Hericium erinaceus, also known as lion’s mane mushroom, is an edible and medicinal mushroom that belongs to the family Hericiaceae. We previously reported hericene A as an anti-diabetic constituent of H. erinaceus and the effect of cultivation substrates on its content was investigated. As the continuation, the contents of five major compounds such as hericenes A-D, which exerted α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, together with ergosterol were investigated depending on cultivation stages. H. erinaceus was cultured for 25 days (5 stages) to induce fruiting bodies, and the contents of the compounds at each stage were quantified. All the five compounds were detected in fruiting body by HPLC analysis. Among the hericene derivatives in the mushroom, the content of hericene A was the highest, followed by hericene C and the content of hericenes B and D was relative low. All four hericene derivatives present in the highest content at stage 4 whereas the content of ergosterol was highest at stage 5. The highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of H. erinaceus was measured at stage 4, which correlates with the contents of hericene derivatives. Conclusively, H. erinaceus with better efficacy and high content of active constituents can be secured by the optimization of cultivation conditions.

The purpose of this study was to observe the surface morphology and roughness of micro-hybrid and nano-filled resin composites and compare wear resistance by conducting a toothbrushing wear test with toothpastes with different abrasive ingredients. Two types of resin composites containing micro-hybrid fillers (Z100 Restorative, Filtek Z250) and one type of resin composite containing nanofillers (Filtek Z350 XT) were used. For the toothbrushing wear test, 90 resin composite samples with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 1 mm were prepared. A force of 2 N and 100,000 cycles of brushing were performed using a pin-on-disk wear tester. The toothpastes used in the test were classified into 4 groups according to the abrasive ingredients (hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and zeolite-M). After the toothbrushing wear test, the surface morphology of the samples was observed using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the surface roughness was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Relatively large filler particles (micro size) protruded from the surface of the micro-hybrid resin composite groups, and small crater-shaped defects were observed. The surface roughness values of the groups that performed the wear test with toothpaste containing zeolite-M were significantly higher than the other groups (P<0.05). The surface roughness value was significantly (P<0.05) highest in the group where the nanofilled resin composite was wear-tested with toothpaste containing zeolite-M. However, regardless of the type of toothpaste, the surface roughness showed low values of less than 0.1 μm. The surface appeared uniform and smooth compared to the surface of micro-hybrid resin composites. Finally, the nano-filled resin composite showed relatively higher wear resistance than the micro-hybrid resin composite. This means that wear resistance during brushing may indicate the durability of the material in the clinic.

Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis causes swine paratyphoid, with clinical findings of enterocolitis and septicemia. However, the clinicopathological features of S. Choleraesuis infections in pigs have not been reported in Korea. We describe the pathological findings of two weaned pigs with S. Choleraesuis infections, presenting with diarrhea, cough, and sudden death. Pathological examination indicated severe necrotic colitis in pig 1 and septicemic lesions in pig 2. Multidrug-resistant S. Choleraesuis was isolated from the pigs’ lungs and intestinal contents. Further research is required for the surveillance of S. Choleraesuis infections in pigs and the virulence estimation in the S. Choleraesuis isolates.

Cordycepin is a characteristic bioactive compound of Cordyceps militaris with various beneficial effects. Cordyceps grows on both grains and insects, and the content of cordycepin varies depending on the cultivation conditions. In this study, the effect of culture conditions on the cordycepin content was analyzed and the extraction conditions were optimized. Analysis of cordycepin content in Pupae-Cordyceps found that it was highly affected by temperature in culture conditions. In the case of mycelium, it grows well at 20 and 25 oC, but not at 30 oC. However, the content of cordycepin was highest at 30oC and less at 20 oC. The fruiting body also showed a similar tendency: growth was 20 oC > 25 oC > 30 oC, but the cordycepin content was 30 oC > 25 oC > 20 oC. The content of cordycepin decreased after the fruiting bodies were produced. Next, extraction conditions such as solvent and time were optimized for maximum cordycepin content using response surface methodology(RSM). There was a large difference in the content of cordycepin according to the content of ethanol and the extraction temperature. Through RSM, it was confirmed that the optimum condition for extraction of cordycepin was 48.9 oC using 49.0% ethanol, and 160.9 mg/g extract could be obtained under this condition. In conclusion, this study suggested the optimized conditions for the cultivation and extraction of Pupae-Cordyceps for maximizing the content of cordycepin, and this may be applied to the discovery of materials using cordycepin.

