• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 1987

In the analysis of plasmid profile obtained by agarose gel electrophoresis, the strain harvoring multiple reference plasmids of known molecular weight were needed to estimate the size of unknown molecular weight plasmids. Six strains of E. coli isolated from clinical specimens carried multiple plasmids and these strains could be available as a reference plasmids harvoring strain. These E. coli strains showed 4 to 9 plasmids of various size ranging 2.5 to 94.3 megadalton (Mdal). The correlation coefficients of linear regression between the relative mobility and molecular weight were 0.99966 to 1.00000. Among them, E. coli KE327 from throat which contained 7 plasm ids as follows: 79 Mdal, 46 Mdal, 33 Mdal(pKY3027 C), 4.9Mdal, 3.8Mdal(pKY3027 E), 3.5Mdal, and 2.7 Mdal. Relative amount of the pKY3027 C was the smallest(7.09%) and that of the pKY3027 E was the largest (24.24%) among the plasmid fractions of E. coli KE327.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2012

For the quantitative analysis of genetically modified (GM) maize in processed foods, primer sets and probes based on the 35S promoter (p35S), nopaline synthase terminator (tNOS), p35S-hsp70 intron, and zSSIIb gene encoding starch synthase II for intrinsic control were designed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (80~101 bp) were specifically amplified and the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) were more sensitive than those targeting the larger regions (94 or 101 bp). Particularly, the primer set 35F1-R1 for p35S targeting 81 bp of sequence was even more sensitive than that targeting 101 bp of sequence by a 3-log scale. The target DNA fragments were also specifically amplified from all GM labeled food samples except for one item we tested when 35F1-R1 primer set was applied. A reference plasmid pGMmaize (3 kb) including the smaller PCR products for p35S, tNOS, p35S-hsp70 intron, and the zSSIIb gene was constructed for real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The linearity of standard curves was confirmed by using diluents ranging from $2{\times}10^1{\sim}10^5$ copies of pGMmaize and the $R^2$ values ranged from 0.999~1.000. In the RT-PCR, the detection limit using the novel primer/probe sets was 5 pg of genomic DNA from MON810 line indicating that the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) could be used for highly sensitive detection of foreign DNA fragments from GM maize in processed foods.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 1998

A multiplex PCR method was designed by employing primers specific for the eaeA gene, conserved sequences of Shiga-like toxins (SLT-I.II), and the 60-MDa plasmid of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 strain. A set of six synthetic oligonucleotide primers derived from sequences of the SLT-I.II, eaeA, and 60-MDa plasmid genes of E. coli O157:H7 were used in a multiplex PCR amplification procedure to detect these genes in the same enteric pathogens. In two enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 35150, ATCC 43894) reference strains, PCR products of 317bps (eaeA), 228bps (SLT-I.II), and 167bps (60-MDa plasmid) were successfully amplified simultaneously in a single reaction. However, the specific PCR products were not amplified in control strains of other enteric bacteria. The sensitivity of the multiplex PCR assay for detection of the SLT-I.II, eaeA, and 60-MDa plasmid genes of E. coli O157:H7 was found to be 2.5$\times$10$^{6}$ of bacteria in diarrheal stool to amplify all three bands. The multiplex PCR technology will allow large-scale screening of many clinical specimens or contaminated foods, and will be a very useful method for the detection of a wide range of microorganisms present in the environment, including EHEC O157:H7 in various types of specimens. The multiplex PCR assay has the potential to be used as a specific and rapid method for clinical diagnosis of disease caused by EHEC O157:H7.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 1988

In order to investigate the virulence of Y. enterocolitica isolated in Korea, all necessary experiments were done including several virulence determinating tests-autoagglutination test, calcium-dependency test, HeLa cell invasion test, Sereny test, crystal violet binding test, and electrophoresis for plasmid pattern. The obtained results are as follows: The virulent strains of Y. enterocolitica revealed positive reactions on autoagglutination test, cacium-dependency test, and drystal violet binding test, while the avirulent strains did not. A positive reaction was observed only at $37^{\circ}C$ implying that the expression of virulence is temperature-dependent. In Sereny test, the standard reference virulent strain (serotype 0:8) showed positive reactions while the virylent experimental strains (serotype 1:3, 0:9) revealed negative results, which indicates that the virulence of Y. enterocolitica in experimental animals varied according to their serotypes. Most of the virulent strains contained 36-38Mdal plasmids, but the avirulent strains did not. In addition, it was noted that autoagglutination, calcium-dependency, and crystal violet binding were related to the presence of plasmids.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-53
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• 1987

Multiply resistant Shigella strains isolated in Taegu area were subjected for the characterization of R plasmids. All strains isolated in 1984 and 1985 were susceptible to gentamicin, amikacin, and cephalothin, and most strains were susceptible to kanamycin (Km) and rifampin by agar dilution antimicrobial susceptibility test. The resistance frequency of S. flexneri against ampicillin (Ap) was higher than that of S. sonnei. The strains resistant to sulfisomidine (Su) and trimethoprim (Tp) were found at higher frequency in S. sonnei than in S. flexneri. The most prevalent resistance pattern of S. flexneri was chloramphenicol (Cm) tetracycline (Tc) streptomycin (Sm) Ap, followed by the pattern of CmTcSmSuApTp, CmTcSmSuApTp nalidixic acid, and CmTcSmSuAp in the decreasing order. The antibiogram of CmTcSmSuTp was found to be the most frequent pattern in S. sonnei. The ratio of conjugal transfer of S. flexneri was 47% and 75% of S. sonnei. The average number of plasmid harboring in Shigella was 4 and the size of plasmid ranged 1.3 to 134 megadalton (Mdal). Most S. flexneri carried plasmids of 2 to 3 Mdal and S. sonnei carried those of 3 to 4 Mdal size. The sizes of conjugative plasmids ranged 40-90 Mdal. The incompatibility group (Inc) F II plasmids (54-59 Mdal) were most frequent and rare Inc B plasmids (60 Mdal) of isolates in 1979 and 1980 and Inc FI (87 Mdal) of 1983 isolates were able to be classified by the colony test with standard reference plasmids. The R plasmids of known Inc group were tested for the restriction endonuclease analysis. The pattern of plasmids digested by EcoRl were apparently different by the Inc group but there was no significant difference between species or by the resistance patterns. Nonconjugative plasmids and their phenotypes were identified by transformation test. The transformants were resistant to less than two drugs. Colicin producing transformants carried the Col plasmid of 3.7 or 3.9 Mdal size. $Ap^r$ plasmids derived from S. sonnei were found to be mobilized by transfer factor RT641 to E. coli #CS100. $Ap^r$ plasm ids of same size shared by S. flexneri, S. sonnei, and E. coli were digested with Pstl. All of them showed two restriction fragments of 2.8 kilobase(kb) and 0.7kb. Other plasmids ($Sm^r\;Su^r$) derived from S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei were digested with Pstl and they showed same restriction fragment patterns of 3.1kb and 2.9kb. The plasmid profiles of three strains of S. sonnei producing colicin and showing same resistance pattern of CmTcSmSuApTpKm appeared to be similar. Restriction patterns by EcoRl and the behavior of plasmids in conjugation or transformation process were also similar between those plasmids. The restriction patterns were significantly different between the plasmids of Inc FI group and those of unclassified Inc group.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2008

We assessed heterologous protein expression in 64 strains obtained from the Escherichia coli Reference (ECOR) collection, a collection representing diverse natural E. coli populations. A plasmid generating a glutathione S-transferase and plant carbonic anhydrase fusion protein (GST-CA) under the control of the tac promoter was introduced into the ECOR strains, and the quantity of the fusion protein was determined by SDS-PAGE. The foreign protein was generated at various levels, from very high (40 strains, high producers) to very low (six strains, low producers). Immunoblotting showed that the high producers expressed approximately 250-500 times more GST-CA protein than the low producers. The results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the low producers generated mRNA levels comparable to those of the high producers, thereby suggesting that, at least in this case, inefficient translation is a major cause of the low production. We introduced a different plasmid, which expressed a maltose binding protein and plant guanylate kinase fusion protein (MBP-GK) into the six low producers. Interestingly, five of these expressed MBP-GK at very high levels. Thus, we conclude that the production of a particular protein from an expression vector can vary considerably, depending on the host strain. Strains in the ECOR collection could function as useful alternative hosts when a desired level of protein expression is not obtained from commonly used strains, such as E. coli K12 or B derivatives.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2006

