• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of cryopreservation on dental pulp-derived stem cells (DPSC) viability over a period of three years. Dental pulp-derived stem cells were isolated and cultured from thirty-one healthy teeth. DPSC isolates were assessed for doubling-time and baseline viability prior to cryopreservation and were assessed again at three time points; one week (T1), 18 months (T2), and 36 months (T3). DPSC can be grouped based on their observed doubling times; slow (sDT), intermediate (iDT), and rapid (rDT). Viability results demonstrated all three types of DPSC isolates (sDT, iDT and rDT) exhibit time-dependent reductions in viability following cryopreservation, with the greatest reduction observed among sDT-DPSCs and the smallest observed among the rDT-DPSC isolates. Cryopreserved DPSCs demonstrate time-dependent reductions in cellular viability. Although reductions in viability were smallest at the initial time point (T1) and greatest at the final time point (T3), these changes were markedly different among DPSC isolates with similar doubling times (DTs). Furthermore, the analysis of various DPSC biomarkers - including both intracellular and cell surface markers, revealed differential mRNA expression. More specifically, the relative high expression of Sox-2 was only found only among the rDT isolates, which was associated with the smallest reduction in viability over time. The expression of Oct4 and NANOG were also higher among rDT isolates, however, expression was comparatively lower among the sDT isolates that had the highest reduction in cellular viability over the course of this study. These data may suggest that some biomarkers, including Sox-2, Oct4 and NANOG may have some potential for use as biomarkers that may be associated with either higher or lower cellular viability over long-term storage applications although more research will be needed to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1350-1358
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• 2012

Viral pathogens, alongside other pathogens, have major effects on crustacean aquaculture. Hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) is an emerging virus in the shrimp industry and has been detected in shrimp farms worldwide. The HPV genome has greater diversity than other shrimp viruses owing to its wide host range and geographical distribution. Therefore, developing diagnostic tools is essential to detect even small copy numbers from the target region of native HPV isolates. We have developed two easy to use quantitative real-time PCR kits, called Green Star and Dual Star, which contain all of the necessary components for real-time PCR, including HPV primers, using the primers obtained from the sequences of HPV isolates from Korea, and analyzed their specificity, efficiency, and reproducibility. These two kits could detect from 1 to $1{\times}10^9$ copies of cloned HPV DNA. The minimum detection limits obtained from HPV-infected shrimp were $7.74{\times}10^1$ and $9.06{\times}10^1$ copies in the Green Star and Dual Star assay kits, respectively. These kits can be used for rapid, sensitive, and efficient screening for HPV isolates from Korea before the introduction of postlarval stages into culture ponds, thereby decreasing the incidence of early development of the disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.2 s.138
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• pp.117-125
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• 2006

Genetic diversity of 18 Acanthamoeba isolates from ocean sediments was evaluated by comparing mitochondrial (mt) DNA RFLP, 18S rDNA sequences and by examining their cytopathic effects on human corneal epithelial cells versus reference strains. All isolates belonged to morphologic group II. Total of 16 restriction phenotypes of mtDNA from 18 isolates demonstrated the genetic diversity of Acanthamoeba in ocean sediments. Phylogenetic analysis using 18s rDNA sequences revealed that the 18 isolates were distinct from morphological groups I and III. Fifteen isolates showed close relatedness with 17 clinical isolates and A. castellanii Castellani and formed a lineage equivalent to T4 genotype of Byers' group. Two reference strains from ocean sediment, A. hatchetti BH-2 and A. griffini S-7 clustered unequivocally with these 15 isolates. Diversity among isolates was also evident from their cytopathic effects on human corneal cells. This is the first time describing Acanthamoeba diversity in ocean sediments in Korea.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2006

