• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2007

In the present study, we performed the PCR assay using TOX2P/TOX2M primer targeting a specific region within mcyB gene to identify potential microcystin-producing cyanobacteria. TOX2P/TOX2M primer set was effective in amplifying mcy gene in the field samples containing Microcystis spp. of 1,000 cells per mL. Moreover, the results from the PCR assay agreed with those of the ELISA analysis. Consequently, this study demonstrated that TOX2P/TOX2M primer set can be used as a genetic probe for the early detection of cyanobacterial toxigenicity in Korean water bodies.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

We have characterized full-length cDNA encoding Gall-6-tox protein, which was cloned from the fat body of the immunized Galleria mellonella larvae. The cloned cDNA of Gall-6-tox consists of 1301 nucleotides and contained an open reading frame of 891 nucleotides corresponding to a protein of 296 residues that includes a putative 16-residue signal sequence and a 280-residue mature peptide with a calculated mass of 30,707.73 Da. The deduced mature peptide contains conserved tandem repeats of six cysteine-stabilized alpha beta ($Cs{\alpha}{\beta}$) motifs, which was detected in scorpion toxins and insect defensins. In the sequence homology search, mature Gall-6-tox showed 34% and 28% amino acid sequence homology with Bomb-6-tox from Bombyx mori and Spod-11-tox from Spodoptera frugiperda, respectively. Gall-6-tox orthologs were only found in Lepidopteran species, indicating that this new immune-related gene family is specific to this insect order. RT-PCR analysis revealed that Gall-6-tox was expressed primarily in the larval fat bodies, hemocytes, and midgut against invading bacteria into hemocoel. Moreover, the expression time course of Gall-6-tox was examined up to 24 h in the fat bodies and midgut after injection of E. coli. Altogether, these results suggest that Gall-6-tox is derived from defensins and Gall-6-tox may play a critical role in Lepidoptera immune system.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.320-326
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• 2006

Pasteurella multocida is an important veterinary and opportunistic human pathogen. In particular, strains of P. multocida serogroup D cause progressive atrophic rhinitis, and produce a potent, intracellular, mitogenic toxin known as P. multocida toxin (PMT), which is encoded by the toxA gene. To further investigate the toxigenic and pathogenic effects of PMT, a toxA-deleted mutant was developed by homologous gene recombination. When administrated to mice, the toxigenicity of the toxA mutant P. multocida was drastically reduced, suggesting that the PMT constributes the major part of the toxigenicity of P, multocida. Similar results were obtained in a subsequent experiment, while high mortalities were observed when toxA(+) P. multocida bacterial culture or culture Iysate were administrated. Mice immunized with toxA(-) P. multocida were not protected (none survived) following challenge with toxA(+) P. multocida or bacterial culture Iysate (toxin). These results suggest that the toxigenicity of P. multocida is mainly derived from PMT.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 1998

The effects of mixtures of diazinon(DA;5mg/kg), toxaphene(TOX;40mg/kg) and/or endrin(END; 5mg/kg) on the hepatic mixed-function oxygenase(MFO) system were stuided in ICR mice(18~22g) by oral intubation daily for 7 days. In general, TOX and TOX-containing mixtures were found to induced the metabolism of aminopyrine(22~60%), aniline(42~85%), phenacetin(145~194%) and benzo [a]pyrene(158~210%), and pentobaribtal biotransformation in the 9,000g liver supernatants and to increased the hepatic cytochrome p-450 contents(47~89%). Results of these may be, at least in part, associated with the MFO system. TOX pretreatment increased the aliesterase activity in the serum and liver homogenates and supernatants by 23~145%. The toxicity of TOX and TOX-containing mixtures would be lower than that of diazinon because of TOX-induced increase in the metabolism of diazinon(DA) or diazioxon(DO) and capability of TOX to stimulate the metabolism of diazinon and diazioxon and provide a pool of non-critical enzymes. These results suggest that this information might be helpful in the evaluation of the potential hazard due to occupational and/or environmental exposures to pesticides and their mixtures.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 1996

The toxicity of the mixture of diazinon, toxaphene(TOX) and/or endrin was studied in ICR male mice(18-22 g) by oral intubation, in corn oil, daily for up to 14 days. On day 15, the exposure was discontinued and animals were monitored for an additional period of 7 days for the possible reversibility of the toxicity. The body weight gain decreased with the mixtures, as well as with the individual pesticides, during the 14-day period. TOX and TOX containing mixtures significantly increased the liver/body weight ratio. The serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase level increased at 23~374% in diazinon, TOX, and endrin or their mixture group. The cholinesterase(ChE) activity in the serum and brain was inhibited in the animals of the group of diazinon(5, 10 mg/kg) and diazinon(5 mg/kg) containing mixtures. TOX(40, 80 mg/kg) caused initial inhibitory effects on the serum ChE Day 1. but there is little effects on the brain ChE levels. endrin(5,10 mg/kg) results in significantly elevated levels of the serum ChE, with substantial decreases in the brain ChE activity. TOX and TOX containing mixtures decreased the pentobarbital(60 mg /kg, ip., in saline) induced sleep. The effects produced by this pesticides singly, as well as by their mixtures, appeared to be reversible in nature. The toxic effects exhibited by the mixtures of diazinon(5 mf/kg), TOX(40 mg/kg), and /or endrin(5 mg/kg) were found to be the resultant of the effect showed by their components individually.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2003

