• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2007

A Gram-negative, motile by tuft flagella, obligately aerobic chemoorganoheterotrophic, sphere-form bacterium, designated $IMCC3135^T$, was isolated from the Antarctic surface seawater of King George Island, West Antarctica. The strain was mesophilic, neutrophilic, and requiring NaCl for growth, but neither halophilic nor halotolerant. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strain was most closely related to genera of the order Chromatiales in the class Gammaproteobacteria. The most closely related genera showed less than 90% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and included Thioalkalispira (89.9%), Thioalkalivibrio (88.0%-89.5%), Ectothiorhodospira (87.9%-89.3%), Chromatium (88.3%-88.9%), and Lamprocystis (87.7%-88.9%), which represent three different families of the order Chromatiales. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this Antarctic strain represented a distinct phylogenetic lineage in the order Chromatiales and could not be assigned to any of the defined families in the order. Phenotypic characteristics, including primarily non-phototrophic, non-alkaliphilic, non-halophilic, and obligately aerobic chemoheterotrophic properties, differentiated the strain from other related genera. The very low sequence similarities (<90%) and distant relationships between the strain and members of the order suggested that the strain merited classification as a novel genus within a novel family in the order Chromatiales. On the basis of these taxonomic traits, a novel genus and species is proposed, Granulosicoccus antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov., in a new family Granulosicoccaceae fam. nov. Strain $IMCC3135^T\;(=KCCM42676^T=NBRC\;102684^T)$ is the type strain of Granulosicoccus antarcticus.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2012

DNA barcoding has been widely used in species identification and biodiversity research. A short fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence serves as a DNA bio-barcode. We collected DNA barcodes, based on COI sequences from 156 species (529 sequences) of fish, insects, and shellfish. We present results on phylogenetic relationships to assess biodiversity the in the Korean peninsula. Average GC% contents of the 68 fish species (46.9%), the 59 shellfish species (38.0%), and the 29 insect species (33.2%) are reported. Using the Kimura 2 parameter in all possible pairwise comparisons, the average interspecific distances were compared with the average intraspecific distances in fish (3.22 vs. 0.41), insects (2.06 vs. 0.25), and shellfish (3.58 vs. 0.14). Our results confirm that distance-based DNA barcoding provides sufficient information to identify and delineate fish, insect, and shellfish species by means of all possible pairwise comparisons. These results also confirm that the development of an effective molecular barcode identification system is possible. All DNA barcode sequences collected from our study will be useful for the interpretation of species-level identification and community-level patterns in fish, insects, and shellfish in Korea, although at the species level, the rate of correct identification in a diversified environment might be low.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 2014

The spermatozoa of Platichthys stellatus is relatively simple cells composed of a spherical head, a short midpiece, and a tail, as in most Pleuronectiformes. The ultrastructure is characterized by the following features: a round nucleus with a deep nuclear fossa, the centriolar complex located at a right angle to each other, a short midpiece, a tail with paired lateral ribbon and no acrosome. However there are some minor morphological differences, including the appearance and number of the mitochondria, the shape and size of the nuclear fossa and the structure of the basal body. Especially the basal body structure consisting of a basal foot, a rootlet and nine alar sheets structures varies considerably in different species. It can be used as indicator of relationships in Pleuronectiformes because minute morphological differences might have functional and evolutionary significance. In conclusion, the spermatozoa of P. stellatus show a certain structural homogeneity and provide support for the concept that ultrastructural features of spermatozoa can be useful in taxonomic studies of Pleuronectiformes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.345-358
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• 2008

The systematic position of Cymopterus melanotiligia (H. Boissieu) C. Y. Yoon in Apiaceae was revaluated based on the ITS sequence data. Its diagnostic characteristics include its asymmerty mericarps, 3-4 mericarp ribs, winged dorsal ribs, and ternate leaves. It is morphologically similar to Tilingia tsusimensis and Pimpinella having ternate leaves. It is distinguished from Ostericum having symmerty mericarps, 5 mericarp ribs, and rounded dorsal ribs. Also it looks like Angelica with broadly winged lateral ribs and strongly dorsally compressed mericarps, but is distinguished by having its conspicuous calyx teeth and unilayer pericarps. Cymopterus melanotiligia formed a different clade group with Cymopterus species distributed in North America based on ITS sequences, and it supports the close relationships with Halosciastrum melanotilingia. Thus, we conclude that this species is here referred to Halosciastrum melanotilingia (H. Boissieu) Pimenov & Tikhomirov.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2020

