• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.382-388
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• 2022

White mold (or Sclerotinia stem rot), caused by Sclerotinia species, is a major air, soil, or seed-transmitted disease affecting numerous crops and wild plants. Microscopic or culture-based methods currently available for their detection and identification are time-consuming, laborious, and often erroneous. Therefore, we developed a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the discrimination, detection, and quantification of DNA collected from each of the three economically relevant Sclerotinia species, namely, S. sclerotiorum, S. minor, and S. nivalis. TaqMan primer/probe combinations specific for each Sclerotinia species were designed based on the gene sequences encoding aspartyl protease. High specificity and sensitivity of each probe were confirmed for sclerotium and soil samples, as well as pure cultures, using simplex and multiplex qPCRs. This multiplex assay could be helpful in detecting and quantifying specific species of Sclerotinia, and therefore, may be valuable for disease diagnosis, forecasting, and management.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.307-317
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• 2017

Satsuma dwarf virus (SDV) or Citrus mosaic sadwavirus (CiMV) were not consistently detected in RTPCR assay with the primer sets based on gene of Japan isolates. SDV and CiMV isolates were distinctively divided into two groups based on phylogenetic analysis of PP2 gene cloned from 22 Korean isolates, and the Korean CiMV and SDV isolates shared 95.5-96.2% and 97.1-97.7% sequence identity with Japanese isolate, respectively. We developed PP2-1 primer set based on the PP2 gene sequence of Korean isolates to simultaneously and effectively detect SDV and CiMV. And CTLV-2013 and CTV-po primer sets were newly designed for detection of Citrus tatter leaf virus (CTLV) and Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), respectively. Using these primer sets, a new multiplex PCR assay was developed as a means to simultaneously detect 4 citrus viruses, CTV, CTLV, SDV, and CiMV. The degree of detection by the multiplex PCR were consistent with those of uniplex RT-PCR for detection of each of the viruses. Therefore, the new multiplex PCR provides an efficient method for detecting 4 citrus viruses, which will help diagnose many citrus plants at the same time. We verified that 35.2% and 72.1% of 775 trees in 155 orchards were infected with SDV or CiMV (SDV/CiMV) and CTV by the multiplex-PCR assay, respectively, and CTLV was not detected in any of the trees tested.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.527-532
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• 2007

In present study, we described the reliability of the dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and non-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (NMT) in blood samples of the Korea native cattle, Hanwoo. Among 340 samples 22 (6.5%) were positive in using DPO multiplex PCR, 21 (6.2%) were positive in PCR. The relative agreement between 2 tests was 99.7%, and the agreement quotient (kappa), was 0.95 (excellent). In these results, we demonstrated the successful application of DPO multiplex PCR for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in Hanwoo. Multiplex PCR, using DPO primers, can be useful for the simple diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in bovine blood samples.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2002

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the identification of two Candida species-albicans and dubliniensis. Three sets of primers were selected from different genomic sequences to specifically amplify a 516 bp fragment within the tops gene, specific for several species of the genus Candida (CCL primers); a 239 bp fragment within the $\alpha$INT1 gene, specific for Candida albicans (CAL primers); and a 175 bp fragment within the ALSD1 gene, specific for Candida dubliniensis (CDL primers). Using the primers in conjunction (multiplex PCR), we were able to detect both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis and to differentiate between them. The detection limit of the PCR assay was approximately 10 cells per milliliter of saline. Thus, this multiplex PCR assay can be applied for differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis from clinical specimens.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.424-429
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• 2012

Purpose: Methods for quick and reliable detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae are needed for the diagnosis of pneumococcal disease and vaccine studies. This study aimed to show that sequential multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more efficient than conventional culture in achieving S. pneumoniae -positive results. Methods: Nasopharyngeal (NP) secretions were obtained from 842 pediatric patients admitted with lower respiratory infections at Severance Children's Hospital in Korea between March 2009 and June 2010. For identification and serotype determination of pneumococci from the NP secretions, the secretions were evaluated via multiplex PCR technique with 35 serotype-specific primers arranged in 8 multiplex PCR sets and conventional bacteriological culture technique. Results: Among the results for 793 samples that underwent both bacterial culture and PCR analysis for pneumococcal detection, 153 (19.3%) results obtained by PCR and 81 (10.2%) results obtained by conventional culture technique were positive for S. pneumoniae. The predominant serotypes observed, in order of decreasing frequency, were 19A (23%), 6A/B (16%), 19F (11%), 15B/C (5%), 15A (5%), and 11A (4%); further, 26% of the isolates were non-typeable. Conclusion: As opposed to conventional bacteriological tests, PCR analysis can accurately and rapidly identify pneumococcal serotypes.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.226-228
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• 2001

