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By examining comparatively two recent projects of university-led large-scale real estate development in South Korea and Singapore, this paper contributes to the ongoing efforts to problematise the methodological statism in the study of East Asian urbanisation, i.e., understanding it as a process dominated by state actors, on the one hand, and to challenge the perspective that university-led real estate projects are a neoliberal strategy as conventionally understood in the West on the other. To this end, this paper uses qualitative research methods to investigate how and why East Asian universities participate in real estate development projects; how the universities pursue their material goals by negotiating with the state, which is known to have led condensed urbanisation and industrialisation in East Asia (Global East). This paper concludes that speculative real estate development activities of East Asian universities are variegated based on their developmental legacies and need to be understood as more nuanced processes. The case studies demonstrate that East Asian universities have worked beyond their social roles by directly participating in the urban process, pursuing the accumulation of real estate assets that would eventually undermine their public role as educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light water reactor core melt accidents, the molten fuel can be brought into contact with coolant water in the course of the melt relocation in-vessel and ex-vessel as well as in an accident mitigation action of water addition. For the last several decades, the potential risk of energetic molten fuel coolant interactions (FCIs, steam explosions) has drawn substantial attention in the safety analysis of reactor severe accidents. In this paper, an improved melt jet breakup model is presented and analyses of an energetic fuel-coolant interaction in a PWR cavity (1) partially filled (4 m deep) and (2) completely filled (7 m deep) with water are presented. The TRACER-II code was used in the analyses. For jet breakup model, the full dispersion equation of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability for the melt jet-vapor film-water was solved numerically and the solutions were correlated for use in the TRACER-II code. The new jet breakup model was benchmarked using FARO L28 test data. In reactor calculations the mixing calculations showed that the average melt drop size was much smaller in 4 m deep pool with 3 m free-fall than in 7 m deep pool. The explosion calculations showed that the peak pressure at the center of mixture was ~90 MPa in 4 m deep pool, ~25 MPa in 7 m deep pool. It also showed that the maximum impulse at the cavity wall was found at the lower wall in both cases and it was 50 kPa s in 4 m deep pool and 150 kPa s in 7 m deep pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The urban experiences of South Korea in times of its rapid urbanisation and economic growth show that wholesale redevelopment had been a dominant approach to urban renewal, leading to redevelopment-induced gentrification. This was led by a programme known as the Joint Redevelopment Programme, transforming urban space that was once dominated by informal settlements into high-rise commercial housing estates. This paper tries to explain how this approach was possible at city-wide scale in its capital city, Seoul. Through the examination of redevelopment processes in a case study neighbourhood, it puts forward three arguments. First, the development potential arising from the rent gap expansion through under-utilisation of dilapidated neighbourhoods provided material conditions for the sustained implementation of property-based redevelopment projects. Second, this paper critically examines the dynamics of socio-political relations among various property-based interests embedded in redevelopment neighbourhoods, and argues that external property-based interests have enabled the full exploitation of development opportunities at the expense of poor owner-occupiers and tenants. Third, South Korea had been noted for its strong developmental state with minimum attention to redistributive social policies. The Joint Redevelopment Programme in Seoul was effectively a market-oriented, profit-led renewal approach, in line with a national housing strategy that favoured increased housing production and home-ownership at the expense of local poor residents’ housing needs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the genus Pestivirus, four genetically distinct viral species are currently recognized: bovine viral diarrhea viruses type 1 and 2 (BVDV-1, BVDV-2), classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and border disease virus (BDV). BVDV-1 and BDV infections have been described in goat species. Since 1998, border disease (BD) like symptoms in goats have been reported repeatedly in two southern-most provinces of Korea, which until then had been regarded as being free from BD. As a result of retrospective investigations of BD-like syndrome in goat reported between 1998 and 2004, a pestivirus was identified from intestinal content of an affected kid submitted in 1999. Both sequences of 5′-non-coding region and complete Npro gene from the isolate were analyzed to identify the genotype. Interestingly, the results revealed that the isolate belonged to BVDV-2 that is rarely reported even in cattle. The isolate showed close relationship to North American and