• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2001

The antigenic domain of the major surface protein (Nc-p43) of Neospora caninum was examined by polymerase chain reaction of its gene fragments and recombinant expression as GST fusion proteins. The fragments of Nc-p43 were as follow: a total open reading frame (OFR), T: OFR without signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence, S: N-terminal 2/3 parts of S, A: C-terminal 2/3 parts, P; N-terminal 1/3 part, X: middle 1/3 part Y; and C-terminal 1/3 part, Z, respectively. The DNA fragments were cloned into pGEX-47 vector. Recombinant plasmids transformed into Escherichia coli of BL21 pLysS (DE3) strain were induced to express GST or GST fused fragments of Nc-p43 such as 69 kDa protein for T,66 kDa for S, 52 kDa for A,53 kDa for P, and 40 kDa proteins for X, Y, and Z, respectively in SDS-PAGE. The Nc-p43 fragments of T, S, and P reacted with a bovine serum of neosporosis while those of A, X, Y, and Z together with GST did not in the western blot. These findings suggest that the antigenic domain of Nc-p43 of N. caninum may be localized in the C-terminal 2/3 parts. Together with Al9 clone in SAGI of Toxoplasma gondii (Nam et at., 1996), the P fragment of Nc-p43 could be used as efficient antigens to diagnose and differentiate those infections with both species .

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.30-34
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• 2019

We analyzed how the features in plasma information based virtual metrology (PI-VM) for SiO₂ etching depth with variation of 5% contribute to the prediction accuracy, which is previously developed by Jang. As a single feature, the explanatory power to the process results is in the order of plasma information about electron energy distribution function (PI_EEDF), equipment, and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) features. In the procedure of stepwise variable selection (SVS), OES features are selected after PI_EEDF. Informative vector for developed PI-VM also shows relatively high correlation between OES features and etching depth. This is because the reaction rate of each chemical species that governs the etching depth can be sensitively monitored when OES features are used with PI_EEDF. Securing PI_EEDF is important for the development of virtual metrology (VM) for prediction of process results. The role of PI_EEDF as an independent feature and the ability to monitor variation of plasma thermal state can make other features in the procedure of SVS more sensitive to the process results. It is expected that fault detection and classification (FDC) can be effectively developed by using the PI-VM.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2019

This study was done to characterize distribution of Rickettsia spp. in ticks in the northwestern and southwestern provinces in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,814 ticks were collected between May and September 2009. After pooling, 284 tick DNA samples were screened for a gene of Rickettsia-specific 17-kDa protein using nested PCR (nPCR), and produced 88 nPCR positive samples. Of these positives, 75% contained 190-kDa outer membrane protein gene (ompA), 50% 120-kDa outer membrane protein gene (ompB), and 64.7% gene D (sca4). The nPCR products of ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes revealed close relatedness to Rickettsia japonica, R. heilongjiangensis, and R. monacensis. Most Rickettsia species were detected in Haemaphysalis longicornis. This tick was found a dominant vector of rickettsiae in the study regions in the Republic of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2021

To date, there is no report on the genetic diversity of ticks in these regions. A total of 370 representative ticks from the south and east regions of Kazakhstan (SERK) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were selected for molecular comparison. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene, ranging from 631 bp to 889 bp, was used to analyze genetic diversity among these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated 7 tick species including Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Haemaphysalis erinacei from the SERK clustered together with conspecific ticks from the XUAR. The network diagram of haplotypes showed that i) Hy. asiaticum from Almaty and Kyzylorda Oblasts together with that from Yuli County of XUAR constituted haplogroup H-2, and the lineage from Chimkent City of South Kazakhstan was newly evolved; and ii) the R. turanicus ticks sampled in Israel, Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Usu City, Ulugqat and Baicheng Counties of XUAR were derivated from an old lineage in Alataw City of XUAR. These findings indicate that: i) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei shared genetic similarities between the SERK and XUAR; and ii) Hy. marginatum and D. reticulatus show differences in their evolution.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2022

Two small cryptic plasmids, pHG1 and pHG2, were isolated from Levilactobacillus zymae (formerly Lactobacillus zymae) GU240 and characterized. pHG1 is 1,814 bp in size with a GC content of 37.4% and contains two open reading frames. orf1 can potentially encode a protein of 101 amino acids (aa) with 99% identity with the copy number control protein of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. orf2 can potentially encode a protein of 230 aa with 99% identity with a replication protein from multiple species. Six inverted repeats (IR I-VI) and six direct repeats (DR I-VI) were found in pHG1. pHG2 is 2,864 bp in size, with a GC content of 39.6%. pHG2 has two orfs. orf1 might encode a protein with 99% identity with the TrsL transmembrane protein. orf2 might encode a protein with 99% identity with plasmid recombination proteins from lactic acid bacteria. Both pHG1 and pHG2 may be useful as frames for constructing lactic acid bacteria-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2000

Hantaviruses are etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the world. Various hantaviruses were isolated from HFRS patients and several different rodent species in the world. Four hantavirus isolates from Indonesia and three isolates from Thailand among 89 Bandicotas captured in Yogyakarta, east region of Sumatra island, Indonesia and at Chiang Mai in Thailand during 1996 were made through several passages in Vero E6 cells. Viral genome M segment from two Indonesian isolates and three Thailand isolates were amplified using hantavirus generic primers of the M segment and cloned into pCRII vector. The genetic differences were analyzed by comparison of partial sequence of the M segment and antigenic differences were made by IFA. Nucleotide sequence homology of two isolates BC 8, BC 34 from Indonesia and two isolates thai 1322, thai 1330 to Seoul virus was 99% and 96%, respectively, but Thai 1164 was 80%Thai 1164 strain has shown 95% homology to Thai 749 virus. In conclusion it is indicated that two different serotype hantaviruses, Seoul and Thailand, are cocirculating among Bandicota in Thailand, in contrast Seoul serotype virus is circulating in Indonesia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2023

