• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.560-567
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• 1998

We have found that Thermoactinomyces vulgaris KFB-Cl00 produces a chitinase. The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme activity were $55^{\circ}C$ and 6.5. The enzyme was stable after heat treatment at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and stable in acidic and basic conditions (PH 6.0~11.0). The thermostable endo-chitinase from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris KFB-C100 was cloned into the plasmid pBR322 by using E. coli DH5$\alpha$ as a host strain. The positive clone carrying a recombinant plasmid (PKCHI23) with a 4.1-kb fragment containing the chitinase gene was found. The recombinant plasmid was analyzed to determine the essential region for chitinase activity and obtained a 2.3-kb fragment, which was sub cloned into pTrc99A using the PstI and SalI sites to construct pTrc99A/pKCHI23-3. The resulting plasmid exerted high chitinase activity upon transformation of E. coli XL1-Blue cells. Chitinase was overproduced 14 times more in the clone cells than in the wild-type cells and the enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme showed the similar properties as the native chitinase from T. vulgaris in terms of molecular weight and substrate specificity. The catalytic action of the cloned enzyme was an endo type, producing chitobiose as a major reaction product.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1164-1169
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• 2008

We developed multiplex RT-PCR assays that can detect and identify 12 hemagglutinin (H1-H12) and 9 neuraminidase (N1-N9) subtypes that are commonly isolated from avian, swine, and human influenza A viruses. RT-PCR products with unique sizes characteristic of each subtype were amplified by multiplex RT-PCRs, and sequence analysis of each amplicon was demonstrated to be specific for each subtype with 24 reference viruses. The specificity was demonstrated further with DNA or cDNA templates from 7 viruses, 5 bacteria, and 50 influenza A virus-negative specimens. Furthermore, the assays could detect and subtype up to $10^5$ dilution of each of the reference viruses that had an original infectivity titer of $10^6\;EID_{50}/ml$. Of 188 virus isolates, the multiplex RT-PCR results agreed completely with individual RT-PCR subtyping results and with results obtained from virus isolations. Furthermore, the multiplex RT-PCR methods efficiently detected mixed infections with at least two different subtypes of influenza viruses in one host. Therefore, these methods could facilitate rapid and accurate subtyping of influenza A viruses directly from field specimens.

• 한국미생물생명공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물생명공학회 2000년도 Proceedings of 2000 KSAM International Symposium and Spring Meeting
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• pp.178-181
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• 2000

In order to develop the novel gene expression system, we introduced new control elements which could influence the foreign gene expression in animal cells. When the foreign genes are introduced into the genome of higher eukaryotic cells, the expressions from these integrated genes are often low and can vary greatly depending on the positions of the integration sites due to the complex nature of the chromatin structures (1). First we screened the various DNA sequence elements which can function as an insulator of gene expression from these position effects and can cooperate with the SV40 enhancer/promoter. Among the several DNA elements from the various sources, we identified the particular DNA element which confers the increased frequency of the positive colonies, assayed by the reporter gene from stable selections indicating significantly reduced position effects. This element also showed the several fold-increased expression level as well as the copy-number dependent expression with host cell specificity. Second we modified the transcription termination element where we introduced the specific terminator in combination with SV40 polyA signal. This modified terminator showed the increased efficiency and the level of the gene expression. By combining these two elements, we made the animal cell expression system and tested successfully for the recombinant protein productions of TGF ${\beta}$-soluble receptor, Antithrombin III, and single chain Pro-Urokinase. [Supported by grants from MOCIE]

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• 제15권
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• pp.25-32
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• 1997

근류균과 두과작물의 공생에서 숙주결합성을 조사하기 위하여 대두 종자 및 및 유근으로부터 분리한 lectin과 근류균의 표피다당과의 결합성을 확인한 결과는 다음과 같다. 팔달, 백운 및 황금으로부터 분리한 종자선을 형성하였다. 대두 종자 lectin 및 뿌리추출물은 R. japonicum및 B. japonicum과 결합하였고 R. viceae와는 결합 하지 않았으며 완두의 lectin은 R. viceae와 결합하였으나 R. japonicum및 B. japonicum과는 결합 하지 않았다. B. japonicum과 R. viceae로 부터 분리한 세포표피 다당의 겔 여과한 결과 두개의 분획으로 각각 나타났다. B. japonicum으로 부터 분리한 표피다당은 대두의 종자 lectin과 결합하였으나 R. viceae로 부터 분리한 표피다당은 대두 lectin과 결합하지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 부터 근류균이 숙주세포와 결합할 때 숙주를 인식하는 초기 단계에서 lectin이 관여함을 추론할 수 있고 이것이 상호접종군을 형성하는데 매개역할을 하는 것으로 추정할 수 있었다.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.95-97
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• 2005

