Publications by authors named "Jae Man Lee"

Article Synopsis
  • * The study explores the use of silkworm-baculovirus expression vector system (silkworm-BEVS) to produce virus-like particles (VLPs) representing nine NoV genotypes that are prevalent in Japan, which can potentially serve as vaccine candidates.
  • * Results indicated that the VLPs could be produced in large quantities and were confirmed through purification processes, supporting the potential for developing a multivalent vaccine to combat diverse NoV infections.
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  • The silkworm-baculovirus expression vector system (silkworm-BEVS) utilizes the BmNPV virus and silkworms to effectively produce recombinant proteins, which are important for various biotechnological applications.
  • Recent advancements in gene knockout techniques have shown promise in increasing protein yield, but gene editing in the large BmNPV genome is typically slow and complex.
  • This study developed a two-step Golden Gate Assembly method to quickly create a modified BmNPV bacmid that omits six specific genes, enhancing the efficiency and ease of producing recombinant proteins in silkworms.
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This study examined the tensile strength and biocompatibility properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel tissue regeneration scaffolds with polylactic acid (PLA) mesh fabric added as reinforcement, with a focus on the impact of heat treatment temperature and the number of layers of the PLA mesh fabric. The hydrogel scaffolds were prepared using a freeze-thaw method to create PVA hydrogel, with the PLA mesh fabric placed inside the hydrogel. The swelling ratio of the PVA/PLA hydrogel scaffolds decreased with increasing layer number and heat treatment temperature of the PLA mesh.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused the COVID-19 pandemic, with research revealing how its spike protein binds to the human hACE2 receptor, which is critical for infection.
  • Scientists utilized cell lines and a baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) to produce the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein for further study.
  • The RBD was efficiently produced with high purity using silkworms and specific tags, yielding a protein that interacts with the hACE2 receptor; variants like Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta also showed similar production and binding results.
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  • - Spermatogenesis is crucial for reproduction and shows unique features in certain species, such as maintaining spermatogonia and fertilization by dimorphic sperm.
  • - The study characterized gene expression in the testis by analyzing the transcriptomes of 12 tissues, identifying 20,962 total genes and 1,705 testis-specific genes, with a focus on stem and differentiated testis regions.
  • - It found 4,554 SR-specific and 3,980 DR-specific enriched genes; gene ontology analysis confirmed several biological processes were enriched, enhancing our understanding of spermatogenesis and bridging knowledge gaps between fruit flies and mammals.
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Tributyltin (TBT)-binding protein type 1 in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) (O.latTBT-bp1) is a fish lipocalin implicated in TBT binding and detoxification. We purified recombinant O.

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O-glycosylation of secreted and membrane-bound proteins is an important post-translational modification that affects recognition of cell surface receptors, protein folding, and stability. However, despite the importance of O-linked glycans, their biological functions have not yet been fully elucidated and the synthetic pathway of O-glycosylation has not been investigated in detail, especially in the silkworm. In this study, we aimed to investigate O-glycosylation in silkworms by analyzing the overall structural profiles of mucin-type O-glycans using LC-MS.

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Myocardial damage caused by the newly emerged coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is one of the key determinants of COVID-19 severity and mortality. SARS-CoV-2 entry to host cells is initiated by binding with its receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2, and the ACE2 abundance is thought to reflect the susceptibility to infection. Here, we report that ibudilast, which we previously identified as a potent inhibitor of protein complex between transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 3 and NADPH oxidase (Nox) 2, attenuates the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein pseudovirus-evoked contractile and metabolic dysfunctions of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis, and researchers are exploring virus-like particles (VLPs) as potential vaccines to prevent NoV infections.
  • - A new study utilized a silkworm-expression vector system to efficiently produce a major structural protein of NoV, VP1, successfully generating a large quantity of this protein from just five silkworm pupae.
  • - The produced VP1 protein formed functional VLPs that were effective in eliciting protective antibodies, demonstrating the potential of silkworm-BEVS for developing vaccines against NoVs.
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Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that is widespread in developing countries. Malaria vaccines are important in efforts to eradicate malaria; however, vaccines are usually administered by injection, which requires medical personnel and has a risk of causing infection. Transdermal vaccines can be administered without damaging the skin and thus are ideal for the prevention of malaria.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study introduces a new gene (BmHP1c) with a stronger ability to repress transcription compared to BmHP1a, but BmHP1c shows no dimer formation with other HP1 proteins in silkworms.
  • * BmHP1c is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, and its knockdown affects the cell cycle, indicating it serves a unique role compared to BmHP1a and BmHP1b, which are more essential for cell progression.
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Aims: We evaluated the clinical outcomes and trajectory of cardiac reverse remodelling according to the timing of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) use in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods And Results: Patients with de novo HFrEF who used Sac/Val between June 2017 and October 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped into the earlier use group (initiation of Sac/Val < 3 months after the first HFrEF diagnosis) and the later use group (initiation of Sac/Val ≥ 3 months after the first HFrEF diagnosis).

