• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.422-429
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• 2022

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome contains a positive-sense single-stranded RNA molecule, and it is classified into 8 genotypes and 87 subtypes. Globally, over 350,000 people die from liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma caused by HCV each year. Here, the genotype distribution of HCV was estimated in the population in Cheonan, Korea using Sanger sequencing. In addition, the correlation between HCV RNA level and genotype was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR); similarly, the correlation of HCV RNA level with isolation year (2007-2016) was determined using 463 consecutive serum samples obtained from patients at Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. In 2007, genotype 1b (54.2%) was predominant, followed by genotypes 2a (41.7%), 1a (2.1%) and 3a (2.1%); whereas in 2016, the predominant genotype was 2a (49.0%), followed by genotypes 1b (46.9%), 3b (2%), and 4a (2%). Neither age nor sex was correlated with HCV genotype. Furthermore, the mean HCV RNA level decreased significantly from 2012 to 2016 (p < 0.05). However, no significant correlations between genotype and HCV RNA level were found. Overall, the findings revealed that genotypes 2a and 1b were the most common in Cheonan, and the prevalence of HCV genotype 1b tended to decrease over the past decade.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2007

HCV is a single-stranded RNA virus and more than 1 million new cases are reported annually worldwide. The six major HCV genotypes and numerous subtypes vary in their geographic distribution. It is thought that genetic heterogeneity of HCV may account for some of the differences in disease outcome and response to treatment observed in HCV infected persons. In this study, we determined HCV genotypes among chronic Korean HCV patients and evaluated direct sequence PCR protocols developed. For the study, 232 chronic HCV patient sera were used. HCV RNA was extracted and two pairs of consensus PCR primers were selected in 5'UTR region for amplification of HCV RNA. Amplification products obtained from the HCV positive cases were subjected to automatic sequencing. Sequences were compared with those in GenBank by using the BLAST program. From this study, five HCV genotypes, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a were found. HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were not determined. HCV genotype 1b (53.9%, 125/232) and 2a (35.8%, 83/232) were most frequently found. This group was followed by 2b (3.9%, 9/232), 3a (3.4%, 8/232) and 2c (3.0%, 7/232). The data presented here suggest a complex distribution of HCV types and they were well correlated with other reports on Koreans and will be helpful for type-specific follow-up of Korean HCV patients. This study showed that 5'UTR direct sequence analysis is a sensitive and rapid method to identify HCV genotypes.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-203
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• 2022

Background: Direct-acting antivirals are recommended for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus in Korea. However, evaluation of direct-acting antiviral regimens in a real-world setting is limited. The aims of this study were to investigate the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antiviral treatment in Korean patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b or 2 at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted with patient data obtained between August 2015 and August 2019 at Jeonbuk National University Hospital. The primary effectiveness endpoint was sustained virological response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) via intention-to-treat (ITT) and modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analyses. Results: Of the 270 patients, 47.0% were infected with genotype 1b and 53.0% with genotype 2. ITT analysis revealed that SVR12 was achieved in 78.9% of all patients, 77.2% in genotype 1b patients, and 80.4% in genotype 2 patients. Of the 21.1% of all patients who did not achieve SVR12, the majority of treatment failures were non-virologic failures (19.7%). mITT analysis revealed that SVR12 was achieved in 98.2% of all patients, 98.0% in genotype 1b patients, and 98.3% in genotype 2 patients. Almost half of all patients experienced one or more adverse events (43.3%), leading to 2.6% discontinuing scheduled treatment. The most common adverse event was anemia. Conclusions: Direct-acting antiviral-based treatment regimens showed high effectiveness and safety. Non-virological factors, such as premature treatment discontinuation due to adverse events or loss of follow-up, were the major disruptors in achieving SVR12.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.299-310
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• 2005