European strains rather than the geographically closer Japanese strains. To authors’ knowledge, this is the first identification of BVDV-2 in goat species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A molecular epidemiological study was performed on 13 Korean virus isolates, which were collected from wild and domestic animals diagnosed as rabid between 1998 and 2004. Seven samples were from domestic animals such as dogs and cattle infected by rabid raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis), and the rest of the six samples were from raccoon dogs in the wild. The study was carried out based on the comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) coding regions and nucleotide sequence of the G-L intergenic (Ψ) non-coding region of the isolates. The similarities of nucleotide and amino acid sequence were at least 97.8 and 98.5%, respectively, between all Korean isolates. Phylogenetic analyses of the isolate showed that they formed a monophyletic group closely related to the Arctic strains but distant from other Asian strains, including Chinese strains. The fact that the raccoon dog is the main epidemic carrier of rabies in Korea and the results of these studies supported the conclusion of previous studies (Kuzmin et al.) that the raccoon dogs take part in the circulation of rabies virus within their natural territories in the Far East. The Korean isolates can be divided into two subgroups. All the topology of the most likelihood tree of Korean isolates using nucleotide and amino acid sequences of N, G and G-L region reflected not the species but the year of isolation and geographical location of the virus isolates. This study presents the detailed description of the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus in Korea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bovine mastitis caused by Prototheca has been reported globally, and its incidence is increasing in dairy herds. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Prototheca and persistence of Prototheca zopfii strains in Korean dairy herds. A total of 187 (7.5%) P. zopfii strains were isolated from 2,508 quarter milk samples collected from 50 dairy farms throughout Korea from 2015 to 2017. Prototheca zopfii was isolated from one farm among the 50 farms over the 3-yr period. The P. zopfii isolates belonged to genotype 2. Overall, Prototheca-positive quarter milk samples showed high somatic cell counts with an average value of log 6.48 ± 6.54 cells/mL. Prototheca zopfii was found to be persistent in an infected farm over a 2-yr period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence and persistence of protothecal mastitis caused by P. zopfii genotype 2 in a Korean dairy herd. This disease leads to a significant increase in somatic cell counts in milk, which persists for more than 1 yr in the affected cow udder. These results suggest that P. zopfii could pose a serious risk to dairy herds. Thus, strict surveillance for protothecal mastitis is urgently needed and sanitary conditions regarding the environment and milk collection are essential because of the lack of effective treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine has DIVA function as it induces differential antibodies specific for CSF Erns and BVDV Erns proteins. • The minimum dose of oral Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine capable of inducing protective immunity should be 105.0 TCID 50 /dose or higher. • A Flc-LOM-BErns intramuscular vaccine should be inoculated at a dose of at least 103.0 TCID 50 to ensure complete protection. In several countries, classical swine fever (CSF) has not been detected in domestic pigs, but has been detected in wild boars, making the disease difficult to control. To overcome this problem, we inoculated pigs with a CSF live marker vaccine (Flc-LOM-BErns strain), which has "distinguish infection from vaccinated animals (DIVA)" function, to determine whether it is suitable as an oral vaccine specifically for wild boars. Pigs inoculated intramuscularly or orally with the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine were challenged 2 or 4 weeks later, respectively, with virulent CSFV. Pigs administered the oral Flc-LOM-BErns strain (105.0 and 6.0 TCID 50 /dose), and those vaccinated intramuscularly (103.0 TCID 50 /dose), had normal numbers of leukocytes and normal body temperature. Also, they generated protective neutralizing antibodies and anti-BVDV Erns antibodies. In addition, all pigs in these groups survived, with no CSFV RNA detected in feces, spleen, or other organs. Thus, the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine shows excellent safety and efficacy, while having DIVA function and suitability for oral inoculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Property-led urban redevelopment in contemporary Chinese cities often results in the demolition of many historical buildings and neighbourhoods, invoking criticisms from conservationists. In the case of Beijing, the municipal government produced a series of documents in the early 2000s to implement detailed plans to conserve 25 designated historic areas in the Old City of Beijing. This paper aims to examine the recent socio-economic and spatial changes that took place within government-designated conservation areas, and scrutinise the role of the local state and real estate capital that brought about these changes. Based on recent field visits and semi-structured interviews with local residents and business premises