• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 1996

The regulation of xylE gene expression was examined by using vector promoter and construction of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) for application in microcosm. When the xylE gene wsa subcloned into pBluscript SK(+) under the control of lac promoter (pTY1) in E. coli, and the expression was induced by IPTG, the enzyme activity of catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase was increased 4.7 times more than that of the crude extracts from transformants harboring pTY1. We suggest that the xylE gene has its own promoter at the upstream portion, because it was able to be expressed even in the absence of IPTG. A recombinant plasmid, pSW3a harboring the xylE gene under the T7 promotor, showed the activity of 14.5 units/mg protein, higher than that of parental strain, E. coli PYT1. The xylE gene in recombinant plasmid pSW3a was used as reporter gene for the application in microcosm ecosystem, since it was used for detection of xylE-positive clones by catechol spray on the agar plates. The pSW3a in E. coli was introduced into Pseudomonas patida to construct GEM strain, and examined for the exxpression and functional stability in microcosms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 2020

The global evolution of antibiotic resistance has threatened the efficacy of available treatment options with ravaging impacts observed in developing countries. As a result, investigations into the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the role of plasmids are crucial. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of bla_TEM and gyrA genes, plasmid profiles, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella strains isolated from raw meat and stool sources across Niger State, Nigeria. Ninety-eight samples, comprising 72 raw meat and 26 stool samples, were screened for Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents was determined using the KirbyBauer disc diffusion method. Isolates were further analyzed for plasmids, in addition to PCR amplification of beta-lactamase (bla_TEM) and gyrA genes. A total of 31 Salmonella spp. were isolated, with 22 from raw meat (70.97%) and 9 from stool (29.03%). Salmonella spp. with multiple resistance patterns to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, and gentamicin were detected. Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were found to be the most effective among the antibiotics tested, with 67.7% and 93.5% susceptible isolates, respectively. Nine (29.03%) isolates harbored plasmids with molecular sizes ranging between 6557 bp and 23137 bp. PCR amplification of gyrA was detected in 1 (3.23%) of the 31 isolates while 28 isolates (90.32%) were positive for bla_TEM. This study shows the incidence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolates and the possible role of plasmids; it also highlights the prevalence of ampicillin resistance in this local population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2009

Salmonella species are the most important etiologic agents of food-borne acute gastroenteritis. The most common serotypes isolated from humans are Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and S. Enteritidis. Traditional detection methods for Salmonella are based on cultures using selective media and characterization of suspicious colonies by biochemical and serological tests. These methods are generally time-consuming and not so highly sensitive. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used as a highly sensitive, specific, and rapid test for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a multiplex PCR (m-PCR) was used to detect S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. We selected m-PCR target genes, which were the spv (virulence plasmid specific for S. Enteritidis) and sefA (S. Enteritidis fimbrial antigen) genes, fliC (H1-i antigen specific for S. Typhimurium) and a randomly cloned sequence specific for the genus Salmonella. With m-PCR, random sequence was detected from all strains of Salmonella spp, spv and sefA were detected from all strains of S. Enteritidis (100%), and fliC was detected from all strains of S. Typhimurium (100%). This assay indicate that the specificity of the m-PCR make them potentially valuable tools for detection of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2023

Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRSV) and blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) are included in the quarantine virus list managed by the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with an internal control was developed for the simultaneous detection of both viruses. The specific primers used here were designed based on the highly conserved regions of the genomic sequences of each virus, obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide databases. The primers were designed to amplify a partial sequence within coat protein (CP) for detecting BRRSV and a partial sequence within the CP-16 kDa for detecting BlScV. 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used as internal control, and the primer set used in a previous study was modified in this study for detecting 18S rRNA. Each conventional PCR using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 1 fg plasmid DNA. The multiplex PCR assay using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers was effective in simultaneously detecting the two viruses and 18S rRNA with a sensitivity of 1 fg plasmid DNA, similar to that of conventional PCR assays. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study was performed using 14 blueberry cultivars grown in South Korea. BRRSV and BlScV were not detected, but 18S rRNA was all detected in all the plants tested. Therefore, our optimized multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect the two viruses and 18S rRNA in field samples collected from South Korea in a time-efficient manner. This approach could be valuable in crop protection and plant quarantine management.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2000

Salmonella enteritidis is the most prevalent etiologic agents of foodborne acute gastroenteritis. Direct isolation and identification of S enteritidis are time consuming work and not so highly sensitive. This study was conducted to develop for the specific detection of S enteritidis using polymerase chain reaction(PCR). PCR primers were selected to amplify a 351-base pair(bp) DNA fragment from the salmonella plasmid virulence A(spv A) gene of S enteritidis. With the primers, 351 bp DNA products were amplified from S enteritidis but not from other B, D, Cl serogroup Salmonella spp. It was sensitive to detect up to 40 pg of template DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis. This PCR assay is very rapid and specific method and less time consuming than the standard bacteriological methods.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 1989

