• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1113-1117
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• 2012

Shigella sonnei is a causal agent of fever, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrheal disease. The present study describes a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the specific detection of S. sonnei using a primer pair based on the methylase gene for the amplification of a 325 bp DNA fragment. The qPCR primer set for the accurate diagnosis of Shigella sonnei was developed from publically available genome sequences. This quantitative PCR-based method will potentially simplify and facilitate the diagnosis of this pathogen and guide disease management.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.333-339
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• 2004

A multiplex PCR assay targeting the yst and 16S rRNA genes of Yersinia enterocolitica was developed to specifically identify pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from pure culture. Simultaneous amplification of 145 and 416 bp fragments of the yst and 16S rRNA genes of Y. enterocolitica was obtained using the primer pairs in a single reaction. Validation of the assay was performed with the reference Yersinia strains and other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The defined primer pairs amplified the targeted sequence from only pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains, whereas none of the other bacterial species yielded any amplified fragments. Within an assay time of 4 h, this assay offers a very specific, reliable, and inexpensive alternative to the conventional phenotypic assays used in clinical laboratories to identify pathogenic Y. enterocolitica.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.265-272
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• 2016

Wolbachia is an obligatory intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium, present in over 20% of all insects altering insect reproductive capabilities and in a wide range of filarial worms which is essential for worm survival and reproduction. In Egypt, no available data were found about Wolbachia searching for it in either mosquitoes or filarial worms. Thus, we aimed to identify the possible concurrent presence of Wolbachia within different mosquitoes and filarial parasites, in Assiut Governorate, Egypt using multiplex PCR. Initially, 6 pools were detected positive for Wolbachia by single PCR. The simultaneous detection of Wolbachia and filarial parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) by multiplex PCR was spotted in 5 out of 6 pools, with an overall estimated rate of infection (ERI) of 0.24%. Unexpectedly, the highest ERI (0.53%) was for Anopheles pharoensis with related Wolbachia and W. bancrofti, followed by Aedes (0.42%) and Culex (0.26%). We also observed that Wolbachia altered Culex spp. as a primary vector for W. bancrofti to be replaced by Anopheles sp. Wolbachia within filaria-infected mosquitoes in our locality gives a hope to use bacteria as a new control trend simultaneously targeting the vector and filarial parasites.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.673-676
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• 2007

A two-step triplex PCR assay targeting the mecA, femA, and nuc genes was developed for the detection of methicillin resistance genes harbored by some Staphylococcus aureus isolates and for the simultaneous identification of such isolates at the species level. The triplex PCR revealed the presence of the femA and nuc genes in all the S. aureus isolates examined (n=105). Forty-four clinical isolates were mecA positive and no foodborne isolates were mecA positive. The PCR results had a 98 or 99% correlation with the results of PBP2a latex agglutination tests or oxacillin susceptibility tests, respectively.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.283-290
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) is a major coronavirus that infects humans with human Coronavirus (HuCoV)-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV2 is currently a global pandemic pathogen. In this study, we developed conventional RT-PCR based diagnostic system for the detection of SARS-CoV2 which is relatively inexpensive but has high stability and a wide range of users. Three conventional RT-PCR primer sets capable of forming specific band sizes by targeting the ORF1ab [232 nucleotide (nt)], E (200 nt) and N (288 nt) genes of SARS-CoV2 were developed, respectively, and it were confirmed to be about 10~100 times higher detection sensitivity than the previously reported methods. In addition, a standard positive control that can generate specific amplicons by reacting with the developed RT-PCR primers and verify the false-positiv from contamination of the laboratory was produced. Therefore, the diagnostic system that uses the RT-PCR method is expected to be used to detect SARS-CoV2.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.188-193
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• 2011

C형 간염바이러스(hepatitis C virus; HCV) 증식을 효과적이며 특이적으로 제어할 수 있는 유전산물로서, HCV 증식조절인자인 NS5B RNA replicase 존재에 의해 allosteric하게 활성이 유도될 수 있는 HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) 표적 hammerhead 리보자임을 개발하였다. 이러한 리보자임은 HCV IRES 염기서열 중 +382 nucleotide 자리를 인지하는 hammerhead 리보자임, NS5B RNA replicase와 특이적으로 결합하는 RNA aptamer 부위, 그리고 aptamer와 NS5B와의 결합에 의해 리보자임 활성을 유도할 수 있도록 구조적 변이를 전달할 수 있는 communication module 부위 등으로 구성되어 있다. 이러한 allosteric 리보자임에 의해 세포 배양에서 HCV의 replicon 복제가 효과적으로 억제됨을 실시간 PCR 분석을 통하여 관찰하였다. 특히, HCV 지놈을 표적하는 리보자임 단독, 또는 HCV NS5B에 대한 RNA aptamer 단독에 의한 HCV 복제 억제능보다 allosteric 리보자임에 의한 HCV 복제 억제능이 더 뛰어났다. 따라서 개발된 allosteric 리보자임은 HCV 증식의 효과적인 증식 억제 선도물질로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.233-241
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• 2002

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of rodent origin are produced with ease by hybridoma fusion technique, and have been successfully used as therapeutic reagents for humans after humanization by genetic engineering. However, utilization of these antibodies for therapeutic purpose has been limited by the fact that they act as immunogens in human body causing undesired side effects. So far, there have been several attempts to produce human mAbs for effective in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic reagents including the use of humanized xenomouse that is generated by mating knockout mice which lost Ig heavy and light chain genes by homologous recombination and transgenic mice having both human Ig heavy and light gene loci in their genome. Methods: Genomic DNA fragments of mouse Ig heavy and light chain were obtained from a mouse brain ${\lambda}$ genomic library by PCR screening and cloned into a targeting vector with ultimate goal of generating Ig knockout mouse. Results: Through PCR screening of the genomic library, three heavy chain and three light chain Ig gene fragments were identified, and restriction map of one of the heavy chain gene fragments was determined. Then heavy chain Ig gene fragments were subcloned into a targeting vector. The resulting construct was introduced into embryonic stem cells. Antibiotic selection of transfected cells is under the progress. Conclusion: Generation of xenomouse is particularly important in medical biotechnology. However, this goal is not easily achieved due to the technical difficulties as well as huge financial expenses. Although we are in the early stage of a long-term project, our results, at least, partially contribute the successful generation of humanized xenomouse in Korea.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.904-908
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• 2007

병원성 원생동물인 지아디아 람블리아는 수인성 질병을 야기하는 주요 원인이 되고 있다. 본 연구는 PCR 및 RT-PCR 기법을 적용하여 한강본류 하천수 시료에서 사람감염성 종인 지아디아 람블리아를 동정하고, 활성 여부를 판별하여 현 표준시험방법을 보완하고자 하였다. PCR과 RT-PCR에는 지아디아의 복부 흡반 구성 유전자를 증폭하는 giardin primer를 사용하였으며, DNA/RNA 추출 및 PCR/RT-PCR 과정에서의 민감도 검사를 수행한 결과, 1포낭까지 검출가능한 것으로 나타났다. 또한 한강본류 및 유입지천 시료 48점에 적용하여 면역형광항체법과 PCR 및 RT-PCR 방법을 비교하였다. 면역형광항체법을 이용한 현미경관찰 결과 48개 시료의 지아디아 총포낭수의 평균 농도는 6.3 cysts/10 L이었고 양성율은 62.5%였으며, 속빈 포낭을 제외한 지아디아의 평균 농도는 4.5 cysts/10 L이었고 양성율은 52.1%였다. PCR 수행결과 48개 시료 중 24개(50%)의 시료에서 지아디아 람볼리아가 검출되었으며, RT-PCR 수행결과 10개(21%) 시료가 살아있는 G. lamblia를 포함한 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구를 통해 PCR/RT-PCR 기법이 지아디아 포낭을 저농도로 포함하고 있는 하천수 시료에 적용가능하며 원생동물 표준시험방법을 보완하여 종(species) 및 활성에 대한 정보를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 결과되었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.745-752
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• 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common mycobacterial infection in developing countries, requiring a rapid, accurate, and well-differentiated detection/diagnosis. For the rapid detection and discrimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a novel, simple, and primer-combined single-step multiplex PCR using three primer pairs (6110F-6110R, 1081F-1081R, and 23SF-23SR; annealing on each of IS6110, IS1081, and 23S rDNA targets), hereafter referred to as a triplex PCR, has been developed and evaluated. The expected product for IS6110 is 416 bp, for IS1081 is 300 bp, and for 23S rDNA is 206 bp by single PCR, which was used to verify the specificity of primers and the identity of MTC using DNA extracted from the M. tuberculosis H37Rv reference strain (ATCC, USA) and other mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) templates. The triplex PCR assay showed 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity; the limit of detection for mycobacteria was ~100 fg; and it failed to amplify any target from DNA of MOTT (50 samples tested). Of 307 blinded clinical samples, overall 205 positive M. tuberculosis samples were detected by single PCR, 142 by conventional culture, and 90 by AFB smear methods. Remarkably, the triplex PCR could subsequently detect 55 positive M. tuberculosis from 165 culture-negative and 115 from 217 AFB smear-negative samples. The triplex PCR, targeting three regions in the M. tuberculosis genome, has proved to be an efficient tool for increasing positive detection/discrimination of this bacterium from clinical samples.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.425-429
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• 2009

Bacillus cereus 설사독소 전사조절유전자인 plcR 및 papR의 특이적 프라이머 쌍을 사용한 PCR로 설사 독소유전자 함유 B. cereus 균의 검출 가능성을 조사하였다. 적어도 한 종류 이상의 독소유전자들(hblACD, nheABC, cytK)을 함유한 96균주의 B. cereus를 대상으로 plcR-papR 유전자에 특이적인 프라이머들을 이용하여 PCR을 한 결과 모두 양성을 나타냈다. 그러나 독소 유전자를 함유하지 않은 48균주의 Bacillus들로 같은 분석을 한 결과 모두 음성을 보였다. PCR에 의한 plcR-papR 유전자 검출법은 설사독소 유전자를 함유한 B. cereus를 확인하는데 간편하면서도 정확한 결과를 제공하였다.