• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

A novel porcine circovirus 4 (PCV4) was recently identified in Chinese and Korean pig herds. Although several conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were used for PCV4 detection, more sensitive and reliable qPCR assay is needed that can simultaneously detect PCV4 and internal positive control (IPC) to avoid false-negative results. In the present study, a duplex qPCR (dqPCR) assay was developed using primers/probe sets targeting the PCV4 Cap gene and pig (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) GAPDH gene as an IPC. The developed dqPCR assay was specifically detected PCV4 but not other PCVs and porcine pathogens, indicating that the newly designed primers/probe set is specific to the PCV4 Cap gene. Furthermore, GAPDH was stably amplified by the dqPCR in all tested viral and clinical samples containing pig cellular materials, indicating the high reliability of the dqPCR assay. The limit of detection of the assay 5 copies of the target PCV4 genes, but the sensitivity of the assay was higher than that of the previously described assays. The assay demonstrated high repeatability and reproducibility, with coefficients of intra-assay and inter-assay variation of less than 1.0%. Clinical evaluation using 102 diseased pig samples from 18 pig farms showed that PCV4 circulated in the Korean pig population. The detection rate of PCV4 obtained using the newly developed dqPCR was 26.5% (27/102), which was higher than that obtained using the previously described cPCR and TaqMan probe-based qPCR and similar to that obtained using the previously described SYBR Green-based qPCR. The dqPCR assay with IPC is highly specific, sensitive, and reliable for detecting PCV4 from clinical samples, and it will be useful for etiological diagnosis, epidemiological study, and control of the PCV4 infections.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.499-505
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• 2018

Huanglongbing (HLB, Citrus greening disease) is one of the most devastating diseases that threaten citrus production worldwide. Although HLB presents systemically, low titer and uneven distribution of these bacteria within infected plants can make reliable detection difficult. It was known loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method has the advantages of being highly specific, rapid, efficient, and laborsaving for detection of plant pathogens. We developed a new LAMP method targeting gene contained tandem repeat for more rapid and sensitive detection of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), putative causal agent of the citrus huanglongbing. This new LAMP method was 10 folds more sensitive than conventional PCR in detecting the HLB pathogen and similar to that of real-time PCR in visual detection assay by adding SYBR Green I to mixture and 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Positive reactions were achieved in reaction temperature 57, 60 and $62^{\circ}C$ but not $65^{\circ}C$. Although this LAMP method was not more sensitive than real-time PCR, it does not require a thermocycler for amplification or agarose gel electrophoresis for resolution. Thus, we expect that this LAMP method shows strong promise as a reliable, rapid, and cost-effective method of detecting the CLas in citrus and can be applied for rapid diagnosis is needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.987-992
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• 2010

This study was to detect the expression of heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) gene mRNA in different tissues of Rugao and Luyuan chickens at 56 d and 120 d by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR). The primers were designed according to the sequences of HFABP, A-FABP and GAPDH genes in Gallus gallus, which were used as target genes and internal reference gene, respectively. The levels of H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression were detected by SYBR Green I FQ-RT-PCR. The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was calculated with 2-$^{{\Delta}Ct}$. Melting curve analysis showed a single peak of three genes. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content in breast muscle and leg muscle of the two chicken breeds at 120 d was higher than at 56 d. IMF content in breast muscle and leg muscle at 56 d and 120 d in Luyuan was significantly higher than in Rugao, however, abdominal fat of Luyuan was significantly lower than that of Rugao. The relative H-FABP gene mRNA expression level in cardiac muscle was the highest in both chicken breeds. The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression of different tissues in Luyuan was higher than in Rugao. H-FABP gene mRNA expression had a negative effect on IMF of leg and breast muscles, and was significantly negatively correlated with IMF content. The relative A-FABP gene mRNA level in abdominal fat was higher than in liver. The A-FABP gene mRNA was not expressed in leg, breast and cardiac muscles. A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was significantly positively correlated with abdominal fat and had a significant effect on abdominal fat but not IMF content.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.294-298
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• 2018

