• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode parasite that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. The purpose of this study was the development of real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of D. immitis. The D. immitis-specific primers confirmed in our previous study and a newly designed TaqMan probe were used for quantitative diagnostics. First, SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using the specific primers and serially diluted genomic DNA or plasmid DNA, and melting curve analyses were performed after amplification. The melting curve showed one specific peak in each of the genomic and plasmid DNA reactions, suggesting that the primers specifically amplify the D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR using serially diluted plasmid DNA showed higher efficiency and specificity with TaqMan real-time PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study will provide improved diagnostic methods to overcome the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools and facilitate more rapid and accurate diagnoses.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2017

The exotic black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, has been paid much attention as an excellent organic matter decomposer. We conducted the nationwide survey and the population genetic study using a mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase 1 gene to understand its genetic diversity and distribution pattern in Korea. The results show that it has successfully settled down in South Korea and there are only 10 haplotypes and the populations of the insect are highly differentiated. The results may indicate that their dispersal was restrained probably due to their short distance flying tendency since their introduction and settlement of only few maternal lineages with certain genotypes in Korea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2016

Subtropical insect pests expand their habitats by migration to temperate zones along with global climate change. A subtropical insect pest, Maruca vitrata, is infesting leguminous crops including azuka beans in Korea and gives significant economic damages. Its great genetic variation raised an issue of the origin of a Korean M. vitrata population. To understand the genetic character of the Korean population, its cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) gene was sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed with other regional populations. The world populations of M. vitrata were grouped into three clusters: Asia-African, American, and Oceanian. The Korean population was classified into Asia-African cluster. To characterize the insecticide susceptibility of the Korean population, seven different insecticides (4 neutoxic insecticides, 1 insect growth regulator, 2 biopesticides) were assessed. Young larvae of M. vitrata were relatively susceptible to all tested insecticides. However, old larvae were much less susceptible than young larvae. No test insecticides effectively (> 50%) killed the old larvae of M. vitrata within 7 days.