• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.3 s.98
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• pp.185-197
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• 2003

This study was performed to identify the characteristics of the OFC1 gene (locus: chromosome 6p24.3) in Korean patients, which is assumed to be the major gene behind the nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate. The sample consisted of 80 subjects: 40 nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate patients (proband, 20 males and females, mean age 14.2 years); and 40 normal adults (20 males and 20 females, mean age 25.6 years). Using PCR-based assay, the OFC1 gene was amplified, sequenced, and then searched for similar protein structures. Results were as follows: 1. The OFC1 gene contains the microsatellite marker 'CA' repeats. The number of the reference 'CA' repeats was 21 times, and formed as TA(CA)11TA(CA)10. But, in Koreans, the number of tandem 'CA' repeats was varied from 17 to 26 except 18, and 'CA' repeats consisted of TA(CA)n. 2. Nine allelic variants were found. Distribution of the OFC1 allele was similar between the patients and control group. 3. There was a replacement of the base 'T' to 'C' after 11 tandem 'CA' repeats in Koreans compared with Weissenbach's report. However, the difference did not seem to be the ORF prediction results between Koreans and Weissenbach's report. 4. The BLAST search results showed the Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and the Nucleotide binding protein 2 (NBP2) as similar proteins. The TERT was a protein product by the hTERT gene in the locus 5p15.33 (NCBI Genome Annotation; NT023089) The NBP2 was a protein product by the ABCC3 (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C) gene in the locus 17q22 (NCBI Genome Annotation; NT010783). 5. In the Pedant-Pro database analysis, the predictable protein structure of the OFC1 gene had at least one transmembrane region and one non-globular region.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2017

Despite the broad distribution of leishmaniasis among Iranians and animals across the country, little is known about the genetic characteristics of the causative agents. Applying both HSP70 PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses, this study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among Leishmania spp. isolated from Iranian endemic foci and available reference strains. A total of 36 Leishmania isolates from almost all districts across the country were genetically analyzed for the HSP70 gene using both PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis. The original HSP70 gene sequences were aligned along with homologous Leishmania sequences retrieved from NCBI, and subjected to the phylogenetic analysis. Basic parameters of genetic diversity were also estimated. The HSP70 PCR-RFLP presented 3 different electrophoretic patterns, with no further intraspecific variation, corresponding to 3 Leishmania species available in the country, L. tropica, L. major, and L. infantum. Phylogenetic analyses presented 5 major clades, corresponding to 5 species complexes. Iranian lineages, including L. major, L. tropica, and L. infantum, were distributed among 3 complexes L. major, L. tropica, and L. donovani. However, within the L. major and L. donovani species complexes, the HSP70 phylogeny was not able to distinguish clearly between the L. major and L. turanica isolates, and between the L. infantum, L. donovani, and L. chagasi isolates, respectively. Our results indicated that both HSP70 PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses are medically applicable tools for identification of Leishmania species in Iranian patients. However, the reduced genetic diversity of the target gene makes it inevitable that its phylogeny only resolves the major groups, namely, the species complexes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2017

Variant surface antigens (VSAs) encoded by pir families are considered to be the key proteins used by many Plasmodium spp. to escape the host immune system by antigenic variation. This attribute of VSAs is a critical issue in the development of a novel vaccine. In this regard, a population genetic study of vir genes from Plasmodium vivax was performed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Eighty-five venous blood samples and 4 of the vir genes, namely vir 27, vir 21, vir 12, and vir 4, were selected for study. The number of segregating sites (S), number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (Hd), DNA diversity (${\pi}$ and ${\Theta}_w$), and Tajima's D test value were conducted. Phylogenetic trees of each gene were constructed. The vir 21 (S=143, H=22, Hd=0.827) was the most genetically diverse gene, and the vir 4 (S=6, H=4, Hd=0.556) was the opposite one. Tajima's D values for vir 27 (1.08530, P>0.1), vir 12 (2.89007, P<0.01), and vir 21 (0.40782, P>0.1) were positive, and that of vir 4 (-1.32162, P>0.1) was negative. All phylogenetic trees showed 2 clades with no particular branching according to the geographical differences and cluster. This study is the first survey on the vir genes in ROK, providing information on the genetic level. The sample sequences from vir 4 showed a clear difference to the Sal-1 reference gene sequence, whereas they were very similar to those from Indian isolates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3309-3315
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• 2016

