• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2009

In this study, we characterized the bacterial strain KJ2C12 in relation with its biocontrol activity against Phytophthora capsici on pepper, and identified this strain using morphological, physiological, biochemical, fatty acid methyl ester, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. Strain KJ2C12 significantly (P=0.05) reduced both final disease severity and areas under the disease progress curves of 5-week-old pepper plants inoculated with P. capsici compared to buffer-treated controls. As for the production of antibiotics, biofilms, biosurfactant, extracellular enzyme, HCN, and swarming activity, strain KJ2C12 produced an extracellular enzyme with protease activity, but no other productions or swarming activity. However, Escherichia coli produced weak biofilm only. Strain KJ2C12 could colonize pepper roots more effectively in a gnotobiotic system using sterile quartz sand compared to E. coli over 4 weeks after treatments. However, no bacterial populations were detected in 10 mM $MgSO_4$ buffer-treated controls. Strain KJ2C12 produced significantly higher microbial activity than the $MgSO_4$-treated control or E. coli over 4 weeks after treatments. Bacterial strain KJ2C12 was identified as Bacillus luciferensis based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics as well as FAME and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. In addition, these results suggested that B. luciferensis strain KJ2C12 could reduce Phytophthora blight of pepper by protecting infection courts through enhanced effective root colonization with protease production and an increase of soil microbial activity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2010

We evaluated microbial populations and aflatoxin production in unhulled and white rice from rice processing complexes of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation in five regions in Korea and identified three predominant Aspergillus species. Fungal and bacterial populations in rice samples were significantly different between regions in 2007. Aflatoxins were also detected and varied at the levels of 2.45 - 3.43 ng per g unhulled rice grain and 1.29 - 2.09 ng per g white rice grain. Unhulled rice generally detected higher level of aflatoxins than white rice regardless of sampling regions; however, no significant differences were found in Anseong and Cheonan in 2005 and Cheonan and Gimpo in 2007. Aflatoxin production between sampling regions was not different regardless of rice type and sampling year. Although the fungal diversity was highly distinct from region to region, three Aspergillus isolates were predominant in the rice samples; thus, representative isolates AC317, AF57, and AF8 were selected and identified based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. Consequently, isolates AC317, AF57, and AF8 were identified as A. candidus, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus, respectively. These fungi can produce mycotoxins that are harmful for consumers and thus it is important to detect and reduce the population of storage fungi in rice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Because of an increased number of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) along with associated disease burdens, medical professionals have become more aware of this pathogen in recent years. In this study, by analyzing both the nuclear 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci, 27 clinical Acanthamoeba strains that caused AK in Japan were classified into 3 genotypes, T3 (3 strains), T4 (23 strains), and T5 (one strain). Most haplotypes were identical to the reference haplotypes reported from all over the world, and thus no specificity of the haplotype distribution in Japan was found. The T4 sub-genotype analysis using the 16S rRNA gene locus also revealed a clear subconformation within the T4 cluster, and lead to the recognition of a new sub-genotype T4i, in addition to the previously reported sub-genotypes T4a-T4h. Furthermore, 9 out of 23 strains in the T4 genotype were identified to a specific haplotype (AF479533), which seems to be a causal haplotype of AK. While heterozygous nuclear haplotypes were observed from 2 strains, the mitochondrial haplotypes were homozygous as T4 genotype in the both strains, and suggested a possibility of nuclear hybridization (mating reproduction) between different strains in Acanthamoeba. The nuclear 18S rRNA gene and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci of Acanthamoeba spp. possess different unique characteristics usable for the genotyping analyses, and those specific features could contribute to the establishment of molecular taxonomy for the species complex of Acanthamoeba.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2008

The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is regulated by various spliced first exons (exon 1a-1i), sharing differentially common exon 2 in diverse human tissues. The highly complex structure and regulation of human nNOS gene gave limitations of information for the precise mechanism of nNOS regulation. In the present study, we report that the repeats of polymorphic dinucleotides $(GT)^nA(TG)^n$ repeats located in just upstream to the exon 1f in human nNOS gene play suppressive role in transcription, as shown in the characteristics of Z-DNA motif in other genes. In neuronal and trophoblast cells transfected transiently with luciferase construct without dinucleotide repeats at the 5'-flanking region of exon 1f in nNOS gene, the luciferase activity was increased markedly. However, the presence of the dinucleotide repeats dramatically suppressed the luciferase activity to the basal level, and which was dependent on the length of $(GT)^n$ and $(TG)^n$ repeats. More importantly, we found the polymorphisms in the length of dinucleotide repeats in human. Furthermore, we show for the first time here that there is a significant association of the lengths of polymorphic dinucleotide $(GT)^n$ and $(TG)^n$ repeats with the risk of schizophrenia.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2007

Uniform microcapsules containing ionic model drugs were prepared by controlling various conditions of emulsification procedure using a lab-scale membrane emulsification system with a SPG (Shirasu porous glass) tubular membrane. We observed the effects of various emulsification parameters [concentration and molecular weight of polycaprolatone (PCL) polymer, transmembrane pressure and emulsifier concentration in disperse phase and continuous phase, stirring speed] on the mean size and size ditribution of microcapsules containing lidocaine hydrochloride (cationic drug), sodium salicylate (nonionic drug) and 4-acetaminophen (anionic drug) used as a model drugs. Also, release characteristics of a model drugs from PCL microcapsules were investigated. Controlling membrane emulsification parameters, uniform PCL microcapsules with about $5\;{\mu}m$ of the mean size were finally prepared. The release rate and the burst effect of microcapsules were decreased in condition of the acidic solution, but it was increased in condition of the base solution.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.159-161
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• 2005

