• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.232-238
• /
• 2003

Previous phylogenetic studies on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolated from Korean patients suggest that the major subtype of Korean isolate is subtype B. In this subtype, some of the Korean isolates seem to be clustered exclusively of foreign isolates. Presence of this so-called “Korean clade” among Korean isolates is unique but needs verification since the number of Korean isolates used in previous studies was limited. This study aimed to identify the presence of the “Korean clade” by molecular phylogenetic analysis using all the Korean nef gene sequences registered in the NCBI GenBank (N=243) together with 32 reference strains and 77 foreign isolates. Extensive analysis of the nef gene nucleotide sequences by neighbor-joining method revealed the following. Most (83.1 ％) of the Korean isolates belonged to subtype B, and 81.2％ of subtype B were clustered together and excluded foreign isolates (bootstrap value=91.9％ ). Within Korean subtype B cluster, no characteristic subcluster formation was evident since the bootstrap values for the subcluster were very low. Due to limited information, the phylogenetic analysis failed to identify the epidemiological linkage among specific groups such as homosexuals and hemophiliacs within the Korean subtype B cluster. Detailed analysis and epidemiological information are needed to clarify the origin and significance of the Korean subtype B cluster.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.823-828
• /
• 2000

The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus DNA isolated from Korean patient serum was determined and characterized, and its phylogenetic relation was then investigated. The viral genome was 3,215 base pairs long and included four well known open reading frames (i.e. surface antigens, core antigens, X protein and DNA polymerase). The sequence of the surface antigen showed that the HBV genome under investigation, designated HBV 315, was characteristic of subtype adr. A phylogenetic analysis using the total genome sequence revealed that HBV315 was grouped into genomic group C together with isolates from Japan, China, Thailand, Polynesia, and New Caledonia. The mean percent similarity between HBV315 and other HBV isolates in genomic group C was 97.25%, and that with other genomic groups ranged from 86.16% to 91.25%. The predicted amino acid sequences of HBV315 were compared with two closely related subtype adr isolates, M38636 and D12980. The results showed that the X gene product was identical in the three strains, while there were significant amino acid sequence differences between HBV315 and M38636 in the Pre-S1 and Pre-S2 regions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.816-821
• /
• 2004

A reliable molecular phylogenetic method to identify Hericium erinaceum, the most industrially valuable species in the Hericium genus, was established. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the PCR-amplified ITS and 5.8S rDNA from Hericium fungi, including 6 species and 23 isolates, showed that variation in nucleotide sequences and size exists in both ITS1 and ITS2 regions, but not in the 5.8S region. These two ITS regions provided different levels of information on the relationship of H. erinaceum to other Hericium species. Based on the ITS1 sequence, both the parsimony and neighbor joining trees clearly distinguished Asian H. erinaceum isolates from other Hericium species and isolates. The intraspecific divergence of the ITS2 region was suitable to dissect the Asian H. erinaceum isolates into a few groups.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.6
• /
• pp.689-694
• /
• 2020

Strongyloidiasis is caused by Strongyloides stercoralis and is one of the most neglected tropical diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. Although several strongyloidiasis cases have been reported in Korea, genetic analysis of Korean isolates is still incomplete. In this study, a parasite was isolated from a 61-year-old man diagnosed with strongyloidiasis during the treatment of lymphoma on his retroperitoneal lymph node. Diffuse symmetric wall thickening from the ascending to descending colon and a nematode-infected intestine was observed following microscopic examination. Genomic DNA was isolated from a patient tissue block, and S. stercoralis was identified by PCR and sequencing (18S rDNA). In order to determine phylogenetic location of a Korean isolate (named KS1), we analyzed cox1 gene (500-bp) and compared it with that from 47 previous S. stercoralis isolates (28 human isolates and 19 canid isolates) from Asian countries. Our results showed that phylogenetic tree could clearly be divided into 5 different groups according to hosts and regions. KS1 was most closely related with the Chinese isolates in terms of genetic distance.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.939-946
• /
• 2011

Sequence data of Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene of mitochondria were used to elucidate the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the terrestrial planarian taxa in Korea. Published COI gene sequences from Family Bipaliidae in GenBank were also included in the phylogenetic analysis. The aligned data sets for Terricola ranged from 387 to 444 nucleotides (bp) as a result of differences in insert nucleotides. The phylogeny based on COI analysis was not congruenced with the morphological traits. Bipalium nobile included the remainder taxa (Bipalium adventitium, Bipalium venosum, Bipalium kewense, and Bipalium multilineatum). Internal nodes were strongly supported (>91%). The phylogenetic tree on COI analysis showed that most identified species were well separated from each other. The main phylogenetic analysis formed monophyletic groups. COI gene of mitochondria could have the resolving power for taxonomy information for the terrestrial planarian taxa in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.219-230
• /
• 2003

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PED), a member of Coronaviridea, is the etiological agent of enteropathogenic diarrhea in swine. The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic characteristic of PEDV isolated in Korea. Nucleocapsid(N) gene and membrane (M) gene of recent Korean PEDV strains isolated in 2001 were amplified, cloned, sequenced and analyzed. N gene of seven Korean PEDV field isolates bad 94.5% to 99.4% nucleotide and 92.4% to 99.4% amino acid sequence homology each other. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of Korean field PEDVs were different from published foreign PEDVs, showing 95.1% to 98.0% nucleotide and 93.5% to 97.6% amino acid sequence homology. By phylogenetic tree analysis on based nucleotide sequences, PEDVs were clustered into four groups. By phylogenetic tree analysis based on amino acid sequences. PEDVs were clustered into five groups. M gene of our Korean PEDV field isolates had 99.6% to 100% nucleotide and 98.7% to 100% amino acid sequence homology each other. Nuclotide and amino acid sequences of Korean field PEDVs were different from published foreign PEDVs, showing 98.5% to 98.8% nucleotide and 97.3% to 97.8% amino acid sequence homology. By phylogenetic tree analysis based on nucleotide and amino acid sequences, PEDVs were clustered into two groups which were Korean PEDV isolate group and foreign PEDV isolate group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.643-649
• /
• 2010

Evaluation of the primary etiologic agents that cause aseptic meningitis outbreaks may provide valuable information regarding the prevention and management of aseptic meningitis. In Korea, an outbreak of aseptic meningitis caused by echovirus type 30 (E30) occurred from May to October in 2008. In order to determine the etiologic agent, CSF and/or stool specimens from 140 children hospitalized for aseptic meningitis at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between June and October of 2008 were tested for virus isolation and identification. E30 accounted for 61.7% (37 cases) and echovirus 6 accounted for 21.7% (13 cases) of all the human enteroviruses (HEVs) isolates (60 cases in total). For the molecular characterization of the isolates, the VP1 gene sequence of 18 Korean E30 isolates was compared pairwise using the MegAlign with 34 reference strains from the GenBank database. The pairwise comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the VP1 genes demonstrated that the sequences of the Korean strains differed from those of lineage groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Reconstruction of the phylogenetic tree based on the complete VP1 nucleotide sequences resulted in a monophyletic tree, with eight clustered lineage groups. All Korean isolates were segregated from other lineage groups, thus suggesting that the Korean strains were a distinct lineage of E30, and a probable cause of this outbreak. This manuscript is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of the molecular characteristics of E30 strains associated with an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Korea, and their respective phylogenetic relationships.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2010

