Infection status of Baylisascaris transfuga in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) from three bile farms in South Korea, with molecular analyses.

Bears harbor various endoparasites that pose risks to humans and other animals. However, information on parasitic infections in Asiatic black bears in South Korea (Korea) is limited, and potential hazards still exist because of the close contact between bears and humans on bile farms. The present study was conducted to assess the gastrointestinal parasite infection status in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at bile farms in Korea.

Play fighting social networks do not predict injuries from later aggression.

Early play fighting mimics later aggression in many species, and may, therefore, be expected to reduce costs from later aggressive interactions. Using social network analysis (SNA) the effect of a central play fighting network position on later skin lesions from aggression was assessed in domestic pigs. Piglets (n = 263) were kept in litter groups or socialised pre-weaning with another litter to enhance play fighting experience.

A new method for purification of functional recombinant GST-cyclophilin A protein from E. coli.

The expression of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein is extensively utilized in the study of protein-protein interactions. In the commonly used purification method, the overexpressed GST fusion protein is bound to the glutathione (GSH)-coupled resins via affinity chromatography, and then eluted by an excessive quantity of reduced GSH. However, this technique has certain limitations, such as low product purity, retention of GSH in the sample, as well as relatively high cost.