Identification and characterization of recent retrovirus in bats.

An investigation into retrovirus was conducted in six species of bats (, , , , , and ) inhabiting South Korea. Exogenous retroviruses (XRVs) were detected in the tissue samples of individuals by PCR assay. Proviruses were identified in all tissue samples through viral quantification using a digital PCR assay per organ (lung, intestine, heart, brain, wing, kidney, and liver), with viral loads varying greatly between each organ.

Development of the H3N2 influenza microneedle vaccine for cross-protection against antigenic variants.

Due to the continuously mutating nature of the H3N2 virus, two aspects were considered when preparing the H3N2 microneedle vaccines: (1) rapid preparation and (2) cross-protection against multiple antigenic variants. Previous methods of measuring hemagglutinin (HA) content required the standard antibody, thus rapid preparation of H3N2 microneedle vaccines targeting the mutant H3N2 was delayed as a result of lacking a standard antibody. In this study, H3N2 microneedle vaccines were prepared by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) without the use of an antibody, and the cross-protection of the vaccines against several antigenic variants was observed.

Amelioration of SARS-CoV-2 infection by ANO6 phospholipid scramblase inhibition.

As an enveloped virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delivers its viral genome into host cells via fusion of the viral and cell membranes. Here, we show that ANO6/TMEM16F-mediated cell surface exposure of phosphatidylserine is critical for SARS-CoV-2 entry and that ANO6-selective inhibitors are effective against SARS-CoV-2 infections. Application of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike pseudotyped virus (SARS2-PsV) evokes a cytosolic Ca elevation and ANO6-dependent phosphatidylserine externalization in ACE2/TMPRSS2-positive mammalian cells.

TMED3 Complex Mediates ER Stress-Associated Secretion of CFTR, Pendrin, and SARS-CoV-2 Spike.

Under ER stress conditions, the ER form of transmembrane proteins can reach the plasma membrane via a Golgi-independent unconventional protein secretion (UPS) pathway. However, the targeting mechanisms of membrane proteins for UPS are unknown. Here, this study reports that TMED proteins play a critical role in the ER stress-associated UPS of transmembrane proteins.

Troglitazone Enhances the Apoptotic Response of DLD-1 Colon Cancer Cells to Photodynamic Therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand troglitazone in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) enhances the apoptotic response of DLD-1 colon cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: The effects of troglitazone, PDT, and troglitazone in combination with PDT on cell viability and apoptosis were assessed in DLD-1 cells. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using the tetrazolium-based MTT assay, and apoptosis was evaluated via cell staining with propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-FITC.

DH-I-180-3-mediated photodynamic therapy: biodistribution and tumor vascular damage.

An important goal of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of various cancers is to shorten PDT-performing time and simultaneously enhance PDT efficacy. Here, we investigated the nontumor tissue distribution of and the tumor vascular damage caused by a new photosensitizer, DH-I-180-3, in mice with implanted EMT6 mammary tumor cells. In addition, we performed cell-based assays to evaluate the basic antitumor effect of DH-I-180-3/PDT in EMT6 cells.

Induction of cell death by photodynamic therapy with a new synthetic photosensitizer DH-I-180-3 in undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells.

To examine the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect on adipocytes, we investigated whether PDT using DH-I-180-3, a new synthetic lipophilic photosensitizer, induced cell death of both undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1. 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated into adipocytes in the culture medium containing pantothenate, insulin, dexamethasone, isobutylmethylxanthine, and troglitazone. PDT was applied to both undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1.

Photoactivation of pheophorbide a induces a mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat leukaemia cells.

The mechanism of cell death by pheophorbide a (Pba) which has been established to be a potential photosensitizer was examined in experimental photodynamic therapy (PDT) on Jurkat cells, a human lymphoid tumor cell line. In 30-60 min after irradiation, Pba treated cells exhibited apoptotic features including membrane blebbing and DNA fragmentation. Pba/PDT caused a rapid release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol.

Correlation between fasting plasma ghrelin levels and age, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentiles, and 24-hour plasma ghrelin profiles in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Ghrelin is a GH-releasing acylated peptide found in the stomach and a centrally acting food intake stimulator. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder characterized by a voracious appetite and increased fasting ghrelin levels. In this report we describe 24-h ghrelin profiles in PWS children (n = 5) and compare these with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls (n = 5).

Silkworm-pheophorbide alpha mediated photodynamic therapy against B16F10 pigmented melanoma.

In order to apply photodynamic therapy (PDT) to pigmented melanoma, the efficacy of PDT mediated by pheophorbide alpha from silkworm excreta (SPbalpha) and commercial Photofrin against B16F10 melanoma was comparatively studied from the in vivo assay using C57BL/6J mice. From in vitro PDT assay, the proliferation of B16F10 cells treated with SPbalpha (more than 0.5 microg/ml) and light illumination (1.

Topoisomerase I inactivation by reticulol and its in vivo cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma.

To investigate the enzyme-inhibitory efficacy and the cytotoxicity of reticulol produced from a strain of Streptoverticillium, we conducted a DNA topoisomerase (Topo) cleavage assay and an in vivo assay using B16F10 melanoma. From the inhibition assay of reticulol for Topo I, which is involved in melanoma metastasis, it was seen that Topo I treated with 45 microM reticulol did not replicate or transcribe DNA by forming supercoiled DNA. In the annexin V/propidium iodide staining assay to investigate the death pattern of B16F10 cells treated with 200 microM reticulol, proliferation of B16F10 cells was inhibited due to necrosis.

Antitumor efficacy of reticulol from Streptoverticillium against the lung metastasis model B16F10 melanoma. Lung metastasis inhibition by growth inhibition of melanoma.

Reticulol was isolated from the culture broth of the strain Streptoverticillium sp. NA-4803. Recticulol (M.

Photoinactivation of vesicular stomatitis virus by a photodynamic agent, chlorophyll derivatives from silkworm excreta.

The efficacy of chlorophyll derivatives from silkworm excreta (CpD) in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) was studied. An enveloped animal virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), was used as a target organism. For CpD mediated PACT, the viruses in suspensions were treated with various doses of CpD (15-60 microg/ml) and visible red light was fixed at 120 mJ/cm(2).