• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.593-602
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• 2022

Anthracnose, caused by the ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum scovillei, is a destructive disease in pepper. The fungus germinates and develops an infection structure called an appressorium on the plant surface. Several signaling cascades, including cAMP-mediated signaling and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, are involved in fungal development and pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi, but this has not been well studied in the fruit-infecting fungus C. scovillei. Ste50 is an adaptor protein interacting with multiple upstream components to activate the MAPK cascades. Here, we characterized the CsSTE50 gene of C. scovillei, a homolog of Magnaporthe oryzae MST50 that functions in MAPK cascades, by gene knockout. The knockout mutant ΔCsste50 had pleiotropic phenotypes in development and pathogenicity. Compared with the wild-type, the mutants grew faster and produced more conidia on regular agar but were more sensitive to osmotic stress. On artificial and plant surfaces, the conidia of the mutant showed significantly reduced germination and failed to form appressoria. The mutant was completely non-pathogenic on pepper fruits with or without wounds, indicating that pre-penetration and invasive growth were both defective in the mutant. Our results show that the adaptor protein CsSTE50 plays a role in vegetative growth, conidiation, germination, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity in C. scovillei.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2022

Background: The risk of imported infectious diseases has been increasing with the annual rise in the number of international travelers. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the distribution and characteristics of intestinal bacteria isolated in 2019 from residents of Chungcheongnam-do Province with experience of travelling overseas. Methods: Twenty-three former overseas travelers with diarrhea were analyzed to detect viruses and bacteria according to the Manual for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens at Outbreaks. Additionally, antibiotic susceptibility tests and 16s rRNA sequencing were performed. Results: Twenty-five strains of ten pathogens were isolated from 18 samples. Pathogenic E. coli was the most common at 57.7%, followed by Clostridium perfringens (15.4%), Campylobacter spp. (7.7%), and Salmonella spp. (7.7%). The serotype of Salmonella was confirmed as Salmonella Braenderup, II 9,46:g,[m],[s],t:[e,n,x]. Conclusions: It was confirmed that the major enteric bacterial pathogens isolated from overseas travelers in Chungcheongnam-do Province were pathogenic E. coli, as found in other studies. The study on Plesiomonas shigelloides is meaningful in that it is reported as a rare case of infection in Korea. Antibiotic resistance and 16s rRNA analysis were performed, which is expected to provide important basic data for the prevention of traveler's diarrhea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.11
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• 2023

Background: Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is an extremely contagious and high mortality rates in chickens resulting in substantial economic impact on the poultry sector. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of HPAIV for infection control. Objective: Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) can effectively avoid the limitations of subjective screening for differential gene expression. Therefore, we performed GSEA to compare HPAI-infected resistant and susceptible Ri chicken lines. Methods: The Ri chickens Mx(A)/BF2(B21) were chosen as resistant, and the chickens Mx(G)/BF2(B13) were selected as susceptible by genotyping the Mx and BF2 genes. The tracheal tissues of HPAIV H5N1 infected chickens were collected for RNA sequencing followed by GSEA analysis to define gene subsets to elucidate the sequencing results. Results: We identified four differentially expressed pathways, which were immune-related pathways with a total of 78 genes. The expression levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12), chemokines (CCL4 and CCL5), type interferons and their receptors (IFN-β, IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and IFNGR1), Jak-STAT signaling pathway genes (STAT1, STAT2, and JAK1), MHC class I and II and their co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD40, DMB2, BLB2, and B2M), and interferon stimulated genes (EIF2AK2 and EIF2AK1) in resistant chickens were higher than those in susceptible chickens. Conclusions: Resistant Ri chickens exhibit a stronger antiviral response to HPAIV H5N1 compared with susceptible chickens. Our findings provide insights into the immune responses of genetically disparate chickens against HPAIV.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1118-1126
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• 2018

