• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.679-684
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• 2022

Rice blast is one of the most destructive diseases of rice worldwide, and the causative agent is the filamentous ascomycete Magnaporthe oryzae. With the successful cloning of more and more avirulence genes from M. oryzae, the direct extraction of M. oryzae genomic DNA from infected rice tissue would be useful alternative for rapid monitoring of changes of avirulence genes without isolation and cultivation of the pathogen. In this study, a fast, low-cost and reliable method for DNA preparation of M. oryzae from a small piece of infected single rice leaf or neck lesion was established. This single step method only required 10 min for DNA preparation and conventional chemical reagents commonly found in the laboratory. The AvrPik and AvrPi9 genes were successfully amplified with the prepared DNA. The expected DNA fragments from 570 bp to 1,139 bp could be amplified even three months after DNA preparation. This method was also suitable for DNA preparation from M. oryzae strains stored on the filter paper. All together these results indicate that the DNA preparation method established in this study is reliable, and could meet the basic needs for polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of M. oryzae.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.175-181
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• 2022

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory syndrome that affects the host's breathing and respiratory system. The novel disease's first case was reported in 2019 and has created a state of emergency in the whole world and declared a global pandemic within months after the first case. The disease created elements of socioeconomic crisis globally. The emergency has made it imperative for professionals to take the necessary measures to make early diagnoses of the disease. The conventional diagnosis for COVID-19 is through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. However, in a lot of rural societies, these tests are not available or take a lot of time to provide results. Hence, we propose a COVID-19 classification system by means of machine learning and transfer learning models. The proposed approach identifies individuals with COVID-19 and distinguishes them from those who are healthy with the help of Deep Visual Embeddings (DVE). Five state-of-the-art models: VGG-19, ResNet50, Inceptionv3, MobileNetv3, and EfficientNetB7, were used in this study along with five different pooling schemes to perform deep feature extraction. In addition, the features are normalized using standard scaling, and 4-fold cross-validation is used to validate the performance over multiple versions of the validation data. The best results of 88.86% UAR, 88.27% Specificity, 89.44% Sensitivity, 88.62% Accuracy, 89.06% Precision, and 87.52% F1-score were obtained using ResNet-50 with Average Pooling and Logistic regression with class weight as the classifier.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.494-503
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• 2023

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a plant pathogen of Brassica crops that causes black rot disease throughout the world. At present, 11 physiological races of Xcc (races 1-11) have been reported. The conventional method of using differential cultivars for Xcc race detection is not accurate and it is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, the development of specific molecular markers has been used as a substitute tool because it offers an accurate and reliable result, particularly a quick diagnosis of Xcc races. Previously, our laboratory has successfully developed race-specific molecular markers for Xcc races 1-6. In this study, specific molecular markers to identify Xcc race 7 have been developed. In the course of study, whole genome sequences of several Xcc races, X. campestris pv. incanae, X. campestris pv. raphani, and X. campestris pv. vesicatoria were aligned to identify variable regions like sequence-characterized amplified regions and insertions and deletions specific to race 7. Primer pairs were designed targeting these regions and validated against 22 samples. The polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that three primer pairs specifically amplified the DNA fragment corresponding to race 7. The obtained finding clearly demonstrates the efficiency of the newly developed markers in accurately detecting Xcc race 7 among the other races. These results indicated that the newly developed marker can successfully and rapidly detect Xcc race 7 from other races. This study represents the first report on the successful development of specific molecular markers for Xcc race 7.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

The Indian golden muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer is an economically important wild silkworm endemic to Northeastern part of India. In recent years, climate change has posed a threat to muga silk production due to the requirement that larvae be reared outdoors. Since the muga silkworm larvae are exposed to the vagaries of nature, the changing climate has increased the incidence of microbial diseases in the rearing fields. Accurate diagnosis of the disease causing pathogens and its associated epidemiology are prerequisites to manage the diseases in the rearing field. Although conventional microbial culturing methods are widely used to identify pathogenic bacteria, they would not provide meaningful information on a wide variety of silkworm pathogens. The information on use of molecular diagnostic tools in detection of microbial pathogens of wild silk moths is very limited. A wide range of molecular and immunodiagnostic techniques including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), random amplified polymorphism (RAPD), 16S rRNA/ITSA gene sequencing, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunofluorescence, and repetitive-element PCR (Rep-PCR), have been used for detecting and characterizing the pathogens of insects with economic significance. Nevertheless, the application of these molecular tools for detecting and typing entomopathogens in surveillance studies of muga silkworm rearing is very limited. Here, we discuss the possible application of these molecular techniques, their advantages and major limitations. These methods show promise in better management of diseases in muga ecosystem.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.239-247
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• 2022

