• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2009

Direct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method that combines biological and enzymatic amplification of PCR targets was developed for the detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines on soybeen seeds without DNA isolation. Primers Xag F1 and Xag R1 were designed to specifically amplify a 401 bp fragment of the glycinecin A gene of X axonopodis pv. glycines. Xag F1 and Xag R1 were used to carry out the PCR analysis with genomic DNA from 45 different bacterial strains including phylogenetically related bacteria with X axonopodis pv. glycines, and other bacterial strains of different genus and species. The PCR assay using this set of primers were able to detect X axonopodis pv. glycines with DNA concentration as low as 200 fg and $1.8{\times}10^3$ cfu/ml. The Xag was detected from the seed samples incubated for 2 hrs with shaking and the intensity of the band was increase with the incubation time of seeds. The Direct PCR assay method without DNA isolation makes detection of X. axonopodis pv. glycines on soybean seeds easier and more sensitive than other conventional methods. The developed seed assay using direct PCR method will be useful for the specific detection of X. axonopodis pv. glycines in soybean seed samples.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2006

Purpose: Neonatal hepatitis is the major cause of neonatal cholestasis and may be divided into infectious, metabolic, genetic, and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis. Non-familial, non-metabolic, and non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis is known to have made satisfactory progress, but little is known about its chronic clinical features. Methods: Clinical and histological assessments were carried out in 34 cases with chronic neonatal hepatitis [elevated serum alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) level for more than 6 months] except for A, B, C viral hepatitis, metabolic, or genetic neonatal hepatitis, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1998 to January 2004. Results: Males were more common (70%). Jaundice (100%) and hepatomegaly (44%) were frequent manifestations. Peak serum ALT levels were most commonly below 300 IU/L in 41.2% of patients and peak serum direct bilirubin levels were most commonly between 1.0~5.0 mg/dL in 50% of patients. Ten cases (34%) of 29 patients had positive serum cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM or urine CMV polymerase chain reaction. Serum ALT level was normalized within 1 year in 11 (37.9%) of 29 cases, and within 2 years in 9 (69.2%) of 13 cases. Serum ALT level was elevated persistently over 2 years in four (30.7%) of 13 cases. Histologic findings such as portal or periportal activity, lobular necrosis, portal or periportal fibrosis were more severe in patients with persistent ALT elevation over 2 years than in those showing normalization of ALT within 2 years (p>0.05). Conclusion: When the elevation of ALT level sustains over 1 year in non-familiar, non-metabolic, non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis, an assessment of the severity of liver injury and a careful monitoring about chronic liver disease may be required.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2006

Purpose: Human astrovirus (HAstV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. However, the prevalence of HAstV infection varies according to geographic region and patient age. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of HAstV infection among hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children up to five years of age with acute gastroenteritis. A total of 812 fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis between February 2004 and January 2005. Fecal specimens were screened for rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and norovirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HAstV positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR. Results: Rotavirus was detected in 16.9% (138/812), norovirus in 11.6% (94/812), and adenovirus in 4.0% (33/812) of the study population. HAstV was detected in 4.0% (33/812) samples by RT-PCR. The age distribution of HAstV positive patients was as follows: <12 month old, 82.0% (27/33); 1~2 years old, 6.0% (2/33); 2~5 years old, 12.0% (4/33). The seasonal distribution of HAstV positive samples was as follows; April (3), May (5), June (4), August (12), September (4), October (2), November (2), and December (1). The peak rate of HAstV infection was observed during the summer season, 2004. A mixed infection of viral agents was confirmed in 2.7% (22 /812) of the study population, most commonly with rotavirus and norovirus, and with rotavirus and HAstV. Genotype 1 was the predominant type (91%, 20/22) and genotype 8 was detected in two cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of HAstV infection was 4.0% in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis, and was especially high in infants. HAstV can be considered as an important etiologic agent of gastroenteritis in children.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2006