Background Production of immunosuppressive enzymes such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is one of the strategies employed by hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), to circumvent immune surveillance. Moreover, IDO has the ability to convert $CD4^+CD25^-$ conventional T cells into regulatory T cells (Tregs). In this study, we evaluated the expression of IDO in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) patients and its correlation with the Treg marker, FOXP3, as well as clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods Thirty-seven newly diagnosed CN-AML patients were enrolled in our study along with 22 healthy individuals. The expression of the IDO and FOXP3 genes was analyzed by SYBR Green real-time PCR. Results Both IDO and FOXP3 were highly upregulated in CN-AML patients compared to control groups (P=0.004 and P=0.031, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between IDO and FOXP3 expression among AML patients (r=0.512, P=0.001). Expression of IDO and FOXP3 showed no significant correlation with laboratory parameters such as white blood cell and platelet counts, hemoglobin levels, bone marrow blast percentage, gender, and FLT3 mutation status (P>0.05). Conclusion Higher IDO expression in CN-AML patients may be associated with an increased Treg phenotype which may promote disease progression and lead to poor prognosis of CN-AML patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.620-631
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• 2016

Viroids are about 250-400 base pair of short single strand RNA fragments have been associated with economically important plant diseases. Due to the lack of protein expression capacity associated with replication, it is very difficult to diagnosis viroid diseases in serological methods. For detecting viroid at plants, molecular-based techniques such as agarose gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), DNA-hybridization, blotting analysis and conventional RT-PCR are reliable. Real-time RT-PCR methods that grafted on RT-PCR methods with improved confirmation methods have been also utilized. However, they are still labor-intensive, time-consuming, and require personnel with expertise. Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method is a nucleic acid amplification method under the isothermal condition. The LAMP methodology has been reported to be simple, rapid, sensitive and field applicable in detecting a variety of pathogens. The results of LAMP method can be colorized by adding a visible material such as SYBR green I, Evagreen, Calcein, Berberine and Hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) with simple equipment or naked eyes. The combination of LAMP method and nucleic pathogens, viroids, can be used to realize simple diagnosis platform for the genetic point-of care testing system. The aim at this review is to summary viroid-caused diseases and the simple visible approach for diagnosing viroids using Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.224-228
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• 2018

Objectives: As a first step to study the anticaries effect of ethanol alone, we investigated the effects of ethanol on the expression levels of the atpB gene and proton permeability of Streptococcus mutans in suspension cultures. Methods: S. mutans UA159 was grown in brain heart infusion medium at either pH 4.8 or 6.8. The total extracted RNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA using a $Superscript^{TM}$ First-Strand Synthesis System. The resulting cDNA and negative controls were amplified by ABI PRISM 7700 real-time PCR system with SYBR Green PCR Master Mix. For proton flux assay, bacterial suspensions were titrated to pH 4.6 with 0.5 M HCl, and then additional 0.5 M HCl was added to decrease the pH values by approximately 0.4 units. The subsequent increase in pH was monitored using a glass electrode. Ten percent (v/v) butanol was added to the suspensions at 80 min to disrupt the cell membrane. Results: In a concentration-dependent manner, ethanol alone not only decreased the growth rate of S. mutans and the expression of the atpB gene but also increased the proton permeability at both pH 4.8 and 6.8. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ethanol has the potential for an anticaries ingredient. We believe that ethanol may be used together with fluoride and/or other cariostatic agents in order to develop better anticaries toothpastes and/or mouthrinses.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2008

Methylmercury (MeHg) is known to have devastating effects on the mammalian nervous system. In order to characterize the mechanism of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, we investigated the analysis of transcriptional profiles on human 8k cDNA microarray by treatment of $1.4{\mu}M$ MeHg at 3, 12, 24 and 48h in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. Some of the identified genes by MeHg treatment were significant at early time points (3h), while that of others was at late time points (48h). The early response genes that may represent those involved directly in the MeHg response included pantothenate kinase 3, a kinase (PRKA) anchor protein (yotiao) 9, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2 gene, associated with NMDA receptor activity regulation or perturbations of central nervous system homeostasis. Also, when SH-SY5Y cells were subjected to a longer exposure (48h), a relative increase was noted in a gene, glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1, reported that overexpression of this gene may lead to the increased resistance to MeHg. To confirm the alteration of these genes in cultured neurons, we then applied real time-RT PCR with SYBR green. Thus, this result suggests that a neurotoxic effect of the MeHg might be ascribed that MeHg alters neuronal receptor regulation or homeostasis of neuronal cells in the early phase. However, in the late phase, it protects cells from neurotoxic effects of MeHg.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2007

