• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1047-1054
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• 2013

Witches' broom of lime is a disease caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia, which represents the most significant global threat to the production of lime trees (Citrus aurantifolia). Conventional disease management strategies have shown little success, and new approaches based on genetic engineering need to be considered. The expression of recombinant antibodies and fragments thereof in plant cells is a powerful approach that can be used to suppress plant pathogens. We have developed a single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFvIMP6) against the immunodominant membrane protein (IMP) of witches' broom phytoplasma and expressed it in different plant cell compartments. We isolated scFvIMP6 from a naïve scFv phage display library and expressed it in bacteria to demonstrate its binding activity against both recombinant IMP and intact phytoplasma cells. The expression of scFvIMP6 in plants was evaluated by transferring the scFvIMP6 cDNA to plant expression vectors featuring constitutive or phloem specific promoters in cassettes with or without secretion signals, therefore causing the protein to accumulate either in the cytosol or apoplast. All constructs were transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana by agroinfiltration, and antibodies of the anticipated size were detected by immunoblotting. Plant-derived scFvIMP6 was purified by affinity chromatography, and specific binding to recombinant IMP was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicate that scFvIMP6 binds with high activity and can be used for the detection of Ca. Phytoplasma aurantifolia and is also a suitable candidate for stable expression in lime trees to suppress witches' broom of lime.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2008

Despite increasing awareness of the importance of WRKY genes in plant defense signaling, the locations of these genes in the Capsicum genome have not been established. To develop WRKY-based markers, primer sequences were deduced from the conserved sequences of the DNA binding motif within the WRKY domains of tomato and pepper genes. These primers were derived from upstream and downstream parts of the conserved sequences of the three WRKY groups. Six primer combinations of each WRKY group were tested for polymorphisms between the mapping parents, C. annuum 'CM334' and C. annuum 'Chilsung-cho'. DNA fragments amplified by primer pairs deduced from WRKY Group II genes revealed high levels of polymorphism. Using 32 primer pairs to amplify upstream and downstream parts of the WRKY domain of WRKY group II genes, 60 polymorphic bands were detected. Polymorphisms were not detected with primer pairs from downstream parts of WRKY group II genes. Half of these primers were subjected to $F_2$ genotyping to construct a linkage map. Thirty of 41 markers were located evenly spaced on 20 of the 28 linkage groups, without clustering. This linkage map also consisted of 199 AFLP and 26 SSR markers. This WRKY-based marker system is a rapid and simple method for generating sequence-specific markers for plant gene families.

• Plant Disease and Agriculture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1999

Frost injury of crops is closely related to the epiphytic population dynamics of ice nucleation-active (INA) bacteria, and the injury can be reduced by decreasing the INA bacterial population. In order to predict the epiphytic population of INA bacteria on crops, a rapid and accurate detection method has to be developed. In the previous report, we produced some antibodies against INA proteins purified from the outer membrane of INA bacteria. However it was difficult to produce the antibodies because the purification procedures of the INA proteins were complicated, and the final yield was too low. We designed a specific peptide from the N-terminal region of INA protein by computer analysis and synthesized the peptide in vitro in this experiment. The peptide sequence was Asp-Ser-Por-Leu-Ser-Leu-His-Ala-Asp, that is corresponding to the highly conserved region in several INA proteins, with predicted beta turn, coiling, and hydrophilic region. A polyclonal anti-INA peptide antiserum produced specifically recognized INA bacteria as few as 10 colony-forming units (CFU) in the ELISA reactions and did not respond to other non-INA bacteria. Serological specificity of the anti-INA peptide antiserum will facilitate the forecasting of the INA bacterial population dynamics on crops.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.136-150
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• 2014

Although multiple transcription factors (TFs) have been characterized via mutagenesis to understand their roles in controlling pathogenicity and infection-related development in Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast, if and how forkhead-box (FOX) TFs contribute to these processes remain to be characterized. Four putative FOX TF genes were identified in the genome of M. oryzae, and phylogenetic analysis suggested that two of them (MoFKH1 and MoHCM1) correspond to Ascomycota-specific members of the FOX TF family while the others (MoFOX1 and MoFOX2) are Pezizomycotina-specific members. Deletion of MoFKH1 (${\Delta}Mofkh1$) resulted in reduced mycelial growth and conidial germination, abnormal septation and stress response, and reduced virulence. Similarly, ${\Delta}Mohcm1$ exhibited reduced mycelial growth and conidial germination. Conidia of ${\Delta}Mofkh1$ and ${\Delta}Mohcm1$ were more sensitive to one or both of the cell cycle inhibitors hydroxyurea and benomyl, suggesting their role in cell cycle control. On the other hand, loss of MoFOX1 (${\Delta}Mofox1$) did not show any noticeable changes in development, pathogenicity, and stress response. Deletion of MoFOX2 was not successful even after repeated attempts. Taken together, these results suggested that MoFKH1 and MoHCM1 are important in fungal development and that MoFKH1 is further implicated in pathogenicity and stress response in M. oryzae.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2005