The most biofilm forming bacteria in catheter, Esctherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated and identified from a patient's catheter occuring catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI). We examined mRNA expression and its quantification of AIs synthetic genes encoding signal substance of quorum sensing from each bacterial species in order to elucidated quorum sensing mechanism. Both pure cultures for each bacterial strains and a mixed cultures with three were grown for 24 hr and 30 days. Initial densities to be able to detect mRNA expression oil single strains culture were shown at $2.4{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml, $5.4{\times}10^6$ CFU/ml of E. coli for ygaG and S. aureus for luxS, and at $6.9{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml of P. aeruginosa for rhlI and lasI. Also, in mixed culture of three, initial cell densities of mRNA expression were appear to at $7.3{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml, $1.6{\times}10^7$ CFU/ml of E. coli for ygaG and S. aureus for luxS, and at $2.1{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml of P. aeruginosa for rhlI and lasI. Each AIs synthetic gene was expressed in initial cell density and the mRNA expression of the genes were detected continously during 30 days. And then, the quantification of mRNA expression level of ygaG, rhlI, last, and luxS which were related AIs synthesis was done each time point by real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of ygaG, rhlI, lasI, and luxS from the mixed culture was higher than those from each single strain culture. In the case of E. coli ygaG, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 30 times for that from single culture. In the case of P. aeruginosa rhlI and lasI, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 40 times and 250 times for that from single strain culture. In the case of S. aureus luxS, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 5 times for that from single strain culture. And specially, the mRNA expression of rhlI and lasI of P. aeruginosa showed the highest efficency among four AIs synthetic genes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2007

Vinclozolin(VCZ), a systemic dicarboximide fungicide, has been used in the control of diseases caused by microorganism of some species in fruits, vegatables and ornamental plants. Although VCZ itself is a very weak antagonist for androgen receptor binding, both melabolites M1 and M2 are effective antagonists. The present study was undertaken to examine whether prepubertal exposure to VCZ affects on the onset of puberty and the associated reproductive parameters such as hormone receptor expressions in female rats. VCZ(10 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 21(PND 21) through the day when the first vaginal opening(V.O.) was observed. Gross anatomy and weight of reproductive tissues were compared to test the VCZ's effects on the cell proliferation. Furthermore, histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes in progesterone receptor(PR), total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). As a result, delayed V.O. was shown in the VCZ group(PND $34.00{\pm}1.22$) compared to the control group(PND $38.20{\pm}1.92$; p<0.01). VCZ treatment significantly decreased the wet weight of ovaries and uteri compared to the control group(p<0.01). Graafian follicles and corpora lutea were observed only in the ovaries from the control animals, while numerous primary, secondary follicles and small atretic follicles were observed in the ovaries from VCZ group. Similarly, hypotrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelium was found in the VCZ group. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activity of PR in ovary(p<0.01) from VCZ group were significantly lower than those from the control group while in uterus were similar compared with the control group. The present studies demonstrated that the acute exposure to VCZ during the critical period of prepubertal stage could inactivate the reproductive system resulting delayed puberty in female rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2006

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) involves tissue protection against the destructive action of neutrophil elastase at the site of inflammation. Several studies on new functions of SLPI have demonstrated that SLPI may play a primary role in innate immunity than protease inhibitor, To identify the function of SLPI by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in the embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells. we studied the expression of SLPI compared to other growth factors involving the LPS treatment. To address this, we performed the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots for the detection of mRNA and protein expression of the SLPI and some growth factors such as VEGF. bFGF, and PDGF-BB after LPS stimulation. NIH3T3 cells were exposed 100 ng/mL Escherichia coli LPS for 30min, 60min, 90min, 24h, and 48h, respectively. The result of RT-PCR showed that SLPI and VEGF mRNA was expressed strongly in NIH3T3 without related to LPS stimulation. mRNA of bFGF was weakly expressed such as the expression of the control. PDGF mRNA expression gradually increased follows at time course. However, SLPI protein level was increased in lysates and culture medium by LPS stimulation. Phase contrast microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observation showed that the increased cell number and cytoplasmic enlargement of the NIH3T3 cells. Therefore, it suggests that the LPS upregulates SLPI expression in NIH3T3 cells. Moreover, secreted SLPI may stimulate cell proliferation and migration.

