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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant pathogen in the worldwide swine industry. The virus shows high genetic variation coupled with a broad range of virulence in pigs. Although multiple lineages of the virus have been prevalent throughout in Korea, the characteristics of lineage‐wise pathogenicity are largely unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze and compare the pathogenicity of 11 representative Korean PRRSV‐2 isolates selected from PRRSV‐2 lineages circulating in Korea, NADC30‐like, VR2332‐like, and three nation‐specific lineages (lineage KOR A (LKA), lineage KOR B (LKB), and lineage KOR C (LKC)), which have been continuously prevalent in the nation. Eleven groups of pigs were experimentally infected with one Korean PRRSV‐2 isolate through four consecutive animal experiments. Body weight and body temperature were recorded during each 4‐week challenge experiment period, and virological, serological, and histopathological tests were performed on the collected samples. The data from the animal experiments were integrated into two indicators—excretion and clinical signs—through correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Meta‐analysis was used to compare PRRSV‐2 isolates using each indicator. Based on these analyses, while L1C viruses used in this study (JB15‐N‐P31‐GB and JB15‐N‐PJ73‐GN, similar to NADC30‐like strains) exhibited low or moderate levels of excretion and clinical signs, lineage 5 (L5) or modified live vaccine (MLV)‐variant strains exhibited high levels of excretion compared to other PRRSV‐2 isolates. However, the L5 variants all caused mild clinical signs, except for JB15‐N‐PJ4‐GN, which showed the 4th highest clinical sign indicator. Among the Korean lineages (LKA, LKB, and LKC), two LKB strains (GGYC45 and JB15‐N‐PJ10‐GN) were the most virulent as they showed the highest mortality after the challenge. On the other hand, the LKA and LKC viruses displayed lower excretion indicators than L5 strains, but they had higher‐ranked clinical sign indicators than low‐virulence L5 MLV variants. In conclusion, PRRSV prevalent in Korea has diverse excretion and clinical characteristics, and certain lineage is highly pathogenic. These results will offer useful insights to prevent spread of PRRSV and improve the efficacy of vaccines in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic and subclinical bacterial disease of ruminants caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (C. pseudotuberculosis) infection. Until 2014, there were no reports of CLA outbreaks in South Korea; however, the prevalence of CLA cases has steadily increased. In this study, we used recently obtained field isolates to develop the first inactivated CLA vaccine in South Korea and evaluated it in various animal models. The inactivated vaccine was evaluated for virulence and effectiveness. Mice were tested for virulence and immunization challenges, and guinea pigs and Korean Native Black Goats (KNBGs) evaluated various vaccine concentrations to determine the optimal dose and effectiveness. In the case of KNBGs, clinical symptoms were not observed after vaccination. In addition, CLA-specific IgG was detected at a significantly (p < 0.05) high level and was maintained. In histopathological evaluations, inflammation was predominantly observed in the prefemoral lymph nodes in the non-vaccinated+CHAL group. The genetic diversity of C. pseudotuberculosis, which has become widespread in South Korea, is less than 0.5% our vaccine is expected to prevent infection by a wide range of strains effectively. In summary, our CLA vaccine can potentially prevent CLA and foster the growth of South Korea's domestic KNBG industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The current epidemiology of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) in domestic pig farms in the Republic of Korea is not well understood. In this study, PRCV was found to still be present in Korean pig herds with a high seroprevalence. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of PRCV S gene sequences suggested that Korean PRCV originated from European PRCV and has evolved in Korea. These findings will help expand knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of PRCV in Korea. Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) is a member of the species Alphacoronavirus 1 within the genus Alphacoronavirus of the family Coronaviridae. A few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of PRCV since its first identification in 1997, but there have been no recent studies on the prevalence and genetic characterization of the virus in Korea. In this study, the seroprevalence of PRCV was determined in Korean pig farms using a commercially available TGEV/PRCV differential enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The farm-level seroprevalence of PRCV was determined to be 68.6% (48/70), similar to previous reports in Korea, suggesting that PRCV is still circulating in Korean pig herds nationwide. Among the 20 PRCV-seropositive farms tested in this study, PRCV RNAs were detected in 17 oral fluid samples (28.3%) from nine farms (45.0%), while TGEV RNAs were not detected in any sample. To investigate the genetic characteristics of Korean PRCV strains, genetic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on PRCV spike gene sequences obtained in this study. The three Korean PRCV strains (KPRCV2401, KPRCV2402, and KPRCV2403) shared 98.5–100% homology with each other and 96.2–96.6% and 91.6–94.5% homology with European and American strains, respectively. A 224-amino acid deletion was found in the S gene of both Korean and European PRCVs but not in that of American PRCVs, suggesting a European origin for Korean PRCVs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Korean PRCVs are more closely related to European PRCVs than American PRCVs but clustered apart from both, suggesting that Korean PRCV has evolved independently since its emergence in Korean PRCVs. The results of this study will help expand knowledge on the epidemiology and molecular biology of PRCV currently circulating in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All pigs in the Republic of Korea are given the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine intramuscularly (IM) as part of the country's vaccination policy. However, the IM administration of the FMDV vaccine to pig results in residual vaccine components in the muscle and undesirable changes in muscle and soft tissues, causing economic losses in swine production. In this study, we evaluated whether intradermal (ID) vaccination could be proposed as an alternative to IM administration. ID vaccination (0.2 mL on each side of the neck muscle) and IM vaccination (2 mL on each side of the neck muscle) were performed twice, separated by 14 days, using a commercial FMD vaccine in specific-pathogen-free pigs. We observed growth performance, gross and microscopic lesions at the inoculation site, FMDV-specific antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies for 35 days after vaccination. Side effects on the skin grossly appeared following ID administration, but most were reduced within two weeks. All ID-vaccinated pigs showed inflammatory lesions limited to the dermis, but IM-vaccinated pigs had abnormal undesirable changes and pus in the muscle. ID-vaccinated pigs performed comparably to IM-vaccinated pigs in terms of growth, FMD virus-specific antibodies, protection capability against FMDV, and T-cell induction. This study demonstrated that the ID inoculation of the inactivated FMD vaccine induced immune responses comparable to an IM injection at 1/10 of the inoculation dose and that the inoculation lesion was limited to the dermis, effectively protecting against the formation of abnormal undesirable changes in muscle and soft tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel swine orthopneumovirus (SOV) infections have been identified in pigs in the USA and some European countries but not in Asian countries, including South Korea, to date. The current study reports the first SOV infections in four domestic pig farms located in four provinces across South Korea. The detection rate of SOV in oral fluid samples using qRT-PCR was 4.4% (14/389), indicating the presence of the virus in pigs at commercial farms in Korea. Two complete genome sequences and one glycoprotein (G) gene sequence were obtained from SOV-positive samples. The complete genome analysis of KSOV-2201 and KSOV-2202 strains showed 98.2 and 95.4% homologies with a