Virulence and genetic diversity were studied using 21 isolates of Sclerospora graminicola, the pearl millet downy mildew pathogen collected from major pearl millet growing areas of India. Variability for virulence was determined by inoculating a set of 10 differential hosts with the S. graminicola isolates in a greenhouse. The isolates varied for latent period (6.4 to 11 days), disease incidence (0 to $98\%$), virulence index (0 to 18.7) and oospore-production potential (1 to 4). Among the 21 isolates, Sg 139 (Rajasthan) was the most virulent and Sg 110 (Tamil Nadu) the least virulent. Based on virulence index (disease incidence$\time$slatent $period^{-1}$), the 21 isolates were classified into eight virulence groups. Genetic diversity among isolates was studied using AFLP markers. Based on similarity index of banding pattern, the 21 isolates were clustered into eight genotypic groups. The AFLP groupings, however, did not match with that of the virulence groupings, and these two were found independent. The isolate Sg 139 that remained distinct in both pathogenic and genetic groupings indicated its highly virulent nature. Implications of these results in downy mildew resistance breeding are discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1228-1235
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• 2011

We compared the gene expression among four clinical and five environmental V. vulnificus isolates, using a cDNA microarray containing 131 genes possibly associated with pathogenicity, transport, signal transduction, and gene regulations in the pathogen. cDNAs from total RNAs of these isolates were hybridized into the cDNA microarray using the cDNA of the wild-type strain MO6-24/O as a reference. We focused on selecting differentially expressed (DE) genes between clinical and environmental isolates using a modified t-statistic. We could detect two statistically significant DE genes between virulent isolates and less-virulent isolates with a marginal statistical significance (p-value of 0.008). These were genes putatively encoding pilin and adenlyate cylase. Real time-PCR confirmed that these two selected genes transcribed in significantly higher levels in virulent isolates than in less-virulent isolates. Mutants with lesions in the gene encoding pilin showed significantly higher $LD_{50}$ values than that of wild type.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.153-157
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• 2009

The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases ($ESBL_S$) of the TEM or SHV type by bacterial pathogens is a major threat to the use of the clinically important expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. The characterization of the SHV ESBLs producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains present in clinical isolates is time-consuming processes. We describe here in the development of a novel system, which consists of a real time PCR. We found 11 K. pneumoniae strains to be presumptive strains ESBLs producers by clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The double disk synergy test showed 8 ESBL positive and conventional PCR showed 10 SHV ESBL positive, which were K. pneumoniae strains isolates. By real time PCR analysis, SHV gene in 11 of 11 strains were identified. When sequencing analysis was compared with real time PCR, both analysis were presented 99% similarity. In this study, we used a rapid, sensitive, and specific real-time PCR (RT-PCR) method for detection of the assay SHV ESBL producing K. pneumoniae strains in clinical isolates.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2014

Hydatid cyst caused by Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most important parasitic diseases around the world and many countries in Asia, including Iran, are involved with this infection. This disease can cause high mortality in humans as well as economic losses in livestock. To date, several molecular methods have been used to determine the genetic diversity of E. granulosus. So far, identification of E. granulosus using real-time PCR fluorescence-based quantitative assays has not been studied worldwide, also in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of E. granulosus from center of Iran using real-time PCR method. A total of 71 hydatid cysts were collected from infected sheep, goat, and cattle slaughtered in Isfahan, Iran during 2013. DNA was extracted from protoscolices and/or germinal layers from each individual cyst and used as template to amplify the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) (420 bp). Five cattle isolates out of 71 isolates were sterile and excluded from further investigation. Overall, of 66 isolates, partial sequences of the cox1 gene of E. granulosus indicated the presence of genotypes G1 in 49 isolates (74.2%), G3 in 15 isolates (22.7%), and G6 in 2 isolates (3.0%) in infected intermediate hosts. Sixteen sequences of G1 genotype had microgenetic variants, and they were compared to the original sequence of cox1. However, isolates identified as G3 and G6 genotypes were completely consistent with original sequences. G1 genotype in livestock was the dominant genotype in Isfahan region, Iran.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2010