The genus Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) is often associated with fungus-feeding termites (Macrotermitinae) due to their strong symbiotic relationships. The genus is widely found exclusively in certain regions of Africa and Asia. They are recognized as edible mushroom within Southeast Asia as well. But it is often misidentified based on morphology by the local communities especially in Malaysia for Chlorophyllum molybdites which is a highly poisonous mushroom. Thus, it is necessary to study the genus for Malaysia with the synergy of using both morphological and molecular identification. In this study, we aim to describe another new species as an addition to the genus Termitomyces found within Sabah, Malaysia. We generated two new sequences (nrLSU and mtSSU) for the new species and a total of 28 nrLSU and mtSSU sequences were retrieved from GenBank for the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences. We identified that the new collection from Sabah province is a new species and named as Termitomyces gilvus based on the termites found in the mound. A phylogeny tree made from the concatenated genes of LSU and mtSSU suggests that T. gilvus is closely related to T. bulborhizus from China. According to our results, the combination of molecular and morphology proved to be a robust approach to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of Termitomyces species in Malaysia. Additional surveys are needed to verify the species diversity and clarify their geographic distribution.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2009

Inter-specific relationships among six species and two varieties, belonging to Scrophularia (Scrophulariaceae), in Korea were re-examined based on both morphological and molecular data. Scrophularia takesimensis, a Korean endemic species, should be separated from S. grayana as an independent species based upon unique morphological characters such as non-winged stems, thickened leaves and glabrous surfaces of leaves, even though they share a lot of other features. It was found that S. grayana is distributed in Sokcho in Korea and along the coast of the East Sea north to far eastern Russia. Although some morphologies of three taxa, S. cephalantha, S. koraiensis var. velutina and S. kakudensis var. microphylla appeared to differ from each other, their ITS DNA sequence data was similar to that of S. kakudensis, suggesting that they might better be designated with the later species. The taxonomic position of S. koraiensis, only found in Korea, has been ambiguous, but ITS DNA sequence data in this study revealed that this species is distinct from S. kakudensis. Consequently, we conclude that the genus Scrophularia in Korea includes five species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2006

We analyzed the phylogenic relationships of 23 partial 18S rDNA sequences of 22 species (1 species has 2 strains) belonging to Sarcorptiforms include 4 new sequences, using several tools. Although geographic distributions are quite far from, sequence similarity of two strains of Dermatophygoides pteronyssinus isolated from Japan and New Zealand were very high. This result suggests that mite migration by animals including human occurred in the two continents. We investigated the Endeostigmata taxonomic relationship between the Prostigmata and Oribatida subgroups using small fragments (340-400 bp) of their 185 rDNA sequences. But Endeostigmata was not grouped with Oribatida or Prostigmata. In conclusion, it is first reported phylogenic relationship for classified mites included in Sarcoptiformes using 185 rDNA sequence analysis and its system is a very powerful tool for classification of mites.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.278-288
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• 2018

