• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.591-599
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• 2020

Complex cell-to-cell communication underlies the basic processes essential for homeostasis in the given tissue architecture. Obtaining quantitative gene-expression of cells in their native context has significantly advanced through single-cell RNA sequencing technologies along with mechanical and enzymatic tissue manipulation. This approach, however, is largely reliant on the physical dissociation of individual cells from the tissue, thus, resulting in a library with unaccounted positional information. To overcome this, positional information can be obtained by integrating imaging and positional barcoding. Collectively, spatial transcriptomics strategies provide tissue architecture-dependent as well as position-dependent cellular functions. This review discusses the current technologies for spatial transcriptomics ranging from the methods combining mechanical dissociation and single-cell RNA sequencing to computational spatial re-mapping.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 2020

A spionid polychaete, Boccardiella hamata (Webster, 1879) has been found from mud in crevices between the shells of oysters and adherent substrates in South Korea. The sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), 16S ribosomal DNA (16S), and the nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA (18S) from Korean individuals of Boccardiella hamata were determined in the present study. The molecular analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences showed clear separation among the spionid polychaete species, and the sequences of Korean and Japanese individuals are completely identical. The morphological diagnosis and photographs of B. hamata are also provided.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.416-420
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• 2018

Crepidiastrum sonchifolium, a flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae), is native to East Asia. In Korea, this plant is a locally cultivated vegetable, and its market size is gradually growing. Since the plants with downy mildew infection were initially found at a private farm of Chuncheon city, the occurrences have continued in commercial farms of other regions, highlighting that this disease is spreading throughout Korea. The pathogen was attributed to a member of the genus Bremia that contains many specialized species, each of which displays a narrow host spectrum on Asteraceae. Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, along with the high host specificity recently proven for Bremia species, the identity of the causal agent was confirmed as a so far undescribed species of Bremia. Here, we introduce Bremia itoana sp. nov., specific to C. sonchifolium.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.108-111
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• 2024

Three species of seed beetles, Acanthoscelides pallidipennis (Motschulsky, 1874), Bruchidius terrenus (Sharp, 1886), and Kytorhinus senilis Solsky, 1869, from South Korea are reported for the first time. These three species can be morphologically distinguished from other Korean bruchid species by the distinctive color pattern of the elytra, presence of subapical spines on hind femur, and exposed last three tergites of abdomen, respectively. In this study, partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from Korean specimens of these species were generated. In addition, host plants, distribution maps, and photographs of the dorsal habitus and live specimens of each species are also included.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.343-362
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• 2024

Eurycoma longifolia (pasak bumi) is a popular medicinal plant in Indonesia and is widely used in various products. Its high economic value has caused illegal harvesting and product falsification. Using molecular techniques, the authentication and traceability of E. longifolia derivatives can be controlled to ensure consumer safety. Therefore, this study aimed to authenticate the products and derivatives of E. longifolia (pasak bumi) produced, marketed, and consumed in Indonesia using molecular identification techniques. Genomic DNA from 37 leaf samples collected from the Sumatran mainland and the Riau Islands and six E. longifolia products were amplified and sequenced using trnL-trnF and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The results revealed that all leaf samples were indeed E. longifolia based on the markers used, with the six products, only the herbal tea product (sample code TCPB) was most likely derived from E. longifolia based on the two regions, suggesting that not all products labelled as E. longifolia in the market are authentic. The results also indicated that several other plants species are used as substitutes or adulterants, including Simaba spp., Simarouba spp., Homalolepis spp., Vernonia gigantea, Elephantopus scaber, Gymnanthemum amygdalinum, Cyanthillium spp., Potentilla lineata, Ailanthus altissima, Geijera paniculata, Hannoa chlorantha, and Dalbergia spp. Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria were also identified in this study on the outer wooden cup of E. longifolia products. Therefore, this molecular approach is effective in identifying the authenticity of E. longifolia products, with trnL-trnF and ITS as the recommended DNA markers.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2012

A major concern regarding the collection and storage of biodiversity information is the inefficiency of conventional taxonomic approaches in dealing with a large number of species. This inefficiency has increased the demand for automated, rapid, and reliable molecular identification systems and large-scale biological databases. DNA-based taxonomic approaches are now arguably a necessity in biodiversity studies. In particular, DNA barcoding using short DNA sequences provides an effective molecular tool for species identification. We constructed a large-scale database system that holds a collection of 5531 barcode sequences from 2429 Korean species. The Korea Barcode of Life database (KBOL, http://koreabarcode.org) is a web-based database system that is used for compiling a high volume of DNA barcode data and identifying unknown biological specimens. With the KBOL system, users can not only link DNA barcodes and biological information but can also undertake conservation activities, including environmental management, monitoring, and detecting significant organisms.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-180
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• 2018

Benthic diatoms are ubiquitous in tidal flats and play major roles in maintaining coastal ecosystems. Spatio-temporal variations in diatom diversity have not been well-studied, mainly because of difficulties in morphological identification and the lack of appropriate genetic tools. To overcome these problems, we used the gene encoding the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large-subunit (rbcL) as a molecular marker, and sequenced these genes with the aid of the MiSeq platform. In this manner, we explored the genetic diversity of benthic diatoms in tidal flats of Guenso Bay on the west coast of Korea; differences in the spatial distributions of benthic diatoms were evident. The diatom communities were dominated by Nitzschia, Navicula, and Amphora; their relative distributions were affected by the sand proportion, grain size, and air exposure time. Our results suggest that meta-barcoding of the rbcL gene and next-generation sequencing can be used to explore the diversity of benthic diatoms.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.139-149
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• 2017

The genus Hyaloperonospora (Peronosporaceae; Oomycota) is an obligate biotrophic group that causes downy mildew disease on the Brassicaceae and allied families of Brassicales, including many economically relevant crops, such as broccoli, cabbage, radish, rape, and wasabi. To investigate the diversity of Hyaloperonospora species in northeast Asia, we performed a morphological analysis for the dried herbarium specimens collected in Korea, along with molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mtDNA sequences. It was confirmed that 14 species of Hyaloperonospora exist in Korea. Of these, three species, previously classified under the genus Peronospora, were combined to Hyaloperonospora: H. arabidis-glabrae comb. nov. (ex Arabis glabra), H. nasturtii-montani comb. nov. (ex Rorippa indica), and H. nasturtii-palustris comb. nov. (ex Rorippa palustris). In addition, finding two potentially new species specific to northeast Asian plants is noteworthy in support of the view that the species abundance of Hyaloperonospora has been underestimated hitherto.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2017

The genus Peronospora, an obligate biotrophic group belonging to Oomycota, causes serious damage to a variety of wild and ornamental plants, as well as cultivated crops, such as beet, rose, spinach, and tobacco. To investigate the diversity of Peronospora species parasitic to Stellaria and Pseudostellaria (Caryophyllaceae) plants in Korea, we performed a morphological analysis on dried herbarium specimens and molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mitochondrial DNA sequences. As a result, it was confirmed that there are four species of Peronospora parasitic to specific species of Stellaria and Pseudostellaria, all of which were hitherto unrecorded in Korea: P. alsinearum (ex Stellaria media), P. stellariae-aquaticae (ex Stellaria aquatica), P. stellariae-uliginosae (ex Stellaria alsine), and P. pseudostellariae (ex Pseudostellaria palibiniana). In addition, Peronospora specimens parasitic to Pseudostellaria davidii differed morphologically from P. pseudostellariae owing to the large and ellipsoidal conidia; this morphological discrepancy was also validated by the high genetic divergence between the two species. Peronospora casparyi sp. nov. is described and illustrated here.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2017

Geographic distributions of pathogens are affected by dynamic processes involving host susceptibility, availability and abundance. An oomycete, Pythium porphyrae, is the causative agent of red rot disease, which plagues Pyropia farms in Korea and Japan almost every year and causes serious economic damage. We isolated an oomycete pathogen infecting Pyropia plicata from a natural population in Wellington, New Zealand. The pathogen was identified as Pythium porphyrae using cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA cistron molecular markers. Susceptibility test showed that this Pythium from New Zealand was able to infect several different species and genera of Bangiales including Pyropia but is not able to infect their sporophytic (conchocelis) phases. The sequences of the isolated New Zealand strain were also identical to Pythium chondricola from Korea and the type strain from the Netherlands. Genetic species delimitation analyses found no support for separating P. porphyrae from P. chondricola, nor do we find morphological characters to distinguish them. We propose that Pythium chondricola be placed in synonymy with P. porphyrae. It appears that the pathogen of Pyropia, both in aquaculture in the northern hemisphere and in natural populations in the southern hemisphere is one species.