• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2021

During a project aiming to comprehensively investigate indigenous prokaryotic species in Korea, a total of 20 bacterial strains phylogenetically belonging to the the class Bacilli of the phylum Firmicutes were isolated from various environmental sources such as soil, air, tidal flat, sea water, grain, wetland, breast milk and healthy human urine. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that 20 bacterial strains showed the high sequence similarities (≥98.7%) to the closest type strains and formed robust phylogenetic clades with closely related species of validly published names in the class Bacilli of the phylum Firmicutes. In the present study, we report 20 species of 13 genera of seven families of two orders of one class in the phylum Firmicutes, which have not been previously reported in Korea. Morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics, isolation sources, and NIBR deposit numbers of these unrecorded bacterial species are described in the species descriptions.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2021

Norovirus (NoV) prevalence was investigated in 100 sewage samples collected from 35 individual septic tanks around the drainage basin of Jaran Bay, Korea in January, May, and July of 2017. Genotypes and diversity of NoV strains detected in sewage samples were also assessed using the conventional RT-PCR and phylogenetic analysis. NoV GI or GII were detected in 22 (22.0%) and 24 (24.0%) samples, respectively. Thirteen genotypes were identified with three dominant genotypes (GI.9, GII.5 and GII.17) and GII.17 showed relatively higher prevalence during the survey period. GII.17 strains were clustered into recombinant type variant or NoV GII.17 Kawasaki variant. NoV GII.17 strains were considered emergent epidemic variants with widespread circulation. NoV surveillance strategy should include both environmental (sewage) and clinical data to reveal minor NoV genotypes likely cause of asymptomatic or underreported infections in the local population.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.417-435
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• 2023

Eurotiales is a relatively large order of Ascomycetes, well-known for their ability to produce secondary metabolites with potential beneficial applications. To understand their diversity and distribution, different environmental sources including soil, freshwater, insect, and indoor air were investigated. Eight strains of Eurotiales were isolated and identified based on their morphological characters and a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, BenA, CaM, and RPB2 regions. We identified eight taxa that were previously not reported from Korea: Aspergillus baeticus, A. griseoaurantiacus, A. spinulosporus, Penicillium anthracinoglaciei, P. labradorum, P. nalgiovense, Talaromyces atroroseus, and T. georgiensis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic tree for the eight new records species are presented, and information regarding the records is also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.11-11
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• 2023

Due to the abundance of information in Nuclear DNA, it has a magnificent phylogenetic resolution. Moreover, because they show biparental inheritance, it has proven to be superior to organelle DNA, which has a limited number of genes and only shows maternal lineage. In particular, the transcriptome, which includes much nuclear DNA but is relatively inexpensive to analyze, can provide valuable insights into evolution through selection analysis and enable gene function research. This study's dataset includes 45 transcriptomes (16 generated for this study). It aims to explore the evolutionary history of Apioideae by comparing the results of the phylogenetic analysis with gene tree discordance and chloroplast phylogeny. The results confirmed the taxonomic positions of Peucedanum terebinthaceum, Ligusticum tachiroei, and Cymopterus melanotilingia and proposed a genus change for Glehnia littoralis. High gene tree discordances were identified in recently diverged clades, suggesting frequent hybridization and introgression. In the most recently diverged tribe of Selineae, the highest number of PSGs (positively selected genes) has been confirmed, which is inferred to be due to the geological and climatic diversity of their originated habitat, Central Asia. These genes include those related to responses to growth and drought, oxidative, and salt stress. In particular, the CYP97A gene confirmed as PSGs in Bupleurum latissimum is inferred to be a result of adaptation to the light-limited environment of Ulleungdo Island, as it is associated with the efficiency of photosynthesis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2022

Corylopsis Siebold & Zucc. (Hamamelidaceae) is widely used for horticultural plant and comprise ca. 25 species in East Asia (1 species in Korea; 4 species in Japan; 20 species in China). Previous revisions have gone from 7 to more than 30 species, causing confusion in the nursery industry and public gardens. Due to morphological similarity within Corylopsis, molecular research is needed to distinguish it. In this study, the chloroplast genome of C. gotoana and C. pauciflora distributed in Japan was completed by using NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) technique. The genome size of C. gotoana and C. pauciflora were 159,434 bp (large single-copy (LSC): 88,164 bp; small single-copy (SSC): 18,702 bp; inverted repeat regions (IRs): 26,284 bp) and 159,363 bp (LSC: 88,097 bp; SSC: 18,700 bp; IRs: 26,283 bp), respectively. In addition, we investigated the repeats, SNPs, and indels, and that could be used as DNA markers. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that C. pauciflora was sister to C. gotoana and C. spicata. The genus Corylopsis is a monophyletic group and Loropetalum is closely related to Corylopsis. The results of our study will provide the basic data necessary for the analysis of the species identification markers and genetic diversity within the genus Corylopsis in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.624-630
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• 2015