Hypovirus infection of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica is a useful model system to study the hypoviral regulation of fungal gene expression. The hypovirus is known to downregulate the fungal laccase1 (lac 1), the modulation of which is tightly governed by the inositol triphosphate ($IP_3$) and calcium second messenger system in a virus-free strain. We cloned the gene cplc1 encoding a phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC), in order to better characterize the fungal gene regulation by hypovirus. Sequence analysis of the cplc1 gene indicated that the protein product contained both the X and Y domains, which are the two conserved regions found in all known PLCs, with a 133 amino acid extension between the 2nd ${\beta}$-strand and the ${\alpha}$-helix in the X domain. In addition, the gene organization appeared to be highly similar to that of a ${\delta}$ type PLC. Disruption of the cplc1 gene resulted in slow growth and produced colonies characterized by little aerial mycelia and deep orange in color. In addition, down regulation of lac1 expression was observed. However, temperature sensitivity, osmosensitivity, virulence, and other hypovirulence-associated characteristics did not differ from the wild-type strain. Functional complementation of the cplc1-null mutant with the PLC1 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae restored lac1 expression, which suggests that the cloned gene encodes PLC activity. The present study indicates that the cplc1 gene is required for appropriate mycelial growth, and that it regulates the lac1 expression, which is also modulated by the hypovirus. Although several PLC genes have been identified in various simple eukaryotic organisms, the deletion analysis of the cplc1 gene in this study appears to be the first report on the functional analysis of PLC in filamentous fungi.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2011

An alkalophilic bacterium producing alkaline protease was isolated from waste water and solar saltern sample and identified as Bacillus pseudofirmus HS-54 based on morphological, biochemical characteristics as well as 16S-rRNA gene sequencing. The HS-54 protease was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE cellulose column chromatography, and sephadex G-100 gel filtration with a 4.0 purification fold. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 27 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for the purified protease activity were 10.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The purified enzyme was relatively stable at the pH range of 6.0-11.0 and at the temperature below $50^{\circ}C$. This enzyme was activated by $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ and inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Al^{3+}$, $Ag^{2+}$. And this enzyme was strongly inhibited by PMSF, suggesting that it belongs to the serine protease superfamily.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2011

This review describes the characteristics of various unculturable soil bacteria, successfully-cultivating examples of those bacteria, and the diverse factors to be considered for successful cultivation. Most importantly, the selection of proper media is very important because unculturable bacteria demand different types of nutrients at various concentrations of substrates, nitrogens and phosphorus. To develop a new medium to successfully culture unculturable bacteria from soil, molecular ecological studies should be combined together. The inoculum size on a plate is also important: less than 50 bacterial cells are recommended to be plated on a single culture plate. The environmental factors such as pH and salt concentration of the medium need to be adjusted as similar as possible to mimic the original soil environments, and the trial of the various temperatures and extended period of cultivation are better. Since one cannot simply tell about which one was unculturable among a great number of colonies grown on a newly developed medium, some suitable detection methods and fast identification methods are required. Many soil bacteria live with cooperation one another in their communities, so that enrichment such as coculture of using other bacterial metabolites and subsequent pure cultures can also guarantee successful cultivation of the previously uncultured bacteria in soil. Here, this review will discuss for the future perspectives to culture the unculturable soil bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.2 s.89
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• pp.100-106
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• 1999

The polysaccharides, intracellular and extracellular, extracted from the liquid culture of the Agrocybe cylindracea were purified and characterized. The mycellial cellular productivity of Agrocybe cylindracea was proved to be almost 2 folds in the shaking culture compared to the standing culture. These polysaccharides were purified by the DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography and the Sepharose 2B size exclusive gel filteration. The two purified fractions of extracellular polysaccharides, ACEPDG and ACEPAG, contained 75.8% and 65.4% total sugar respectively. The total sugar content of ACIPDG and ACIPAG, the two purified fractions of intracellular polysaccharides, were 89.2% and 54.2% respectively. The molecular weights range of all the substances were estimated to be above 100,000, from 300KDa of ACEPDG to 600 KDa of ACIPAG. The results of sugar analysis by HPLC showed that the sugar part of ACEPDG was consisted of glucose and inositol. The ACIPDG, ACEPAG and ACIPAG contained three kinds of monosaccharides, glucose, fructose and inositol.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2001

Colletotrichum species are important fungal pathogens that cause great damages on various host plant species worldwide. In Korea, Colletotrichum species cause massive economic losses on apple, peach, grape, and especially, sweet persimon productions. In the past, identification of the pathogen and the studies on the genetic relationships among the pathogenic isolates were mainly based on morphology, cultural characteristics, and the difference in pathogenicity. However, in recent years, these traditional methods have been replaced with molecular methods including AFLP. AFLP method with the merits of both RAPD and RFLP has been widely used for the genetic relationship studies of various organisms. Therefore, in this study, AFLP method was employed for the studies of genetic relationships among the different isolates of Colletotrichum species collected from various parts of sothern Korea. As a result, two specific band pattern groups were observed among different isolates of Colletotrichum species.