Objective: Asafoetida is a gum derived from Ferula assa-foetida, which is used in traditional Iranian medicine to treat some reproductive system disorders. The effects of asafoetida on ovarian tissue, expression of certain genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and levels of liver, kidney, and blood cell factors after treatment in a rat model were investigated. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups: normal, polycystic, and treatment with three doses of asafoetida (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg for 3 weeks after PCOS induction). PCOS was induced by letrozole at a dose of 1 mg/kg administered orally for 3 weeks. Blood samples were taken, and the ovaries were removed and prepared for histomorphometric examination. Liver and kidney parameters were measured. The mRNA expression levels of luteinizing hormone receptor, CYP11A1, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, adiponectin, and adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 were also measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The levels of liver, kidney, and blood parameters did not significantly differ between the treatment groups and the control group. At doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, ovarian histopathology, especially the thicknesses of the theca and granulosa layers, was significantly improved relative to the PCOS group. The expression of target genes also improved in the 25 and 50 mg/kg treatment groups. Conclusion: Asafoetida can be used to treat PCOS as a complementary approach to conventional therapies. Asafoetida appears to act by regulating and activating metabolic and ovarian cycle enzymes.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.82.1-82.12
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• 2023

Background: The current conventional serotyping based on antigen-antisera agglutination could not provide a better understanding of the potential pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Brancaster. Surveillance data from Malaysian poultry farms indicated an increase in its presence over the years. Objective: This study aims to investigate the virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance in S. Brancaster isolated from chickens in Malaysia. Methods: One hundred strains of archived S. Brancaster isolated from chicken cloacal swabs and raw chicken meat from 2017 to 2022 were studied. Two sets of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted to identify eight virulence genes associated with pathogenicity in Salmonella (invasion protein gene [invA], Salmonella invasion protein gene [sipB], Salmonella-induced filament gene [sifA], cytolethal-distending toxin B gene [cdtB], Salmonella iron transporter gene [sitC], Salmonella pathogenicity islands gene [spiA], Salmonella plasmid virulence gene [spvB], and inositol phosphate phosphatase gene [sopB]). Antimicrobial susceptibility assessment was conducted by disc diffusion method on nine selected antibiotics for the S. Brancaster isolates. S. Brancaster, with the phenotypic ACSSuT-resistance pattern (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphonamides, and tetracycline), was subjected to PCR to detect the corresponding resistance gene(s). Results: Virulence genes detected in S. Brancaster in this study were invA, sitC, spiA, sipB, sopB, sifA, cdtB, and spvB. A total of 36 antibiogram patterns of S. Brancaster with a high level of multidrug resistance were observed, with ampicillin exhibiting the highest resistance. Over a third of the isolates displayed ACSSuT-resistance, and seven resistance genes (β-lactamase temoneira [bla_TEM], florfenicol/chloramphenicol resistance gene [floR], streptomycin resistance gene [strA], aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase gene [ant(3")-Ia], sulfonamides resistance gene [sul-1, sul-2], and tetracycline resistance gene [tetA]) were detected. Conclusion: Multidrug-resistant S. Brancaster from chickens harbored an array of virulence-associated genes similar to other clinically significant and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, placing it as another significant foodborne zoonosis.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.59-66
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• 2010