In this study, investigated the general characteristics and diagnostic methods types of streptococcosis among various fish disease pathogens that caused a lot of economic damaged to aquaculture fish based on the previous research paper. Streptococcosis infection of fish is considered a reemerging disease affecting a variety of wild and cultured fish throughout the world. Calssifiacation of Gram positive cocci based on DNA-DNA hybridization coupled with 16S sequencing has shown that at least five different species are considered of significance as fish pathogens: Lactococcus garvieae, L. piscium, Streptococcus iniae, S. agalactiae, S. paruberis, Vagococcus salmoninarum. Symptoms of infection with streptococcosis disease such as body color change, eyeball abnormality, gill discoloration, bleeding, abdominal distension, swelling of the kidney and spleen. In addition, it usually occurs from June to October when the water temperature rise a lot of fish death. Currently, 16S rRNA, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR), Random Amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Ribotyion (RT), Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are among the methods for diagnosing streptococcosis. Among them, the LAMP method, which is high applicable to the aquaculture farm has attracted the spotlight, but due to problems such as confirmation of results. This seems to minimize the economic loss of streptococcosis which complements the problem so that it can be easily used from the diagnosis to the results confirmation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2003

Since water borne infection causes acute diseases and results in spread of diseases by secondary infection, the prevention is very important. Therefore, it is necessary to have a method that is rapid and effective to monitor pathogenic bacteria in drinking water. In this study, we employed a systematic method, Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis, to develop an effective monitoring system for possible bacterial contaminants in drinking water. For this purpose, PCR primers were derived from 992 bp region of the 16s rRNA gene that is highly conserved through the different species of prokaryotes. To test whether the PCR primers designed are indeed useful for detecting all the possible microbial contaminants in the water, the primers were used to amplify 16s rRNA regions of different microbial water-borne pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, Yersinia, Listeria, and Staphylococcus. As expected, all of tested microorganisms amplified expected size of PCR products indicating designed PCR primers for 16s rRNA indeed can be useful to amplify all different microbial water-borne pathogens in the water. Furthermore, to test whether these 16s rRNA based PCR primers can detect bacterial populations present in the water, water samples taken from diverse sources, such as river, tap, and sewage, were used for amplification. PCR products were for then subjected for cloning into a T-vector to generate a library containing 16s rRNA sequences from various bacteria. With cloned PCR products, RFLP analysis was done using PCR products digested with restriction enzyme such as Hae III to obtain species-specific RFLP profiles. After PCR-RFLP, the bacterial clones which showed the same RFLP profiles were regarded as the same ones, and the clones which showed distinctive RFLP profiles were subsequently subjected for sequence analysis for species identification. By this PCR-RFLP analysis, we were able to reveal diverse populations of bacteria living in water. In brief, in unsterilized natural river water, over 60 different species of bacteria were found. On the other hand, no PCR products were detected in drinking tap-water. The results from this study clearly indicate that the PCR-RFLP-sequence analysis can be a useful method for monitoring diverse, perhaps pathogenic bacteria contaminated in water in a rapid fashion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2016

Diarrhea is reported as one of the most common diseases in calves. It is thought to be a major cause of productivity and economic loss to cattle producers. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of well-known diarrheagenic pathogens and incidence of diarrhea in Korean calves. In this study, the relationship of calf diarrhea and pathogens were investigated from calves under 60 days of age in five areas of Korea from April to July, 2016. Of examined fecal samples, 38.3% was positive for any pathogens, and Giardia was the most common pathogen (25.5%). The incidence of diarrhea was 31% from pathogen-negative fecal samples whereas 61.1% from pathogen-positive fecal samples, suggesting high correlation between pathogenic factor and diarrhea. In addition, 80% of E. coli (K99) positive calves showed diarrhea, suggesting E. coli (K99) could be highly pathogenic. The incidence of diarrhea and infection rate increased with age. Rotavirus was revealed as a major pathogen in calves under 20 days of age, and the infection rate of Giardia increased rapidly in calves 20 to 39 days of age. The information on interconnections between clinical diarrhea and pathogens would contribute to developing strategies for treatment of calf diarrhea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.465-469
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• 2016