Microcystin produced by cyanobacteria in surface waters, such as eutrophic lake and river, is a kind of serious environmental problems due to its toxicity to human and wild animals. Microcystin is synthesized nonribosomally by the large modular multi-functional enzyme complex known as microcystin synthetase encoded by the mcy gene cluster. Amplification of mcy genes by PCR from cultures and environmental samples is a simple and efficient method to detect the toxigenic Microcystis. In order to evaluate primers designed to detect toxic microcystin-producing strains, 17 cyanobacterial strains and 20 environmental samples were examined by PCR with 7 pairs of primers. Some microcystin-producing cyanobacteria were not detected with FAA-RAA, TOX4F-TOX4R and FP-RP primers. The fragment of unexpected size was amplified with NSZW2-NSZW1 primers in Microcystis strains isolated from the lakes in Korea. TOX1P-TOX1F primers failed in amplification of toxin-producing strains. Only MSF-MSR and TOX2P- TOX2F primers amplified the fragments of mcy genes from 11 strains of microcystin-producing Microcystis. The water samples taken from 20 lakes in Korea were analyzed by PCR using each of the primers. In all the water samples, cyanobacteria capable of producing microcystin were detected by the PCR with TOX2P-TOX2F primers. These results indicate that TOX2P-TOX2F primers are better than the other primers for detection of microcystin-producing Microcystis strains in Korea. The nucleotide sequences of mcy gene in Microcystis aeruginosa NIER10010 suggest genetic diversity of Korean isolates.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2018

Pyrenophoratritici-repentis is the causal agent of tan spot. According to their ability to produce necrosis and/or chlorosis on a set of four differential bread wheats, the isolates of this fungus are currently grouped into eight races. When durum wheat genotypes were added to the differential set, a new virulence type was identified in Algeria. The isolates showing this virulence pattern are unable to attack bread wheat while they cause necrosis in durum genotypes. In this work, characterization of those isolates was based on pathological and molecular aspects. This included inoculation of bread and durum wheat, and virulence gene analysis using PCR and sequencing. The results showed that all isolates caused a resistance on all bread wheats of the differential set, while they produced necrosis in durum. ToxA and ToxB genes were amplified in all isolates, whereas toxb was absent. Sequence analysis for both genes showed no differences with those found in the two functional genes. The presence of two genes, ToxA and ToxB, despite the absence of symptoms usually caused by their products, suggests the existence of a new homologous for these two genes yet unknown. The presence of ToxA in the isolate unable to produce necrosis in Glenlea is reported for the first time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.87-89
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• 2001

온도조건에 따른 염소투입량과 염소투입 후 방치조건에 따른 유기할로겐화합물의 발생특성에 대해 검토하였다. 원수의 수질특성에 있어서 암모니아성 질소와 TOC의 농도가 높을수록 TOXs의 발생량은 높았고, 온도조건에 따른 TOXs의 발생량은 그다지 큰 차이는 없는 반면 염소투입량에 따른 실험에서는 큰 차이를 보였다. 방치조건에 따른 TOXs의 발생량은 실외에서 방치했을 경우 조금 높게 나타났다. 따라서 10～$30^{\circ}C$의 온도조건보다는 유기물의 농도와 염소투입량과 TOXs의 발생량과의 관계가 밀접하고, 실외방치시 시료수의 잔류염소와 외부로부터의 유기물등의 유입으로 인한 반응으로 인해 TOXs 발생량이 높아졌다고 추정되나 추후 면밀한 검토가 요구된다.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2017

Tan spot (TS), caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died) Drechs, is an important foliar disease of wheat and has become a threat to world wheat production since the 1970s. In this study a globally diverse pre-1940s collection of 247 wheat genotypes was evaluated against Ptr ToxA, P. tritici-repentis race 1, and stem rust to determine if; (i) acquisition of Ptr ToxA by the P. tritici-repentis from Stagonospora nodorum led to increased pathogen virulence or (ii) incorporation of TS susceptibility during development stem rust resistant cultivars led to an increase in TS epidemics globally. Most genotypes were susceptible to stem rust; however, a range of reactions to TS and Ptr ToxA were observed. Four combinations of diseasetoxin reactions were observed among the genotypes; TS susceptible-Ptr ToxA sensitive, TS susceptible-Ptr ToxA insensitive, TS resistant-Ptr ToxA insensitive, and TS resistant-Ptr ToxA toxin sensitive. A weak correlation (r = 0.14 for bread wheat and -0.082 for durum) was observed between stem rust susceptibility and TS resistance. Even though there were no reported epidemics in the pre-1940s, TS sensitive genotypes were widely grown in that period, suggesting that Ptr ToxA may not be an important factor responsible for enhanced prevalence of TS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.457-462
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• 2009

The present study was conducted to investigate the capsular serogroups and distribution of toxA gene of Pasteurella (P.) multocida isolated from pneumonic lung lesions of swine in Korea. A total number of 91 (36.3%) P. multocida isolated from 251 lung lesions. P. multocida isolates were typed for capsular serogroup and toxA gene by polymerase chain reaction. Of the 91 strains, serogroup A and D were 69 strains (75.8%) and 22 strains (24.2%), respectively. Sixty one strains (67.0%) out of 91 strains were detected as toxA gene, and 47 strains (77.0%) and 14 strains (23.0%) belongs to serogroup A and D, respectively.