• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2016

Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium wilt (FW) disease caused by Fusarium udum was investigated in pigeonpea using four different long duration FW resistant genotypes viz., BDN-2004-1, BDN-2001-9, BWR-133 and IPA-234. Based on the $F_2$ segregation pattern, FW resistance has been reported to be governed by one dominant gene in BDN-2004-1 and BDN-2001-9, two duplicate dominant genes in BWR-133 and two dominant complimentary genes in resistance source IPA-234. Further, the efficacy of six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers namely, ASSR-1, ASSR-23, ASSR-148, ASSR-229, ASSR-363 and ASSR-366 reported to be associated with FW resistance were also tested and concluded that markers ASSR-1, ASSR-23, ASSR-148 will be used for screening of parental genotypes in pigeonpea FW resistance breeding programs. The information on genetics of FW resistance generated from this study would be used, to introgress FW resistance into susceptible but highly adopted cultivars through marker-assisted backcross breeding and in conventional breeding programs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.394-401
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• 2016

Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, a genome editing technology, was shown to be versatile in treating several antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to kill extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. ESBL bacteria are mostly multidrug resistant (MDR), and have plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes that can be easily transferred to other members of the bacterial community by horizontal gene transfer. To restore sensitivity to antibiotics in these bacteria, we searched for a CRISPR/Cas9 target sequence that was conserved among >1,000 ESBL mutants. There was only one target sequence for each TEM- and SHV-type ESBL, with each of these sequences found in ~200 ESBL strains of each type. Furthermore, we showed that these target sequences can be exploited to re-sensitize MDR cells in which resistance is mediated by genes that are not the target of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, but by genes that are present on the same plasmid as target genes. We believe our Re-Sensitization to Antibiotics from Resistance (ReSAFR) technology, which enhances the practical value of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, will be an effective method of treatment against plasmid-carrying MDR bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.800-806
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• 2016

In total, 151 Escherichia coli isolates from Ruditapes philippinarum in Gomso Bay were analyzed for their susceptibility to 18 different antimicrobial agents and for genes associated with virulence. For virulence genes, each strain of the isolates was positive for the enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-specific heat-stable toxin (estA), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)-specific invasion-associated locus (iaa) gene and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)-specific attaching and effacing (eae) gene. According to a disk diffusion susceptibility test, resistance to ampicillin was most prevalent (23.2%), followed by resistance to amoxicillin (22.5%), ticarcillin (20.5%), tetracycline (18.5%), nalidixic acid (12.6%), ciprofloxacin (10.6%), streptomycin (9.9%), and chloramphenicol (6.6%). More than 35.8% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 19.9% were resistant to four or more classes of antimicrobials; these were consequently defined as multidrug resistant. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges for the antimicrobial resistance of the 15 different antimicrobial agents of 54 E. coli strains were confirmed by varying the concentrations from $32-2,048{\mu}g/mL$. Overall, these results not only provide novel insights into the necessity for seawater and R. philippinarum sanitation in Gomso Bay but they also help to reduce the risk of contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.563-568
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• 2018