Screening of Pseudomonas strains that can be used as hosts for expression of crystal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 was carried out. From rhizosphere soil of 7 kinds or crops as fluorescent Pseudomonas strains were isolated. A hybrie plasmid, pKTC1, composed of the broad host range vector pKT230 and the crystal protein gene was constructed and used for transformation of the 35 Pseudomonas strains. As the result, the crystal protein gene could be introduced into 4 isolates. Several methods including bioassay and immunochemical detection indicated that the crystall protein gene was expressed in the Pseudomonus isolates.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 1998

A DNA fragment which is involved in tolassin production was cloned to obtain a molecular marker of Pseudomonas tolaasii, a casual agent of bacterial brown blotch disease of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Tolaasin is a lipodepsipeptide toxin and known as a primary disease determinant of the P. tolaasii. It is responsible for formation of white line in agar when P. tolaasii were cultured against white line reacting organisms (WLROs). White line negative mutants (WL-) were generated by conjugation between rifampicin resistant strain of P. tolaasii and E. coli carrying suicidal plasmid pSUP2021 : : Tn5. The ability of tolaasin production of the WL- mutants was examined by hemolysis test, pathogenicity test, and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of culture filtrate. All of the WL- mutants were lost the ability of tolaasin production (Tol-). Genomic library of the Tol- mutant was constructed in pLAFR3 and the cosmid clone containing Tn5 was selected. DNA fragment fro franking region of Tn5 was cloned from the plasmid and used as a probe in Southern blot. DNA-DNA hybridization with the probe to total DNA from group of bacteria ecologically similar to P. tolaasii including WLORs, fluorescent Pseudomonads isolated from oyster mushroom, P. agarici, P. gingeri, and some of other species of Psedomonas showed that some of the tested bacteria do not have any hybridized band and others have bands sowing RFLP. The cloned DNA fragment or its nucleotide sequence will be useful in detection and identification of the P. tolaasii.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode parasite that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. The purpose of this study was the development of real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of D. immitis. The D. immitis-specific primers confirmed in our previous study and a newly designed TaqMan probe were used for quantitative diagnostics. First, SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using the specific primers and serially diluted genomic DNA or plasmid DNA, and melting curve analyses were performed after amplification. The melting curve showed one specific peak in each of the genomic and plasmid DNA reactions, suggesting that the primers specifically amplify the D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR using serially diluted plasmid DNA showed higher efficiency and specificity with TaqMan real-time PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study will provide improved diagnostic methods to overcome the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools and facilitate more rapid and accurate diagnoses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1778-1783
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• 2006

Event-specific PCR detection methods are the primary trend in genetically modified (GM) plant detection owing to their high specificity based on the flanking sequence of the exogenous integrant. Therefore, this study describes a real-time PCR system for event-specific GM canola GT73, consisting of a set of primers, TaqMan probe, and single target standard plasmid. For the specific detection of GT73 canola, the 3'-integration junction sequence between the host plant DNA and the integrated specific border was targeted. To validate the proposed method, test samples of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10% GT73 canola were quantified. The method was also assayed with 15 different plants, and no amplification signal was observed in a real-time PCR assay with any of the species tested, other than GT73 canola.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1054-1058
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the direct effect of estrogenic compounds in oriental herbal medicines, the estrogenic activity was measured using an in vitro detection system. For this system, human breast cancer cell line MCF7 was transfected using an estrogen responsive CAT reporter plasmid. Estrogenic activities of Platycodi radix, Astragali radix and Glycyrrhizae radix were evaluated using this system. Estrogenic activity of a 500 ㎍/ml ethanol extract of Platycodi radix was as same as that of a 10/sup -8/ M standard solution (17β-estradiol) and activity of a 50 ㎍/ml ethanol extract was between those of a 10/sup -8/ M and a 10/sup -9/ M standard solutions. In addition, estrogenic activity of a 50 ㎍/ml ethanol extract of Platycodi radix was as same as that of a 10/sup -10/ M standard solution. The same activity patterns were observed in the system which was treated by Astragali radix or Glycyrrhizae radix extracts. The most effective activity was observed in a system which was treated by Platycodi radix extract, but the least activity was observed by Glycyrrhizae radix extract. In this result, it was confirmed that Platycodi radix, Astragali radix and Glycyrrhizae radix extracts possess estrogenic compounds.