• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2012

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), transmitted exclusively by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in a circulative manner is one of the most important virus in tomato. Since the first report of TYLCV incidence in Korea in 2008, the virus has rapidly spread nationwide. TYLCV currently causes serious economic losses in tomato production in Korea. Early detection of TYLCV is one of the most important methods to allow rouging of infected tomato plants to minimize the spread of TYLCV disease. We have developed an ultra-rapid and sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a new designed real-time PCR system, GenSpectorTM TMC-1000 that is a small and portable real-time PCR machine requiring only a $5{\mu}l$ reaction volume on microchips. The new system provides ultra-high speed reaction (30 cycles in less than 15 minutes) and melting curve analysis for amplified TYLCV products. These results suggest that the short reaction time and ultra sensitivity of the GenSpector$^{TM}$-based real-time PCR technique is suitable for monitoring epidemics and pre-pandemic TYLCV disease. This is the first report for plant virus detection using an ultra-rapid real-time PCR system.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.242-250
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• 2015

Insertional mutagenesis induced by T-DNA or transposon tagging offers possibilities for analysis of gene function. However, its potential remains limited unless good methods for detecting the target locus are developed. We describe a PCR technique for efficient identification of DNA sequences adjacent to the inserted T-DNA in a higher plant, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). This strategy, which we named variable argument thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (VA-TAIL PCR), was designed by modifying a single-step annealing-extension PCR by including a touch-up PCR protocol and using long gene-specific primers. Amplification efficiency of this PCR program was significantly increased by employing an autosegment extension method and linked sequence strategy in nested long gene-specific primers. For this technique, arbitrary degenerate (AD) primers specific to B. rapa were designed by analyzing the Integr8 proteome database. These primers showed higher accuracy and utility in the identification of flanking DNA sequences from individual transgenic Chinese cabbages in a large T-DNA inserted population. The VA-TAIL PCR method described in this study allows the identification of DNA regions flanking known DNA fragments. This method has potential biotechnological applications, being highly suitable for identification of target genomic loci in insertional mutagenesis screens.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 2013

The bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, has played an important role as one of the alternative pollinators since the outbreak of honeybee collapse disorder. Recently, pathogens and parasites such as viruses, bacteria and mites, which affect the life span and fecundity of their host, have been discovered in B. terristris. In order to detect the microsporidian pathogen, Nosema spp. in the field populations of B. terristris, we collected adults and isolated their genomic DNA for diagnostic PCR. The PCR primers specific for Nosema spp. were newly designed and applied to gene amplification for cloning. Only small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene of N. ceranae was successfully amplified among examined genes and sequenced, which indicates that N. ceranae mainly infects the examined field population of B. terristris. To detect of SSU rRNA gene, two regions of SSU rRNA gene were selected by primary PCR analysis and further analyzed in quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that SSU rRNA of N. ceranae was detected at concentration as low as $0.85ng/{\mu}l$ genomic DNA. This result suggests that the detection via qRT-PCR can be applied for the rapid and sensitive diagnosis of N. ceranae infection in the field population as well as risk assessment of B. terristris.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2010

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate recently developed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay kit to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in respiratory specimens. Methods: We assessed the positive rate of the real-time PCR assay to detect MTB and NTM in 87 culture-positive specimens (37 sputum, 50 bronchial washing), which were performed real-time PCR by using $Real-Q_{TM}$ MTB&NTM Kit from January 2009 to June 2009, at Gyeongsang University Hospital. To compare the efficacy with the TB-PCR assay, we evaluated 63 culture-positive specimens (19 sputum, 44 bronchial washing) for MTB or NTM, which were performed TB-PCR by using ABSOLUTETM MTB II PCR Kit from March 2008 to August 2008. Results: Among 87 specimens tested using real-time PCR, MTB and NTM were cultured in 58 and 29, respectively. The positive rate of real-time PCR assay to detect MTB was 71% (22/31) and 92.6% (25/27) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. For NTM, the positive rate of real-time PCR was 11.1% (2/18) and 72.7% (8/11) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. Among 63 specimens performed using TB-PCR, MTB and NTM were cultured in 46 and 17, respectively. The positive rate of TB-PCR was 61.7% (21/34) and 100% (12/12) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. TB-PCR was negative in all NTM-cultured 17 specimens. Conclusion: TB/NTM real-time PCR assay is useful to differentiate MTB and NTM in AFB stain-positive respiratory specimens and it is as effective in detecting MTB with TB-PCR.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2016

