• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.816-824
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• 2017

Human noroviruses are widespread and contagious viruses causing nonbacterial gastroenteritis. Real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (real-time RT-qPCR) is currently the gold standard for the sensitive and accurate detection of these pathogens and serves as a critical tool in outbreak prevention and control. Different surveillance teams, however, may use different assays, and variability in specimen conditions may lead to disagreement in results. Furthermore, the norovirus genome is highly variable and continuously evolving. These issues necessitate the re-examination of the real-time RT-qPCR's robustness in the context of accurate detection as well as the investigation of practical strategies to enhance assay performance. Four widely referenced real-time RT-qPCR assays (Assays A-D) were simultaneously performed to evaluate characteristics such as PCR efficiency, detection limit, and sensitivity and specificity with RT-PCR, and to assess the most accurate method for detecting norovirus genogroups I and II. Overall, Assay D was evaluated to be the most precise and accurate assay in this study. A ZEN internal quencher, which decreases nonspecific fluorescence during the PCR, was added to Assay D's probe, which further improved the assay performance. This study compared several detection assays for noroviruses, and an improvement strategy based on such comparisons provided useful characterizations of a highly optimized real-time RT-qPCR assay for norovirus detection.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.925-930
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• 2008

Norovirus has become the most common cause of human gastroenteritis in developed countries. Detection procedures of foodborne viruses from foods require several steps. The concentration step using polyethylene glycol (PEG) is time-consuming and the detection efficiency of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is affected by inhibitors from food components. In this study, a rapid detection method based on buoyant density centrifugation was developed to replace the time-consuming chloroform-polyethylene glycol-Tris Tween method. Feline calicivirus that belongs to the family Caliciviridae was used as a surrogate model for norovirus. After artificial inoculation of feline calcivirus (FCV) to oyster and lettuce, 830 ${\mu}L$ of homogenized sample suspension was layered on the top of 670 ${\mu}L$ 20% percoll and centrifuged. Then RNA extraction step was proceeded with the supernatant. By varying several physical conditions, the detection limits were lowered to $2.4{\times}10^2$ PFU per 1 g in oyster and $2.4{\times}10^0$ PFU per 1 g in lettuce. The protocol obtained in this study could be used to develop new detection method for norovirus in foods.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.120-125
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• 2016

Purpose: Viral gastroenteritis among children is mainly caused by rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, or adenovirus strains. However, changing socioeconomic conditions and a rotavirus vaccination program may be affecting the prevalence of these viral infections. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the season-specific trends in viral infections for facilitating prophylaxis and surveillance in our region. Methods: We evaluated 345 pediatric patients (203 males, 142 females; age, 1 month to 16 years) who visited the CHA Bundang Medical Center because of gastroenteric symptoms between June 2014 and May 2015. The specimens were simultaneously tested for norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus via multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The most common virus was norovirus, followed by rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus. Of all viral infections, 45.2% occurred mainly between 6 and 24 months of age; in particular, norovirus infection mostly occurred in all age groups except those below 6 months of age, when rotavirus was most prevalent. In addition, seasonal variation was observed, such as norovirus infection from December to February, rotavirus infection from February to April, and adenovirus infection from July to October. Conclusion: Our results showed that the most common cause of acute pediatric viral gastroenteritis had changed from rotavirus to norovirus in our patients, because of effective rotaviral vaccination. We recommend the management of food and personal hygiene in accordance with age or seasons as well as active vaccination for preventing viral gastroenteritis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2020

The study of climate and respiratory viral infections using big data may enable the recognition and interpretation of relationships between disease occurrence and climatic variables. In this study, real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods were used to identify Human respiratory coronaviruses (HCoV). infections in patients below 10 years of age with respiratory infections who visited Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, South Korea, from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Out of the 9010 patients who underwent respiratory virus real-time reverse transcription qPCR test, 364 tested positive for HCoV infections. Among these 364 patients, 72.8% (n = 265) were below 10 years of age. Data regarding the frequency of infections was used to uncover the seasonal pattern of the two viral strains, which was then compared with local meteorological data for the same time period. HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 showed high infection rates in patients below 10 years of age. There was a negative relationship between HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 infections with air temperature and wind-chill temperatures. Both HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 rates of infection were positively related to atmospheric pressure, while HCoV-229E was also positively associated with particulate matter concentrations. Our results suggest that climatic variables affect the rate in which children below 10 years of age are infected with HCoV. These findings may help to predict when prevention strategies may be most effective.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2017

A two-tube reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was designed for the rapid visual detection of the M gene of all subtypes of avian influenza virus (AIV) and the H5 gene of the H5 subtype of highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV). The reaction carried out in two tubes in a single step at $58^{\circ}C$ for 40 min, and the assay results could be visually detected by using hydroxynaphthol blue dye. Using M or H5 gene-specific primers, the assay successfully detected all subtypes or H5 subtypes of AIVs, including the Korean representative H5N1 and H5N8 HPAIVs. The detection limit of the assay was approximately $10^{2.0}$ $EID_{50}/reaction$ for the M and H5 genes of H5N1 HPAIV, respectively, and was more sensitive than that of previously reported RT-LAMP and comparable to that of real-time RT-PCR. These results suggest that the present RT-LAMP assay, with its high specificity, sensitivity, and simplicity, will be a useful diagnostic tool for surveillance of currently circulating H5 HPAIVs and other subtypes of AIV in bird population, even in under-equipped laboratories.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6349-6355
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• 2012

