• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.71-73
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• 2000

Campylobacter jejuni is most frequently identified cause of cause of acute diarrhoeal infections in developeed countries, exceeding rates of illness caused by both salmonella and shigilla(Skirrow, 1990 ; Lior 1994). Previous studies on campylobacter jejuni contamination of commercial broiler carcasses in u.s.(Stern, 1992). Most cases of the disease result from indirect transmission of Campylobactor from animals via milk, water and meat. In addition to Campylobactor jejuni. the closely relates species Campylobactor coli and Campylobactor lari have also been implicated as agents of gastroenteritis in humans. Campylobactor coli represented only approximately 3% of the Campylobactor isolates from patients with Campylobactor enteritis(Griffiths and Park, 1990) whereas Campylobactor coli is mainly isolated from pork(Lmmerding et al., 1988). Campylobactor jejuni has also been isolated from cases of bacteremia, appendicitis and, recently, has been associated with Guillai-Barre syndrome(Allos and Blaser, 1994; von Wulffen et al., 1994; Phillips, 1995). Studies in volunteers indicated that the infectious dose for Campylobactor jejuni is low(about 500 organisms)(Robinson, 1981). The methods traditionally used to detect Campylobactor ssp. in food require at least two days of incubation in an enrichment broth followed by plating and two days of incubation on complex culture media containing many antibiotics(Goossens and Butzler, 1992). Finnaly, several biochemical tests must be done to confirm the indentification at the species level. Therfore, sensitive and specific methods for the detection of small numbers of Campylobactor cells in food are needed. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assays targeting specific DNA sequences have been developed for the detection of Campylobactor(Giesendorf and Quint, 1995; Hemandex et al., 1995; Winter and Slavidk, 1995). In most cases, a short enrichment step is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the assay prior to detection by PCR as the number of bacteria in the food products is low in comparison with those found in dinical samples, and because the complex composition of food matrices can hinder the PCR and lower its sensitivity. However, these PCR systems are technically demanding to carry out and cumbersome when processing a large number of samples simutaneously. In this paper, an immunomagnetic method to concentrate Campylobactor cells present in food or clinical samples after an enrichment step is described. To detect specifically the thermophilic Campylobactor. a monoclonal antibody was adsorbed on the surface of the magnetic beads which react against a major porin of 45kDa present on the surface of the cells(Huyer et al., 1986). After this partial purification and concentration step, detection of bound cells was achieved using a simple, inexpensive microtitre plate-based hybridization system. We examined two alternative detection systems, one specific for thermophilic Campylobactor based on the detection of 23S rRNA using an immobilized DNA probe. The second system is less specific but more sensitive because of the high copy number of the rRNA present in bacterial cell($10^3-10^4$). By using specific immunomagnetic beads against thermophilic Campylobactor, it was possible to concentrate these cells from a heterogeneous media and obtain highly specific hybridization reactions with good sensitivity. There are several advantages in using microtitre plates instead of filter membranes or other matrices for hybridization techniques. Microtitre plates are much easier to handle than filter membranes during the adsorption, washing, hybridization and detection steps, and their use faciilitates the simultanuous analysis of multiple sample. Here we report on the use of a very simple detection procedure based on a monoclonal anti-RNA-DNA hybrid antibody(Fliss et al., 1999) for detection of the RNA-DNA hybrids formed in the wells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.2 s.82
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• pp.279-285
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• 2007

