Investigating the Functional Role of the Cysteine Residue in Dehydrin from the Arctic Mouse-Ear Chickweed .

The stress-responsive, SK subclass, dehydrin gene, , has been identified from the Arctic mouse-ear chickweed . CaDHN contains an unusual single cysteine residue (Cys143), which can form intermolecular disulfide bonds. Mutational analysis and a redox experiment confirmed that the dimerization of CaDHN was the result of an intermolecular disulfide bond between the cysteine residues.

Emerging high-level ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar typhi haplotype H58 in travelers returning to the Republic of Korea from India.

In Korea, typhoid fever is a rare disease due to improved living standards. However, typhoid fever remains a major burden in developing countries and regions, such as India and Southeast Asia. In this study, we isolated Salmonella Typhi (S.

Synergism of the Combination of Traditional Antibiotics and Novel Phenolic Compounds against .

Pathogenic ()-associated infections are becoming difficult to treat because of the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Novel approaches are required to prevent the progression of resistance and to extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics. This study was designed to improve the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics against using a combination of the gallic acid (GA), hamamelitannin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin.

Molecular detection of free-living amoebae from Namhangang (southern Han River) in Korea.

The free-living amoebae Naegleria spp. and Acanthamoeba spp. exist in the natural environment and are sometimes causal agents of lethal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), amoebic keratitis (AK) and granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in humans, respectively.

Traveller-associated high-level ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Kentucky in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: Salmonella enterica serotype Kentucky ST198 (S. Kentucky) is frequently associated with human infections and has been identified in travellers to North Africa, South Asia, Europe, and North America. The antimicrobial resistance of this serotype to multiple drugs, including ciprofloxacin (CIP), is a growing concern.

Influence of anonymous HIV testing on national HIV surveillance in the Republic of Korea (2000 to 2015): a retrospective analysis.

Background: Owing to the continuous increase in the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Korea, public health centers (PHCs) have performed anonymous tests since 1989. No study has examined the patterns of anonymous HIV testing performed at PHCs and the characteristics of HIV infection detected in those tests. We aimed to assess the influence of anonymous HIV testing on Korea's national HIV surveillance.

Improving Pneumovirus Isolation Using a Centrifugation and AZD1480 Combined Method.

The isolation of respiratory viruses, especially from clinical specimens, often shows poor efficiency with classical cell culture methods. The lack of suitable methods to generate virus particles inhibits the development of diagnostic assays, treatments, and vaccines. We compared three inoculation methods, classical cell culture, the addition of a JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480, and centrifugation-enhanced inoculation (CEI), to replicate human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

The role of international travellers in the spread of CTX-M-15-producing Shigella sonnei in the Republic of Korea.

Background: Multidrug-resistant Shigella isolates have recently emerged as a serious public health threat worldwide. In particular, overseas travel is a risk factor for acquisition of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella strains. To explore the role of travel in the spread of cefotaxime-resistant Shigella sonnei in Korea, we screened 751 Shigella spp.

A Standard Nomenclature for Referencing and Authentication of Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Unambiguous cell line authentication is essential to avoid loss of association between data and cells. The risk for loss of references increases with the rapidity that new human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines are generated, exchanged, and implemented. Ideally, a single name should be used as a generally applied reference for each cell line to access and unify cell-related information across publications, cell banks, cell registries, and databases and to ensure scientific reproducibility.

Generation of hematopoietic stem cells from human embryonic stem cells using a defined, stepwise, serum-free, and serum replacement-free monolayer culture method.

Background: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be expanded infinitely and have the potential to differentiate into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs); thus, they are considered a useful source of cells for HSC production. Although several technical methods for engineering HSCs from pluripotent stem cells have been developed, clinical application of HSCs engineered from pluripotent stem cells is restricted because of the possibility of xenogeneic contamination resulting from the use of murine materials.

Methods: Human ESCs (CHA-hES15) were cultured on growth factor-reduced Matrigel-coated dishes in the mTeSR1 serum-free medium.

Epidemiology of Trichomoniasis in South Korea and Increasing Trend in Incidence, Health Insurance Review and Assessment 2009-2014.