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the clinical and phylogenetic characteristics of Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infections (E. coli UTI). Methods : We enrolled patients with culture-proven E. coli UTI, who were admitted at the study hospital from September 2008 to August 2009. We investigated clinical data of patients with E. coli UTI and characteristics of isolated E. coli strains. The phylogenetic groups were classified using triplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the distribution of nine virulent genes was determined by multiplex PCR. Results : A total of 47 patients have participated in this study. Thirty (63.8%) were under 6 months; eight (17.0%) were between 6-12 months; and nine (19.1%) were over 12 months. We compared two age groups between under 6-month and over 6-month. In the age group under 6-month, higher proportion of male (P =0.002) and group B2 strains (P =0.020) were observed. In contrast, higher proportion of female and group non-B2 strains were observed in age group over 6-month. Frequencies of papC, papGII, papGIII, sfa/foc, hlyC, cnf1, fyuA, iroN and iucC were estimated as 68.1%, 57.4%, 42.6%, 46.8%, 46.8%, 31.9%, 87.2%, 48.9% and 63.8%, respectively. In the comparison of phylogenetic groups, group B2 showed higher distribution of virulent genes, while group D included more strains resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) than other groups. Conclusion : We showed the age group-specific difference in the distribution of sex ratios and phylogenetic groups; more male and group B2 strains in age group under 6-month, while more female and group non-B2 in age group over 6-month. However, further evaluation including larger number of patients will be necessary to confirm above thesis in future molecular epidemiological studies.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.390-400
• /
• 2012

Eight potato-producing provinces of Iran were surveyed during the growing seasons of 2004-2006 to detect the presence of Tomato yellow fruit ring virus (TYFRV), a tentative species in the genus Tospovirus. A total of 1,957 potato leaf samples were collected from plants with tospovirus-like symptoms of chlorotic or necrotic spots, chlorosis and necrosis. The samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using TYFRV-specific antibodies. Among those tested, 498 samples (25.4%) were found to be infected with the virus. The virus was detected in 72.4% of the potato fields in all provinces surveyed. Thirteen potato isolates of TYFRV were selected for further biological and molecular studies. Based on their reactions on Nicotiana tabacum plants, the isolates were separated into two groups, namely L (local infection) and N (systemic infection). The nucleotide sequences of the nucleoprotein (N) genes of the isolates were determined and compared with the homologous sequences in Genbank. No recombination evidence was found in the isolates using different recombination-detecting programs. In the phylogenetic tree, the potato isolates fell into two major groups: IRN-1 and IRN-2 corresponding to the two biologically separated groups. This study shows for the first time the biological and phylogenetic relationships of geographically distant TYFRV isolates from potatoes in the mid-Eurasian country of Iran.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.414-422
• /
• 2004

To infer phylogenetic relationships among Epinephelus species inhabiting coastal regions of Korean peninsula, mitochondrial cytochrome b genes from 9 species belonging to the subfamily Epinephelinae were PCR-amplified, cloned and sequenced. Aligned cytochrome b sequences of 10 species containing one additional sequence from GenBank were 1,140 base pairs in length, including 439 variable and 330 parsimony informative sites. The cytochrome b genes of 10 species, as other vertebrates studied to date, exhibit unequal base compositions: an entirely low G content ($15.2{\pm}0.3{\%}$on average) and almost equal T, C and A contents ($29.3{\pm}0.8{\%},\;30.7{\pm}1.0{\%},\;and\;24.8{\pm}0.5{\%}$ on average, respectively).In third codon positions, transitional substitutions especially between Epinephelus species and outgroup species are almost certainly saturated or near saturation. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with sequence data from 8 Epinephelus species and 2 outgroup species (Cephalopholis urodela and Vaviola louti) by using distance-based (neighbor-joining and minimum evolution) and parsimony-based (maximum parsimony) methods. The results showed that the monophyly of the genus Epinephelus was supported by relatively high bootstrap values. However, phylogenetic relationships among E. areolatus, E. moara, E. septemfasciatus, and Epinephelus sp were poorly resolved. Within the genus Epinephelus, three resolved monophyletic groups were found: clade 1 included E. akaara and E. awoara;, clade 2 included E. fasciatus and E. merra; and clade 3 included E. akaara, E. awoara, E. fasciatus, E. merra, E. areolatus, E. moara, E. septemfasciatus and Epinephelus Sp.