Detection of Mycoplasma DNA from the 30 cases of cancer tissues and the normal tissues surrounding the cancer tissues obtained from the patients with gastric cancer and the other 30 cases of cancer tissues and the normal tissues surrounding the cancer tissues obtained from the patients with colon cancer were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The PCR products were sequenced using an ABI 377 automatic DNA sequencer, and these sequences were confirmed by comparing sequences with the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST network server. Mycoplasmas DNA were defected in 18 (60%) cases of normal tissues which were around gastric cancer and were 13 (43.3%) cases of gastric cancer tissues. Mycoplasmas DNA were detected in 15(50%) cases of normal tissues which were around colon cancer and 12 (40%) cases of colon cancer tissues. The M. faucium, M. subdolum, M. salivarium, M. auris, M. hyosynoviae, and M. conjunctivae were detected from the gastric cancer tissues. The M. faucium, M. subdolum,, M. salivarium, M. auris, M. hyosynoviae, M. bovigenitalium and M. pulmonis were detected from the normal tissues around gastric cancer. The M. faucium, M. subdolum, M. salivarium, M. auris, M. hyosynoviae, M. synoviae M. bovigenitalium, M. gallinarum, and M. moatsii were detected from the colon cancer. The M. faucium, M. subdolum, M. salivarium, M. auris, M. hyosynoviae, M. bovis, M. opalescens, M. bovigenitalium, M. gallinarum, and M. moatsii were detected from the normal tissues around the colon cancer. These results suggest that Mycoplasmas infection may not correlate with gastric cancer and colon cancer, because of the detection rate of Mycoplasmas DNA were not significantly differences between normal and cancer tissues from the patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical features of 13 respiratory viruses in children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs). Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates were prospectively obtained from 325 children aged 15 years or less from May 2008 to April 2009 and were tested for the presence of 13 respiratory viruses by multiplex real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : Viruses were identified in 270 children (83.1%). Co-infections with ${\geq}2$ viruses were observed in 71 patients (26.3 %). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common virus detected (33.2%), followed by human rhinovirus (hRV) (19.1%), influenza virus (Flu A) (16.9%), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (15.4%), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) (8.3%), human bocavirus (hBoV) (8.0%), adenovirus (ADV) (5.8%), and human coronavirus (hCoV) (2.2%). Clinical diagnoses of viral ALRIs were bronchiolitis (37.5%), pneumonia (34.5%), asthma exacerbation (20.9%), and croup (7.1%). Clinical diagnoses of viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia were frequently demonstrated in patients who tested positive for RSV, hRV, hMPV, or Flu A. Flu A and hRV were most commonly identified in children older than 3 years and were the 2 leading causes of asthma exacerbation. hRV C was detected in 14 (4.3%) children, who were significantly older than those infected with hRV A ($mean{\pm}SD$, $4.1{\pm}3.5$ years vs. $1.7{\pm}2.3$ years; P =0.009). hBoV was usually detected in young children ($2.3{\pm}3.4$ years) with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Conclusion : This study described the features of ALRI associated with 13 respiratory viruses in Korean children. Additional investigations are required to define the roles of newly identified viruses in children with ALRIs.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2007

The cellulase gene of Bacillus licheniformis K11 which has plant growth-promoting activity by auxin and antagonistic ability by siderophore was cloned in pUC18 using PCR employing heterologous primers. The 1.6kb PCR fragment contained the full sequence of the cellulase gene, denoted celW which has been reported to encode a 499 amino acid protein. Similarity search in protein data base revealed that the cellulase from B. licheniformis K11 was more than 97% identical in amino acid sequence to those of various Bacillus spp. The cellulase protein from B. licheniformis K11, overproduced in E. coli DH5${\alpha}$ by the lac promoter on the vector, had apparent molecular weight of 55 kDa upon CMC-SDS-PAGE analysis. The protein not only had enzymatic activity toward carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC), but also was able to degrade insoluble cellulose, such as Avicel and filter paper (Whatman$^{\circledR}$ No. 1). In addition, the cellulase could degrade a fungal cell wall of Phytophthora capsici. Consequently B. licheniformis K11 was able to suppress the peperblight causing P. capsici by its cellulase. Biochemical analysis showed that the enzyme had a maximum activity at 60$^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0. Also, the enzyme activity was activated by Co$^{2+}$ of Mn$^{2+}$ but inhibited by Fe$^{3+}$ or Hg$^{2+}$. Moreover, enzyme activity was not inhibited by SDS or sodium azide.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2006