Human lymphotropic herpesvirus is known to be a major pathogen associated with various diseases in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients. A multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for the simultaneous detection of human lymphotropic herpesviruses, including Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B (HHV6-A, HHV6-B). To demonstrate the usefulness of multiplex PCR for the analysis of clinical samples, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum from BMT recipients were analysed. The results skewed that a clear detection could be made between EBV, HCMV and HHV-6. This multiplex PCR assay is an efficient and cost-effective approach to the analysis of large numbers of samples to determine the epidemiological importance of EBV HCMV and HHV-6.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2010

Recently, emerging waterbome protozoa, such as microsporidia, Cyclospora, and Cryptosporidium, have become a challenge to human health worldwide. Rapid, simple, and economical detection methods for these major waterborne protozoa in environmental and clinical samples are necessary to control infection and improve public health. In the present study, we developed a multiplex PCR test that is able to detect all these 3 major waterborne protozoa at the same time. Detection limits of the multiplex PCR method ranged from $10^1$ to $10^2$ oocysts or spores. The primers for microsporidia or Cryptosporidium used in this study can detect both Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, or both Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium paNum, respectively. Restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products with BsaBI or BsiEI makes it possible to distinguish the 2 species of microsporidia or Cryptosporidium, respectively. This simple, rapid, and cost-effective multiplex PCR method will be useful for detecting outbreaks or sporadic cases of waterborne protozoa infections.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.829-832
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• 2008

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed to simultaneously detect 4 varieties of genetically modified (GM) cotton. The event-specific primers were used to distinguish the 4 varieties of GM cotton (MON1445, MON15985, MON88913, and LLcotton25) using multiplex PCR. The acyl carrier protein 1 (Acp1) gene was used as an endogenous reference gene of cotton in the PCR detection. The primer pair Acp1-AF/AR containing a 99 bp amplicon was used to amplify the Acp1 gene and no amplified product was observed in any of the 13 different plants used as templates. This multiplex PCR method allowed for the detection of event-specific targets in a genomic DNA mixture of up to 1% GM cotton containing MON1445, MON15985, MON88913, and LLcotton25.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.87.1-87.12
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• 2021

Background: African swine fever virus (ASFV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are still prevalent in many regions of China. Co-infections make it difficult to distinguish their clinical symptoms and pathological changes. Therefore, a rapid and specific method is needed for the differential detection of these pathogens. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qRT-PCR) for the simultaneous differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV. Methods: Three pairs of primers and TaqMan probes targeting the ASFV p72 gene, CSFV 5' untranslated region, and PRRSV ORF7 gene were designed. After optimizing the reaction conditions, including the annealing temperature, primer concentration, and probe concentration, multiplex qRT-PCR for simultaneous and differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV was developed. Subsequently, 1,143 clinical samples were detected to verify the practicality of the assay. Results: The multiplex qRT-PCR assay could specifically and simultaneously detect the ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV with a detection limit of 1.78 × 10⁰ copies for the ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV, but could not amplify the other major porcine viruses, such as pseudorabies virus, porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1), PCV2, PCV3, foot-and-mouth disease virus, porcine parvovirus, atypical porcine pestivirus, and Senecavirus A. The assay had good repeatability with coefficients of variation of intra- and inter-assay of less than 1.2%. Finally, the assay was used to detect 1,143 clinical samples to evaluate its practicality in the field. The positive rates of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV were 25.63%, 9.36%, and 17.50%, respectively. The co-infection rates of ASFV+CSFV, ASFV+PRRSV, CSFV+PRRSV, and ASFV+CSFV+PRRSV were 2.45%, 2.36%, 1.57%, and 0.17%, respectively. Conclusions: The multiplex qRT-PCR developed in this study could provide a rapid, sensitive, specific diagnostic tool for the simultaneous and differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1165-1169
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• 2012

In April 2009, the H1N1 pandemic influenza virus emerged as a novel influenza virus. The aim of this study was to compare the performances of several molecular assays, including conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), two real-time reverse transcription (rRT)-PCRs, and two multiplex RTPCRs. A total of 381 clinical specimens were collected from patients (223 men and 158 women), and both the Seeplex RV7 assay and rRT-PCR were ordered on different specimens within one week after collection. The concordance rate for the two methods was 87% (332/381), and the discrepancy rate was 13% (49/381). The positive rates for the molecular assays studied included 93.1% for the multiplex Seeplex RV7 assay, 93.1% for conventional reverse transcription (cRT)-PCR, 89.7% for the multiplex Seeplex Flu ACE Subtyping assay, 82.8% for protocol B rRT-PCR, and 58.6% for protocol A rRT-PCR. Our results showed that the multiplex Seeplex assays and the cRT-PCR yielded higher detection rates than rRT-PCRs for detecting the influenza A (H1N1) virus. Although the multiplex Seeplex assays had the advantage of simultaneous detection of several viruses, they were time-consuming and troublesome. Our results show that, although rRT-PCR had the advantage, the detection rates of the molecular assays varied depending upon the source of the influenza A (H1N1)v virus. Our findings also suggest that rRT-PCR sometimes detected virus in extremely low abundance and thus required validation of analytical performance and clinical correlation.