• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 2014

The structural proteins of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) consist of nucleocapsid protein C and envelope glycoprotein $E^{rns}$ (E0), E1 and E2. Among them, E2, the most immunogenic of the CSFV glycoproteins, induces a protective immune response in swine. In this study, to determine the optimal expression conditions of glycoprotein E2 using baculovirus system, we investigated the influence of insect cells and media to the expression of recombinant E2. Recombinant virus containing glycoprotein E2 coding gene was constructed with bApGOZA DNA. Expression of the glycoprotein E2 was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis using anti-CSFV E2 monoclonal antibodies. Expression of glycoprotein E2 in Sf21 cells was first observed after 3 days and reached a maximum on the 5th day after infection. Furthermore, the highest levels of glycoprotein E2 expression were observed at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5. When three different insect cell lines (Sf21, High-Five and Se301) were tested, High-Five cells showed the highest production. In addition, four different serum-free and serum-supplemented media, respectively, were tested for the expression of glycoprotein E2 and the budded virus (BV) titers. As a result, serum-supplemented medium provided the best conditions for protein production and the BV yield.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.149-151
• /
• 2018

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore-forming pathogenic bacterium, which belongs to the Clostridiaceae family. C. perfringens causes diseases including food poisoning in vertebrates and intestinal tract of humans. Bacteriophages that can kill target bacteria specifically have been considered as one of control methods for bacterial pathogens. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of the bacteriophage CP3 effective to C. perfringens. The phage genome comprises 52,068 bp with a G + C content of 34.0%. The draft genome has 74 protein-coding genes, 29 of which have predicted functions from BLASTp analysis. Others are conserved proteins with unknown functions. No RNAs were found in the genome.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.164-166
• /
• 2018

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica is a foodborne pathogen that has been detected throughout the world. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from a commercial kimbap that caused foodborne illness in the Republic of Korea in 2014. Complete genome sequence analysis of Salmonella Enteritidis MFDS1004839 revealed a 4,679,649 bp chromosome and a 96,994 bp plasmid, with G + C contents of 52.2% and 49.3%, respectively. The chromosome and plasmid genome included 4,482 predicted protein-coding sequences, 84 tRNAs and 22 rRNAs genes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 1984

Sep gene, which is one of the cell division genes coding for penicillin binding protein 3 was subcloned from ${\lambda}607sep^{+2}$ to plasmid pBR322. which has a strong promotor such as lac UV5(lacP). It was confirmed that the sep gene cloned to pLJ3 was in the proper orientation for expressionfrom lactose promotor. To analyze the expression efficiency of sep gene within the plasmids newly constructed, sep mRNA was assated by using ${\lambda$\mid$\;607sep^{+2}$ DNA as a probe. Sep mRNA level was increased 25 times in the cells carrying sep gene cloned to pBR322 compared to E. coli C600 which has wild type sep gene within the chromosome instead of plasmed. Furthermore, the cells carrying sep gene cloned to pLJ3 derected the synthesis of about 50 times as much sep mRNA as did cells carrying sep gene cloned to pBR 322, representing that the sep gene was successfully cloned to pLJ3.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.77-78
• /
• 2018

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive and a round-shaped bacterium of Firmicutes phylum, and is a common cause of skin infections, respiratory infections, and food poisoning. Bacteriophages infecting S. aureus can be an effective treatment for S. aureus infections. Here, the draft genomic sequence is announced for a lytic bacteriophage SA7 infecting S. aureus isolates. The bacteriophage SA7 was isolated from a sewage water sample near a livestock farm in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. SA7 has a genome of 34,730 bp and 34.1% G + C content. The genome has 53 protein-coding genes, 23 of which have predicted functions from BLASTp analysis, leaving the others conserved proteins with unknown function.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The mutation of the SLC26A4 gene is the second most common cause of congenital hearing loss after GJB2 mutations. It has been identified as a major cause of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct and Pendred syndrome. Although most studies of SLC26A4 mutations have dealt with hearing-impaired patients, there are a few reports on the frequency of these mutations in the general population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SLC26A4 mutations that cause inherited deafness in the general Korean population. Materials and Methods: We obtained blood samples from 144 Korean individuals with normal hearing. The samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify the entire coding region of the SLC26A4 gene, followed by direct DNA sequencing. Results: Sequencing analysis of this gene identified 5 different variants (c.147C>G, c.225G>C, c.1723A>G, c.2168A>G, and c.2283A>G). The pathogenic mutation c.2168A>G (p.H723R) was identified in 1.39% (2/144) of the subjects with normal hearing. Conclusion: These data provide information about carrier frequency for SLC26A4 mutation-associated hearing loss and have important implications for genetic diagnostic testing for inherited deafness in the Korean population.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 2021