We have recently discovered that mycelium of Phellinus linteus, popular medical mushrooms in Korea, possess alcohol dehydrogenase and produce alcohol. In the present study, it was examined that the effect of fermented rice wine made by using mycelium of P. linteus (FLMP) on the expression of in-flammation-related proteins in both $HepG_2$ cells and rats. To examine the effect of FLMP on the morphology and expression of inflammatory proteins in $HepG_2$ cells, the cells were incubated with ethanol, and FLMP for 24 hours, and then analyzed by microscopic observation and Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While ethanol induced the morphological change accompanied with cell debris formation and scattering on $HepG_2$ cells, FLMP had no effect. The results of Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 was induced by ethanol, however, FLMP inhibited the expression of these proteins and its mRNAs. In the animal model, the value of flutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase was significantly increased by administration with ethanol. But the group administrated with FLMP showed lower levels on the changes of these markers compared with ethanol-administrated group. Besides, the results of Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of inflammatory proteins such as iNOS, COX-1 and COX-2 was not affected by FLMP administration in rat liver. About histopathological and immunohistochemical observations, inflammatory loci were markedly decreased in the FLMP-administrated rat compared to ethanol-administrated rats and showed weaker COX-2 and iNOS jmmunoreactions. These results suggested that FLMP showed slight changes on the inflammatory proteins expression compared to ethanol and FLMP may be used as a functional alcoholic beverage.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2007

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) was known as one of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced products of macrophage. Macrophages play an important role in the development of inflammatory responses by secreting an array of cytokines and chemokines in a tissue microenvironment. To identify the function and relationship between potent growth factors and SLPI after LPS stimulation, we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots for the detection of mRNA and protein expression of SLPI and growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, bFGF after 100 ng LPS stimulation on the RAW264.7 cells. The result of RT-PCR was showed SLPI mRNA expression was increased from 60 min to 48h in RAW 264.7 cells after incubation with LPS. VEGF and PDGF mRNA was expressed highly at initial stage by LPS stimulation. The mRNA of bFGF and type I collagen was very weakly expressed after LPS stimulation. SLPI protein level was increased likely the mRNA levels in RAW 267.7 cells. Additionally, phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the LPS induce the change of morphology of the RAW264.7 cells. From these results, it suggest that expression of SLPI by LPS treatment may associate with VEGF and PDGF expression in RAW264.7 cells.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the occurrence of viral diseases in the early growth stage of soybean to establish management practices. We collected 83 soybean samples showing abnormal symptoms, approximately 3-4 weeks after seeding in the breeding field of the National Institute of Crop Science. Viruses were detected in the collected samples using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and metatranscriptome analysis of all those samples. The incidence of viral diseases in the field was less than 1% overall and up to 50% in certain cultivars and lines. RT-PCR and metatranscriptome analysis detected Soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus (SYMMV), Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), Soybean yellow common mosaic virus, Peanut stunt virus, and soybean geminivirus A (SGVA). Among these detected viruses, SYMMV and SMV were identified as major viruses causing infection in the early growth stage of soybean, with detection rates of 53.7% and 42.6%, respectively. Soybeans infected with SYMMV showed typical mosaic symptoms, whereas those infected with SMV showed a variety of symptoms such as mosaic, mottle, stunt, and chlorotic spots. Transmission characteristics of these viruses are variable, such that SMV is primarily transmitted by seeds, whereas SYMMV could be transmitted by insects, soil, and seeds. In this study, SGVA was detected in the early growth stage of soybean, and research on the current status and its effects on soybean after the early growth stage should be conducted.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2023

Salmonella spp. are prevalent foodborne pathogens that are infective at relatively low concentrations, thus posing a serious health threat, especially to young children and the elderly. In several countries, the management and regulation of Salmonella spp. in food, including seafood, adhere to a negative detection standard. The risk of infection is particularly high when seafood is consumed raw, which underscores the importance of timely detection of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Salmonella. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a combined pre-treatment and detection method that includes pre-culture and DNA extraction in order to detect five species of Salmonella at concentrations below 10 CFU/mL in seafood. The effectiveness of the proposed method was assessed in terms of the composition of the enrichment (pre-culture) medium, minimum incubation time, and minimum cell concentration for pathogen detection. Furthermore, a practical DNA extraction method capable of effectively handling high salt conditions was tested and found to be successful. Through polymerase chain reaction, Salmonella spp. Were detected and positively identified in shellfish samples at cell concentrations below 10 CFU/g. Thus, the proposed method, combining sample pre-treatment and cell culture with DNA extraction, was shown to be an effective strategy for detecting low cellular concentrations of harmful bacteria. The proposed methodology is suitable as an economical and practical in situ pre-treatment for effective detection of Salmonella spp. in seafood.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.659-678
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• 1998

