• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2020

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the salivary microbiota in conditions of periodontal health and disease and to explore microbial changes following nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Methods: Non-stimulated saliva samples were collected from 4 periodontally healthy participants at baseline and from 8 patients with chronic periodontitis at baseline and 3 months following nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene from the DNA of saliva samples were amplified and sequenced. The salivary microbial compositions of the healthy participants and patients with periodontitis prior to and following nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis were compared based on the relative abundance of various taxa. Results: On average, 299 operational taxonomic units were identified in each sample. The phylogenetic diversity in patients with periodontitis was higher than that in healthy participants and decreased following treatment. The abundance of the phylum Spirochaetes and the genus Treponema in patients with periodontitis was 143- and 134-fold higher than in the healthy control group, respectively, but decreased significantly following treatment. The species that were overabundant in the saliva of patients with periodontitis included the Peptostreptococcus stomatis group, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the Fusobacterium nucleatum group, Parvimonas micra, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Filifactor alocis, and Tannerella forsythia. The phylum Actinobacteria, the genus Streptococcaceae_uc, and the species Streptococcus salivarius group were more abundant in healthy participants than in those with periodontitis. There was a trend toward a decrease in disease-associated taxa and an increase in health-associated taxa following treatment. Conclusions: Our results revealed differences in the taxa of salivary microbiota between conditions of periodontal health and disease. The taxa found to be associated with health or disease have potential for use as salivary biomarkers for periodontal health or disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2020

Echinostoma revolutum is a zoonotic food-borne intestinal trematode that can cause intestinal bleeding, enteritis, and diarrhea in human and birds. To identify a suspected E. revolutum trematode from a red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and to reveal the genetic characteristics of its mitochondrial (mt) genome, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and complete mt genome sequence of this trematode were amplified. The results identified the trematode as E. revolutum. Its entire mt genome sequence was 15,714 bp in length, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and one non-coding region (NCR), with 61.73% A+T base content and a significant AT preference. The length of the 22 tRNA genes ranged from 59 bp to 70 bp, and their secondary structure showed the typical cloverleaf and D-loop structure. The length of the large subunit of rRNA (rrnL) and the small subunit of rRNA (rrnS) gene was 1,011 bp and 742 bp, respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that E. revolutum and E. miyagawai clustered together, belonging to Echinostomatidae with Hypoderaeum conoideum. This study may enrich the mitochondrial gene database of Echinostoma trematodes and provide valuable data for studying the molecular identification and phylogeny of some digenean trematodes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1366-1372
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• 2018

Objective: A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin motifs type 8 (ADAMTS8) is crucial for diverse physiological processes, such as inflammation, tissue morphogenesis, and tumorigenesis. The chicken ADAMTS8 (chADAMTS8) gene was differentially expressed in the kidney following exposure to different calcium concentrations, suggesting a pathological role of this protein in metabolic diseases. We aimed to examine the molecular characteristics of chADAMTS8 and analyze the gene-expression differences in response to toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) stimulation. Methods: The ADAMTS8 mRNA and amino acid sequences of various species (chicken, duck, cow, mouse, rat, human, chimpanzee, pig, and horse) were retrieved from the Ensembl database and subjected to bioinformatics analyses. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) experiments were performed with various chicken tissues and the chicken fibroblast DF-1 cell line, which was stimulated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]; a TLR3 ligand). Results: The chADAMTS8 gene was predicted to contain three thrombospondin type 1 (TSP1) domains, whose amino acid sequences shared homology among the different species, whereas sequences outside the TSP1 domains (especially the amino-terminal region) were very dif­ferent. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that chADAMTS8 is evolutionarily clustered in the same clade with that of the duck. chADAMTS8 mRNA was broadly expressed in chicken tissues, and the expression was significantly up-regulated in the DF-1 cells in response to poly(I:C) stimulation (p<0.05). These results showed that chADAMTS8 may be a target gene for TLR3 signaling. Conclusion: In this report, the genetic information of chADAMTS8 gene, its expression in chicken tissues, and chicken DF-1 cells under the stimulation of TLR3 were shown. The result suggests that chADAMTS8 expression may be induced by viral infection and correlated with TLR3-mediated signaling pathway. Further study of the function of chADAMTS8 during TLR3-dependent inflammation (which represents RNA viral infection) is needed and it will also be important to examine the molecular mechanisms during different regulation, depending on innate immune receptor activation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2009

