• ALGAE
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.153-162
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• 2019

Anthropogenic disturbances, including coastal habitat modification and climate change are threatening the stability of kelp beds, one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems. To test the effect of temperature and irradiance on the microscopic gametophyte and juvenile sporophyte stages of the rare kelp, Saccharina angustissima, from Casco Bay, Maine, USA, we carried out two sets of experiments using a temperature gradient table. The first set of experiments combined temperatures between $7-18^{\circ}C$ with irradiance at 20, 40, and $80{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. The second set combined temperatures of $3-13^{\circ}C$ with irradiance of 10, 100, and $200{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Over two separate 4-week trials, in 2014 and again in 2015, we monitored gametogenesis, the early growth stages of the gametophytes, and early sporophyte development of this kelp. Gametophytes grew best at temperatures of $8-13^{\circ}C$ at the lowest irradiance of $10-{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Light had a significant effect on both male and female gametophyte growth only at the higher temperatures. Temperatures of $8-15^{\circ}C$ and irradiance levels of $10-100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$ were conditions for the highest sporophyte growth. Sporophyte and male gametophyte growth was reduced at both temperature extremes-the hottest and coldest temperatures tested. S. angustissima is a unique kelp species known only from a very narrow geographic region along the coast of Maine, USA. The coupling of global warming with high light intensity effects might pose stress on the early life-history stages of this kelp, although, as an intertidal species, it could also be better adapted to temperature and light extremes than its subtidal counterpart, Saccharina latissima.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.619-625
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• 2020

Human hookworm infections caused by adult Ancylostoma spp. and Necator americanus are one of the most important tropical diseases. We performed a survey of intestinal helminths using the Kato-Katz fecal examination technique targeting 1,156 villagers residing in 2 northern provinces (Preah Vihear and Stung Treng) of Cambodia in 2018. The results revealed a high overall egg positive rate of intestinal helminths (61.9%), and the egg positive rate of hookworms was 11.6%. Nine of the hookworm egg positive cases in Preah Vihear Province were treated with 5-10 mg/kg pyrantel pamoate followed by purging with magnesium salts, and a total of 65 adult hookworms were expelled in diarrheic stools. The adult hookworms were analyzed morphologically and molecularly to confirm the species. The morphologies of the buccal cavity and dorsal rays on the costa were observed with a light microscope, and the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene were analyzed. The majority of the hookworm adults (90.7%) were N. americanus, whereas the remaining 9.3% were Ancylostoma ceylanicum, a rare hookworm species infecting humans. The results revealed a high prevalence of hookworm infections among people in a northern part of Cambodia, suggesting the necessity of a sustained survey combined with control measures against hookworm infections.

• 식물분류학회지
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2022

Rhododendron keiskei var. hypoglaucum (Ericaceae) was recently reported in Korea, with a disjunct distribution on the southern islands of the Korean Peninsula. Although chromosome numbers and ploidy variations are important traits in angiosperms, gaining a clear understanding the cytological features of Rhododendron has been hampered by the small size of its chromosomes. We herein report the chromosome number, karyotype structure, and genome size of R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum for the first time. The chromosome number of the investigated plants was 2n = 26 with x = 13 as the base chromosome number, which is the one of the frequently encountered base chromosome numbers in Rhododendron. The karyotype of R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum is composed of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes similar in length, which ranged from 1.39 to 2.40 ㎛. The DNA 1C-value in all examined accessions was small, ranging from 0.63 to 0.65 pg, further supporting the stable genome size in Rhododendron. These comprehensive cytological results provide a framework for detailed molecular, cytogenetic, and phylogenomic analyses that can be used to interpret the slow species diversification rate in Rhododendron.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.139-148
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• 2022

Saxifraga hirculus is classified as a vulnerable plant species in Europe, and it is confined to base-rich flushes in the British uplands. However, a lack of available information about its conservation status hampers the development of adaptive strategies for its in-situ conservation, especially with respect to grazing. To assess the effectiveness of sheep grazing in maintaining viable populations of S. hirculus, we compared the community dynamics of the vegetation in a base-rich flush over 44 years in two plots: one sheep-grazed under business-as-usual sheep grazing densities and the other fenced to exclude grazing. The plots were established in 1972, and the abundances of all vascular plants, bryophytes, and litter were measured at six intervals until 2016. Our results showed that although the presence of S. hirculus was maintained in both plots over the 44 years, it declined and reached a minimum between 1995 and 2010, when it was close to extinction. Since 2013, Saxifraga has recovered only slightly. Interestingly, the S. hirculus response appeared to be independent of grazing treatment, but it mirrored wider changes in the vegetation composition and structure within the flush over the 44 years. These changes are similar to others reported in broader uplands that have been attributed to a combination of reduced nitrogen and sulfur deposition and global warming. Thus, the simple adaptive management approach of "just managing" sheep grazing appeared ineffectual for preserving the S. hirculus population. S. hirculus showed signs of recovery at the end of the study period within this base-rich flush.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1561-1572
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• 2022

