• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 2016

Narrow-mouth frog (Kaloula borealis) is the only amphibian species of genus Kaloula living in South Korea. They are designated and managed as endangered class II wildlife by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Therefore, there is a desperate need of a habitat restoration study to prevent the extinction of narrow-mouth frog. This study is primarily for the purpose of presenting the direction and practical applications to restore damaged narrow-mouth frog habitats or to suggest alternative habitat options. The habitat suitability index (HSI) of narrow-mouth frog was applied to the research area in Mokpo City of Jeollanam-do Province, in order to present a new narrow-mouth frog habitat. We analyzed the research area based on historical contexts, ecological environment, ecology, and habitat requirements. The research area was divided into the core, buffer, and transition zones according to UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) to establish local land-use plans. As for the foundation of the plan, we divided the habitat composition of the core, where narrow-mouth frog live in, into wetland (spawning area), grassland (shelter and feeding grounds), and forestland (feeding ground). We had a comparative analysis of habitat suitability in pre and post planning of narrow-mouth frog habitat restoration. For the validation study of habitat restoration plans, the future research should be on the composition of test-bed, continuous monitoring, and scientific habitat maintenance.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.179-190
• /
• 1976

1. The Korean Acanthopanax genus includes 12 kinds consisting of 9 species and 3 forma. 2. The Korean Oga-pi which is on market sale has been used as bark for the medicinal purpose, and Oga-pi shall use Radicis Cortex. That is why it is basic rule that herbalogy shall use Radicis Cortex. 3. The origin of Oga-pi on sale is Acanthopanax sessiliflorum forma chungbunensis C.S. Yook. 4. $C_{HUNG}\;and\;N_AKAI'S}$ report on A. koreanum told us that there are brown hair on the mid-leaf junction, but in addition to it, our investigation was resulted in the fact that there are thorn along mid-rib sometimes. 5. 2 kinds of new forma are similar to A. sessiliflorum, but are different in the view-point of chemotaxonomy, compared with A. sessiliflorum. In its morphology, we can find some difference between 2 kinds of new forma and A. sessiliflorum. Our effort of examination on documents tell us that the all plants growing in the central part of our country is A. sessiliflorum forma chungbunensis C.S. Yook. The one which has thorn on both side among the plants collected in Mt. Dukyu, is called A. sessiliflorum forma nambunensis C.S. Yook. 6. A. sessiliflorum is growing in the southern part in Korea, and most Chungbu Oga-pi A. sessiliflorum forma chungbunensis in the central part of our country. For the convenience of our study, the key of Korean Acanthopanax plant is classified into, I-IV, as shown on the following items: I. No hair on both side of leaf A. Flower stalk is longer than petiole, and there are thorn under the petiole (5-7 stigma).${\cdots}A.\;sieboldianum$. B. Flower stalk is longer than petiole, or same length. The serration lie down, and the stem has short thorn (stigma is divided into 3 part).${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;seoulense$ II. There are a lot of thorn or hair on back of leaf. A. A lot of thorn and hair on the vein of leaf back, and a number of small thorn on petiole.${\cdots}A.\;chiisanensis$. B. There are thorn on the vein of leaf back.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;sessiliflorum\;forma\;chungbunensis.$ III. There are hairs on both side of leaf. A. There are small hairs on the back of leaf.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;sessiliflorum.$ B. There are small hairs on both side of leaf.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;sessiliflorum\;f.\;nambunensis.$ C. There are thick hairs on junction of main vein on back of leaf.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;koreanum.$ D. There are brown hairs on vein of leaf back, and brown hairs on small petiole.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;rufinerve.$ E. There are shrunk hairs in grey-brown on back of leaf, and tense hairs on new branch (one stigma).${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;divaricatum.$ IV. There are long thorn, just like needles, on the stem and petiole. A. Long needle grows on whole stem tensely, and long needles on petiole.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;senticosus.$ B. There are no needles, just like needles aid hairs on petiole, and needles grow on the stem thinly.${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;asperatus.$ C. There are no needle on small brarch, leaf and inflorescence are larger than A. senticosus. ${\cdots\;\cdots}A.\;senticosus\;forma\;inermis.$.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.5917-5935
• /
• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.955-961
• /
• 2018