2005년 6월 덕유산국립공원 설천봉 부근에서 박새의 잎에 녹병이 심하게 발생하였다. 처음에는 잎에 작은 황색 또는 황록색의 작은 반점을 형성하며, 병이 진점됨에 따라 표피가 터지면서 병반부에서 밤갈색의 많은 여름포자가 형성되었다. 박새녹병의 여름포자는 구형 또는 타원형이고 황갈색을 띠며, 크기는 $19{\sim}27{\times}17{\sim}24\;{\mu}m$ 정도이다. 겨울포자는 난형 또는 타원형이고 갈색을 띠며, 크기는 $19{\sim}36{\times}15{\sim}21\;{\mu}m$ 정도이다. 겨울포자의 윗부분은 대부분 둥글고 투명한 원뿔모양의 돌기가 있으며, 아랫부분은 둥글거나 가늘어진다. 또한 포자병은 거의 탈락하지 않고, 투명하며, 길이는 $38\;{\mu}m$에 이른다. 이 녹병균의 균학적 특징과 기주특이성을 조사한 결과 Uromyces veratri Schroeter로 동정하였으며, 이 녹병균에 의한 박새의 병을 박새녹병으로 명명하고자 한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.231-242
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• 1994

자연 감염된 가재에서 폐흡충의 피낭유충을 분리하고 개에 경구 감염시켜 성충을 얻었다. 폐흡충 성충의 조효소를 ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography와 gel filtration chromatoglaphy를 실시하여 cysteine proteinase를 순수 정제하였다. 이들 효소의 생화학적 특성과 분해능을 관찰하였으며. 효소면역전기영동이적법을 이용하여 순수 정제한 효소의 항원성을 관찰하였다. 정제된 효소는 저분자 합성기질인 CBZ-arg-arg-AFC 보다 CBZ-phe-arg-AFC에서 높은 활성을 보였으며. 이들 효소는 thiol-dependent이었다. 정제된 효소 및 조효소의 최적 pH는 5.5이었고. 최적 mole 농도는 0.1 M(0.1 M sodium citrate, pH 5.5)이었고, 이들 효소는 $4^{\circ}C$에서 48시간 동안 80%의 안정성을 보였다 정제된 효소의 native 분자량은 20.000 dalton이었고, SDS- PAGE상에 나타난 분자량은 17,500 dalton이었다 정제된 효소는 cysteine proteinase 특이 억제 인자인 E-64, lodoacetic acid, NEM에 의해 활성이 완전히 억제되었으며, serine proteinase, aspartic proteinase 및 metallo proteinase 특이 억제인자에 의해 활성이 억제되지 않았다. 정제된 효소는 collagen(Type I)과 hemoglobin을 분해하였고, 효소면역전기영동이적법으로 정제된 효소의 항원성을 확인하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.503-510
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• 2013

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with a broad host range of most warm-blooded mammals including humans, of which one-thirds of the human population has been infected worldwide which can cause congenital defects, abortion, and neonatal complications. Here, we developed a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for T. gondii infection. Antigenic N-terminal half of the major surface antigen (SAG1) was linked with intrinsically unstructured domain (IUD) of dense granule protein 2 (GRA2). The recombinant GST-GRA2-SAG1A protein was successfully expressed and purified as 51 kDa of molecular weight. Furthermore, antigenicity and solubility of the rGST-GRA2-SAG1A protein were significantly increased. The overall specificity and sensitivity of GST-GRA2-SAG1A loaded RDT (TgRDT) were estimated as 100% and 97.1% by comparing with ELISA result which uses T. gondii whole cell lysates as the antigen. The TgRDT tested with Uganda people sera for field trial and showed 31.9% of seroprevalence against T. gondii antibody. The TgRDT is proved to be a kit for rapid and easy to use with high accuracy, which would be a suitable serodiagnostic tool for toxoplasmosis.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2005

