• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.321-331
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• 2011

Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis. Detection of M. bovis and M. tuberculosis using conventional culture- and biochemical-based assays is time-consuming. Therefore, a simple and sensitive molecular assay for rapid detection would be of great help in specific situations such as faster diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infection in the abattoirs. We developed a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay which was applied directly to biological samples with evidence of bTB and it was allowed to differentiate between M. bovis and M. tuberculosis. The primers and TaqMan probes were designed to target the IS1081 gene, the multi-copy insertion element in the MTC and the 12.7-kb fragment which presents in M. tuberculosis, not in the M. bovis genome. The assay was optimized and validated by testing 10 species of mycobacteria including M. bovis and M. tuberculosis, and 10 other bacterial species such as Escherichia coli, and cattle lymph nodes (n=113). The tests identified 96.4% (27/28) as M. bovis from the MTC-positive bTB samples using conventional PCR for specific insertion elements IS1081. And MTC-negative bTB samples (n=85) were tested using conventional PCR and the real-time PCR. When comparative analyses were conducted on all bovine samples, using conventional PCR as the gold standard, the relative accuracy of real-time PCR was 99.1%, the relative specificity was 100%, and the agreement quotient (kappa) was 0.976. The detection limits of the real-time PCR assays for M. bovis and M. tuberculosis genomic DNA were 10 fg and 0.1 pg per PCR reaction, respectively. Consequently, this multiplex real-time PCR assay is a useful diagnotic tool for the identification of MTC and differentiation of M. bovis and M. tuberculosis, as well as the epidemiologic surveillance of animals slaughtered in abattoir.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 1992

Enterotoxigenic E. coli is one of the major causative agents of the infantile diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea. The heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) is thought to be a virulence factor in the pathogenesis of the diarrhea and to be a maker for identification of the enterotoxigenic E. coli from non pathogenic E. coli. ST producing E. coli KM-7 strain was isolated from the swine and molecular cloning of ST gene of KM-7 strain. Transformant eKT-53 $(ST^+,\;LT^-)$ was selected by infant mouse assay (IMA). The culture supernatant of eKT-53 strain was performed purification by multipled steps. The culture supernatant (crude ST) was purified by sequentially applying batch adsorption chromatography on Amberlite XAD-2 resin, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel anion exchanger, gel filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel P-6 and preparative polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. About 113-fold purification was achieved with a yield of about 11% of crude ST and the minimum effective dose(MED) of this purified ST was about 2.8ng in IMA. Homogeneity of purified ST was demonstrated by showing a single band in analytical SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.695-702
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• 1995

Background: Since polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was devised by Saiki in 1985, it has been used extensively in various fields of molecular biology. Clinically, PCR is especially useful in situation when microbiological or serological diagnosis is limited by scanty amount of causative agents. Thus, PCR can provide rapid and sensitive way of detecting M. tuberculosis in tuberculosis pleurisy which is diagnosed in only about 60 % of cases by conventional method. Method: To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of PCR in tuberculosis pleurisy, The results of PCR was compared with those of conventional method, including pleural biopsy. The pleural effusion fluid was collected from 7 proven patients, 7 clinically suspected patients and control group(7 patients with malignant effusion). We extracted DNA from pleural fluid by modified method of Eisennach method(1991). The amplification target for PCR was 123 base pair DNA, a part of IS6110. Result: 1) Sensitivity of PCR: We detected upto 50fg DNA. 2) In patients with pleural effusion of proven tuberculosis, the positive rate of PCR was 85.7%(6/7). In patients with pleural effusion of clinically suspected tuberculosis, the positive rate was 71.5%(5/7). In control group, positive rate was 0%(0/7). Conclusion: We concluded that PCR method could be a very rapid, sensitive and specific one for diagnosis of M tuberculosis in pleural effusion. Further studies should be followed for the development of easier method.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.207-222
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• 2003