Polyploidization plays an important role in generating the current high diversity of plants. Studies of the distributional patterns of diploid and derivative polyploid races have provided important insights into the evolutionary process and cryptic speciation by polyploidization within and between closely related taxa defined on the basis of their morphology. Allium thunbergii and A. sacculiferum, occurring throughout eastern Russia, eastern China, Korea, and Japan, are examples of closely related species with unsolved taxonomic relationships. A total of 97 and 65 individuals from 26 and 13 populations of A. thunbergii (including var. thunbergii, var. deltoids, and var. teretifolium) and A. sacculiferum, respectively, were studied to determine their ploidy. The geographic structure and habitat differentiation of the cytotypes were also analyzed. The main cytotype of A. thunbergii was diploid (92.3% in total; the rest were tetraploids). In contrast, the majority of A. sacculiferum plants were tetraploids (69.2% of the total; the rest were diploids). No populations of the studied taxa harbored both cytotypes. Allium thunbergii was more often found at higher elevations than A. sacculiferum, and it tended to occur more frequently on rocky slopes and below forests in mountainous areas. On the other hand, A. sacculiferum occurred at forest margins and in lowland pastures. The cytotypes differed with respect to the elevation; diploids were found more frequently at higher elevations than tetraploids. The results of this study and additional biosystematics data indicate that the morphological characteristics of A. thunbergii and A. sacculiferum may be influenced by polyploidization and by their adaptation to various habitat conditions and that A. thunbergii and A. sacculiferum do not clearly fulfill the requirements of any species concept. Consequently, we propose that A. sacculiferum be considered as an additional synonym of A. thunbergii. Additionally, Allium thunbergii var. deltoides is unified into A. thunbergii var. thunbergii.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.211-226
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• 2000

Genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among the major Korean fireflies (Hotaria papariensis, Luciola lateralis, and Pyrocoelia rufa) were studied. A portion of mitochondrial COI (403 bp) and 165 rRNA (490~504 bp) genes were sequenced, and the GenBank-registered, homologous 165 rRNA sequences of Japanese fireflies were compared (27 species of Lampyridae, one of Lycidae, and one of Rhgophthalmidae). Greatest DNA and/or amino acid sequence divergence was found when P rufa, belonging to Lampyrinae was compared with H. papariensis and L. lateralis, both belong-ing to Luciolinae, confirming the current taxonomic status of the species. In the PAUP and PHYLIP analyses with 165 rRNA data, grouping of the two geographic samples of H. papariensis with H. tsushimana validate the use of generic name, Hotaria. Nevertheless, lack of sister-group relationship of the two geographic samples of H. papariensis renders further investigation on this group . Although the Korean and Japanese L. lateralis formed a strong monophyletic group, a substantial genetic differentiation was detected between them (2.9% of 165 rRNA gene sequence divergence). Finally, the geographic samples of Korean p. rufa strongly formed a group with Japanese p. rufa, warranting the use of generic name, Pyrocoelia, but the genetic distance observed between the Cheju-Island individual and all others requires further investigation on this subject. Summarized, this study supports the current taxonomic status of the Korean fireflies in that each respectively formed a strong monophyletic group with its own species or genus.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2017

Microsatellite SSR markers were developed and utilized to reveal the genetic diversity of 32 strains of Flammulina velutipes collected in Korea, China, and Japan. From the SSR-enriched library, 490 white colonies were randomly selected and sequenced. Among the 490 sequenced clones, 85 (17.35%) were redundant. Among the remaining 405 unique clones, 201 (49.6%) contained microsatellite sequences. We used 12 primer pairs that produced reproducible polymorphic bands for four diverse strains, and these selected markers were further characterized in 32 Flammulina velutipes strains. A total of 34 alleles were detected using the 12 markers, with an average of 3.42 alleles, and the number of alleles ranged from two to seven per locus. The major allele frequency ranged from 0.42 (GB-FV-127) to 0.98 (GB-FV-166), and values for observed ($H_O$) and expected ($H_E$) heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.94 (mean = 0.18) and from 0.03 to 0.67 (mean = 0.32), respectively. SSR loci amplified with GB-FV-127 markers gave the highest polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.61 and mean allele number of five, whereas for loci amplified with GB-FV-166 markers these values were the lowest, namely 0.03 and two. The mean PIC value (0.29) observed in the present study with average number of alleles (3.42). The genetic relationships among the 32 Flammulina velutipes strains on the basis of SSR data were investigated by UPGMA cluster analysis. In conclusion, we succeeded in developing 12 polymorphic SSRs markers from an SSR-enriched library of Flammulina velutipes. These SSRs are presently being used for phylogenetic analysis and evaluation of genetic variations. In future, these SSR markers will be used in clarifying taxonomic relationships among the Flammulina velutipes.