• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1213-1223
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• 2018

Pelagic larval dispersal habits influence the population genetic structure of marine mollusk organisms via gene flow. The genetic information of the clam Gomphina aequilatera (short larval stage, 10 days) which is ecologically and economically important in the China coast is unknown. To determine the influence of planktonic larval duration on the genetic structure of G. aequilatera. Mitochondrial markers, cytochrome oxidase subunit i (COI) and 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA), were used to investigate the population structure of wild G. aequilatera specimens from four China Sea coastal locations (Zhoushan, Nanji Island, Zhangpu and Beihai). Partial COI (685 bp) and 12S rRNA (350 bp) sequences were determined. High level and significant $F_{ST}$ values were obtained among the different localities, based on either COI ($F_{ST}=0.100-0.444$, P<0.05) or 12S rRNA ($F_{ST}=0.193-0.742$, P<0.05), indicating a high degree of genetic differentiation among the populations. The pairwise $N_m$ between Beihai and Zhoushan for COI was 0.626 and the other four pairwise $N_m$ values were >1, indicating extensive gene flow among them. The 12S rRNA showed the same pattern. AMOVA test results for COI and 12S rRNA indicated major genetic variation within the populations: 77.96% within and 22.04% among the populations for COI, 55.73% within and 44.27% among the populations for 12S rRNA. A median-joining network suggested obvious genetic differentiation between the Zhoushan and Beihai populations. This study revealed the extant population genetic structure of G. aequilatera and showed a strong population structure in a species with a short planktonic larval stage.

• Korean Journal of Ornithology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2018

Bird electrocution on contact with electricity lines is well reported and is quite common in Mongolian open areas. We visited 15-kV electricity distribution pole lines in a Southern Mongolian semi-desert region three times in 2017, in April, July, and September, to assess their risks to birds. The carcasses of 45 electrocuted birds representing 12 species were identified from 250 poles (overall mortality rate of 1.12% every 10 km). The majority of these electrocuted birds were endangered Saker Falcon (n=11) and common Black Kite (n=11). The lacks of roosting or perching sites in our study sites (indeed other open areas in Mongolia) may resulted for such high rate bird electrocution. A 751-base pair (bp) cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified for DNA sequence-based identification of carcasses that were difficult to identify directly. Our findings revealed the high electrocution risk for birds in Mongolian open areas, especially for the birds of prey, with relatively low-efficiency electrocution mitigation approaches. The findings also indicate that there is a need for better understanding of the risk of bird electrocution, particularly in the open areas. This will contribute to the conservation of endangered species.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.653-660
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• 2020

Spirometra tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) collected from carnivorous mammals in Tanzania were identified by the DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and by morphological characteristics. A total of 15 adult worms were collected from stool samples and carcasses of Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, and Crocuta crocuta in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania. Three Spirometra species: S. theileri, S. ranarum and S. erinaceieuropaei were identified based on morphological features. Partial cox1 sequences (400 bp) of 10 specimens were revealed. Eight specimens showed 99.5% similarity with Spirometra theileri (MK955901), 1 specimen showed 99.5% similarity with the Korean S. erinaceieuropaei and 1 specimen had 99.5% similarity with Myanmar S. ranarum. Sequence homology estimates for the ITS1 region of S. theileri were 89.8% with S. erinaceieuropaei, 82.5% with S. decipiens, and 78.3% with S. ranarum; and 94.4% homology was observed between S. decipiens and S. ranarum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with 4 species of Spirometra and 2 species of Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). By both ML and BI methods, cox1 and ITS1 gave well supported, congruent trees topology of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. theileri with S. decipiens and S. ranarum forming a clade. The Dibothriocephalus species were sisters of each other and collectively forming successive outgroups. Our findings confirmed that 3 Spirometra species (S. theileri, S. ranarum, and S. erinaceieuropaei) are distributed in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2020

A common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina inhabiting North America is internationally protected as an endangered species. It is known that the individuals of common snapping turtles were imported to South Korea as pets, and after being abandoned, some inhabit the natural ecosystem of South Korea like wild animals. No genetic survey has yet been performed for the common snapping turtles imported to South Korea. Hereby, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) information, which is 594 bp long, was determined for a total of 16 C. serpentina individuals, of which one was found in nature, twelve legally imported and their descendants, and the other three were provided from the Kansas Herpetological Society, USA. The obtained data were combined with thirteen COI sequences of C. serpentina retrieved from NCBI GenBank for the subsequent population genetic analyses. The results showed that there exist five haplotypes with high sequence similarity (only three parsimoniously informative sites). In the TCS and phylogenetic analyses, all the examined C. serpentina samples coincidently formed a strong monoclade with those collected mostly from Kansas State, USA, indicating that the imported ones to South Korea are from the central North America. In addition, there found the amino acid changes and the high degree of nucleotide sequence differences between C. serpentina and C. rossignoni with some important morphological characters. It is expected that the present results could provide an important framework for systematic management and control of exotic snapping turtles imported and released to nature of South Korea.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.13-20
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• 2019