in a case study area, this paper puts forward two main arguments. First, Beijing’s urban conservation policies enabled the intervention of the local state to facilitate revalorisation of dilapidated historic quarters and to release dilapidated courtyard houses on the real estate market. The revalorisation was possible with the participation of a particular type of real estate capital that had interests in the aesthetic value that historic quarters and traditional courtyard houses provided. Second, the paper also argues that economic benefits generated by urban conservation, if any, were shared disproportionately among local residents, and that local residents’ lack of opportunities to ‘voice out’ further consolidated the property-led characteristic of urban conservation, which failed to pay attention to social lives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The Flc-LOM-BErns is live attenuated DIVA vaccine for CSFV. • The Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine protected foetuses from vertical transmission. • The Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine enables differential identification of serum antibodies. Here, we constructed an attenuated live marker classical swine fever (CSF) vaccine (Flc-LOM-BErns) to eradicate CSF. This was done by taking infectious clone Flc-LOM, which is based on an attenuated live CSF vaccine virus (LOM strain), and removing the full-length classical swine fever virus (CSFV) Erns sequences and the 3′ end (52 base pairs) of the CSFV capsid. These regions were substituted with the full-length bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) Erns gene sequence and the 3′ end (52 base pairs) of the BVDV capsid gene. Sows were vaccinated with the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine 3 weeks before insemination and then challenged with virulent CSFV at the early, mid- or late stages of pregnancy. We then examined transplacental transmission to the foetuses. Piglets born to sows vaccinated with Flc-LOM-BErns did not show vertical infection, regardless of challenge time. In addition, CSFV challenge did not affect the delivery date, weight or length of the foetus. Pregnant sows inoculated with the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine were anti-CSF Erns antibody-negative and anti-BVDV Erns antibody-positive. Challenge of pregnant sows with virulent CSFV resulted in anti-CSF Erns antibody positivity. These results strongly indicate that differential diagnosis can be conducted between the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccinated animal and virulent CSFV affected animal by detecting antibody against BVDV Erns or CSF Erns gene. Therefore, the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine may fulfil the function of differential diagnosis which required for DIVA vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tet (B) gene was most frequently found in tetracycline-resistant P. multocida. • P. multocida carried virulence factors and some were associated with serogroups. • Tetracycline-resistant P. multocida showed genetic diversity. • Clonal complex 13 encompassed 56.8% of the strains. • We reported tet (C) gene in P. multocida for the first time. Pasteurella multocida causes single or complex respiratory disease in pigs. Although antimicrobial therapy is the most effective treatment for porcine respiratory disease, P. multocida shows increased antimicrobial resistance in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of tetracycline-resistant P. multocida. Thirty-seven of 454 P. multocida isolates from South Korea between 2010 and 2016 were selected. Four tet genes [ tet (B) (78.4%), tet (H) (16.2%), tet (C) (5.4%), and tet (O) (2.7%)] were observed. This is the first report of tet (C) in P. multocida. Various virulence factors were observed in both tetracycline-resistant and -susceptible P. multocida isolates. Genes encoding pmHAS and pfhA were more prevalent in tetracycline-resistant than in tetracycline-susceptible isolates. Some virulence factors exhibited association with serogroups. tadD and sodA were common in serogroup A, while hsf-l was significantly associated with serogroup D (p < 0.01). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) results showed the genetic diversity of tetracycline-resistant P. multocida. MLST showed six different sequence types (ST), with clonal complex 13 encompassing 56.8% of the strains. PFGE was more efficient in differentiating the isolates, and 29 PFGE patterns of the strains were observed. By combining these methods, identical STs and PFGE patterns were observed in isolates from different farms, suggesting that transmission of antimicrobial-resistant P. multocida strains between farms might occur in a geographically discrete population. In future, epidemiological approaches and development of effective vaccines should focus on the major clonal lineages carrying the important virulence factors and frequently observed resistance genes to prevent the transmission and control the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The heavy use or abuse of antimicrobials in food animals has caused an increase in antimicrobial resistance in enterococci of animal origin, which could get transmitted to those of human origin via the food chain. Since duck meat consumption has been on the rise in Korea, we conducted this study to provide information about the antimicrobial resistance of the enterococci obtained from healthy ducks and their carcasses. A