• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2007

Salmonella typhimurium, causing mouse typhoid, infects hosts such as macrophage cells, and proliferates in intracellular vacuoles causing infected cells to trigger numerous genes to respond against the infection. In this study, we tried to identify such genes in RAW264.7 cells by using the PCR screening method with degenerate primers. Fourteen genes were found to be differentially expressed after a 4 h infection in which the expression of 8 genes increased while expression of the others decreased. Most of the genes were involved in proinflammatory responses such as cytokines production and cell death. The mutation in msbB gene encoding the myristoyl transferase in lipid A of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in much lower toxicity to the inoculated animals. We compared the expression of the identified genes in wild-type and msbB-mutated S. typhimurium infections and found that Lyzs encoding lysozyme type M was differentially expressed. This gene is quite likely to be related to bacterial survival in the host cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.529-533
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• 2001

The ${\beta}$-Amylase cDNA fragment from the oomcete Saprolegnia parasitica was cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from conserved ${\beta}$-amylase sequences. The 5'and 3'regions of the $\beta$-amylase gene were amplified using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (rACE) system. It consisted of an open reading frame of 1,350 bp for a protein of 450 amino acids. Comparison between the genomic and cDNA sequences revealed that the intron was not present in the coding region. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ${\beta}$-amylase gene had a 97% similarity to the ${\beta}$-amylase of Saprolegnia ferax, followed by 41% similarity to those of Arabidopsis thaliana, Hordeum vulgare, and Zea mays. The ${\beta}$-amylase gene was also expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by placing it under the control of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADC1) promoter.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2011

The genome of a potyvirus isolate associated with chlorotic spots and vein banding symptoms on Spathiphyllum spp., in Andhra Pradesh state, India was amplified by RT-PCR using degenerate potyvirus primers, amplicons cloned, and sequence (1.6 kb) analyzed. This virus isolate shared maximum identity of 74.8% and 80.2% at coat protein (CP) gene nucleotide (906 nucleotides) and amino acid (302 amino acids) levels, respectively with Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV)-M13 isolate reported from China. But its 3'-UTR (258 nucleotides) had maximum identity of 62.5% with DsMV-Vietnam isolate. The deduced molecular weight of CP is 33.57 kDa and it contained DAG triplet in its N-terminal region. In CP amino acid based phylogenetic analysis, this virus isolate represented a separate branch but closer to DsMV isolates cluster. Based on the molecular criteria set for the discrimination of species and genus in the Potyviridae family, the present virus isolate was identified as a distinct virus species in the genus Potyvirus and proposed the name Spathiphyllum chlorotic vein banding virus (SCVbV).

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.251-258
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• 2002

A potyvirus was isolated from cultivated Iris plants showing leaf streak mosaic symptom. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) product of 1 kb long which encoded partial nuclear inclusion B and N-terminal region of viral coat protein (CP) genes for potyviruses was successfully amplified with a set of potyvirus-specific degenerate primers with viral RNA samples from the infected leaves: The RT-PCR product was cloned into the plasmid vector and its nucleotide sequences were determined. The nucleotide sequence of a CDNA clone revealed that the virus was an isolate of Ornithogalum moseic virus (OrMV) based on BLAST search analysis and was denoted as OrMV Korean isolate (OrMV-Ky). To further characterize the CP gene of the virus, a pair of OrMV-specific primers was designed and used for amplification of the entire CP gene of OrMV-Kr, The virus was easily and reliably detected from virus-infected Iris leaves by using the RT-PCR with the set of virus-specific primers. The RT-PCR product of the CP gene of the virus was cloned and its sequences were determined from selected recombinant CDNA clones. Sequence analysis revealed that the CP of OrMV-Kr consisted of 762 nucleotides, which encoded 253 amino acid residues. The CP of OrMV-Ky has 94.1-98.0% amino acid sequence identities (20 amino acid alterations) with that of other three isolates of OrMV, Two NT rich potential N-glycosylation motif sequences, NCTS and NWTM, and a DAC triple box responsible for aphid transmission were conserved in CPs of all the strains of OrMV. The virus has 58.5-86.2% amino acid sequence identities with that of other 16 potyviruses, indicating OrMV to be a distinct species of the genus. OrMV-Ky was the most related with Pterostylia virus Yin the phylogenetic tree analysis of CP at the amino acid level. This is the first report on the occurrence of OrMV in Iris plants in Korea. Data in this study indicate that OrMV is found in cultivated Iris plants, and may have mixed infection of OrMV and Iris severe mosaic virus in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2004

Two genes, SinIFS1 and SinIFS2 from Korean soybean cultivar, Sinpaldalkong known as one of isoflavonerich cultivars, were cloned with PCR and degenerate primers. The sequences of two genes were analyzed with previously reported IFS genes of leguminous plants and their expression pattern in various environmental conditions was surveyed. The genomic clone of SinIFS1 contained 1,828bp nucleotides and encoded a polypeptide of 521 amino acids, and 1912bp nucleotides and a polypeptide of 521 amino acids for SinIFS2. Both genes included several conserved motifs, oxygen binding and activation (A/G-G-X-E/D-T-T/S), ERR triad (E...R....R), and heme binding (F-X-X-G-X-R-X-C-X-G) domain, which are typical in any member of cytochrome P45O superfamily. Very high sequence homology (>98%) was observed in the comparison with other IFSs of legumes. In the northern blot analysis to check the expression and increase of SinIFS1 to various environmental renditions (low temperature, light, dark, UV, and fungal elicitor), the most significant induction, more than 6 times of transcript level compared to the dark treatment as a control, was observed from the fungal elicitor treatment. The next up-regulated expression was from UV treatment (4${\times}$), low temperature and light conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2003

The sex differentiation of fishes occurs under the control of genetic and various environmental factors. DM-domain containing genes are novel zinc finger transcription factors and play key roles in sex determination. In order to isolate the wrasse DMRT (wDMRT) cDNA from the protogynous wrasse (Halichoeres tenuispinnis), the wrasse testis cDNA library was screened using the $^{32}$ P-labeled PCR products, which were amplified with the degenerate primers from conserved DM-domain regions of several DMRT genes. Among a few positives obtained through screening, the full length wDMRT cDNA of 2.9kb size encoding a predicted 300 amino acid residues was isolated. The sequence analysis exhibited 60%, 43% sequence identity with rainbow trout and tilapia DMRT1, respectively. RT-PCR assay showed that wDMRT was expressed specifically in male testis. Also, wDMRT gene was strongly expressed in May during reproductive season, when the reproductivity of wrasse is most active. This results suggested that wDMRT gene function in testis differentiation The conserved DM-domain regions were amplified using PCR from DMRT genes of several species among Labridae, and their sequences were determined. The sequence of DM-domain region of Halichoeres. tenuispinis was identical to those of Pseudolabrus japonicus, Pteragogus flagellifera, and showed 94% identity with that of Halichoeres poecioptrerus.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.626-631
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• 2001

Lactobacilli have been considered to play important roles in the health of human vagina. They secrete inhibitory substances to prevent vaginal infection by pathogenic organisms. In a previous study, we have isolated several lactobacilli from Korean woman and one of them (KLB46) was selected and indentified as Lactobacillu crispatus which showed high antimicrobial activity. In this study. cold adaptation prior to subsequent stresses exposure was examined whether L. crispatus KLB46 maintain the viability better than the non-adapted calls under stresses. For pharmaceutical formulation, the lyophilization process is required where stresses such as freezing/thawing and dehydration are routinely applied. Formulated L. crispatus KLB46 can be used for ecological treatment of bacterial vaginosis. The response of cold-adapted cells to other environmental stresses such as acid, heat, ethanol, NaCl, and H$_2$O$_2$ was also examined. The results showed that cold-adapted cells maintained higher survival rate compared with the non-adapted cells (freezing-thawing. 3-folds; dehydration: 3-folds; acid, 3-folds; heat, 10-folds). However, we did net observe any positive effect of cold adaptation on other stresses such as ethanol, NaCl and H$_2$O$_2$. When chloramphenicol was added during cold adaptation, adaptation effect was abolished. This confirms that de novo protein synthesis is necessary during the adaptation process. Moreover, we have identified cold shock protein homolog that codes for a major cold shock protein by PCR amplification using degenerate primers.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2002