• 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 Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2012

In this study, a method was developed using molecular biological technique to distinguish an authenticity of meats for processed meat products. The genes for distinction of species about meats targeted at 12S or 16S genes in mitochondrial DNA and the species-specific primers were designed by that PCR products' size was around 200bp for applying to processed products. The target materials were 10 species of livestock products and it checked whether expected PCR products were created or not by electrophoresis after PCR using species-specific primers. The results of PCR for beef, pork, goat meat, mutton, venison, and horse meat were 131, 138, 168, 144, 191, and 142 bp each. The expected PCR products were confirmed at 281, 186, 174, and 238 bp for chicken, duck, turkeymeat, and ostrich. Also, non-specific PCR products were not detected in similar species by species-specific primers. The method using primers developed in this study confirm to be applicable for composite seasoning including beefs and processed meat products including pork and chicken. Therefore, this method may apply to distinguish an authenticity of meats for various processed products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.438-446
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• 2020

Meju and nuruk (respectively soybean and malt) are traditional Korean fermentation starters that are vulnerable to contamination by harmful microorganisms such as aflatoxigenic fungi and their associated aflatoxins (AFs). In this study, Aspergillus spp. were isolated and identified from a total of 57 meju and 18 nuruk samples collected from Korean markets. Their potential aflatoxigenicity was investigated by examining the presence of three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes (aflO, aflP, and aflR) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assays. Thereafter, aflatoxin production of isolates and the natural occurrence of AFs in meju and nuruk samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 177 Aspergillus isolates were identified and 130 isolates were obtained from meju samples. Of these, 25 isolates (19.2%) contained all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes, and five (20%) of these isolates produced aflatoxins. Forty-seven of the Aspergillus isolates were obtained from nuruk samples, five of which (10.6%) expressed all three AF biosynthetic genes; however, none of these strains produced AFs. HPLC analysis showed that 88% (51/58) of the meju samples and 39% (7/18) of nuruk samples were not contaminated with AFs (below limit of detection). Among the isolates isolated from meju and nuruk, there were aflatoxigenic strains containing all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes or producing aflatoxin in medium, but the frequency of aflatoxin contamination was low in the meju and nuruk samples.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.637-650
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• 2006

Genomic DNA isolated from two crucian carp species obtained from Yesan (Carassius auratus) and Dangjin (Carassius cuvieri) in Korea were amplified at several times by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified products were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) with oligonucleotides decamer primer and stained with ethidium bromide. The seven arbitrarily selected primers OPC-11, OPC-14, OPC-18, OPD- 02, OPD-11, OPD-15 and OPD-20 generated the shared loci by each species, the polymorphic and specific loci. The seven primers generated the total 458 loci that can be scored from the crucian carp obtained in C. auratus species. 358 fragments were generated from the species obtained in C. cuvieri species. The size of DNA fragments varies from 150 to 1,600bp. The complexity of the banding patterns varies dramatically between the primers and two locations. In this study, 458 loci were identified in the crucian carp species from Yesan and 358 in the crucian carp species from Dangjin: 84 polymorphic loci (18.3%) in the C. auratus species and 48 (13.4%) in the C. cuvieri species. 154 shared loci by each species, the average 22 per primer, were observed in the C. auratus species and 187 loci, the average 26.7 per primer, in the Dangjin species. Based on the average bandsharing (BS) values of all samples, the similarity matrix ranged from 0.434 to 0.868 in the C. auratus species and from 0.449 to 0.924 in the C. cuvieri species. The average BS value was 0.641±0.013 within the C. auratus species and 0.684±0.013 within the C. cuvieri species. The average BS value between two crucian carp species 0.484 ± 0.007, ranged from 0.307 to 0.682. The BS value between the individual No. 09 and No. 16 was 0.682, which was the highest between two crucian carp species. Compared separately, the BS value of individuals within the C. cuvieri species was higher than the C. auratus species. The dendrogram obtained by the seven primers, indicates three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (AURATUS No. 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11), cluster 2 (CUVIERI No. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21) and cluster 3 (CUVIERI no. 22). The shortest genetic distance displaying significant molecular difference was between the individual AURATUS No. 09 and AURATUS No. 08 from Yesan (genetic distance=0.064). The longest genetic distance displaying significant molecular differences was between the individual CUVIERI No. 17 and AURATUS No. 11 between two crucian carp species (0.477). RAPD-PCR analysis has revealed the significant genetic distance between two crucian carp species pairs.(Key words: Carassius auratus, Carassius cuvieri, Crucian Carp, DNA Polymorphism, Genetic Distance)