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Lee JJ, Choe YJ, Jeong H, Kim M, Kim S, Yoo H, Park K, Kim C, Choi S, Sim J, Park Y, Huh IS, Hong G, Kim MY, Song JS, Lee J, Kim EJ, Rhee JE, Kim IH, Gwack J, Kim J, Jeon JH, Lee WG, Jeong S, Kim J, Bae B, Kim JE, Kim H, Lee HY, Lee SE, Kim JM, Park H, Yu M, Choi J, Kim J, Lee H, Jang EJ, Lim D, Lee S, Park YJ. Importation and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant of Concern in Korea, November 2021. J Korean Med Sci 2021; 36:e346. [PMID: 34962117 PMCID: PMC8728587 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel. There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Joo Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | | | | | - Moonsu Kim
- Incheon Metropolitan Government, Incheon, Korea
| | | | - Hanna Yoo
- Incheon Metropolitan Government, Incheon, Korea
| | - Kunhee Park
- Gyeonggi-do Infectious Disease Control Center, Suwon, Korea
| | - Chanhee Kim
- Gyeonggi-do Infectious Disease Control Center, Suwon, Korea
| | - Sojin Choi
- Gyeonggi-do Infectious Disease Control Center, Suwon, Korea
| | - JiWoo Sim
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - In Sil Huh
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gasil Hong
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Young Kim
- Capital Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Su Song
- Capital Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jihee Lee
- Capital Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jee Eun Rhee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Il-Hwan Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jin Gwack
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jungyeon Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jin-Hwan Jeon
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Suyeon Jeong
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jusim Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Byungsik Bae
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ja Eun Kim
- Incheon Airport National Quarantine Station, Incheon, Korea
| | - Hyeonsoo Kim
- Incheon Airport National Quarantine Station, Incheon, Korea
| | - Hye Young Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sang-Eun Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jong Mu Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hanul Park
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Mi Yu
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jihyun Choi
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jia Kim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hyeryeon Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Eun-Jung Jang
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Dosang Lim
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sangwon Lee
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Young-Joon Park
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea.
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Kim TY, Kim SY, Kim TK, Lee HI, Cho SH, Lee WG, Kim H. Molecular evidence of zoonotic Babesia species, other than B. microti, in ixodid ticks collected from small mammals in the Republic of Korea. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2427-2433. [PMID: 34492740 PMCID: PMC8604135 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of tick‐borne infectious diseases, including zoonotic babesiosis, has become a serious concern in recent years. In this study, we detected Babesia spp. using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 18S rRNA of the parasites isolated from ixodid ticks collected from small mammals in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Sequence analysis of the PCR amplicon revealed the presence of B. duncani, B. venatorum, B. capreoli/divergens, and, the most prevalent, B. microti in the ticks. The molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the four species‐specific18S rRNA sequences clustered in four distinct clades. This is the first study to provide molecular evidence for the presence of zoonotic Babesia spp. other than B. microti in ticks in the ROK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Yun Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Yoon Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Kyu Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Il Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Shin-Hyeong Cho
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunwoo Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, the Republic of Korea
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Lee E, Yang SC, Kim TK, Noh BE, Lee HS, Kim H, Roh JY, Lee WG. Geographical Genetic Variation and Sources of Korean Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:1057-1068. [PMID: 31972007 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a mosquito vector raising global health concerns owing to its transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. This vector accounts for a large proportion of the Korean mosquito community; however, autochthonous clinical cases resulting from this species remain unreported in South Korea. This study aimed to examine the geographical genetic variations and sources of Ae. albopictus populations in South Korea exclusively on the basis of COI gene analysis from 292 samples collected from 37 localities in 2016-2018 and 290 reference sequences from GenBank. Thirty-eight haplotypes were identified among the 292 Ae. albopictus samples, with H1 (n = 190, 65.1%), H29 (n = 24, 8.22%), and H32 (n = 24, 8.22%) being the most common and widely distributed haplotypes in the mainland, southern coastal region, and Jeju Island, respectively. In general, high haplotype (≥0.5; 44.7%) and low nucleotide (≤0.00148 max.) diversity were observed in these populations. Based on eight regional groups, results of neutral tests and a mismatch analysis supported demographic expansions after bottlenecks. Furthermore, analysis of molecular variance, FST, and K2P distance showed that Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju Island, and mainland groups were genetically differentiated. Haplotype network and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the sources of the main haplotypes are related to strains from other countries. The current findings need to be validated with additional sampling from heterogeneous habitats and different genetic markers. However, our results suggest that haplotype changes should be closely monitored for efficient vector surveillance and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- EunJung Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Chan Yang
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Kyu Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Eon Noh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Seon Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunwoo Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
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Lee SE, Lee DY, Lee WG, Kang B, Jang YS, Ryu B, Lee S, Bahk H, Lee E. Detection of Novel Coronavirus on the Surface of Environmental Materials Contaminated by COVID-19 Patients in the Republic of Korea. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2020; 11:128-132. [PMID: 32528818 PMCID: PMC7282419 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.3.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces frequently touched by COVID-19 patients, and assess the scope of contamination and transmissibility in facilities where the outbreaks occurred. In the course of this epidemiological investigation, a total of 80 environmental specimens were collected from 6 hospitals (68 specimens) and 2 “mass facilities” (6 specimens from a rehabilitation center and 6 specimens from an apartment building complex). Specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction targeting of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and envelope genes, were used to identify the presence of this novel coronavirus. The 68 specimens from 6 hospitals (A, B, C, D, E, and G), where prior disinfection/cleaning had been performed before environmental sampling, tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. However, 2 out of 12 specimens (16.7%) from 2 “mass facilities” (F and H), where prior disinfection/cleaning had not taken place, were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase, and envelope genes. These results suggest that prompt disinfection and cleaning of potentially contaminated surfaces is an effective infection control measure. By inactivating SARS-CoV-2 with disinfection/cleaning the infectivity and transmission of the virus is blocked. This investigation of environmental sampling may help in the understanding of risk assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in “mass facilities” and provide guidance in using effective disinfectants on contaminated surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Eun Lee
- Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Deog-Yong Lee
- Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - ByeongHak Kang
- Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Yoon Suk Jang
- Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Boyeong Ryu
- Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - SeungJae Lee
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Hyunjung Bahk
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
| | - Eungyu Lee
- National Center for Medical Information and Knowledge, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungju, Korea
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Bahk YY, Jun H, Park SH, Jung H, Jegal S, Kim-Jeon MD, Roh JY, Lee WG, Ahn SK, Lee J, Joo K, Gong YW, Kwon MJ, Kim TS. Surveillance of Chigger Mite Vectors for Tsutsugamushi Disease in the Hwaseong Area, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, 2015. Korean J Parasitol 2020; 58:301-308. [PMID: 32615743 PMCID: PMC7338901 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.3.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Owing to global climate change, the global resurgence of vector-borne infectious diseases and their potential to inflict widespread casualties among human populations has emerged as a pivotal burden on public health systems. Tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) in the Republic of Korea is steadily increasing and was designated as a legal communicable disease in 1994. The disease is a mite-borne acute febrile disease most commonly contracted from October to December. In this study, we tried to determine the prevalence of tsutsugamushi disease transmitted by chigger mites living on rodents and investigated their target vector diversity, abundance, and distribution to enable the mapping of hotspots for this disease in 2015. A total of 5 species belonging to 4 genera (109 mites): Leptotrombidium scutellare 60.6%, L. pallidum 28.4% Neotrombicula tamiyai 9.2%, Euschoengastia koreaensis/0.9%), and Neoschoengastia asakawa 0.9% were collected using chigger mite collecting traps mimicking human skin odor and sticky chigger traps from April to November 2015. Chigger mites causing tsutsugamushi disease in wild rodents were also collected in Hwaseong for the zoonotic surveillance of the vector. A total of 77 rodents belonging to 3 genera: Apodemus agrarius (93.5%), Crocidura lasiura (5.2%), and Micromys minutus (1.3%) were collected in April, October, and November 2015. The most common mite was L. pallidum (46.9%), followed by L. scutellare (18.6%), and L. orientale (18.0%). However, any of the chigger mite pools collected from rodent hosts was tested positive for Orientia tsutsugamushi, the pathogen of tsutsugamushi disease, in this survey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Yil Bahk
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
| | - Hojong Jun
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seo Hye Park
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Haneul Jung
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seung Jegal
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Myung-Deok Kim-Jeon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Kwangsig Joo
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Young Woo Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Mun Ju Kwon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
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6
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Jegal S, Jun H, Kim-Jeon MD, Park SH, Ahn SK, Lee J, Gong YW, Joo K, Kwon MJ, Roh JY, Lee WG, Lee W, Bahk YY, Kim TS. Three-year surveillance of culicine mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for flavivirus infections in Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si of Gyeonggi-do Province, Republic of Korea. Acta Trop 2020; 202:105258. [PMID: 31733189 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a single stranded positive sense RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus that belongs to family Flaviviridae and emerged as one of the most pivotal form of viral encephalitis. The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquito vector and is an etiological agent of acute zoonotic infection. In this study, we investigated distribution and density over 3-year period in central regions of Korean peninsula. We selected two cities as mosquito-collecting locations and subdivided them into five collection sites; downtown Incheon Metropolitan City as a typical urban area, and the Hwaseong-si area as a rural area. A total of 35,445 female culicine mosquitoes were collected using black light traps or BG Sentinel™ traps from March to November 2016-2018. Aedes (Ae.) vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected specimens (48.91%), followed by Culex (Cx.) pipiens (32.05%), Ochlerotatus (Och.) dorsalis (13.58%), Och. koreicus (1.68%), and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (1.49%). In the urban area, Cx. pipiens was the predominant species (92.21%) and the other species accounted for <5% of the total mosquitoes collected. However, in the rural area, Ae. vexans nipponii had the highest population (61.90%), followed by Och. dorsalis (17.10%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (1.84%) and Och, koreicus (1.78%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, placed in pools of up to 30 mosquitoes each, and screened for flavivirus RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR. Three of the assayed 1092 pools were positive for Chaoyang virus from Ae. vexans nipponii and Japanese encephalitis virus from Cx. pipiens. The maximum likelihood estimations (the estimated number of virus-positive mosquitoes/1000 mosquitoes) for Ae. vexans nipponii positive for Chaoyang virus and Cx. pipiens for Japanese encephalitis virus were 3.095 and 0.20, respectively. The results of our study demonstrate that although mosquito-borne diseases were not detected in the potential vectors, enhanced monitoring and long-term surveillance of these vector viruses are of great public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Jegal
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, South Korea
| | - Hojong Jun
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Myung-Deok Kim-Jeon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, South Korea
| | - Seo Hye Park
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Young Woo Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, South Korea
| | - Kwangsig Joo
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, South Korea
| | - Mun Ju Kwon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, South Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, South Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, South Korea
| | - Woojoo Lee
- Department of Statistics, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Young Yil Bahk
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, South Korea.
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea.
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Kim-Jeon MD, Jegal S, Jun H, Jung H, Park SH, Ahn SK, Lee J, Gong YW, Joo K, Kwon MJ, Roh JY, Lee WG, Bahk YY, Kim TS. Four Year Surveillance of the Vector Hard Ticks for SFTS, Ganghwa-do, Republic of Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2019; 57:691-698. [PMID: 31914523 PMCID: PMC6960244 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.6.691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was monitored with a collection trap method every April to November during 2015–2018 and with a flagging method every July and August during 2015–2018 in Ganghwa-do (island) of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. This monitoring was performed in a copse, a short grass field, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest. A total of 17,457 ticks (8,277 larvae, 4,137 nymphs, 3,389 females, and 1,654 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) were collected with collection traps. Of the identified ticks, H. longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ticks) (94.26%, 8,653/9,180 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (5.71%, 524/9,180) and Ix. nipponensis (less than 0.04%, 3/9,180). The ticks collected with collecting traps were pooled and assayed for the presence of SFTS virus with negative results. In addition, for monitoring the prevalence of hard ticks, a total of 7,461 ticks (5,529 larvae, 1,272 nymphs, 469 females, and 191 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ix. nipponensis) were collected with flagging method. H. longicornis was the highest collected ticks (except larval ticks) (99.53%, 1,908/1,917 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (1.15%, 22/1,917).