A small and inexpensive thermal cycler (PCR machine), known as the MiniPCR^TM Mini8 Thermal Cycler (Amplyus, Cambridge, MA, USA), was developed. In this study, the performance of this PCR machine was compared with the GeneAmp^® PCR system 9700 (Applied Biosystems) using four autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) kits, a Y-chromosome STR kit, and a mitochondrial DNA HV1/HV2 sequence analysis. The sensitivity and stochastic effects of the STR multiplex kits and the quality of the DNA sequence analysis were similar between the two PCR machines. The MiniPCR^TM Mini8 Thermal Cycler could be used for analyses at forensic DNA laboratories and crime scenes. The cost of the PCR is so economical that school laboratories and individuals could use the machines.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2000

Herpes simplex virus, Varicella zoster virus and Human herpes virus-6 caused central nervous system infections and latent infections but there is no data of the 3 viruses being tested from the same cerebrospinal fluid samples with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in adults patients. These viruses produced similar neurologic symptoms but difficulties existed in differentiating of etiologic agents and therefore the viruses needed to be detected in the early state. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) in adults, if not treated promptly was fatal. If treated with antiviral drugs in the early phase of encephalitis, neurologic sequales decreased by 65%. Recently, a PCR method for detection of HSVE with CSF was developed. VZV primary and secondary infections caused neurologic symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis. The second frequency of adult encephalitis that caused VZV were reported. HHV-6 caused CNS latent infection that was studied with normal adults brains. But there is no data of HSV, VZV and HHV-6 for aseptic meningitis and encephalitis of Korean adults through etiologic study. We cultured CSFs on HEp-2 cells and simultaneously tested for HSV PCR, VZV nested PCR and HHV-6 PCR with 8 specific primers. The PCR results of CSF from meningitis Korean adults were 13/19 (68.4%) for HSV, 10/19 (52.6%) for VZV and 12/19 (63.2%) for HHV-67/19 (36.8%) cases were triple infected HSV PCR, VZV PCR and HHV-6 PCR positive; 3/19 (15.8%) cases were dual infected HSV PCR and HHV-6 PCR positive; 1119 (0.5%) cases was VZV PCR positive. Strong viral DNA amplification of CSF means a causative virus may be present in aseptic meningitis or encephalitis patients and may cause clinical neurologic symptoms. HSV and HHV-6 viruses detection rate were higher than VZV by PCR with CSFs.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.57-62
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• 2009

