• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.395-401
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• 2023

Myxosporeans are widespread cnidarian endoparasites in marine and freshwater ecosystems and several species were reported to be a threat to cultured fish causing serious diseases with mass mortality. In the present study, we found a myxosporean species in the genus Thelohanellus from the gills of the cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerling for the first time in Korea. The morphological observation showed 500 ㎛ ~ 1 mm size, oval to circular shaped plasmodia containing spores which are pyriform at the anterior end and round at the posterior end (average size 20.1 ㎛ × 9.1 ㎛), with 5 to 6 turns of a single polar filament located in the polar capsule with an average size of 10 ㎛ × 4.6 ㎛. The 18S rRNA sequence was closest to the sequence of T. wangi among Thelohanellus species infecting gills but was not completely identical. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis results, we classified the present myxosporean parasite as Thelohanellus sp., temporarily. The prevalence and infection intensity of Thelohanellus sp. in the common carp fingerling were very high, which was thought to be the main cause of high mortality.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2023

Lecithin self-assembles into reverse spherical micelles in organic solvents as an amphiphilic molecule. When additives such as bile salts and water are introduced into lecithin solutions, it induces structural changes in the molecular form of lecithin, leading to the transformation into reverse cylindrical micelles. In this study, we observe the rheological changes of lecithin/bile salt mixtures in a decane system after the addition of water. The resulting mixtures exhibit high viscosity and characteristics of viscoelasticity, suggesting potential applications in various fields such as drug delivery and edible oil gels.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.10-31
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• 2024

In this study, 11 strains of epilithic cyanobacteria belonging to six unrecorded species in Korea were isolated from gravel submerged in freshwater of seven collection sites in Korea. The morphological characteristics of the six species isolated in this study were consistent with the type strain of each species, and the similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequences with the type strain of each species were 98.8-100%. In the phylogenetic tree using the 16S rRNA gene sequences, the 11 strains of these six species formed the same cluster as the strains of each species. The habitat of each previously reported species is mainly the soil surface, but all Korean strains appeared from the gravel submerged in freshwater. As a result of the morphological, ecological, and molecular analyses, these six species of cyanobacteria were identified as Geminocystis papuanica, Allocoleopsis franciscana, Ancylothrix terrestris, Klisinema persicum, Scytolyngbya timoleontis, and Shackletoniella antarctica, which were added as newly recorded species in Korea.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.250-255
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• 2024

Due to their stem-like characteristics and immunosuppressive properties, Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer remarkable potential in regenerative medicine. Much effort has been devoted to enhancing the efficacy of MSC therapy by enhancing MSC migration. In this study, we identified deubiquitinase BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) as an inhibitor of MSC migration. Using deubiquitinase siRNA library screening based on an in vitro wound healing assay, we found that silencing BAP1 significantly augmented MSC migration. Conversely, BAP1 overexpression reduced the migration and invasion capabilities of MSCs. BAP1 depletion in MSCs upregulates ERK phosphorylation, thereby increasing the expression of the migration factor, osteopontin. Further examination revealed that BAP1 interacts with phosphorylated ERK1/2, deubiquitinating their ubiquitins, and thus attenuating the ERK signaling pathway. Overall, our study highlights the critical role of BAP1 in regulating MSC migration through its deubiquitinase activity, and suggests a novel approach to improve the therapeutic potential of MSCs in regenerative medicine.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2024

On November 9, 2022, a goatfish (Mullidae) that had not been previously reported in Korea was collected during offshore fisheries resources research near Jeju Island. Based on the morphological identification, this goatfish was identified as the genus Upeneus owing to the presence of palatine teeth and vomerine teeth, as well as the proximal part of anterior part of second dorsal fin. Additionally, through molecular identification, the previously unreported goatfish was identified as U. subvittatus with a 99.8% match in the mtDNA COI region. Goatfish U. subvittatus has no patterns on its body and dark bands on both the lower and upper caudal fins, making it well distinguishable from the four species of genus Upeneus reported in Korea. U. vittatus, reported in Japan, showed morphological differences from U. subvittatus in that the dark band on the lower lobe of the caudal fin was wider, and longitudinal stripes were present on the body. Based on the morphological characteristics of U. subvittatus, we suggest a new Korean name, "Jul-mu-nui-kko-li-chog-su".