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Deok Kim-Jeon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Seung Jegal
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Hojong Jun
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Haneul Jung
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seo Hye Park
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Young Woo Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Kwangsig Joo
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Mun Ju Kwon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Young Yil Bahk
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
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Jung M, Kho JW, Lee WG, Roh JY, Lee DH. Seasonal Occurrence of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Haemaphysalis flava, Vectors of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) in South Korea. J Med Entomol 2019; 56:1139-1144. [PMID: 30927544 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The seasonal abundance of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann and H. flava Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) was monitored from 2015 through 2017 in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The hard ticks were surveyed monthly using CO2 bait traps from April to November and flagging from July to September in a coniferous forest, a deciduous forest, shrubs, and a grassland vegetation types. Haemaphysalis longicornis and H. flava were most abundant in the grassland and shrubs, which yielded over 50% of the total number of ticks in all 3 yr. Furthermore, H. longicornis comprised up to 90% of the ticks collected. Generally, peaks of nymph, adult, and larva numbers were observed from April to June, from June to July, and from August to September, respectively. Half of the ticks were pooled and tested for the presence of the SFTS virus with negative results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhyung Jung
- Department of Life Sciences, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jung-Wook Kho
- Department of Life Sciences, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea
| | - Doo-Hyung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
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Choi MB, Lee WG, Kang HJ, Yang SC, Song BG, Shin EH, Kwon O. Seasonal prevalence and species composition of mosquitoes and chigger mites collected from Daegu, Gunwi and Sangju in South Korea, 2014. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1186/s41610-017-0030-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Yun SM, Lee WG, Ryou J, Yang SC, Park SW, Roh JY, Lee YJ, Park C, Han MG. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in ticks collected from humans, South Korea, 2013. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 20:1358-61. [PMID: 25061851 PMCID: PMC4111194 DOI: 10.3201/eid2008.131857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the infection rate for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) among ticks collected from humans during May-October 2013 in South Korea. Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks have been considered the SFTSV vector. However, we detected the virus in H. longicornis, Amblyomma testudinarium, and Ixodes nipponensis ticks, indicating additional potential SFTSV vectors.
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Kim H, Cha GW, Jeong YE, Lee WG, Chang KS, Roh JY, Yang SC, Park MY, Park C, Shin EH. Detection of Japanese encephalitis virus genotype V in Culex orientalis and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Korea. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116547. [PMID: 25658839 PMCID: PMC4319795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes significant viral encephalitis and is distributed throughout the Asian countries. The virus is known to be transmitted by Culex tritaeniorhynchus, which mainly breeds in rice paddies in Korea. In this study, we investigated the presence of other mosquito species that can transmit JEV as a second or regional vector. We selected five cities where patients have experienced JE in the last 5 years as mosquito-collecting locations and subdivided them into four collection sites according to the mosquito habitats (cowshed, downtown area, forest, and swamp). Mosquitoes were caught using the BG-Sentinel trap, CDC black-light trap, Fay-Prince trap, and Gravid trap. A total of 993 pools from 22,774 mosquitoes were prepared according to their species, collection date, and site. We performed a SYBR Green 1-based real-time RT-PCR assay to detect JEV from the mosquito pools. A total of six JEV-positive pools were detected from Culex orientalis and Culex pipiens caught in the Gangwon-do and Gyeonngi-do provinces. All the detected JEVs were revealed as genotype V by phylogenetic analysis of the envelope gene. Our findings confirm that a new genotype of JEV was introduced in Korea and suggest that two mosquito species may play a role in JEV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunwoo Kim
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Go-Woon Cha
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Young Eui Jeong
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Kyu Sik Chang
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Sung Chan Yang
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Mi Yeoun Park
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Chan Park
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - E-Hyun Shin
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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Kim NH, Lee WG, Shin EH, Roh JY, Rhee HC, Park MY. Prediction Forecast for Culex tritaeniorhynchus Populations in Korea. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2014; 5:131-7. [PMID: 25180145 PMCID: PMC4147216 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrp.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Japanese encephalitis is considered as a secondary legal infectious disease in Korea and is transmitted by mosquitoes in the summer season. The purpose of this study was to predict the ratio of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to all the species of mosquitoes present in the study regions. Methods From 1999 to 2012, black light traps were installed in 10 regions in Korea (Busan, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju) to capture mosquitoes for identification and classification under a dissecting microscope. The number of mosquitoes captured/week was used to calculate its daily occurrence (mosquitoes/trap/night). To predict the characteristics of the mosquito population, an autoregressive model of order p (AR(p)) was used to execute the out-of-sample prediction and the in-sample estimation after presumption. Results Compared with the out-of-sample method, the sample-weighted regression method's case was relatively superior for prediction, and this method predicted a decrease in the frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus for 2013. However, the actual frequency of this species showed an increase in frequency. By contrast, the frequency rate of all the mosquitoes including Cx. tritaeniorhynchus gradually decreased. Conclusion The number of patients with Japanese encephalitis has been strongly associated with the occurrence and density of vector mosquitoes, and the importance of this infectious disease has been highlighted since 2010. The 2013 prediction indicated an increase after an initial decrease, although the ratio of the two mosquito species decreased. The increase in vector density may be due to changes in temperature and the environment. Thus, continuous prevalence prediction is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam-Hyun Kim
- School of Economics, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Medical Entomology, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong, Korea
| | - E-Hyun Shin
- Division of Medical Entomology, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong, Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Medical Entomology, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong, Korea
| | - Hae-Chun Rhee
- School of Economics, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Yeoun Park
- Division of Medical Entomology, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong, Korea
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Shin EH, Roh JY, Park WI, Song BG, Chang KS, Lee WG, Lee HI, Park C, Park MY, Shin EH. Transovarial transmission of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Leptotrombidium palpale (Acari: Trombiculidae). PLoS One 2014; 9:e88453. [PMID: 24721932 PMCID: PMC3982952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transovarial transmission of Orientia tsutsugamushi in colonies of Leptotrombidium palpale was studied in the parent and F1 and F2 generations. Both transovarial transmission and filial infection rates were 100% in the parent and F1 generations of Leptotrombidium palpale. The filial infection rate in the F1 generation was 100%, but it declined to 94.3% in the F2 progeny. The sex ratio of the F1 generation from infected L. palpale was 1∶0.8 (male:female) and the proportion of males was relatively high. This study is the first to report on the transovarial transmission of O. tsutsugamushi in L. palpale. High transovarial transmission rates in L. palpale suggest that this species might be one of the major vectors of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hee Shin