Cordycepin is a characteristic bioactive compound of Cordyceps militaris with various beneficial effects. Cordyceps grows on both grains and insects, and the content of cordycepin varies depending on the cultivation conditions. In this study, the effect of culture conditions on the cordycepin content was analyzed and the extraction conditions were optimized. Analysis of cordycepin content in Pupae-Cordyceps found that it was highly affected by temperature in culture conditions. In the case of mycelium, it grows well at 20 and 25 oC, but not at 30 oC. However, the content of cordycepin was highest at 30oC and less at 20 oC. The fruiting body also showed a similar tendency: growth was 20 oC > 25 oC > 30 oC, but the cordycepin content was 30 oC > 25 oC > 20 oC. The content of cordycepin decreased after the fruiting bodies were produced. Next, extraction conditions such as solvent and time were optimized for maximum cordycepin content using response surface methodology(RSM). There was a large difference in the content of cordycepin according to the content of ethanol and the extraction temperature. Through RSM, it was confirmed that the optimum condition for extraction of cordycepin was 48.9 oC using 49.0% ethanol, and 160.9 mg/g extract could be obtained under this condition. In conclusion, this study suggested the optimized conditions for the cultivation and extraction of Pupae-Cordyceps for maximizing the content of cordycepin, and this may be applied to the discovery of materials using cordycepin.

Direct reprogramming, also known as a trans-differentiation, is a technique to allow mature cells to be converted into other types of cells without inducing a pluripotent stage. It has been suggested as a major strategy to acquire the desired type of cells in cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues. Studies related to switching the fate of cells through epigenetic modification have been progressing and they can bypass safety issues raised by the virus-based transfection methods.In this study, a protocol was established to directly convert fully differentiated fibroblasts into diverse mesenchymal-lineage cells, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and ectodermal cells, including neurons, by means of DNA demethylation, immediately followed by culturing in various differentiating media. First, 24 h exposure of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CN), a well-characterized DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, to NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells induced the expression of stem-cell markers, that is, increasing cell plasticity. Next, 5-aza-CN treated fibroblasts were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic media with or without bone morphogenetic protein 2 for a designated period. Differentiation of each desired type of cell was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/western blot assays for appropriate marker expression and by various staining methods, such as alkaline phosphatase/alizarin red S/oil red O/alcian blue. These proposed procedures allowed easier acquisition of the desired cells without any transgenic modification, using direct reprogramming technology, and thus may help make it more available in the clinical fields of regenerative medicine.

Direct reprogramming, also known as a trans-differentiation, is a technique to allow mature cells to be converted into other types of cells without inducing a pluripotent stage. It has been suggested as a major strategy to acquire the desired type of cells in cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues. Studies related to switching the fate of cells through epigenetic modification have been progressing and they can bypass safety issues raised by the virus-based transfection methods.In this study, a protocol was established to directly convert fully differentiated fibroblasts into diverse mesenchymal-lineage cells, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and ectodermal cells, including neurons, by means of DNA demethylation, immediately followed by culturing in various differentiating media. First, 24 h exposure of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CN), a well-characterized DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, to NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells induced the expression of stem-cell markers, that is, increasing cell plasticity. Next, 5-aza-CN treated fibroblasts were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic media with or without bone morphogenetic protein 2 for a designated period. Differentiation of each desired type of cell was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/western blot assays for appropriate marker expression and by various staining methods, such as alkaline phosphatase/alizarin red S/oil red O/alcian blue. These proposed procedures allowed easier acquisition of the desired cells without any transgenic modification, using direct reprogramming technology, and thus may help make it more available in the clinical fields of regenerative medicine.