Although much research has focused on various bioactive substances in starfish, research on microorganisms isolated from starfish is lacking as compared with other natural products. In this study, we investigated bacterial communities in the gut of red starfish (Certonardoa semiregularis) in Jeju Island. In total, 103 bacterial strains were isolated using marine agar and R2A medium. The isolated strains were analyzed and identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Based on an analysis of this gene sequence, the 103 isolated bacteria were classified into four major groups: Proteobacteria (93%: Alpha-proteobacteria, 24.8%; Beta-proteobacteria, 4%; Gammaproteobacteria, 65%) Bacteroidetes (4%), Actinobacteria (2%), and Firmicutes (1%). In addition, the isolates were divided into seven classes (Actinobacteria, Flavobacteria, Bacilli, Sphingobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria), 15 orders, 19 families, and 24 genera. A phylogenetic analysis revealed two strains, Lysobacter sp. and Pedobacter sp., with similarity of 97.55% and 97.58%, respectively. As the similarity in the 16S rRNA gene sequence was 98% or less compared to previously identified bacteria, the two strains may possibly be classified as a new genus or species. We suggest that additional studies, including biochemical and morphological tests, should be performed to identify the new candidate strains.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the UV-resistance of radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from the water of Han River, South Korea. The water sample was irradiated with 3 kGy gamma radiation prior to isolation. Radiation-resistant bacterial strains were isolated by standard serial dilution method on R2A and 1/10 diluted R2A agar. The resulting purely isolated 60 cultures of bacteria were analysed for UV resistance and used in further studies. Based on the comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the bacterial isolates were divided into 3 phyla (4 genera): the phylum Deinococcus-Thermus (the genus Deinococcus) was 61.7%, Bacteroidetes (Hymenobacter and Spirosoma) was 23.4%, and Firmicutes (Exiguobacterium) was 15%. The results suggested that twenty-nine isolates are candidates new species belonging to Deinococcus, Hymenobacter, and Spirosoma, or other new genera. Nine bacterial strains were selected among the novel candidates and the UV-resistance analysis was conducted. All the candidate bacterial strains showed high UV resistance, similar to that of D. radiodurans R1.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 2019

An outbreak of new disease with leaf and stem blight symptom occurred at bracken-growing fields in Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea during the last 4 years. This new disease caused significant yield losses on bracken production in this area. We have collected diseased leaves and stems showing the blight symptom in May, July, and October 2018 to investigate causal pathogens. A total of 92 fungal isolates were obtained from the diseased samples and their pathogenicity was tested on healthy bracken leaves. From the total isolates, 22 isolates were able to produce the leaf blight symptom similar to the original one found in the fields. To identify two fungal pathogens which showed higher virulence levels compared to other pathogenic isolates, we constructed phylogenetic trees using the nucleotide sequences of genes for ribosomal RNA, RNA polymerase beta subunit, beta tubulin, and internal transcribed region. Most phylogenetic trees constructed indicate that both isolates, which are identical to each other, reside in a clade of the genus Didymella and possibly similar to D. rumicicola or D. acetosellae. Nevertheless, the exact identification of these pathogens at the species level needs further investigations. This is the first report of a blight disease on bracken by Didymella sp.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2007

The DY1 strain of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria was isolated from the soil sample collected from Daeam mountain, Korea. The culture filtrate of DY1 strain showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity on various pathogenic and food poisoning enteric bacterial species tested in vitro. It showed significant growth-inhibitory effect on Salmonella enterica sp., Shigella sp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and Yersinia enterocolitica. For the identification of the DY1 strain, morphological, biochemical and molecular phylogenetic approaches were performed. The DY1 strain was found to be a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of morphological and biochemical analyses. The 16S rDNA of DY1 showed the highest pairwise identity with Paenibacillus polymyxa with 99.79% (1,413 bp/1,416 bp). The antimicrobial entity from DY1 looked different from preciously reported ones and seems to have a great potential to be further studied as a candidate of new antibiotics to control multi-drug resistant pathogens.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2012