previously reported SOV, and the phylogenetic tree exhibited a high correlation with a previously reported SOV strain from the US and a canine pneumovirus (CPnV) strain from China. Based on the genetic analysis of the viral G gene, the murine pneumonia virus (MPV)-like orthopneumoviruses (MLOVs) were divided into two genogroups (G1 and G2). Seventeen CPnVs and two feline pneumoviruses were grouped into G1, while the Korean SOV strains identified in this study were grouped into G2 along with one SOV and two CPnVs. These results will contribute to expanding our understanding of the geographical distribution and genetic characteristics of the novel SOV in the global pig population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For rapid and reliable detection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) from pig clinical samples, a multiplex, real-time, reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (mqRT-LAMP) was developed using two sets of primers and assimilating probes specific to the PEDV N gene and the Sus scrofa β-actin gene, which was used as an endogenous internal positive control (EIPC) to avoid false-negative results. The assay specifically amplified both target genes of PEDV and EIPC in a single reaction without any interference but did not amplify other porcine viral nucleic acids. The limit of detection was 10 copies/μL, 100-fold lower than that of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and equivalent to that of quantitative/real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). This assay has high repeatability and reproducibility with coefficients of variation < 4.0%. The positive signal of the mqRT-LAMP assay was generated within 25 min, demonstrating advantages in rapid detection of PEDV over RT-PCR or qRT-PCR assay, which require at least 2 h turnaround times. In clinical evaluation, the detection rate of PEDV by mqRT-LAMP assay (77.3%) was higher than that of RT-PCR assay (69.7%), and comparable to qRT-PCR (76.8%) with almost 100% concordance (kappa value 0.98). The developed mqRT-LAMP assay can serve as an advanced alternative method for PEDV diagnosis because it has high sensitivity and specificity, rapidity, and reliability even in resource-limited laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes are considered to be promising functional organic materials owing to their tunable properties and unique π‐electron structure. Despite these advantages, the application of polymeric metal Pc into lithium–sulfur (LiS) batteries has yet to be explored. Herein, this work demonstrates a molecular design of multifunctional polymeric cobalt Pc with triethylene glycol linkers (TCP) that provide a redox mediating capability for the Co ion in the center of the Pc, a strong polar interaction of N atoms with Li, and the lithiophilic sites of crown ether mimicking linkers for highly efficient LiS batteries. As verified by electrochemical and theoretical analyses, the cooperative redox mediating and lithiophilic effects of TCP coated onto multiwalled carbon nanotube (TCP/MC) are attributed to the facilitated conversion reaction kinetics of S cathodes for the high utilization efficiency of S and the inhibition of polysulfide shuttling. Consequently, the S@TCP/MC delivers high discharge capacity of 1392.8 mA h g−1 and high‐rate capacity of 667.9 mA h g−1 at 5.0 C. Moreover, this cathode achieves a high capacity retention of 81.5% over 200 cycles, along with a high areal capacity of 6.83 mA h cm−2 at 0.2 C with a high S loading of 6.6 mg cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) represents a major health issue for piglets worldwide and does significant damage to the pork industry. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to manage PEDV infections. Due to the current lack of a reliable remedy, this present study aims to identify novel compounds that inhibit the 3CL protease of the virus involved in replication and pathogenesis. Results: To identify potent antiviral compounds against the 3CL protease, a virtual screening of natural compounds (n = 97,999) was conducted. The top 10 compounds were selected based on the lowest binding energy and the protein-ligand interaction analyzed. Further, the top five compounds that demonstrated a strong binding affinity were subjected to drug-likeness analysis using the ADMET prediction, which was followed by molecular dynamics simulations (500 ns), free energy landscape, and binding free energy calculations using the MM-PBSA method. Based on these parameters, four putative lead (ZINC38167083, ZINC09517223, ZINC04339983, and ZINC09517238) compounds were identified that represent potentially effective inhibitors of the 3CL protease. Conclusion: Therefore, these can be utilized for the development of novel antiviral drugs against PEDV. However, this requires further validation through in vitro and in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NADC34-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) are emerging globally. Although lineage 1 PRRSVs are emerging in Korea, NADC34-like PRRSV strains have not been detected to date. This study reports the isolation of the first NADC34-like PRRSV strains from samples of MLV-vaccinated animals on a Korean farm with a severe PRRS outbreak causing high mortality and abortion rates in July 2022. Three PRRSV strains with a whole genome length of 15,088 bp were isolated from the outbreaks, and their phylogenetic, recombination properties, and in vitro growth kinetics were evaluated comprehensively. These Korean strains clustered with those of American and Chinese sublineage 1.5 (NADC34-like strains), according to phylogenetic analyses based on the ORF5 gene and the whole genome. All three complete genome sequences originated from recombination between the RespPRRS MLV and NADC34-like strains, according to recombination analysis. Full-length Nsp2 sequence alignment indicated that all three isolates had a continuous deletion in 100 aa, which was similar to that of the IA/2014/NADC34. Based on phylogenetic analysis and the Nsp2 deletion pattern, the isolates are identified as NADC34-like PRRSV. Growth kinetic analysis based on primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and MARC-145 cells has revealed that Korean NADC34-like PRRSV strains had better replication ability in primary PAMs than other Korean lineage 1 viruses or the reference strain VR2332, implying higher pathogenicity in pigs. Considering the fact that NADC34-like PRRSV strains were detected in MLV-vaccinated animals on a farm in the area of the highest pig population density in Korea, additional vaccine failure cases and the spread of the virus could be detected in the near future. Collectively, these results aid in comprehending the current epidemic state of PRRSVs in Korea and highlight the need for continuous surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The impairment of reproductive and growth performance of pigs by disease is directly connected to the economic loss of a farm. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is one of the diseases with the highest economic impact prevailing globally. However, the impact of PRRS outbreaks on swine production in South Korea has been rarely reported. By monitoring before and after a PRRS outbreak in a PRRS-negative farm with mass vaccination in sows and gilts, we found that a potential vaccine failure caused by PRRSV infection in this farm caused severe losses in both the farrowing period and growing period, which is similar to or exceeds reports from other countries. As a result, the pig farm in this study suffered extensive production and economic losses due to PRRSV infection, and further studies are needed to estimate the total cost of economic losses due to PRRS outbreaks in the South Korean swine industry. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease that has inflicted economic losses in the swine industry. The causative agent, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is known to have a high genetic diversity which leads to heterogeneous pathogenicity. To date, the impact of PRRS outbreaks on swine production and the economy of the swine industry in South Korea has been rarely reported. In this study, we compare the reproductive performance in the breeding-farrowing phase and growth performance in the nursery phase, in two 27-week periods, one before and one after a PRRSV1 outbreak on a 650-sow farrow-to-nursery farm caused by a Korean PRRSV1 isolate which was genetically distinct from vaccine strains or other global strains. The reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of nursery pigs were compared using row data consisting of 1907 mating records, 1648 farrowing records, and 17,129 weaning records from 32 breeding batches. The following variables were significantly different between the pre-PRRS outbreak period and the post-PRRS outbreak period: the farrowing rate (−7.1%, p < 0.0001), the abortion rate (+3.9%, p < 0.0001), the return rate (+2.9%, p = 0.0250), weaning to estrus interval days (+1.9 days, p < 0.0001), total piglets born (−1.2 pigs/litter, p < 0.0001), piglets born alive (−2.2 pigs/litter, p < 0.0001), weaned piglets (−2.7 pigs/litter, p < 0.0001), pre-weaning mortality (+7.4%, p < 0.0001), weaning weight (−0.9 kg/pig, p = 0.0015), the mortality rate (+2.8%, p < 0.0001), average daily gain (−69.8 g/d, p < 0.0001), and the feed conversion ratio (+0.26, p = 0.0036). Economic losses for a period of 27 weeks after a PRRS outbreak were calculated at KRW 99,378 (USD 82.8) per mated female for the breeding-farrowing phase, KRW 8,968 (USD 7.5) per pig for the nursery growth phase, and KRW 245,174 (USD 204.3) per sow in the post-outbreak period. In conclusion, the farrow-to-nursery farm in our study suffered extensive production and economic losses as a result of a PRRSV1 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine respirovirus 1 (PRV1) is a recently emerging porcine respiratory virus that belongs to the genus Respirovirus of the Paramyxoviridae family. Since its first detection in Hong Kong, China in 2009, PRV1 has been subsequently identified in several American and European countries, suggesting that the emerging virus may have been globally distributed. However, in Asia, the virus has been reported only in China. Here, we report that PRV1 was first detected in pigs from 16 farms located in seven provinces across Korea, with a prevalence of 71.4% based on the tested oral fluid samples, suggesting that the virus is already widespread in Korean pig herds. For further genetic characterization of the Korean PRV1 strains, a complete genome and two F gene sequences were obtained from PRV1‐positive samples collected from three different pig farms. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genome and F gene sequences showed that all three Korean PRV1 strains were grouped into European lineage 1 and were closely related to strains from Hong Kong (China), Germany and Poland. We could not obtain evidence for the origin of Korean PRV1 because of the limited availability of PRV1 sequences. In conclusion, PRV1 was first identified in Korean pig herds and genetically characterized in the present study. These results contribute to a better understanding of the global geographical distribution and genetic characteristics of PRV1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the worldwide spread of COVID-19, and given the zoonotic nature of this virus, it is necessary to monitor companion animals in epidemic areas. Dogs and cats visiting local animal hospitals and animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic were randomly selected for inclusion in this survey. Although testing is recommended only for animals from a COVID-19-confirmed family showing clinical symptoms, this investigation was carried out in view of the highly contagious nature of the virus. Of the 1018 pets tested, we found 2 cats with the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, 16 dogs (2.38%) and 18 cats (5.20%) carrying antibodies, and 14 dogs (2.08%) and 17 cats (4.91%) carrying virus-neutralizing antibodies. Even in animal shelters, which were thought to be relatively safe from the virus, with contact with confirmed human cases being blocked due to strict self-quarantine measures, antigens and antibody positivity were detected. Since antigens or antibodies were detected in the investigated animals regardless of whether the companion family was infected, their presence may cause continuous viral circulation between humans and animals, and the disease that started with zoonosis may cause reverse zoonosis. Considering the high transmissibility of COVID-19, continuous monitoring in animals is required. The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the zoonotic SARS-CoV-2. A variety of animals involved in human life worldwide have been investigated for infection. As the degree of infection increased, extensive monitoring in animals became necessary to determine the degree of infection in animals. The study was conducted on a sample of dogs and cats, which were randomly sampled according to the number of confirmed cases in the region. Animals from both COVID-19-confirmed households and generally disease-negative families and animal shelters were included. Tests included real-time qPCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 antigens, ELISA for antibodies, and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) for neutralizing antibodies. As a result, SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected in 2 cats out of 1018 pets (672 dogs and 346 cats). A total of 16 dogs (2.38%) and 18 cats (5.20%) tested positive using ELISA, and 14 dogs (2.08%) and 17 cats (4.91%) tested positive using PRNT. Antigens of- and/or antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the animals regardless of whether the companion family was infected; this was the case even in animal shelters, which have been regarded as relatively safe from transmission. In conclusion, continuous viral circulation between humans and animals is inevitable; therefore, continuous monitoring in animals is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an economically important swine pathogen that causes porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVADs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of specific pathogen-free Yucatan miniature pigs (YMPs) as an experimental model for PCV2d challenge and vaccine assessment because PCV2-negative pigs are extremely rare in conventional swine herds in Korea. In the first experiment, every three pigs were subjected to PCV2d field isolate or mock challenge. During three weeks of experiments, the PCV2d infection group exhibited clinical outcomes of PCVAD with high viral loads, lymphoid depletion, and detection of PCV2d antigens in lymphoid organs by immunohistochemistry. In the second experiment, three groups of pigs were challenged with PCV2d after immunization for three weeks: a nonvaccinated group (three pigs), a PCV2b-Vac group vaccinated with a commercial PCV2b-based inactivated vaccine SuiShot® Circo-ONE (five pigs), and a PCV2d-Vac group vaccinated with an experimental PCV2d-based inactivated vaccine (five pigs). During the three weeks of the challenge period, nonvaccinated pigs showed similar clinical outcomes to those observed in the PCV2d infection group from the first experiment. In contrast, both the PCV2b and PCV2d vaccinations produced good levels of protection against PCV2d challenge, as evidenced by reduced viral loads, improved growth performance, high virus-neutralizing antibody titers, and less development of PCV2-associated pathological lesions. Taken together, these data suggest that YMPs could be an alternative model for PCV2 challenge experiments, and these animals displayed typical clinical and pathological features and characteristics of protective immunity induced by the vaccines that were consistent with those resulting from PCV2 infections in conventional pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a macrophage-tropic arterivirus with extremely high genetic and pathogenic heterogeneity that causes significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. PRRSV can be divided into two species [PRRSV1 (European) and PRRSV2 (North American)] and is usually diagnosed and genetically differentiated into several lineages based on the ORF5 gene, which constitutes only 5% of the whole genome. This study was conducted to achieve nonselective amplification and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) based on a simplified sequence-independent, single-primer amplification (SISPA) technique with next-generation sequencing (NGS), and to genetically characterize Korean PRRSV field isolates at the whole genome level. Methods: The SISPA-NGS method coupled with a bioinformatics pipeline was utilized to retrieve full length PRRSV genomes of 19 representative Korean PRRSV strains by de novo assembly. Phylogenetic analysis, analysis of the insertion and deletion (INDEL) pattern of nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2), and recombination analysis were conducted. Results: Nineteen complete