The type-specific PCR and the sequence analysis of 56 kDa gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi infected in field rodents specimens have shown intratypic genetic heterogeneity in genotype Karp. In sequence comparison, this genetic heterogeneity was mainly due to insertion or deletion of a repeated unit in variable domain I (VDI) region. These results suggested that genetic duplication or deletion of the specific sequence rnight be involved in intratypic genetic heterogeneity of Orientia tsutsugamushi.
Genetic Heterogeneity* ; Genotype* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rodentia ; Sequence Analysis

Serovars of 22 leptospiral field isolates from rats trapped in Korea were identified by cross-agglutinin absorption test (CAAT). Genomic characteristics of 7 selected isolates and 6 antigenically closely related reference serovars of lai, yeonchon, birkini, gem, mwogolo, and canicola were differentiated by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) and southern blot hybridization using 16S rRNA gene probe from Borrelia burgdorferi. Among the 22 isolates, 21 strains were identified as serovar lai by CAAT, while the serological reactivity of NR13 did not accord with that of serovar lai. Results of AP-PCR using primers RSP, KF and PB-1 were in general agreement with those obtained by serological identification, and all 7 isolates including NR13 showed the same profile with serovar lai or yeonchon. In the southern blot hybridization with 16S rRNA gene probe, the isolates were divided into two ribotype groups when HindIII and BamHI digests were employed: isolates NR4, NR13, and serovar lai showed the same profile, and isolates JR34, JR57, KR48, JR77, and JR82 were classified as the another ribotype group. Isolate NR13 and serovar yeonchon, which were isolated in Korea and showed serological differences with serovar lai, were indistinguishable from serovar lai in this DNA study using AP-PCR and ribotyping. These results demonstrate that Korean leptospiral isolates were closely related in DNA level, and ribotyping would be useful for subgrouping of field isolates.
Absorption ; Animals ; Blotting, Southern ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; DNA ; Genes, rRNA ; Korea ; Leptospira* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Rats ; Ribotyping*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Antibody Formation* ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Retrospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Diagnosis* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia* ; Scrub Typhus*

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Diagnosis* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia* ; Scrub Typhus*

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (Gougerot and Carteaud) is a rare but clinically distinct dermatosis of which the etiology is unknown. We report 2 cases. One case is a 16-year-old boy who had a hyperpigmented reticulated eruption on the trunk and both arms and the other case is a 33-year-old man who had a similar eruption on the chest and back. The former, with previous treatment with oral and topical antifungal agent in another clinic didn't show any improvement and the latter case, with initial treatment of itraconazole did not improve his skin lesion. The rashes of two patients virtually disappeared with administration of minocycline. These observations indicate that the role of microorganisms sensitive to minocycline or anti- proliferative effect of minocycline could be presumed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arm ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Male ; Minocycline* ; Papilloma* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thorax

It has been shown that spermatogenesis continues after vasectomy, but the fate of sperms which seem to be continuously produced is still uncertain. Some authors postulated that non-ejaculated spermatozoa after vasectomy disappear by a progress of dissolution and reabsorption in the epididymis. According to Ryoo and Kim's observation of sperm-acrosome by electron microscope after vasectomy in rats, vasectomy might effect destructive changes in the acrosome of the non-ejaculated spermatozoa. Choi and Kim reported that the seminal vesicle might produce a certain substance which enhance the spermatozoa to be dissolved and reabsorbed in the epididymis after vasectomy. To observe the effects of vasectomy on the absorptive function of the epididymis in vasectomized rats, we measured the time for the disappearance of 0.01cc indigo carmine which was injected into the cauda epididymis. The results are as follows: 1. The mean absorptive time in the normal group was 371+/-75.7 min. 2. The mean absorptive time in the vasectomized group was 257.4+/-28.6 min. 3. The absorptive activity in the epididymis of vasectomized rats was significantly more rapid than in the epididymis of the normal rats.
Acrosome ; Animals ; Epididymis* ; Indigo Carmine ; Male ; Rats* ; Seminal Vesicles ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Vasectomy*

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, E7 proteins derived from the prototype (Bac73) and natural variant (Bac101) E7 open reading frame were produced in Sf9 insect cells. The variant E7 gene occurred naturally by substitution mutation at the position of 88 nucleotide, resulting serine instead of asparagine. Using E7 specific monoclonal antibody (VD6), both E7 proteins were identified in recombinant baculovirus infected SF9 cells. Radiolabelling and immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that both E7 proteins were phosphoproteins. Immunostaining result showed that E7 proteins were mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Nuclear form of E7 proteins was also detected after a sequential fractionation procedure for removing chromatin structure. Considering that the VD6 recognition site in E7 protein is located within 10 amino acid at the N-terminus, this region appears to be blocked by the nuclear component. Western blot analysis revealed that nuclear form was more abundant than cytoplasmic E7 proteins. Time course immunostaining showed that the primary location of E7 protein was the nucleus and exported to the cytoplasm as proteins were accumulated. These events occurred similarly in both Bac73 and Bac101 infected Sf9 cells, suggesting that these two proteins may have similar biological functions.
Asparagine ; Baculoviridae* ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Insects ; Open Reading Frames ; Phosphoproteins ; Serine ; Sf9 Cells

The gene encoding E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 16 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against this expressed protein were generated. For the efficient immunization, two kind of recombinant E7 protein in fusion form were produced. One was maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion type (MBP-E7) and the other was T7 phage gene 10 product fusioa type (gene 10-E7). Immunization with these two fusion protein to mice, finally two Mabs (VD6 and IB10) were obtained. VD6 and IB10 showed reactivities with E7 protein in CaSki cell but not in HeLa by Western blot analysis. In addition, the Mab, VD6, reacted with COS-7 cell transfected with E7 gene majorly in cytoplasm by immunofluorescence test. Also VD6 could detect E7 protein in cytoplasm and nucleus of CaSki ceU by immunogold electron microscopy. Based on these results, the Mab VD6 was could be used for various E7 detection system such as Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical methods.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Bacteriophage T7 ; Blotting, Western ; Clone Cells ; COS Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Escherichia coli ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans* ; Immunization ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron