• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.377-385
• /
• 2017

Estimates of evolutionary sequence divergence and inference of a phylogenetic tree for eight delphacid planthopper species were based on the full-length nucleotide sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Size of the ITS2 DNA sequence varied from 550 bp in Sogatella furcifera to 699 bp in Nilaparvata muiri. Nucleotide sequence distance ($d{\pm}S.E.$) was lowest between N. muiri and N. bakeri ($0.001{\pm}0.001$), and highest between Ecdelphax cervina and Stenocranus matsumurai ($0.579{\pm}0.021$). Sequence distance between N. lugens and other planthoppers ranged from $0.056{\pm}0.008$ (N. muiri) to $0.548{\pm}0.021$ (S. matsumurai). In the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree, all planthoppers were clustered separately into a species group, except N. muiri and N. bakeri. The ITS2 nucleotide sequence of N. lugens was used to design four loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primer sets (BPH-38, BPH-38-1, BPH-207, and BPH-92) for N. lugens species-specific detection. After the LAMP reaction of three rice planthoppers, N. lugens, S. furcifera, and Laodelphax striatellus, with the four LAMP primer sets for 60 min at $65^{\circ}C$, LAMP products were observed in the genomic DNA of N. lugens only. In the BPH-92 LAMP primer set, the fluorescence relative to that of the negative control differed according to the amount of DNA (0.1 ng, 10 ng, and 100 ng) and incubation duration (20 min, 30 min, 40 min, and 60 min). At $65^{\circ}C$ incubation, the difference was clearly observed after 40 min with 10 ng and100 ng, but with a 60-min incubation period, the minimum DNA needed was 0.1 ng. However, there was little difference in fluorescence among all DNA amounts tested with 20 or 30 min incubations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.85-97
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to describe the morphological and molecular characteristics of Paralecithodendrium longiforme (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) adults and cercariae isolated in Thailand. Adult flukes were isolated from the Chinese pipistrelle bat (Hypsugo sp.), and cercariae were detected in the viviparid snail (Filopaludina martensi martensi) from Chiang Mai province. The morphological characteristics were observed and described using conventional methods, and the molecular characteristics with internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 28S rDNA gene sequences. The adult flukes were fusiform, 0.84-0.98 mm in length, and 0.37-0.49 mm in width, and were distinguishable from other species by the presence of longitudinal uterine coils. The cercariae were nonvirgulate xiphidiocercariae, with the oral sucker bigger than the acetabulum, the tail without fin fold, a body size of 117.5-138.3×48.3-52.2 ㎛, and a tail size of 100.7-103.7×15.0-18.9 ㎛. Molecular studies revealed that the adults and cercariae shared 99.3% (ITS2) and 99.6% (28S rDNA) homology with each other. They were phylogenetically close to P. longiforme with an identity of 94.5% for ITS2 and 98.7% for 28S rDNA. This study provides new information on the natural definitive host and first intermediate host of P. longiforme in Thailand. The discovery of its cercarial stage in Filopaludina snails highlights the importance of monitoring the associated second intermediate host and prevention and control of this potentially zoonotic trematode.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2006

Scz1, an isolate of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, was recently reported as a novel pathogen responsible for dollar spot disease in Zoysiagrass, a warm season turfgrass. Scz1 possessed different characteristics on mycelial pigment, mycelial affinity and host pathogenecity compared to those of Scb1, a typical isolate, obtained from creeping bentgrass, a cool season turfgrass. In this study, only three isolates, Scz1, Scz2(another analogous isolate of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa from zoysiagrass), and Scb1, were examined at the molecular level using the internal transcribed spacer(ITS) and random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) assays to verify their identification and genetic variation. As a result of ITS assay, partial ITS sequences of three isolates showed 94-97% similarity with a standardized ITS sequence of S. homoeocarpa registered on BLAST. In the analysis of RAPD, range value through similarity matrix was 0.167 between Scz1 and Scb1, 0.139 between Scz2 and Scb1, and 0.713 between Scz1 and Scz2, respectively. Furthermore, tendegram analysis indicated that Scz1 and Scz2, unlike Scb1, were clustered together as accompanying a high genetic similarity. In in vitro fungicide bioassay, $EC_{50}$ value representing the sensitivity degree to propiconazole, a well-known fungicide for dollar spot disease, was 0.012 ${\mu}g/ml$ for Sczl, 0.003 ${\mu}g/ml$ for Scz2, and 0.030 ${\mu}g/ml$ for Scb1. From all data taken, we concluded that both Scz1 and Scz2 belonged to one group of S. homoeocarpa, since they exhibit the same host range and high level of genetic similarity, whereas their chemical competences to a fungicide were different. This study would provide further approach for assessing genetic diversity of S. homoeocarpa isolates as well as characterizing individual isolate against chemical exposure.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 2009

