• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.84-89
• /
• 2013

The incidence factors of Rice stripe virus (RSV) were analyzed by studying the population density and the viruliferous insect rate (VIR) of small brown planthopper (SBPH), the incidence of stripe disease, alternate host, and susceptible cultivar in Chungnam Province. The population of overwintering SBPH had been decreasing, but the VIR of overwintering SBPH had not been differing for three years, 2008 to 2010. No RSV was detected in the natural host plants, such as short awn, annual bluegrass, and barley. In 2009, relatively large population of SBPH with the VIR of 5.4% migrated from China. However, there was no evidence relating of migration large amount of SBPH from China in 2008 and 2010. Also the infection rate of RSV in rice was less than 1% in these periods. The cultivation area of the susceptible varieties had steadily decreased from 41% to 19% from 2007 to 2009. Therefore, the reduction factors of rice stripe disease in Chungnam Province with higher influx of inoculum could be with an appropriate forecasting and chemical control, cultivation of resistant varieties, changes in the cropping system, and the low winter-spring temperature.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2020

Avian influenza (AI) viruses are highly contagious viruses that infect many bird species and are zoonotic. Ducks are resistant to the deadly and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and remain asymptomatic to the low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). In this study, we identified common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after a reanalysis of previous transcriptomic data for the HPAIV and LPAIV infected duck lung cells. Microarray datasets from a previous study were reanalyzed to identify common target genes from DEGs and their biological functions. A total of 731 and 439 DEGs were identified in HPAIV- and LPAIV-infected duck lung cells, respectively. Of these, 227 genes were common to cells infected with both viruses, in which 193 genes were upregulated and 34 genes were downregulated. Functional annotation of common DEGs revealed that translation related gene ontology (GO) terms were enriched, including ribosome, protein metabolism, and gene expression. REACTOME analyses also identified pathways for protein and RNA metabolism as well as for tissue repair, including collagen biosynthesis and modification, suggesting that AIVs may evade the host defense system by suppressing host translation machinery or may be suppressed before being exported to the cytosol for translation. AIV infection also increased collagen synthesis, showing that tissue lesions by virus infection may be mediated by this pathway. Further studies should focus on these genes to clarify their roles in AIV pathogenesis and their possible use in AIV therapeutics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.555-562
• /
• 2012

PCR was performed to analyze the ${\beta}$-lactamase genes carried by ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains isolated from marine environments in Korea between 2006 and 2009. All 36 strains tested showed negative results in PCR with the primers designed from the nucleotide sequences of various known ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. This prompted us to screen new ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. A novel ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was cloned from Vibrio alginolyticus KV3 isolated from the aquaculture water of Geoje Island of Korea. The determined nucleotide sequence (VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase) revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 852 bp, encoding a protein of 283 amino acids (aa), which displayed low homology to any other ${\beta}$-lactamase genes reported in public databases. The deduced 283 aa sequence of VAK-3, consisting of a 19 aa signal peptide and a 264 aa mature protein, contained highly conserved peptide segments specific to class A ${\beta}$-lactamases including the specific amino acid residues STFK (62-65), SDN (122-124), E (158), and RTG (226-228). Results from PCR performed with primers specific to the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene identified 3 of the 36 isolated strains as V. alginolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, indicating the utilization of various ${\beta}$-lactamase genes including unidentified ones in ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains from the marine environment. In a mating experiment, none of the isolates transfered the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene to the Escherichia coli recipient. This lack of mobility, and the presence of a chromosomal acyl-CoA flanking sequence upstream of the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene, led to the assumption that the location of this new ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was in the chromosome, rather than the mobile plasmid. Antibiotic susceptibility of VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase was indicated by elevated levels of resistance to penicillins, but not to cephalosporins in the wild type and E. coli harboring recombinant plasmid pKV-3, compared with those of the host strain alone. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase is a new and separate member of class A ${\beta}$-lactamases.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.259-265
• /
• 2002

Apple mosaic virus (ApMV), a member of the genus Ilarvirus, was detected and isolated from diseased 'Fuji' apple (Malus domestica) in Korea. The coat protein (CP) genes of two ApMV strains, denoted as ApMV-Kl and ApMV-K2, were amplified by using the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and were analyzed thereafter. The objectives were to define the molecular variability of genomic information of ApMV found in Korea and to develop virus-derived resistant gene source for making virus-resistant trans-genic apple. RT-PCR amplicons for the APMVS were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The CPs of ApMV-Kl and ApMV-K2 consisted of 222 and 232 amino acid residues, respectively. The identities of the CPs of the two Korean APMVS were 93.1% and 85.6% at the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively. The CP of ApMV-Kl showed 46.1-100% and 43.2-100% identities to eight different ApMV strains at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. When ApMV-PV32 strain was not included in the analysis, ApMV strains shared over 83.0% and 78.6% homologies at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. ApMV strains showed heterogeneity in CP size and sequence variability. Most of the amino acid residue differences were located at the N-termini of the strains of ApMV, whereas, the middle regions and C-termini were remarkably conserved. The APMVS were 17.(1-54.5% identical with three other species of the genus Ilarviyus. ApMV strains can be classified into three subgroups (subgroups I, II, and III) based on the phylogenetic analysis of CP gene in both nucleotide and amino acid levels. Interestingly, all the strains of subgroup I were isolated from apple plants, while the strains of subgroups II and III were originated from peach, hop, or pear, The results suggest that ApMV strains co-evolved with their host plants, which may have resulted in the CP heterogeneity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.976-986
• /
• 2018

Knowledge about the gut bacterial communities associated with insects is essential to understand their roles in the physiology of the host. In the present study, the gut bacterial communities of a laboratory-reared insecticide-susceptible (IS), and a field-collected insecticide-resistant (IR) population of a major rice pest, the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, were evaluated. The deep-sequencing analysis of the V3 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed using Illumina and the sequence data were processed using QIIME. The toxicological bioassays showed that compared with the IS population, IR population exhibited 7.9-, 6.7-, 14.8-, and 18.7-fold resistance to acephate, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and buprofezin, respectively. The analysis of the alpha diversity indicated a higher bacterial diversity and richness associated with the IR population. The dominant phylum in the IS population was Proteobacteria (99.86%), whereas the IR population consisted of Firmicutes (46.06%), followed by Bacteroidetes (30.8%) and Proteobacteria (15.49%). Morganella, Weissella, and Enterococcus were among the genera shared between the two populations and might form the core bacteria associated with N. lugens. The taxonomic-to-phenotypic mapping revealed the presence of ammonia oxidizers, nitrogen fixers, sulfur oxidizers and reducers, xylan degraders, and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders in the metagenome of N. lugens. Interestingly, the IR population was found to be enriched with bacteria involved in detoxification functions. The results obtained in this study provide a basis for future studies elucidating the roles of the gut bacteria in the insecticide resistance-associated symbiotic relationship and on the design of novel strategies for the management of N. lugens.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1040-1046
• /
• 2017

We describe the isolation and characterization of six different intestinal microorganisms from the digestive tract of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, we obtained six isolates belonging to four different genera: Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Citrobacter, and Proteus. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Ampicillin is an irreversible inhibitor of the enzymeetranspeptidase, which is needed to make bacterial cell walls. None of the isolates were resistant to kanamycin, which binds to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and then inhibits total protein synthesis. Gram staining was conducted, in addition to morphological classification under a microscope. Four grampositive isolates and two gram-negative isolates were detected. The gram-positive isolates were GL1 (round shaped, 2 am in diameter), GL2 (rod shaped, $2.5{\mu}m$ in length), GL3 (rod shaped, $2{\mu}m$ in length), and GL4 (round shaped, $1.5{\mu}m$ in diameter). The gram-negative isolates were GL5 (rod shaped, $2{\mu}m$ in length) and GL6 (rod-shaped, $2.5{\mu}m$ in length). Notably, two of the isolates, GL2 and GL4, secreted specific extracellular proteins. These were determined by MALDI-TOF-MS spectral analysis to be a 87 kDa collagenase, 56 kDa hypothetical protein, and 200 kDa hypothetical protein. The six isolates in this study could be used for various biotechnological applications and pest management, both in the field and in greenhouse systems. In addition, it would be interesting to determine the relationship between these isolates and their host.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.32.1-32.15
• /
• 2020

Influenza virus is the major cause of seasonal and pandemic flu. Currently, oseltamivir, a potent and selective inhibitor of neuraminidase of influenza A and B viruses, is the drug of choice for treating patients with influenza virus infection. However, recent emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses has limited its efficacy. Morin hydrate (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid isolated from Morus alba L. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects partly by the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, its effects on influenza virus have not been studied. We evaluated the antiviral activity of morin hydrate against influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (A/PR/8; H1N1) and oseltamivir-resistant A/PR/8 influenza viruses in vitro. To determine its mode of action, we carried out time course experiments, and time of addition, hemolysis inhibition, and hemagglutination assays. The effects of the co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir were assessed using the murine model of A/PR/8 infection. We found that morin hydrate reduced hemagglutination by A/PR/8 in vitro. It alleviated the symptoms of A/PR/8-infection, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α and CCL2, in infected mice. Co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir phosphate reduced the virus titers and attenuated pulmonary inflammation. Our results suggest that morin hydrate exhibits antiviral activity by inhibiting the entry of the virus.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.409-419
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to establish an efficient screening method for watermelon plants resistant to Fusarium wilt (FW), which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon). An HA isolate was prepared from a wilted watermelon plant in Haman-gun and identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum based on morphological characteristics, molecular analyses of ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and TEF (translation elongation factor $1{\alpha}$) sequences, and host specificity on cucurbits including watermelon, melon, oriental melon, and cucumber. The assay for disease response of watermelon differentials indicated that the HA isolate was race 0. Among seven liquid media tested, the highest amount of Fon spores was produced from V8-juice broth, which was selected as a medium for mass production of Fon. The disease assay for 21 watermelon and 11 watermelon-rootstock cultivars demonstrated that 20 watermelon cultivars except for 'Soknoranggul' were susceptible; 'Soknoranggul' was moderately resistant. All the tested rootstock cultivars were highly resistant to the HA isolate. The evaluation of disease development depending on various conditions suggested that an efficient screening method for FW resistance in watermelon plants is to dip the roots of 10-day-old seedlings in spore suspension of $1.0{\times}10^5-1.0{\times}10^6conidia{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ for 30 min., to transplant the seedlings to plastic pots with a fertilized soil, and then to cultivate the plants at $25^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1015-1024
• /
• 2023

Antibiotics have greatly contributed to the treatment and prevention of bacterial diseases in humans, animals, and fish. However, antibiotic misuse has led to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In addition to antibiotic discovery research, efforts are being made to combat such multidrug-resistant bacteria using antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, host immune enhancement, probiotics, and bacteriophages, as well as various symptomatic therapies. To discover novel bioactive compounds, it is crucial to adopt approaches that incorporate fresh ideas, new targets, innovative techniques, and untapped resources. Halophytes are plants that grow in high-salt soils and are known to adapt to salt-induced stress through unique metabolic processes that produce secondary metabolites. This study aimed to investigate the effects of extracts of halophytes native to Korea on oxidative stress and to determine whether they exert inhibitory activity against biofilms, which are major pathogenic factors of infectious bacteria. The Acinetobacter baumannii strain ATCC 17978, a representative drug-resistant bacterium, was used to measure anti-biofilm activity. The results showed that Aster spathulifolius, Carex kobomugi, Rosa rugosa, and Asparagus cochinchiensis exerted strong antioxidant and anti-biofilm effects without affecting bacterial growth itself. The halophytes used in this study are promising candidates for the development of pharmaceutical agents with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.160-170
• /
• 2016

The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has raised the interest in alternative antimicrobial treatments. In our study, the functionally active gram-negative bacterium bacteriophage CP933 endolysin was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by a combination of transient expression and vacuole targeting strategies, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. Expression of the cp933 gene in E. coli led to growth inhibition and lysis of the host cells or production of trace amounts of CP933. Cytoplasmic expression of the cp933 gene in plants using Potato virus X-based transient expression vectors (pP2C2S and pGR107) resulted in death of the apical portion of experimental plants. To protect plants against the toxic effects of the CP933 protein, the cp933 coding region was fused at its Nterminus to an N-terminal signal peptide from the potato proteinase inhibitor I to direct CP933 to the delta-type vacuoles. Plants producing the CP933 fusion protein did not exhibit the severe toxic effects seen with the unfused protein and the level of expression was 0.16 mg/g of plant tissue. Antimicrobial assays revealed that, in contrast to gram-negative bacterium E. coli (BL21(DE3)), the gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis was more susceptible to the plant-produced CP933, showing 18% growth inhibition. The results of our experiments demonstrate that the combination of transient expression and protein targeting to the delta vacuoles is a promising approach to produce functionally active proteins that exhibit toxicity when expressed in plant cells.