• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-194
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• 2002

Parasitism is a one-sided relationship between two organisms in which one benefits at the expense of the other. Parasitic dinoflagellates, particularly species of Amoebophrya, have long been thought to be a potential biological agent for controlling harmful algal bloom(HAB). Amoebophrya infections have been reported for over 40 species representing more than 24 dinoflagellate genera including a few toxic species. Parasitic dinoflagellates Amoebophrya spp. have a relatively simple life cycle consisting of an infective dispersal stage (dinospore), an intracellular growth stage(trophont), and an extracellular reproductive stage(vermiform). Biology of dinospores such as infectivity, survival, and ability to successfully infect host cells differs among dinoflagellate host-parasite systems. There are growing reports that Amoebophrya spp.(previously, collectively known as Amoebophrya ceratii) exhibit the strong host specificity and would be a species complex composed of several host-specific taxa, based on the marked differences in host-parasite biology, cross infection, and molecular genetic data. Dinoflagellates become reproductively incompetent and are eventually killed by the parasite once infected. During the infection cycle of the parasite, the infected host exhibits ecophysiologically different patterns from those of uninfected host in various ways. Photosynthetic performance in autotrophic dinoflagellates can be significantly altered following infection by parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya, with the magnitude of the effects over the infection cycle of the parasite depending on the site of infection. Parasitism by the parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya could have significant impacts on host behavior such as diel vertical migration. Parasitic dinoflagellates may not only stimulate rapid cycling of dissolved organic materials and/or trace metals but also would repackage the relatively large sized host biomass into a number of smaller dinospores, thereby leading to better retention of host's material and energy within the microbial loop. To better understand the roles of parasites in plankton ecology and harmful algal dynamics, further research on a variety of dinoflagellate host-parasite systems is needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.313-324
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• 2018

This article reviews Leptotrombidium deliense, including its discovery and nomenclature, morphological features and identification, life cycle, ecology, relationship with diseases, chromosomes and artificial cultivation. The first record of L. deliense was early in 1922 by Walch. Under the genus Leptotrombidium, there are many sibling species similar to L. deliense, which makes it difficult to differentiate L. deliense from another sibling chigger mites, for example, L. rubellum. The life cycle of the mite (L. deliense) includes 7 stages: egg, deutovum (or prelarva), larva, nymphochrysalis, nymph, imagochrysalis and adult. The mite has a wide geographical distribution with low host specificity, and it often appears in different regions and habitats and on many species of hosts. As a vector species of chigger mite, L. deliense is of great importance in transmitting scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease) in many parts of the world, especially in tropical regions of Southeast Asia. The seasonal fluctuation of the mite population varies in different geographical regions. The mite has been successfully cultured in the laboratory, facilitating research on its chromosomes, biochemistry and molecular biology.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.437-445
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• 2017

An analysis of recent studies and a field survey were conducted to investigate the distribution of the exotic species Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and the results' applicability for biological control against ragweed, which disturbs the island's ecosystem. The ragweed beetle (O. communa) can be found anywhere on the host plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., which grows in Jeju Island. Moreover, ragweed beetles possess the following characteristics: a high host plant specificity, a high-temperature resistance, an excellent mobility, and multivoltinism. Ragweed is extensively distributed and gradually expands its habitat further on Jeju Island. For this reason, it is recommended to take advantage of O. communa for the biological control of ragweed instead of pesticides or direct removal, considering that Jeju is endowed with many natural reserves and unique insular traits.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an important cash crop in Tanzania as a source of income to cashew growers and provides foreign exchange for the country. Despite its significance, the crop is threatened by fast spreading disease known as cashew Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Field assessment and laboratory tests were conducted to determine incidences of the disease, severity, ecological factors that influence them and explored the pathogen host specificity in six cashew growing districts. The results revealed significant (P<0.001) variation of disease incidences and severity among the studied districts. The results further revealed that there is both positive and negative correlation between the incidence and severity of the disease versus the evaluated ecological factors. The soil pH, soil temperature, air temperature, and relative humidity depicted positive correlation of disease incidence and severity versus ecological factors at ρ=0.50 and ρ=0.60, ρ=0.20 and ρ=0.94, ρ=0.11 and ρ=0.812, ρ=0.05 and ρ=0.771 respectively while nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon depicted negative correlations at ρ=-0.22 and ρ=-0.58, ρ=-0.15 and ρ=-0.94, ρ=-0.19 and ρ=-0.12 respectively. In terms of host range, none of the weed species was found to be a carrier of Fusarium pathogen implying that it is host specific or semi selective. The results revealed that the tested ecological parameters favor the growth and development of Fusarium pathogen. Thus, management of the disease requires nutrients replenishment and soil shading as essential components in developing appropriate strategies for the control and prevention of further spread of the disease.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.34-45
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the diversity and frequency of ectomycorrhizal fungi by cutting levels in Quercus acuta and Pinus densiflora stands from June to October, 2001. The obtained results from investigation were as follows, 1. The total of fungi found during the surveyed periods were 50 species, 30 genus, 15 families. The fungi belonged to Agaricales(37 species, 18 genus, 7 families), Aphllophorales(7 species, 6 genus, 3 families), Auriculariales(1 species, 1 genus, 1 families) and Gasteromycetes(5 species, 5 genus, 4 families), Basidiomycota. 2. The total number of putative ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies were 137 individuals, 22 species, 10 genus, 5 families, 79 individuals, 10 species, 6 genus, 3 families at strip-cutting area of Pinus densiflora stand, 24 individuals, 9 species, 5 genus, 4 families at strip-cutting area of Quercus acuta stand and 25 individuals, 10 species, 4 genus, 3 families at spacing cutting area of Quercus acuta stand. 3. Tylropilus neofelleus had high host specificity associated with Chamaecyparis obtusa, while Amanita pseudoporphyria had relatively wide host ranges compared to other ectomycorrhizal fungi. 4. The results analyzed by Correlation coefficients showed that relative humidity and precipitation were major enviromental factors to affect the distribution of ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 1987

