• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.466-472
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• 2007

A total of 98 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) isolates (58 isolates from patients and 40 isolates from poultry) were compared based on their antimicrobial susceptibility, Tn1546 element organization, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. This comparison aided in determining the relationships between the groups of isolates. All the VREF isolates harbored the vanA gene; however, 29 (29.6%) of the isolates exhibited the VanB phenotype-vanA genotype. Furthermore, the VREF isolates from humans and poultry exhibited distinct antimicrobial resistance patterns. The PCR mapping of the Tn1546 elements exhibited 12 different transposon types (A to L). The VREF isolates of poultry were classified into types A to D, whereas the human isolates were classified into types E to L. A PFGE analysis demonstrated a high degree of clonal heterogeneity in both groups of isolates; however, the distinct VREF clones appeared in each group of isolates. The deletion of the vanX-vanY genes or insertion of IS1216V in the intergenic region from the vanX-vanY genes is directly associated with the incongruence of the VanB phenotype-vanA genotype in human VREF isolates. These data suggest that the VREF isolates exhibit distinct phenotypic and genotypic traits according to their origins, which suggests that no evidence exists to substantiate the clonal spread or transfer of vancomycin resistance determinants between humans and poultry.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2020

Sixteen acetic acid bacteria (AAB) were isolated from blueberries and citric fruits of the Salto Grande region (Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina) using enrichment techniques and plate isolation. Enrichment broths containing ethanol and acetic acid enabled maximum AAB recovery, since these components promote their growth. Biochemical tests allowed classification of the bacteria at genus level. PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA and PCR-RFLP of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer allowed further classification at the species level; this required treatment of the amplified products of 16S and 16S-23S ITS ribosomal genes with the following restriction enzymes: AluI, RsaI, HaeIII, MspI, TaqI, CfoI, and Tru9I. C7, C8, A80, A160, and A180 isolates were identified as Gluconobacter frateurii; C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, A70, and A210 isolates as Acetobacter pasteurianus; A50 and A140 isolates as Acetobacter tropicalis; and C9 isolate as Acetobacter syzygii. The bacteria identified by 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP were validated by 16S-23S PCR-RFLP; however, the C1 isolate showed different restriction patterns during identification and validation. Partial sequencing of the 16S gene resolved the discrepancy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.429-441
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• 2009

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-spotted long horned beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endangered insect species in Korea. The 15,856-bp long P. hilaris mitogenome harbors gene content typical of the animal mitogenome and a gene arrangement identical to the most common type found in insect mitogenomes. As with all other sequenced coleopteran species, the 5-bp long TAGTA motif was also detected in the intergenic space sequence located between $tRNA^{Ser}$(UCN) and ND1 of P. hilaris. The 1,190-bp long non-coding A+T-rich region harbors an unusual series of seven identical repeat sequences of 57-bp in length and several stretches of sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures. Furthermore, it contains one $tRNA^{Arg}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Lys}$-like sequence. Phylogenetic analysis among available coleopteran mitogenomes using the concatenated amino acid sequences of PCGs appear to support the sister group relationship of the suborder Polyphaga to all remaining suborders, including Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata. Among the two available infraorders in Polyphaga, a monophyletic Cucujiformia was confirmed, with the placement of Cleroidea as the basal lineage for Cucujiformia. On the other hand, the infraorder Elateriformia was not identified as monophyletic, thereby indicating that Scirtoidea and Buprestoidea are the basal lineages for Cucujiformia and the remaining Elateriformia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.127-140
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• 2019

Since 1990, many nucleic acid expression platforms consisting of DNA or RNA have been developed. However, although RNA expression platforms have been relatively neglected, several such platforms capped at the 5' end of RNA by an anti-reverse cap analog have now been developed. At the same time, the capping reaction is a bottleneck in the production of such platforms, with high cost and low efficiency. Here, we investigated several viral and eukaryotic internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) to develop an optimal RNA expression platform, because IRES-dependent translation does not require a capping step. RNA expression platforms constructed with IRESs from the 5' untranslated regions of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and the intergenic region of the cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) showed sufficient expression efficiency compared with cap-dependent RNA expression platforms. However, eukaryotic IRESs exhibited a lower viral IRES expression efficiency. Interestingly, the addition of a poly(A) sequence to the 5' end of the coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) IRES (pMA-CVB3) increased the expression level compared with the CVB3 IRES without poly(A) (pCVB3). Therefore, we developed two multiexpression platforms (termed pMA-CVB3-EMCV and pCrPV-EMCV) by combining the IRESs of CVB3, CrPV, and EMCV in a single-RNA backbone. The pMA-CVB3-EMCV-derived RNA platform showed the highest expression level. Moreover, it clearly exhibited expression in mouse muscles in vivo. These RNA expression platforms prepared using viral IRESs will be useful in developing potential RNA-based prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines, because they have better expression efficiency and do not need a capping step.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2021

