• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.525-537
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• 2024

Pilins are protein subunits of pili. The pilins of type IV pili (T4P) in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized, but anything is known about the T4P proteins in acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms such as the genus Acidithiobacillus. The interest in T4P of A. thiooxidans is because of their possible role in cell recruitment and bacterial aggregation on the surface of minerals during biooxidation of sulfide minerals. In this study we present a successful ad hoc methodology for the heterologous expression and purification of extracellular proteins such as the minor pilin PilV of the T4P of A. thiooxidans, a pilin exposed to extreme conditions of acidity and high oxidation-reduction potentials, and that interact with metal sulfides in an environment rich in dissolved minerals. Once obtained, the model structure of A. thiooxidans PilV revealed the core basic architecture of T4P pilins. Because of the acidophilic condition, we carried out in silico characterization of the protonation status of acidic and basic residues of PilV in order to calculate the ionization state at specific pH values and evaluated their pH stability. Further biophysical characterization was done using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and the results showed that PilV remains soluble and stable even after exposure to significant changes of pH. PilV has a unique amino acid composition that exhibits acid stability, with significant biotechnology implications such as biooxidation of sulfide minerals. The biophysics profiles of PilV open new paradigms about resilient proteins and stimulate the study of other pilins from extremophiles.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.955-961
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• 2018

Although much research has focused on various bioactive substances in starfish, research on microorganisms isolated from starfish is lacking as compared with other natural products. In this study, we investigated bacterial communities in the gut of red starfish (Certonardoa semiregularis) in Jeju Island. In total, 103 bacterial strains were isolated using marine agar and R2A medium. The isolated strains were analyzed and identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Based on an analysis of this gene sequence, the 103 isolated bacteria were classified into four major groups: Proteobacteria (93%: Alpha-proteobacteria, 24.8%; Beta-proteobacteria, 4%; Gammaproteobacteria, 65%) Bacteroidetes (4%), Actinobacteria (2%), and Firmicutes (1%). In addition, the isolates were divided into seven classes (Actinobacteria, Flavobacteria, Bacilli, Sphingobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria), 15 orders, 19 families, and 24 genera. A phylogenetic analysis revealed two strains, Lysobacter sp. and Pedobacter sp., with similarity of 97.55% and 97.58%, respectively. As the similarity in the 16S rRNA gene sequence was 98% or less compared to previously identified bacteria, the two strains may possibly be classified as a new genus or species. We suggest that additional studies, including biochemical and morphological tests, should be performed to identify the new candidate strains.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-140
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• 2011

Taylor's (1960) floristic treatment of the benthic marine algae of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic and Wynne's (2011) "checklist: third revision" serve as benchmarks in a review of changes made in the past half-century period. There has been a great increase in the number of recognized taxa of red, brown and green algae at all taxonomic ranks: from 758 to 1,393 species, an increase of 84%; from 231 to 406 genera, an increase of 75%; and from 63 to 106 families, an increase of 68%. In regard to recognized infraspecific taxa, the increase was less dramatic, from 140 to 185, thus a 32% change in the 50-year period. This review addresses the question: What factors were responsible for this proliferation of taxa that are now recognized in this domain of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic? The answer is that many reasons contributed to these changes. Foremost among these causes have been the advances in gene-sequencing technologies. Revised phylogenetic relationships have led to many genera being divided into more than one genus, as well as new families and orders being delineated. Numerous examples of cryptic species have been discovered by gene-sequence and DNA-bar coding studies. This trend is depicted by case studies. Examples of genera being divided are Galaxaura, Liagora and Laurencia. Tricleocarpa and Dichotomaria have been segregated from Galaxaura. Trichogloeopsis, Ganonema, Izziella, Yamadaella, and Titanophycus have been segregated from Liagora. Chondrophycus, Osmundea, Palisada, and Yuzurura have been segregated from Laurencia. Examples are given of other genera present in this region of the western Atlantic that have been split up. Many genera have increased in terms of the number of species now assigned to them. Taylor's (1960) treatment recognized only two species in Hypoglossum, whereas Wynne's (2011) checklist contained a total of 9 species of Hypoglossum. Taylor's account included only two species of Botryocladia, but this number had grown to 15 in Wynne's checklist. Examples of new genera and species occurring in the region of the western Atlantic are given, and examples of taxa being newly reported for this domain are provided. An increase in the number of phycologists in Latin and South America, exploration of previously unexplored regions, and the increasing use of SCUBA for collecting and at greater depths have all contributed to the increase in the number of algal taxa that are now recognized as occurring in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2004

Orf virus (ORFV), a member of genus Parapoxvirus (family-Poxviridae), a causative agent of contagious ecthyma in sheep and goat leading to a condition commonly known as vesicular dermatitis. Recently, twelve goats from Iksan in Jeonbuk province were observed with clinical signs like necrotic vesicular lesions around the mucosa of mouth, nasal cavity, eye, ear, teats, abdomen and groin. Based on these clinical symptoms, contagious ecthyma infection was suspected. The skin scrapping was collected from lesions for isolation of DNA and subsequent PCR amplification of ORFV specific 235 bp region of B2L gene. All of the samples were found positive by PCR analysis. Sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis of the PCR product revealed 100% identity to Japan isolate of ORFV (Okinawa, GenBank accession number AB080769), and showed 99.6% of similarity to New Zealand strain (NZ-2, GenBank accession number U06671). It was concluded that ORFV strain detected in the present study is homologous to Japan isolate and New Zealand strain. The PCR test based on amplification of B2L gene is a highly useful tools for rapid and specific diagnosis of contagious ecthyma.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2007