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a cysteine proteinase of the Acanthamoeba healui OC-3A strain isolated from the brain of a granulomatous amoebic encephalitis patient. A DNA probe for an A. healui cDNA library screening was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of conserved amino acids franking the active sites of cysteine and asparagine residues that are conserved in the eukaryotic cysteine proteinases. Cysteine proteinase gene of A. healui (AhCPI) was composed of 330 amino acids with signal sequence, a proposed pro-domain and a predicted active site made up of the catalytic residues, $Cys^{25},{\;}His^{159},{\;}and{\;}Asn^{175}$. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicates that AhCPI belong to ERFNIN subfamily of C 1 peptidases. By Northern blot analysis. no direct correlation was observed between AhCPI mRNA expression and virulence of Acanthamoeba, but the gene was expressed at higher level in amoebae isolated from soil than amoeba from clinical samples. These findings raise the possibility that AhCPI protein may play a role in protein metabolism and digestion of phagocytosed bacteria or host tissue debris rather than in invasion of amoebae into host tissue.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.742-753
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• 2012

Copper-containing compounds are introduced into the environment through agricultural chemicals, mining, and metal industries and cause severe detrimental effects on ecosystems. Certain microorganisms exposed to these stressors exhibit molecular mechanisms to maintain intracellular copper homeostasis and avoid toxicity. We have previously reported that the soil bacterial isolate Achromobacter sp. AO22 is multi-heavy metal tolerant and exhibits a mer operon associated with a Tn21 type transposon. The present study reports that AO22 also hosts a unique cop locus encoding copper homeostasis determinants. The putative cop genes were amplified from the strain AO22 using degenerate primers based on reported cop and pco sequences, and a constructed 10,552 base pair contig (GenBank Accession No. GU929214). BLAST analyses of the sequence revealed a unique cop locus of 10 complete open reading frames, designated copSRABGOFCDK, with unusual separation of copCD from copAB. The promoter areas exhibit two putative cop boxes, and copRS appear to be transcribed divergently from other genes. The putative protein CopA may be a copper oxidase involved in export to the periplasm, CopB is likely extracytoplasmic, CopC may be periplasmic, CopD is cytoplasmic/inner membrane, CopF is a P-type ATPase, and CopG, CopO, and CopK are likely copper chaperones. CopA, B, C, and D exhibit several potential copper ligands and CopS and CopR exhibit features of two-component regulatory systems. Sequences flanking indicate the AO22 cop locus may be present within a genomic island. Achromobacter sp. strain AO22 is thus an ideal candidate for understanding copper homeostasis mechanisms and exploiting them for copper biosensor or biosorption systems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1440-1445
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• 2010

Rhodococcus sp. JDC-11, capable of utilizing di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as the sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from sewage sludge and confirmed mainly based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The optimum pH, temperature, and agitation rate for DBP degradation by Rhodococcus sp. JDC-11 were 8.0, $30^{\circ}C$, and 175 rpm, respectively. In addition, low concentrations of glucose were found to inhibit the degradation of DBP, whereas high concentrations of glucose increased its degradation. Meanwhile, a substrate utilization test showed that JDC-11 was also able to utilize other phthalates. The major metabolites of DBP degradation were identified as monobutyl phthalate and phthalic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, allowing speculation on the tentative metabolic pathway of DBP degradation by Rhodococcus sp. JDC-11. Using a set of new degenerate primers, a partial sequence of the 3,4-phthalate dioxygenase gene was obtained from JDC-11. Moreover, a sequence analysis revealed that the phthalate dioxygenase gene of JDC-11 was highly homologous to the large subunit of the phthalate dioxygenase from Rhodococcus coprophilus strain G9.