• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2016

Plant growth regulator is an essential pesticide to date while the available active ingredient is not well understood unlike fungicide, insecticide and herbicide. This study was aimed to evaluate a new chemical class of plant growth regulator, and the total of 92 benzene derivatives were screened for their germination and early stage of the root growth regulation on Brassica campestris. Thirty benzaldehydes, nine acids, one amide, and one ester showed potent root growth inhibitory activity (>70 % inhibition) while only salicylaldehyde showed potent germination inhibition ($IC_{50}=81.2mg/L$) suggesting that benzaldehyde was a key module candidate for the growth inhibition. Benzaldehydes were further evaluated for root growth inhibition. 2,3-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde and salicylaldehyde showed $IC_{50}$ values of 8.0 and 83.9 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, salicylaldehyde, and 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde were found to have root growth promotion effects less than 10 mg/L. This result suggests that the benzaldehyde is a new class candidate for plant growth regulator.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.415-429
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• 2023

As part of a comprehensive investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in the Republic of Korea, 37 bacterial strains belonging to 36 species were isolated from diverse environmental habitats. These strains were assigned to five phyla, namely Deinococcota, Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota. Each strain was identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (>98.7%) and the formation of definite phylogenetic clades with their closest reported species. Among isolates, there is one species belonging to the phylum Deinococcota, five species belonging to the phylum Actinomycetota, four species belonging to the phylum Bacillota, nine species belonging to the phylum Bacteroidota, and 17 species belonging to the phylum Pseudomonadota (comprising eight species of the class Alphaproteobacteria, one species of the class Betaproteobacteria, and eight species of the class Gammaproteobacteria). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, each strain was assigned to independent and predefined bacterial species. Since there were no published or official reports regarding these 36 species in the Republic of Korea, they have been reported as unrecorded species in the Republic of Korea. Their Gram stain, cell morphology, colony, basic biochemical characteristics, strain ID, and isolation source of each species are described in the species descriptions.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.208-219
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• 2017

Heterosis or hybrid vigor describes a phenomenon that superior phenotypes compared to the two parents are observed in the heterozygous $F_1$-hybrid plants. Identification and characterization of heterosis-related genes (HRGs) will facilitate hybrid breeding in crops. To identify HRGs in Brassica rapa, we analyzed transcriptome profiling using a Br300K microarray in non-heading Chinese cabbage at three developmental stages. A large number of genes were differentially expressed in $F_1$ hybrids and non-additive expression was prominent. Genes that are expressed specifically for $F_1$ hybrid at all three stages were Brassica-specific uncharacterized genes and several defense-related genes. Expression of several photosynthesis- and stress-related genes were also $F_1$ hybrid-specific. Thirteen NBS-LRR class genes showed high and specific expression in $F_1$ hybrid Shulu: some of them were characterized as defense genes in Arabidopsis, but most have not been. Further characterization of these defense-related genes in Brassica species and its application will be helpful for understanding the role of defense responses in heterosis. In addition, results obtained in this study will be valuable to develop molecular markers for heterosis and disease resistance in B. rapa.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2017

During the extensive survey of the prokaryotic species diversity in Korea, bacterial strains belonging to Betaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria were isolated from various sources including freshwater, sediment, soil and fish. A total of 23 isolates were obtained, among which 22 strains were assigned to the class Betaproteobacteria and one strain to the class Epsilonproteobacteria. The 22 betaproteobacterial strains were further assigned to Comamonadaceae (11 strains), Burkholderiaceae (6 strains), Oxalobacteraceae (2 strains), Neisseriaceae (1 strain) and unclassified family groups (2 strains). For the strains of Burkholderiaceae, 3 strains were identified as 3 species of Burkholderia, and 2 strains were as 2 species of Cupriavidus. For the strains of Comamonadaceae, 4 strains were identified as 2 species of the genus Hydrogenophaga, 2 strains as 2 species of Acidovorax, 2 strains as 2 species of Limnohabitans, and each of the remaining strains as single species of Comamonas, Curvibacter and Rhodoferax, respectively. For the strains of Oxalobacteraceae, 1 strain was identified as a species of Undibacterium, and the other strain as a species of Herbaspirillum. The strain belonging to Neisseriaceae was identified as a species of Iodobacter. The remaining strains of Betaproteobacteria were identified as species of Sphaerotilus and Methylibium respectively (family unassigned). The epsilonproteobacterial strain was identified as a species of Arcobacter of the family Camplyobacteraceae. The detailed description of each unrecorded species is provided.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2018

In 2016, as a part of the research program 'Survey of Korean Indigenous Species', diverse environmental samples were collected from various sources of freshwater, seawater, soil, wetland, reclaimed land, sand, pine forest, plant root, ginseng field, solar saltern, and caves. Thousands of bacterial strains were isolated from the diverse samples and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. The present study, as a phylogenetic subset of the primary research program, reports 24 unrecorded bacterial species in Korea that belong to the orders Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadales in the class Alphaproteobacteria. Based on the high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (>98.8%) and formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest type species, it was determined that each strain belonged to each independent and predefined bacterial species. There is no official report that these 24 bacterial species have been described in Korea; therefore, 10 species of nine genera in the order Rhizobiales and 14 species of seven genera in the order Sphingomonadales are described for unreported alphaproteobacterial species in Korea. Gram reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical properties, and isolation sources are also provided in the species description section.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.470-477
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• 2017