Promoter hypermethylation of the $p16^{INK4a}$ gene was investigated in 52 sets of samples of tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue from Korean patients with colorectal cancer, using the proposed modified the Real-time PCR/SYBR Green detection method presented in this study. In normal tissue, 29 of 52 patients (56%) were methylated and in tumor tissue, 23 of 52 patients (44%) were methylated. The 34 cases (65.4%) showed a concordant DNA methylation pattern in both normal tissue and tumor tissue. Analyzing the association between the clinicopathologic features and DNA methylation status of the $p16^{INK4a}$ gene, the DNA methylation status according to by Duke's stage was different while other clinicopathological characteristics, including the age, sex, tumor stage, and histologic type of the patient were not found to be correlated with $p16^{INK4a}$ methylation. With multivariate logistic regression, it was observed that the DNA methylation status of $p16^{INK4a}$ gene in normal tissue was correlated with the DNA methylation status of the $p16^{INK4a}$ gene in tumor tissue (P=0.026). According to a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, a difference in the survival rate by DNA methylation status was found, but it was not significant.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.426-439
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• 2021

It is already well known that castration improves marbling quality but exact timing of castration is still highly debated in beef cattle production industry. After castration, blood hormonal changes occur in steer and objective of this study was to investigate the effects of growth hormone (GH) levels on adipocyte differentiation in stromal vascular cells (SVCs) and transdifferentiation into adipocytes in C2C12 myoblasts. Total GH concentrations were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 24 male calves and 4 female calves. Cell proliferation, cellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation, and the cell's lipolytic capability were measured in C2C12 myoblasts and SVCs. Myogenic, adipogenic, and brown adipocyte-specific gene expression was measured via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR green. Serum GH levels were the highest in late-castrated calves. Treatment with 5 ng/mL GH resulted in greater TG accumulation as well as increased CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ expression compared to that after treatment with 15 ng/mL GH. Treatment with 5 ng/mL GH also resulted in lower myogenin (myo)G and myoD expression compared to that after treatment with 15 ng/mL GH. The expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 7 after treatment with 5 ng/mL GH was higher than that after treatment with 15 ng/mL GH. But carcass characteristics data showed no significant difference between early and late castrated steers. Therefore, our results indicate that castration timing does not seem to be inevitable determinate of carcass qualities, particularly carcass weight and marbling score in Hanwoo beef cattle.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4281-4287
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• 2014

Background: Methylation of tumor suppressor genes has been investigated in all kinds of cancer. Tumor specific epigenetic alterations can be used as a molecular markers of malignancy, which can lead to better diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between gene hypermethylation and expression of fragile histidine triad (FHIT), glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) and p16 genes and various clinicopathologic characteristics in primary non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: The study included 28 primary non-small cell lung carcinomas, where an additional 28 tissue samples taken from apparently normal safety margin surrounding the tumors served as controls. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was performed to analyze the methylation status of FHIT, GSTP1 and p16 while their mRNA expression levels were measured using a real-time PCR assay with SYBR Green I. Results: The methylation frequencies of the genes tested in NSCLC specimens were 53.6% for FHIT, 25% for GSTP1, and 0% for p16, and the risk of FHIT hypermethylation increased among patients with NSCLC by 2.88, while the risk of GSTP1 hypermethylation increased by 2.33. Hypermethylation of FHIT gene showed a highly significant correlation with pathologic stage (p<0.01) and a significant correlation with smoking habit and FHIT mRNA expression level (p<0.05). In contrast, no correlation was observed between the methylation of GSTP1 or p16 and smoking habit or any other parameter investigated (p>0.05). Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that methylation of FHIT is a useful biomarker of biologically aggressive disease in patients with NSCLC. FHIT methylation may play a role in lung cancer later metastatic stages while GSTP1 methylation may rather play a role in the early pathogenesis.