목 적: QF-PCR법은 흔한 염색체 이수성에 대한 빠른 산전 진단을 가능하게 하는데, 낮은 가격, 빠른 속도, 그리고 자동화가 가능하여 한꺼번에 많은 검체에 대해 적용할 수 있다는 장점들이 있다. 하지만 아직까지 국내에서 QF-PCR법은 산전 염색체 이수성 선별검사로 주로 사용되는 방법이 아니다. 본 연구에서는 한국인에서 빠른 산전 진단을 목적으로 시행하는 짧은 염기서열 반복(short tandem repeats, STR) 표지자를 이용한 QF-PCR법의 수행능을 검증하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 2007년에서 2009년까지 산전 염색체 이수성 선별을 목적으로 의뢰된 847개의 양수 검체에 대해 QF-PCR법을 시행하였는데 13번, 18번, 21번, X, Y염색체에 위치한 총 20개의 STR 표지자로 구성된 Elucigene kit (Gen-Probe, Abingdon, UK)를 사용하였다. 총 847개의 양수 검체에 대한QF-PCR 결과는 염색체 검사 결과와 비교하였고, STR 표지자의 정보력을 평가하기 위해서 각 표지자에 대해 이형접합체 지수(heterozygosity index)를 구하였다. 결 과: 총 847개 양수 검체에 대한 QF-PCR 검사 결과 19개(2.2%, 19/847)에서 13, 18, 21번 염색체와 X, Y염색체의 수적 이상이 관찰되었는데 염색체 검사에서도 동일한 결과를 보여100% 양성 예측율을 나타냈다. 하지만 염색체 검사 결과 7개(0.8%, 7/847) 검체에서 5개의 균형전좌와 2개의 불균형 염색체 이상이 관찰되었으나 QF-PCR에서는 진단되지 않았다. STR 표지자의 평균 이형접합체 지수(he-terozygosity index)는 0.76으로 서양인에서 보고된 0.8에 비해 다소 낮았다. 본 연구에서 D13S634표지자의 미세수준의 중복(submicroscopic duplication)이 1.4% (12/847)에서 관찰되었는데 이는 한국인에서 특징적인 소견으로 생각된다. 결 론: 본 기관에서는 산전 염색체 이수성 선별을 위한 QF-PCR법을 검증하였으며 효율적이고 신뢰할 수 있는 방법임이 입증되었다. 하지만 QF-PCR결과를 해석하기 위한 지침을 만들기 위해서 검사실마다 독립적으로 각각의 STR표지자에 대한 검증이 필요하며, 또한 QF-PCR법을 통상적인 염색체 검사 업무흐름에 통합하는 것이 필요하다고 사료된다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.92-100
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• 2021

목적: 중추신경계 감염의 적절한 치료를 위해서 신속한 원인 병원체의 확인이 중요하다. 본 연구는 열이 있는 영아의 뇌척수액 검체에서 원인 병원체 검출을 위한 BioFire^® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel 검사 방법의 진단적 가치를 평가하고자 수행되었다. 방법: 2016년 1월부터 2019년 7월까지 발열을 주소로 서울대학교 어린이병원에 내원한 90일 미만의 영아로부터 채취한 뇌척수액으로 기존검사(세균 배양, Xpert^® enterovirus assay, herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 중합효소 연쇄반응 검사)를 시행한 후 -70℃ 초저온 냉동고에 보관된 검체를 대상으로 BioFire^® ME panel 검사를 시행하였다. 결과: 총 72개 검체(원인 병원체가 검출된 24개와 검출되지 않은 48개)가 포함되었다. BioFire^® ME panel 검사 결과, 기존검사로 원인 병원체가 검출되지 않은 48개의 검체 중 41개(85.4%)는 음성이었고 원인 병원체가 검출된 24개 검체 중 22개(91.7%)가 동일한 결과(enterovirus 19개, Streptococcus agalactiae 2개, Streptococcus pneumoniae 1개)를 보여 전체 일치율은 87.5% (63/72)였다. 병원체가 기존검사에서 검출되지 않았으나 BioFire^® ME panel에서 검출된 7개의 검체 중 6개에서 human parechovirus (HPeV)가 검출되었다. 결론: 열이 있는 90일 미만 영아에서 BioFire^® ME panel 검사법은 원인 병원체가 밝혀진 기존검사 결과와는 비교적 높은 일치도를 보이며, HPeV를 추가적으로 진단할 수 있었다. 향후, 소아청소년 진료 영역에서 BioFire^® ME panel 검사법을 적용할 근거를 마련하기 위한 임상적 유용성과 비용 효과에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.81-89
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• 2004

Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and lymphotoxin-$\alpha$ (LT-$\alpha$, TNF-$\beta$) can initiate and perpetuate human diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). TNFs can be blocked by the use of soluble TNF receptors. However, since monomeric soluble receptors generally exhibit low affinity or function as agonists, the use of monomeric soluble receptors has been limited in the case of cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$, TNF-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13, which have adapted to a multi component receptor system. For these reasons, very high-affinity inhibitors were created for the purpose of a TNFs antagonist to bind the TNFR and trigger cellular signal by using the multistep polymerase chain reaction method. First, recombinant simple TNFR-Ig fusion proteins were constructed from the cDNA sequences encoding the extracellular domain of the human p55 TNFR (CD120a) and the human p75 TNFR (CD120b), which were linked to hinge and constant regions of human $IgG_1$ heavy chain, respectively using complementary primers (CP) encoding the complementary sequences. Then, concatameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins were constructed using recombinant PCR and a complementary primer base of recombinant simple TNFR-Ig fusion proteins. For high level expression of recombinant fusion proteins, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were used with a retroviral expression system. The transfected cells produced the simple concatameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins capable of binding TNF and inactivating it. These soluble versions of simple concantameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins gave rise to multiple forms such as simple dimers and concatameric homodimers. Simple TNFR-1g fusion proteins were shown to have much more reduced TNF inhibitory activity than concatameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins. Concatameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins showed higher affinity than simple TNFR-Ig fusion proteins in a receptor inhibitor binding assay (RIBA). Additionally, concatameric TNFR-Ig fusion proteins were shown to have a progressive effect as a TNF inhibitor compared to the simple TNFR-Ig fusion proteins and conventional TNFR-Fc in cytotoxicity assays, and showed the same results for collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in mice in vivo.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.537-544
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• 2008

세균의 검출에 있어서 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 방법은 기존의 plate counting과 달리 빠르게 세균을 검출할 수 있다. 하지만 세균이 죽은 후에도 DNA는 장기간 존재할 수 있기 때문에, DNA에 기초한 분석은 살아있는 세균과 죽은 세균을 구분할 수 없다. 최근에 DNA extraction전에 propidium monoazide (PMA)를 처리하여 살아있는 세균만 선택적으로 검출하는 방법이 제시되었다. PMA는 손상된 세포막만 통과하여 죽은 세포의 DNA와 빛 노출 하에서 결합하여 PCR이 증폭되는 것을 막는다. Enterococcus faecalis는 근관치료의 실패에 있어서 중요한 원인이 되는 세균으로 제시되어 왔다. 그리고 chlorhexidine (CHX)은 E. faecalis의 제거에 있어서 효과적인 약제임이 밝혀졌다. 이번 실험의 목적은 세균 수의 측정에 있어서, PMA 처리와 real-time PCR 방법의 적용 가능성을 기존의 plate counting과 비교하여 알아보는 것이다. 또한 E. faecalis에 대한 2% CHX의 살균 효과를 PMA 처리 후 real-time PCR 방법을 사용하여 알아보는 것이다. 실험 방법으로 먼저 살아있는 세균과 죽은 세균을 다른 비율로 섞어서 PMA를 처리한 후 real-time PCR을 시행하여 PMA가 빛 노출 하에서 죽은 세균의 DNA와 결합하는 효과를 나타내는지 알아보았다. 다음으로 PMA 처리 후 realtime PCR 방법을 이용하여 살아있는 세균의 양을 측정한 것을 plate counting으로 얻은 CFU와 비교하였다. 마지막으로 2% CHX의 처리시간을 다르게 하였을 때 E. faecalis에 대한 살균 효과를 PMA 처리 후 real-time PCR 방법을 사용하여 알아보았다. 실험 결과로 살아있는 E. faecalis의 비율이 감소할수록 Ct value는 증가하였다. 그리고 PMA 처리 후 real-time PCR 방법을 이용하여 세균의 양을 측정한 것과 plate counting으로 얻은 CFU 사이에는 Optical density (OD) 값이 1.0일 때까지는 상관관계가 있었다. 하지만 OD 값이 1.5일 때는, PMA를 처리한 후 real-time PCR을 시행했을 때 측정된 살아있는 세균의 양이 감소하였음에 반해서 plate counting에 의한 CFU는 계속 증가하였다. 마지막으로 2% CHX을 오래 적용할수록 살아있는 E. faecalis의 상대적인 양이 감소하는 것을 PMA 처리와 real-time PCR 방법을 이용해 확인하였다.