Based on the specific plant species for environmental assesment by the Ministry of Environment(MoE), a total of 68 taxa were identified; 29 taxa for the floristic degree(FD) I, 12 taxa for the FD II, 11 taxa for the FD III, 9 taxa for the FD IV and 6 taxa for the FD V. The endangered plant species, in Woraksan National Park, such as Lilium cernum and Berchemia berchemiaefolia are categorized as the Conservation Degree (CD) II which is designated by the MoE. The rare and endangered species such as Crypsinus hastatus, Lilium cernum, Berchemia berchemiaefolia, Lilium callossum, Gastrodia elata, Aristolochia contorta, Koelreuteria paniculata, Rhododendron tschonoskii, Scopolia japonica, Cypripedium macranthum, Paeonia japonica and Thymus quinquecostatus including 12 plant taxa are categorized as Rare and Endangered Plant Species by the Korea Forest Service.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of serious epidemic pathogens for rice species grown in many Asian countries. Therefore, it is necessary to produce a diagnostic detection kit applicable in fields for RSV detection. In this study, RSV proteins that were derived from recombinant proteins and synthetic polypeptides as antigens were generated and were raised in rabbits for antiserum production. Among seven proteins in RSV, genes that code for NCP and NS3 proteins were cloned and subcloned into vector carrying His-tag protein and were expressed in E. coli. Of two recombinant proteins, only anti-NCP displayed stable hybridization signals in western blot analysis. Alternately, synthetic RSV polypeptides for CP, NCP, NS3 and NSvc4 we also generated and only antibodies against CP and NCP were very effective to detect RSV in both RSV infected rice and weed plants. However, antibodies against NS3 and NSvc4 showed weak specific bands as well as strong non-specific background due to the difference of viral proteins produced in the infected leaves. In summary, the antibodies generated against RSV proteins produced in this study will be useful for various assays such as for RSV diagnostic detection, immunoprecipitation, protein purification, and western blot analysis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2007

Sweet potato feathery mottle virus(SPFMV) is one of the most prevalent viruses infecting sweet potatoes and occurs widely in sweet potato cultivating areas in Korea. To assess their genetic variation, a total of 28 samples infected with SPFMV were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis using DNAs amplified by RT-PCR with specific primer sets corresponding to the coat protein(CP) region of the virus. The similarity matrix by UPGMA procedure indicated that 28 samples infected with SPFMV were classified into three groups based on the number and size of DNA fragments by digestion of CP-encoding regions with 7 enzymes including SalI, AluI, EcoRI, HindIII, FokI, Sau3AI, and DraI bands. Four primer combinations out of 5 designed sets were able to differentiate SPFMV and sweet potato virus G infection, suggesting that these specific primers could be used to differentiate inter-groups of SPFMV. Sequence analysis of the CP genes of 17 SPFMV samples were 97-99% and 91-93% identical at the intra-group and inter-groups of SPFMV, respectively. The N-terminal region of the CP is highly variable and examination of the multiple alignments of amino acid sequences revealed two residues(residues 31 and 32) that were consistently different between SPFMV-O and SPFMV-RC.

• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2007

Systemic effect of two plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains, viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf4) and P. aeruginosa (Pag), was evaluated on pea (Pisum sativum) against the powdery mildew pathogen Erysiphe pisi. Foliar spray of the two PGPR strains was done on specific nodal leaves of pea and conidial germination of E. pisi was observed on other nodal leaves, distal to the treated ones. Conidial germination was reduced on distant leaves and at the same time, specific as well as total phenolic compounds increased in the leaves distal to those applied with PGPR strains, thereby indicating a positive correlation. The strains induced accumulation of phenolic compounds in pea leaves and the amount increased when such leaves were get inoculated with E. pisi conidia. Between the two strains, Pag was found to be more effective than Pf4 as its effect was more persistent in pea leaves. Foliar application of PGPR strains for the control of powdery mildew of pea is demonstrated in vitro while correlating it with the increased accumulation of plant phenolics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2018

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are useful candidates for tissue engineering and cell therapy. Physiological cell environment not only connects cells to each other, but also connects cells to the extracellular matrix that provide mechanical support, thus exposing the entire cell surface and activating signaling pathways. Hydrogel is a polymeric material that swells in water and maintains a distinct 3-dimensional (3D) network structure by cross linking. In this study, we investigated the optimized cellular function for canine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (cAD-MSCs) using hydrogel. We observed that the expression levels of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, which are involved in cell proliferation and stemness, were increased in transwell-hydrogel (3D-TN) compared to the transwell-normal (TN). Also, transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ and SOX9, which are typical bone morphogenesis-inducing factors, were increased in 3D-TN compared to the TN. Collagen type II alpha 1, which is a chondrocyte-specific marker, was increased in 3D-TN compared to the TN. Osteocalcin, which is a osteocyte-specific marker, was increased in 3D-TN compared to the TN. Collectively, preconditioning cAD-MSCs via 3D culture systems can enhance inherent secretory properties that may improve the potency and efficacy of MSCs-based therapies for bone regeneration process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.188-188
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• 2005