total of 82 Enterococcus faecium and 174 E. faecalis isolated from duck fecal and carcass samples were investigated for antimicrobial resistance to 16 agents, using broth dilution method, and were further characterized using molecular methods. Most of E. faecium (84.1%) and E. faecalis (87.9%) isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates were observed in both E. faecium (40.2%) and E. faecalis (33.9%) with high frequencies. High rate of resistance was observed for tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin in both E. faecium and E. faecalis. Resistance to gentamicin, vancomycin, and daptomycin, in both E. faecium and E. faecalis , was, if at all, very rare. However, linezolid resistance was observed in nine E. faecium (11.0%) and one E. faecalis (0.6%). All, but one, Linezolid resistant (LR) isolates were also resistant to chloramphenicol and florfenicol. The novel transferable oxazolidinone and phenicol resistant gene, optrA , was found in six E. faecium isolates. All of them co-carried phenicol exporter gene fexA. None of the LR isolates had mutation in the 23S ribosomal RNA and in the ribosomal protein L3. Six LR E. faecium isolates had Asn130Lys mutation in the ribosomal protein L4, of which five also carried optrA gene. None of the isolates carried the multi-resistance gene cfr. Transfer of oxazolidinone and phenicol resistance was observed in five among the 10 LR isolates; two of them had optrA and fexA genes. Multi-drug resistant Enterococcus that also carried the resistance gene to a last-resort antimicrobial is a major concern for public health. Thus, to prevent the introduction of last-resort antimicrobial resistance into food chain, continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in duck is imperative. Highlights • E. faecium and E. faecalis , resistant to antibiotics used by humans, were reported. • Overall, nine E. faecium and one E. faecalis were resistant to linezolid. • Among them, six optrA -positive isolates co-carried phenicol export gene fexA. • First report of linezolid resistance and optrA gene in isolates from duck [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • From 2000, Korean CSFV changed from genotype 3 to 2 (subgenotypes 2.1b and 2.1d). • Subgenotype 2.1d(prevalent in Korea) was detected in wild boar and breeding pigs. • The mean substitution rate for circulating Korean CSFVs is 2.2114(×10−3 s/s/y). Abstract The 5′ UTR (n=102) and full-length E2 (n=37) genes of classical swine fever viruses (CSFVs) circulating in South Korea over the past 30 years (1987–2017) were examined to determine the evolutionary rate and estimated time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA). From 2000, the Korean classical swine fever (CSF) antigen changed from genotype 3 to 2, which comprises subgenotypes 2.1b (2002–2013) and 2.1d (2011–2017). There are genotypic variations in the full-length E2 gene of Korean CSFV genotypes 2.1b and 2.1d (seven separate amino acid substitutions); these are useful distinguishing markers. The mean substitution rate (×103 substitutions/site/year) for Korean CSFV was estimated to be 2.2088 (95% highest posterior density (HPD): lower, 1.7045; upper, 2.7574) and the mean tMRCA was estimated to be 1901 (95% HPD: lower, 1865; upper, 1933). The effective population size of Korean CSFV genotype 2 increased rapidly from 2002 to 2003, after which it remained constant. The occurrence of CSF in Korea is expected to decline in the future; however, it will likely be more prevalent in wild boar than in domestic pigs. Thus, there is a risk of transmission from wild boar to breeding pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the safety of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vaccine strain LOM in pregnant sows. Pregnant sows with free CSFV antibody were inoculated with a commercial LOM vaccine during early pregnancy (day 38; n = 3) or mid-pregnancy (days 49–59; n = 11). In pregnant sows vaccinated during the early stages of gestation, abortion (day 109) was observed in one case, with two stillbirths and seven mummified fetuses. The viability of live-born piglets was 34.9% in sows vaccinated during mid-pregnancy compared with 81.8% in the control group. Post-mortem examination of the organs of the sows and piglets did not reveal any pathological lesions caused by CSFV; however, CSFV RNA was detected in the organs of several vaccinated sows and their litters. The LOM strain was transmitted from sows with free CSFV antibody to their fetus, but did not appear to induce immune tolerance in the offspring from vaccinated pregnant sows. Side effects were not observed in pregnant sows with antibody to the LOM strain: transmission from sow to their litters and stillbirth or mummified fetuses. The LOM strain may induce sterile immunity and provide rapid, long-lasting, and complete protection against CSFV; however, it should be contraindicated in pregnant sows due to potential adverse effects in pregnant sows with free CSFV antibody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are agents causing severe gastroenteritis in infants and young animals. G9 RVA strains are believed to have originated from pigs. However, this genotype has emerged as the fifth major human RVA genotype worldwide. To better understand the relationship between human and porcine RVA strains, complete RVA genome data are needed. For human RVA strains, the number of complete genome data have grown exponentially. However, there is still a lack of complete genome data on porcine RVA strains. Recently, G9 RVA strains have been identified as the third most important genotype in diarrheic pigs in South Korea in combinations with P[7] and P[23]. This study is the first report on complete genome analyses of 1 G9P[7] and 3 G9P[23] porcine RVA strains, resulting in the following genotype constellation: G9–P[7]/P[23]–I5–R1–C1–M1–A8–N1–T1–E1–H1. By comparisons of these genotype constellations, it was revealed that the Korean G9P[7] and G9P[23] RVA strains possessed a typical porcine RVA backbone, similar to other known porcine RVA strains. However, detailed phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of intra-genotype reassortments among porcine RVA strains in South Korea. Thus, our data provide genetic information of G9 RVA strains increasingly detected in both humans and pigs, and will help to establish the role of pigs as a source or reservoir for novel human RVA strains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a causative agent of severe diarrhea which leads to death in piglets. Because of the high mortality which is up to 100% in suckling piglets, PED is an important porcine disease in Korea. In this study, we developed a prophylactic candidate using single-chain Fvs to prevent the PEDV infection. ScFvs of mouse monoclonal antibody which was verified to neutralize PEDV was expressed in Escherichia coli expression system. After the confirmation of PEDV neutralizing activity of purified recombinant scFvs by VN test, scFvs were expressed on the surface of E. coli cells. The signal sequence and autotransporter β domain of protease IgA (IgAP) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were introduced to endow scFvs with the direction to the cell surface and the support as a transmembrane domain. 5×106 CFU of E. coli expressing scFvs against PEDV showed promising result of 94% foci reduction compared to wild type E. coli. This result demonstrated that E. coli expressing scFvs on the cell surface retained functional potency of parent antibody and therefore blocked PEDV infection into target cells in vitro. This in vitro assay result proposes the perspective of recombinant E. coli cells expressing scFvs as a novel prophylactic against PEDV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To assess the correlation between the nature of immunity induced by different types of immunogens and the establishment of latent infection by wild-type pseudorabies virus (PrV), we used a murine model immunized with different immunogens, the PrV modified live vaccine (MLV), inactivated vaccine (IAV), and commercial oil-adjuvant subunit vaccine (OSV), via either intranasal (i.n.) or intramuscular (i.m.) route. Both MLV and IAV induced a different nature of immunity biased to Th1- and Th2-type, respectively, as judged by the ratio of PrV-specific IgG isotypes (IgG2a/IgG1) and the profile of cytokine IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ production. In contrast, the OSV induced a lower isotype IgG2a to IgG1 ratio and higher level of IL-2 production. The MLV (inducing Th1-type) provided more effective protection against a virulent wild-type PrV challenge than IAV and OSV (inducing Th2- and mixed type, respectively). In addition, the MLV impeded the establishment of a latent infection with wild-type PrV, and the decrease in the PrV latency load by immunization with the MLV appeared to be mediated by the immune T-cells. These results demonstrate the substantial role of the immune responses driven by preceding vaccination in modulating the establishment of PrV latency caused by the post-infection of a field virus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The gene encoding the nonstructural protein (NSP) of O/SKR/2000 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was constructed to express under the polyhedron promoter of baculovirus. The expression of NSP was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blotting. The expressed NSP was applied as a diagnostic antigen for indirect-trapping ELISA (I-ELISA). An I-ELISA using monoclonal antibody (Mab) against 3A as trapping antibody was developed to differentiate infected from vaccinated cattle.The diagnostic efficiency of Mab linked I-ELISA was compared and evaluated with baculovirus expressed 3ABC I-ELISA from USDA and Mab (3A) linked E. coli expressed 3ABC I-ELISA from IZSLE through retrospective sero-surveillance. Compared with the two different I-ELISA methods, Mab (3A) linked I-ELISA using baculovirus expressed NSP showed the same level of sensitivity and specificity, indicating that this method is suitable for a differential diagnostic method in cattle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Molecular cloning and sequencing of the genome of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) O/SKR/2000, one of PanAsia strain, were performed from FMDV infected cattle. From the poly (C) tract of the 5′ nontranslated region (NTR) to the 3′ NTR including 14 base pairs (bp) of poly (A) tail, 7813 bp sequences comprising approximately 95% of the whole genome were obtained by reverse transcription polymerase reaction (RT-PCR). The deduced amino acid sequences of the structural and nonstructural proteins (NSP) of the O/SKR/2000 virus were analyzed for the sequence similarity among type O strains. Comparison between FMDV O/SKR/2000 and other strains indicates that overall the number of amino acids appears to be conserved without any deletion in either NSP or capsid