The severe form of chronic periodontitis(CP) has been reported to be strongly associated with the presence of allele 2 of composite IL-1B(+3954) and IL-1A(+4845) genetic polymorphisms(genotype positive). However, other studies have reported conflicting findings. These might have resulted from differences in ethnic background and disease entities. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of IL-1A(+4845), IL-1B(+3954), IL-1B(-511), and IL-1 RN(VNTR) genetic polymorphisms in children as a future Korean population. The study population consisted of 92 children from the Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, Chonnam National University Hospital. Genomic DNA was obtained from buccal swab. The IL-1A(+4845), IL-1B(+3954), and IL-1B(-511) genes were genotyped by amplifying the polymorphic region using multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR), followed by restriction enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis. IL-1 RN(VNTR) polymorphism were then evaluated by PCR amplification and fragment size analysis in agarose gel. The allele 2 frequency was 41.3%, 4.3%, 47.8%, and 9.9% for IL-1A(+4845), IL-1B(+3954), IL-1B(-511), and IL-1 RN respectively. The frequency of genotype with allele 2 carriage for IL-1A(+4845), IL-1B(+3954), IL-1B(-511), and IL-1 RN was 77.1%, 7.6%, 63.0%, and 15.2% respectively. The allele 2 frequency in IL-1B(+3954) was significantly higher in female than in male population(p<0.05). The negative association was shown between the presence of allele 2 in IL-1B(-511) and in IL-1B(+3954), and the carriage rate of IL-1B(+3954) allele 2 tended to lower in IL-1B(-511) allele 2(P=0.056). Only 7.3% of children carried the composite genotype of IL-1A(+4845) and IL-1B(+3954). These results suggest that the polymorphism of IL-1B(+3954) and the positive composite genotype was relatively rare in Korean population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1873-1880
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• 2015

Background: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) on patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with peginterferon and ribavirin (pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RBV) identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on chromosome 19 (rs12979860) which was strongly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of this study was twofold: to study the relationship between IL28B rs12979860 and sustained virological response (SVR) to pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RVB therapy among CHC patients and to detect the rs12979860 polymorphism by high resolution melting curve (HRM) assay as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Materials and Methods: The study examined outcomes in 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C in 2 provinces of Iran from December 2011 to June 2013. Two methods were applied to detect IL28B polymorphisms: PCR-sequencing as a gold standard method and HRM as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Results: The frequencies of IL28B rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT alleles in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1a patients were 10% (10/100), 35% (35/100), and 6% (6/100) and in genotype 3a were 13% (13/100), 31% (31/100), and 5% (5/100), respectively. In genotype 3a infected patients, rs12979860 (CC and CT alleles) and in genotype 1a infected patients (CC allele) were significantly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The SVR rates for CC, CT and TT (IL28B rs12979860) were 18%, 34% and 4%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two independent factors that were significantly associated with SVR: IL-28B genotype (rs 12979860 CC vs TT and CT; odds ratio [ORs], 7.86 and 4.084, respectively), and HCV subtype 1a (OR, 7.46). In the present study, an association between SVR rates and IL28B polymorphisms was observed. Conclusions: The HRM assay described herein is rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and accurate for detecting rs12979860 alleles in CHC patients. This method can be readily adopted by any molecular diagnostic laboratory with HRM capability and will be clinically beneficial in predicting treatment response in HCV genotype 1 and 3 infected patients. In addition, it was demonstrated that CC and CT alleles in HCV-3a and the CC allele in HCV-1a were significantly associated with response to pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RBV treatment. The present results may help identify subjects for whom the therapy might be successful.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 2018

We developed and subsequently characterized mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against nervous necrosis virus (NNV, RGNNV genotype). We established six hybridoma clones secreting MAbs against NNV antigen: 2B1, 2B11, 2C12, 13C1-1, 13C1-2 and 14D11. All six MAbs belonged to the IgG2a isotype with a kappa light chain and their reactivity recognized against the 41 kDa coat protein of NNV by Western blot analysis. The affinity constants of the six MAbs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All six MAbs reacted with two NNV isolates (SgNag05 and Gemunodo06), while no reactivity was observed with five know fish viruses, namely marine birnavirus, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, hirame rhabdovirus, and infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus. Moreover, high ELISA optical density (OD) values (0.87-1.42) were observed in the brain tissues of NNV-infected sevenband grouper, while low OD values (less than 0.12) were recorded in the brain tissues of uninfected fish. These results suggest that these six MAbs are highly competent and useful for the detection of NNV with the RGNNV genotype.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4643-4646
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• 2016

The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) delta 32 allele results in a nonfunctional form of the chemokine receptor and has been implicated in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. $CCR5{\Delta}32$ may also predispose one to chronic liver disease or be linked with resistance to HBV infection. This study was undertaken to investigate any association between CCR5 polymorphism with resistance to hepatitis B or susceptibility to HBV infection. A total of 812 Iranian individuals were enrolled into two groups: HBV infected cases (n=357), who were HBsAg-positive, and healthy controls (n=455). We assessed polymorphisms in the CCR5 gene using specific CCR5 oligonucleotide primers surrounding the breakpoint deletion. Genotype distributions of the HBV infected cases and healthy controls were determined and compared. The CCR5/CCR5 (WW) and $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) genotypes were found in (98%) and (2%) of HBV infected cases, respectively. The $CCR5{\Delta}32/{\Delta}32$genotype was not found in HBV infected cases. Genotype distributions of CCR5 in healthy controls were W/W genotype in (87.3%), W/D genotype in (11.2%) and D/D genotype in (1.5%). Heterozygosity for $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) in healthy controls was greater than in HBV infected cases (11.2% vs 2%, p < 0.001). W/D and D/D genotypes were more prominent in healthy controls than in HBV infected cases. This study provides evidence that the $CCR5{\Delta}32$ polymorphism may have a protective effect in resistance to HBV infection at least in the Iranian population.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.302-307
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• 2006

Two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) types, type 1 and type 2, maintain the same allelic specificity at four genomic loci encoding the EBNA2, -3A, -3B, and -3C proteins. We have previously described 16 EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Korean cancer patients, and the EBNA2 types of the EBV isolates therein. In this study, the allelic types of the EBNA2, -3A, -3B, and -3C genes of these EBV isolates were determined. We report the identification of two distinct types of naturally occurring intertypic recombinants, one with genotype EBNA2 type1/EBN3A, -3B, -3C type 2 and the other with genotype EBNA2, -3A type 1/EBNA3B, -3C type 2. The existence of these intertypic recombinants indicates that various intertypic EBV strains may be circulating in the human population, in addition to typical EBV-1 and EBV-2 strains.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2002

The abuse of dextromethorphan has been prevalent for 15 years in Korea and its fatal cases were reported even though it has proved to be very safe. In this study, to investigate the safety and tolerance assessment of dextromethorphan, the metabolic phenotyping and genotype of dextromethorphan were studied. After a single 30 mg of dextromethorphan oral administration to 74 volunteers, concentration of dextromethorphan and its metabolites, dextrorphan, hydroxymorphinan and methoxymorphinan were measured in urine which collected during 8hrs after the drug administration. CYP2D6 phenotype was determined from the ratio of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan. GC/MS was used to quantify dextromethorphan and its metabolites. For genotyping, mutant alleles of the CYP2D6 gene were identified. 24 subjects (32.4％) were homozygous for CYP2D6＊10B, 29 subjects (39.2％) were heterozygous for this allele, while in 21 subjects (28.4％) no exon 1 mutation could be found. The frequency of CYP2D6＊10B-allele containing the 188C T mutation was 54％ of total subjects studied.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2012

To investigate the influence of the prolactin receptor 3 (PRLR3) gene and the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene on the production traits of swine, genotyping was performed on 156 and 141 Berkshire pigs, respectively, that were carefully selected for economic traits. The frequencies of allele A in the PRLR3 locus and allele B in the RBP4 locus were 0.50 and 0.42, respectively. Neither locus was in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. After a genotype was assigned to the individuals whose parents had the homozygous genotype, a statistical analysis was conducted for 291 pigs. The animals with the PRLR3 and RBP4 genotypes included 182 and 227 head, respectively. Even though the genotypic effects of PRLR3 (p<0.05) and RBP4 (p<0.01) had a significant influence on the pigs' back fat thickness, the interaction of both genes was not highly significant in terms of the back fat thickness (p = 0.1235). While the estimated epistasis effects of aaBB and aaBb decreased the back fat thickness and reduced the growth rate, the effects of AAbb and aabb increased the growth rate. Despite the insignificant difference in the PRLR genotypes in terms of the days to 90 kg and the average daily gain, the back fat thickness showed a significant difference (p<0.05), and the additive effect of allele A and the dominant effect of the hetero-genotype were -0.377 and 1.206 mm, respectively. The RBP4 genotypes had a very significant effect (p<0.01) on the back fat thickness, the days to 90 kg, and the average daily gain. The additive effects of allele B of the RBP4 locus on the back fat thickness, the days to 90 kg, and the average daily gain were 0.70 mm, -1.3 days and 6.2 g, respectively. Moreover, the dominant effects of the heterozygote for those traits were 0.63 mm, 9.9 days and -45.0 g, respectively. Allele A of the PRLR3 locus favorably influenced the back fat thickness, the days to 90 kg of the body weight, and the average daily gain and its dominant effect unfavorably influenced those traits. Allele B of RBP4 showed an incremental growth rate and back fat thickness, which could lower the lean meat percentage in the carcass. The RBP4 hetero-genotype negatively affected the pork production. These results strongly imply that the selection of allele A of PRLR3 and allele B of RBP4 would produce highly productive pigs in the Berkshire breed. Careful selection of allele B of RBP4 is required because of the increase in the back fat thickness.