• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.42.1-42.23
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• 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, one of the most deadly infections in humans. The emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mtb strains presents a global challenge. Mtb has shown resistance to many frontline antibiotics, including rifampicin, kanamycin, isoniazid, and capreomycin. The only licensed vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, does not efficiently protect against adult pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop new vaccines to prevent infections caused by these strains. We used a subtractive proteomics approach on 23 virulent Mtb strains and identified a conserved membrane protein (MmpL4, NP_214964.1) as both a potential drug target and vaccine candidate. MmpL4 is a non-homologous essential protein in the host and is involved in the pathogen-specific pathway. Furthermore, MmpL4 shows no homology with anti-targets and has limited homology to human gut microflora, potentially reducing the likelihood of adverse effects and cross-reactivity if therapeutics specific to this protein are developed. Subsequently, we constructed a highly soluble, safe, antigenic, and stable multi-subunit vaccine from the MmpL4 protein using immunoinformatics. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the stability of the vaccine-bound Tolllike receptor-4 complex on a nanosecond scale, and immune simulations indicated strong primary and secondary immune responses in the host. Therefore, our study identifies a new target that could expedite the design of effective therapeutics, and the designed vaccine should be validated. Future directions include an extensive molecular interaction analysis, in silico cloning, wet-lab experiments, and evaluation and comparison of the designed candidate as both a DNA vaccine and protein vaccine.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2014

The harshness of legionellosis differs from mild Pontiac fever to potentially fatal Legionnaire's disease. The increasing development of drug resistance against legionellosis has led to explore new novel drug targets. It has been found that phosphoglucosamine mutase, phosphomannomutase, and phosphoglyceromutase enzymes can be used as the most probable therapeutic drug targets through extensive data mining. Phosphoglucosamine mutase is involved in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. The purpose of this study was to predict the potential target of that specific drug. For this, the 3D structure of phosphoglucosamine mutase of Legionella pneumophila (strain Paris) was determined by means of homology modeling through Phyre2 and refined by ModRefiner. Then, the designed model was evaluated with a structure validation program, for instance, PROCHECK, ERRAT, Verify3D, and QMEAN, for further structural analysis. Secondary structural features were determined through self-optimized prediction method with alignment (SOPMA) and interacting networks by STRING. Consequently, we performed molecular docking studies. The analytical result of PROCHECK showed that 95.0% of the residues are in the most favored region, 4.50% are in the additional allowed region and 0.50% are in the generously allowed region of the Ramachandran plot. Verify3D graph value indicates a score of 0.71 and 89.791, 1.11 for ERRAT and QMEAN respectively. Arg419, Thr414, Ser412, and Thr9 were found to dock the substrate for the most favorable binding of S-mercaptocysteine. However, these findings from this current study will pave the way for further extensive investigation of this enzyme in wet lab experiments and in that way assist drug design against legionellosis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.260-264
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• 2006

Talaromyces flavus mediates the transmission of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) to several host plants. The ASGV-F carried by T.flavus was partially purified from the fungus. Based on sequence analysis and homology searches, this is closely related to other ASGV strains isolated from host plants. The partially purified viral coat protein (CP) was separated on a 12% SDS-polyacrylamide gel and analyzed by Western blotting with an ASGV anti-serum. A single band at 28 kDa reacted with the ASGV anti-serum. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF-l showed conserved domains, including an NTP-binding helicase motif, GFAGSGKT. The amino acid sequences of the helicase and CP showed strong homology to other ASGV strains (98%). All ASGV isolated from plants and fungi had salt bridges composed of the CP and the GFAGSGKT motif of the helicase, which are commonly conserved in plant viruses. These results suggest that ASGV-F is one of ASGV strains isolated from T.flavus based on sequence similarity as well as the serological analysis of CP.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2001

Tentative identification of Leuconostoc lactis IH23 isolated from kimchi (a fermented vegetable product) has been described previously with 16S rDNA sequencing (Choi, 1., M. Sc. Thesis Inha Univ.1999). This strain produced the slime identified as dextran based on IR, $\^$13/C- and $^1$H-NMR spectroscopic results. Further study proved that the isolate IH23 belongs to a homogeneous genetic group with L. lactis DSM 20202$\^$T/ and L. argentinum DSM 8581$\^$T/. The results showed DNA-DNA homology of 99-100%, 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity (97.7% ), and a phylogenetic relationship although L. argentinum DSM 8581$\^$T/ had lower homology (80-91%). These data indicate that L. argentinum DSM 8581$\^$T/ and the isolate IH23 belong to an identical species with L. lactis DSM 20202$\^$T/at the genetic level, although in carbohydrate fermentation, the isolate IH23 was mast closely related to L. argentinum DSM 8581$\^$T/ and quite different from L. lactis DSM 20202$\^$T/. Here we first report the isolation of consistent phenotypic variation in Leuconostoc lactis. We also emphasize that the nomenclature of subspecies needs to be differentiated into the three strains mentioned above in Leuconostoc lactis.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.39-39
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• 2003