proteins, thus, suggesting that O/SKR/2000 evolved with minor difference from preexisting strains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The protective efficacy of the recombinant chimeric PRRSV and the potent adjuvants was investigated. • The chimeric PRRSV combining two Korean field isolates contained improved cross immunity. • Codon-pair deoptimization was applied to attenuate the chimeric PRRSV. • The heat shock proteins (HSP70 c-terminal and HSPX) were highly potent in the pigs inoculated with the chimeric PRRSV through intradermal route. The objective of this study was to assess protective efficacy of vaccination using CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV and Toll like receptor (TLR) agonists (HSP70 c-terminal domain and HSPX) as adjuvants through different inoculation routes. In this study, a chimeric PRRSV composed of two field isolates was synthesized and attenuated by CPD in NSP1 as described in the previous study. The infection of the CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV to pigs of 3 weeks-old showed no clinical signs without pathological lesions in necropsy, while it induced improved cross immunity between its parent strains. The TLR agonists were expressed in E. coli and purified to be used. In challenge experiment, pigs of 3 weeks-old were vaccinated using the CPD-attenuated chimeric virus with the prepared TLR agonists through intramuscular or intradermal route, following heterologous challenge after 4 weeks of vaccination. In results, intramuscular or intradermal inoculation of the CPD-attenuated chimeric virus demonstrated excellent protective efficacy against heterologous challenges. Importantly, intradermal inoculation with the TLR agonists enhanced protective effects as shown in the significantly increased level of PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SCs and cytokines in sera, and the significant reduction of pathological lesion and viral load in lung. This study suggested that the intradermal inoculation of CPD-attenuated chimeric PRRSV plus TLR agonists should be more effective for protection of pigs against diverse PRRS field viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HPMCP (aP2) plus LL RANKL is an oral PED vaccine for pregnant pigs. • The oral vaccine increases IgA antibody titers in colostrums significantly. • The oral vaccine yields survival rates similar to those of a commercial killed vaccine. Here, we examined the efficacy of are combinant subunit antigen-based oral vaccine for preventing porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). First, we generated a soluble recombinant partial spike S1 protein (aP2) from PEDV in E. coli and then evaluated the utility of aP2 subunit vaccine-loaded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate microspheres (HPMCP) and RANKL-secreting L. lactis (LLRANKL) as a candidate oral vaccine in pregnant sows. Pregnant sows were vaccinated twice (with a 2 week interval between doses) at 4 weeks before farrowing. Titers of virus-specific IgA antibodies in colostrum, and neutralizing antibodies in serum, of sows vaccinated with HPMCP (aP2) plus LL RANKL increased significantly at 4 weeks post-first vaccination. Furthermore, the survival rate of newborn suckling piglets delivered by sows vaccinated with HPMCP (aP2) plus LL RANKL was similar to that of piglets delivered by sows vaccinated with a commercial killed porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PED) vaccine. The South Korean government promotes a PED vaccine program (live-killed-killed) to increase the titers of IgA and IgG antibodies in pregnant sows and prevent PEDV. The oral vaccine strategy described herein, which is based on a safe and efficient recombinant subunit antigen, is an alternative PED vaccination strategy that could replace the traditional strategy, which relies on attenuated live oral vaccines or artificial infection with virulent PEDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prevalence for anti-HEV antibodies from Korean wild boars is 38.1%. • Circulating genotypes in Korean wild boars are 3a, 4a and 4d. • HEV have high potential for human transmission. The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is known to have 4 genotypes but only one serotype. Genotype 1 and 2 infect humans only and genotype 3 and 4 infect humans, pigs and other animal species. Pig and wild boar are also known as reservoirs of HEV infection. Of the 2736 wild boars captured from 2011 to 2016 to investigate the HEV prevalence among Korean wild boars, 1041 serum samples were high seropositive (38.1%; 95% CI: 35.5–40.5) for HEV, which were detected using the anti-HEV antibody ELISA and the highest prevalence rate was 40.6% (684/1683) in 2016. Twenty four HEV strains were also identified from 1859 wild boar bloods captured between 2015 and 2016. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the partial ORF2 gene revealed that the 23 Korean wild boar HEV strains belonged to genotype 4 (4a and 4d) showing the nucleotide sequences identities 83.4–100 %. The one Korean wild boar HEV strain belonged to genotype 3, segregated into subgenotype 3a. This suggested that major circulating in Korean wild boars is genotype 4a whereas genotype 3a and -4d is minor. It is important to the human public health that HEV with wild boar have potential high risk factor for transmission to human due to eating culture of Korean people with undercooked wild boar gallbladder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]