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Won Il Park
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Bong Gu Song
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Kyu-Sik Chang
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Hee Il Lee
- Division of Biosafety Evaluation and Control, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Chan Park
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - Mi-Yeoun Park
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
| | - E-Hyun Shin
- Division of Medical Entomology, Center for Immunology and Pathology, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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14
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Chang KS, Yoo DH, Shin EH, Lee WG, Roh JY, Park MY. Susceptibility and Resistance of Field Populations of Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected from Paju to 13 Insecticides. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2013; 4:76-80. [PMID: 24159535 PMCID: PMC3767095 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrp.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Revised: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Over 20% of all malaria cases reported annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) occur in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Vector control for malaria management is essential, but the insecticide resistance of the vector, Anopheles mosquitoes, has been a major obstacle in implementing effective control. In this study, the insecticide resistance of the vector mosquitoes was evaluated and compared with that of vector mosquitoes collected from the same locality in 2001 and 2009. Methods: The insecticide resistance of Anopheles sinensis s.s. collected from Paju, Gyeonggi Province in the ROK was evaluated under laboratory conditions with a micro-application method using 13 insecticides currently used by local public health centers and pest control operators in the ROK. Results: Based on median lethal dose (LC50) values, An. sinensis s.s. were most susceptible to the insecticides bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and etofenprox in that order, and least susceptible to permethrin. An. sinensis showed higher susceptibility to pyrethroids than organophosphates, except for fenthion and permethrin. In a comparative resistance test, the resistance ratios (RRs) of An. sinensis collected in 2012 (AS12) to the 13 insecticides were compared to the RRs of two strains of An. sinensis collected from the same locality in 2001 (AS01) and 2008 (AS08). With some exceptions, AS12 demonstrated higher resistance to all tested insecticides compared to AS01 and AS08, and less resistance to bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and cypermethrin compared to AS01. Conclusion: These results indicate that careful selection and rotation of these insecticides may result in continued satisfactory control of field populations of An. sinensis s.s. for effective malaria management in Paju.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Sik Chang
- Division of Medical Entomology, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong, Korea
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15
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Nishiura H, Lee HW, Cho SH, Lee WG, In TS, Moon SU, Chung GT, Kim TS. Estimates of short- and long-term incubation periods of Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101:338-43. [PMID: 17204297 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2005] [Revised: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 11/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
With the current epidemic of vivax malaria closely associated with the demilitarised zone along the border between North and South Korea, it has been suggested that the incubation period tends, in part, to be prolonged. Based on the detailed travel history of cases from 2000 to 2003 who reside in non-malarious areas, statistical estimates of the incubation periods were obtained. The data suggest that cases fall into two categories with short- and long-term incubation periods, respectively. Of 416 cases with available information, 72 and 79 successfully met our criteria for inferring the durations of short- and long-term incubation periods. The mean short- and long-term incubation periods were estimated to be 26.6 days (95% CI 21.0-32.2) and 48.2 weeks (95% CI 46.8-49.5), respectively. The maximum likelihood method was used to fit gamma and normal distributions to the short- and long-term incubation periods, assisting prediction of the frequency distribution of the overall incubation period, which exhibited a bimodal pattern. We postulate that the observed distribution reflects adaptation of the parasite to the seasonal population dynamics of the vector, Anopheles sinensis, ensuring continued transmission of vivax malaria in this temperate zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Nishiura
- Department of Medical Biometry, University of Tübingen, Westbahnhofstrasse 55, Tübingen, Germany
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16
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Abstract
AIMS Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) from diverse geographical areas in Korea to obtain insights into the genetic relationships with other molecular profiles. To understand the diversity of lineages, vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium (VSEF) were included. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 60 E. faecium isolates were analysed by MLST and esp profile. Molecular typing of Tn1546 of 30 VREF strains was evaluated by overlapping PCR of Tn1546 and DNA sequencing. Seven sequence types (ST) were found among 30 VSEF isolates, and four STs were found among 30 VREF isolates. The types most frequently encountered were ST 78 (26 isolates) and ST 203 (16 isolates). Of the 60 E. faecium isolates, 35 isolates were positive for the esp gene. On molecular typing of Tn1546, all VREF isolates were divided into four main types. Strains with the same ST showed divergence in Tn1546 types and strains with the same Tn1546 type represented different STs. CONCLUSIONS An association between Tn1546 typing and MLST was not found. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY These results suggest that the horizontal spread of Tn1546 between strains plays a major role in the dissemination of vancomycin resistance in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
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17
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Lee WG, Hwang JH, Na BK, Cho JH, Lee HW, Cho SH, Kong Y, Song CY, Kim TS. Functional expression of a recombinant copper/zinc superoxide dismutase of filarial nematode, Brugia malayi. J Parasitol 2005; 91:205-8. [PMID: 15856906 DOI: 10.1645/ge-285r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A gene encoding a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ Zn-SOD) of a filarial nematode, Brugia malayi, has been isolated and the biochemical properties of a functionally expressed recombinant enzyme were investigated. The cloned complementary DNA contained a single open reading frame of 477 bp encoding 158 amino acids (aa), which conserved metal-binding residues as well as residues specific for Cu/Zn-SODs. Comparison of the deduced aa sequence of the enzyme with that of other helminthes species, including filarial worms, exhibited high degree of similarities (49-98%). Recombinant enzyme of 32 kDa had an isoelectric point of 6.6 and was shown to consist of 2 subunits linked by interchain disulfide bonds. Enzyme activity of the recombinant protein was inhibited by potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide but not by sodium azide. It showed a wide range of pH optima, i.e., 7.0-11.0 and was highly resistant to heat inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- Department of Tropical and Endemic Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Seoul 122-701, Korea
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18
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Abstract
To date, regional surveys assessing the risk of transgene escape from GM crops have focused on records of spontaneous hybridization to infer the likelihood of crop transgene escape. However, reliable observations of spontaneous hybridization are lacking for most floras, particularly outside Europe. Here, we argue that evidence of interspecific reproductive compatibility derived from experimental crosses is an important component of risk assessment, and a useful first step especially where data from field observations are unavailable. We used this approach to assess the potential for transgene escape via hybridization for 123 widely grown temperate crops and their indigenous and naturalized relatives present in the New Zealand flora. We found that 66 crops (54%) are reproductively compatible with at least one other indigenous or naturalized species in the flora. Limited reproductive compatibility with wild relatives was evident for a further 12 crops (10%). Twenty-five crops (20%) were found to be reproductively isolated from all their wild relatives in New Zealand. For the remaining 20 crops (16%), insufficient information was available to determine levels of reproductive compatibility with wild relatives. Our approach may be useful in other regions where spontaneous crop-wild hybridization has yet to be well documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- T T Armstrong