The molecular phylogeny in nine different commercial cultivated strains of Pleurotus nebrodensis was studied based on their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and RAPD. In the sequence of ITS region of selected strains, it was revealed that the total length ranged from 592 to 614 bp. The size of ITS1 and ITS2 regions varied among the strains from 219 to 228 bp and 211 to 229 bp, respectively. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than ITS1 and the region of 5.8S sequences were identical. Phylogenetic tree of the ITS region sequences indicated that selected strains were classified into five clusters. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS region sequences ranged from 99 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by RAPD with 20 arbitrary primers. Twelve primers were efficient to applying amplification of the genomic DNA. The sizes of the polymorphic fragments obtained were in the range of 200 to 2000 bp. RAPD and ITS analysis techniques were able to detect genetic variation among the tested strains. Experimental results suggested that IUM-1381, IUM-3914, IUM-1495 and AY-581431 strains were genetically very similar. Therefore, all IUM and NCBI gene bank strains of P. nebrodensis were genetically same with some variations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.351-355
• /
• 2017

Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta are globally widespread zoonotic cestodes. Rodents are the main reservoir host of these cestodes. Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are the best known and most common rats, and usually live wherever humans live, especially in less than desirable hygiene conditions. Due to the little information of the 2 hymenolepidid species in brown rats in China, the aim of this study was to understand the prevalence and genetic characterization of H. nana and H. diminuta in brown rats in Heilongjiang Province, China. Total 114 fecal samples were collected from brown rats in Heilongjiang Province. All the samples were subjected to morphological examinations by microscopy and genetic analysis by PCR amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene. In total, 6.1% (7/114) and 14.9% (17/114) of samples were positive for H. nana and H. diminuta, respectively. Among them, 7 and 3 H. nana isolates were successfully amplified and sequenced at the COX1 and ITS2 loci, respectively. No nucleotide variations were found among H. nana isolates at either of the 2 loci. Seventeen H. diminuta isolates produced 2 different COX1 sequences while 7 ITS2 sequences obtained were identical to each other. The present results of H. nana and H. diminuta infections in brown rats implied the risk of zoonotic transmission of hymenolepiasis in China. These molecular data will be helpful to deeply study intra-specific variations within Hymenolepis cestodes in the future.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2016

During the year 2014, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) had been observed with dark brown spots on the leaves at Andong, Cheongsong, Mungyeong in Korea. Symptoms initially appeared as small, black lesions on the leaves, and sometimes, the leaves become yellow and ultimately leads to fall off the leaves. The pathogenic fungus grown in potato dextrose agar was white or sometime gray with mycelia in tufts and from which numerous conidia were produced. The conidia were straight and fusiform in shape and measured $8.3-17.2{\times}2.5-4.1{\mu}m$. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA sequence analysis for sequence similarity of the ITS region revealed 100% identity with nucleotide sequences for Colletotrichum acutatum. The morphological characteristics, pathogenicity and molecular data have been confirmed that the symptomatic pathogen was C. acutatum. This is the first report of anthracnose caused by C. acutatum on black locust in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.2206-2213
• /
• 2016

Recently, several studies have revealed that commercial microbial identification systems do not accurately identify the uncommon causative species of candidiasis, including Candida famata, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and C. auris. We investigated the accuracy of species-level identification in a collection of clinical isolates previously identified as C. famata (N = 38), C. lusitaniae (N = 1 2), and M. guilliermondii (N = 5) by the Vitek 2 system. All 55 isolates were re-analyzed by the Phoenix system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostics), two matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analyzers (a Vitek MS and a Bruker Biotyper), and by sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions or 26S rRNA gene D1/D2 domains. Among 38 isolates previously identified as C. famata by the Vitek 2 system, the majority (27/38 isolates, 71.1%) were identified as C. tropicalis (20 isolates) or C. albicans (7 isolates) by ITS sequencing, and none was identified as C. famata. Among 20 isolates that were identified as C. tropicalis, 17 (85%) were isolated from urine. The two isolates that were identified as C. auris by ITS sequencing originated from ear discharge. The Phoenix system did not accurately identify C. lusitaniae, C. krusei, or C. auris. The correct identification rate for 55 isolates was 92.7% (51/55 isolates) for the Vitek MS and 94.6% (52/55 isolates) for the Bruker Biotyper, as compared with results from ITS sequencing. These results suggest that C. famata is very rare in Korea, and that the possibility of misidentification should be noted when an uncommon Candida species is identified.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.75-96
• /
• 2024

