• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic material between kingdoms and is considered to play a positive role in adaptation. $Cryptosporidium$ $parvum$ is a parasitic protozoan that causes an infectious disease. Its genome sequencing reported 14 bacteria-like proteins in the nuclear genome. Among them, cgd2_1810, which has been annotated as CysQ, a sulfite synthesis pathway protein, is listed as one of the candidates of genes horizontally transferred from bacterial origin. In this report, we examined this issue using phylogenetic analysis. Our BLAST search showed that $C.$ $parvum$ CysQ protein had the highest similarity with that of proteobacteria. Analysis with NCBI's Conserved Domain Tree showed phylogenetic incongruence, in that $C.$ $parvum$ CysQ protein was located within a branch of proteobacteria in the cd01638 domain, a bacterial member of the inositol monophosphatase family. According to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, the sulfate assimilation pathway, where CysQ plays an important role, is well conserved in most eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. However, the Apicomplexa, including $C.$ $parvum$, largely lack orthologous genes of the pathway, suggesting its loss in those protozoan lineages. Therefore, we conclude that $C.$ $parvum$ regained cysQ from proteobacteria by HGT, although its functional role is elusive.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.429-438
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• 2018

Objective: Although the efficacy of Rubus coreanus (RC) byproducts as a feed additive has been recognized, its effects on intestinal microorganisms and the immune system are still unknown. Methods: Six-week-old male rats were treated with 0.5% RC (T1), 1.0% RC (T2), and 1.5% RC (T3) for 4 weeks. Results: We found that treatment with RC byproducts significantly increased the daily gain of body weight and feed intake. Treg-cell differentiation was enhanced in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen from the rats fed with RC byproducts. Illumina sequencing showed that bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes decreased and while those in the phylum Bacteroidetes increased in RC-treated groups. Particularly, the pathogenic microorganisms in the family Peptococcaceae decreased, and the non-pathogenic families Lachnospiraceae and S24-7 increased. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the RC byproducts increased the lactic acid bacteria Bifidobacterium spp., Oscillospira spp., Leuconostoc citreum, and Weissella cibaria in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: RC byproducts may be effective in immunomodulation by affecting intestinal microorganisms.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.92-96
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• 2018

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is characterized by increased susceptibility to chronic and recurrent infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails by Candida species. It is a primary immunodeficiency disorder that is difficult to diagnose because of its heterogeneous clinical manifestations and genetic background. A 20-month-old boy who did not grow in height for 3 months was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism and he had hepatitis which was found at 5 years old. He presented with persistent oral thrush and vesicles on the body, the cause of which could not be identified from laboratory findings. No microorganism was detected in the throat culture; however, the oral thrush persisted. Immunological tests showed that immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass IgG and cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 levels were within normal limits. We prescribed oral levothyroxine and fluconazole mouth rinse. The patient was examined using diagnostic exome sequencing at the age of 6 years, and a c.1162A>G (p.K388E) STAT1 gene mutation was identified. A diagnosis of CMC based on the STAT1 gene mutation was, thus, made. At the age of 8 years, the boy developed a malar-like rash on his face. We conducted tests for detection of antinuclear antibodies and anti-dsDNA antibodies, which showed positive results; therefore, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was also suspected. Whole exome sequencing is important to diagnose rare diseases in children. A STAT1 gene mutation should be suspected in patients with chronic fungal infections with a thyroid disease and/or SLE.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.116-126
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• 2023

Mainly due to the slanted focus on the mechanism and regulation of neuronal aging, research on astrocyte aging and its modulation during brain aging is scarce. In this study, we established aged astrocyte culture model by long-term culturing. Cellular senescence was confirmed through SA-β-gal staining as well as through the examination of morphological, molecular, and functional markers. RNA sequencing and functional analysis of astrocytes were performed to further investigate the detailed characteristics of the aged astrocyte model. Along with aged phenotypes, decreased astrocytic proliferation, migration, mitochondrial energetic function and support for neuronal survival and differentiation has been observed in aged astrocytes. In addition, increased expression of cytokines and chemokine-related factors including plasminogen activator inhibitor -1 (PAI-1) was observed in aged astrocytes. Using the RNA sequencing results, we searched potential drugs that can normalize the dysregulated gene expression pattern observed in long-term cultured aged astrocytes. Among several candidates, minoxidil, a pyrimidine-derived anti-hypertensive and anti-pattern hair loss drug, normalized the increased number of SA-β-gal positive cells and nuclear size in aged astrocytes. In addition, minoxidil restored up-regulated activity of PAI-1 and increased mitochondrial superoxide production in aged astrocytes. We concluded that long term culture of astrocytes can be used as a reliable model for the study of astrocyte senescence and minoxidil can be a plausible candidate for the regulation of brain aging.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.561-566
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• 2014