As a material of metal-ceramic prosthesis, nickel as a form of Ni-Cr alloy has been used for many dental prostheses in many cases. However, several problems in use of the alloy have been revealed (ex ; tissue stimulation, skin allergy, hypersensitivity cytotoxicity and carcinogenecity). Little is known about nickel with respect to the relationship between Ni-prosthesis and gaining of Niresistance in oral microorganisms. The present study was undertaken to check whether use of Ni-prosthesis leads to occurrence of Ni-resistant microorganisms. So this study may suggest the possible relationships between the oral microorganisms and nickel-resistance in oral environment. Bacteria were isolated from the gingival crevicular fluid on the patients wearing Ni-Cr prosthesis. The isolated bacteria were tested fir their Ni-resistance in nickel containing media at different concentration from 3mM to 110mM. E. coli HB101 was used as control. The Ni-resistant bacteria were isolated and biochemically identified. The Ni-resistant bacteria were tested several biochemical, molecular-biological tests. Performed tests were : measuring the growth curve, antibiotic test, growth ability test in liquid media, isolation of the chromosome and plasmid, digestion of DNA by restriction enzyme, electrophoresis of chromosome and plasmid DNA, identification of Ni-resistant genes by the DNA hybridization. The results were as follows 1) The bacteria isolated from gingival crevicular fluid on the patients wearing Ni-Cr alloy prosthesis showed nickel-resistance. 2) The isolated microorganisms grew at nickel containing media of high concentrations (60mM-110mM). 3) Based on the biochemical tests, the isolated microorganisms were identified as Enterococcus faecalis(13 cases), Klebsiella pneumoniae(1 case) and Enterobacter gergoviae(1 case). 4) Enterococcus faecalis expressed not only nickel resistance but also the multi-drug resistance to several antibiotics ; chloramphenicol, kanamicin, streptomycin, lincomycin, clindamycin, However, all strain showed the sensitivity against the tetracycline. 5) DNA hybridization result suggests that there is no homology between the previously known gene of nickel resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and chromosomal DNA of Enterococcus faecalis.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.283-290
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• 1998

Sasang Constitutional Medicine focuses on the different constitutional manifestations of the individual's nature and emotions. The nature and emotions drive the ascending and descending of Qi in the body. And this dynamics of the Qi's ascent and descent shapes the different types of structures, functions and temperaments. Although Sasang Constitutional Medicine has many advantages, its diagnosis of the constitution still depends on the doctors' own idea and has no objective identification. So many doctors in Korea have been trying to solve this problem. Recently, there are several efforts to find out the relationship between genetic information and constitution. By the way, May, 1998 there is a astonishing report about the gene which determines the human performance, that is ACE(angiotensin converting enzyme). And it suggests that the I allele was associated with improved endurance performance. ACE has three genotype including II, ID and DD. "I" means insertion and "D" means deletion. We determined the type of the Sasang constitution with QSCCII questionaire and the one's ACE genotype with PCR of the 127 people and we discovered the relationship between the constitution and the ACE genotype. The result is as follow. Among 39 people who have the II genotype, 7(18%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 9(23.1%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 23(59%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). Among 62 people who have the ID genotype, 18(29%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 21(33.9%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 23(37.1%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). Among 26 people who have DD genotype, 11(42.3%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 4(15.4%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 11(42.3%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). This data indicates that there are implicable relationship between the Sasang constitution and ACE genotype. Especially people who have II genotype have much possibility to be a Soeum(Shaoyin) person (59%) and Soyang(Shaoyang) person have less possibility to have DD genotype (15.4%). With this conclusion, we suggest further study of relationship between the Sasang constitution and ACE genotype and we think that other polymorphism can be a candidate of the partner of Sasang constitution.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1148-1157
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• 2006

A hyperthermophilic bacterium Thernotoga maritima produced thermostable ${\beta}-glucosidase$. The gene encoding ${\beta}-glucosidase$ from T. maritima MSB8 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The en-zyme (BgIB) hydrolyzed ${\beta}-glucosidase$ linkages between glucose and alkyl, aryl of saccharide groups such as salicin, arbutin, and $_pNPG$. The insert DNA contained ORF with 2,166 bp encodes a 721 amino acids (calculated molecular mass of 80,964 and pl of 4.93). The amino a.id sequence of BglB showed the similarity to family 3 glycosyl hydrolases. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be approximately 81kDa by MUG-nondenaturing PAGE (4-methylumbelliferyl 13-D-glucoside-nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electophoresis) and SDS-PACE. The ${\beta}-glucosidase$ exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.0 and $80^{\circ}C$. By exchanging two possible residues (Glu-232 and Asp-242) to Ala by site-directed mutagenesis method, it was found that these were essential for enzymatic activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1486-1494
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• 2013