A quantitative analytical method to detect new lines of genetically modified (GM) maize, NK603 and TC1507, has been developed by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To detect these GM lines, two specific primer pairs and probes were designed. A plasmid as a reference molecule was constructed from an endogenous DNA sequence of maize, a universal sequence of a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter used in most GMOs, and each DNA sequence specific to the NK603 and TC1507 lines. For the validation of this method, the test samples of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 10.0% each of the NK603 and TC1507 GM maize were quantitated. At the 3.0% level, the biases (mean vs. true value) for the NK603 and TC1507 lines were 3.3% and 15.7%, respectively, and their relative standard deviations were 7.2% and 5.5%, respectively. These results indicate that the PCR method developed in this study can be used to quantitatively detect the NK603 and TC1507 lines of GM maize.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.335-341
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• 2007

For the development of qualitative and quantitative PCR methods of genetically modified (GM) pepper developed in Korea, a capsanthin-capsorubin synthase (CCS) gene was used as the endogenous reference gene. The primer pair ccs-F/R amplifying the pepper endogenous gene gave rise to an amplicon of 102 bp. No amplified product was observed when DNA samples from 16 different plants were used as templates. The construct-specific primer pairs amplifying the junction region of the bar gene and Ti7 introduced in GM pepper gave rise to an amplicon of 182 bp. Quantitative PCR assay was performed using a TaqMan probe and a standard plasmid as a reference molecule, which contained both an endogenous and event-specific sequence. For the validation of this method, the test samples containing 0.1, 1, 3, 5, and 10% GM pepper were quantified.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1985

A total of 211 strains of Staphylococcus aureus which included 118 strains isolated from various clinical specimens of admitted patients of University Hospital with systemic or severe cases of infection and 93 strains from infected skin diseases of out-patients of dermatology clinic located in rural area, were tested for the antimicrobial susceptibility to the 12 drugs of common use and the phage typing. An these were subjected to the study of plasmid profile analysis for the molecular epidemiology of nosocomial infections. University Hospital(UH) isolates showed higher frequency of resistance than local clinic(LC) isolates against 10 drugs excluding tetracycline(Tc), and trimethoprim(Tp). The MIC of UH isolates were above than $128{\mu}g/ml$ against 9 drugs except Tc, gentamicin(Gm), and Tp, but LC isolates did not show such a high level of MIC. There was difference of MIC needed to inhibit 90% of strains(MIC90) against each drugs tested between two groups of UH and LC isolates. UH isolates showed 2 to 4 times higher value of MIC90 by two-fold serial dilution of drug concentration than LC isolates. Tp was considered as an effective drug in treatment of staphylococcal infections whereas ampicillin and Gm were appeared to be ineffective. Seventy-three strains(61.9%) of UH isolates and 70(69.9%) of LC were typable with phages from Colindale Reference Laboratory. The prevailing phage type of UH isolates belonged to lytic group II were 27 strains(22.9%) and those of LC isolates belonged to lytic group II were 23 strains(24.7%). Thirteen strains(11.0%) of UH isolates were multiply resistant to more than 5 drugs to 10 drugs but none of LC isolates. Through the lysis method of Kado and Liu followed by agarose gel electrophoresis, none of 211 strains showed plasmid profile. These results were confirmed by re-examination through the method of Birnboim and Doly.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.51.1-51.10
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• 2022

Background: Due to the unavailability of an effective vaccine or antiviral drug against the African swine fever virus (ASFV), rapid diagnosis methods are needed to prevent highly contagious African swine fever. Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish the ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) assay for the detection of ASFV. Methods: LMTIA primers were designed with the p72 gene of ASFV as the target, and plasmid pUC57 was used to clone the gene. The LMTIA reaction system was optimized with the plasmid as the positive control, and the performance of the LMTIA assay was compared with that of the commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit in terms of sensitivity and detection rate using 200 serum samples. Results: Our results showed that the LMTIA assay could detect the 10⁴ dilution of DNA extracted from the positive reference serum sample, which was the same as that of the commercial real-time PCR kit. The coincidence rate between the two assays was 100%. Conclusions: The LMTIA assay had high sensitivity, good detection, and simple operation. Thus, it is suitable for facilitating preliminary and cost-effective surveillance for the prevention and control of ASFV.