Helicobacter pylori as the second most common cause of gastric cancer in the world infects approximately half of the developed countries population and 80% of the population living in developing countries. Integrons as genetic reservoirs play major roles in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report carriage of class 1 and 2 integrons and associated gene cassettes in H. pylori isolates from Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran among 110 patients with H. pylori infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for H. pylori strains were assessed by the micro broth dilution method. Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected using PCR. In order to determine gene cassettes, amplified fragments were subjected to DNA sequencing of both amplicon strands. The prevalence of resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, rifampin, and levofloxacin were 68.2% (n=75), 25.5% (n=28), 24.5% (n=27), 19.1% (n=21), 18.2% (n=20) and 16.4% (n=18), respectively. Frequency of multidrug resistance among H. pylori isolates was 12.7%. Class 2 integron was detected in 50 (45.5%) and class 1 integron in 10 (9.1%) H. pylori isolates. The most predominant gene cassette arrays in class 2 integron-bearing H. pylori were included sat-era-aadA1, dfrA1-sat2-aadA1, blaoxa2 and, aadB whereas common gene cassette arrays in class 1 integron were aadB-aadA1-cmlA6, aacA4, blaoxa2, and catB3. The high frequency of class 2 integron and multidrug resistance in the present study should be considered as a warning for clinicians that continuous surveillance is necessary to prevent the further spread of resistant isolates.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2000

Sea urchin S. intermedius occurring in the Korean east coast is a cold water species that belongs to the family Strongylocentrotidae of Echinoidea. Although it is known that there are nine species in the family, species identification criteria, phylogenetic relationships, time and process of evolution of the family members have not been uncovered clearly. In the present study, I tried to find some clues to such problems for S. intermedius by means of DNA sequences. For this, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), one of the mitochondrial genes that evolve fast and follow maternal inheritance was analyzed. DNA was extracted from the female gonad of S. intermedius, a segment of COI gene amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and finally a total of 1077 base pair sequence of COI obtained by cloning and sequencing the PCR product. The sequence was compared with homologous genes of other sea urchins and echinoderm species. Phylogenetic trees of the COI gene segment revealed that S. intenedius is a sister species of S. purpuratus which lives along the east coast of the Paciflc. With reference to the fossil records of sea urchins and genetic distances in the molecular phylogenies, it is estimated that the two species were separated about 0.89 million years ago when the earth temperature fluctuated significantly. The current disjunct distribution patterns of the two species and the climate change of the earth at the time of separation suggest that speciation might have occurred by vicariance. The COI gene sequence obtained here now can be used as a molecular character which discerns S. intermedius from the other sea urchin species of Strongylocentrotidae.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.523-530
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• 1999

Sal enteritidis thin fimbriae, SEF14, were found to be restricted to the predominantly poultry-associated members of the Salmonella serogroup D1 that are considered as the important pathogens in poultry industry. SefA together with sefB and sefC encode the proteins involved in SEF14 biosynthesis. In order to develop the rapid and specific detection methods for Salmonella serogroup D1, a PCR technique for the amplification of sefA gene was established, and its specificity and sensitivity were investigated with various microorganisms. The bacterial genomic DNA was extracted by colony-picking and rapid boiled-lysate technique. In comparison of Sef I and Sef II primers used in the PCR, Sef I primer for sefA gene of 513bp showed higher specificity than that of Sef II. The established PCR was as sensitive as to detect 1pg of Sal enteritidis DNA. When 73 strains in 28 genera including the reference strains and the field isolates of various Salmonella serotypes, Bacillus subtilis, Bordetella bronchisepdca, E coli, Listeria spp., Micrococcus luteus, Rhodococcus equi, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Vibrio parahemolyticus, Yersinia spp. were studied, the established PCR yielded specifically positive results with only Salmonella serogroup D1. The results suggested that the PCR for sefA gene could be a potential candidate among the specific detection methods for Salmonella serogroup D1.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.397-407
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• 2010

Purpose : The F9 gene is known to be the causative gene for hemophilia B, but unfortunately the detection rate for restriction fragment length polymorphism-based linkage analysis is only 55.6%. Direct DNA sequencing can detect 98% of mutations, but this alternative procedure is very costly. Here, we conducted multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) to perform a screened DNA sequencing for the F9 gene, and we compared the results with direct sequencing in terms of accuracy, cost, simplicity, and time consumption. Methods : A total of 27 unrelated hemophilia B patients were enrolled. Direct DNA sequencing was performed for 27 patients by a separate institute, and multiplex PCR-CSGE screened sequencing was done in our laboratory. Results of the direct DNA sequencing were used as a reference, to which the results of the multiplex PCR-CSGE screened sequencing were compared. For the patients whose mutation was not detected by the 2 methods, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was conducted. Results : With direct sequencing, the mutations could be identified from 26 patients (96.3%), whereas for multiplex PCRCSGE screened sequencing, the mutations could be detected in 23 (85.2%). One patient's mutation was identified by MLPA. A total of 21 different mutations were found among the 27 patients. Conclusion : Multiplex PCR-CSGE screened DNA sequencing detected 88.9% of mutations and reduced costs by 55.7% compared with direct DNA sequencing. However, it was more labor-intensive and time-consuming.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2005