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Private Bag 92 170, Auckland, New Zealand
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19
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Pan KL, Ting SS, Mohamad AW, Lee WG, Wong CC, Rasit AH. Methods used for reconstruction in aggressive bone tumours: an early experience. Med J Malaysia 2003; 58:752-7. [PMID: 15190663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Improvements in the overall treatment of patients with aggressive, large tumours involving the bone have made it possible to preserve and salvage limbs instead of amputating them. Each patient is unique in his clinical presentation and social circumstance. The different reconstructive options available allow us to choose the most appropriate method suited to the particular patient and with minimal delay, even when resources are limited. The patient and the relatives actively participate in the choice. The early experience of the different techniques for reconstructing these bone defects at our hospital are presented in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Pan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak
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20
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Abstract
AIMS The characterization of a novel insertion sequence (IS) in vanB2-containing Enterococcus faecium was conducted. METHODS AND RESULTS Direct PCR amplification of ORFC region of Tn5382 from DNA extracted from vanB2-containing E. faecium, and sequence analysis were performed. A novel IS was identified. It is 1418 bp in length and contains one putative open reading frame that is similar to transposase. There exists inverted terminal repeats of 12 bp, but direct repeats are not present. According to high similarity to putative transposases of IS3 members, such as, IS150, IS861, IS1077 and IS911, we designated it ISEnfa3. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY Since ISEnfa3 was detected in all vanB2-containing strains examined so far, it could be used as a tool for epidemiological study.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Institute for Medical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
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21
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Craine JM, Lee WG. Covariation in leaf and root traits for native and non-native grasses along an altitudinal gradient in New Zealand. Oecologia 2003; 134:471-8. [PMID: 12647118 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-002-1155-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2002] [Accepted: 11/11/2002] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Across 30 grassland sites in New Zealand that ranged from native alpine grasslands to low elevation improved pastures, there were consistent patterns of leaf and root traits and significant differences between native and non-native grasses. Plants of high altitude sites have low N concentrations in both their leaves and roots, have thick leaves and roots, yet no differences in tissue density or photosynthetic water use efficiency when compared to plants of low altitude sites. Both the leaves and roots of the low altitude plants were enriched in (15)N relative to the plants of higher altitude, indicating that the low-N set of traits is associated with a more closed N cycle at high altitude. A second independent set of correlations shows that plants of wetter habitats have lower photosynthetic water use efficiency (more negative partial differential (13)C) and lower leaf and root tissue density than the plants of drier sites. For both leaves and roots, plants of native species consistently had traits associated with lower resource availability: lower N concentrations, denser tissues, more negative partial differential (15)N, and more positive partial differential (13)C than non-native species. If root %N is correlated with root longevity as has been shown in other systems, root longevity may be able to be predicted from simple measurements of leaf %N, though a hysteresis in the relationship between leaf and root N concentrations may make prediction of high longevity roots difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Craine
- Landcare Research, Private Mail Bag 1930, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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22
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Cho SH, Lee HW, Shin EH, Lee HI, Lee WG, Kim CH, Kim JT, Lee JS, Lee WJ, Jung GG, Kim TS. A mark-release-recapture experiment with Anopheles sinensis in the northern part of Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2002; 40:139-48. [PMID: 12325443 PMCID: PMC2721040 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2002.40.3.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to study the range of flight and feeding activity of Anopheles sinensis, the dispersal experiment was conducted in Paju city, located in the northern part of Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, during the period of 7th to 28th September 1998. Unfed females An. sinensis were collected in cowshed and released after being marked with fluorescent dye at 23:00 hours on the same day. Released female mosquitoes were recaptured everyday during 21 days using light traps, which were set at 10 sites in the cowsheds located 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 km north-northwest and north-northeast and at 3 sites located 1, 6 and 9 km toward south-west from the release point. In addition, to study the longest flight distance in one night, we set the light traps at 16 and 20 km toward north-northeast from the release site. All the collected mosquitoes were placed on filter papers and observed on UV transilluminator after treatment with one drop of 100% ethanol. Out of 12,773 females of An. sinensis released, 194 marked females mosquitoes were recaptured, giving 1.52% recapture rate. Of 194, 72 mosquitoes (37.1%) were recaptured in light traps from three places set at 1 km from the release point, 57 mosquitoes (29.4%) from two places at 1-3 km, 41 mosquitoes (21.1%) from three places at 3-6 km, 20 mosquitoes (10.3%) from three places at 6-9 km, and 4 mosquitoes (2.1%) from two places at 9-12 km. Since 170 female mosquitoes (87.6%) out of 194 marked mosquitoes were captured within 6 km from the release point, this flight radius represents the main activity area. An sinensis was found to be able to fly at least 12 km during one night.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Hyeong Cho
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Health, Seoul, 122-701, Korea
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23
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Vissers MC, Lee WG, Hampton MB. Regulation of apoptosis by vitamin C. Specific protection of the apoptotic machinery against exposure to chlorinated oxidants. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:46835-40. [PMID: 11590157 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m107664200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have investigated the ability of intracellular vitamin C to protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells from exposure to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and a range of derived chloramines. Ascorbate provided minimal protection against the cytotoxicity induced by these oxidants, as measured by propidium iodide uptake. In contrast, there was a marked effect on apoptosis, monitored by caspase-3 activation and phosphatidylserine exposure. Extended incubation of the cells with glycine chloramine or histamine chloramine completely blocked apoptosis initiated in the cells by serum withdrawal. This effect was significantly abrogated by ascorbate. Inhibition of apoptosis required the oxidant to be present for an extended period after serum withdrawal and occurred prior to caspase-3 activation. General protection of thiols by ascorbate was not responsible for the protection of apoptosis, because intracellular oxidation by HOCl or chloramines was not prevented in supplemented cells. The results suggest a new role for vitamin C in the regulation of apoptosis. We propose that, by protection of an oxidant-sensitive step in the initiation phase, ascorbate allows apoptosis to proceed in endothelial cells under sustained oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Vissers
- Pathology Department, Free Radical Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P. O. Box 4345, Christchurch 8001, New Zealand.