An entomopathogenic fungus was isolated from the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) in a rearing house, and identified as Neozygites floridana (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae). A high infection rate induced by N. floridana could increase the price of the natural enemy. The body color of mites infected by this fungus changed to red or orange and swelling occurred. Fungal conidia were discharged into the webbing produced by the spider mites, making it relatively easy to infect the mites. Primary conidia were pear shaped and capilliconidia almond shaped. The fungus could not be cultured on solid media (PDA, SDAY, or EYSDA), but could possibly be cultured in liquid media (Grace's insect tissue culture medium + 5% fetal bovine serum). Kidney beans were supplied as food for T. urticae; the mite infection rate in a kidney bean canopy was about 36.1%. The density of infected mites was higher on the underside than on the upper side of leaves. Based on the results of this survey, we need to identify methods of fungal control for natural enemy production and biological control agents for T. urticae for effective crop management.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1998

The pathogenic potential of Acnnthamoebc strains was evaluated by experimental infection of murine AIDS (MAIDS) model. C57BL/6 mice were induced to immunocompromized state by intraperitoneal injection of LP-BM5 MuLV and revealed the typical splenomegalty and Iymphatic enlargement of axillar and inguinal regios on necropsy 4 weeks after viral infection. Although there was no significant difference in the mortality rate of MAIDS mouse according to the culture temperature, it was very different in the mortality rate from strain to strain of Accnthnmoebc. A. henIHi OC-3A strain isolated from the brain of a GAE patient showed !he highest mortality rate and A. culbertsoni A-1 strain from tissue culture was the second. KA/S3 and KA/S2 strains isolated from soil revealed very low virulence. The mice infected by intranasal inoculation of Acanthnmoebc showed relatively chronic course than intravenous inoculation. The gross findings of lungs and brains from infected mice were variable among mice. On the microscopic observations, the lungs showed much more severe inflammation and necrosis than the brains microscopically. This MAIDS model would be useful to study the opportunistic protozoan infections of AIDS patients. In the light of these results. the pathogenic potential and the virulence of Acnnthamoebo may be determined genetically.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.341-357
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hotspring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases. The identification of Acanthamoeba is based on morphological appearance and molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing for clinico-epidemiological purposes. Recent treatments have long been ineffective against Acanthamoeba cyst, novel anti-Acanthamoeba agents have therefore been extensively investigated. There are efforts to utilize synthetic chemicals, lead compounds from medicinal plant extracts, and animal products to combat Acanthamoeba infection. Applied nanotechnology, an advanced technology, has shown to enhance the anti-Acanthamoeba activity in the encapsulated nanoparticles leading to new therapeutic options. This review attempts to provide an overview of the available data and studies on the occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with the aim of identifying some potential contributing factors such as distribution, demographic profile of the patients, possible source of the parasite, mode of transmission and treatment. Further, this review attempts to provide future direction for prevention and control of the Acanthamoeba infection.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2019

Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici is a soil borne pathogenic fungus associated with wheat roots. The accurate quantification of gene expression during the process of infection might be helpful to understand the pathogenic molecular mechanism. However, this method requires suitable reference genes for transcript normalization. In this study, nine candidate reference genes were chosen, and the specificity of the primers were investigated by melting curves of PCR products. The expression stability of these nine candidates was determined with three programs-geNorm, Norm Finder, and Best Keeper. $TUB{\beta}$ was identified as the most stable reference gene. Furthermore, the exopolygalacturonase gene (ExoPG) was selected to verify the reliability of $TUB{\beta}$ expression. The expression profile of ExoPG assessed using $TUB{\beta}$ agreed with the results of digital gene expression analysis by RNA-Seq. This study is the first systematic exploration of the optimal reference genes in the infection process of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici.