Characterization of canine oral papillomavirus by histopathological and genetic analysis in Korea

In August 2008, forty dogs out of 400 developed oral warts in a breeding farm in Korea. Canine oral papilloma infection is a common disease in dogs. However, there has been no report of an outbreak of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) in a group of dogs or in dog breeding farms in Korea, and the genetic analysis of COPV in Korea has yet to be performed. This study diagnosed canine oral papilloma from the oral samples of these dogs based on histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction was applied to amplify the corresponding products using pre-existing primer sets for COPV and a universal human papillomavirus targeting L1 gene. Further genetic analysis of the major viral capsid gene L1 confirms the sequences of Korean COPV, which shows a close relationship to previously reported COPV. This study describes the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine oral papilloma in a group of breeding dogs in Korea and discloses the complete L1 gene sequences of Korean COPV

Laboratory information management system for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy trial data

Background : As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results : In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions : This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.This research was supported by the National research foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT) (2020M3A9I2109027 and 2021M3H9A1030260)

Expression and characterization of bovine rotavirus proteins in the baculovirus system

Recombinant proteins of bovine rotavirus VP2, VP4, VP6 and VP7 were expressed in insect cells using baculovirus expression vectors. Expressed recombinant proteins were similar to those of rotavirus. Recombinant viral antigens expressed in insect cells reacted with polyclonal antiserum to the VMRI strain of BRV by an indirect immunofluorescence test. Expressed recombinant proteins were characterized by radioimmunoprecipitation and their molecular mass was found to be similar to that of in wild type rotavirus. These four recombinant proteins were antigenic in guinea pigs and induced antibodies to the corresponding rotavirus proteins as detected by indirect immunofluorescence test. Recombinant viruses Bac.pVL/VP4 and Bac.pVL/VP7.D expressing VP4 and VP7, respectively, induced high levels of virus neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. Recombinant virus Bac.pVL/VP6 also induced low level of virus neutralizing antibodies. Recombinant proteins VP4 and VP7 inhibited receptor binding of rotavirus to MA-104 cells;To increase the expression of VP7, we have investigated the effect of removing terminal non-coding sequences, upstream and downstream of the VP7 open reading frame, on its expression in insect cells. Four constructs were generated in baculovirus transfer vector pVL1393 to be expressed as nonfusion proteins under the control of a baculovirus polyhedrin promoter. The construct pVL/VP7.A contained the full sequence of the bovine rotavirus VMRI VP7 gene including the noncoding sequences, construct pVL/VP7.B contained the VP7 gene in which the noncoding region at the 3' end was deleted, construct pVL/VP7.C was composed of the VP7 gene in which the 5' noncoding sequence was deleted, and construct pVL/VP7.D had the VP7 gene in which noncoding sequences upstream and downstream of the VP7 open reading frame were deleted. Recombinant DNA from these four constructs was used to generate recombinant baculovirus and VP7 expression using each recombinant baculovirus was evaluated. Insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus Bac.pVL/VP7.D had the highest transcriptional activity. The level of protein expression by radioimmunoprecipitation was highest with recombinant baculovirus Bac.pVL/VP7.D and was at least ten fold more than that with the other three recombinants. We believe the recombinant proteins VP4 and VP7 offer a valuable tool for development of an effective vaccine for the prevention and control of rotavirus associated gastroenteritis.</p

INFLUENCE OF TEMPERAMENT AND ANXIETY ON ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Our research aimed to conduct basic descriptions of temperamental traits and the level of state and trait anxiety of young male athletes, and to compare them by type of sports. Study participants were 277 athletes and 152 non-athletes who were all high school boys. The Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used for checking temperamental traits while the Korean version of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y (STAI-KY) was used to estimate anxiety levels. Harm Avoidance score of athletes was higher than that of non-athletes. Harm Avoidance score of golfers was lowest and that of swimmers was highest. The state anxiety score of baseball players was lowest and that of Taekwondo players was highest. The trait anxiety score of baseball players was also lowest and that of golfers was highest. Both trait and state anxieties of the 'winner' group were lower than those of the 'no winner' group. While prior research mainly focused on athletes' environment and phenotypic characteristics, we studied the pattern of temperaments in athletes along with its potential influence on athletic performanc

Frontal glucose hypometabolism in abstinent methamphetamine users

Changes in relative regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCMRglc) and their potential gender differences in abstinent methamphetamine (MA) users were explored. Relative rCMRglc, as measured by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and frontal executive functions, as assessed by Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), were compared between 35 abstinent MA users and 21 healthy comparison subjects. In addition, male and female MA users and their gender-matched comparison subjects were compared to investigate potential gender differences. MA users had lower rCMRglc levels in the right superior frontal white matter and more perseveration and nonperseveration errors in the WCST, relative to healthy comparison subjects. Relative rCMRglc in the frontal white matter correlated with number of errors in the WCST in MA users. In the subanalysis for gender differences, lower rCMRglc in the frontal white matter and more errors in the WCST were found only in male MA users, not in female MA users, relative to their gender-matched comparison subjects. The current findings suggest that MA use causes persistent hypometabolism in the frontal white matter and impairment in frontal executive function. Our findings also suggest that the neurotoxic effect of MA on frontal lobes of the brain might be more prominent in men than in women

A preliminary study: novelty seeking, frontal executive function, and dopamine receptor (D2) TaqI A gene polymorphism in patients with methamphetamine dependence

INTRODUCTION: Dopamine receptor polymorphisms have been associated with specific patterns of novelty seeking (NS) temperamental nature and frontal executive function. In addition, carriers of dopamine receptor type 2 (DRD2)-TaqI A1 have been hypothesized to be potentially vulnerable to addictive behaviors. In the present study, the association between dopamine D2 polymorphisms, NS, and frontal executive function was studied. METHODS: Thirty-seven methamphetamine (MA)-dependent subjects and 40 healthy comparison subjects participated in the current study. The severity of addiction, NS temperament, and frontal executive functions were measured using the Addiction Severity Index, the NS subscale in the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, respectively. All subjects were genotyped with regard to DRD2-TaqI polymorphisms. RESULTS: The prevalence of DRD2-TaqI A1 allele polymorphisms was greater in the MA-abuser group than in the comparison group. Patients with MA dependence also had higher NS characteristics and high scores in total trials, errors, and perseverative errors of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test than comparison subjects. Within patients with MA dependence, the subgroup of DRD2-TaqI A1 carrier had greater NS scores relative to those without, whereas there was only a trend level of lower frontal executive function in the first subgroup. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the MA-dependent patients with DRD2-TaqI A1 allele had significantly greater NS scores and lower frontal executive function with a trend level than those without. These preliminary results suggest that MA-dependent patients may have the possibility of genetic and biogenic vulnerability to MA