no suitable drug has been identified for clinical use.

Establishment of a Madin-Darby bovine kidney cell line expressing anchorless bovine prion protein.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed using extensively purified bacterially expressed bovine prion protein (PrP) shows decreased cross-reactivity. We generated a transduced Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line continuously expressing glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchorless bovine PrP (designated as MDBK ∆GPI protein) by using a lentiviral expression system. The present study also described the method for purifying bovine PrP through sequential culturing without the need for complex purification protocol.

Biological and biochemical characterization of M2B cells: Classical BSE prion is conserved in transgenic mice overexpressing bovine prion protein gene.

M2B cells with persistent classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE) have been established previously. In this study, we performed strain characterization of the M2B cell line in bovine PrP overexpressing mice (Tg 1896). Mice intracranially inoculated with M2B cells and C-BSE survived for 451 ± 7 and 465 ± 31 d post inoculation, respectively.

A novel reassortant H1N2 virus related to the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus isolated from Korean pigs.

Since the discovery of the pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus in 2009, a novel reassortant H1N2 virus (A/Swine/Korea/VDS1/2010) containing the pH1N1 segments has been detected in Korean pig populations. The hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of this virus are derived from reassortant H1N1- and H1N2-group viruses, respectively, identified in Korean pigs, while other genes originate from contemporary circulating pH1N1 viruses. The antigenic and biological properties of this novel virus, as determined by clinical, pathological, serological, and genetic analyses, are similar to those of pH1N1 viruses, which infect swine easily (Weingartl et al.

First isolation of Clostridium perfringens type E from a goat with diarrhea.

A 2-day-old goat died suddenly after the onset of severe diarrhea. No specific gross lesions were observed except for a remarkably thin intestinal wall and watery intestinal contents. Histopathological analysis revealed large numbers of Gram-positive bacilli layered upon the intestinal epithelia of the small intestine.

Kinetics of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha gene expression and their relationship with disease progression after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in guinea pigs.

Purpose: Guinea pig is one of the most suitable animal models for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection since it shows similarities to pulmonary infection in humans. Although guinea pig shows hematogenous spread of M.

Genetic and pathogenic characterization of Akabane viruses isolated from cattle with encephalomyelitis in Korea.

A large-scale outbreak of Akabane viral encephalomyelitis in cattle was reported in the southern part of Korea in 2010. Fifteen Akabane virus (AKAV) strains were isolated from the brain and spinal cord samples by using BHK-21 and/or HmLu-1 cells. To examine the genetic relationships and characteristics of the isolates, nucleotide sequences of the S, M, and L segments of the 15 isolates were determined and analyzed.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Bovine viral diarrhea virus in brain tissues from nonambulatory (downer) cattle in Korea.

Between August 2008 and May 2009, 386 brain and serum samples from adult cattle (2-7 years old) showing a variety of clinical signs of downer cow syndrome were received by the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service. All brain samples were tested for the presence of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and antigen capture ELISA (Ag-ELISA). The BVDV nucleic acid was detected in 54 of 386 (15.

Myocarditis by nematodes infection, presumably Sarconema eurycerca, in a wild whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) in Korea.

A dead whooper swan was found in an area of cropland near a stream and was submitted to the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) in Korea. The affected animal was in relatively good condition. Grossly, the heart was enlarged and had pale and dark red stripes.

A molecular analysis of European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in South Korea.

In a situation where European genotype of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has recently emerged in South Korea, this study aims to understand variations in and relatedness among 25 European (EU) genotype 1 PRRSV isolates obtained from Korean pig farms during the period ranging from 2006 to 2009 for their sequences of nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2), open reading frames (ORF) 5 and 7, which, in turn, were compared with those of published Korean type 1 PRRSV isolates (CP6874, IV3140 and KNU07) and other EU PRRSV strains. The sequence data revealed that all Korean type 1 isolates were found to possess notable 19 amino acid deletions within NSP2 between positions 748 and 766. Based on the complete ORF5 sequences, the results showed that the Korean isolates amounted to 82.

Identification and characterization of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus genetic variants isolated in Korea.

Nine isolates of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) were used for the genetic characterization of RHDV strains collected from rabbits in Korea between 2006 and 2008. A phylogenetic analysis of the complete VP60 region was performed and the sequences were divided mainly into two groups. The one group consisted of original RHDV and the other contained antigenic variant strain known as RHDVa strains.

Phylogenetic analysis and characterization of Korean orf virus from dairy goats: case report.

An outbreak of orf virus infection in dairy goats in Korea was investigated. Suspected samples of the skin and lip of affected goats were sent to the laboratory for more exact diagnosis. Orf virus was detected by electron microscopy and viral DNA was identified by PCR.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Korea, 2008.

In spite of intensive surveillance programs for the control of HPAI, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Korea in April 2008 caused serious damage to poultry farms, as did previous outbreaks in 2003/2004 and 2006/2007. Six viruses were selected from the Korean 2008 isolates for genetic analysis, and all eight gene segments from each of the influenza viruses were sequenced. A phylogenetic analysis showed that all of the viruses were of the same virus type and that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was clustered with that of clade 2.

Antimicrobial resistance and phage types of Salmonella isolates from healthy and diarrheic pigs in Korea.

Objective: To investigate the serotypes, antimicrobial resistance, and phage types of Salmonella spp. isolated from healthy and diarrheic pigs in Korea.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1072 fecal samples and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from healthy (n = 641) and diarrheic (n = 431) pigs throughout Korea during 2006-2007.

Phylogenetic characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 in PMWS and PDNS Korean pigs between 1999 and 2006.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been associated with several disease outcomes in swine, primarily postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). Over an 8-year period (1999-2006), we detected 36 PCV2 strains from PMWS and PDNS cases. Complete genes of the detected PCV2 strains were sequenced and analyzed.