• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.911-920
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• 2016

Norovirus is the most common causative agent of acute gastroenteritis. This study was carried out to investigate molecular epidemiology of norovirus infections from outbreaks in Busan from 2012 to 2015. Total of 581 stool specimens were collected from diarrhea patients in outbreaks in Busan, 71 samples were resulted in positive to norovirus. The data were analyzed according to seasonality, patient, age and gender. Noroviruses were detected most frequently during the winter season from November (25.4%) to February (28.2%). The age group from teens was the most susceptible to norovirus infections. To obtain the molecular genetic information of norovirus, we performed sequencing analyses of the strains detected. Norovirus genotypes have been reported to show high genetic diversity. Four kinds of GI genotypes (GI-1, GI-2, GI-3, GI-5) and five kinds of GII genotypes (GII-1, GII-4, GII-5, GII-6, GII-17) were indentified in outbreaks in Busan. Other previous studies have shown that GII-4 is the most predominant circulating in Korea and worldwide. The most prevalent norovirus genotypes of each year were GII-6 in 2012, GII-6 in 2013, GII-4 in 2014 and GII-6 in 2015. Except for 2014, GII-6 genotype was the most prevalent and predominant in Busan. We described the epidemiological analysis of the noroviruses in outbreaks in Busan. The result of this study will contribute to update the epidemiological data and improve hygiene and public health via sustainable surveillance.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2007

Purpose : Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD-III) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of glycogen metabolism. The affected enzyme, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, 4-alpha-glucanotransferase (AGL, glycogen debranching enzyme), is responsible for the debranching of the glycogen molecule during catabolism. The disease shows clinical and biochemical heterogeneity, reflecting genotype-phenotype heterogeneity among different patients. In this study, we aim at analyzing mutations of the AGL gene in three unrelated Korean GSD-III patients, and characterizing their clinical and laboratory findings. Methods : We characterized the clinical features of three unrelated Korean GSD-III patients by biochemical, histological and imaging studies. The 35 exons and part of exon-intron boundaries of AGL were analyzed by direct sequencing using genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral leukocytes of patients. Results : Diverse clinical features were observed in these patients including hepatomegaly (all patients), seizures (patient 2), grow th failure (patients 1 and 2), hyperlipidemia (patients 1 and 3), raised transaminase and creatine kinase concentrations (all patients), and mild cardiomyopathy (patient 2). Liver transplantation w as performed in patient 2 due to progressive hepatic fibrosis. A dministration of uncooked corn starch maintained normoglycemia and improved biochemical and growth profiles. DNA sequence analysis revealed mutations in 5 out of 6 alleles. Patient 1 was a compound heterozygote of c.1282 G>A (p.R428K) and c.1306delA (p.S603PfsX6), patient 2 had c.1510_1511insT (p.Y 504L fsX 10), and patient 3 had c.3416 T >C (p.L 1139P) and c.1735+1 G>T (p.Y 538_R578delfsX 4) mutations. A part from the p.R428K mutation, the 4 other substitutions identified w ere nov el. Conclusion : GSD-III patients display variable phenotypic characteristics resembling those of GSD-Ia. Molecular defects in the AGL gene of Korean GSD-III patients are genetically heterogeneous.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2013

Carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativa) is one of the most extensively used vegetable crops in the world and a significant source of nutrient because of its high content of ${\beta}$-carotene, well known as the precursor of vitamin A carotenoid. However, seed-hairs generated and elongated from the epidermal cell of seeds inhibit absorption and germination by various factors such as carotol and so on. Accordingly, mechanical hair removal process is essential before commercialization of carrot seeds. Because of this process, producers will have additional losses such as time consuming, manpower, capital and so on. Furthermore, physical damage of seeds causes irregular germination rate. To overcome such cumbersome weaknesses, new breeding program for developing hairless-seed carrot cultivar has been needed and studies for molecular markers related to seed-hair characteristic is needed for a new breeding program. Therefore, in this study, cDNA libraries from seeds of short-hair seed phenotype CT-SMR 616 OP 659-1 line, hairy-seed phenotype CT-SMR 616 OP 677-14 line and short-hair seed phenotype CT-ATR 615 OP 666-13 line, hairy-seed phenotype CT-ATR 615 OP 671-9 were constructed, respectively. Furthermore, 1,248 ESTs in each line, total 4,992 ESTs were sequenced. As a result, 19 SNP sites and 14 SNP sites in each of 2 combinations were confirmed by analyzing these EST sequences from short-hair and hairy-seed lines. Then we designed SNP primer sets from EST sequences of SNP sites for high resolution melting (HRM) analysis. Designed HRM primers were analyzed using hairy seed phenotype CT-SMR 616 OP 1040 line and short-hair seed phenotype CT-SMR 616 OP 1024, 1025, 1026 lines. One set of HRM primers showed specific difference between the melting curves of hairy and short-hair seed phenotype lines. Based on this result, allele-specific (AS) PCR primers were designed for easier selection between hairy-seed carrot and hairless seed carrot. These results of HRM and AS-PCR are expected to be useful in breeding of hairless seed carrot cultivar as a molecular marker.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1218-1226
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• 2019

The white-spotted flower chafer Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis is a medicinally beneficial and important edible insect species. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis transcriptome to identify putative antimicrobial peptides and then tested their antimicrobial and hemolytic activities. These peptides had potent antimicrobial activities against bacteria and yeast without inducing hemolysis. In the present study, the cationic antimicrobial peptide, protaetiamycine 2, was selected for further assessment of its anti-inflammatory properties in mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Protaetiamycine 2 treatment of Raw264.7 cells suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide production and reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, as determined by real-time PCR and western blotting. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$) was also attenuated through the MAPKs and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling. We also confirmed that protaetiamycine 2 bound to bacterial cell membranes by a specific interaction with LPS. Collectively, these data obtained from LPS-induced Raw264.7 cells indicated that protaetiamycine 2 could have both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.547-554
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• 2010

Low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is important for quality processing of bread and noodles. The objectives of this study were to clarify the composition of LMW-GSs and to identify their corresponding proteins. Using LMW-GS specific primers we cloned and characterized 43 LMW-GS genes in the wheat cultivar 'Jokyoung'. Some of these genes contain polypeptides different in size due to the presence of various deletions or insertions within repetitive and glutamine-rich domains. The comparison of deduced amino acid sequence of the LMW-GS genes in Jokyoung with that of 12 groups LMW-GSs of wheat cultivar Norin 61 showed that the deduced amino acid sequences were nearly the same to LMW-GS groups of 1, 2, 3/4, 5, 7, 10 and 11. All LMW-GS genes contain eight cysteine residues, which are conserved among all of the typical LMW-GS sequences. The relative positions of cysteine residues are also conserved, except those of the first and seventh. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the 43 sequences with the same N-terminal and C-terminal amino acid sequences were clustered in the same group. To identify the proteins containing the corresponding amino acid sequences, we determined the N-terminal amino acid sequence of 7 spots of LMW-GSs of Jokyoung separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Of them, Glu-B3 (LMW-m and LMW-s) and Glu-D3 (LMW-m) were detected in two and three spots, respectively and the others were not clear. Collectively, we classified diverse LMW-GSs and identified their corresponding protein products. These results will be helpful in breeding programs for improvement of wheat flour quality.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.150-157
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• 2018

The Zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) gene is known to affect early embryonic development in various vertebrates. In this study, we performed the association analysis to check whether there is any significant relationship between semen kinematic characteristics and the ZAR1 gene. To determine semen kinematic characteristics, we measured motility (MOT), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), and beat cross frequency (BCF) of spermatozoa in boars. In order to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we extracted genomic DNA from multiple Duroc boars, and then subsequently used them in sequencing reactions. As a result, three SNPs were detected in the intronic region of ZAR1 gene (g.2435T>C in intron 2, g.2605G>A and g.4633A>C in intron 3 ). SNPs g.2435T>C and g.2605G>A were significantly associated with MOT (p<0.01) and VSL (p<0.05), and g.4633A