In the present study, oligonucleotide probes based on 16S rRNA were taken to investigate the diversity of oral spirochetes without culture method. This is the first study that revealed oral spirochetes of both presently cultivable and uncultured oral spirochetes in Korean adult periodontitis patients. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from diseased sites(probing depth ${\geq}6\;mm$, experimental group, n=116) and healthy sites(probing depth${\leq}3mm$, control 1 group, n=28) in 29 patients with adult periodontitis, and from 20 periodontally healthy subjects(probing depth${\leq}3mm$, control 2 group, n=100). Following being examined under phase-contrast microscope, all samples were submitted to dot-blot hybridization after polymerase chain reacton with eubacterial primers. 5 species-specific probes(TVIN, TDEN, TMAL, TSOC, and TPEC) and 7 group-specific probes(TRE I, TRE II, TRE III, TRE IV, TRE V, TRE VI, and TRE VII) were used one by one for the identification of both cultivable and so far uncultivable oral spirochetes. All probes were labeled with digoxigenin(DIG)-ddUTP and detected by chemilumininescence. The following results were obtained. 1. Under phase-contrast microscope, 91.37% and 14.28% of oral spirochetes were observed in the experimental and control 1 groups, respectively. None of oral spirochetes were observed in control 2 group. 2. With universal probe, 98.27%, 46.42%, and 22.0% of oral spirochetes were observed in experimental, control 1, and control 2 groups, respectively. 3. With specific probe, 95.68%, 35.71%, and 19.0% of oral spirochetes were observed in experimental, control 1, and control 2 groups, respectively. 4. With species-specific probes, T. socranskii were recovered in a high percentage of sites(81.89%) examined, followed by T. maltophilum(50.0%), T. vincentii(36.20%), T. denticola(13.79%), respectively. With group- specific probes, TRE IV was recovered in a high percentage of sites(85.34%) examined, followed by TRE II(77.58%), TRE I(56.89%), TRE III(25.86%), TRE VI(5.17%), and TRE V(2.58%), respectively. 5. T. vincentii were only observed in the diseased sites, not in the healthy sites. 6. Neither T. pectinovorum nor group VII oral spirochetes were observed in any sites. The findings warrant further investgations of the recovered spirochetes to elucidate the possible associations of oral spirochetal prevalence in race and types of periodontitis, pathogenesis of T. vincentii and the possible distributional change of oral spirochetes before and after treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.660-664
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• 2006

The relationship between H. pylori clarithromycin resistance and genetic pattern distribution has been differently explained from different geographic areas. Therefore, we aimed to assess the clarithromycin resistance rate, to evaluate the bacterial genetic pattern, and to search for a possible association between clarithromycin resistance and cagA or vacA genes. This prospective study enrolled 62 consecutive H. pylori infected patients. The infection was established by histology and rapid urease test. Clarithromycin resistance, cagA and vacA status, including s/m subtypes, were assessed on paraffin-embedded antral biopsy specimens by TaqMan real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Primary clarithromycin resistance was detected in 24.1 % of cases. The prevalence of cagA was 69.3%, and a single vacA mosaicism was observed in 95.1 % cases. In detail, the s1m1 was observed in 23 (38.9%) patients, the s1m2 in 22 (37.2%), and the s2m2 in 14 (23.7%), whereas the s2m1 combination was never found. The prevalence of cagA and the vacA alleles distribution did not significantly differ between susceptible and resistant strains. Primary clarithromycin resistance is high in our area. The s1m1 and s1m2 are the most frequent vacA mosaicisms. There is no a relationship between clarithromycin resistance and bacterial genotypic pattern and/or cagA positivity.