Worldwide development of harmful algal blooms causes serious problem for public health and fisheries industries. To evaluate the algicidal impact on the harmful algae bloom species in aquatic ecosystems of coast, a new algicide thiazolidinedione derivative (TD49) were tentatively examined in the growth stages (i.e., lag, logarithmic and stationary phase) of rapidophyceae $Heterosigma$ $akashiwo$, $Chattonella$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp..Three strains could easily destroy in the lag phase due to relatively weak cell walls than those of the logarithmic and stationary phase. It is thought that inoculation of TD49 substances into initial or developmental natural blooms with a threshold concentration ($2{\mu}M$) can maximize the algicidal activity. Also, bio-chemical assays revealed that the algicidal substances from all culture strains were likely to be extracellular substances because those cells have easily destroyed in cell walls. On the other hand, natural zooplankton communities were influenced within the exposure experiments of $2{\mu}M$, which is showed the maximum algcidal activity of tested organisms. These results indicate that although the TD49 substance is potential agents for the control of $H.$ $akashiwo$, $C.$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp. in the enclosed eutrophic bay and coastal water, more detailed research of acute toxicity effect on high trophic organism in marine ecosystems need to be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2010

Recognizing a basal group in a taxon is one of the most important factors involved in understanding the evolutionary history of that group of life. Many botanists have suggested a sister to all other angiosperms to understand the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms based on morphological and fossil evidence. Recent technical advances in molecular biology and the accumulation of molecular phylogenetic data have provided evidence of the extant basal-most angiosperm which is a sister to all other angiosperms. Although it is still arguable, most plant taxonomists agree that Amborella trichopoda Baill., a species (monotypic genus and monotypic family) distributed in New Caledonia, is a sister to all other extant angiosperms based on evidence from the following molecular approaches: 1) classical phylogenetic analyses based on multiple genes (or DNA regions), 2) analyses of a tree network of duplicated gene families, and 3) gene-structural evidence. As an alternative hypothesis with relatively minor evidence, some researchers have also suggested that Amborella and Nymphaeaceae form a clade that is a sister to all other angiosperms. Debate regarding the basal-most angiosperms is still ongoing and is currently one of the hot issues in plant evolutionary biology. We expect that sequencing of the whole genome of Amborella as an evolutionary model plant and subsequent studies based on this genome sequence will provide information regarding the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms, which is Darwin's so called abominable mystery.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2001

A commensal thermophile, Symbiobacterium toebii, isolated from hay compost (toebii) in Korea commensally interacted with a thermophilic Geobacillus toebii sp. nov., which was a new species within the genus Geobacillus on the basis of the phenotypic traits and molecular systematic data. S. toebii required the crude extracts and/or culture supernatant of the Geobacillus toebii for axenic growth and could grow on the temperature between 45 and $70^{\circ}C$ (optimum: $60^{\circ}C$; 2.4 h doubling time) and pH 6.0 and 9.0 (optimum: pH 7.5). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was $65 mol\%$, and the major quinones were MK-6 and MK-7. A phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence indicated that Symbiobacterium toebii was closely related with solely reported Symbiobacterium thermophilum. The presence of the commensal thermophile 16S rDNA and accumulation of indole in all the enriched cultures indicate that Symbiobacterium toebii is widely distributed in the various soils. The genome of S. toebii constituted a circular chromosome of 3,280,275 base pairs and there was not an extra-chromosomal element (ECE). It contained about 4,107 predicted coding sequences. Of these protein coding genes, about $45.6\%$ was encoded well-known proteins and annotated the functional assignment of 1,874 open reading frames (ORFs), and the rest predicted to have unknown functions. The genes encoding thermostable tyrosine phenol-lyase and tryptophan indole-lyase were cloned from the genomic DNA of S. toebii and the enzymatic production of L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan was carried out with two thermostable enzymes overexpressed in recombinant E. coli.