• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2023

Pan-Enterovirus (Pan-EV) infects millions of children and infants worldwide every year. As severe infections have recently been reported, the need for monitoring has consequently intensified. Pan-EV is a categorical name for waterborne enteroviruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family, and includes a wide range of pathogens including Coxsackievirus (CoxV), Echovirus (EcoV) and Enterovirus (EV). In this study, we proposed an optimal RT-nested PCR method for diagnosis of various types of Pan-EV in an aquatic environment and developed a positive control. Considering detection sensitivity, specific reaction, and final identification, one condition capable of amplifying 478 bp among the four candidates in the 1^st round PCR (RT-PCR) and one condition in the 2^nd round PCR (nested PCR) were selected. Through the detection of nucleic acids extracted from 123 groundwater samples and the detection sensitivity test based on artificial spiking in the sample, the methods are optimal for non-disinfected water samples such as groundwater. We developed a positive control for Pan-EV detection that can be amplified to different sizes under the two conditions. Accuracy could be further improved by testing for contamination from the control group. The method proposed in this study and the positive control developed are expected to be used in monitoring Pan-EV in aquatic environments including groundwater through future research using more samples.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.461-469
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• 2014

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent pollutants in aquatic environments, often causing the decline or disappearance of wild populations. In this study, we used a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to evaluate the effects on the genomic DNA of olive flounder embryo and larval stages of exposure to Aroclor 1254 at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and $40{\mu}g/L$. We compared RAPD fingerprints of exposed and non-exposed samples. Polymorphisms were revealed as the presence and/or absence of DNA fragments between the two samples. A dose-dependent increase in the number of polymorphic bands was observed with Aroclor 1254 treatment. Also, RAPD profiles of animals exposed to Aroclor 1254 exhibited an increase in the frequency values (FV) compared to the control. A phenogram constructed using neighbor-joining method indicated that genomic template stability in developing embryo and larval stages was significantly affected at ${\geq}5{\mu}g/L$. This study suggested that DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigative tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker in early life stages for the detection of potential genotoxicants.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.257-265
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• 2002

The current study was performed to elucidate the relationship between the anatoxin -a produced by cyanobacteria and aquatic environmental factors, Algal and water samples were collected from the Daechung Reservoir from June to November 2001. The physical factors of the water quality were measured in sifu, while the biological and chemical factors were examined in the laboratory. The concentrations of anatoxin-a in the algal and water samples were analyzed by HPLC using a fluorescence detector, and ranged from $0.61-8.68\;{\mu}g/g$ dw in the algal samples and $0.01-0.08\;{\mu}g/L$ in the water samples. The suggested maximum concentration of anatoxin-a for safe drinking water is $1\;{\mu}g/L$. The concentrations of anatoxin-a in the algal and water samples were highest in July. The relationships between tile aquatic environmental factors and the anatoxin-a concentration were also analyzed to identify the crucial elements for toxin production. The anatoxin-a concentrations in the algal samples exhibited a high correlation with nitrate, the TN/TP ratio, TDN (P<0.05), and TPN/TPP ratio (P<0.01), whereas the anatoxin-a concentrations in the water samples were highly related to the water temperature, conductivity (P<0.01) , pH, phycocyanin, and phycocyanin/chlorophyll a ratio (P<0.05).

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-193
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• 2006

The hydrophilic or hydrophobic characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different origins in lake and river waters were investigated using spectrometric and chromatographic analyses of water samples. DOM in a deep, mesotrophic lake (Lake Unmun) was fractionated using three types of ion exchange resins and classified into aquatic humic substances (AHS), hydrophobic neutrals (HoN), hydrophilic acids (HiA), hydrophilic neutrals (HiN), and bases (BaS). The DOM fractionation provided insight into the understanding of the nature of heterogeneous DOM molecules present in different water sources. The UV/DOC ratios were determined for samples from the influent river and lake waters during DOM fractionation and incubation. AHS prevailed over DOM in the lake and river waters. After biodegradation, the relative contribution of AHS in the total DOM became more significant. It indicates that the AHS fraction would increase while water stay long time in the lake.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.626-633
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• 2023

Vibrio spp. are aquatic bacteria that are ubiquitous in warm estuarine and marine environments. Especially, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae are currently known to cause potentially fatal infections in humans. This study investigated the distribution and antibiotic resistance of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae isolated from coastal areas of Gyeongsangnam-do in 2022. A total of 252 samples of water, shellfish and coastal sediment were collected from 7 locations along the coast, and 124 samples of fishery products were collected from markets. Among the 252 samples, forty-four V. vulnificus (11.7%) and fourteen V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 (3.7%), none of which carried the ctx gene, were isolated. Out of the 124 samples, 6 (4.8%) tested positive for V. vulnificus and V. cholerae was not detected. The isolation rates of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae showed a significant correlation with environmental factors such as seawater temperature and salinity. In an antibiotic resistance test, V. vulnificus was susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, imipenem trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to cefoxitin (100.0%), followed by tetracycline (9.1%). Multidrug resistance was also observed. Continuous monitoring of Vibrio pathogens with water temperature and salinity is expected to help reduce the outbreaks, and rational use of antibiotic agents is needed to prevent the accession of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 2007