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Han SH, Lee WG, Cha KH, Lee TH, Shin DB, Ha SY, Park HG. Clinical Analysis of Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast. Cancer Res Treat 2001; 33:458-62. [PMID: 26680822 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2001.33.6.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Phyllodes tumors are fibroepithelial mammary lesions that tend to behave in a benign fashion but may undergo sarcomatous transformation. They account for 0.3 to 0.5 percent of all breast tumors. Their behavior is not well understood by many clinicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic finding and treatment modality of 31 patients of phyllodes tumor diagnosed at the Breast Clinic, Gachon Medical School Gil Medical Center between July 1992 and July 2000. RESULTS Pathologically, 6 patients (19.3%) had malignant tumor and 25 patients (80.7%) had benign lesions. All were women with average age of 36 years. The patients with malignant tumors tended to be older and had larger tumors and shorter duration. For preoperative diagnosis, we used mammography, sonography, and MIBI Scintimammography, fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy. All these diagnostic methods suggested the diagnosis of phyllodes tumors in only 8 cases (26%). All patients received surgical treatment: excision in 21 cases, wide excision in 3 cases, simple mastectomy in 5 cases, and simple mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection 2 cases. One patient with malignant tumor, two patients with borderline tumor and three patients with benign tumor experienced recurrence (19.3%). CONCLUSION None of the clinical or radiologic characteristics was useful in predicting for phyllodes tumor. Phyllodes tumors were difficult to make proper preoperative diagnoses and to differ malignant tumor from a benign one. This led to a simple excision and resulted in high local recurrence. We suggest that the initial or subsequent wide excision is an appropriate surgery to decrease the recurrence.
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Abstract
It is important to produce L(+)-lactic acid at the lowest cost possible for lactic acid to become a candidate monomer material for promising biodegradable polylactic acid. In an effort to develop a high-rate bioreactor that provides high productivity along with a high concentration of lactic acid, the performance of membrane cell-recycle bioreactor (MCRB) was investigated via experimental studies and simulation optimization. Due to greatly increased cell density, high lactic acid productivity, 21.6 g L(-1) h(-1), was obtained in the reactor. The lactic acid concentration, however, could not be increased higher than 83 g/L. When an additional continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) was attached next to the MCRB a higher lactic acid concentration of 87 g/L was produced at significant productivity expense. When the two MCRBs were connected in series, 92 g/L lactic acid could be produced with a productivity of 57 g L(-1) h(-1), the highest productivity among the reports of L(+)-lactic acid that obtained lactic acid concentration higher than 85 g/L using glucose substrate. Additionally, the investigation of lactic acid fermentation kinetics resulted in a successful model that represents the characteristics of lactic acid fermentation by Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The model was found to be applicable to most of the existing data with MCRBs and was in good agreement with Levenspiel's product-inhibition model, and the Luedeking-Piret equation for product-formation kinetics appeared to be effective in representing the fermentation kinetics. There was a distinctive difference in the production potential of cells (cell-density-related parameter in Luedeking-Piret equation) as lactic acid concentration increases over 55 g/L, and this finding led to a more precise estimation of bioreactor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BioProcess Engineering Research Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Kusong-dong, Yusong-gu, Taejon 305-701, South Korea
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26
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Lee WG, Jernigan JA, Rasheed JK, Anderson GJ, Tenover FC. Possible horizontal transfer of the vanB2 gene among genetically diverse strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a Korean hospital. J Clin Microbiol 2001; 39:1165-8. [PMID: 11230450 PMCID: PMC87896 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.39.3.1165-1168.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 25 isolates of vanB-containing Enterococcus faecium were recovered from patients in a single Korean hospital over a 20-month period. There were two distinct vanB2 patterns among the 11 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types; 17 contained the prototype vanB2 and 8 contained a novel vanB2 with a 177-bp deletion in vanY(B). Both vanB2 genes were transmissible in vitro at a mean frequency of 1.1 x 10(-8) transconjugants/donor. These results suggest the horizontal spread of vanB2 is occurring among genetically diverse strains of E. faecium in Korean hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Wonchun-Dong, Paldal-Gu, Suwon 442-749, Korea.
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27
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Lee PC, Lee WG, Lee SY, Chang HN. Succinic acid production with reduced by-product formation in the fermentation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens using glycerol as a carbon source. Biotechnol Bioeng 2001; 72:41-8. [PMID: 11084592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Succinic acid was produced by fermentation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens using glycerol as a carbon source. When cells were anaerobically cultured in a medium containing 6.5 g/L glycerol, a high succinic acid yield (133%) was obtained while avoiding the formation of by-product acetic acid. The gram ratio of succinic acid to acetic acid was 25.8:1, which is 6.5 times higher than that obtained using glucose (ca. 4:1) as a carbon source. Therefore, succinic acid can be produced with much less by-product formation by using glycerol as a carbon source, which will facilitate its purification. When glucose and glycerol were cofermented with the increasing ratio of glucose to glycerol, the gram ratio of succinic acid to acetic acid and succinic acid yield decreased, suggesting that glucose enhanced acetic acid formation irrespective of the presence of glycerol. Glycerol consumption by A. succiniciproducens required unidentified nutritional components present in yeast extract. By intermittently feeding yeast extract along with glycerol, a high succinic acid yield (160%) could be obtained while still avoiding acetic acid formation. This resulted in the highest ratio of succinic acid to acetic acid (31.7:1).
