• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2019

Thirty-four strains of bacteria were isolated from Phellodendron amurense. Using Nectria haematococca as an indicator strain, the best strain, B18, was obtained by the growth rate method. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of strain B18 and its 16S DNA gene sequence were identified, and the biocontrol effect of strain B18 was assessed in pot and field tests, as well as in a field-control test. Drilling methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of metabolites from strain B18 and their effects on the growth of pathogen mycelia and spores. The best bacteriostatic rate was 85.4%. B18 can hydrolyse starch and oxidize glucose but does not produce gas; a positive result was obtained in a gelatine liquefaction test. According to 16S DNA gene sequencing, strain B18 is Bacillus methylotrophicus (GenBank accession number: MG457759). The results of pot and field-control trials showed 98% disease control when inoculating $10^8cfu/ml$ of the strain. The disease control effect of the B18 culture liquid (concentrations of $10^8$, $2{\times}10^6$, $10^6$, $5{\times}10^5$ and $2.5{\times}10^5cfu/ml$) in the field-control test was higher than 80%, and the cure rate of the original delivery solution was 96%. Therefore, in the practical forestry production, a $2.5{\times}10^5cfu/ml$ culture liquidshould be applied in advance to achieve good control effects.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.67.1-67.11
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• 2022

Background: Budgerigar fledgling disease polyomavirus (BFDV) is the pathogen that causes budgerigar fledgling disease in psittacine species. The clinical signs of PBFV infection include ascites, hepatitis, and crop stasis. BFDV is associated with a high mortality rate in nestling birds. In contrast, adult birds only have mild symptoms such as feather dystrophy. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis of BFDV in pet parrots in Korea. Methods: Fecal and tissue samples were collected from 217 pet parrots from 10 veterinary hospitals including Chungbuk National University Veterinary Hospital. The molecular screening was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the small t/large T antigen gene segment. Full-length genome sequencing with the Sanger and phylogenetic analysis were performed on BFDV-positive samples. Results: The PCR results based on the small t/large T antigen gene marker indicated that BFDV DNA was present in 10 out of 217 screened samples. A whole-genome sequence was obtained from six strains and phylogenetic analysis revealed no significant relationship existed between the species and geographical locations amongst them. Conclusions: The prevalence of BFDV infection in South Korea is not high when compared to the prevalence of BFDV in other parts of the world, however, it has been reported sporadically in various species and geographic locations. The whole-genome analysis revealed 0.2%-0.3% variation in intragenomic homogeneity among the six strains analyzed. Korean strains are separately on the phylogenetic tree from their counterparts from China and Japan which might reflect the substantial genetic variation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.90.1-90
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• 2003

Colonization of Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, a nonpathogenic rhizobacterium, on the roots induced systemic resistance in cucumber plants against tai-get leaf spot, a foliar disease caused by Corynespora cassiicola. A cDNA library was constructed using mRNA extracted from the cucumber leaves 12 h after inoculation with C. cassiicola, which roots had been previously treated with O6. To identify the genes involved in the O6-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR), we employed a subtractive hybridization method using mRNAs extracted from C cassiicola-inoculated cucumber leaves with and without previous O6 treatment on the plant roots. Differential screening of the cDNA library led to the isolation of 5 distinct genesencoding a GTP-binding protein, a putative senescence-associated protein, a galactinol synthase, a hypersensitive-induced reaction protein, and a putative aquaporin. Expressions of these genes are not induced by O6 colonization alone. Before challenge inoculation, no increase in the gene transcriptions could be detected in previously O6-treated and untreated plants but, upon subsequent inoculation with the pathogenic fungus, transcription levels in O6-treated plants rose significantly faster and stronger than in untreated plants. Therefore, the O6-mediated ISR may be associated with an enhanced capacity for the rapid and effective activation of cellular defense responses which becomes apparent only after challenge inoculation on the distal, untreated plant parts, as suggested by Conrath et al. (2002). This work was supported by a grant R11-2001-092-02006-0 from the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation through the Agricultural Plant Stress Research Center at Chonnam National University.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2023