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  • Pvs25, a protein from Plasmodium vivax, is being studied for use in a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, but its expression is challenging due to its complex structure.
  • Researchers successfully expressed Pvs25 in silkworms, producing it in a form that did not require extensive purification, unlike other systems.
  • The Pvs25 protein from silkworms induced strong immune responses in mice and accurately targeted malaria parasites, highlighting its potential as a vaccine candidate.
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Farnesoid x receptor (FXR) is a nuclear bile acid receptor that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. It plays an essential role in bile acid biosynthesis, lipid and glucose metabolism, liver regeneration, and vertical sleeve gastrectomy. A loss of the gene or dysregulations of FXR-mediated gene expression are associated with the development of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, tumorigenesis, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus.

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NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), an antioxidant transcription factor, is activated in autophagy-deficient mice due to the accumulations of p62/SQSTM1 and its subsequent interaction with Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), an adaptor component for Cullin3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Farnesoid x receptor (FXR/NR1H4) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. FXR plays an essential role in bile acid synthesis and enterohepatic circulation, affecting glucose and lipid metabolism.

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Autophagy is a conserved cellular process of catabolism leading to nutrient recycling upon starvation and maintaining tissue and energy homeostasis. Tissue-specific loss of core-autophagy-related genes often triggers diverse diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammatory disease, metabolic disorder, and muscle disease. The nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) plays a key role in fasting-associated metabolisms such as autophagy, fatty acid oxidation, and ketogenesis.

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Autophagy is an adaptive self-eating process involved in degradation of various cellular components such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and organelles. Its activity plays an essential role in tissue homeostasis and systemic metabolism in response to diverse challenges, including nutrient depletion, pathogen invasion, and accumulations of toxic materials. Therefore, autophagy dysfunctions are intimately associated with many human diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, obesity, diabetes, infection, and aging.

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The ovary is an important organ in reproduction. In insects, especially lepidopteran insects, the oocytes and reproductive organs develop rapidly during the pupal stage. Despite their drastic morphological changes, the molecular mechanisms of ovary development are not fully understood.

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The newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing a spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally. In order to end the COVID-19 pandemic, an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 must be produced at low cost and disseminated worldwide. The spike (S) protein of coronaviruses plays a pivotal role in the infection to host cells.

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Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and stroke-related events accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF) can affect morbidity and mortality in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study sought to evaluate a scoring system predicting cardio-cerebral events in HCM patients using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Methods: We investigated the role of a previous prediction model based on CPET, the HYPertrophic Exercise-derived Risk score for Heart Failure-related events (HyperHF), which is derived from peak circulatory power ventilatory efficiency and left atrial diameter (LAD), for predicting a composite of SCD-related (SCD, serious ventricular arrhythmia, death from cardiac cause, heart failure admission) and stroke-related (new-onset AF, acute stroke) events.

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Leptin, secreted by adipocytes, directly influences the onset of puberty in mammals. Our previous study showed that leptin stimulation could promote the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from pituitary cells in primary culture and ovarian development in chub mackerel. This study aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanism of leptin-induced effects on gonadotropin hormone-producing cells.

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There are several known non-molting mutations of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, including non-molting dwarf (nm-d). Larvae with this mutation hatch normally and start eating leaves, but die before the completion of the first ecdysis. Genetic analysis of the nm-d mutation would contribute to the isolation of essential genes for the larval development of lepidopteran insects.

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