PRRSV genomes were obtained with a high depth of coverage by the SISPA-NGS method. Korean PRRSV1 belonged to the Korean-specific subtype 1A and vaccine-related subtype 1C lineages, showing no evidence of recombination and divergent genetic heterogeneity with conserved NSP2 deletion patterns. Among Korean PRRSV2 isolates, modified live vaccine (MLV)-related lineage 5 viruses, lineage 1 viruses, and nation-specific Korean lineages (KOR A, B and C) could be identified. The NSP2 deletion pattern of the Korean lineages was consistent with that of the MN-184 strain (lineage 1), which indicates the common ancestor and independent evolution of Korean lineages. Multiple recombination signals were detected from Korean-lineage strains isolated in the 2010s, suggesting natural interlineage recombination between circulating KOR C and MLV strains. Interestingly, the Korean strain GGYC45 was identified as a recombinant KOR C and MLV strain harboring the KOR B ORF5 gene and might be the ancestor of currently circulating KOR B strains. Additionally, two novel lineage 1 recombinants of NADC30-like and NADC34-like viruses were detected. Conclusion: Genome-wide analysis of Korean PRRSV isolates retrieved by the SISPA-NGS method and de novo assembly, revealed complex evolution and recombination in the field. Therefore, continuous surveillance of PRRSV at the whole genome level should be conducted, and new vaccine strategies for more efficient control of the virus are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Classical porcine parvovirus (PPV1) and novel porcine parvoviruses designated porcine parvovirus 2 through 7 (PPV2-PPV7) are widespread in pig populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence rates of PPV1-PPV7 in Korea by detecting PPVs in serum, lung and fecal samples and to elucidate the association of PPVs with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), major pathogens involved in porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). A total of 286 serum, 481 lung, and 281 fecal samples collected from 2018 to 2020 were analyzed. Results: The results showed that PPVs are widespread in Korea; the highest detection rates were found in lung samples and ranged from 7.9% (PPV1) to 32.6% (PPV2). Regarding age groups, fattening pigs had the highest detection rates of PPVs, ranging from 6.4% (PPV1) to 36.5% (PPV6); this finding suggests the chronic nature of PPV infections and the continual circulation of these viruses. When compared with PCV2- and PRRSV-negative lung samples, PCV2-positive samples with or without PRRSV positivity had significantly higher detection levels of PPV1 and PPV6. In contrast, the prevalence of PPV2 and PPV7 was significantly higher in PRRSV-infected lung samples regardless of PCV2 detection. PPV5 was detected significantly more frequently in samples with both PCV2 and PRRSV positivity. Conclusions: This study could offer a better understanding of the role of PPVs in PCV2 and/or PRRSV infection though further studies are needed to experimentally assess the impact of PPVs in coinfections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immortalized cell lines are valuable resources to expand the molecular characterization of major histocompatibility complex genes and their presented antigens. We generated a panel of immortalized cell lines by transfecting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) into primary fibroblast cells prepared from ear, fetal, and lung tissues of 10 pigs from five breeds and successfully cultured them for 30–45 passages. The cell growth characteristic of the immortalized fibroblasts was similar to that of primary fibroblast, which was unable to form colonies on soft agar. The genotypes of major swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) genes, including three classical class I (SLA-1, -2, and -3) and three class II genes (DQB1 , DRB1 , and DQA), were determined using high-resolution typing. A total of 58 alleles, including a novel allele for SLA-2 , were identified. Each cell line was unique. A cell line derived from a National Institutes of Health miniature pig was homozygous across the six major SLA genes. The expression levels of SLA classical class I genes varied among the cell lines and were slightly upregulated in the immortalized compared to the primary cells based on semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The immortalized porcine fibroblast cell lines with diverse SLA haplotypes that were developed in this study have potential to be applied in studies regarding the molecular characteristics and genetic structure of SLA genes and epitope–major histocompatibility complex interactions in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, few studies related to the evaluation of the pathogenicity of different PRRSV isolates using a reproductive model have been undertaken, and the main focus has remained on respiratory models using young pigs. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of two PRRSV-1 isolates (D40 and CBNU0495) and two PRRSV-2 isolates (K07-2273 and K08-1054) in a reproductive model. Pregnant sows were experimentally infected with PRRSV at gestational day 93 or used as an uninfected negative control. Sera were collected at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 19 days post-challenge (dpc) for virological and serological assays. At 19 dpc, all sows were euthanized, and their fetuses were recovered by performing cesarean section and immediately euthanized for sample collection. Here, compared to the other isolates, the CBNU0495 isolate replicated most efficiently in the pregnant sows, and K07-2273 produced the highest rate of reproductive failure even though it did not replicate as efficiently as the other isolates in sows and fetuses, indicating that vertical transmission and reproductive failure due to PRRSV infection do not have any significant correlation with the viral loads in samples from sows and fetuses. Similarly, the viral loads and the histopathological lesions did not show any correlation with each other, as the PRRSV-2-infected groups displayed more prominent and frequent histopathological lesions with lower viral loads than the PRRSV-1-infected groups. However, viral loads in the myometrium/endometrium might be related to the spreading of PRRSV in the fetuses, which affected the birth weight of live fetuses. This study contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenicity of the most prevalent Korean PRRSVs in a reproductive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the most important pathogen in the Korean swine industry. Despite efforts including improved biosecurity and vaccination protocols, the virus continues to circulate and evolve. Based on phylogenetic analysis of open reading frame 5 (ORF5), Korean PRRSVs are known to form not only globally circulating lineages but also country-specific lineages (Lin Kor A, B, and C). To understand the recent epidemiological status of PRRSV in Korea, a total of 1349 ORF5 sequences of Korean PRRSV isolates from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the maximum-likelihood method, and temporal changes in the relative prevalence of lineages were investigated. The analysis showed that PRRSV1 and PRRSV2 were both highly prevalent throughout the years examined. Among the PRRSV1 isolates, subgroup A (90.1%) and vaccine-like subgroup C (9.0%) composed most of the population. For PRRSV2 isolates, vaccine-like lineage 5 (36.3%) was dominant, followed by Lin Kor B (25.9%), Kor C (16.6%), lineage 1 (11.6%), and Kor A (9.1%). The PRRSV2 lineage 1 population increased from 2014 (1.8%) to 2019 (29.6%) in Korea due to the continual spread of sublineage 1.8 (NADC30-like) and introduction of sublineage 1.6 into the country. Additional genetic analysis, including analysis of non synonymous and synonymous mutations, revealed evidence of diversification and positive selection in immunologically important regions of the genome, suggesting that current vaccination is failing and promoting immune-mediated selection. Overall, these findings provide insights into the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of cocirculating viral lineages, and constant surveillance of PRRSV occurrence is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Rh-Sn/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by 0.5 wt% of Rh and varied amounts of Sn from 0 to 3.0 wt%. Rh-Sn catalysts were evaluated to determine if selective hydrogen combustion(SHC) can be effectively applicable to propane dehydrogenation (PDH). PDH is an endothermic reaction and SHC