Genetic diagnosis method of Virion Captured (VC)/RT-PCR for Rice stripe virus (RSV) and Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV), Korean major rice viruses transmitted by small brown plant hopper, Laodelphax striatellus, was developed. Virion extraction buffer for rice plant was 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.5% sodium sulfite. However, the extraction buffer for L. striatellus was 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.5% sodium sulfite and 2% polyvinylpyrrolidone wt 40,000 (PVP-40). Specific primers for detection of RSV and RBSDV were selected for VC/RT-PCR method. The specific primers were used as a duplex primer to detect viruliferous small brown plant hopper collected from Gimpo, Pyeongtaek and Siheung areas in Gyeonggi province. The genetic diagnosis methods of single and duplex VC/RT-PCR for RSV and RBSDV could be used easily and economically, especially on the diagnosis of L. striatellus. The rate of viruliferous insect (RVI) for RSV was compared with ELISA and VC/RT-PCR for L. striatellus collected from fields. RVI by ELISA was same as 9.2% with RVI by VC/RT-PCR. However, there were some different detection results between the methods. It could be suggested that there is a possibility of serological and/or genomic differences among RSV isolates. The portion of RVI detected simultaneously by ELISA and VC/RT-PCR was 71.0%, and the detection rate from VC/RT-PCR was higher as 3.2% than that from ELISA, which had a reason of simultaneous detection ability both RSV and RBSDV of VC/RT-PCR.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by Aspergillus flavus growing in feedstuffs. Early detection of maize contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi is advantageous since aflatoxins exert adverse health effects. In this study, we report the development of an optimized conventional PCR for AFB1 detection and a rapid, sensitive and simple screening Real-time PCR (qPCR) with SYBR Green and two pairs of primers targeting the aflR genes which involved aflatoxin biosynthesis. AFB1 contaminated maize samples were divided into three groups by the toxin concentration. Genomic DNA was extracted from those samples. The target genes for A. flavus were tested by conventional PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis. A conventional PCR was carried out as nested PCR to verify the gene amplicon sizes. PCR-RFLP patterns, obtained with Hinc II and Pvu II enzyme analysis showed the differences to distinguish aflatoxin-producing fungi. However, they are not quantitative and need a separation of the products on gel and their visualization under UV light. On the other hand, qPCR facilitates the monitoring of the reaction as it progresses. It does not require post-PCR handling, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination and handling errors. It results in a much faster throughout. We found that the optimal primer annealing temperature was $65^{\circ}C$. The optimized template and primer concentration were $1.5{\mu}L\;(50ng/{\mu}L)$ and $3{\mu}L\;(10{\mu}M/{\mu}L)$ respectively. SYBR Green qPCR of four genes demonstrated amplification curves and melting peaks for tub1, afIM, afIR, and afID genes are at $88.0^{\circ}C$, $87.5^{\circ}C$, $83.5^{\circ}C$, and $89.5^{\circ}C$ respectively. Consequently, it was found that the four primers had elevated annealing temperatures, nevertheless it is desirable since it enhances the DNA binding specificity of the dye. New qPCR protocol could be employed for the determination of aflatoxin content in feedstuff samples.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.448-456
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• 2011

We used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) combined with mirror orientation selection (MOS) method to screen differentially expressed genes from red-fleshed kiwifruit 'Hongyang'. As a result, the 288 clones were obtained by subcloning PCR product and 192 clones that showed positive clones on colony PCR analysis were selected. All the positive clones were sequenced. After comparisons with the NCBI/Genbank database using the BLAST search revealed that 30 clones showed sequence similarity to genes from other organisms; 10 clones showed significant sequence similarity to known genes. Among these clones, 3 clones (AcF21, AcF42 and AcF106) had sequence homology to 1-aminicyclopropane-carboxylic acid (ACC)-oxidase (ACO) that known to be related to fruit ripening. The expression patterns of differentially expressed genes were further investigated to validate the SSH data by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qReal-time PCR) analysis. All the data from qReal-time PCR analysis coincide with the results obtained from RT-PCR analysis. Three clones were expressed at higher levels in 'Hongyang' than 'Hayward'. AcF21 was highly expressed in the other genes at 120 days after full bloom (DAFB) and 160 DAFB of 'Hongyang'.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2019

The objective of this research was to compare loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rapid detection of pathogens in foods. In this study, the limits of detection (LODs) for Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Cronobacter sakazakii were evaluated in various foods. Among 11 samples tested for S. Typhimurium, LAMP and real-time PCR had the same LODs in beef and duck meat whereas real-time PCR was more sensitive than the LAMP in 8 samples. However, S. Typhimurium in chocolate samples was not detected by real-time PCR. The sensitivity of real-time PCR was high in all samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes and C. sakazakii whereas LAMP was more sensitive than real-time PCR in oil-rich foods. Therefore, LAMP can be shown as an easrer, more convenient method, as well as effective analytical method for testing difficult samples when employed in PCR.