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Kusong-dong, Yusong-gu, Taejon 305-701, Korea
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28
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Lee PC, Lee WG, Kwon S, Lee SY, Chang HN. Batch and continuous cultivation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens for the production of succinic acid from whey. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2000; 54:23-7. [PMID: 10952000 DOI: 10.1007/s002530000331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Batch and continuous cultivation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens were systematically studied for the production of succinic acid from whey. Addition of 2.5 g l(-1) yeast extract and 2.5 g l(-1) polypeptone per 10 g l(-1) whey was most effective for succinic acid production from both treated and nontreated whey. When 20 g l(-1) nontreated whey and 7 g l(-1) glucose were used as cosubstrates, the yield and productivity of succinic acid reached at the end of fermentation were 95% and 0.46 g (1 h)(-1), respectively. These values were higher than those obtained using nontreated whey alone [93% and 0.24 g (1 h)(-1) for 20 g l(-1) whey]. Continuous fermentation of A. succiniciproducens at an optimal dilution rate resulted in the production of succinic acid with high productivity [1.35 g (1 h)(-1)], high conversion yield (93%), and higher ratio of succinic acid to acetic acid (5.1:1) from nontreated whey.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BioProcess Engineering Research Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon
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29
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Kim T, Kim TY, Lee WG, Yim J, Kim TK. Signaling pathways to the assembly of an interferon-beta enhanceosome. Chemical genetic studies with a small molecule. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:16910-7. [PMID: 10747925 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m000524200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecules that modulate specific protein functions are valuable tools for dissecting complex signaling pathways. Here, we identified a small molecule that induces the assembly of the interferon-beta (IFN-beta) enhanceosome by stimulating all the enhancer-binding activator proteins: ATF2/c-JUN, IRF3, and p50/p65 of NF-kappaB. This compound stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), which is a member of a family of proteins involved in stress-mediated signaling pathways. Consistent with this, MEKK1 activates IRF3 in addition to ATF2/c-JUN and NF-kappaB for the assembly of the IFN-beta enhanceosome. MEKK1 activates IRF3 through the c-JUN amino-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway but not the p38 and IkappaB kinase (IKK) pathway. Taken together with previous observations, these results implicate that, for the assembly of an IFN-beta enhanceosome, MEKK1 can induce IRF3 and ATF2/c-JUN through the JNK pathway, whereas it can induce NF-kappaB through the IKK pathway. Thus, specific MEKK family proteins may be able to integrate some of multiple signal transduction pathways leading to the specific activation of the IFN-beta enhanceosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kim
- National Creative Research Initiative Center for Genetic Reprogramming, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
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30
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Lee WG, Park BG, Chang YK, Chang HN, Lee JS, Park SC. Continuous ethanol production from concentrated wood hydrolysates in an internal membrane-filtration bioreactor. Biotechnol Prog 2000; 16:302-4. [PMID: 10753460 DOI: 10.1021/bp990130f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Continuous culture for the production of ethanol from wood hydrolysate was carried out in an internal membrane-filtration bioreactor. The hydrolysate medium was sterilized at a relatively low temperature of 60 degrees C with the intention of reducing the formation of inhibitory compounds during the sterilization. The maximum ethanol concentration and productivity obtained in this study were 76.9 g/L and 16.9 g/L-h, respectively, which were much higher than those (57.2-67 g/L and 0.3-1.0 g/L-h) obtained in batch cultures using hydrolysate media sterilized at 60 degrees C. The productivity was also found to be much higher than that (6.7 g/L-h) obtained in a continuous cell retention culture using a wood hydrolysate sterilized at 121 degrees C. These results show that the internal membrane-filtration bioreactor in combination with low-temperature sterilization could be very effective for ethanol production from wood hydrolysate.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- BioProcess Engineering Research Center and Department of Chemical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon 305-701, Korea
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31
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Kim TK, Kim T, Kim TY, Lee WG, Yim J. Chemotherapeutic DNA-damaging drugs activate interferon regulatory factor-7 by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-4-cJun NH2-terminal kinase pathway. Cancer Res 2000; 60:1153-6. [PMID: 10728664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic drugs and energy-rich radiation cause DNA damage, inducing signaling pathways for apoptotic cell death or cell growth arrest. The tumor suppressor gene p53 plays the critical role in the regulation of these DNA damage responses. Human tumor cells can become resistant to chemotherapy through functional inactivation of p53. Thus, it is important to identify p53-independent DNA damage signaling pathways. Here, treatment of cells with chemotherapeutic drugs or UV irradiation potentiated the transcriptional activity of IFN regulatory factor-7 (IRF7), inducing its phosphorylation and its nuclear translocation. Furthermore, IRF7 was activated by the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) in response to DNA-damaging agents. Activation of JNK by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-4 stimulated the transcriptional activity of IRF7 and induced its translocation into the nucleus. Thus, activation of IRF7 through the JNK signaling pathway may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of genes in response to DNA-damaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- T K Kim
- National Creative Research Initiative Center for Genetic Reprogramming, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul National University, Korea.
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Lee HK, Lee WG, Cho SR. Clinical and molecular biological analysis of a nosocomial outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a neonatal intensive care unit. Acta Paediatr 1999; 88:651-4. [PMID: 10419251 DOI: 10.1080/08035259950169323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
Abstract
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens since 1988. We report here an outbreak of VRE between April 1997 and May 1997 in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). All isolates from four patients were identified as Enterococcus faecium positive and were resistant to vancomycin and teicoplanin. All of the patients with VRE were isolated for at least 5 d after admission to the unit and the positive cultures lasted between 13 and 31 d. There were no cases of sepsis or mortality in the patients with VRE. Two cases had previously received vancomycin therapy. All isolates were shown to have the vanA gene and had the same band pattern on repetitive PCR. After the four episodes, all equipment used to care for the patients were decontaminated and the staff engaged in therapy used disposable gloves and gowns. There were no more episodes. However, the NICU is no longer a safety area with regards to vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- H K Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University, Chunan, South Korea
