• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop species-specific real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) primers for use in the detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. These primers were designed based on the nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase ${\beta}$-subunit gene (rpoB). We assessed the specificity of the primers against nine strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans, eight strains (three species) of the Haemophilus genus, and 40 strains of 40 other oral bacterial species. Primer sensitivity was determined by testing serial dilutions of the purified genomic DNAs of A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC $33384^T$. Our data reveal that we had obtained species-specific amplicons for all of the tested A. actinomycetemcomitans strains, and that none of these amplicons occurred in any of the other species. Our PCR protocol proved able to detect as little as 2 fg of A. actinomycetemcomitans chromosomal DNA. Our findings suggest that these qRT-PCR primers are suitable for application in epidemiological studies.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

In recent years, the knowledge about bifidobacteria has considerably evolved thanks to recent progress in molecular biology. The analysis of the whole genome sequences of 48 taxa of bifidobacteria offers new perspectives for their classification, especially to set up limit between two species. Indeed, several species are presenting a high homology and should be reclassified. On the other hand, some subspecies are presenting a low homology and should therefore be reclassified into different species. In addition, a better knowledge of the genome of bifidobacteria allows a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in complex carbohydrate metabolism. The genome of some species of bifidobacteria from human but also from animal origin demonstrates high presence in genes involved in the metabolism of complex oligosaccharides. Those species should be further tested to confirm their potential to metabolize complex oligosaccharides in vitro and in vivo.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2008

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2002

Fifteen isolates from pear, and sixteen isolates from KCTC, KCCM, and Chungnam Univ. of Penicillium spp. were investigated for the analysis of their relationships of cultural characteristics and RAPD genetic variation by RAPD. The cultural characteristics of Penicillium spp. were shown different growth rate, morphology, and color. In addition, the cultural characteristics and RAPD analysis were conducted for the pear rot pathogens and related isolates. RAPD patterns were applied to compare the taxonomic and genetic diversity of the Penicillium species between 15 groups isolated from pear fruits and 16 standard species. The genomic DNA were amplified from $0.1{\sim}2.0kb$ by five URP primer and 744 bands were detected. The cluster analysis showed four genomic DNA RAPD groups and its similarity was 47.7%. Intraspecific relationships were 87.4, 97.5 and 95.2%, in P. expansum, P. solitum, and P. crustosum, respectively. These results appeared to be that there were high similarities between isolates, and consistent with the results of cultural morphological characteristics analysis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2021

Climate change is affecting the evolutionary trajectories of individual species and ecological communities, partly through the creation of new species groups. As population shift geographically and temporally as a result of climate change, reproductive interactions between previously isolated species are inevitable and it could potentially lead to invasion, speciation, or even extinction. Four species of abalone, genus Haliotis are present along the Korean coastline and these species are important for commercial and fisheries resources management. In this study, genetic markers for fisheries resources management were discovered based on genomic information, as part of the management of endemic species in response to climate change. Two thousand one hundred and sixty one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method. Forty-one SNPs were selected based on their features for species classification. Machine learning analysis using these SNPs makes it possible to differentiate four Haliotis species and hybrids. In conclusion, the proposed machine learning method has potentials for species classification of the genus Haliotis. Our results will provide valuable data for biodiversity conservation and management of abalone population in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.352-358
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• 2018

This study aimed to develop a species identification method for the egg and fry of the three Korean bitterling fishes (Pisces: Acheilognathinae), including Acheilognathus signifer, Acheilognathus yamatsutae and Rhodeus uyekii based on the PCR-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) markers. We conducted a field survey on the Deokchicheon River from the North Han River basin, where the three Acheilognathinae species co-occur, and also analyzed the existing sequence dataset available from the GenBank. We found coexistence of the three species at the study site. The egg and fry were obtained from the host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) by hand from May to June 2015 and in May 2017. To develop PCR-based RFLP markers for species identification of the three Acheilognathinae fish species, restriction enzymes pinpointing species-specific single nucleotide variation (SNV) sites in mitochondrial DNA COI (cytochrome oxidase I) and cyt b (cytochrome b) genes were determined. Genomic DNA was extracted from the egg and fry and RFLP experiments were carried out using restriction enzymes Apal I, Stu I and EcoR V for A. signifer, A. yamatsutae and R. uyekii, respectively. Consequently, unambiguous discrimination of the three species was possible, as could be seen in DNA band patterns from gel electrophoresis. Our developed PCR-based RFLP markers will be useful for the determination of the three species for the young and would assist in studying the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of Acheilognathinae fishes. Furthermore, we believe the obtained information will be of importance for future maintenance, management and conservation of these natural and endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.126-140
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• 2011

