• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2021

Objectives : Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis are one of the most frequently adulterated herbal medicines because of their confusability of terms in the ancient writings and the similarity of morphological features of dried herbal products. The major adulterant is Aristolochia manshuriensis (Guanmutong) which has a serious safety concern with its toxicity. To ensure the safety and quality of the two herbal medicines, it is necessary to discriminate the toxic adulterant from authentic species. The aim of this study is to develop SCAR markers and to establish the multiplex-SCAR assay for discrimination of four plant species related to Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis. Methods : ITS regions of fifteen samples of four species (Tetrapanax papyrifer, Fatsia japonica, Aristolochia manshuriensis, and Akebia quinata) collected from different sites were amplified and sequenced. Fifteen obtained ITS sequences were aligned and analysed for the detection of species-specific sequence variations. The SCAR markers were designed based on the sequence alignments and then, multiplex-SCAR assay enhancing rapidity was optimized. Results : ITS sequences clearly distinguished the four species at the species level. The developed SCAR markers and multiplex-SCAR assay were successfully discriminated four species and detected the adulteration of commercial product samples by comparison of the amplified DNA fragment sizes. Conclusions : These SCAR markers and multiplex-SCAR assay are a rapid, simple, and reliable method to identify the authentic Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis from adulterants. These genetic tools will be useful to ensure the safety and to standardize the quality of the two herbal medicines.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.777-789
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• 2020

Intense artificial selection has been imposed to Luzhong mutton sheep population in the past years. Improvements on growth and reproductive performance are two breeding goals in the present herd. Although some progresses were phenotypically observed possibly due to inbreeding induced by strong selection in terms of these traits, the genomic evaluation was poorly understood. Therefore, a high-density SNP array was used to characterize the pattern of runs of homozygosity (ROH), estimate inbreeding and inbreeding depressions on early growth performance and litter size based upon ROH, and scan positive selection signatures of recent population. Consequently, a low inbreeding level was observed which had negative effects on litter size, but not on early growth performance. And 160 genes were under selection, of which some were reported to be linked to several traits of sheep including body weight, litter size, carcass and meat quality, milk yield and composition, fiber quality and health, and the top genes were associated with growth (growth hormone [GH]- growth hormone receptor [GHR]- Insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF1] axis) and litter size (bone morphogenic proteins [BMPs]-associated). The effectiveness of previous breeding measures was highlighted, but purging selection was proposed to alleviate the inbreeding depression on litter size, providing some genomic insights to breeding management of Luzhong mutton sheep.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2022

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a highly contagious retrovirus that causes tumors and has resulted in great economic loss worldwide owing to its high transmission rate. Various ALV viral subgroups exist, with infections occurring via specific host receptors. The susceptibility or resistance of avian species to the ALV-A and K subgroups is determined by the host receptor, the tumor virus locus A (tva) gene, while that to ALV-B depends on another host receptor, the tumor virus locus B (tvb) gene. The resistance alleles of tva and tvb have primarily been identified in China, but none have beendetected in Korea. We analyzed the frequencies of tva and tvb genotypes in White Leghorn (WL), Korean Ogye (KO), and Korean native chicken (KNC) breeds, and assessed the resistance to ALV subgroups. In WL, both tva and tvb had various genotypes, including susceptibility and resistance alleles, whereas in KO, tva and tvb resistance alleles were dominant. In KNC, tva susceptibility and resistance alleles were mixed, whereas tvb resistance alleles were dominant. In addition, we showed that there were differences in the splicing pattern of tva transcripts and the expression level of tvb transcripts within breeds. Finally, we confirmed that ALV resistance depended on KO and KNC genotypes by in vitro infection of chicken embryonic fibroblasts with ALV. These results highlight that some KO and KNC individuals are naturally resistant to ALV subgroups A, B, and K, and will facilitate the preservation of economically superior traits through selective breeding.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1808-1816
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• 2022