Background: The quality of a vaccine depends strongly on the effects of the adjuvants applied simultaneously with the antigen in the vaccine. The adjuvants enhance the protective effect of the vaccine against a viral challenge. Conversely, oil-type adjuvants leave oil residue inside the bodies of the injected animals that can produce a local reaction in the muscle. The longterm immunogenicity of mice after vaccination was examined. ISA206 or ISA15 oil adjuvants maintained the best immunity, protective capability, and safety among the oil adjuvants in the experimental group. Objectives: This study screened the adjuvant composites aimed at enhancing foot-andmouth disease (FMD) immunity. The C-type lectin or toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist showed the most improved protection rate. Methods: Experimental vaccines were fabricated by mixing various known oil adjuvants and composites that can act as immunogenic adjuvants (gel, saponin, and other components) and examined the enhancement effect on the vaccine. Results: The water in oil (W/O) and water in oil in water (W/O/W) adjuvants showed better immune effects than the oil in water (O/W) adjuvants, which have a small volume of oil component. The W/O type left the largest amount of oil residue, followed by W/O/W and O/W types. In the mouse model, intramuscular inoculation showed a better protection rate than subcutaneous inoculation. Moreover, the protective effect was particularly weak in the case of inoculation in fatty tissue. The initial immune reaction and persistence of long-term immunity were also confirmed in an immune reaction on pigs. Conclusions The new experimental vaccine with immunostimulants produces improved immune responses and safety in pigs than general oil-adjuvanted vaccines.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute epidemic that spreads rapidly among cattle and pigs. In 2014, in Korea, despite enforced vaccination, the type O Southeast Asia (SEA) topotype viruses (Mya-98 lineage) infected mainly cattle and pigs simultaneously, thereby causing enormous damage. If a vaccine that is completely protective against this FMD virus is developed and used, it can become a very important preventive measure in Asia, which is where this type of virus mainly circulates. The SEA topotype has been steadily evolving and transforming into new variations since it became epidemic in Asia. Therefore, it became necessary to develop a new vaccine that could provide protection against the FMD virus strain that was responsible for the 2014–2015 outbreak in Korea. This study aimed to develop a vaccine that would provide complete protection against the SEA topotype FMD virus to control sporadic FMD outbreaks, which occur despite the enforcement of vaccination, and to completely prevent virus shedding, thereby preventing the virus from spreading. The vaccine candidate virus developed in this study showed low pathogenicity and can be distinguished from the wild-type FMD virus strain. The developed vaccine was able to protect mice from SEA and Middle East–South Asia topotype virus strains and induced high titers of antibodies against both virus strains in pigs, thereby confirming the sufficiency of its protective function. In particular, the results of the SEA topotype virus challenge test in pigs revealed that perfect immunity was created in the vaccinated pigs, without virus shedding and viremia.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Asia ; Asia, Southeastern ; Cattle ; Disease Outbreaks ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; Korea ; Mice ; Swine ; Vaccination ; Viremia ; Virulence ; Virus Shedding

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of MeOH extract of the dried fruits of Amomum tsao-ko led to isolation of nine compounds (1 – 9). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D-NMR, as alpinetin (1), naringenin-5-O-methyl ether (2), naringenin (3), hesperetin (4), 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxy-4-methoxy chalcone (5), tsaokoin (6), boesenbergin B (7), 4-hydroxyboesenbergin B (8), and tsaokoarylone (9). Of these, compound 8 was isolated from a natural source for the first time, which was previously reported as a synthetic product. The isolated compounds (1 – 9) were tested for their inhibitory effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Among them, three chalcone derivatives (compounds 5, 7, and 8) and a diarylheptanoid (compound 9) exhibited significant inhibitory activity on the NO production with IC₅₀ values ranging from 10.9 to 22.5 µM.
Amomum ; Chalcone ; Ether ; Fruit ; Macrophages ; Nitric Oxide ; Zingiberaceae