Genetic determinants of two metallothionein isoforms (MT-A and MT-B) were isolated and characterized from the perciform species, rockbream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). Rockbream MT-A and MT-B shared a high degree of homology at amino acid levels with representative orthologs from other perciform species, especially with respect to the conserved cysteine residues. At the genomic level, both MT-A and MT-B genes represent a tripartite structure typical of vertebrate MT genes. However, rockbream MT-B showed unusually large introns (1.2 kb and 0.8 kb for intron I and II, respectively), a phenomenon that has rarely been seen in other vertebrate MT genes. MT-A and MT-B transcripts were ubiquitously detected in a wide array of tissues, wherein brain and eye showed the highest basal expression levels, and the fin exhibited the lowest expression of both isoforms. The basal expression of MT-A in most tissues was significantly higher (ranging from 4- to 10-fold) than that of MT-B. Upon heavy metal exposures to Cd, Cu or Zn at 25 ppb for 48 h, MT-A and MT-B transcripts in the liver were significantly activated by Cd and moderately by Zn. On the other hand, exposure to Cu did not result in alterations of MT-A, nor in the significant suppression of MT-B. Following bacterial challenges with Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda or Streptococcus iniae, MT isoforms in the liver, kidney and spleen were highly modulated and exhibited a pattern that was dependent on the bacterial species, tissues and isoforms. These results suggest that the two MT isoforms could be taken into account as potential indicators of metal toxicity and immune perturbations of this aquaculture-relevant species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1419-1427
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• 2017

As probiotics play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut flora environment through antitoxin activity and inhibition of pathogen colonization, they have been of interest to the medical research community for quite some time now. Probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum, which can be found in fermented food, are of particular interest given their easy accessibility. We performed whole-genome sequencing and genomic analysis on a GB-LP1 strain of L. plantarum isolated from Korean traditional fermented food; this strain is well known for its functions in immune response, suppression of pathogen growth, and antitoxin effects. The complete genome sequence of GB-LP1 is a single chromosome of 3,040,388 bp with 2,899 predicted open reading frames. Genomic analysis of GB-LP1 revealed two CRISPR regions and genes showing accelerated evolution, which may have antibiotic and antitoxin functions. The aim of the present study was to predict strain specific-genomic characteristics and assess the potential of this new strain as lactic acid bacteria at the genomic level using in silico analysis. These results provide insight into the L. plantarum species as well as confirm the possibility of its utility as a candidate probiotic.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.771-776
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• 1998

Synthetic oligonucleotide primers of 20 and 21 bases, respectively, were used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a sequence of the mrp gene, which encodes the muramidase released protein of Streptococcus suis. Amplification was not recorded when 5 other streptococcal species were tested or when 9 different nonstreptococcal species were tested. A DNA fragment of 517bp was amplified from the genomic DNA of S suis. The lower detection limit was 100pg of the genomic DNA. The primers recognized 34 serotypes of S suis reference strains and 9 isolates from pneumonic lung, brain, nasal discharge, tonsil. This results suggest that the amplification of the mrp gene by PCR method is potential for the identification of S suis isolates.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2009

Ciliates are undoubtedly one of the most diverse protozoans that play a significant role in ecology. However, molecular examination, based on comparing the DNA sequences, has been done on a limited number of the species. Because most ciliates are uncultivable and their population sizes are often too small, it is usually difficult to obtain sufficient genomic DNA required for PCR based experiments. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of four commercial DNA extraction procedures that extract high quality genomic DNA from a single ciliate cell. It was discovered that RED Extract-N-$Amp^{TM}$ PCR kit is the best method for removing PCR-inhibiting substances and minimizing DNA loss during purification. This method can also amplify more than 25 reactions of PCR. In addition, this technique was applied to single cells of 19 species belonged to 7 orders under 5 classes that isolated from mixed natural populations. Their small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) was successfully amplified. In summary, we developed a simple technique for the high-yield extraction of purified DNA from a single ciliate cell that may be more useful for rare ciliates, such as tiny and uncultivable marine microbes.