This study was carried out to provide information on the taxonomic classification and analysis of mitochondrial genomes of Spirometra theileri. One strobila of S. theileri was collected from the intestine of an African leopard (Panthera pardus) in the Maswa Game Reserve, Tanzania. The complete mtDNA sequence of S. theileri was 13,685 bp encoding 36 genes including 12 protein genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs with absence of atp8. Divergences of 12 protein-coding genes were as follow: 14.9% between S. theileri and S. erinaceieuropaei, 14.7% between S. theileri and S. decipiens, and 14.5% between S. theileri with S. ranarum. Divergences of 12 proteins of S. theileri and S. erinaceieuropaei ranged from 2.3% in cox1 to 15.7% in nad5, while S. theileri varied from S. decipiens and S. ranarum by 1.3% in cox1 to 15.7% in nad3. Phylogenetic relationship of S. theileri with eucestodes inferred using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences exhibited identical tree topologies. A clade composed of S. decipiens and S. ranarum formed a sister species to S. erinaceieuropaei, and S. theileri formed a sister species to all species in this clade. Within the diphyllobothridean clade, Dibothriocephalus, Diphyllobothrium and Spirometra formed a monophyletic group, and sister genera were well supported.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.754-762
• /
• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2, a major saponin derivative in ginseng extract, is recognized for its anti-cancer activities. Compared to coding genes, studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are regulated by Rh2 in cancer cells, especially on competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) are sparse. Methods: LncRNAs whose promoter DNA methylation level was significantly altered by Rh2 were screened from methylation array data. The effect of STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425, and RNF217 on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was monitored in the presence of Rh2 after deregulating the corresponding gene. The ceRNA relationship between STXBP5-AS1 and miR-4425 was examined by measuring the luciferase activity of a recombinant luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 plasmid construct in the presence of mimic miR-4425. Results: Inhibition of STXBP5-AS1 decreased apoptosis but stimulated growth of the MCF-7 cells, suggesting tumor-suppressive activity of the lncRNA. MiR-4425 was identified to have a binding site on STXBP5-AS1 and proven to be downregulated by STXBP5-AS1 as well as by Rh2. In contrast to STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425 showed pro-proliferation activity by inducing a decrease in apoptosis but increased growth of the MCF-7 cells. MiR-4425 decreased luciferase activity from the luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 construct by 26%. Screening the target genes of miR-4425 and Rh2 revealed that Rh2, STXBP5-AS1, and miR-4425 consistently regulated tumor suppressor RNF217 at both the RNA and protein level. Conclusion: LncRNA STXBP5-AS1 is upregulated by Rh2 via promoter hypomethylation and acts as a ceRNA, sponging the oncogenic miR-4425. Therefore, Rh2 controls the STXBP5-AS1/miR-4425/RNF217 axis to suppress breast cancer cell growth.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.54 no.7
• /
• pp.386-391
• /
• 2021

Owing to rapid advancements in NGS (next generation sequencing), genomic alteration is now considered an essential predictive biomarkers that impact the treatment decision in many cases of cancer. Among the various predictive biomarkers, tumor mutation burden (TMB) was identified by NGS and was considered to be useful in predicting a clinical response in cancer cases treated by immunotherapy. In this study, we directly compared the lab-developed-test (LDT) results by target sequencing panel, K-MASTER panel v3.0 and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to evaluate the concordance of TMB. As an initial step, the reference materials (n = 3) with known TMB status were used as an exploratory test. To validate and evaluate TMB, we used one hundred samples that were acquired from surgically resected tissues of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The TMB of each sample was tested by using both LDT and WES methods, which extracted the DNA from samples at the same time. In addition, we evaluated the impact of capture region, which might lead to different values of TMB; the evaluation of capture region was based on the size of NGS and target sequencing panels. In this pilot study, TMB was evaluated by LDT and WES by using duplicated reference samples; the results of TMB showed high concordance rate (R² = 0.887). This was also reflected in clinical samples (n = 100), which showed R² of 0.71. The difference between the coding sequence ratio (3.49%) and the ratio of mutations (4.8%) indicated that the LDT panel identified a relatively higher number of mutations. It was feasible to calculate TMB with LDT panel, which can be useful in clinical practice. Furthermore, a customized approach must be developed for calculating TMB, which differs according to cancer types and specific clinical settings.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.132-139
• /
• 2019

Objective: Vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) mediates various biological processes in humans. The goal of this study was to investigate whether VDBP gene polymorphisms could predispose Korean women to endometriosis. Methods: We prospectively enrolled women with endometriosis (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 16). Total serum 25-hydroxyl vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were measured using an Elecsys vitamin D total kit. Levels of bioavailable and free 25(OH)D were calculated. Concentrations of VDBP were measured using a vitamin D BP Quantikine ELISA kit. DNA was extracted using a DNeasy blood & tissue kit. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs4588 and rs7041) in GC, the gene that codes for VDBP, were analyzed using a TaqMan SNP genotyping assay kit. The functional variant of VDBP was determined based on the results of the two SNPs. Results: Gravidity and parity were significantly lower in the endometriosis patients than in the control group, but serum CA-125 levels and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly higher. Total serum 25(OH)D levels in the endometriosis patients were significantly lower than in the control group. However, serum bioavailable 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D, and VDBP levels did not differ significantly between the endometriosis and control groups. The genotypes and allele frequencies of GC were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Korean women with endometriosis had lower total serum 25(OH)D concentrations than controls. Neither serum VDBP concentrations nor polymorphisms in the gene coding for VDBP were associated with endometriosis. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathophysiology and clinical implications of 25(OH)D and VDBP in endometriosis.