Objectives : To ensure the safety, quality and pharmacological efficacy of Batryticatus Bombyx, it is important to discriminate with adulterants. In Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeias (KHP), the authentic species of Batryticatus Bombyx is defined only Bombyx mori. Therefore, the aim of this study is establishment of PCR assay method using the sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker based on COI DNA barcode for discriminating six species related to Batryticatus Bombyx. Methods : Seventeen samples of six species (Bombyx mori, Bombyx mandarina, Rhodinia fugax, Oberthueria caeca, Actias artemis, and Caligula japponica) were collected from different habitate and nucleotide sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI) barcode regions were analyzed by Sanger sequencing methods. To develop SCAR-based PCR assay method, we designed species-specific primers based on COI sequence variabilities and verified those specificities using 17 samples of six species as well as commercial herbal medicines. Results : In comparative multiple analysis of COI sequences, six species were distinguished by species-specific nucleotides at the species level. To develop rapid and reliable PCR assay method for genetic authentication of Batryticatus Bombyx, therefore, we designed species-specific SCAR primers based on these nucleotide sequences and confirmed those specificities. Using these SCAR primers, We also established simple conventional PCR assay method using these SCAR primers at the species level. Conclusions : The comparative analysis of COI sequences and SCAR-based PCR assay methods represented equal results for distinguishing authentic Batryticatus Bombyx and adulterations at the species level. Therefore, our results are expected protecting adulteration of herbal medicine Batryticatus Bombyx.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2022

Recently, with the development of genetic technology, interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) to study biodiversity according to molecular biological approaches is increasing. Environmental DNA has many advantages over traditional research methods for biological communities distributed in the environment but highly depends on the established base sequence database. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the habitat status and classification at the genus level, which is mainly used in eDNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, COI, and CYTB), focusing on Korean registration taxon groups (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish). As a result, phytoplankton and zooplankton showed the highest taxa proportion in 18S rRNA, and macroinvertebrates observed the highest ratio in the nucleotide sequence database in COI. In fish, all genes except 18S rRNA showed a high taxon ratio. Based on the Korean registration taxon group, the gene construction of the top 20 genera according to bio density observed that most of the phytoplankton were registered in 18S rRNA, and the most significant number of COI nucleotide sequences were established in macroinvertebrates. In addition, it was confirmed that there is a nucleotide sequence for the top 20 genera in 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and CYTB in fish. These results provided comprehensive information on the genes suitable for eDNA research for each taxon group.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.227-243
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• 2023

The Asiatic pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a pest that attacks rice stems. In this study, we estimated the annual generation of insect in several regions of the Republic of Korea. Adult trapping using a sex pheromone trap detected the occurrence of S. inferens adults in the three northernmost areas around 38° latitude and showed that the insect inhabits all of Korea. In most areas investigated, the seasons of the adult generations estimated using the single-sine degree-day model did not deviate from the corresponding observed seasons of adult occurrence. We estimated that the overwintering larvae hypothetically-estimated using the model could be originated from the last generation of adults. When larvae collected in paddy fields during the autumn season in a few middle and southern areas were reared at 25℃, ca. 70% of pupae did not show additional larval molting before their pupation. All larvae collected in early March in a southern area (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do) pupated without additional larval molting when reared at 25℃. Based on these results, we presumed that S. inferens could overwinter as mainly the last instar larval stage in the area. Taken together, we conclude that S. inferens primarily has two generations per year in areas around 38° latitude, and three generations in the areas between 35.3° and 37.3° latitude. In addition, approximately 35% of insects captured by the sex pheromone trap were species other than S. inferens, as determined by analyzing the nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene. These species were not morphologically misidentified as S. inferens.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2024

During ichthyoplankton survey in the southwestern sea of Korea, we collected six individuals of noodlefish larvae and juveniles between April and May 2023. They were identified as Neosalanx anderssoni by mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I or 16S ribosomal RNA sequences, and their external morphological traits were described for the first time. All six individuals have a slender and elongated body. When preflexion and flexion larval stages (10.24 mm notochord length, NL and 15.47 mm total length, TL, respectively), oval-shaped black melanophores were distributed in a row along the ventral side of the gut. However, when postflexion larval and juvenile stages (23.58~25.90 mm TL, and 29.20~31.26 mm TL, respectively), melanophores on the ventral side of the gut were disappeared, and dark spot-shaped melanophores appeared along the dorsal side of the gut in a single row. Also, from the postflexion larval stage (23.58 mm TL), two large black spots began to appear symmetrically on the caudal fin. Our results suggest that N. anderssoni may use coastal area as spawning and/or nursery ground unlike previous study (Kim and Park, 2002).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.668-672
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• 2001

To investigate the oxygen free radical and alcohol metabolizing system in liver of rats fed diets with 30% ethanol extract of Lycium chinense (LCEE), Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 225~235g have been fed a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% LCEE for a month. The rats fed LCEE supplemented diets gained less body weight compared with the control, and had no remarkable changes of liver function. In rats fed 2% LCEE supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P450 contents appeared to be increased, but catalase (204.88$\pm$20.06 $H_2O$$_2$nmoles/mg protein/min), and superoxide dismutase (13.18$\pm$0.74 Unit/mg protein) activities were significantly increased compared with control 120.28$\pm$26.99 $H_2O$$_2$nmoles/mg protein/min and 10.49$\pm$0.80 Units/mg protein). There was no difference in hepatic glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase ctivities between the rats fed LCEE suplemented diets and the control diet. On the other hand, hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity were not changed by LCEE feeding, but hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased in rats fed both 2 and 4% LCEE diets(5.01$\pm$0.21 and 4.47$\pm$0.06 $\mu$moles NADPH/mg protein/min) compared with control (3.28$\pm$0.21 $\mu$moles NADPH/mg protein/min) and its Vmax value was 1.9 fold increased in rats fed 2% LCEE and 1.5 fold in those fed 4% LCEE compared with control. In conclusion, it is likely that rats receiving a diet supplemented with LCEE may have the oxygen free radicals and alcohol detoxication potential.