A new technique was proposed for the determination of alkylphenols, chlorophenols and bisphenol A in korean aquatic biological samples. The alkylphenols, chlorophenols and bisphenol A in korean aquatic biological samples were extracted with acetonitrile and then acetonitrile layer was refrigerated at $-60^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours(freezing filtration method). Also, solid-phase extraction(SPE) was used to XAD-4 and subsequent conversion to isobutoxycarbonyl(isoBOC) or tert-butyldimethylsilyl(TBDMS) derivatives for sensitive analysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring(GC/MS-SIM) mode. For isoBOC derivatization and TBDMS derivatization the recoveries were $70.1\sim150.6%$ and $93.8\sim108.3%$, the method detection limit(MDLs) of bisphenol A for SIM were $0.062{\mu}g/kg$ and $0.010{\mu}g/kg$, and the SIM respectively. When these methods were applied to korean aquatic biological samples, the concentrations of the 11 phenolic EDCs were $0.675\sim1.970{\mu}g/kg$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.632-640
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• 2003

Geographic variation in shell morphology of Thais clavigera $(K\"{u}ster)$ (Gastropoda: Muricidae) was investigated using samples collected from 24 sites along the Korean coast. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to 9 morphometric and 4 categorical variables. The shells of T. clavigera were classified into two distinct morph types (Type-W and -E). Temperature and salinity of the sampling sites were significantly correlated with the incidence of morph types. Relative abundance of Type-W (thin, yellowish brown shell with triangular nodules) was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with salinity. In contrast, relative abundance of Type-E (thick, dark purple shell with round nodules) was negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with salinity. Possible correlation between environmental factors (temperature and salinity) and morphological variations in the shells were discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.1355-1363
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• 2018

Many radionuclides exist in normal environment and artificial radionuclides also can be detected. The radionuclides ($^{131}I$) are widely used for labeling compounds and radiation therapy. In Korea, the radionuclide ($^{131}I$) is produced at the Radioisotope Production Facility (RIPF) at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejeon. The residents around the RIPF assume that $^{131}I$ detected in environmental samples is produced from RIPF. To ensure the safety of the residents, the radioactive concentration of $^{131}I$ near the RIPF was investigated by monitoring environmental samples along the Gap River. The selected geographical places are near the nuclear installation, another possible location for $^{131}I$ detection, and downstream of the Gap River. The first selected places are the "front gate of KAERI", and the "Donghwa bridge". The second selected place is the sewage treatment plant. Therefore, the Wonchon bridge is selected for the upstream of the plant and the sewage treatment plant is selected for the downstream of the plant. The last selected places are the downstream where the two paths converged, which is Yongshin bridge (in front of the cogeneration plant). In these places, environmental samples, including sediment, fish, surface water, and aquatic plants, were collected. In this study, the radioactive iodine ($^{131}I$) detection along the Gap River will be investigated.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.3_4
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• pp.213-216
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• 2000

The marine actinomycetes are very interesting microorganisms for finding of new antibiotics, because they are inhabited in marine environmental conditions, such as salinity, organic material and low concentration of nutrient components that are differ from those of land. In this study, the actinomycetes producing antibiotics from sea waters and bottom deposit samples collected at east coast of Korea were investigated to invent new antibiotics. Nine actinomycetes strains having the antimicrobial activity of 431 actinomycetes were selected from sea waters and bottom deposit samples. Among the 9 strains, the strain having the highest antimicrobial activity was classified to Streptomyces sp. and named Streptomyces sp. NS 13239.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

Objectives: The pathogenic Vibrios genus denotes halophilic bacteria that are distributed in aquatic environments, including both sea and freshwater. Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are the most important species since they can be potent human pathogens and leading causes of septicemia, wound infections, and seafood borne gastroenteritis. The recent emergence of a potential pandemic clone, V. cholera serotype O1 and the cholera outbreak in South Korea in 2016 indicates the importance of consistent surveillance of pathogenic Vibrio genus within coastal areas. Methods: The present study was undertaken to determine where and how vibrios live in the aquatic environment adjacent to coastal areas of South Korea. For this survey, a total of 838 samples were obtained at 35 different sites in South Korean coastal areas during the period from January 2016 to December 2016. Pathogenic vibrios was determined using the real-time PCR method, and its clones were isolated using three selective plating media. We also monitored changes in seawater and atmospheric temperature, salinity, turbidity, and hydrogen ion concentration at the collection points. Results: The total isolation rates of V. vulnificus, V. cholera (non-pathogenic, non-O1, non-O139 serogroups), and V. parahaemolyticus from seawater specimens in 2016 were 14.2, 13.48, and 67.06%, respectively. Conclusions: The isolation rates of pathogenic vibrios genus showed a positive correlation with temperature of seawater and atmosphere but were negatively correlated with salinity and turbidity.