Objective: The study of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) has mainly been focused on meat quality and productivity. Recently the field of microbiome research has increased dramatically. However, the information on the microbiome in Hanwoo is still insufficient, especially relationship between vagina and feces. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the microbial community characteristics by analyzing the 16S rRNA sequencing data of Hanwoo vagina and feces, as well as to confirm the difference and correlation between vaginal and fecal microorganisms. As a result, the goal is to investigate if fecal microbiome can be used to predict vaginal microbiome. Methods: A total of 31 clinically healthy Hanwoo that delivered healthy calves more than once in Cheongju, South Korea were enrolled in this study. During the breeding season, we collected vaginal and fecal samples and sequenced the microbial 16S rRNA genes V3-V4 hypervariable regions from microbial DNA of samples. Results: The results revealed that the phylum-level microorganisms with the largest relative distribution were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria in the vagina, and Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes in the feces, respectively. In the analysis of alpha, beta diversity, and effect size measurements (LefSe), the results showed significant differences between the vaginal and fecal samples. We also identified the function of these differentially abundant microorganisms by functional annotation analyses. But there is no significant correlation between vaginal and fecal microbiome. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between vaginal and fecal microbiome, but no significant correlation. Therefore, it is difficult to interrelate vaginal microbiome as fecal microbiome in Hanwoo. In a further study, it will be necessary to identify the genetic relationship of the entire microorganism between vagina and feces through the whole metagenome sequencing analysis and meta-transcriptome analysis to figure out their relationship.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.62-70
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• 2020

Purpose: According to the Body-EU education program, this study investigates changes after conducting education with ten subjects with autism symptoms (disability level 2~3) 63 times (126 hours) for nearly two years. Methods: Body-EU habit practice, note writings discussion, singing, Bible study, question and communication, class arrangement, etc., a total of 63 times were educated for 2 hours each week. Results: Subjects felt comfortable breathing and improved energy. Other subject's habit of an out-toed gait step and bending back alleviated. One subject made it easier to speak, so if talking with no strength. When breathing, the stuffy nose improved, the eyes became calm, and the hands and feet were warm. Subject felt like my head was cleaned. Heart tightness disappeared. Subject felt at ease as gaining confidence. The subject gained confidence in seeing whoever the other person was. The subject's pronunciation became more sophisticated, with more confidence, and his mouth cramping alleviated. Subjects with right eye movements showed a relatively high concentration in education time. Conclusions: Subjects are educated and trained in making general habits of their body from morning to going to bed. This study was a research program for ordinary people, but it confirmed with autism. Whether it was genetic autism or acquired autism, they could be somewhat relieved.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.199-209
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• 2020

In order to clarify the taxonomic status of the Korean Macroramphosus species, which were previously confused, we investigated morphological and molecular variations of Macroramphosus (18 individuals) from Korea, and Macroramphosus (35 individuals) from Japan and Taiwan, and compared with those of M. scolopax from type locality (Mediterranean Sea). Although the Korean and Japanese specimens of Macroramphosus were clearly divided into two types in the first dorsal spine length (22.8~32.1% in A-type vs. 15.6~21.4% in B-type), distance between the first dorsal fin and second dorsal fin (6.4~9.7% vs. 8.6~13.3%), and body depth (20.0~28.0% vs. 17.3~22.6%), no genetic differences among all individuals of longspine snipefish between them were found at the specific level [d=0.0~3.3% in control region (CR); 0.0~1.3% in cytochrome b (cytb); 0.0~0.5% in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)]. Whereas, they were well distinguished in genetics (9.9~11.5% in CR; 3.8~4.6% in cytb; 1.2~3.6% in COI) from those of M. scolopax in Mediterranean Sea. It needs the scientific name of the longspine snipefish (M. scolopax) in Korea be changed as M. japonicus (and/or M. sagifue). However, our results could not find evidence of consistency between morphological and mitochondrial DNA variations which suggests that their differentiation event may occur fairly recently. Further studies using more sensitive markers such as microsatellite are needed to clarify the degree of gene flow between the two types.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2022

Recently, with the development of genetic technology, interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) to study biodiversity according to molecular biological approaches is increasing. Environmental DNA has many advantages over traditional research methods for biological communities distributed in the environment but highly depends on the established base sequence database. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the habitat status and classification at the genus level, which is mainly used in eDNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, COI, and CYTB), focusing on Korean registration taxon groups (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish). As a result, phytoplankton and zooplankton showed the highest taxa proportion in 18S rRNA, and macroinvertebrates observed the highest ratio in the nucleotide sequence database in COI. In fish, all genes except 18S rRNA showed a high taxon ratio. Based on the Korean registration taxon group, the gene construction of the top 20 genera according to bio density observed that most of the phytoplankton were registered in 18S rRNA, and the most significant number of COI nucleotide sequences were established in macroinvertebrates. In addition, it was confirmed that there is a nucleotide sequence for the top 20 genera in 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and CYTB in fish. These results provided comprehensive information on the genes suitable for eDNA research for each taxon group.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.471-480
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• 2022

