• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.710-716
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• 2021

A risk analysis of Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding bacteriophage was carried out by confirming the transduction phage to non-Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and subsequent expression of the Shiga toxin genes. The virulence factor stx1 was identified in five phages, and both stx1 and stx2 were found in four phages from a total of 19 phage isolates with seven non-O157 STEC strains. The four phages, designated as ϕNOEC41, ϕNOEC46, ϕNOEC47, and ϕNOEC49, belonged morphologically to the Myoviridae family. The stabilities of these phages to temperature, pH, ethanol, and NaClO were high with some variabilities among the phages. The infection of five non-STEC strains by nine Stx-encoding phages occurred at a rate of approximately 40%. Non-STEC strains were transduced by Stx-encoding phage to become lysogenic strains, and seven convertant strains had stx1 and/or stx2 genes. Only the stx1 gene was transferred to the receptor strains without any deletion. Gene expression of a convertant having both stx1 and stx2 genes was confirmed to be up to 32 times higher for Stx1 in 6% NaCl osmotic media and twice for Stx2 in 4% NaCl media, compared with expression in low-salt environments. Therefore, a new risk might arise from the transfer of pathogenic genes from Stx-encoding phages to otherwise harmless hosts. Without adequate sterilization of food exposed to various environments, there is a possibility that the toxicity of the phages might increase.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.283-292
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• 2022

Colibactins (clb) and Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factors (cnf) are virulence factors that impact cell cycle through cellular differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common among type of infection among outpatients, with a lifetime incidence of about 60-65% in adult females. Here, we sought to isolate uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPCE) from urine specimens and investigates the prevalence of clb A, B and cnf 1, 2 genes among these isolates. A total of 110 E. coli isolates were collected from patients with UTIs. All the isolates were examined for their hemolytic activity and only 46 isolates showed a halo zone of hemolysis on blood agar. The collected UPEC isolates were screened for the existence of clb A, B and cnf genes. The results revealed that out of 110 isolates, 28 harbored the clbA gene, 40 harbored clb B, and 24 isolates harboured cnf1. 13 isolates harbored clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes, while no cnf2 gene was detected among isolates. The molecular detection revealed that 8 out of 28 hemolytic isolates carrying the clbA, 11 out of 40 were carrying clbB, 1 out of 24 were carrying cnf 1, and 5 out of 9 carrying clbA+clbB. Furthermore, 7 out of 13 isolates were hemolytic and carrying clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes. Finally, we investigated the cytotoxicity of E. coli harboring clb and cnf genes, eukaryotic REF cells were exposed to E. coli producing colibactin, which induces DNA damage and leads to cell cycle arrest, senescence and death.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.790-800
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• 2022

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is one of the most valuable medicinal plants which is enriched in anti-microbe secondary metabolites and widely used in traditional medicine. Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus that causes gray mold disease in a broad range of hosts. B. cinerea could overcome the ginseng defense and cause serious leaf and root diseases with unknown mechanism. Methods: We conducted simultaneous transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the host to investigate the defense response of ginseng affected by B. cinerea. The gene deletion and replacement were then performed to study the pathogenic gene in B. cinerea during ginseng - fungi interaction. Results: Upon B. cinerea infection, ginseng defense responses were switched from the activation to repression, thus the expression of many defense genes decreased and the biosynthesis of antifungal metabolites were reduced. Particularly, ginseng metabolites like kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin which could inhibit fungi growth were decreased after B. cinerea infection. B. cinerea quercetin dioxygenase (Qdo) involved in catalyzing flavonoids degradation and ∆BcQdo mutants showed increased substrates accumulation and reduced disease development. Conclusion: This work indicates the flavonoids play a role in ginseng defense and BcQdo involves in B. cinerea virulence towards the P. ginseng. B. cinerea promotes disease development in ginseng by suppressing of defense related genes expression and reduction of antifungal metabolites biosynthesis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Fusarium culmorum is one of the most important causal agents of root rot of wheat. In this study, 10 F. culmorum isolates were collected from farms located in five agro-ecological regions of Morocco. These were used to challenge 20 durum wheat genotypes via artificial inoculation of plant roots under controlled conditions. The isolate virulence was determined by three traits (roots browning index, stem browning index, and severity of root rot). An alpha-lattice design with three replicates was used, and the resulting ANOVA revealed a significant (P < 0.01) effect of isolate (I), genotype (G), and G × I interaction. A total of four response types were observed (R, MR, MS, and S) revealing that different genes in both the pathogen and the host were activated in 53% of interactions. Most genotypes were susceptible to eight or more isolates, while the Moroccan cultivar Marouan was reported resistant to three isolates and moderately resistant to three others. Similarly, the Australian breeding line SSD1479-117 was reported resistant to two isolates and moderately resistant to four others. The ICARDA elites Icaverve, Berghisyr, Berghisyr2, Amina, and Icaverve2 were identified as moderately resistant. Principal component analysis based on the genotypes responses defined two major clusters and two sub-clusters for the 10 F. culmorum isolates. Isolate Fc9 collected in Khemis Zemamra was the most virulent while isolate Fc3 collected in Haj-Kaddour was the least virulent. This work provides initial results for the discovery of differential reactions between the durum lines and isolates and the identification of novel sources of resistance.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.329-335
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• 2024

