• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.577-581
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• 2020

A 22-year-old Thai man from the Northeast region presented with acute eye swelling, itching, and discharge on his left eye. He was suspected of having gnathostomiasis and treated with albendazole and prednisolone for 3 weeks. Nine months later, he was treated with high-dose oral prednisolone for the preliminary and differential diagnoses with thyroid-associated orbitopathy and lymphoma. He had been administered prednisolone intermittently over a few years. Then he developed a painless movable mass at the left upper eyelid and recurrent pseudotumor oculi was suspected. The surgical removal of the mass was performed. A white pseudosegmented worm revealed a definite diagnosis of ocular sparganosis by a plerocercoid larva. Molecular diagnosis of the causative species was made based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Proper technique of extraction and amplification of short fragments DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue successfully identified parasite species. The result from the sequencing of the PCR-amplified cox1 fragments in this study showed 99.0% sequence homology to Spirometra ranarum. This is the first report of S. ranarum in Thailand.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2021

To provide better taxonomic information of the genus Nectoneanthes, the two DNA barcode regions of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of Nectoneanthes oxypoda and N. uchiwa were determined. In addition, the respective sequences of four nereidid species closely related to Nectoneanthes were retrieved from GenBank for comparison and to estimate intra- and inter-specific genetic distances. The aligned sequence lengths of COI and 16S rDNA were 570 bp and 419 bp long, respectively. The mean intraspecific variation in both markers was less than 1% in all species except for that in COI of H. diadroma (1.87%). The mean interspecific variation between N. oxypoda and N. uchiwa was 12.02% regarding COI and 1.85% regarding 16S rDNA. In contrast, the mean interspecific variation between species of other genera was comparably higher(i.e., genus Perinereis: 20.5% in COI and 8.3% in 16S rDNA; genus Hediste: 13.18% in COI and 2.64% in 16S rDNA), compared with that between the two Nectoneanthes species. This result indicated that these Nectoneanthes species are genetically more closely related than other congeneric species of different genera. The DNA barcoding information on Nectoneanthes species generated in this study provides valuable insights for further biodiversity studies on nereidid species.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2023

Two feather mites, Brephosceles anatina Dubinin, 1951 (Analgoidea: Alloptidae) and Freyana anatina (Koch, 1844) (Pterolichoidea: Freyanidae), have been reported for the first time from the Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Anas zonorhyncha Swinhoe, 1866 (Anseriformes: Anatidae), in Korea. The genera Brephosceles Hull, 1934 and Freyana Haller, 1877 are new records of Korean fauna. The morphology of B. anatina is distinguished from three species of the lambda species group in having legs IV extending the level of setae e2 with the distal end of the tarsus in males, and the incision on the posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield triangular-shaped and distinctly longer than its greatest width in females. Freyana anatina is distinguished from F. nyrocae and F. obliquasetae in having setae ps1 with a rectangle bend in homeomorphic males, and setae ps1 obliquely ovate and divergent, with the inner canal going obliquely across the membranous part of these setae in females. This study provides morphological redescriptions of both feather mite species supplemented with partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI), based on specimens collected in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.179-182
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• 2021

Human infection with Taenia asiatica or a hybrid between Taenia saginata and T. asiatica has not been reported in Cambodia. We detected for the first time a hybrid form between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. An adult tapeworm specimen, i.e., 75 cm long strobila without scolex, was expelled from a 27-year-old man after praziquantel medication and purging. It was morphologically indistinguishable between T. saginata and T. asiatica. Several proglottids were molecularly analyzed to confirm the tapeworm species. The mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear genes encoding elongation factor-1α (ef1) and ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM)-like protein (elp) were sequenced, and a single-allele analysis was performed to confirm the haploid genotype. The results revealed that our sample showed a discrepancy between the mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes. It possessed homozygous sequences typical of T. saginata at cox1 and ef1 loci. However, it was heterozygous at the elp locus, with 1 allele in T. asiatica (elpA) and 1 in T. saginata (elpC), which indicates that it is a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica. The present results confirmed the presence of a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Cambodia and strongly suggest the existence of also 'pure' T. asiatica in Cambodia.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2018

Alaria is the second largest genus of the Laminariales, which is distributed far into the northern Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Due to its high morphological plasticity, over 100 specific and sub-specific names have been used in Alaria, this has been tailored down to the present 17 species through morphological revision and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Endemic species of Alaria from Russian Far East have not been thoroughly revised since their original description, and few of them were confirmed using molecular data until recently. We carried out morphological and molecular studies on A. paradisea which is an endemic species distributed on the Kurile Islands, first described by Miyabe and Nagai in 1932 as Pleuropterum paradiseum. The range of morphological variability and its distribution was re-evaluated using the type specimen as well as other specimens. Analyses of partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer sequences showed that A. paradisea nested within the genus Alaria, but differs morphologically from any other Alaria species in having additional sporophylls with a central midrib (${\beta}-sporophylls$). Our results showed that A. paradisea clearly belongs to the genus Alaria based on DNA data, although the key morphological character that was used to include this species to the genus Pleuropterum, ${\beta}-sporophylls$, is stable and distinguishes it from other Alaria species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.444-449
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• 2018

