• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.209-213
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• 2012

Members of the ciliate group of protozoans are often observed in mass cultures of rotifers. In particular, Euplotes and Vorticella are common contaminating species. In this study, I examined the effect of the ciliates Euplotes sp. and Vorticella sp. on the growth of the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis by conducting inter-specific and tripartite-specific mixed-culture experiments. The growth of rotifers was suppressed in co-existence with Euplotes sp. compared with monocultures of rotifers. However, Vorticella sp. promoted rotifer growth. Moreover, Vorticella sp. improved the growth of rotifers suppressed by Euplotes sp. contaminants. In 5-L semi-mass cultures of rotifers, growth of the contaminating protozoan Euplotes sp. was heavily suppressed by Vorticella sp. The stable maintenance of the rotifer culture ecosystem can be achieved by manipulating the types of contaminating protozoan species.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.273-277
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• 2013

Vibriosis caused by Vibrio anguillarum and edwardsiellosis caused by Edwardsiella tarda are septicemic diseases of many commercially important freshwater and marine fishes, and threaten the aquaculture industry in Korea. Early diagnosis and accurate identification of these two bacterial species could help to prevent these diseases and minimize the damage to cultured marine species. This study designed a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the simultaneous detection of two major fish pathogens: V. anguillarum and E. tarda. Each pair of oligonucleotide primers exclusively amplified the target groEL gene of the specific microorganism. Twenty-two Vibrio and ten non-Vibrio enteric species were used to check the specificity of the primers, which were found to be highly specific for the target species, even among closely related species. The detection limit was 400 pg for V. anguillarum and 4 ng for E. tarda when mixed purified DNA was used as the template. This assay showed high specificity and sensitivity in the simultaneous detection of V. anguillarum and E. tarda from artificially inoculated seawater and fish.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2007

The development of suitable genetic markers would be useful for defining species and delineating the species boundaries of morphologically indistinguishable sponges. In this study, genetic variation in the sequences of nuclear rDNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 3 (CO1 and CO3) regions were compared in morphologically indistinguishable Korean Halichondriidae sponges in order to determine the most suitable species-specific molecular marker region. The maximal congeneric nucleotide divergences of Halichondriidae sponges in CO1 and CO3 are similar to those found among anthozoan cnidarians, but they are 2- to 8-fold lower than those found among genera of other triploblastic metazoans. Ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS: ITS1 + ITS2) showed higher congeneric variation (17.28% in ITS1 and 10.29% in ITS2) than those of CO1 and CO3. Use of the guidelines for species thresholds suggested in the recent literature indicates that the mtDNA regions are not appropriate for use as species-specific DNA markers for the Halichondriidae sponges, whereas the rDNA ITS regions are suitable because ITS exhibits a low level of intraspecific variation and a relatively high level of interspecific variation. In addition, to test the reliability of the ITS regions for identifying Halichondriidae sponges by PCR, a species-specific multiplex PCR primer set was developed.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2015

This study was conducted to develop a large scale map of species-specific plantation sites based on selected environmental variables such as topography, soil, and climatic factors in Namwon city. Site index equations by tree species were first regressed to 27 environmental variables that could influence the productivity of forest sites using digital forest site maps, digital climate maps, and the 5th National Forest Inventory data. Site index equations by tree species were all evaluated to estimate site productivity using 4-5 environmental variables, and the models' reliability was confirmed based on evaluation statistics. The determination coefficients of site index equations by species ranged from 0.42 to 0.76. With the site index equations, the site conditions appropriate for productive sites by species were considered to assess spatial distribution of productive areas for each species. The final map for optimal plantation in Namwon city was produced based on both site index equations and site conditions appropriate for productive sites by each species using GIS technique. Field survey was conducted to evaluate the suitability of selected species on the map of species-specific plantation sites. Results showed that the plantation map provides relatively reasonable spatial distribution of productive areas for selected species. It was revealed, however, that the sites evaluated as 'not suitable' for any tree species should be revised and complemented with additional information, especially with the site conditions appropriate for productive sites by species of interest. The outcomes of this study are expected to provide information for making customized species-specific plantation maps.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.18.1-18.5
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• 2019

The development of sex-specific genetic assays in a species provides both a method for identifying the system of sex determination and a valuable tool to address questions of conservation and management importance. In this study, we focused on the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that differentiate genetic sex in burbot Lota lota. Burbot are the only true freshwater representative of the cod family and a species of conservation and management importance throughout Eurasia and North America. To identify sex-specific SNPs, we utilized restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to interrogate thousands of SNPs in burbot samples of known phenotypic sex. We discovered 170,569 biallelic SNPs, none of which fit the pattern expected under female heterogamety. However, we identified 22 SNPs that fit the pattern expected under male heterogamety (males heterozygous XY, females fixed XX) and, from these, developed two genetic assays that robustly (~ 97% genotyping success) and accurately (> 99% correct) sexed burbot samples. These sex-specific genetic assays will benefit growing conservation aquaculture programs for this species and allow future assessments of sex-specific migration, growth, and mortality.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2005

To clone blue and white flower color specific genes, mRNA differential display was carried out with two different Commelina species, C. communis Linne for blue color and C. coreana Leveille for. leucantha Nakai for white color. Fifty two and 100 cDNA clones specific for blue or white flower color, respectively, were ranging from 200 to 700 bp in size. From the reverse northern blot analysis, 12 and 7 positive clones were selected for blue and white flower, respectively. These clones appear to be novel cDNAs for these Commelina plants, but not color specific. This finding was supported by the northern blot analysis. However, two clones, B18 and B19, derived from blue flowered Commelina were highly expressed than in the white Commelina species, implying that further study will be valuable. The results indicated that both mRNA display experiment and dot blot analysis may not sensitive enough to clone color-determining gene from the plant, leading to explore more advanced method, like high-density colony array study (HDCA).

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2007

In order to develop a sensitive and reliable method for the species-specific molecular markers, PCR-RFLP assay of the mitochondrial DNA(mt DNA) 12S rRNA gene was exploited for the identification of the origin of animal meat species including cattle, pig, sheep, goat, horse, deer, chicken, duck and turkey. A specific primer pairs were designed, based on the nucleotide sequences of mt 12S rRNA gene, for the amplification of the highly conserved region in the gene of the animal species using PCR-RFLP technique. mt DNA was isolated from meat samples followed by DNA amplification using PCR with the specific primers. PCR amplification produced an approximately 455 bp fragment in each of these animal meats. To distinguish pleat species, the PCR amplicons were digested with restriction endonucleases Tsp5091 and MboI, respectively, which generates distinct RFLP profiles. The DNA profiles digested with Tsp5091 allowed the clear discrimination in the mammalian meat species and the DNA profiles digested with MboI in poultry meat species. Therefore, the PCR-RFLP profiles of mt 12S rRNA gene could be very useful to identify the origin of the raw materials in the raw meats as well as the processed meat products.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

Objectives : Due to the morphological similarity and frequent occurrence of intermediate forms as well as morphological variations of aerial part, the correct identification between Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma is very difficult. To develop a reliable method for correct identification and improving the quality standards of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma, we analyzed RAPD and developed SCAR marker. Methods : To amplify target DNA at the genomic level, 32 Operon 10-mer random primers were applied with four Rheum species, R. officinale, R. palmatum, R. tanguticum and R. undulatum. The nucleotide sequences were determined and species-specific primers were prepared depending on the species-specific RAPD amplicons after subcloned into the pGEM-Teasy vector. To develop the SCAR markers, species-specific PCR amplification and multiplex-PCR were carried out using the single species-specific primer pairs and combinations of them, respectively. Results : We used RAPD analysis of four Rheum plant species to obtain several species-specific RAPD amplicons. From nucleotide sequences of these RAPD amplicons, we developed two SCAR markers that amplified 314 bp and 390 bp DNA fragments in only R. undulatum but not in R. officinale, R. palmatum, R. tanguticum and R. undulatum, for distinguishing Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Furthermore, we established SCAR markers for the simultaneous discrimination of the three species within a single reaction by using multiplex-PCR. Conclusions : These genetic markers can be used for the efficient discrimination of plants species and commercial herbal medicines between Rhei Undulatai Rhizoma and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, to ultimately prevent indiscriminate distribution and prescription of these herbal medicines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.166-171
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• 2002

The genus Leuconostoc is generally recognized as a favorable microorganism associated with a good taste of Kimchi and Lactobacillus plantarum is responsible for the overripening and acidification of Kimchi. A rapid and reliable PCR-based method to monitor the change of these lactic acid bacterial populations during Kimchi fermentation was attempted. A Leuconostoc-specific primer set was chosen from the conserved sequences of 16S rRNA genes among Leuconostoc species. The Lb. plantarum-specific primer set was the internal segments of a Lb. plantarum-specific probe which was isolated after randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and tested for identification. The specificity of this protocol was examined in DNA samples isolated from a single strain. In agarose gel, as little as 10 pg of template DNA could be used to visualize the PCR products, and quantitative determination was possible at the levels of 10 pg to 100 ng template DNA. For the semi-quantitative determination of microbial changes during Kimchi fermentation, total DNAs from the 2 h-cultured microflora of Kimchi were extracted for 16 days and equal amounts of DNA templates were used for PCR. The intensities of DNA bands obtained from PCR using Leuconostoc-specific and Lb. plantarum-specific primer sets marked a dramatic contrast at the 1 ng and 100 ng template DNA levels during Kimchi fermentation, respectively. As the fermentation proceeded, the intensity of the band for Leuconostoc species increased sharply until the 5th day and the levels was maintained until the 11 th day. The sharp increase for Lb. plantarum occurred after 11 days with the decrease of Leuconostoc species. The results of this study indicate that Leuconostoc species were the major microorganisms at the beginning of Kimchi fermentation and reach their highest population during the optimum ripening period of Kimchi.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 2004

Bacillus species were observed and quantified by molecular approaches, using the 16S rDNA primers/probes, in a wastewater treatment plant designed for the purpose of stimulating the growth of Bacillus species. The plant has been operating as a test plant since 1997 in the city of Ina, Japan, with excellent treatment performance. Observations by in situ hybridization, using Bacillus-specific probes, indicated that Bacillus strains were inhabited in the plant and their num­bers decreased during the treatment process. Similar results were obtained from a quantitative PCR analysis using a Bacillus-specific primer set, and the amount of DNA originating from various Bacillus species was maximally $1.91%\$ of the total DNA in the wastewater treatment tank. Clone library analysis using the Bacillus-specific primers suggested that, while the population was no­ticeably increased, the phylogenetic diversity of the increasing Bacillus species was very low.