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 2024

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit stem cell-like characteristics, including self-renewal and differentiation in a multi-stage lineage state via symmetric or asymmetric division, causing tumor initiation, heterogeneity, progression, and recurrence and posing a major challenge to current anticancer therapy. Despite the importance of CSCs in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, currently available anticancer therapeutics have limitations for eradicating CSCs. Moreover, the efficacy and therapeutic windows of currently available anti-CSC agents are limited, suggesting the necessity to optimize and develop a novel anticancer agent targeting CSCs. Ginseng has been traditionally used for enhancing immunity and relieving fatigue. As ginseng's long history of use has demonstrated its safety, it has gained attention for its potential pharmacological properties, including anticancer effects. Several studies have identified the bioactive principles of ginseng, such as ginseng saponin (ginsenosides) and non-saponin compounds (e.g., polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, and phenolic compounds), and their pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifatigue, and neuroprotective effects. Notably, recent reports have shown the potential of ginseng-derived compounds as anti-CSC agents. This review investigates the biology of CSCs and efforts to utilize ginseng-derived components for cancer treatment targeting CSCs, highlighting their role in overcoming current therapeutic limitations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.273-280
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• 2024

Cancer cells metastasize to distant organs by altering their characteristics within the tumor microenvironment (TME) to effectively overcome challenges during the multistep tumorigenesis. Plasticity endows cancer cell with the capacity to shift between different morphological states to invade, disseminate, and seed metastasis. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a theory derived from tissue biopsy, which explains the acquisition of EMT transcription factors (TFs) that convey mesenchymal features during cancer migration and invasion. On the other hand, adherent-to-suspension transition (AST) is an emerging theory derived from liquid biopsy, which describes the acquisition of hematopoietic features by AST-TFs that reprograms anchorage dependency during the dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The induction and plasticity of EMT and AST dynamically reprogram cell-cell interaction and cell-matrix interaction during cancer dissemination and colonization. Here, we review the mechanisms governing cellular plasticity of AST and EMT during the metastatic cascade and discuss therapeutic challenges posed by these two morphological adaptations to provide insights for establishing new therapeutic interventions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.305-310
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• 2024

T-plastin (PLST), a member of the actin-bundling protein family, plays crucial roles in cytoskeletal structure, regulation, and motility. Studies have shown that the plastin family is associated with the malignant characteristics of cancer, such as circulating tumor cells and metastasis, by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancer cells. However, the role of PLST in the EMT of human lung cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, we observed that PLST overexpression enhanced cell migratory and invasive abilities, whereas its downregulation resulted in their suppression. Moreover, PLST expression levels were associated with the expression patterns of EMT markers, including E-cadherin, vimentin, and Slug. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) were dependent on PLST expression levels. These findings indicate that PLST induces the migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells by promoting Slug-mediated EMT via the FAK/AKT signaling pathway.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2024

In July 2022 and 2023, black mold symptoms were observed sporadically on fruits of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants grown in a greenhouse located in Suwon, Korea. The incidence of black mold on the fruits was 5-24% (average 14.8%) in variety SP-504 (yellow and elongate type) and 1-8% (average 5%) in variety SP-505 (red and round type) investigated. Four single-conidium isolates of Alternaria sp. obtained from the diseased fruits were identified as Alternaria alternata based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phyogenetic analyses. The isolates were tested for pathogenicity to sweet pepper fruits of varieties SP-504 and SP-505 through artificial inoculation. The isolates mostly induced large lesions on fruits of the two varieties in the wound inoculation, but only two isolates small lesions on fruits of the variety SP-504 in the non-wound inoculation. No lesions formed on fruits of the variety SP-505 in the non-wound inoculation. The pathogenicity tests revealed that susceptibility of sweet pepper fruits to the disease differs between the varieties. The symptoms induced by pathogenicity tests with the isolates were similar to those observed on fruits from the greenhouse investigated. This is the first report of A. alternata causing black mold on sweet pepper fruits in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.35-54
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• 2024

With a history spanning 9,000 years, yeast has played a central role in the traditional production of fermented foods, particularly alcohol and bakery. Recent research has highlighted the versatility of yeast in various industries, including the production of bioactive compounds, bioethanol, pigments, and enzymes, and as a host for molecular biology studies. In Korea, yeast isolation has traditionally focused on traditional fermented foods such as soybean paste. However, there is a growing trend in the isolation and characterization of yeasts from natural environments such as flowers and fruits for industrial applications. In this study, we isolated and identified 12 yeasts from various natural environments in Korea, including botanical gardens and parks that are not listed on the National Species List of Korea (NSLK). These newly discovered species included Sakaguchia oryzae, Cystobasidium raffinophilum, Meira argovae, Kazachstania humilis, Meyerozyma smithsonii, Anthracocystis trispicatae, Naganishia brisbanensis, Tremella yokohamensis, Kwoniella shandongensis, Kwoniella newhampshirensis, Aureobasidium proteae, and Rhodotorula dairenensis.