Two specimens of Scomberoides tol (99.0 mm and 124.5 mm in total length), belonging to the family Carangidae, order Perciformes were collected from Korean waters using a gape net with wings and a hand net between 2014 and 2017. These specimens are characterized by having the origin of the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin just above the origin of the soft-rayed portion of the anal fin, dorsal spines not connected by fin membranes and posterior end of the maxilla and upper jaw not extending beyond the posterior margin of the eye. A comparison of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences indicated that these specimens matched Scomberoides tol (K2P distance, d = 0.002), but differed from other Scomberoides species (6.9-9.1%). This is the first reliable report of Scomberoides tol from Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.390-397
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• 2015

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic alcohol and excessive iron intake on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and the progression of alcoholic liver injury in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups (Control, EtOH, Fe, and EtOH + Fe), and fed either control or ethanol (36% of total calories) liquid diet with or without 0.6% carbonyl iron for eight weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, liver malondialdehyde concentrations were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. The integrity of the hepatic mtDNA and nuclear DNA was measured by long-range PCR. The gene expression levels of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (Nd4) were examined by real-time PCR. Results: Serum ALT and AST activities were significantly higher in the EtOH+Fe group, as compared to the Control group. Similarly, among four groups, liver histology showed the most severe lipid accumulation, inflammation, and necrosis in the EtOH + Fe group. PCR amplification of near-full-length (15.9 kb) mtDNA showed more than 50% loss of full-length product in the liver of the EtOH + Fe group, whereas amounts of PCR products of a nuclear DNA were unaffected. In addition, the changes in the mtDNA integrity showed correlation with reductions in the mRNA levels of mitochondrial gene Cox1 and Nd4. Conclusion: Our data suggested that the liver injury associated with excessive iron and alcohol intake involved mtDNA damage and corresponding mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1331-1339
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• 2017

DNA barcoding is the identification of a species based on the DNA sequence of a fragment of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in the mitochondrial genome. It is widely applied to assist with the sustainable development of fishery-product resources and the protection of fish biodiversity. This study attempted to verify horse-head fish (Branchiostegus japonicus) and fake horse-head fish (Branchiostegus albus) species, which are commonly consumed in Korea. For the validation of the two species, a real-time PCR method was developed based on the species' mitochondrial DNA genome. Inter-species variations in mitochondrial DNA were observed in a bioinformatics analysis of the mitochondrial genomic DNA sequences of the two species. Some highly conserved regions and a few other regions were identified in the mitochondrial COI of the species. In order to test whether variations in the sequences were definitive, primers that targeted the varied regions of COI were designed and applied to amplify the DNA using the real-time PCR system. Threshold-cycle (Ct) range results confirmed that the Ct ranges of the real-time PCR were identical to the expected species of origin. Efficiency, specificity and cross-reactivity assays showed statistically significant differences between the average Ct of B. japonicus DNA ($21.85{\pm}3.599$) and the average Ct of B. albus DNA ($33.49{\pm}1.183$) for confirming B. japonicus. The assays also showed statistically significant differences between the average Ct of B. albus DNA ($22.49{\pm}0.908$) and the average Ct of B. japonicus DNA ($33.93{\pm}0.479$) for confirming B. albus. The methodology was validated by using ten commercial samples. The genomic DNA-based molecular technique that used the real-time PCR was a reliable method for the taxonomic classification of animal tissues.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2021

The present-day genetic structure of macroalgal species reflects both geographical history and oceanic circulation patterns as well as anthropogenic introduction across native ranges. To precisely understand the genetic diversity and how the factors shape the current population structure of Gloiopeltis furcata sensu lato, we determined the mitochondrial 5' end of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI-5P) sequences for 677 individuals sampled from 67 sites spanning almost the entire distribution range in Korea and Japan. Results from the phylogenetic analysis and haplotype distribution revealed eleven distinct lineages within G. furcata s.l. along the Korea-Japan coastal areas and displayed divergent phylogeographic patterns among lineages. Despite the closely related lineages distributed in same habitats as high rocky intertidal zone, they display different phylogeographic patterns among lineages. The populations from the south of Korea-Japan harbored the highest genetic diversity and unique endemism in comparison with other populations in the distribution range. This could be the evidence of southern refugia for G. furcata s.l. in the Northwest (NW) Pacific and the recent migration from native to introduced region. The reason is that an exceptional distribution pattern was found high genetic diversity in Hakodate of Japan where is the northern location in the NW Pacific. Our results imply the contemporary influence on the distribution due to current circulation pattern and anthropogenic effects. These phylogeographic findings provide the important insight into cryptic species diversity and the detailed distribution pattern of Gloiopeltis in the NW Pacific.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.569-574
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• 2023

A single specimen (30.35 mm standard length) of Ptereleotris evides was collected from the southern coast of Jejudo Island, Korea, in September 2017 during a skin diving outing. Ptereleotris evides is characterized by having a slightly elongated body, six spines on the 1^st dorsal fin, one spine and 25 soft rays on the 2^nd dorsal fin, 22 pectoral fin rays, one spine and four soft rays on the pelvic fin, one spine and 25 soft rays on the anal fin, and no disc in pelvic fin. This species differs from the congeneric species, P. hanae and P. heteroptera in having no elongated rays on the caudal fin and a black spot at the ventral margin of the caudal peduncle, respectively. Molecular analysis results based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences showed that our specimen almost corresponded to P. evides (99.82%) sequences from registered at the NCBI. As this is the first record of P. evides in Korean waters, we propose a new Korean name for it, "Ga-mak-cheong-hwang-mun-jeol".