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR), caused by Phytophthora sojae, can occur at any growth stage under poorly drained and humid conditions. The expansion of soybean cultivation in South Korean paddy fields has increased the frequency of PRR outbreaks. This study aimed to identify four P. sojae isolates newly collected from domestic fields and evaluate race-specific resistance using the hypocotyl inoculation technique. The four isolates exhibited various pathotypes, with GJ3053 exhibiting the highest virulence complexity. Two isolates, GJ3053 and AD3617, were screened from 205 soybeans, and 182 and 190 genotypes (88.8 and 92.7%, respectively) were susceptible to each isolate. Among these accessions, five genotypes resistant to both isolates were selected. These promising genotypes are candidates for the development of resistant soybean cultivars that can effectively control PRR through gene stacking.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.368-377
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• 2020

Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) is the main pathogen causing severe inflammatory diseases and colorectal cancer. Its biofilm plays a key role in the development of colorectal cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the antagonistic effects of cell-free supernatants (CFS) derived from Clostridium butyricum against the growth and biofilm of ETBF. Our data showed that C. butyricum CFS inhibited the growth of B. fragilis in planktonic culture. In addition, C. butyricum CFS exhibited an antibiofilm effect by inhibiting biofilm development, disassembling preformed biofilms and reducing the metabolic activity of cells in biofilms. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that C. butyricum CFS significantly suppressed the proteins and extracellular nucleic acids among the basic biofilm components. Furthermore, C. butyricum CFS significantly downregulated the expression of virulence- and efflux pump-related genes including ompA and bmeB3 in B. fragilis. Our findings suggest that C. butyricum can be used as biotherapeutic agent by inhibiting the growth and biofilm of ETBF.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.399-405
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• 1999

Characteristics of the food isolates and the clinical specimens isolates of E. coli harboring virulence factor and their correlations were analyzed. The predominant serogroup were 08 and 027 in the food isolates and 06 and 018 in the clinical isolates, respectively, showing the different patterns in serogrouping between them. In the test of antibiotic susceptibility, the food isolates were resistant to cephalothin, streptomycin, tetracycline and minocycline, and the clinical isolates were resistant to ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, cephalothin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracyclino and minocycline, respectively. It shows that E.coli isolated from food sources and clinical specimens might be correlated. Plasmid profile in the food and clinical isolates showed wide diversity. Especially, large sized plasmid DNA such as 60 MDa, 90 MDa and 120 MDa were observed. The plasmid DNA (60 MDa) containing a gene encoding hemolysin was found in 43% of the food isolates and 35% of the clinical isolates. To study chromosomal homology, PFGE analysis was performed, showing different restriction patterns by Xbal. This result indicates that there were no genetic correlations between the foods and the clinical isolates.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.249-253
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• 1999

국내 콩씨스트선충의 race 분포를 규명하기 위해 전국 8개도 21개 지역으로부터 선충을 채집하여 검정한 결과, 4종류의 race가 발견되었은데, 그중 race 3(48%)이 가장 많았으며 race 5(24%), race 1(19%),race 6(9%) 순이었고 지역별 차이는 없었다. 국내포장에 서식하는 콩씨스트선충 집단중 약 33%는 저항성품종으로 알려진 Pickett를, 약 43%는 PI88788을 가해할 수 있는 virulence gene을 가지고 있었는데, Peking과 PI90763은 모든 씨스트선충 집단에 대해 저항성으로 나타났다. 국내 콩씨스트선충 저항성 품종 육성에는 Peking이나 PI90763을 교배모본으로 하여 race 5와 6에 대한 저항성 품종을 육성하는 것이 바람직할 것으로 보인다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Inter-cellular communication via diffusible small molecules is a defining character not only of multicellular forms of life but also of single-celled organisms. A large number of bacterial genes are regulated by the change of chemical milieu mediated by the local population density of its own species or others. The cell density-dependent "autoinducer" molecules regulate the expression of those genes involved in genetic competence, biofilm formation and persistence, virulence, sporulation, bioluminescence, antibiotic production, and many others. Recent innovations in recombinant DNA technology and micro-/nano-fluidics systems render the genetic circuitry responsible for cell-to-cell communication feasible to and malleable via synthetic biological approaches. Here we review the current understanding of the molecular biology of bacterial intercellular communication and the novel experimental protocols and platforms used to investigate this phenomenon. A particular emphasis is given to the genetic regulatory circuits that provide the standard building blocks which constitute the syntax of the biochemical communication network. Thus, this review gives focus to the engineering principles necessary for rewiring bacterial chemo-communication for various applications, ranging from population-level gene expression control to the study of host-pathogen interactions.

• 한국식물병리학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.95-99
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• 1997

To obtain a basic information of breeding for resistance to clubroot in Chinese cabbage, disease incidence, pathogenicity, and varietal response to the pathogen were studied. Incidence of clubroot was observed at 3 districts in Gyeonggi-Do, 2 districts in Kangwon-Do, and 1 district each in Gyeongnam, Geongbuk and Jeonbuk, respectively. Disease infection rate and diseased ara were most severe in northern part of Gyeonggi-Do. The isolates of clubroot collected from 8 different districts were not different in their virulence one another in view of their infection rate and disease severity in Chinese cabbage. The clubroot fungus had a wide host range for the cruciferous vegetables. Disease severity was high in rape, turnip and mustard, moderate in Chinese cabbage and broccoli, and low in kale and cauliflower. All of Korean hybrids of Chinese cabbage tested were highly susceptible to clubroot, but Japanese varieties were resistant to the highly pathogenic isolate (EJ-93) which was isolated from the Chinese cabbage in Korea. The hybrid(F1) between clubroot resistant line(930WG) and the susceptible line(332MS) showed completely resistant reaction, which indicated that clubroot resistance was governed by a dominant gene.