• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2016

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a heat-processed ginseng developed by the repeated steaming and air-drying of fresh ginseng. Compared with fresh ginseng, KRG has been shown to possess greater pharmacological activities and stability because of changes that occur in its chemical constituents during the steaming process. In addition to anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities, KRG and its purified components have also been shown to possess protective effects against microbial infections. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the properties of KRG and its components on infections with human pathogenic viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus, human herpes virus, hepatitis virus, norovirus, rotavirus, enterovirus, and coxsackievirus. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of KRG as an antiviral and vaccine adjuvant is discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 1999

A large-scale culture of hepatitis A virus in human diploid MRC-5 cells was conducted. In a roller bottle culture, the virus was grown to a maximum titer in 3 weeks after infection. Over 95％ of the cell-associated virus was excreted after culturing the infected cells in suspension media without fetal bovine serum for 3 days. The cultured virus was inactivated with formalin, concentrated by ultrafiltration, and partially purified by ultracentrifugation in a non-ionic gradient medium of Renocal. Two separate peak fractions showing high anti-HAY ELISA titer were pooled and about 40％ of HAV antigen was recovered by this purification procedure. Of the partially purified vaccine, the protein pattern in SDS-PAGE and immunogenicity in mice were compared with a commercial HAV vaccine. In SDS-PAGE, the purified vaccine in this study and the commercial vaccine showed almost the same protein pattern. The seroconversion rate of the purified vaccine in mice was not different from that of the commercial vaccine. Therefore, we could prepare a good grade of HAV vaccine by a simple purification procedure although the purification itself was not completed.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.609-610
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• 2018

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 2003

Of many viral causes of human cancer, few are of greater global importance than the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Over 250 million people worldwide are persistently infected with HBV. A significant minority of these develop severe pathologic consequences, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Earlier epidemiological evidence suggested a link between chronic HBV infection and HCC. Further, the existence of related animal viruses that induce acute and chronic infections of the liver, and eventually HCC, confirms the concept that HBV belongs to one of the few human oncogenic viruses. Although it is clear that chronic HBV infections are major risk factors, relatively little is understood about how the viral factors contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. This review will introduce molecular aspects of the viral infection, and highlight recent findings on the viral contribution to hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1385-1389
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• 2005

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogen related to the development of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficient methods to suppress HBV replication have not been developed yet. Therefore, we have used RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential tool for the suppression of HBV replication. Here, we designed a 21 nt small intefering dsRNA (siRNA) against hepatitis B virus X (HBx) RNA with 3' overhanging ends derived from T7 promoter. It has been reported that HBV X protein plays an important role in HBV gene expression and viral replication. The suppression of HBx gene expression by the 21 nt siRNA was investigated by Northern blot analysis and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay. The level of HBx mRNA was decreased by siRNA in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that the 21 nt siRNA inhibited the HBV replication in hepatocellular carcinoma cell.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1979

Up to the present there were the blood transfusion and the use of apparatus not to sterilize at surgical operation and medical treatments in well known infectious ways of hepatitis B virus. But all its ways were still not surely known. As the other ways of hepatitis B virus infection, it was suggested that contagion such as kissing, sexual contact, homosexuality, and varieties discharged out human body urine, stool, tear, salivary, menstrual blood, Vaginal discharge etc, and low economic status, unsanitary environmental life, alcohol and smoking related to hepatitis B virus infection. From 800 waitress who frequently contact with a lot of drinker with low economic status and unclear environmental life, this study were investigated HBs Ag (Hepatitis B surface antigen) known marker for hepatitis B virus infection in their serum, and a few conditions of their private life in order to known dangerous rate b~ing exposed to the source of hepatitis B virus infection as comparison with control group. The results were summarlized as following 1. The positive rate of HBs Ag (4.3%) was significantly higher in waitress than in control group(1.1%). 2. In waitress old, 20-24 ages group was the most as 59.5%, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in twenties than thirties. 3. Among the waitress, one that it was less than a year were the most (62.4%) in the period to work at restaurant business, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in propotion to period to work at there. 4. Among the waitress, one who entertained to beer hall was the most (46%), and they were trend of higher in positive rate of HBs Ag (6.3%) than other waitress. 5. Among the waitress, one to drink with smoking, and only to drink, and only to smoke, and not to drink and smoke 66.1%, 21.5%, 4.6% and 7.8%. Espically in one to drink with smoking, ther was trend of indicating the high positve rate of HBs Ag, and it was made suspicion of the relationship of alcohol smoking, contact with a lot of drinker, unclear environment to hepatitis B virus infection. In the above results, it was found that dangerous rate being exposed in hepatitis B virus infection was high in the waitress. Therefore there are required for active preventions against hepatitis B virus infection them. Also as it is possible to be infectious source in public health that waitress infected to viral hepatitis, it is thought that appropriate rules about them.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1756-1762
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• 2007

Envelope proteins of virus contain a segment of hydrophobic amino acids, called as fusion peptide, which triggers membrane fusion by insertion into membrane and perturbation of lipid bilayer structure. Potential fusion peptide sequences have been identified in the middle of L or M proteins or at the N-terminus of S protein in the envelope of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). Two 16-mer peptides representing the N-terminal fusion peptide of the S protein and the internal fusion peptide in L protein were synthesized, and their membrane disrupting activities were characterized. The internal fusion peptide in L protein showed higher activity of liposome leakage and hemolysis of human red blood cells than the N-terminal fusion peptide of S protein. Also, the membrane disrupting activity of the extracellular domain of L protein significantly increased when the internal fusion peptide region was exposed to N-terminus by the treatment of V8 protease. These results indicate that the internal fusion peptide region of L protein could activate membrane fusion when it is exposed by proteolysis.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2004

The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy and mechanism of fraction IV cold ethanol fractionation and pasteurization (60$^{\circ}C$ heat treatment for 10 h), involved in the manufacture of albumin from human plasma, in the removal and/or inactivation of the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Samples from the relevant stages of the production process were spiked with HAV and the amount of virus in each fraction then quantified using a 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID$\_$50/). HAV was effectively partitioned from albumin during the fraction IV cold ethanol fractionation with a log reduction factor of 3.43. Pasteurization was also found to be a robust and effective step in inactivating HAV, where the titers were reduced from an initial titer of 7.60 log TCID$\_$50/ to undetectable levels within 5 h of treatment. The log reduction factor achieved during pasteurization was $\geq$4.76. Therefore, the current results indicate that the production process for albumin has sufficient HAV reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of virus safety.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.564-568
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• 2020

Although studies on Hepatitis A virus (HAV) were crucial in the establishment of the HAV infection prevention programs, no systematic investigation into HAV has been conducted since 1999. We retrospectively analyzed the data between January 2010 to December 2018 from all the patients who underwent HAV antibody tests at the Dankook University Hospital Health Care Center. Data were collected from 56,204 individuals. Overall, 34,834 (62.0%) individuals from this cohort were positive for HAV antibodies and the annual rate of anti-HAV antibody positivity was highest in 2010 (68.5%) and lowest in 2013 (54.8%). The average decline in the antibody positivity rate was 0.62% per year, showing a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). In the over 40s age group, anti-HAV antibody positivity rates decreased from 89% in 2010 to 64% in 2018 (p < 0.001), with an annual decrease of 3.1%. In the over 30s age group, it decreased from 48.2% in 2010 to 34.7% in 2018 (p < 0.001), with an annual decrease of 1.82%. This study shows that the antibody positivity rate is decreasing across age groups but given that HAV infection poses more significant risks in older patients it is important to expand the evaluations of the current and future antibody positivity rates for HAV in various age groups.