The complete coding sequence of Wild Argali ISG15 cDNA was generated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The ISG15 cDNA was 642 bp with an open reading frame of 474 bp, which encoded a 17.47 kDa protein composed of 157 amino acids. Its amino acid sequence shared 97.9%, 80.8%, 91.4%, 94.3%, 78.3% identity with those of ISG15cDNA from Ovis aries (accession no. NM001009735.1), Capra hircus (accession no. HQ329186.1), Bos taurus (accession no. BC102318.1), Bubalus bubalis (accession no. HM543269.1), and Sus scrofa (accession no. EU647216.1), respectively. The entire coding sequence was inserted into the pET-28a vector and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant protein corresponded to the expected molecular mass of 25 kDa as judged by SDS-PAGE, and it was detected in the bacterial inclusion bodies. The expressed protein could be purified by $Ni^{2+}$ chelate affinity chromatography and the results from the lymphocyte proliferation test showed that the product could stimulate lymphocyte proliferation very well (p<0.05), which further confirmed its biological activity.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.185-188
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• 2002

We have cloned the gene fur long QT syndrome in Korean genome and determined its detailed nucleotide sequence. Blood DNAs were isolated from 68 healthy individuals (including males and females) and the genomic DNAs were amplified by PCR method followed by automatic DNA sequencing. Entire sequence of the coding region for KCNEI was located in exon 3. PCR products were reexamined for the confirmation of KCNE1-specific amplification by nested PCR. KCNE1 mRNA was 436 bp. This corresponded to 129 amino acids. There was no recognizable difference between males and females. This study should contribute to the better understanding of long QT syndrome in Korean population.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.97-101
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• 2018

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) is a hereditary disorder characterized by craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities. A mutation of the TRPS1 gene leads to TRPS type I or type III. A 20-year-old male patient visited our neurologic department with chronic fatigue. He presented with short stature, sparse hair, pear-shaped nose, and brachydactyly. Radiologic study showed short metacarpals, metatarsals with cone-shaped epiphyses, hypoplastic femur and hip joint. Panel sequencing for OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) listed genes revealed a de novo heterozygous frameshift mutation of c.1801_1802delGA (p.Arg601Lysfs*3) of exon 4 of the TRPS1 gene. The diagnosis of TRPS can be challenging due to the rarity and variable phenotype of the disease, clinicians should be aware of its characteristic clinical features that will lead a higher rate of diagnosis.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.562-565
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• 2023

Escherichia coli-specific phage, KFS-EC1, was isolated and purified from a slaughterhouse. The complete genome of the phage was obtained using Illumina MiSeq platforms. Its assembled genome consisted of a single chromosome of 164,715 bp with a GC content of 40.5%. The phage genome contained 170 hypothetical and 101 functional ORFs, and exhibited orthologous average nucleotide identity values of >95% with other E. coli phages belonging to the family Straboviridae. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis revealed that KFS-EC1 was finally classified into the family Straboviridae of the genus Caudoviricetes. The genome has been deposited in GenBank under the accession number NC_055757.1.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.337-340
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• 1999

rDNA내의 ITS region의 염기서열 분석 결과를 토대로 19종의 Phellinus 속균중 Phellinus linteus를 특이적으로 동정할 수 있는 primer를 제작하였다. 이 특이 primer는 ITS1과 ITS2내에 위치하며 이들 spacer region에 인접해 있는 universal Primer내에 위치해 있다. 총 4개의 Primer(universal primer인 ITS-1F와 ITS-4 그리고 특이 primer인 PL-F와 PL-R)가 한국에서 채집된 Phellinus 속균중 Phellinus linteus를 동정하는데 사용되었다. Phellinus linteus의 증폭된 DNA크기는 800bp(ITS-1F/ITS-4)와 720 bp(ITS-1F/PL-R과 PL-F/ITS-4)에 해당하는 2개의 band, 그리고 610 bp(PL-F/PL-R)인 것으로 나타났다. 한국에서 채집된 23종의 Phellinus속균중 13종이 Phellinus linteus인 것으로 확인되었다.

• 산업기술연구
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• 제28권A호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2008

Several contaminated bacteria such as Lactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus damnosus in beer production cause beer spoilage by producing off flavours and turbidity. Detection of these organisms is complicated by the strict anaerobic conditions and lengthy incubation times required for their cultivation, consequently there is a need for more rapid detection methods. Recently, two contaminated strains were isolated from vessel of beer production and identified as Lactobacillus species by API kit identificaton as well as 16S-23S ITS sequencing analyses. Two isolated strains were named as Lactobacillus sp. HLA1 and Lactobacillus HLB2, respectively. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for the rapid and specific detection of Lactobacillus sp.. Two sets of primer pairs (HLA1-F/HLA1-R and HLB2-F/HLB2-R) were designed for the amplification of a 1576 base pair (bp) fragment of the HLA1 16S-23S rRNA gene and 1888 bp fragement of the HLB2 16S-23S rRNA. Amplified PCR products were highly specific to detect corresponding bacteria when other contaminated strains were used as PCR templates. However, detection of both strains were limited when $100{\mu}{\ell}$ of cultured samples were mixed with $100m{\ell}$ of beer sample in arbitrary manner. The sensitivity of the assay still needs to be improved for direct detection of the small amounts of bacteria present in beer.