Rhodomonas (Cryptophyceae) and species assigned to this genus have undergone numerous taxonomic revisions. This also applies to R. marina studied here as it was originally assigned as a species of Cryptomonas and later considered a variation of R. baltica, the type species. Despite being described more than 130 years ago, R. marina still lacks a comprehensive characterization. Light and electron microscopy were employed to delineate a strain from western Greenland. The living cells were 18 ㎛ long and 9 ㎛ wide, elliptical in shape with a pointed to rounded posterior and truncated anterior in lateral view. Two sub-equal flagella emerged from a vestibulum, where also a furrow extended. In transmission electron microscopy, the furrow was associated with a tubular gullet and the pyrenoid embedded in a deeply lobed chloroplast. The chloroplast contained DNA in perforations and was surrounded by starch grains. A tubular nucleomorph was enclosed within the pyrenoid matrix. In scanning electron microscopy, the inner periplast consisted of rectangular plates with rounded edges and posteriorly these were replaced by a sheet-like structure. The water-soluble pigment was Crypto-Phycoerythrin type I (Cr-PE 545). A phylogenetic inference based on SSU rDNA confirmed the identity of strain S18 as a species of Rhodomonas as it clustered with congeners but also Rhinomonas, Storeatula, and Pyrenomonas. These genera formed a monophyletic clade separated from a diverse assemblage of other cryptophyte genera. To further explore the phylogeny of R. marina a concatenated phylogenetic analysis based on the SSU rDNA-ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2-LSU rDNA region was performed but included only closely related species. The secondary structure of nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 was predicted and compared to similar structures in related species. Using morphological and molecular signatures as diagnostic features the description of R. marina was emended.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.82-89
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to understand phylogenetic relationships of the 30 mulberry cultivars converved in Korea based on the ITS rDNA region, and they were compared to 40 reference sequences from GenBank. The size and the G+C content of the ITS rDNA gene regions from the 30 Korean mulberry cultivars and 40 reference sequences varied from 612-630 bp and 58.19-61.62%, respectively. Based on the results of the comparative phylogenetic analysis of the ITS rDNA regions of the 30 Korean mulberry cultivars and 40 reference sequences, they were divided into three groups (Group 1, 2, and 3) and two subgroups (Group 1A and 1B within Group 1). The sequence lengths of the Korean mulberry cultivar numbers 1-26 and 27-30 were 615 bp and 616 bp, respectively. At 205 bp location of ITS1 rDNA region, the cultivar numbers 1-26 contain the nucleotide thymine but the cultivar numbers 27-30 contain the nucleotide adenine. In addition, the insertion of the nucleotide adenine at 206 bp location was found only in the four Korean mulberry cultivars (numbers 27-30). Based on these sequence information and phylogenetic result, the 30 Korean mulberry cultivars were identified as M. alba and M. australis. This study will contribute to the construction of genetic database constructions and accurate variety identifications for unidentified mulberry varieties in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.234-241
• /
• 2019

An intensive interaction between yeasts and insects has highlighted their relevance for attraction to food and for the insect's development and behavior. Yeast associated in the gut of insects secretes cellulase which aided in the food digestion (cellulose degradation). Three strains of cellulose-degrading yeast were isolated from the gut of adult grasshoppers collected in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The strains $ON22^T$, $G10^T$, and $G15^T$, showed positive cellulolytic activity in the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-plate assay. The phylogenetic tree based on sequence analysis of D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions revealed that the strains $ON22^T$ (100 and 98.4% sequence similarities in D1/D2 domains and ITS) and $G10^T$ (99.8 and 99.5% in D1/D2 domain and ITS region) were most closely related to the species Moesziomyces aphidis JCM $10318^T$; $G15^T$ (100% in D1/D2 domains and ITS) belongs to the species Moesziomyces antarcticus JCM $10317^T$, respectively. Morphology and biochemical test results are provided in the species description. Cellulase with its massive applicability has been used in various industrial processes such as biofuels like bioethanol productions. Therefore, this is the first report of the cellulolytic yeast strains $ON22^T$, $G10^T$, and $G15^T$ related to the genus Moesziomyces in the family Ustilaginaceae (Ustilaginales), in Korea.