The C. militaris belongs to entomopathogenic fungi, which have their specific sequences in internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) depending on species. In this study, to identify the phylogenetic relationship of the strain hybrided by mating of C. militaris, we compared DNA sequences of ITS regions and 5.8S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeat unit of hybrid strain and its parental strains. The result revealed that hybrid strains are C. militaris species. In addition, cordycepins produced by hybrid strains and other strains of C. militaris were analyzed by HPLC with 20mM $KH_2PO_4$ of mobile phase and C-18 columns. The result indicated that the strain hybrided by mating produce higher concentration of phytochemical cordycepin than other C. militaris strains.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.160-171
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• 2017

Larvae of Bradysia agrestis, an insect vector that transports plant pathogens, were sampled from geographically isolated regions in Korea to identify their cutaneous fungal and bacterial flora. Sampled areas were chosen within the distribution range of B. agrestis; each site was more than 91 km apart to ensure geographical segregation. We isolated 76 microbial (fungi and bacteria) strains (site 1, 29; site 2, 29; site 3, 18 strains) that were identified on the basis of morphological differences. Species identification was molecularly confirmed by determination of universal fungal internal transcribed spacer and bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in comparison to sequences in the EzTaxon database and the NCBI GenBank database, and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. The fungal isolates belonged to 2 phyla, 5 classes, and 7 genera; bacterial species belonged to 23 genera and 32 species. Microbial diversity differed significantly among the geographical groups with respect to Margalef's richness (3.9, 3.6, and 4.5), Menhinick's index (2.65, 2.46, and 3.30), Simpson's index (0.06, 0.12, and 0.01), and Shannon's index (2.50, 2.17, and 2.58). Although the microbial genera distribution or diversity values clearly varied among geographical groups, common genera were identified in all groups, including the fungal genus Cladosporium, and the bacterial genera Bacillus and Rhodococcus. According to classic principles of co-evolutionary relationship, these genera might have a closer association with their host insect vector B. agrestis than other genera identified. Some cutaneous bacterial genera (e.g., Pseudomonas) displaying weak interdependency with insect vectors may be hazardous to agricultural environments via mechanical transmission via B. agrestis. This study provides comprehensive information regarding the cutaneous microflora of B. agrestis, which can help in the control of such pests for crop management.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2011

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is native to East Asia, and grains of the plant are used as health food and medicinal material. Head blight symptoms of the plant were frequently observed during disease surveys in Korea from 2006 to 2008. The symptoms were characterized as discoloration of husks, and subsequently inside of mature grains were shriveled or emptied. One hundred fifty nine isolates of Fusarium species were obtained from the disease symptoms of the plant collected from several locations in the country. Out of the isolates, the most frequently isolated Fusarium species were F. graminearum (34%), F. proliferatum (14.5%), F. verticillioides (10.1%), F. equiseti (6.9%), and F. fujikuroi (6.3%). Other Fusarium species isolated were F. subglutinans, F. semitectum, F. poae, and F. sporodochioides. Elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the isolates were used for phylogenetic analysis. Analyses of the sequences revealed that the isolates were confirmed to be identical with each reference species of NCBI GenBank. Pathogenicity tests showed that F. graminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides were strongly virulent to grains of Job's tears. The present study is the first report of head blight of Job's tears caused by Fusarium species in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1218-1223
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• 2016

Abalones are gastropod mollusks belonging to the genus Haliotis. Fishery products are continuously declining worldwide while abalone production from aquatic farms has considerably increased. Although abalones are regarded as very important marine resources and considered to have big potential in sea-food farming industry around world, the slow growth rate of Pacific abalones is considered to be one of the most serious problems. For the genetic improvements in cultured abalone, advances in various breeding techniques for abalone have been reached through the introduction of selection, crossbreeding, hybridization, and polyploidy in several commercially important abalone species. Six species of abalone have been reported to be distributed along the coasts of Korea: Haliotis discus hannai, Haliotis discus discus, Haliotis madaka, Haliotis gigantea, Haliotis diversicolor diversicolor, and Haliotis diversicolor supertexta. The hybridization between these abalones may be one of the advanced technologies, and the preliminary experiments of interspecific hybrids between abalone species distributed in northern pacific areas including Korea, China, and Japan have been conducted. In this study, we reviewed the phylogenetic relationship of northern pacific abalone species which have the potential traits for aquaculture in Korea and their identifications. We also examined the development of molecular markers and some other aspects of the genetic approaches for successful development of hybrids.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1179-1185
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• 2018