This study examined the genetic distance among Chikso (Korea native brindle cattle) in nine regional areas using allele frequencies and a genetic diversity analysis with microsatellite markers. The analysis of the genetic diversity and genetic relationships of 2068 Chikso (383 KW, 180 GG, 52 KN, 129 KB, 332 UL, 24 JN, 198 JB, 148 CN, 622 CB) was carried out using 11 microsatellite markers. The number of alleles, observed heterozygostiy (H_obs), expected heterozygosity (H_exp), and polymorphism information content (PIC) of the 11 microsatellite markers were 8–24, 0.672–0.834, 0.687–0.886, and 0.638–0.876, respectively. The expected probability of identity values in random individuals (PI), random half-sib (PI_half-sibs), and random sibs (PI_sibs) were estimated to be 5.24×10⁻¹⁹, 2.63×10⁻⁰⁶, and 2.63× 10⁻⁰⁶, respectively, indicating that these markers can be used for traceability systems in Chikso cattle. The results of a phylogenetic tree (neighbor-joining tree), principle component analysis (PCA), and factorial component analysis (FCA) revealed genetic distance among nine Chikso populations. In conclusion, this study provides useful basic data that can be utilized in Chikso breeding and development. In addition, we will have to manage and conserve as a valuable genetic resource, without losing diversity of Chikso.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 1996

The V3 loop, a hypervariable domain of envelope glycoprotein, has an essential role in viral infectivity and has a major epitope for type-specific neutralizing antibody. In order to investigate genetic diversity of V3 region of gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolated from Korean patients, DNA sequences encoding the C2 to V3 region were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 15 HIV-1 seropositive patients and nucleotide sequences were determined. All nucleotide sequences from fifteen patients were compared with 8 distinctive subtypes (A-H) and another subtype O. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out with PHYLIP ver 3.5 (Dnapars) program. Of the 15 isolates, 14 HIV-1 subjects were clustered with subtype B, while one was clustered with subtype C. Intra-subtype B distance at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid level were maximum 17.7% and 37.0%, respectively. Intra-patient distance at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid level were maximum 7.3% and 17.8%, respectively. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed that Korean types have relatively well conserved sequences. These findings could be useful for assessing the source of infection and developing an AIDS vaccine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1643-1649
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• 2016

The aims of this study were to characterize the molecular epidemiological profiles of CTX-M-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from a tertiary hospital in Daejeon, Korea, and to investigate the genetic diversity and compare the prevalence of sequence types (STs) in different areas. Extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli strains isolated from urine were analyzed for CTX-M, integrons, and insertion sequence common regions (ISCRs) by PCR and sequencing. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), phylogenetic analysis, and rep-PCR were also used for molecular typing of the isolates. Of 80 CTX-M producers, 31 and 46 expressed CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-14, respectively. MLST analysis indicated that the most prevalent ST was ST131 (n = 34, 42.5%), followed by ST38 (n = 22, 27.5%), ST405 (n = 8, 10.0%), and ST69 (n = 6, 7.5%). Most CTX-M producers harbored class 1 integrons. ST131 strains belonged to phylogenetic group B2 and showed identical rep-PCR patterns, whereas ST69, ST38, and ST405 strains belonged to phylogenetic group D; the ST38 and ST405 strains displayed the same rep-PCR pattern, respectively. ST131 and ST38 isolates showed 21 and 19 distinct types, respectively, by PFGE. In Daejeon, D-ST38 CTX-M-14 producers were relatively more prevalent than in other countries and Korean cities. Our results indicate that CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates belonged mostly to ST131 or ST38 and were more related to hospital-onset than to community-onset infections and that the bla_CTX-M gene may vary according to the ST.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 1999

Reovirus was found to inhabit both the respiratory and the enteric tract of human and animals. The genome of reovirus comprises 10 segments of double-stranded RNA, total size 24 kbp. Nine strains of reovirus were isolated from human and field mice in Korea. Aseptically collected sera from human and lung tissues from field mice were used for virus isolation. For serotype determination, hemagglutination inhibition test was used, and three strains were confirmed to type 2 and six strains to type 3. To determine the genomic diversity and molecular phylogeny of reoviruses isolated in Korea, part of S4 genomic segment of reovirus was enzymatically amplified and directly sequenced. In nucleotide level, Apo98-35 strain showed 15.4%, 19.3%, and 14.4% differences compared to type 1 (T1L, Lang), type 2 (T2J), and type 3 reference strains, respectively. In amino acid level, Apo98-35 strain showed 10.5%, 13.7%, and 9.5% differences compared to type 1, type 2, and type 3 reference strains, respectively. Using the maximum parsimony method based on 285 bp spaning region of the S4 genomic segment, phylogenetic analysis indicated that Apo98-35 from Korea formed different phylogenetic branch. Our data obtained by sequence and phylogenetic analyses of reoviruses are consistent with the distinct geographically dependent evolution of reoviruses in Korea.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.514-531
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• 2018

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV; Genus Orthotospovirus: Family Tospoviridae) is one of the most destructive viruses affecting a wide range of horticultural crops on a worldwide basis. In 2015 and 2016, 171 leaf and fruit samples from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants with viral symptoms were collected from the fields in various regions of Iran. ELISA test revealed that the samples were infected by TSWV. The results of RT-PCR showed that the expected DNA fragments of about 819 bp in length were amplified using a pair of universal primer corresponding to the RNA polymerase gene and DNA fragments of ca 777 bp and 724 bp in length were amplified using specific primers that have been designed based on the nucleocapsid (N) and non-structural (NSs) genes, respectively. The amplified fragments were cloned into pTG19-T and sequenced. Sequence comparisons with those available in the GenBank showed that the sequences belong to TSWV. The high nucleotide identity and similarities of new sequences based on the L, N, and NSs genes showed that minor evolutionary differences exist amongst the isolates. The phylogenetic tree grouped all isolates six clades based on N and NSs genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Iranian isolates were composed a new distinct clade based on a part of polymerase, N and NSs genes. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed study on molecular characterization and genetic diversity of TSWV isolates from tomato in Iran that could be known as new clade of TSWV isolates.