Background: Delamanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid have recently been approved for the treatment of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant (MDR and XDR, respectively) tuberculosis (TB). To use these drugs effectively, drug susceptibility tests, including rapid molecular techniques, are required for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, mutation analyses are needed to assess the potential for resistance. We evaluated the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these three anti-TB drugs for Korean MDR and XDR clinical strains and mutations in genes related to resistance to these drugs. Methods: MICs were determined for delamanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid using a microdilution method. The PCR products of drug resistance-related genes from 420 clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were sequenced and aligned to those of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Results: The overall MICs for delamanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid ranged from ${\leq}0.025$ to >1.6 mg/L, ${\leq}0.0312$ to >4 mg/L, and ${\leq}0.125$ to 1 mg/L, respectively. Numerous mutations were found in drug-susceptible and -resistant strains. We did not detect specific mutations associated with resistance to bedaquiline and linezolid. However, the Gly81Ser and Gly81Asp mutations were associated with resistance to delamanid. Conclusions: We determined the MICs of three anti-TB drugs for Korean MDR and XDR strains and identified various mutations in resistance-related genes. Further studies are needed to determine the genetic mechanisms underlying resistance to these drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1537-1546
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• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a cause of high mortality in humans and therefore it is necessary to prevent its transmission and reduce infections. Our goals in this research were to investigate the frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, and assess the relationship between the phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns and the genes responsible for resistance. In addition, we examined the antimicrobial efficiency and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against MRSA isolates. Seventy-two nasal swabs were taken from patients; MRSA was cultivated on Mannitol Salt Agar supplemented with methicillin, and 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted in addition to morphological and biochemical identification. Specific resistance genes such as ermAC, aacA-aphD, tetKM, vatABC and mecA were PCR-amplified and resistance plasmids were also investigated. The MRSA incidence was ~49 % among the 72 S. aureus isolates and all MRSA strains were resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, and cefoxitin. However, vancomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, mupirocin, and rifampicin were effective against 100% of MRSA strains. About 61% of MRSA strains exhibited multidrug resistance and were resistant to 3-12 antimicrobial medications (MDR). Methicillin resistance gene mecA was presented in all MDR-MRSA strains. Most MDR-MRSA contained a plasmid of > 10 kb. To overcome bacterial resistance, AgNPs were applied and displayed high antimicrobial activity and synergistic effect with penicillin. Our findings may help establish programs to control bacterial spread in communities as AgNPs appeared to exert a synergistic effect with penicillin to control bacterial resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2017

Severe lodging has recurrently occurred at strong typhoon's hitting in recent climate change. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and their responsible genes associated with a strong culm and their pyramiding are important for developing high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance. To identify QTLs for lodging resistance, the tropical japonica line, Chugoku 117 and the improved indica variety, Habataki were selected as the donor parent, as these had thick and strong culms compared with the temperate japonica varieties in Japan such as Koshihikari. By using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in which chromosome segments from the japonica variety were replaced to them from Habataki, we identified the QTLs for strong culm on chrs. 1 and 6, which were designated as STRONG CULM1 (SCM1) and STRONG CULM2 (SCM2), respectively. By using recombinant inbred lines (BILs) derived from a cross between Chugoku 117 and Koshihikari and introgression lines, we also identified the other QTLs for strong culm on chrs. 3 and 2, which were designated as STRONG CULM3 (SCM3) and STRONG CULM4 (SCM4), respectively. Candidate region of SCM1 includes Gn1 related to grain number. SCM2 was identical to APO1, a gene related to the control of panicle branch number, and SCM3 was identical to FC1, a strigolactone signaling associated gene, by performing fine mapping and positional cloning of these genes. To evaluate the effects of SCM1~SCM4 on lodging resistance, the Koshihiakri near isogenic line (NIL) with the introgressed SCM1 or SCM2 locus of Habataki (NIL-SCM1, NIL-SCM2) and the another Koshihikari NIL with the introgeressed SCM3 or SCM4 locus of Chugoku 117 (NIL-SCM3, NIL-SCM4) were developed. Then, we developed the pyramiding lines with double or triple combinations derived from step-by-step crosses among NIL-SCM1 NIL-SCM4. Triple pyramiding lines (NIL-SCM1+2+3, ~ NIL-SCM1+3+4) showed the largest culm diameter and the highest culm strength among the combinations and increased spikelet number due to the pleiotropic effects of these genes. Pyramiding of strong culm genes resulted in much increased culm thickness, culm strength and spikelet number due to their additive effect. SCM1 mainly contributed to enhance their pyramiding effect. These results in this study suggest the importance of identifying the combinations of superior alleles of strong culm genes among natural variation and pyramiding these genes for improving high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2015

Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot disease, does the most serious damage to the Brassica crops. The limited control approaches make that the identification of clubroot resistance (CR) is more important for developing CR cultivars of the Brassica crops. So far, 8 CR loci were mapped. However, the variation of P. brassicae leads to the rapid erosion of its resistance. To identify novel CR genes, we employed three mapping population, derived from crosses between Chinese cabbage and turnip inbred lines ($59-1{\times}ECD04$ and $BJN3-1{\times}Siloga$) or between Chinese cabbage inbred lines ($BJN3-1{\times}85-I-II$), to perform QTL analysis. Totally, 8 CR loci were indentified and showed race-specific resistance. Physical mapping of these 8 loci suggested that 4 were located previously mapped position, indicating they might be the same allele or different alleles of the same genes. Other 4 loci were found to be novel. Further, CR near isogenic line carrying each CR locus was developed based on the marker assisted selection. Verification of these CR loci was underway. Identification of these novel CR genes would facilitate to breed broad-spectrum and durable CR cultivars of B. rapa by pyramiding strategies.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.327-336
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• 2010

Cysteine proteases have been known as a critical factor in plant defense mechanisms in pineapple, papaya, or wild fig. Papain or ficin is one kind of cysteine proteases that shows toxic effects to herbivorous insects and pathogenic bacteria. However, resistance to bacterial soft rot of plants genetically engineered with cysteine protease has been little examined thus far. We cloned a cysteine protease cDNA from Ananas comosus and introduced the gene into Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The transgene was stably integrated and actively transcribed in transgenic plants. In comparisons with wild-type plants, the $T_2$ and $T_3$ transgenic plants exhibited a significant increase in endo-protease activity in leaves and enhanced resistance to bacterial soft rot. A cDNA microarray analysis revealed that several genes were more abundantly transcribed in the transgenic than in the wild type. These genes encode a glyoxal oxidase, PR-1 protein, PDF1, protein kinase, LTP protein, UBA protein and protease inhibitor. These results suggest an important role for cysteine protease as a signaling regulator in biotic stress signaling pathways, leading to the build-up of defense mechanism to pathogenic bacteria in plants.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2014

Streptococci are among the normal human microflora that populate the oral cavity. However, oral streptococci are known as a major causative agent for dental caries and bacterial endocarditis. Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used for oral infections but two mechanisms of tetracycline resistance in streptococci have been reported. The tet(K) and tet(L) genes in these bacteria are related to the active efflux of tetracycline, whereas tet(M) and tet(O) confer ribosomal protection from this antibiotic. It has been reported that the tetracycline resistance of streptococci is related mainly to the activity of tet(M) and tet(O). In our present study, we examined the prevalence of tet(M) and tet(O) in oral streptococci isolated from Korean dental plaques using PCR. One hundred and forty eight of 635 isolates (23.3%) were tetracycline resistant; 68 of these strains (46%) harbored tet(M) and 3 strains (2%) were positive for tet(O). However, tet(M) and tet(O) did not co-exist in any of the resistant strains. Seventy seven of the 148 tetracycline resistant strains (52%) were negative for both the tet(M) and tet(O) genes.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2007

In order to develop chili pepper bacterial spot resistant cultivars and near-isogenic lines (NILs) to prompt the molecular mapping of the resistance gene, we have run backcross breeding program since 1994. Two resistance genes against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria Bs2 from Fla. XVR 3-25 and Bs3 from our breeding line 25-11-3-2, were introduced into a land race, Chilseongcho (abbreviated to Chilseong hereafter) with good fruit guality. We report here the testing of $BC_4F_3\;to\;BC_4F_5$. We found that $BC_4F_5$ lines of the crosses were homozygous with respect to the respective genes of introduction. The lines, in which Bs2 gene was introduced, were hypersensitively resistant to both race 1 and race 3 of X. axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, whereas, those in which Bs3 was introduced were resistant to race 1.