Recently, Sargassum horneri, the marine weed inhabiting the shoreline, beach, and littoral sea area, has caused serious damage to intensive aquaculture farms particularly those around Jeju Island, South Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity of microorganisms in Sargassum horneri and to provide basic data on ecological problems by identifying microbial functions. A total of 88 isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum accounting for 88%, including class ${\alpha}-proteobacteria$, six genera, and ten species. The dominating genus, Pseudobacter, accounted for 40% in Pseudorhodobacter, 20% in Paracoccus, and the remaining at 10% each were Rhizobium, Albirhodobacter, Skermanella, and Novosphingobium. Class ${\beta}-proteobactera$ included five genera and ten species. Genus Hydrogenophaga accounted for 50%, while genus Azoarcus accounted for 20%, and the remaining Oxalicibacterium, Duganella, and Xenophilus were 10% each. Class ${\gamma}-proteobacteria$ with 13 genera and 57 species, accounted for 74% in phylum Proteobacteria, 23% in Shewanella, 19% in Cobetia, 12% in Pseudomonas, 4% each in Vibrio and Serratia, and 2% each in Rheinheimera, Raoultella, Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Moraxella, and Psychrobacter genera. In addition, Actinobacteria with two species of Nocardioides genera accounted for 50%, and Bacteroidetes accounted for 33%, with three genera and five species that included Lacihabitans and Mariniflexile. The remaining Dyadobacter, Cellulophaga, and Ferruginibacter genera each accounted for 11%.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.200-207
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• 2013

We investigated developmental stages of egg and early life history of the Korean indigenous fish, Korean Chub Zacco koreanus from the South Han River in 2011 for phylogenetic study and conservation of this species. Eggs of Zacco koreanus were artificially fertilized by the dry method in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs were demersal, almost spherical in shape, transparent and unpigmented, with a pale yellow yolk, and no oil globule and average $3.09{\pm}0.07$ mm (n=10) in diameter. The hatching of the embryo took place in about 68 hrs after fertilization under water temperature of $20.0{\sim}23.0^{\circ}C$ and the newly hatched larvae were average $10.30{\pm}0.40$ mm (n=10) in total length (TL). Six days after hatching, the larvae grew up to $16.12{\pm}0.42$ mm (n=8) in TL and york sac absorption, mouth and anus opening were shown postflexion larvae stage. 17 days after hatching, most of fin-rays appeared at $18.21{\pm}0.38$ mm (n=6) in TL and brown spot appeared on the abdomen. 27 days after hatching, the larvae were brought up to $20.01{\pm}1.12$ mm(n=5) in TL and all their fin-rays were formed. 120 days after hatching, the larvae (juvenile) were $23.29{\pm}3.12$ mm (n=10) in TL and their body shape and color pattern were similar to the adult fish.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2013

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench) was traditionally grown on a small scale, however, at present its cultivation is getting momentum in terms of food and animal feed crop throughtout the Korea. Grain mold symptoms of the plant were frequently observed during disease surveys in Korea from 2007 to 2009. The symptoms were highly variable. Severely infected grain was fully covered with mold and partially infected grain may look normal or discolored. Ninety isolates of Fusarium species were obtained from the diseased plants collected from several locations in the country. Among the collected Fusarium isolates, 41 were identified as Fusarium thapsinum, 23 as F. proliferatum, 12 as F. graminearum, 5 as F. incarnatum, and 3 as F. equiseti based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the isolates were used for phylogenetic analysis. Analyses of the sequences revealed that the isolates were confirmed to be identical with related species of NCBI GenBank. Pathogenicity tests showed that three dominant species, F. thapsinum, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum were strongly virulent to grains of sorghum. This study is the first report of sorghum grain mold caused by Fusarium species in Korea.