Plastic pollution has been recognized as a serious environmental problem, and microbial degradation of plastics is a potential, environmentally friendly solution to this. Here, we analyzed and compared microbial communities on waste plastic films (WPFs) buried for long periods at four landfill sites with those in nearby soils to identify microbes with the potential to degrade plastics. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of these WPFs showed that most were polyethylene and had signs of oxidation, such as carbon-carbon double bonds, carbon-oxygen single bonds, or hydrogen-oxygen single bonds, but the presence of carbonyl groups was rare. The species richness and diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities on the films were generally lower than those in nearby soils. Principal coordinate analysis of the bacterial and fungal communities showed that their overall structures were determined by their geographical locations; however, the microbial communities on the films were generally different from those in the soils. For the pulled data from the four landfill sites, the relative abundances of Bradyrhizobiaceae, Pseudarthrobacter, Myxococcales, Sphingomonas, and Spartobacteria were higher on films than in soils at the bacterial genus level. At the species level, operational taxonomic units classified as Bradyrhizobiaceae and Pseudarthrobacter in bacteria and Mortierella in fungi were enriched on the films. PICRUSt analysis showed that the predicted functions related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism and xenobiotic degradation were more abundant on films than in soils. These results suggest that specific microbial groups were enriched on the WPFs and may be involved in plastic degradation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 2023

Background: There is a global increase in isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The aim of the study was to analyze longitudinal trends of NTM identification and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Methods: NTM recovery rates, distribution of NTM species identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of NTM at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 52,456 specimens from 21,264 patients were submitted for mycobacterial culture, of which 2,521 from 1,410 patients were NTM positive over five years (January 2016 to December 2020). NTM isolation showed an increasing trend from 2016 to 2020 (p<0.001, test for trend) mainly caused by Mycobacterium avium complex. The vast majority of M. avium complex were susceptible to key agents clarithromycin and amikacin. For Mycobacterium kansasii, resistance to rifampin and clarithromycin is rare. Amikacin was the most effective drug against Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus and Mycobacterium subspecies massiliense. Most of M. subspecies massiliense were susceptible to clarithromycin, while the majority of M. abscessus subspecies abscessus were resistant to clarithromycin (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was an increasing trend of NTM isolation in our hospital. Resistance to key drugs was uncommon for most NTM species except for M. abscessus subspecies abscessus against clarithromycin.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.474-483
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• 2023

Members of the genus Streptomyces produce more than 70% of antibiotics. The rise in antibiotic resistance globally enhanced the search for novel species with the ability to produce new bioactive compounds. This study was initiated to investigate different regions in Jordan for previously uncultured and rare Streptomyces species capable of producing novel antimicrobial compounds especially active against bacteria resistant to antibiotics. A total of 191 Streptomyces strains were isolated from 26 soil samples collected from different geographic regions in Jordan. Isolates were characterized based on colony and cellular morphology as well as using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These isolates were screened for their ability to produce antibiotics by the perpendicular-cross streak method, and then tested by well diffusion method against tested pathogens. Fifty-four isolates showed potential to produce antimicrobial products especially active against resistant bacteria, 20.1% of the isolates showed inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, 16.9% against clinical MSSA strains, and 18.0% against MRSA: whereas only 4.2% against Esherichia coli, 3.2% against Klebsiella pneumonia, 2.7% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 10.0% against clinical Candida albicans. Three isolates were selected for further identification due to their antibacterial activity against S. aureus, MRSA, and MSSA. These isolates were identified as follows; Streptomyces aburaviensis DSa3, Streptomyces alboniger SAb7 and Streptomyces misionensis ZAb2, based on cultural, biochemical characteristics and molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA.

• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.52-69
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• 2006

본 연구는 2004년6월부터 2005년 10월에 걸쳐 경기도 화성시에 위치하는 제부도의 관속 식물상과 갯벌의 식생을 조사하였다. 갯벌(I)지역에서 5과 6속 7품종의 7분류군, 고도섬 지역(II)이 24과 42속 39종 11변종의 50분류군, 사구지역(III)에서 25과 53속 52종 9변종의 61분류군, 탑재산(IV)에서 55과 108속118종 17변종 1품종의 136분류군으로 가장 많은 식물종이 조사되었다. 당제산(V) 지역은 45과 95속 105종 13변종 1품종의 119분류군, 동미산(VI)에서는 43과 83속 85종 15변종의 100분류군, 나지대 지역의 식물을 조사한 결과 31과 86속 106종 13변종 1품종의 120분류군이 조사가 되었다. 특히 북동사면으로 선착장과 인접한 탑재산 절벽에서 산림청지정 희귀식물이며, 자연환경보전법 (1998)에 지정된 보호식물인 고란초 군락이 발견되었다. 제부도 갯벌의 환경구배에 따라 대상구조를 이루는 염생식물 군락을 조사한 결과, 방파제를 기준으로 토양 입경의 순서에 따라 갯질경군락(Limonium tetragonum Community), 갈대군락(Phragmites communis Community), 천일사초군락(Carex scabrifolia Community), 지채군락(Triglochin maritimum Community), 칠면초군락(Suaeda japonica Community)의 순서로 군락을 형성하고 있었다.