Angelica is a widely used medicinal and perennial plant. Information on the genetic diversity of Angelica populations is essential for their conservation and germ plasmic utilization. Although Angelica is an important medicinal plant species registered in South Korea, no molecular markers are currently available to distinguish it from other similar species from different countries. This developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer regions genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific Angelica species via amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR curve analyses. We performed molecular authentication of different kinds of Korean-specific Angelica species such as A. gigas Nakai and A. gigas Jiri using DNA sequences in the ITS intergenic region. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying specific Angelica species from different countr.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was conducted to identify the original Sinomini Caulis et Rhizoma plant among Stephania tetrandra, Cocculus trilobus, and Aristolochiae fangchi to develop the genetic marker for Sinomini Caulis et Rhizoma. Methods : Sinomenium acutum was identified by the classification and identification committee of the National Center for Standardization of Herbal Medicines. The chloroplast ndhF gene was amplified. We performed sequences alignment analysis of Sinomenium acutum, Stephania tetrandra, C. trilobus, and A. fangchi using BioEdit program. The SFR markers designed were consisted of SF01, SR04, and SR05 primers. Results : Many variations of Sinomeni Caulis et Rhizoma are currently commercialized as herbal medicine. We compared the base sequences of the ndhF intergenic space of chloroplast DNA with Sinomenium acutum, Stephania tetrandra, C. trilobus, and A. fangchi. According to the results, it showed that the nucleotide variations were seen in 30 genes of four species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 4 species were classified into five groups based on an inter-group divergence in nucleotide sequence of 9%. We developed SFR marker nucleotides enough to authenticate respective species and confirmed its application on the band size at 419 base pair. These sequence differences at corresponding positions were available genetic markers to identity the Sinomeni Caulis et Rhizoma. Conclusions : Base on these results, the ndhF region was effective in distinguishing Sinomini Caulis et Rhizoma The SFR genetic marker was useful for identifying Sinomini Caulis et Rhizoma with other species.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2023

The diversity of A mating type in wild strains of Lentinula edodes was extensively analyzed to characterize and utilize them for developing new cultivars. One hundred twenty-three A mating type alleles, including 67 newly discovered alleles, were identified from 106 wild strains collected for the past four decades in Korea. Based on previous studies and current findings, a total of 130 A mating type alleles have been found, 124 of which were discovered from wild strains, indicating the hyper-variability of A mating type alleles of L. edodes. About half of the A mating type alleles in wild strains were found in more than two strains, whereas the other half of the alleles were found in only one strain. About 90% of A mating type combinations in dikaryotic wild strains showed a single occurrence. Geographically, diverse A mating type alleles were intensively located in the central region of the Korean peninsula, whereas only allele A17 was observed throughout Korea. We also found the conservation of the TCCCAC motif in addition to the previously reported motifs, including ATTGT, ACAAT, and GCGGAG, in the intergenic regions of A mating loci. Sequence comparison among some alleles indicated that accumulated mutation and recombination would contribute to the diversification of A mating type alleles in L. edodes. Our data support the rapid evolution of A mating locus in L. edodes, and would help to understand the characteristics of A mating loci of wild strains in Korea and help to utilize them for developing new cultivars.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.268-277
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• 2024

Erwinia pyrifoliae is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that commonly causes black shoot blight in pear and apple tree. Although the pathogenicity of this bacterial species is very similar to E. amylovora, there is no specific explanation of its pathogenic genes and mechanisms. In this study, our investigation into E. pyrifoliae pathogenicity involved generating seven YKB12327 mutant strains using Tn5 transposon mutagenesis. Observations revealed weakened growth rate and loss of pathogenicity in these mutants. Whole-genome sequencing and alignment analysis identified transposon insertions within the coding sequences of five strains and in the intergenic region of two strains. Annotation analysis elucidated genes directly or indirectly associated with pathogenicity. Notably, mutant strain MT16 displayed a transposon insertion mutation in the cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterase (pdeF) gene, a key player in bacterial signaling, governing microbial behavior and adaptation to environmental changes. Our findings provide insights into the genetic regulation of E. pyrifoliae pathogenicity, suggesting potential avenues for further research aimed at understanding and controlling this bacterial pathogen by targeting pdeF to mitigate apple black shoot blight disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1896-1901
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• 2010

This study was conducted using quantitative real-time PCR using Lactobacilli as probiotics. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT PCR) was conducted via a method involving SYBR Green 1 and a probe. Plasmid DNA was cloned using the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic species region. Gene clones were diluted from $10^2$ to $10^{10}$. Standard curves were constructed via Ct values obtained from the results of Real-time PCR via the aforementioned SYBR Green 1 and probe method. Plasmid DNA was also cloned using the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic species region and the gene clones were diluted from $10^2$ to $10^{10}$ copy numbers via the probe method. Using RT PCR, a standard curve of plasmid DNA copy numbers was also determined. The slope value for the Y-axis intercept and $R^2$ value were measured as -3.346, 33.18, and 0.993, respectively, via the first method. For the second method, the slope value for the Y-axis intercept and $R^2$ were -3.321, 31.10 and 0.995, respectively. The PCR inhibitor could not express the detection curve at a copy number over $10^{10}$ via either method, owing to high DNA density. The DNA extract from probiotics was diluted without pre-culturing, and 16 products were amplified via both methods. The Ct value was 11.06~18.12 in the first method and 16.74~22.11 in the second method. Measured probiotics and log copy values were largely similar among the methods used. It was concluded that both methods are effective for analysis, but further research will be required to verify the optimal method.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Black shoot blight disease caused by Erwinia pyrifoliae have damaged economic loss to apple and pear growers until now since it was firstly reported in 1995 in Korea. This study was performed to reduce economic loss by mandatory eradication of all infected trees in case of more 10% disease incidence per orchard as official control. It also aims to set up effective management protocol for this disease by examining how far bacterial pathogen is present from the border of symptomatic and asymptomatic regions in infected apple twigs. Colony-PCR using isolated bacterial cells instead of genomic DNA was used to identify bacterial pathogen, EpSPF/EpSPR primer designed in enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) region was selected as specific for E. pyrifoliae. As results of monitoring of this disease during April to October in 2014-2015 by colony-PCR, occurrence of this disease was frequent from mid-May to early-July, when daily average temperature was around $25^{\circ}C$. Moreover, bacterial cells were continuously detected only in symptomatic regions and also asymptomatic regions of less than 20 cm from symptomatic regions. Therefore, we concluded that pruning of infected twigs at the region of more than 20 cm from symptomatic regions might be effective to manage black shoot blight disease in apple trees.