Pathogenicity of nine Rhizoctonia solani isolates of different anastomosis groups (AG) on seed and hypocotyls of red pepper, cucumber, Chinese cabbage and radish varied considerably from nonvirulent to highly virulent. Rhizoctonia solani AG 1 was highly virulent on the above four plant species. AG 2 type 1 was highly virulent on radish and Chinese cabbage, moderately virulent on red pepper, and AG 2 type 2 was avirulent or weakly virulent except red pepper. R. solani AG 5 was moderately virulent on hosts tested. In general, virulence of the R. solani isolates to a given host varied among anastomosis groups, but not within anastomosis groups. Anastomosis groups lacked host specificity. The pathogenicity was stronger in steam-sterilized soil than in non-sterilized field soil, if the inoculated plants were closely related with orginal host from which the pathogen was isolated. On the other hand, pathogen was more virulent in non-sterilized field soil than in steam-sterilized soil, if the inoculated ones were not closely related. Generally, contrary to other soil-brone plant pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia isolates tended to be more virulent in non-sterilized field soil than in the same soil which had been steamed. A potential danger of building up propagules of R. solani in southern horticultural area are discussed in terms of cropping system.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.389-393
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• 2009

Regional distribution of mistletoe (Viscum album var.coloratum) and its habitual environments were investigated in order to obtain the basal data on the artificial propagation to cope with its increasing consume for medicine. Mistletoes inhabited throughout the overall region of the South Korea investigated. They were parasitic mainly to the Quercus spp. including Q. serrata and rarely to the Castanea crenata var. dulcis, Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, Alnus japonica, and Pyrus pyrifolia, etc. Mistletoes were not observed on the conifers such as Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis and some deciduous broad-leaved trees species such as Zelkova serrata, Diospyros kaki, Acer mono, Acer palmatum, and Morus alba. Their habitats were located from zero to 1,200 m above sea level nevertheless the direction or slope of the mountains, suggesting that artificial propagation can be carried out nation widely to the well-grown parasite tree species. Parasitic specificity related to the physical and chemical characteristic of the epidermal tissues will be studied further.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2014

The interaction between viral HA (hemagglutinin) and oligosaccharide of the host plays an important role in the infection and transmission of avian and human flu viruses. Until now, this interaction has been classified by sialyl(${\alpha}2-3$) or sialyl(${\alpha}2-6$) linkage specificity of oligosaccharide moieties for avian or human virus, respectively. In the case of H5N1 and newly mutated flu viruses, classification based on the linkage type does not correlate with human infection and human-to-human transmission of these viruses. It is newly suggested that flu infection and transmission to humans require high affinity binding to the extended conformation with long length sialyl(${\alpha}2-6$)galactose containing oligosaccharides. On the other hand, the avian flu virus requires folded conformation with sialyl(${\alpha}2-3$) or short length sialyl(${\alpha}2-6$) containing trisaccharides. This suggests a potential future direction for the development of new species-specific antiviral drugs to prevent and treat pandemic flu.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.563-567
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• 2014

Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Psy) is a major bacterial pathogen of many economically important plant species. Despite the severity of its impact, the genome sequence of the type strain has not been reported. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Psy ATCC 19310. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that Psy ATCC 19310 is closely related to Psy B728a. However, only a few type III effectors, which are key virulence factors, are shared by the two strains, indicating the possibility of host-pathogen specificity and genome dynamics, even under the pathovar level.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.7
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• pp.239-250
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• 2020

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally. Although its etiologic agent is discovered as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), there are many unsolved issues in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The causes of different clinical phenotypes and incubation periods among individuals, species specificity, and cytokine storm with lymphopenia as well as the mechanism of damage to organ cells are unknown. It has been suggested that in viral pneumonia, virus itself is not a direct cause of acute lung injury; rather, aberrant immune reactions of the host to the insults from viral infection are responsible. According to its epidemiological and clinical characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 may be a virus with low virulence in nature that has adapted to the human species. Current immunological concepts have limited ability to explain such unsolved issues, and a presumed immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 is presented under the protein-homeostasis-system hypothesis. Every disease, including COVID-19, has etiological substances controlled by the host immune system according to size and biochemical properties. Patients with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 show more severe hypercytokinemia with corresponding lymphocytopenia than patients with mild pneumonia; thus, early immunomodulator treatment, including corticosteroids, has been considered. However, current guidelines recommend their use only for patients with advanced pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Since the immunopathogenesis of pneumonia may be the same for all patients regardless of age or severity and the critical immune-mediated lung injury may begin in the early stage of the disease, early immunomodulator treatment, including corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, can help reduce morbidity and possibly mortality rates of older patients with underlying conditions.