• 환경생물
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

본 연구는 금강의 백제보에서 2012년 10월 중 하순 발생된 어류폐사 전 후의 어종 분포 및 길드분석을 통한 어류 군집특성 비교 및 생태건강도 평가모델(IBI)을 이용하여 생태건강도 특성을 평가하였다. 백제보 상 하류 구간에서 채집된 어류는 총 32종이었으며, 이들 중 한국고유종은 10종으로 35%를 차지하였다. 외래종은 3종이었고, 폐사 후($A_f$) 0.4%까지 감소하였다. 우점종은 폐사 전(Bf) 끄리(13%), 폐사 후($A_{f-I}$, $A_{f-II}$, $A_{f-III}$) 몰개(17%)로 나타났다. 폐사 후($A_{f-I}$) 생체량은 폐사 전($B_f$)과 비교해 1/10 수준으로 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 대형종인 붕어의 생체량은 어류폐사 이후 98%가 감소하였고 이후 시간이 경과하면서 폐사 전 수준으로 회복하였다. 중형종인 끄리는 지속적으로 감소하였고, 소형종인 밀어는 꾸준히 증가한 것으로 나타났다. 군집분석 결과에 따르면, 종 풍부도 지수, 종 균등도 지수, 종 다양도 지수는 폐사전($B_f$)에 가장 높게 나타났고, 이후 감소하였다. 어류의 내성도 길드분석에 따르면, 내성종(TS)은 67%로 가장 높은 출현빈도를 나타냈고, 반면 민감종(SS)은 2%로 나타나 가장 낮은 출현빈도를 보여, 생태계가 악화 된 것을 나타냈다. 백제보에서 생태건강도 평가에 따르면, IBI 모델 값은 17.5로 보통상태로 진단되었다. 종합적으로, 어류폐사는 어류 종 성분, 어류군집 구조 및 트로픽 길드/내성도 길드 지표 특성에 큰 영향을 미친 것으로 나타났으며, 점차 회복하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 백제보에서의 대규모 어류폐사를 예방하기 위해서는 지속적인 생태모니터링이 중요하다고 사료된다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.403-411
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• 2007

본 연구는 낙동강의 최상류 8개 지점을 대상으로 1999년 $6{\sim}8$월까지 어류군집을 이용한 전통적인 종다양도 지수(H')와 IBI 지수를 통한 생태 건강도 평가를 비교하였다. 채집된 총 종수는 19종이었고, 우점종은 갈겨니와 버들치로써 각각 51%, 28%를 차지하였다. 트로픽 길드 분석에 따르면, 전체 채집된 종에서 충식종이 87%였고, 잡식종의 빈도는 극히 낮게 나타났다. 종다양도 지수에 의한 공간적인 변이의 패턴은 종수와 개체수의 패턴과 유사했지만, 내성도 및 트로픽길드 자료에 의한 패턴과는 상당한 차이를 보였다. 종다양도 지수는 지점 6에서 1.56으로 최대치를 보였으며, 민감종과 내성종은 각각 최소, 최대값을 보였다. 한편, 지점 6에서 충식종과 잡식종이 각각 최소, 최대치를 보였다. 즉 종다양도 지수는 내성도 길드 및 트로픽 길드의 패턴과 어떤 유사성도 없으며, 전통적인 지수는 수계내에서의 어류군집의 전반적인 생태학적 특성들을 잘 반영할 수 없었다. 한편, 생태건강도 (IBI)의 평균 모델값은 33.5(n=8)로써 보통${\sim}$양호상태로 나타났고, 트로픽 길드 및 내성도 길드의 패턴과 유사하게 나타났다. 민감종과 충식종이 거의 최대치를 보인 2지점에서 IBI간은 최대치를 보였으며, 동일지점에서 내성종과 잡식종의 빈도는 최저치를 보였다. 이런 결과는 IBI 값이 생태학적인 기능과 건강상태에 밀접히 연관되어 있다는 것을 제시하는 바이다. 본 연구에서 전통적인 종 다양도 지수는 어류를 이용한 생태건강도 군집평가에 비효율적인 반면, IBI를 이용한 접근방식은 하천구조를 잘 진단할 수 있는 유용한 척도가 될 수 있음을 시사하는 바이다.