The aims of this study were to analyze the physico-chemical factors and the characteristics of epilithic diatom community from 15 sites of the Naeseongcheon and tributaries located in the upper region of the Nakdong river from May to October 2016. The biological water quality was assessed using DAIpo and TDI. A total of 163 diatom taxa were identified with 2 orders, 3 suborders, 9 families, 35 genera, 145 species, 16 varieties and 2 forms. Cocconeis placentula var. lineata appeared at every examined sites. Achnanthes lanceolata, Nitzschia fonticola, Nitzschia inconspicua and Reimeria sinuata were common taxa of the Naeseongcheon. Nitzschia inconspicua and Achnanthes minutissima were major dominant species. As a result of the CCA, Electrical conductivity and total nitrogen concentration were important factors determining the diatom species composition. In the result of the biological assessment using DAIpo, the Naeseongcheon was rated at class B with an average of 62.38. In the result of assessment using TDI, the Naeseongcheon was rated at class C with an average of 66.12.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.144-153
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• 2011

In this study, samples were collected from the Sumummulbangdui wetland at the Halla Mountain in Jeju Island in order to isolate novel bacterial strain. Bacterial strains belonging to the class Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were isolated after spreading samples onto solid agar media. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strains assigned to the two classes were compared to those of type strains of the species. The strains that showed less than 98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the validly published species were considered to be novel species candidates. A total of 19 strains were regarded as novel strains which can be regarded as novel species candidates. In the Alphaproteobacteria, 6 novel strains were affiliated with the genera Novosphingobium, and Rhizobium. A total of 13 novel strains belong to Gammaproteobacteria that assigned to the family Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae were identified. Cultural, physiological, chemotaxonomic characteristics and fatty acids compositions have been determined for the novel species candidates, and the characteristics are described in this study.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.423-431
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• 2006

Among 53 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates collected in 2004, nine imipenem-resistant isolates were obtained from clinical specimens taken from patients hospitalized in Busan, Korea. Nine carbapenemase-producing isolates were further investigated in order to determine the mechanisms underlying resistance. These isolates were then analyzed via antibiotic susceptibility testing, microbiological tests of carbapenemase activity, pI determination, transconjugation test, enterobacterial repetitive consensus (ERIC)-PCR, and DNA sequencing. One outbreak involved seven cases of infection by A. baumannii producing OXA-23 ${\beta}-lactamase$, and was found to have been caused by a single ERIC-PCR clone. During the study period, the other outbreak involved two cases of infection by A. baumannii producing IMP-1 ${\beta}-lactamase$. The two clones, one from each of the outbreaks, were characterized via a modified cloverleaf synergy test and an EDTA-disk synergy test. The isoelectric focusing of the crude bacterial extracts detected nitrocefin-positive bands with pI values of 6.65 (OXA-23) and 9.0 (IMP-1). The PCR amplification and characterization of the amplicons via direct sequencing showed that the clonal isolates harbored $bla_{IMP-1}$ or $bla_{oxA-23}$ determinants. The two clones were characterized by a multidrug resistance phenotype that remained unaltered throughout the outbreak. This resistance encompassed penicillins, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams, and aminoglycosides. These results appear to show that the imipenem resistance observed among nine Korean A. baumannii isolates could be attributed to the spread of an IMP-lor OXA-23-producing clone. Our microbiological test of carbapenemase activity is a simple method for the screening of clinical isolates producing class D carbapenemase and/or class B $metallo-{\beta}-lactamase$, in order both to determine their clinical impact and to prevent further spread.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.83-116
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora and vegetation of Yokjido Island in Tongyeong-si, Korea. Vascular plants collected six times (from March of 2015 to January of 2016) were identified as 547 taxa in total, including 113 families, 354 genera, 487 species, four subspecies, 50 varieties, four forms and two hybrids. The first records from this region contained 314 taxa. In the flora of this area, endemic Korean species numbered eight taxa, and the red list of vascular plants according to the IUCN valuation basis numbered six taxa. In addition, 86 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants specially designated by the Ministry of Environment are included. Among the species investigated in this survey, 99 taxa were identified as specific species bio-geographically as compared floras of other terrestrial regions; 97 taxa of plants in southern areas and two taxa of limited distribution plants on the Korean Peninsula. In all, 74 naturalized plants were recorded in the investigated area. Samples of the forest vegetation of Yokjido Island were mainly classified as Pinus thunbergii community and the Alus firma community. Vertical structures of the communities were stable, and a DBH-class analysis showed that the dominant tree species would be maintained. If disturbance factors such as thinning could be halted, the composition of woody species and herbaceous species would change.