• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.11 no.1_2
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

Asthma and allergic rhinitis due to outdoor spider mites are major health problems worldwide. The sensitization route to spider mites has not yet been well elucidated. We examined the microstructure of faecal pellets and silk of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Black and white pellets of the two-spotted spider mites faeces contain a large amount of plant pigment waste products. Black faecal pellets are strawberry-shaped. White faecal pellets are silken threads. These pellets are likely to be the source of allergens of relevant mites because desiccated faeces particles probably disintegrate and become incorporated into dust particles more readily than whole bodies or encased internal organs. We conclude that the importance of spider mites in respiratory allergy needs emphasis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2007

The release of genetically modified organisms ($GMO_{s}$) into the environment has the potential risks regarding the possibility of gene transfer from $GMO_{s}$ to natural organisms and this needs to be evaluated. This study was conducted to monitor the possible horizontal gene transfer from herbicide-resistant zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) to indigenous microorganisms. We have first examined the effect of field-released GM zoysiagrass on the microbial flora in the gut of locust (Locusts mlgratoria). The microbial flora was analyzed through determining the 165 rDHA sequences of microorganisms. The comparison of the microbial flora in the gut of locusts that were captured at the field of GM zoysiagrass and of wild-type revealed that there is no noticeable difference between these two groups. This result indicates that the GM zoysiagrass does not have negative impact on microbial flora in the gut of locust. We then investigated whether the horizontal gene transfer occurred from GM zoysiagrass to microbes in soil, rhizosphere and faecal pellets from locusts by utilizing molecular tools such as Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When the total DNAs isolated from microbes in GM zoysiagrass and in wild-type zoysiagrass fields were hybridized with probes for bar or hpt gene, no hybridization signal was detected from both field isolates, while the probes were hybridized with DNA from the positive control. Absence of these genes in the FNAs of soil microorganisms as well as microbes in the gut of locust was further confirmed by PCR. Taken together, our data showed that horizontal gene transfer did not occur in this system. These results further indicate that frequencies of transfer of engineered plant DNA to bacteria are likely to be negligible.