The DY1 strain of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria was isolated from the soil sample collected from Daeam mountain, Korea. The culture filtrate of DY1 strain showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity on various pathogenic and food poisoning enteric bacterial species tested in vitro. It showed significant growth-inhibitory effect on Salmonella enterica sp., Shigella sp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and Yersinia enterocolitica. For the identification of the DY1 strain, morphological, biochemical and molecular phylogenetic approaches were performed. The DY1 strain was found to be a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of morphological and biochemical analyses. The 16S rDNA of DY1 showed the highest pairwise identity with Paenibacillus polymyxa with 99.79% (1,413 bp/1,416 bp). The antimicrobial entity from DY1 looked different from preciously reported ones and seems to have a great potential to be further studied as a candidate of new antibiotics to control multi-drug resistant pathogens.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1013-1017
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• 2003

A thermophilic nonspore-forming rod isolated from hay compost in Korea was subjected to a taxonomic study. The microorganism, designated as $SC-1^T$, was identified as a nitrate-reducing and nonmotile bacterium. Although the strain was negatively Gram-stained, a KOH test showed that the strain $SC-1^T$ belonged to a Gram-positive species. Growth was observed between 45 and $70^{\circ}C$. The optimal growth temperature and pH were $60^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65 mol% and the major quinone types were MK-6 and MK-7. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the strain $SC-1^T$ was most closely related to Symbiobacterium thermophilum. However, the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain $SC-1^T$ and the type strain for Symbiobacterium thermophilum was approximately 30%. Accordingly, on the basis of the phenotypic traits and molecular systematic data, the strain $SC-1^T$ would appear to represent a new species within the genus Symbiobacterium. The type strain for the new species is named $SC-1^T$ ($=KCTC\;0307BP^T;\;DSM15906^T$).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

Worldwide development of harmful algal blooms causes serious problem for public health and fisheries industries. To evaluate the algicidal impact on the harmful algae bloom species in aquatic ecosystems of coast, a new algicide thiazolidinedione derivative (TD49) were tentatively examined in the growth stages (i.e., lag, logarithmic and stationary phase) of rapidophyceae $Heterosigma$ $akashiwo$, $Chattonella$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp..Three strains could easily destroy in the lag phase due to relatively weak cell walls than those of the logarithmic and stationary phase. It is thought that inoculation of TD49 substances into initial or developmental natural blooms with a threshold concentration ($2{\mu}M$) can maximize the algicidal activity. Also, bio-chemical assays revealed that the algicidal substances from all culture strains were likely to be extracellular substances because those cells have easily destroyed in cell walls. On the other hand, natural zooplankton communities were influenced within the exposure experiments of $2{\mu}M$, which is showed the maximum algcidal activity of tested organisms. These results indicate that although the TD49 substance is potential agents for the control of $H.$ $akashiwo$, $C.$ $marina$ and $Chattonella$ sp. in the enclosed eutrophic bay and coastal water, more detailed research of acute toxicity effect on high trophic organism in marine ecosystems need to be conducted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.276-283
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• 2004

Screening was performed to isolate cellulose-producing microorganisms from the Korean traditional fermented persimmon vinegar. The resulting strain, KJ $145^{T}$, was then taxonomically investigated by phenotypic characterization, particularly chemotaxonomic, and by phylogenetic inference based on a 16S rDNA sequence analysis including other related taxa. Strain KJ $145^{T}$ was found to grow rapidly and form pale white colonies with smooth to rough surfaces on a GYC agar. Strain KJ $145^T$ also produced acetate from ethanol, and was tolerable to 10% ethanol in SM medium. In a static culture, a thick cellulose pellicle was produced, and in GYC broth, the strain grew at temperatures ranging from 28 to $40^\circ{C}$ with an optimum pH of 4.0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain KJ $145^T$ was 61.9 mol%, and the predominant ubiquinone was Q 10 as the major quinone and Q9 as the minor quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were $C_{16:0}$ and the sum in feature 7 ($C_{18:1}$ w9c, w12t and/or w7c). A 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe specific for strain KJ $145^T$was constructed, and the phylogenetic position of the new species was derived from a 16S rDNA-based tree. When comparing the 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences, strain KJ $145^T$ was found to be most closely related to G. hansenii LMG $1527^T$ (99.2%), although KJ $145^T$ was still distinct from G. hansenii LMG $l527^T$ and G. xylinus LMG $1515^T$ in certain phenotypic characteristics. Therefore, on the basis of 16S rDNA sequences and taxonomic characteristics, it is proposed that strain KJ $145^T$ should be placed in the genus Gluconacetobacter as a new species, Gluconacetobacter persimmonis sp. nov., under the type-strain KJ $145^T$ (=KCTC =$10175BP^T$=KCCM=$10354^T$).

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.129-142
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• 2005

Somatic chromosome numbers of 19 taxa of Korean Rubus was investigated. Subg. Anoplobatus (2 species), subg. Cylactis (1 species), subg. Idaeobatus (15 taxa) and subg. Malachobatus (1 species) are found in Korea. All taxa belonging to subg. Idaeobatus except for R. parvifolius which shows tetrapolid and hexaploid are diploid. The basic chromosome number of the genus was x=7. New chromosome numbers for 5 taxa were reported here: R. hongnoensis of Jeju-island endemic species, 2n=14; R. longisepalus, 2n=14; R. longisepalus var. tozawai, 2n=14; R. parvifolius, 2n=28; R. parvifolius var. taquetii, 2n=28. The rest 12 taxa except for R. coreanus Miq was well counted as 2n=14 and well consistent with previous reports from China and Japan. Our new chromosome level for R. parvifolius as 6x may indicate that speciation by polyploidization has occurred within Korean population. Unlikely to Japanese population (2n=42), Korean population of R. buergeri has same ploidy level with Taiwanese population as 2n=56.