GroE that is a heat shock protein composed of GroEL and GroES is known as an immunodominant target of both the humoral and cellular immune responses in bovine brucellosis. This study was carried out to characterize groE gene encoding heat shock proteins of B. abortus isolated in Korea and to evaluate the immunogenicity of the GroE protein expressed in E. coli system. In PCR the specific signals with the size of 2,077 bp were detected in five strains isolated from the mammary lymphnodes of the dairy cattle that were serologically positive and the reference strains. In comparison of the sequences of nucleotides and amino acids among the strains, GroES showed 100% identity in both sequences. GroEL was evaluated 99.0~99.9% in nucleotides and 98.0~100% homology in amino acids. The groE gene including groES and groEL was inserted into pET29a vector and constructed pET29a-GroE recombinant plasmids. The inserted groE was confirmed by digestion with Nco1 and EcoR1 endonucleases and nucleotide sequencing. E. coli BL (DE3) was transformed with pET29a-GroE, named as E. coli BL (DE3)/pET29a-GroE. In SDS-PAGE, it was evident that the recombinant plasmid effectively expressed the polypeptides for GroES (10 kDa) and GroEL (60 kDa) in 0.5, 1 and 2 hours after IPTG induction. The immuno-reactivity of the expressed proteins were proved in mouse inoculation and Western blot analysis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2017

Cathepsin F, which is encoded by CTSF, is a cysteine proteinase ubiquitously expressed in several tissues. In a previous study, novel transcripts of the CTSF gene were identified in the crab-eating monkey deriving from the integration of an Alu element-AluYRa1. The occurrence of AluYRa1-derived alternative transcripts and the mechanism of exonization events in the CTSF gene of human, rhesus monkey, and crabeating monkey were investigated using PCR and reverse transcription PCR on the genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from several tissues. Results demonstrated that AluYRa1 was only integrated into the genome of Macaca species and this lineage-specific integration led to exonization events by producing a conserved 3' splice site. Six transcript variants (V1-V6) were generated by alternative splicing (AS) events, including intron retention and alternative 5' splice sites in the 5' and 3' flanking regions of CTSF_AluYRa1. Among them, V3-V5 transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in all tissues of rhesus monkey and crab-eating monkey, whereas AluYRa1-exonized V1 was dominantly expressed in the testis of the crab-eating monkey, and V2 was only expressed in the testis of the two monkeys. These five transcript variants also had different amino acid sequences in the C-terminal region of CTSF, as compared to reference sequences. Thus, species-specific Alu-derived exonization by lineage-specific integration of Alu elements and AS events seems to have played an important role during primate evolution by producing transcript variants and gene diversification.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2021

Although many swine farms continuously vaccinated to sow to prevent Porcine epidemic diarrhea(PED), PED has occurred annually in swine herds in Jeonbuk province, Korea. In the present study, the small intestine and feces samples from 17 farms where severe watery diarrhea and death of newborn piglets occurred in 2019 were collected, amplified by RT-PCR and determined the complete nucleotide sequences of the spike (S) glycoprotein genes of nine Jeonbuk PEDV isolates. The spike (S) glycoprotein is an important determinant for molecular characterization and genetic relationship of PEDV. These nine complete S gene isolates were compared with other PEDV reference strains to identify the molecular diversity, phylogenetic relationships and antigenicity analysis. 9 field strains share 98.5~100% homologies with each other at the nucleotide sequence level and 97.3~100% homologies with each other at the amino acid level. The nine Jeonbuk PEDV isolates were classified into G2b group including a genetic specific signal, S-indels (insertion and deletion of S gene). In addition, comparisons the neutralizing epitopes of S gene between 9 field strains and domestic vaccine strains of Korea mutated 12-15 amino acids with SM-98-1 (G1a group) and mutated 0-3 amino acids with QIAP1401 (G2b group). Therefore, the development of G2b-based live vaccines will have to be expedited to ensure effective prevention of endemic PED in Korea. In addition, we will need to be prepared with periodic updates of preventive vaccines based on the PEDV variants for the re-emergence of a virulent strain.