A high protease-producing strain was isolated and identified from the digestive tract of octopus vulgaris by detecting a hydrolysis circle of protease and its activity. The strain was identified by morphology observation, biochemical experiments, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The protease obtained from the strain was purified by a three-step process involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, carboxy methyl-cellulose (CM-52) cation-exchange chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex A50 anion-exchange chromatography. The properties of protease were characterized as well. The strain Bacillus sp. QDV-3, which produced the highest activity of protease, was isolated. On the basis of the phenotypic and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing studies, the isolate was identified as follows: domain: Bacteria; phylum: Firmicutes; class: Bacilli; order: Bacillales; family: Bacillaceae; and genus: Bacillus. The isolate was shown to have a 99.2% similarity with Bacillus flexus. A high active protease designated as QDV-E, with a molecular weight of 61.6 kDa, was obtained. The enzyme was found to be active in the pH range of 9.0-9.5 and its optimum temperature was $40^{\circ}C$. The protease activity retained more than 96% at the temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) inhibited the enzyme activity, thus confirming that this protease isolated from Bacillus sp. QDV-3 is an alkaline serine protease. Metal ions, $Mn^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, were determined to enhance the protease activity, whereas $Ba^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Cu^{2+}$ were found to inactivate the enzyme.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.318-326
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• 2002

The pathogenic marine bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is the causative agent of food-borne diseases such as life-threatening septicemia. To better understand this organism's strategies to survive osmotic stress, a mutant that was more sensitive to high osmolarity was screened from a library of mutants constructed by a random transposon mutagenesis. By a transposon-tagging method, putAP genes encoding a proline dehydrogenase and a proline permease were identified and cloned from V. vulnificus. The amino acid sequences deduced from nucleotide sequences of putAP from V. vulnificus were 38 to $59\%$ similar to those of PutA and PutP reported from other Enterobacteriaceae. Functions of putAP genes were assessed by the construction of mutants, whose putAP genes were inactivated by allelic exchanges. When proline as the sole carbon or nitrogen source was used, the putA mutant was not able to grow to the substantial level, revealing the proline dehydrogenase is the only enzyme for metabolic conversion of proline into other amino acids. Although the growth rate of the putP mutant on proline as the sole carbon or nitrogen source was significantly reduced, the mutant still grew. This indicated that at least one more proline permease is produced by V. vulnificus. The putP mutant decreased approximately $2-log_10$ CFU/ml after a hyperosmotic challenge, while the parent strain decreased approximately $l-log_10$ CFU/ml. This result suggests that the gene product of putP contributes to the osmotic tolerance of V. vulnificus.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

Previously, Euptelea pleiosperma was identified as one of the useful sources containing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities for the first time in our research group. In this study, anti-obesity effect of E. pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) was evaluated by using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay and a cell culture model system. EPEE suppressed effectively pancreatic lipase enzyme activity dose dependently. Furthermore, EPEE significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride contents, and triggered lipolysis activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Anti-adipogenic effect of EPEE was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}(C/EBP{\alpha})$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$ gene and protein expressions. Taken together, these results provide the important new insight that E. pleiosperma possesses anti-obesity activities such as pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic, and lipolysis effects. It might be utilized as promising sources in the fields of nutraceuticals. The identification of active compounds that confer anti-obesity activity of EPEE might be needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2003

A direct and precise explanation of soybean resistance to soybean cyst nematode will be possible only when the individual gene(s) involved in the resistance are tagged. This study was conducted, (1) to identify and localize quantitative trait loci for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 14 on RAPD map, (2) to identify the magnitude and mode of inheritance for each quantitative trait loci, and (3) to identify the best combinations of quantitative trait loci for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 14. Thirty markers (29 RAPD and 1 RFLP) showed significant association with resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 14. From MAPMAKER/QTL analysis, we identified two regions (linkage group C-7 and linkage group C-9) for resistance to soybean cyst nematode .ace 14. The first quantitative trait loci that was localized at 6.0 cM from $H06^1$ on linkage group C-7 showed a dominant inheritance mode. However, we can not exclude the possibility of additive inheritance mode. The second quantitative trait loci that was localized between $B15^2$ and $E01^1$ on linkage group C-9 also showed a dominant mode of inheritance. One pair of flanking markers ($H06^1$ and $H06^2$) and B15$^2$ were used for multiple regression analysis. Marker combination that included 2 markers, $B15^2$ and $H06^1$, explained the highest total variance (22.9%) for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 14. Further localization of genes for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 14 and examination of interaction between quantitative trait loci will accelerate the exploitation of resistance to soybean cyst nematode.