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most destructive diseases in citrus, which imperils the sustainability of citriculture worldwide. The presumed causal agent of HLB, 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) is a non-culturable phloem-limited α-proteobacterium transmitted by Asian citrus psyllids (ACP, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama). A widely adopted method for HLB diagnosis is based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Although HLB diagnostic qPCR provides high sensitivity and good reproducibility, it is limited by time-consuming DNA preparation from plant tissue or ACP and the requirement of proper lab instruments including a thermal cycler to conduct qPCR. In an attempt to develop a quick assay that can be deployed in the field for CLas detection, we developed a real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (rt-LAMP) assay by targeting the CLas five copy nrdB gene. The rt-LAMP assay using various plant sample types and psyllids successfully detected the nrdB target as low as ~2.6 Log10 copies. Although the rt-LAMP assay was less sensitive than laboratory-based qPCR (detection limit ~10 copies), the data obtained with citrus leaf and bark and ACP showed that the rt-LAMP assay has >96% CLas detection rate, compared to that of laboratory-based qPCR. However, the CLas detection rate in fibrous roots was significantly decreased compared to qPCR due to low CLas titer in some root DNA sample. We also demonstrated that the rt-LAMP assay can be used with a crude leaf DNA extract which is fully deployable in the field for quick and reliable HLB screening.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2024

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with abnormal thyroid function caused by mutation in the solute carrier family 16 member 2 (SLC16A2) gene. Clinical manifestations of AHDS are global or axial hypotonia, a variety of movement disorders, severe intellectual disability, quadriplegia or spastic diplegia, growth failure, and seizures. A 10-year-old boy visited our hospital with the chief complaint of newly onset generalized tonic seizures with vocalization of weekly to daily frequency. He showed early infantile hypotonia, severe intellectual disability, and frequent respiratory infections. He could not walk independently and was non-verbal. Electroencephalogram revealed generalized slow spike and waves with multifocal spikes and slow background rhythms. His tonic seizures were controlled with more than two anti-seizure medications (ASMs). At 11 years of age, he was evaluated for thyroid function as part of regular screening for ASM maintenance and was found to have abnormal thyroid function. We performed whole exome sequencing for severe global developmental delay, drug-resistant epilepsy, and abnormal thyroid function. The hemizygous c.940C>T (p.Arg314Ter) variant in the SLC16A2 gene (NM_006517.5) was identified and confirmed based on Sanger sequencing. Herein, we describe a case of an AHDS patient with late-onset drug-resistant epilepsy combined with congenital hypotonia, global developmental delay, and abnormal thyroid function results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest adolescent among AHDS cases reported in Korea. In this report, clinical characteristics of a mid-adolescence patient with AHDS were presented.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2016

Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is an autosomal recessively inherited organic acid disorder due to a defect of the enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase in the leucine metabolic pathway. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of derivatives of isovaleryl-CoA. In acute illness in IVA, isovaleric acid and its derivatives accumulate and profound metabolic acidosis with ketosis, characteristic pungent body odor, hypoglycemia, and hyperammonemia can be developed. Additionally, recurrent vomiting, failure to thrive, developmental delay, epilepsy and mental retardation are chronic presenting symptoms and signs for IVA. On the result of newborn screening for inherited metabolic disorders, increased levels of isovalerylcarnitine (C5) are shown. However, C5 elevation can be accompanied with short/branched-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SBCAD) and therapy with certain antibiotics containing pivalic acid. Quantitative measurement of organic acids in urine and acylcarnitine profiles in plasma are necessary to differential diagnosis. Molecular genetic analysis of the IVD gene for IVA and ACADSB is also helpful to confirm IVA and SBCAD deficiency, respectively. Considering that IVA can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality at acute presentation of metabolic crisis, early diagnosis prior to the onset of symptoms by newborn screening enable to introduction of early treatment and prevention of acute and chronic complications.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.655-663
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• 2013

In this study, a rapid and sensitive detection tool for screening Salmonella spp. by using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the genomic sequence of the invA gene was developed. The inclusivity and exclusivity were both at 100% in the analysis, and the limit of detection (LOD) in a pure S. Enteritidis culture suspended in saline was $3.2{\times}10^3$ CFU/mL at 18.17 min ($R^2$ = 0.9446). The LODs of the LAMP assay in buffered peptone water with Salmonella (BPW) and duck carcass swab sample enriched in BPW with Salmonella (BPWS) after 0 and 12 h incubation were $3.2{\times}10^3$ CFU/mL and $3.2{\times}10^0$ CFU/mL, respectively. Comparing the LODs in BPW with those in BPWS, the LAMP assay was less influenced by compounds of duck carcass swab sample than the PCR assay. Sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay in 50 duck carcass swab samples enriched in BPW for 6 h were 96% and 84%, respectively, indicating that the LAMP assay is a rapid, simple and sensitive assay, which can be utilized as a potential screening tool of Salmonella spp. in duck carcass sample.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2015