Little is known about the bacterial communities associated with the plants inhabiting sand dune ecosystems. In this study, the bacterial populations associated with two major sand dune plant species, Calystegia soldanella (beach morning glory) and Elymus mollis (wild rye), growing along the costal areas in Tae-An, Chungnam Province, were analyzed using a culture-dependent approach. A total of 212 bacteria were isolated from the root and rhizosphere samples of the two plants, and subjected to further analysis. Based on the analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences, all the bacterial isolates were classified into six major phyla of the domain Bacteria. Significant differences were observed between the two plant species, and also between the rhizospheric and root endophytic communities. The isolates from the rhizosphere of the two plant species were assigned to 27 different established genera, and the root endophytic bacteria were assigned to 21. Members of the phylum Gammaproteobacteria, notably the Pseudomonas species, comprised the majority of both the rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria, followed by members of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in the rhizosphere and Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in the root. A number of isolates were recognized as potentially novel bacterial taxa. Fifteen out of 27 bacterial genera were commonly found in the rhizosphere of both plants, which was comparable to 3 out of 21 common genera in the root, implying the host specificity for endophytic populations. This study of the diversity of culturable rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria has provided the basis for further investigation aimed at the selection of microbes for the facilitation of plant growth.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2002년도 생물공학의 동향 (X)
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• pp.457-460
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• 2002

In an effort to isolate novel strains expressing a thermostable esterase that hydrolyzed the rac-ketoprofen ethyl ester to ketoprofen in the stereospecific manner, we screened various soils and composts from broad ecological niches in which the activity was expected to be found. Three hundreds of microbial strains were tested to determine their ester-hydrolyzing activity by using an agar plate containing insoluble tributyrin as an indicative substrate, and then further screened by activity on the (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester. Twenty-six strains were screened primarily at high growth and incubation temperature and further compared the ability to ethyl ester-hydrolyzing activity in terms of conversion yield and chiral specificity. Consequently, a strain JYl44 was isolated as a novel strain that produced a (R)-stereospecific esterase with high stability and systematically identified as a Bacillus stearothermophilus JY144. The enzyme indeed stables at a broad range of temperature, upto 65 $^{\circ}C$, and pH ranging from 6.0 to 10.0. The optimal temperature and pH for enzymatic conversion were 50 $^{\circ}C$ and 9.0, respectively. Based on the observations that resulted a poor cell growth, and enzyme expression in wild type strain, we further attempted the gene cloning into a general host Escherichia coli and determined its primary structure, concomitantly resulting a high level expression of the enzyme. The cloned gene had an open reading frame (250 amino acids) with a calculated molecular mass of 27.4 kDa, and its primary structure showed a relative high homology (45-52 %) to the esterases from Streptomyces and Bacillus strains. The recombinant whole cell enzyme could efficiently convert the rac-ketoprofen ethyl ester to (R)-ketoprofen, with optical purity of 99 % and yield of 49 %.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.885-890
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• 2004

A survey for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) occurrence was undertaken in three endangered vegetation sites in the area of Kudankulam atomic power station. Fifteen VAM fungal species were isolated from the root-zone soils of fourteen different plant species. There was a significant correlation observed between the number of spores and of percentage root colonization as exemplified by Phyllanthus niruri and Paspalum vaginatum (450, 95%; 60, 25%). Although VAM species are not known to be strictly site specific, the fact that Acaulospora elegans was observed only in site 1, Glomus pulvinatum in site 2 only, and Gl. intraradices in site 3 only, showed site-specificity in this study. To confirm the infection efficiency, two host plant species in the sites, P. niruri and Eclipta alba, were selected and inoculated in field with three selected VAM fungal spores. Gl. fasciculatum was found to be the most efficient VAM species in percentage root colonization, number of VAM spores, and dry matter content. When the nutrients in roots of P. niruri and E. alba were analyzed, there was higher uptake of K (4.2 and 3.4 times, respectively) and Ca (5.3 and 4.9 times, respectively), the analogues for $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$, respectively. From the results, it might be concluded that VAM association helps the plants survive in a disturbed ecosystem and enhances uptake and cycling of radionuclides from the ecosystem.