can generate partial heat energy. In this study, two separate SHC reactions were examined. One was to look into the quantification of competitive combustion states over Rh-Sn catalysts in the presence of hydrogen, propylene, oxygen, and nitrogen. The other was to evaluate SHC with Rh-Sn catalysts in the presence of hydrogen, propane, oxygen, and nitrogen. The factor that we entitled A factor, was employed to analyze the effect of Sn amount. The result showed that the best performance was achieved by 0.5Rh-1.5Sn/Al2O3 catalyst for both SHC reactions. Characteristics of catalysts were analyzed by CO chemisorption, XPS, TEM-EDX and TPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of coliforms and Escherichia coli across radish sprout production facilities in the Republic of Korea and to characterize isolated E. coli. A total of 324 samples were collected from three different radish sprout production units in spring and summer. Overall, the levels of coliforms were significantly higher (> 3.75 log CFU/g) in radish sprouts during summer season than in spring. E. coli was detected in the pre-harvest (50%) and post-harvest (39%) sprouts and water samples (33%) from farms B and C. Of the 48 E. coli isolates, five E. coli isolates were positive for the eaeA gene, indicative of EPEC O110, two isolates were eaeA-positive (EPEC ONT) and one isolate was ipaH-positive (ETEC O71). These three E. coli strains were identified as novel sequence types by the multilocus sequence-typing assay based on the combination of allelic profiles. In addition, the EPEC O110 isolates obtained from the stream water stored in container of farm C were toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans. It is necessary to implement safety measures during the production of radish sprouts to prevent E. coli outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) are small, nonenveloped DNA viruses that are widespread in the global pig population. PPV type 1 (PPV1) is a major causative agent of reproductive failure and has been recognized since the 1960s. In recent decades, novel PPVs have been identified and designated as PPVs 2 through 7 (PPV2~PPV7). Although the epidemiological impacts of these newly recognized parvoviruses on pigs are largely unknown, continuous surveillance of these PPVs is needed. The aim of this study was to develop an improved and efficient detection tool for these PPVs and to assess the developed method with field samples. Using 7 sets of newly designed primers, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) protocol was developed for the simultaneous detection of the seven genotypes of PPV (PPV1~PPV7). The sensitivity of the mPCR assay was analyzed, and the detection limit was determined to be 3×103 viral copies. The assay was highly specific in detecting one or more of the viruses in various combinations in specimens. The mPCR method was evaluated with 80 serum samples, 40 lung or lymph node samples and 40 intestine or fecal samples. When applied to these samples, the mPCR method could detect the 7 viruses simultaneously, providing rapid results regarding infection and coinfection status. In conclusion, the developed mPCR assay can be utilized as an effective and accurate diagnostic tool for rapid differential detection and epidemiological surveillance of various PPVs in numerous types of field samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection is the most important viral disease causing severe economic losses in the swine industry. However, mechanisms underlying gene expression control in immunity-responsible tissues at different time points during PRRSV infection are poorly understood. We constructed an integrated gene co-expression network and identified tissue- and time-dependent biological mechanisms of PRRSV infection through bioinformatics analysis using three tissues (lungs, bronchial lymph nodes [BLNs], and tonsils) via RNA-Seq. Three groups with specific expression patterns (i.e., the 3-dpi, lung, and BLN groups) were discovered. The 3 dpi-specific group showed antiviral and innate-immune signalling similar to the case for influenza A infection. Moreover, we observed adaptive immune responses in the lung-specific group based on various cytokines, while the BLN-specific group showed down-regulated AMPK signalling related to viral replication. Our study may provide comprehensive insights into PRRSV infection, as well as useful information for vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) produces hemolytic cytotoxins, ApxI, ApxII, ApxIII, and ApxIV, causing a huge loss to the swine industry. Objective: We developed the PadLysis protocol for extracting genomic DNA (gDNA) for the LAMP—LeucoCrystal Violet (LCV) colorimetric detection. A paper-based well pad for gDNA extraction was fabricated using a wax printing method. Furthermore, the LAMP amplicons were detected in situ with colorimetric dye, LCV. Results: Wax-printed well pads (WPWPs) have hydrophobic wax barriers by printing a well pattern that allows the establishment of simple and equipment-free PadLysis protocol consisting of the three steps: (1) 2 min lysis, (2) 2 min washing, and (3) 1 min drying. This proposed platform allowed direct LAMP amplification for A. pleuropneumoniae field isolates. We optimized LCV chemical components to enable the accurate LAMP signal readouts. The overall assay takes up to 45 min including 5 min PadLysis, 40 min LAMP amplification, and LCV signal observation with the naked eye. Conclusion: Our WPWPs–LAMP–LCV approach can be used as a rapid screening tool for A. pleuropneumoniae pleuropneumonia (APP) caused by ApxIA toxin in future outbreak areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The host-associated defence system responsible for the clearance of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from infected pigs is currently poorly understood. To better understand the dynamics of host–pathogen interactions, seventy-five of 100 pigs infected with PRRSV-JA142 and 25 control pigs were euthanized at 3, 10, 21, 28 and 35 days post-challenge (dpc). Blood, lung, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial lymph node (BLN) samples were collected to evaluate the cellular immune responses. The humoral responses were evaluated by measuring the levels of anti-PRRSV IgG and serum virus-neutralizing (SVN) antibodies. Consequently, the highest viral loads in the sera and lungs of the infected pigs were detected between 3 and 10 dpc, and these resulted in moderate to mild interstitial pneumonia, which resolved accompanied by the clearance of most of the virus by 28 dpc. At peak viremia, the frequencies of alveolar macrophages in infected pigs were significantly decreased, whereas the monocyte-derived DC/macrophage and conventional DC frequencies were increased, and these effects coincided with the early induction of local T-cell responses and the presence of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines in the lungs, BAL, and BLN as early as 10 dpc. Conversely, the systemic T-cell responses measured in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were delayed and significantly induced only after the peak viremic stage between 3 and 10 dpc. Taken together, our results suggest that activation of immune responses in the lung could be the key elements for restraining PRRSV through the early induction of T-cell responses at the sites of virus replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multifocal spherical nonstaining cavities and gram-positive, rod-shaped, and endospore-forming bacteria were found in the liver of a sow that died suddenly. Clostridium novyi type B was identified and isolated from the sudden death case, and the isolate was characterized by molecular analyses and bioassays in the current study. Results: C. novyi was isolated from the liver of a sow that died suddenly and was confirmed as C. novyi type B by differential PCR. The C. novyi isolate fermented glucose and maltose and demonstrated lecithinase activity, and the cell-free culture supernatant of the C. novyi isolate exhibited cytotoxicity toward Vero cells, demonstrating that the isolate produces toxins. In addition, whole-genome sequencing of the C. novyi isolate was performed, and the complete sequences of the chromosome (2.29 Mbp) and two plasmids (134 and 68 kbp) were identified for the first time. Based on genome annotation, 7 genes were identified as glycosyltransferases, which are known as alpha toxins; 23 genes were found to be related to sporulation; 12 genes were found to be related to germination; and 20 genes were found to be related to chemotaxis. Conclusion: C. novyi type B was isolated from a sow in a sudden death case and confirmed by biochemical and molecular characterization. Various virulence-associated genes were identified for the first time based on whole-genome sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guanylate-binding proteins (GBP1 and GBP5) are known to be important for host resistance against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. In this study, the effects of polymorphisms in GBP1 (GBP1E2 and WUR) and GBP5 on host immune responses against PRRSV were investigated to elucidate the mechanisms governing increased resistance to this disease. Seventy-one pigs [pre-genotyped based on three SNP markers (GBP1E2, WUR, and GBP5)] were assigned to homozygous (n = 36) and heterozygous (n = 35) groups and challenged with the JA142 PRRSV strain. Another group of nineteen pigs was kept separately as a negative control group. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-challenge (dpc). Viremia and weight gain were measured in all pigs at each time point, and a flow cytometry analysis of PBMCs was performed to evaluate T cell activation. In addition, 15 pigs (5 pigs per homozygous, heterozygous and negative groups) were sacrificed at 3, 14 and 28 dpc, and the local T cell responses were evaluated in the lungs, bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BALc), lymph nodes and tonsils. The heterozygous pigs showed lower viral loads in the serum and lungs and higher weight gains than the homozygous pigs based on the area under the curve calculation. Consistently, compared with the homozygous pigs, the heterozygous pigs exhibited significantly higher levels of IFN-α in the serum, proliferation of various T cells (γδT, Th1, and Th17) in PBMCs and tissues, and cytotoxic T cells in the lungs and BALc. These results indicate that the higher resistance in the pigs heterozygous for the GBP1E2, WUR and GBP5 markers could be mediated by increased antiviral cytokine (IFN-α) production and T cell activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of alfalfa seed germination on growth of Salmonella enterica. We investigated the population changes of S. enterica during early sprout development. We found that the population density of S. enterica, which was inoculated on alfalfa seeds was increased during sprout development under all experimental temperatures, whereas a significant reduction was observed when S. enterica was inoculated on fully germinated sprouts. To establish a model for predicting S. enterica growth during alfalfa sprout development, the kinetic growth data under isothermal conditions were collected and evaluated based on Baranyi model as a primary model for growth data. To elucidate the influence of temperature on S. enterica growth rates, three secondary models were compared and found that the Arrhenius-type model was more suitable than others. We believe that our model can be utilized to predict S. enterica behavior in alfalfa sprout and to conduct microbial risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: We demonstrated successful overexpression of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-derived GP4D and GP5D antigenic proteins in Arabidopsis. Pigs immunized with transgenic plants expressing GP4D and GP5D proteins generated both humoral and cellular immune responses to PRRSV.Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes PRRS, the most economically significant disease affecting the swine industry worldwide. However, current commercial PRRSV vaccines (killed virus or modified live vaccines) show poor efficacy and safety due to concerns such as reversion of virus to wild type and lack of cross protection. To overcome these problems, plants are considered a promising alternative to conventional platforms and as a vehicle for large-scale production of recombinant proteins. Here, we demonstrate successful production of recombinant protein vaccine by expressing codon-optimized and transmembrane-deleted recombinant glycoproteins (GP4D and GP5D) from PRRSV in planta. We generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing GP4D and GP5D proteins as candidate antigens. To examine immunogenicity, pigs were fed transgenic Arabidopsis leaves expressing the GP4D and GP5D antigens (three times at 2-week intervals) and then challenged with PRRSV at 6-week post-initial treatment. Immunized pigs showed significantly lower lung lesion scores and reduced viremia and viral loads in the lung than pigs fed Arabidopsis leaves expressing mYFP (control). Immunized pigs also had higher titers of PRRSV-specific antibodies and significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12). Furthermore, the numbers of IFN-γ+-producing cells were higher, and those of regulatory T cells were lower, in GP4D and GP5D immunized pigs than in control pigs. Thus, plant-derived GP4D and GP5D proteins provide an alternative platform for producing an effective subunit vaccine against PRRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A reclaimed tidal land along the shore has poor soil properties such as high exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and electrical conductivity (EC) due to excess sodium (Na) content. Therefore, Na content should be decreased to improve the land productivity, and for this, gypsum has been widely used. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in ESP and EC of the gypsum-treated reclaimed tidal soil in a field scale. Materials and methods: For this, gypsum was applied to Daeho reclaimed tidal land (500 ha) in Korea for 5 years (2006 to 2010). The Daeho reclaimed tidal land has been used as reclaimed paddy fields since 1993. The application rate of gypsum was calculated based on exchangeable calcium (Ca) contents and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) to maintain 60 % exchangeable calcium percentage (ECP) of CEC in soil and the average amount treated was 1570 kg ha year. The changes in ESP and EC were monitored from 2006 to 2010, and 2013. Results and discussion: The ESP dropped from 80 % in 2006 to 34 % in 2013. The EC of the soil was decreased by 73 %, from 11.5 dS m in 2006 to 3.1 dS m in 2013. Eventually, it was estimated that the ESP will be lowered below 15 % in 2023 with continuous treatment of gypsum according to ECP calculation, and EC will be declined to reach at 0.5 dS m in 2035, the average EC level of Korean rice paddy. Conclusions: This field scale study evidenced that gypsum application effectively improves the soil properties of reclaimed tidal soil by decreasing ESP and EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: coordination chemistry; lithium-sulfur batteries; molecular design; polymeric phthalocyanine; redox mediators EN coordination chemistry lithium-sulfur batteries molecular design polymeric phthalocyanine redox mediators 1 1 1 06/13/23 20230609 NES 230609 B Lithium-Sulfur Batteries b In article number 2204353, Jeongyeon Lee, Ho Seok Park, and co-workers design triethylene glycol functionalized polymeric cobalt phthalocyanines uniformly coated onto multi-wall carbon nanotubes, which act as an efficient redox mediator in lithium-sulfur batteries. Multifunctional Polymeric Phthalocyanine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Redox Mediators of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries (Adv. Coordination chemistry, lithium-sulfur batteries, molecular design, polymeric phthalocyanine, redox mediators. [Extracted from the article]