The present study aimed to survey the prevalence of chigger mites and Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi) infection in the northern regions of Gangwon-do, Korea. From early February to early June 2015, a total of 17,050 chiggers were collected from striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius, in Cheorwon-gun, Hwacheon-gun, Yanggu-gun, and Goseong-gun, which are well-known endemic areas of scrub typhus in Korea. The chiggers were analyzed using molecular genomic methods, as previously described. Among the 7,964 identified chiggers, the predominant species was Leptotrombidium pallidum (76.9%), followed by L. zetum (16.4%), L. orientale (4.3%), L. palpale (0.3%), L. tectum (0.2%), and Neotrombicula tamiyai (1.8%). The chigger index (CI) was highest in Hwacheon (115.58), followed by Cheorwon (97.02), Yanggu (76.88), and Goseong (54.68). Out of the 79 O. tsutsugamushi-positive chigger pools, 67 (84.8%) were identified as the Boryong strain, 10 (12.7%) as the Youngworl strain, and only 2 were the Jecheon strain. Based on the high infestation of chiggers in striped field rodents and the high rate of O. tsutsugamushi infection in chigger mites, Hwacheon-gun and Cheorwon-gun are presumed to be high-risk areas for scrub typhus. Furthermore, L. pallidum, a major vector of scrub typhus, and the dominant O. tsutsugamushi serotype, the Boryong strain, were found in the northern regions of Gangwon-do, Korea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.77-80
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• 2024

Aedes albopictus, a common species in the Republic of Korea, is internationally known as a major vector for various diseases, and it is well-adapted to urban environments. Recent insect outbreaks in urban areas, attributed to climate change and urban heat islands, have increased the necessity of researching the effects on mosquito populations. This study analyzed climate data from 25 Automatic Weather System (AWS) stations in Seoul, identifying urban areas with pronounced heat island effects and suburban areas with milder effects. Nine urban heat island conditions were established based on this analysis, under which the hatching rates of Ae. albopictus were examined. The results revealed an increase in hatching rates correlating with the intensity of the urban heat island effect. Regression analysis further indicated that this trend accelerates as the strength of the heat island effect increases. This study suggests that temperature variations resulting from urban heat island phenomena can significantly influence the hatching rates of Ae. albopictus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.4
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• pp.509-517
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• 2017

This study was conducted to assess effect of thiacloprid fogging on non-target insect communities in Korean white pine forests. In addition, we assessed effect of thiacloprid fogging on mortality of Monochamus saltuarius as a vector of pine wood nematodes, and Apis mellifera as a non-target species. We compared abundance, species richness, and compostion of insects, and mortality of two insects among four treatment groups (control and thiacloprid-fogged groups with 3 different doses) located in the Kangwon National University Forest. For sampling of insects, 6 pitfall and 2 multi-funnel traps and 3 waterproof cloth sheets were placed in each study plot. In addition, M. saltuarius and A. mellifera were put into each meshed cage which installed at 7 m and 15 m heights in center of each study plot. Thiacloprid was fogged only once (middle May) in each plot using a fogging machine. Overall, thiacloprid fogging was appeared to be low toxicity to the abundance, species richness, and compostion of insects and mortality of A. mellifera, while it seems effectively impact on the mortality of M. saltuarius. However, thiacloprid fogging seems more influenced by microclimates in forests because the mortality of M. saltuarius in mesh cages was different according to heights and spatial locations. To control the population density and dispersal of M. saltuarius using by fogging techniques, therefore, it may be necessary to minimize the uncertainty about the effectiveness of thiacloprid fogging by improving the fogging techniques.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.254-258
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• 2013

Fusaric acid (FA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species. Its toxicity is relatively low but often associated with other mycotoxins, thus enhancing total toxicity. To date, biosynthetic genes or enzymes for FA have not been identified in F. oxysporum. In order to explore the genetic element(s) for FA biosynthesis, restriction enzyme mediated integration (REMI) procedure as an insertional mutagenesis was employed using FA producing-F. oxysporum strains. Genetic transformation of two F. oxysporum strains by REMI yielded more than 7,100 transformants with efficiency of average 3.2 transformants/${\mu}g$ DNA. To develop a screening system using phytotoxicity of FA, eleven various grains and vegetable seeds were tested for germination in cultures containing FA: Kimchi cabbage seed was selected as the most sensitive host. Screening for FA non-producer of F. oxysporum was done by growing each fungal REMI transformant in Czapek-Dox broth for 3 weeks at $25^{\circ}C$ then observing if the Kimchi cabbage seeds germinated in the culture filtrate. Of more than 5,000 REMI transformants screened, fifty-three made the seeds germinated, indicating that they produced little or fewer FA. Among them, twenty-six were analyzed for FA production by HPLC and two turned out to produce less than 1% of FA produced by a wild type strain. Sequencing of genomic DNA regions (252 bp) flanking the vector insertion site revealed an uncharacterized genomic region homologous (93%) to the F. fujikuroi genome. Further study is necessary to determine if the vector insertion sites in FA-deficient mutants are associated with FA production.