Methylation of DNA 5-cytosine in mammalian early embryo affects great deal in nuclear reprogramming and chromatin remodeling of developing embryo. Current efforts to clone and produce cloned animals including transgenic animals face various problems including low birth rate, irregular development, and so on. In this report, cDNA for the one of house keeping methyltransfcrase, Dnmt1 was cloned from bovine somatic tissues and was analyzed for its nucleotide sequences to investigate the structure and function of the gene in bovine early development. Nucleotide sequence of bovine Dnmt1 homologue showed 76.8% identity with that of human Dnmtl and 66.4% with mouse Dnmt1. Translated amino acid sequence showed 88.4% homology with human homologue and 75.8% homology with mouse counterpart. Three types of Dnmt1 are reported in mouse and human, and are likely present in bovine tissues. Understanding of role of Dnmt1 in bovine development may shed a light in the field of animal, especially bovine cloning.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2017

Clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a new and effective genetic editing tool. CRISPR was initially found in bacteria to protect it from virus invasions. In the first step, specific DNA strands of virus are identified by guide RNA that is composed of crRNA and tracrRNA. Then RNAse III is required for producing crRNA from pre-crRNA. In The second step, a crRNA:tracrRNA:Cas9 complex guides RNase III to cleave target DNA. After cleavage of DNA by CRISPR-Cas9, DNA can be fixed by Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homology Directed Repair (HDR). Whereas NHEJ is simple and random, HDR is much more complex and accurate. Gene editing by CRISPR is able to be applied to various biological field such as agriculture and treating genetic diseases in human.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.519-525
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• 1998

Intraspecific genetic diversity of Korean isolates of Phytophthora drechsleri was investigated based on PCR-RFLP of rDNA along with closely related species in the genus; P. cryptogea, P. melonis, P. erythroseptica, P. cinnamomi, P. cambivora and P. cactorum. Gene regions of nuclear small subunit and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) in rDNA were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and digested with 9 restriction enzymes. Phytophthora species was readily differentiated from each other based on the digestion patterns, however, P. cryptogea was not separable from some isolates of P. drechsleri. Twenty one isolates of P. drechsleri originated from 15 host plants were divided into three distinct groups designated as PdG1, PdG2 and PdG3, respectively. Four isolates in PdG1 were originated from green vegetables and tomato and nine isolates in PdG2 were mainly isolated from medicinal plants. The two groups showed 95.3% homology and four isolates of P. cyptogea came under the groups. However, Eight isolates in PdG3 collected from cucurbits were clearly differentiated from those of PdG1 and PdG2 by 66.5% homology, but completely matched with a Taiwan isolate of P. melonis. Results indicated that three distinct groups exist in Korean isolates of P. drechleri and each group has host preference. In addition, reclassification of the cucurbits isolates are reserved because of their distinct genetic characters from other intraspecific groups in P. drechsleri.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2014

Clostridium chauvoei is the etiologic agent of blackleg, a high mortality rated disease infection mainly cattle. In the present study, the partial sequences of 16S rRNA and flagellin gene of C. chauvoei isolated in Jeonbuk, Korea were determined and compared with those of reference strain. Oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 811 bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene and 1229 bp fragment of flagellin gene. Sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA gene showed high homology to the reference strains ranging 82.3% to 100%, while flagellin gene were different from published foreign clostridia, showing 98.7% to 72.0% nucleotide sequence homology. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene revealed the close phylogenetic relationship of C. chauvoei and C. septicum in cluster I, which includes C. carnis, C. tertium, C. quinii, C. celatum, C. perfringens, C. absonum, C. botulinum B. Phylogentic analysis also revealed that flagellin gene formed a single cluster with C. chauvoei, C. septicum, C. novyi A, C. novyi B, C. tyrobutylicum, C. acetobutylicum. The genetic informations obtained from this study could be useful for the molecular study of C. chauvoei.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.355-359
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• 1998

Among the proteins secreted from Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3151, a 36 kDA and 24 kDa protein, whose amounts were relatively abundant, were purified and their N-terminal amino acid sequences determined. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 36 kDa protein exhibited high homology with thymidine phosphorylase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 24 kDa protein did not show significant homology with proteins in Protein Data Base nor Gene Bank. Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding 36 kDa protein indicates that the protein possesses the domains for a-helical, phosphate binding and pyrimidine binding sites, which are also shown in thymidine phosphorylases. Also, the protein contains conserved domains of dehydrogenase II and III. However, the activity of thymidine phosphorylase or glyceraldehyde-3-puospnate dehydrogenase could not be detected in the purified fractions of the 36 kDa protein.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2003

Tissue culture techniques arguably are an important approach for ex situ conservation of rare and endangered plant species. However, there is utmost importance on maintaining the genetic integrity of the introduced plants especially in tree species. To examine the genetic integrity of the micropropagated plants, we randomly screened few hardened plants of Syzygium travancoricum, a critically endangered tree taxon, using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Twenty-three random. primers were tried and twenty-five polymorphic loci were identified. The dendrogram based on the Unweighted Pair-Group Method Arithmetic Average and Nei's similarity index depicted about 97% homology between the mother plants and micropropagated plants. Further, an attempt was made to reintroduce the micropropagated plants in the wild. Over three hundred small trees could be successfully established.