Although campylobacteriosis caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli has been increasingly reported worldwide owing to the consumption of contaminated poultry and fresh produce, the current detection protocols are not selective enough to inhibit unspecific microbes other than these pathogens. Five antibiotics were separately added to Bolton broth, and the survival rates of 18 Campylobacter spp. and 79 non-Campylobacter spp. were evaluated. The survival rate of the non-Campylobacter spp. was the lowest in Bolton broth with rifampin (6.3%), followed by cefsulodin (12.7%), novobiocin (16.5%), and potassium tellurite and sulfamethozaxole (both 17.7%). Also the most effective concentration of rifampin was found to be 12.5 mg/L, which markedly inhibited non-Campylobacter strains while not affecting the survival of Campylobacter strains. After the Campylobacter spp. were enriched in Bolton broth supplemented with 12.5 mg/L rifampin (R-Bolton broth), CampyFood Agar (CFA) was found to be better in selectively isolating the pathogens in the enrichment broth than the International Organization for Standardization method of using modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) for this step. When applied to natural food samples—here, romaine lettuce, pepper, cherry tomato, Korean leek, and chicken—the R-Bolton broth–CFA combination decreased the number of false-positive results by 50.0, 4.2, 20.8, 50.0, and 94.4%, respectively, compared with the International Organization for Standardization method (Bolton broth–mCCDA combination). These results demonstrate that the combination of R-Bolton broth and CFA is more efficient in detecting C. jejuni and C. coli in poultry and fresh produce and thus should replace the Bolton broth–mCCDA combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative tissue adhesion causes serious complications and suffering in 90% of patients after peritoneum surgery, while commercial anti-adhesion agents cannot completely prevent postoperative peritoneal adhesions. This study demonstrates electrospining of a blended solution of chitosan, poly( d, l-lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to fabricate a chitosan-based nanofibrous mat as a postoperative anti-adhesion agent. Rheological studies combined with scanning electron microscopy reveal that the spinnability of the chitosan-PLGA solution could be controlled by adjusting the blend ratio and concentration with average fiber diameter from 634 to 913 nm. Biodegradation of the nanofiber specimens showed accelerated hydrolysis by chitosan. Proliferation of fibroblasts and antimicrobial activity of nanofibers containing chitosan was analyzed. Abdominal defects with cecum adhesion in rats demonstrated that the blend nanofiber mats were effective in preventing tissue adhesion as a barrier (4 weeks after abdominal surgery) by coverage of exfoliated peritoneum and insufficient wound sites at the beginning of the wound healing process. Chitosan-PLGA-PEO blend nanofiber mats will provide a promising key as a postoperative anti-adhesion agent. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1906-1915, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of different Cu weight ratio on θ or γ-AlO which were impregnated with platinum in terms of catalytic activity for propane dehydrogenation and physicochemical properties. 1.5 wt% Pt, 0-10 wt% Cu catalyst supported on θ-AlO or γ-AlO was prepared by incipient wetness co-impregnation. Enhanced Pt dispersion by increasing Cu contents in γ-AlO supported catalyst was confirmed via XRD and XPS. Pt and CuO was separated in Pt-Cu/ θ-AlO, but Pt-Cu alloy was identified after reduction treatment. Also, adding Cu in Pt/AlO makes catalyst's acidity lower and this property led to increased propylene yield in propane dehydrogenation. However, PtCu was not good for yield of PDH, which was confirmed in Pt-10Cu/ θ-AlO through XRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the late summer of 2015, severe leaf blight occurred on Miscanthus sinensis grown on natural riverside lands of the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. Symptoms included chlorosis and necrotic lesions on the leaves. Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped Pseudomonas syringae were consistently recovered from the infected leaves. We provide ample evidence for P. syringae pv. syringae ( Pss) as the pathogen, based on the results of LOPAT, Biolog, API tests, MALDI-TOF MS, and multilocus sequence analysis. Symptoms after artificial inoculation were mild compared to symptoms following natural infection, whereas the control plants were asymptomatic. Bacteria re-isolated from leaves with mild symptoms were identical to the original strain, as determined by the rpoD gene sequence. This is the first report of Pss causing bacterial leaf blight on M. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban agricultural (UA) environment near active roadways can be degraded by traffic-related particles (i.e., exhaust gases and road dust), which may contain heavy metals. The current study investigated changes in heavy-metal [cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)] concentrations in soils located near highly trafficked roads in Korea and the subsequent uptake of these metals by Chinese cabbage. Heavy-metal plant concentrations were determined in both washed and unwashed plant leaves to determine whether foliar deposition played any role in plant metal uptake. Soil concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were all lower than the Korean standard soil limits and showed no significant influence from road traffic. In contrast, both Ni and Cr concentrations in soils collected within 10 m of the road were 4 and 5 times greater, respectively, than those in soils collected 70 m from the road. Heavy-metal concentrations in unwashed Chinese cabbage leaf collected at 5 m from the road were consistently greater than those of washed leaf samples, thus indicating the deposition of traffic-related particles on the plant surface. With the exception of Cu, all heavy-metal concentration in washed plant samples collected at 5 m also showed greater accumulation compared with samples collected further away. This was mainly attributed to increased total soil heavy-metal concentrations and increased metal phytoavailability induced by decreases in soil pH near the road. However, overall heavy-metal soil concentrations were well lower than the allowable concentrations, and the levels observed in plants collected in this study were considered not to currently pose a significant risk to human health. However, some traffic-related heavy metals, in particular Cr and Ni, were being accumulated in the roadside UA environment, which may warrant some caution regarding the environment and/or health issues in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2015, a bacterial leaf blight was observed on Miscanthus × giganteus in Jinju, South Korea. Symptoms included chlorosis and necrotic lesions on the leaves. Bacteria belonging to the γ-proteobacteria genus Pseudomonas were isolated from the affected leaves. Physiological analysis, the Biolog system, MALDI-TOF MS, and molecular techniques identified the bacteria isolated as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Healthy M. × giganteus leaves inoculated with the strain MHGNU B101, isolated from leaf lesions, developed leaf blight. Bacteria re-isolated from the leaf lesions had identical cultural characteristics and rpoD gene sequence to the original strain. This is the first report of P. s. pv. syringae causing bacterial leaf blight on M. × giganteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propane dehydrogenation and regeneration of Pt-Sn/θ-AlO catalysts was evaluated with oxychlorination treatment. It was observed that the catalytic activity was not fully recovered after coke burning followed by hydrogen reduction process because of the unsatisfying recovery of Pt sintering. In this study, oxychlorination treatment was additionally employed between coke burning and hydrogen reduction. Oxychlorination used diluted HCl at the range of 625-7000 ppm. The best recovery of catalytic activity was achieved at the HCl concentration of 5000 ppm. The effective redispersion of Pt was also examined by CO chemisorption, XRD, XPS, CHSN analysis, and STEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish the best detection method for Escherichia coli O157:H7 on produce, the sensitivity, specificity, and recovery values of 3 selective media [sorbitol MacConkey agar containing cefixime and tellurite (CTSMAC), sorbitol MacConkey agar containing cefixime, tellurite, and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-glucuronide (CTB-SMAC), and CHROMagar O157 were compared. Sample preparation methods (pummeling, sonication, and hand-shaking) were compared to determine the optimum procedure for qualitative analysis from cherry tomato. The selectivity and recovery rates of stressed cell of the 3 tested media were in the order of CHROMagar O157>CTBSMAC>CT-SMAC. The recovery rates of hand-shaken tomatoes (10/10) were higher than rates of sonicated (8/10) and pummeled tomatoes (6/10) for inoculated cherry tomatoes in modified E. coli (mEC) broth enriched with novobicin. CHROMagar O157 was the optimum agar medium for detection of E. coli O157:H7. Cherry tomatoes should be treated with hand-shaking to enhance recovery for qualitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of As species in rice is necessary because inorganic As species (arsenate (As) and arsenite (As)) are more toxic than organic As (monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)). This study evaluated the As species in Korean and USA rice grains. Levels were determined using microwave extraction and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). Arsenite and DMA were the major species detected in Korean and USA rice. The percentage of inorganic As was 76.94% (54.50-87.86%) for Korean rice and 69.28% (52.94-72.92%) for USA samples. The order and percentage of As species observed in Korean and USA rice were As (70%)>DMA (24%)>As (5%)>MMA (1%), and As (64%)>DMA (28%)>As(5%)>MMA (3%), respectively. The As concentrations were not significantly different in Korean rice grains, compared to USA grains. The high As predominance indicates an elevated toxic effect of As in rice grains and needs further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the innate immune response in the brain through nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling. Since purinergic signals activate NF-kappaB through the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), we investigated the roles of P2X7R in neuronal NF-kappaB phosphorylation in the mouse hippocampus under basal conditions and P2X7R deletion following LPS treatment in vivo. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical studies for neuronal NF-kappaB phosphorylation in the hippocampi of wild type (WT) and P2X7R knockout (KO) mice under basal conditions and LPS treatment. Results: LPS treatment did not induce neuronal damages in both WT and P2X7 -/- KO mice. In WT animals, LPS treatment increased p65-Ser276 and p65-Ser311 NF-kappaB phosphorylations in hippocampal neurons. However, p52-Ser865, p52-Ser869, p65-Ser468, p65-Ser529, and p65-Ser536 NF-kappaB phosphorylations were unaffected by LPS treatment. In P2X7 -/- KO mice, neuronal p65-Ser311 NFkappaB phosphorylation in vehicle-treated animals was higher than that in WT animals. In addition, both p65-Ser276 and p65-Ser311 NF-kappaB phosphorylations were unaffected by LPS treatment in P2X7 -/- KO mice. Discussion: These findings indicate that P2X7R may be involved in LPS-induced inflammatory response in neurons, and that p65-Ser311 NF-kappaB phosphorylation may compensate for the loss function of P2X7R by as yet unknown factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared Pt-Sn/ xAl-SBA-15 catalysts with various ratios of Al to Si and investigated them for propane dehydrogenation in order to understand the influence of the interaction between tin and the supports on catalytic stability. The weaker interaction between SnO and the supports leads to easier formation of Pt-Sn alloys. The formation of Pt-Sn alloys increases the stability of catalysts, and the stability of Pt-Sn/ xAl-SBA-15 catalysts is inversely proportional to the aluminum content in SBA-15. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate natural hybridization of Korean Phragmites, we collected Phragmites plants from 29 regions in South Korea. Haplotypes of the samples, which were determined using two known chloroplast intergenic sequences in this study, were combined with previously known haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis identified that 30 Korean Phragmites were grouped with two different haplotypes, 'P' or 'W', respectively, indicating that introduced Phragmites samples from other continents were not present in Korea. The vast majority (26) of the 27 test samples were grouped with the P haplotype, while the E4 sample and the three control Phragmites japonicus samples were grouped with haplotype W. Interestingly, parsimony network analysis revealed that Phragmites australis in Korea might have originated from various regions including Busan (S1), Icheon (M2), and Ansan (W2). Genotype analysis using the PhaHKT1 nuclear gene identified the M3 sample as Phragmites japonicus. For the first time, we found two hybrids (E4 and M3) in the wild by haplotype and genotype analyses, implying that the phenotype of Phragmites australis might be dominant in the hybrids. In summary, we suggest that hybrid speciation might be an important factor in the genetic diversity of Korean Phragmites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the nature of coke generated in propane dehydrogenation over supported Pt catalysts by FTIR, NMR, and XPS. NMR and FTIR spectra proved that the coke produced in the reaction contained poly-aromatic rings, which was consistent with the previous result that pregraphite-like coke structure was formed. The XPS results indicated that the coke deposits consisted of sp hybridized carbon. All of the characterizations indicated that the pregraphite-like coke containing the poly-aromatic ring structure was generated over the catalysts during the propane dehydrogenation. Furthermore, the XPS measurement demonstrated that the coke deposits interacted with Pt and the electron density of Pt was enriched through the interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to provide a basis for examining the molecular mechanism for the pharmacological action of dopamine·HCl (DA) and chlorpromazin·HCl (CPZ). Radiationless energy transfer from the surface fluorescent probe, 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid, to the hydrophobic fluorescent probe, bispyrenylpropane (Py-Py), was used to examine the effects of DA and CPZ on the thickness (D) of the liposomal lipid bilayers prepared with total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from neuronal membranes. The thickness (D) of intact SPMVTL and SPMVPL (37°C, pH 7.4) were 0.914 ± 0.010 and 0.886 ± 0.009 (arbitrary units, n = 5), respectively. DA decreased the thickness of both SPMVTL and SPMVPL in a dose-dependent manner with a significant decrease in thickness observed even at 40 × 10−9 M and 40 × 10−9 M, respectively. On the other hand, CPZ increased the thickness of both SPMVTL and SPMVPL in a dose-dependent manner with a significant increase in thickness observed even at 35 × 10−5 M and 35 × 10−5 M, respectively. The sensitivities to the decreasing and increasing effect of the membrane lipid bilayers thickness by DA and CPZ, respectively, differed according to the liposomes in descending order of SPMVPL and SPMVTL. The decreasing and increasing action of DA and CPZ, respectively, on the membrane thickness had many effects that may be responsible for the dopaminergic receptor-DA and -CPZ interaction as well as the protein-lipid interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of several pathovirotypes and evaluate the association of haemolysis with the virotypes of pathogenic E. coli isolated from post-weaning piglets in South Korea from 2015 to 2019. We isolated 890 E. coli and tested for O-serogroups, virulence genes, haemolysis, and multilocus sequence typing. The predominant virotypes were STb:EAST1:AIDA-I, F18b:Stx2e:AIDA-I, F18:STa:STb:Stx2e, and eae:Paa in enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), ETEC/STEC, and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), respectively. Regarding serogroups, O139, O149, O141, and O121 were mostly detected in F18:Stx2e:AIDA-I, F4:LT:STb:EAST1, F18:STa:STb, and F18:Stx2e:EAST1, respectively. There was a significant change in the frequency of the O141:F18ac:STa:STb (an increase from 1.6% to 10.1%) and O139:F18ab:Stx2e:AIDA-I (a decrease from 13.0% to 5.3%) virotypes in ETEC and STEC, respectively, from 2015 to 2019. The O141:F18ac:STa:STb virotype was mostly detected in the central area and was spreading to the southern area. The odds ratios between haemolysis and virotypes were 11.0, 6.25, and 8.57 in F18:STa:STb, F18:Stx2e:AIDA-I, and F4:LT:STb:EAST1, respectively. Our findings provide insights regarding the recent prevalence of pathogenic E. coli in South Korea and could be used for the development of vaccines for E. coli responsible for PWD and ED in post-weaning piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further understand the significance of bone as a target tissues of lead toxicity, as well as a reservoir of systemic lead, it is necessary to define the effect of lead on the calcium release activated calcium influx (CRACI) in primary cultures of human osteoblast-like cells (OLC). Pb2+ inhibited the immediate CRACI dose-dependent manner. Influx of Pb2+ into human OLC was increased dose-dependent manner. The present study demonstrates that the interference of Pb2+ with CRACI of human OLC is at least twofold: (1) the initiation of CRACI, i.e., the measurable influx of Ca2+ upon Ca2+ readdition, is partially inhibited by Pb2+ and (2) the influx of Pb2+ was enhanced after CRACI had been induced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]