Purpose: Measurement of serum ceruloplasmin level is the first step in screening for Wilson's disease (WD). Despite the rarity of WD in the general population, ceruloplasmin levels are routinely measured through hepatitis screening in both adults and children. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic value of ceruloplasmin for the diagnosis of WD among children with hepatitis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on serum ceruloplasmin levels measured as a serologic marker for patients with hepatitis at Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) between from January 2004 to November 2013. The diagnosis of WD was confirmed by the identification of pathogenic variants in the ATP7B gene. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ceruloplasmin, receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: Measurements of serum ceruloplasmin were performed in 2,834 children who had hepatitis. Among these, 181 (6.4%) children were diagnosed with WD. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of a ceruloplasmin level of <20 mg/dL in the discrimination of WD were 93.4%, 84.2%, and 84.8%, respectively. In this study, 418 (14.7%) false-positive cases and 12 (0.4%) false-negative cases were noted. Using a ROC curve, a ceruloplasmin level of ${\leq}16.6mg/dL$ showed the highest AUC value (0.956) with a sensitivity of 91.2%, a specificity of 94.9%, and an accuracy of 94.7%. Conclusion: The measurement of serum ceruloplasmin was frequently used for the screening of WD in children, despite a low positive rate. The diagnostic value of ceruloplasmin may be strengthened by adopting a new lower cut-off level.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

Lovastatin (also known as Mevinolin, Mevacor, and Monacolin K), an inhibitor of the HMG-CoA reductase produced by Aspergillus terreus and other fungi, is used to reduce serum cholesterol levels in human beings. It is derived biosynthetically from two polyketides. One of these is a nonaketide that undergoes cyclization at a hexahydronaphthalene ring system, and the other is a simple diketide, 2-methylbutyrate. Two primer pairs were designed based on the amino acid sequences of lovastatin polyketide synthase and lovastatin diketide synthase for the PCR screening of lovastatin-producing strains. Among the seven selected strains, SJ-2 evidenced the highest level of lovastatin production in both liquid and solid cultures. Soybeans with SJ-2 were treated via 1 hour of heat shock at $30^{\circ}C$ for the mass production of lovastatin. The heat-treated soybeans were inoculated on rice bran and the koji extract was obtained after 15 days of incubation. It yielded the highest level of lovastatin production among the strains, and also evidenced 75% inhibition activity against HMG-CoA reductase. We developed an efficient PCR screening method for lovastatin-producing strains, using lovastatin biosynthesis genes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.234-247
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• 2021

We used a heterozygous gene deletion library of fission yeasts comprising all essential and non-essential genes for a microarray screening of target genes of the antifungal terbinafine, which inhibits ergosterol synthesis via the Erg1 enzyme. We identified 14 heterozygous strains corresponding to 10 non-essential [7 ribosomal-protein (RP) coding genes, spt7, spt20, and elp2] and 4 essential genes (tif302, rpl2501, rpl31, and erg1). Expectedly, their erg1 mRNA and protein levels had decreased compared to the control strain SP286. When we studied the action mechanism of the non-essential target genes using cognate haploid deletion strains, knockout of SAGA-subunit genes caused a down-regulation in erg1 transcription compared to the control strain ED668. However, knockout of RP genes conferred no susceptibility to ergosterol-targeting antifungals. Surprisingly, the RP genes participated in the erg1 transcription as components of repressor complexes as observed in a comparison analysis of the experimental ratio of erg1 mRNA. To understand the action mechanism of the interaction between the drug and the novel essential target genes, we performed isobologram assays with terbinafine and econazole (or cycloheximide). Terbinafine susceptibility of the tif302 heterozygous strain was attributed to both decreased erg1 mRNA levels and inhibition of translation. Moreover, Tif302 was required for efficacy of both terbinafine and cycloheximide. Based on a molecular modeling analysis, terbinafine could directly bind to Tif302 in yeasts, suggesting Tif302 as a potential off-target of terbinafine. In conclusion, this genome-wide screening system can be harnessed for the identification and characterization of target genes under any condition of interest.