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.384-397
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to screen the strains of Bacillus spp. possessing safety, probiotic activity, and so on, which can be utilized as probiotic resource for using the feed and supplement food of companion animal. About 300 isolates were isolated from traditional Korean sauces, four isolates that did not have or produce the six kinds of B. cereus type vomiting and diarrhea toxin genes, ${\beta}$-hemolytic, and three kinds of carcinogenic enzymes were selected. Antibiotic gene retention, cell surface hydrophobicity, antibiotic sensitivity, and glucose utilization were analyzed for four isolates, and finally SRCM 100731 was selected. SRCM 100731 was named as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SRCM 100731 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and carried out optimization of cell growth for industrial applications such as pet food and feed. The effects of 14 different components on cell growth were investigated and three significant positive factors, molasses, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride were selected as the main factors based on a Plackett-Burman design. In order to find out optimal concentration on each constituent, we carried out central composite design. The predicted optimized concentrations were 7% molasses, 1.1% sodium chloride, 0.5% potassium chloride. Finally, an overall about 7-fold increase in dry cell weight yield ($12.6625{\pm}0.0658g/L$) was achieved using the optimized medium compared with the non-optimized medium ($1.8273{\pm}0.0214g/L$). This research is expected to be highly utilized in the growing pet industry by establishing optimal cultivation conditions for industrial application as well as screening Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SRCM 100731 as probiotic resource for companion animal.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.552-558
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• 2021

Traditional foods are manufactured according to the characteristics of each region for the nations of the world. Korea has mainly farmed, and seasonings have developed around rice and vegetables. In fermented foods, lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus sp. and Pediococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. were isolated and identified from fermented foods. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified from commercially available traditional Korean fermented foods, and candidate strains were selected through antibacterial activity tests on human and fish disease bacteria. Thereafter, the final strain was selected by examining the resistance to simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, and hemolysis. The three (M1, K1, C13) final selected latic acid bacteria were miced with prebiotics and the antibacterial activity of synbiotics was evaluated. As for the fist antibacterial activity result, C13 showed high antibacterial acitivity in human diseases and fish diseases. Then, M1, K1 and C13, which did not produce β-haemolysis and were resistant to simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, were subjected to the second antibacterial activity of synbiotics. When the three prebiotics (FOS, GOS, Inulin) and probiotics (M1, K1, C13) were mixed, the antibacterial activity was increased or inhibited. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing results, K1 and M1 were analyzed as Bacillus tequiensis 99.72%, Bacillus subtilis 99.65%, Bacillus inaquosorum 99.72%, Bacillus cabrialesii 99.72%, Bacillus stercoris 99.58%, Bacillus spizizenii 99.58%, Bacillus halotolerans 99.58%, and Bacillus mojavensis 99.51%. And C13 was analyzed as Bacillus velezensis 99.71%, Bacillus nematocida 99.36%, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 99.44%, Bacillus atrophaeus 99.22%, and Bacillus nakamurai 99.44%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.872-881
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• 2022

In this study, we optimized the composition of the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production medium using response surface methodology on Pantoea agglomerans SRCM 119864 isolated from soil. IAA-producing P. aglomerans SRCM 119864 was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. There are 11 intermediate components known to affect IAA production, hence the effect of each component on IAA production was investigated using a Plackett-Burman design (PBD). Based on the PBD, sucrose, tryptone, and sodium chloride were selected as the main factors that enhanced the IAA production at optimal L-tryptophan concentration. The predicted maximum IAA production (64.34 mg/l) was obtained for a concentration of sucrose of 13.38 g/l, of tryptone of 18.34 g/l, of sodium chloride of 9.71 g/l, and of L-tryptophan of 6.25 g/l using a the hybrid design experimental model. In the experiment, the nutrient broth medium supplemented with 0.1% L-tryptophan as the basal medium produced 45.24 mg/l of IAA, whereas the optimized medium produced 65.40 mg/l of IAA, resulting in a 44.56% increase in efficiency. It was confirmed that the IAA production of the designed optimal composition medium was very similar to the predicted IAA production. The statistical significance and suitability of the experimental model were verified through analysis of variance (ANOVA). Therefore, in this study, we determined the optimal growth medium concentration for the maximum production of IAA, which can contribute to sustainable agriculture and increase crop yield.