Trichomoniasis, which is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is one of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections; however, limited population-based data are available that describe patterns and trends of the disease. We summarized insurance claims of trichomoniasis cases reported during 2009-2014 to South Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The average annual incidence in South Korea was 276.

Ornithodoros sawaii (Ixodida: Argasidae) Larvae Collected from Hydrobates monorhis on Sogugul and Gaerin Islands, Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea.

The 65th Medical Brigade and Public Health Command District-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Bird Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted migratory bird tick surveillance at Sogugul and Gaerin Islands (small rocky bird nesting sites), Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea (ROK), on 30 July and 1 August 2009. Breeding seabirds captured by hands in their nesting burrows were banded, identified to species, and carefully examined for ticks during the nesting season. A total of 9 Ornithodoros sawaii larvae were removed from 4 adult Hydrobates monorhis (Swinhoe's storm petrel).

Detection of SFTS Virus in Ixodes nipponensis and Amblyomma testudinarium (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Collected From Reptiles in the Republic of Korea.

A survey of reptile-associated ticks and their infection status with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus was conducted to determine the relative abundance and distribution among lizards, skinks, and snakes in the Republic of Korea (ROK). In total, 132 reptiles, including 49 lizards (two species), 15 skinks (one species), and 68 snakes (eight species) were collected. In total, 84 ixodid ticks belonging to two genera (Ixodes and Amblyomma) were collected from 28/132 (21.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in Women Visiting 2 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics in Daegu, South Korea.

This study explored epidemiological trends in trichomoniasis in Daegu, South Korea. Wet mount microscopy, PCR, and multiplex PCR were used to test for Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swab samples obtained from 621 women visiting 2 clinics in Daegu. Of the 621 women tested, microscopy detected T.

Pros and cons of VP1-specific maternal IgG for the protection of Enterovirus 71 infection.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes hand, foot, and mouth diseases and can result in severe neurological disorders when it infects the central nervous system. Thus, there is a need for the development of effective vaccines against EV71 infection. Here we report that viral capsid protein 1 (VP1), one of the main capsid proteins of EV71, efficiently elicited VP1-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the serum of mice immunized with recombinant VP1.

Evaluation and comparison of molecular and conventional diagnostic tests for detecting tuberculosis in Korea, 2013.

Objectives: A fast and accurate diagnosis is necessary to control and eliminate tuberculosis (TB). In Korea, TB continues to be a serious public health problem. In this study, diagnostic tests on clinical samples from patients suspected to have TB were performed and the sensitivity and specificity of the various techniques were compared.

Antiviral activity of ginsenosides against coxsackievirus B3, enterovirus 71, and human rhinovirus 3.

Background: Ginsenosides are the major components responsible for the biochemical and pharmacological actions of ginseng, and have been shown to have various biological activities. In this study, we investigated the antiviral activities of seven ginsenosides [protopanaxatriol (PT) type: Re, Rf, and Rg2; protopanaxadiol (PD) type: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd)] against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), enterovirus 71 (EV71), and human rhinovirus 3 (HRV3).

Methods: Assays of antiviral activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B method using the cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis by PCR in men attending a primary care urology clinic in South Korea.

Trichomonas vaginalis, a causative agent of trichomoniasis, may trigger symptomatic or asymptomatic nongonococcal urethritis and chronic prostatitis in men. Despite the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR, few prospective studies present data on male T. vaginalis infection in South Korea.

Antiviral effects of Phyllanthus urinaria containing corilagin against human enterovirus 71 and Coxsackievirus A16 in vitro.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) are major causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) especially in infants and children under 5 years of age. Despite recent outbreaks of HFMD, there are no approved therapeutics against EV71 and CA16 infection. Moreover, in a small percentage of cases, the disease progression can lead to serious complications of the central nervous system.

Antiviral Activity of Hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against Enterovirus 71 Subgenotypes C3 and C4a.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the predominant cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The antiviral activity of hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against EV71 subgenotypes C3 and C4a was evaluated in vero cells. In the current study, the antiviral activity of hederasaponin B against EV71 C3 and C4a was determined by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method and western blot assay.

Cross-sectional analysis of the seropositivity and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among veterinarians, in relation to their public professional activities.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic pathogen that can infect most warm-blooded animals and humans. Although numerous epidemiological studies of T. gondii have been published, very limited data exist on the prevalence of T.