This experiment was conducted to determine the maximum dietary energy levels on growth performance and carcass characteristics of White Pekin duck. the Six dietary treatments were formulated based on their apparent metabolizable energy (AME) concentrations from 2,700 to 3,200 kcal/kg with a 100 kcal/kg gap to evaluate the accurate dietary AME requirement to address current knowledge and further issues for fulfilling the genetic potential of meat-type white Pekin ducklings. A total of 432 one-day-old male White Pekin ducklings were randomly allocated into one of six dietary treatments with six replicates (12 birds per pen). The diets were formulated as corn-soybean meal-based diets to meet or exceed the Nutrient Requirement of Poultry specification for meat-type ducks. Growth performance indices (i.e. average daily gain [ADG], average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio) were measured weekly. Medium body weight (BW) ducklings from each pen were sacrificed to analyze the carcass traits and abdominal fat content on day 21. Obtained data were analyzed to estimate significant effect using the one-way ANOVA of IBM SPSS Statistics (Version, 25). If the p-value of the results were significant, differences in means among treatments were separated by Tukey's post hoc test. Significant differences were then analyzed with a linear and quadratic broken model to estimate the accurate concentration of AME. Ducklings fed higher dietary AME diets increased (p < 0.05) BW, ADG. Ducklings fed higher AME than 2,900 kcal/kg diets increased abdominal fat accumulation and leg meat portion. The estimated requirement by linear plateau method showed from 3,000.00 kcal/kg to 3,173.03 kcal/kg whereas the requirement by quadratic plateau method indicated from 3,100.00 kcal/kg to 3,306.26 kcal/kg. Collectively, estimated dietary requirements exhibit diverse results based on the measured traits and analysis methods. All the estimated requirements in this experiment present higher than previous research, the maximum requirement for the next diet formulation should be selected by the purpose of the diet.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

Objectives : Due to the morphological similarity and frequent occurrence of intermediate forms as well as morphological variations of aerial part, the correct identification between Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma is very difficult. To develop a reliable method for correct identification and improving the quality standards of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma, we analyzed RAPD and developed SCAR marker. Methods : To amplify target DNA at the genomic level, 32 Operon 10-mer random primers were applied with four Rheum species, R. officinale, R. palmatum, R. tanguticum and R. undulatum. The nucleotide sequences were determined and species-specific primers were prepared depending on the species-specific RAPD amplicons after subcloned into the pGEM-Teasy vector. To develop the SCAR markers, species-specific PCR amplification and multiplex-PCR were carried out using the single species-specific primer pairs and combinations of them, respectively. Results : We used RAPD analysis of four Rheum plant species to obtain several species-specific RAPD amplicons. From nucleotide sequences of these RAPD amplicons, we developed two SCAR markers that amplified 314 bp and 390 bp DNA fragments in only R. undulatum but not in R. officinale, R. palmatum, R. tanguticum and R. undulatum, for distinguishing Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Furthermore, we established SCAR markers for the simultaneous discrimination of the three species within a single reaction by using multiplex-PCR. Conclusions : These genetic markers can be used for the efficient discrimination of plants species and commercial herbal medicines between Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, to ultimately prevent indiscriminate distribution and prescription of these herbal medicines.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-549
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• 2022

The process of biological invasion is led by the dynamics of a population as a demographic and evolutionary unit. Spatial structure can affect the population dynamics, and it is worth being considered in research on biological invasion which is always accompanied by dispersal. Metapopulation theory is a representative approach to spatially structured populations, which is chiefly applied in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology despite the controversy about its definition. In this study, metapopulation was considered as a spatially structured population that includes at least one subpopulation with significant extinction probability. The early phase of the invasion is suitable to be analyzed in aspects of the metapopulation concept because the introduced population usually has a high extinction probability, and their ecological·genetic traits determining the invasiveness can be affected by the metapopulation structure. Although it is important in the explanation of the prediction of the invasion probability, the metapopulation concept is rarely used in ecological research about biological invasion in Korea. It is expected that applying the metapopulation theory can supply a more detailed investigation of the invasion process at the population level, which is relatively inadequate in Korea. In this study, a framework dividing the invasive metapopulation into long- and middle-distance scales by the relative distance of movement to the natural dispersal range of species is proposed to easily analyze the effect of a metapopulation in real cases. Increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying invasions and improved prediction of future invasion risk are expected with the metapopulation concept and this framework.