Previous studies showed that Math1 homologous to human Hath1 can cause mouse goblet cells to differentiate. In this context it is important that the majority of colon cancers have few goblet cells. In the present study, the potential role of Hath1 in colon carcinogenesis was investigated. Sections of paraffin-embedded tissues were used to investigate the goblet cell population of normal colon mucosa, mucosa adjacent colon cancer and colon cancer samples from 48 patients. Hath1 and Muc2 expression in these samples were tested by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time reverse transcription -PCR and Western blotting. After the recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3.1(+)-Hath1 had been transfected into HT29 colon cancer cells, three clones were selected randomly to test the levels of Hath1 mRNA, Muc2 mRNA, Hath1, Muc2, cyclin D1 and p27 by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. Moreover, the proliferative ability of HT29 cells introduced with Hath1 was assessed by means of colony formation assay and xenografting. Expression of Hath1, Muc2, cyclin D1 and p27 in the xenograft tumors was also detected by Western blotting. No goblet cells were to be found in colon cancer and levels of Hath1 mRNA and Hath1, Muc2 mRNA and Muc2 were significantly down-regulated. Hath1 could decrease cyclin D1, increase p27 and Muc2 in HT29 cells and inhibit their proliferation. Hath1 may be an anti-oncogene in colon carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 1995

Based upon the nucleotide sequence of As strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-As0 RNA4, coat protein (CP) gene was selected for the design of oligonucleotide primers of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection and identification of the virus. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed with a set of 18-mer CMV CP-specific primers to amplify a 671 bp fragment from crude nucleic acid extracts of virus-infected leaf tissues as well as purified viral RNAs. The minimum concentrations of template viral RNA and crude nucleic acids from infected tobacco tissue required to detect the virus were 1.0 fg and 1:65,536 (w/v), respectively. No PCR product was obtained when potato virus Y-VN RNA or extracts of healthy plants were used as templates in RT-PCR using the same primers. The RT-PCR detected CMV-Y strain as well as CMV-As strain. Restriction analysis of the two individual PCR amplified DNA fragments from CMV-As and CMV-Y strains showed distinct polymorphic patterns. PCR product from CMV-As has a single recognition site for EcoRI and EcoRV, respectively, and the product from CMV-Y has no site for EcoRI or EcoRV but only one site for HindIII. The RT-PCR was able to detect the virus in the tissues of infected pepper, tomato and Chinese cabbage plants.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.565-573
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• 1998

To study the specific tools for the diagnosis of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chicken, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its presumable conditions were evaluated for the detection of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene of NDV RNA. For these purposes, Kyojeongwon strain of the NDV was propagated in allantoic cavity of SPF embryonating chicken eggs, and viral RNA was extracted from fractionated virus after the allantoic fluids were ultracentrifuged with sucrose gradient. The first-strand cDNA was then made for the HN gene of NDV RNA by reverse transcription at $42^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour using specific primer complementary to the HN gene. The single-stranded cDNA was used as template in the PCR of the HN-DNA, and various conditions of the PCR were evaluated to set up method for the specific detection of the HN-DNA. The PCR conditions promising for the detection of HN gene consist of preheating at $94^{\circ}C$, 5 min, 30 cycles of denaturation at $94^{\circ}C$, 1 min, annealing at $55^{\circ}C$, 1 min and polymerization at $72^{\circ}C$, 2 min, and a cycle of extension at $72^{\circ}C$, 5 min. when NDVs of allantoic fluids without fractionation were applied to the above PCR condition, the HN genes were detected effectively not only from Kyojeongwon but from other velogenic strains such as Herts and a field isolate.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2020

The Lily mottle virus (LMoV) impedes the growth and quality of lily crops in Lanzhou, China. Recently Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) has been detected in LMoV-infected plants in this region, causing plant stunting as well as severe foliar symptoms, and likely posing a threat to lily production. Consequently, there is a need to develop simple, sensitive, and reliable detection methods for these two viruses to prevent them from spreading. Reverse transcription (RT) loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays have been developed to detect LMoV and ArMV using two primer pairs that match six conserved sequences of LMoV and ArMV coat proteins, respectively. RT-LAMP assay results were visually assessed in reaction tubes using green fluorescence and gel electrophoresis. Our assays successfully detected both LMoV and ArMV in lily plants without the occurrence of viral cross-reactivity from other lily viruses. Optimal conditions for LAMP reactions were 65℃ and 60℃ for 60 min for LMoV and ArMV, respectively. Detection sensitivity for both RT-LAMP assays was a hundredfold greater than that of our comparative RT-polymerase chain reaction assays. We have also found this relatively rapid, target specific and sensitive method can also be used for samples collected in the field and may be especially useful in regions with limited or no laboratory facilities.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study the bone healing ability of autogenous tooth bone graft material as a substitute material was evaluated in a mini-pig cranial defect model through histologic examinations and osteonectin reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) quantitative analysis. Materials and Methods: A defect was generated in the cranium of mini-pigs and those without a defect were used as controls. In the experimental group, teeth extracted from the mini-pig were manufactured into autogenous tooth bone graft material and grafted to the defect. The mini-pigs were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks to histologically evaluate bone healing ability and observe the osteonectin gene expression pattern with RT-PCR. Result: At 4 weeks, the inside of the bur hole showed fibrosis and there was no sign of bone formation in the control group. On the other hand, bone formation surrounding the tooth powder granule was observed at 4 weeks in the experimental group where the bur hole was filled with tooth powder. Osteonectin gene expression; there was nearly no osteonectin expression in the control group while active osteonectin expression was observed from 4 to 12 weeks in the experimental group. Conclusion: We believe this material will show better results when applied in a clinical setting.