Fusarium proliferatum is the causal agent of stalk and root rot disease of maize, foot rot disease of rice, basal and root rot disease of onion and knife cut disease of sugarcane in Iran. In recent years, incidence and severity of these diseases have been increased in Iran. Fifty seven F. proliferatum single-spore isolates collected from diseased maize, rice, onion and sugarcane plants at different areas were used to study genetic diversity by determination of vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Chlorate-resistant nitrate non-utilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from selected isolates of F. proliferatum and used in complementation tests. All isolates in which both nit1 and NitM (or nit3) mutants were recovered, demonstrated self-compatibility. Vegetative compatibility tests by pairing nit mutants identified 30 VCGs among 57 isolates. Twenty-three isolates belonged to singlemember VCGs and the remaining 34 isolates, belonged to other seven multimember VCGs. Segregation of F. proliferatum isolates obtained from various area and host plants into different VCGs in Iran is reported for the first time. In this study, none of isolates obtained from rice complemented with any other isolates from onion and sugarcane and, non complementation occurred between onion and sugarcane isolates. Also, only one complementation occurred between one isolate of maize and one isolate of sugarcane and rice. Thus, a correlation between VCGs grouping and host preferences was founded. It is concluded that natural populations of F. proliferatum in Iran are probably genetically divergent and include isolates representing a potential risk for disease development.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2206-2213
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• 2016

Recently, several studies have revealed that commercial microbial identification systems do not accurately identify the uncommon causative species of candidiasis, including Candida famata, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and C. auris. We investigated the accuracy of species-level identification in a collection of clinical isolates previously identified as C. famata (N = 38), C. lusitaniae (N = 1 2), and M. guilliermondii (N = 5) by the Vitek 2 system. All 55 isolates were re-analyzed by the Phoenix system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostics), two matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analyzers (a Vitek MS and a Bruker Biotyper), and by sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions or 26S rRNA gene D1/D2 domains. Among 38 isolates previously identified as C. famata by the Vitek 2 system, the majority (27/38 isolates, 71.1%) were identified as C. tropicalis (20 isolates) or C. albicans (7 isolates) by ITS sequencing, and none was identified as C. famata. Among 20 isolates that were identified as C. tropicalis, 17 (85%) were isolated from urine. The two isolates that were identified as C. auris by ITS sequencing originated from ear discharge. The Phoenix system did not accurately identify C. lusitaniae, C. krusei, or C. auris. The correct identification rate for 55 isolates was 92.7% (51/55 isolates) for the Vitek MS and 94.6% (52/55 isolates) for the Bruker Biotyper, as compared with results from ITS sequencing. These results suggest that C. famata is very rare in Korea, and that the possibility of misidentification should be noted when an uncommon Candida species is identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.422-429
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of canine uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and the interaction between canine UPEC and human bladder epithelial cells. Ten E. coli isolates collected from dogs with cystitis were analyzed for antimicrobial resistance patterns, the presence of virulence factors, and biofilm formation. The ability of these isolates to induce cytotoxicity, invade human bladder epithelial cells, and stimulate an immune response was also determined. We observed a high rate of antimicrobial resistance among canine UPEC isolates. All virulence genes tested (including adhesins, iron acquisition, and protectin), except toxin genes, were detected among the canine UPEC isolates. We found that all isolates showed varying degrees of biofilm formation (mean, 0.26; range, 0.07 to 0.82), using a microtiter plate assay to evaluate biofilm formation by the isolates. Cytotoxicity to human bladder epithelial cells by the canine UPEC isolates increased in a time-dependent manner, with a 56.9% and 36.1% reduction in cell viability compared with the control at 6 and 9 h of incubation, respectively. We found that most canine UPEC isolates were able to invade human bladder epithelial cells. The interaction between these isolates and human bladder epithelial cells strongly induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8. We demonstrated that canine UPEC isolates can interact with human bladder epithelial cells, although the detailed mechanisms remain unknown. The results suggest that canine UPEC isolates, rather than dogspecific pathogens, have zoonotic potential.