• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.525-529
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• 2009

Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) represent an emerging family of newly described bacterial products that are produced by a number of pathogens. The genes encoding these toxins have been identified as a cluster of three adjacent genes, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC, plus 5 cdt genetic variants, designated as cdt-I, cdt-II, cdt-III, cdt-IV, and cdt-V, have been identified to date. In this study, a general multiplex PCR system designed to detect Escherichia coli cdts was applied to investigate the presence of cdt genes among isolates. As a result, among 366 E. coli strains, 2.7% were found to carry the cdtB gene. In addition, the use of type-specific primers revealed the presence of cdt-I, cdtIV, and cdt-V types of the cdt gene, yet no cdt-II or cdt-III strains. The presence of other virulence genes (stxl, stx2, eae, bfp, espA, espB, and espD) was also investigated using a PCR assay. Among the 10 cdtB gene-positive strains, 8 were identified as COT-producing typical enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains ($eae^+$, $bfp^+$), whereas 2 were identified as CDT-producing atypical EPEC strains ($eae^+$, $bfp^-$). When comparing the cytotoxic activity of the CDT-producing typical and atypical EPEC strains, the CDT-producing atypical EPEC strains appeared to be less toxic than the CDT-producing typical EPEC strains.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.711-716
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• 2010

'Sanggang', a new cultivar of Agrocybe aegerita, was bred with mating between monokaryotic strains isolated from 'GMAG45109' and 'GMAG45107' in Mushroom Research Station, Gyonggi Province A.R.E.S. in 2009. The optimum temperature for the mycelial growth of 'Sanggang' was 26 to 28$^{\circ}C$ on PDA(potato dextrose agar) medium. The optimum temperature for the primordia formation and fruiting body development of 'Sanggang', was 18 to 20$^{\circ}C$. In the bottle cultivation of 'Sanggang', the period of spawn running was around 38 days at 22 to 23$^{\circ}C$ and the period from scratching of inoculum to harvest was 12 days. These characteristics of 'Sanggang' were not different from those of 'Mihwang' (control). 'Sanggang' had brown-colored pileus, whereas 'Mihwang' had yellowish brown-colored one. In bottle cultivation, 'Sanggang' hada little smaller but stronger stipe and pilus than 'Mihwang', and 'Sanggang', as well as 'Mihwang', had upright stipe. And 'Sanggang' was shown to have lower veil opening ratio than that of 'Mihwang' at harvest time.The yield of fruiting bodies of 'Sanggang' was 134 g/850ml bottle, which was similar to that of 'Mihwang'. Resistance of'Sanggang' against Trichoderma spp., as well as 'Mihwang', was weak. Freshness of 'Sanggang' was maintained for 13 days under storage temperature 4$^{\circ}C$, while that of 'Mihwang' was maintained for 10 days.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

Helicobacter pylori is an important factor of chronic gastritis, digestive ulcer, and stomach cancer. CagL, a virulence factor of H. pylori, is well-known as a pilus protein which acts as adhesion to host cell and a component of Type 4 secretion system. In this study, we evaluated the protective response of recombinant CagL protein (rCagL) using Mongolian gerbil animal model for H. pylori infection. The cagL gene was cloned from 26695 H. pylori followed by over-expression and purification of the protein in E. coli. Mongolian gerbils were immunized with rCagL protein mixed with aluminum adjuvant via intramuscular injections once a week during 4 weeks. At a week after the last immunization, the Mongolian gerbils were administrated with H. pylori 7.13 strain into the stomach and sacrificed to measure antibody titer on rCagL by ELISA and bacterial colonization in the stomach, and to examine the histopathological changes and cytokine expression at 6 week after challenge. Antibody titers on recombinant protein were significantly increased from a week after the first immunization. There was no significant change of the number of bacterial colony between control group and immunized group. The relative stomach weight was significantly decreased in immunized group, but the significant change of histopathological assessment was not observed in the stomach. Cytokine expression such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and KC also was not significantly different between control and immunized groups. These results indicate that rCagL could effectively induce the formation of the specific IgG antibodies. However, bacterial colonization and histopathological lesions could not be inhibited by the immunization in the stomach, indicating not enough protection against H. pylori infection. We consider that along with CagL other adequate antigens could be needed stimulating immune response and inducing protective effects against gastric disease, and also a better adjuvant could be considered.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 2001

This study was conducted to reveal stand structure and competition status by site types of natural deciduous forest in Pyungchang, Kangwon-do. The study site was divided by nine different types based on elevation(higher than 1,000m, 700~1,000m. lower than 700m) and topography(ridge, slope, valley). The objective of this study is to provide a basic information necessary for the environment-friendly management methods of natural deciduous forest on the basis of the stand structure and competition status by site types. It is confirmed that the range from 700m to 1,000m in elevation was the most suitable for stand growth. Species diversity and richness index also tended to be increased as elevation decreased. The ridge was the best in terms of stand growth by topography and followed by slope and valley in order. In addition, as expected, species with high importance value showed relatively low evenness index. The distance-independent competition index was selected as the best competition index model in seven site types of natural deciduous forest. On the other hand, the distance-dependent competition index was highly correlated with periodic annual increment of diameter in both ridge at higher than 1,000m and valley of 700m to 1,000m in elevation. It is proved, as a result, that the best competition index model is somewhat different by site types. From the analysis growth characteristics and competition status by site types, it is identified that the species with high importance value performed well in both growth and competition. The growth of Q. mongolica was excellent in the areas of higher elevation than 700m. Although K. pilus had relatively low importance value in higher elevation than 1,000m and ridge of 700m to 1,000m, the species had stronger competition status rather than other species. Also, U. davidiana and M. amurensis were good in competition status at lower elevation than 1,000m. It is necessary, therefore, that appropriate tending practice should be adopted based on the growth pattern and competition status of each species distributed by site types.