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Lee WG, Lee JS, Shin CS, Park SC, Chang HN, Chang YK. Ethanol Production Using Concentrated Oak Wood Hydrolysates and Methods to Detoxify. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 1999; 77-79:547-59. [PMID: 15304722 DOI: 10.1385/abab:78:1-3:547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol production from concentrated oak wood hydrolysate was carried out to obtain a high ethanol concentration and a high ethanol yield. The effect of added inhibitory compounds, which are typically produced in the pretreatment step of steam-explosion on ethanol fermentation, was also examined. p-Hydroxybenzoic aldehyde, a lignin-degradation product, was the most inhibitory compound tested in this study. Compounds with additional methyl groups had reduced toxicity and the aromatic acids were less toxic than the corresponding aldehydes. The lignin-degradation products were more inhibitory than the sugar-derived products, such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Adaptation of yeast cells to the wood hydrolysate and detoxification methods, such as using charcoal and overlime, had some beneficial effects on ethanol production using the concentrated wood hydrolysate. After treatment with charcoal and low-temperature sterilization, the yeast cells could utilize the concentrated wood hydrolysate with 170 as well as 140 g/L glucose, and produce 69.9 and 74.2 g/L ethanol, respectively, with a yield of 0.46-0.48 g ethanol/g glucose. In contrast, the cells could not completely utilize untreated wood hydrolysate with 100 g/L glucose. Low-temperature sterilization, with or without charcoal treatment, was very effective for ethanol production when highly concentrated wood hydrolysates were used. Low-temperature sterilization has advantages over traditional detoxification methods, such as using overlime, ion exchange, and charcoal, because of the reduction in the total cost of ethanol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Lee
- Biomass Research Team, Korea Institute of Energy Research, P.O. Box 5, Taedok Science Town, Taejon 305-343, Korea
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34
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Abstract
Multiplex PCR amplification has been useful for gene mapping with polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) loci. We have tested the four loci D20S470, D13S325, HumFOLP23 and D10S2325 for the simultaneous typing of more than 100 unrelated Koreans. This analysis allows a single base pair resolution and rapid typing with silver staining. The allele and genotype distributions are in accordance with Hardy - Weinberg expectations. These STR loci have proven useful for forensic analysis and paternity tests in which the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci have some limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Research Center for Cell Differentiation, Seoul National University, Korea
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35
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Abstract
Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile disease in children and many inflammatory cytokines are known to be involved in its pathogenesis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and previous reports have shown blood IL-10 levels were elevated during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. In this study, we endeavoured to clarify the effects of i.v.IG on plasma IL-10 levels and to verify by RT-PCR, using specific primers, whether viral IL-10 or human IL-10 was responsible for high plasma IL-10. T-cells and B-cells were separated using magnetic beads, and IL-10 mRNA expressions were tested in both cell types. The mean plasma IL-10 levels were significantly decreased from 125.037 +/- 111.161 pg/ml, before i.v.IG treatment, to 32.437 +/- 54.716 pg/ml, after i.v.IG treatment, in subjects with Kawasaki disease. The levels of patients before i.v.IG treatment were significantly higher than those of the acute febrile patients (mean 26.956 +/- 13.316 pg/ml) and the normal controls (mean 16.042 +/- 5.088 pg/ml). RT-PCR was performed using specific primers to distinguish whether viral IL-10 (BCRF-1) or human IL-10 was produced in Kawasaki disease. Viral IL-10 (BCRF-1) mRNA expression was not detected in any groups and only human IL-10 mRNA transcripts were detected in PBMCs of Kawasaki patients as well as in those of acute febrile patients and normal controls. Human IL-10 mRNA transcripts were detected in both CD3+ T-cells and CD19+ B-cells. Elevated IL-10 levels during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease decreased immediately after i.v.IG administration, coincidentally with rapid improvement of inflammatory symptoms. Elevated plasma IL-10 in Kawasaki disease was transcripted from the human IL-10 gene and IL-10 mRNA expressions were detected in both T- and B-cells. Therefore, this study suggests that plasma IL-10 levels may be useful in the early identification and discrimination of the acute phase of Kawasaki disease from other febrile diseases. However, i.v.IG effects on IL-10 production still needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G W Noh
- Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University, College of Medicine, Samsung Cheil Hospital, Women's Healthcare Centre, Seoul, South Korea
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36
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Park SJ, Lee WG, Lee SW, Kim SH, Koo BS, Budowle B, Rho HM. Genetic variations at four tetrameric tandem repeat loci in Korean population. J Forensic Sci 1997; 42:125-9. [PMID: 8988586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Allele and genotype frequencies for four tetrameric short tandem repeat (STR) loci, HumFES/FPS, HumFOLP23, HumGABRB15, and HumCYAR04, have been determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and subsequent polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from approximately 200 genetically unrelated Koreans. This method allows a single base pair resolution and rapid typing with silver staining. The allele and genotype distributions satisfy Hardy-Weinberg expectation. Also, these STR loci have proven to be useful for forensic analyses and paternity tests in which the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci have some limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Park
- Department of Biology, Inje University, Kimhae, Korea
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Abstract
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection that is occurring more commonly and causes high mortality in patients with compromised host defense or debilitated. It is endemic in certain areas of North, Central, and South America. Increasingly, cases are being recognized outside the endemic area, due to travelers who have visited an endemic area. We experienced a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis, as a reactivation of infection acquired earlier in a patient, who was a former resident of an endemic area.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Woo
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The recent decades witnessed the increased incidence of bacteremia with nontyphi Salmonella, especially in patients with underlying diseases. To evaluate clinically the patients with bacteremia by nontyphi Salmonella, we investigated the clinical records of the patients. METHODS Retrospective study was performed on 30 cases of bacteremia with nontyphi Salmonella admitted to Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital from 1987 to 1993, and we analyzed with regard to age distribution, underlying diseases, clinical presentation and fatality. RESULTS Children below 2 years of age were seven patients and patients over 55 years of age were 8 patients. The male to female ratio was 3:2. Only five cases were nosocomially acquired. More than two-thirds (21 patients) had no discernible other illness at the time of their bacteremia. A quarter of the patients presented without gastrointestinal manifestation. There were four deaths in the 30 patients with nontyphi Salmonella septicemia (13.3%). CONCLUSIONS We investigated the clinical characteristics of 30 cases of non-typhi Salmonella bacteremia, which has a relatively high incidence nowadays while, to the contrary, Salmonella typhi trends toward being on the decrease in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- C B Ryu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Abstract
A cannulated extrusion needle was designed as a modification of the standard 20-gauge extrusion by including an inner 24-gauge flexible cannula that can be extended up to 18 mm beyond the metal tip. Indications for use of the instrument are reviewed along with selected case histories demonstrating its use. The instrument is used primarily for internal subretinal fluid drainage in eyes with complex retinal detachments caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The flexible cannula is guided into the subretinal space through an open peripheral retinal break and the subretinal fluid is evacuated during a simultaneous fluid/air exchange. The positive pressure of the automated air pump creates a pressure gradient sufficient to achieve passive egress of subretinal fluid through the cannula. Active suction is avoided because of the risk of posterior retinal incarceration into the cannula tip. In addition, the cannula can be used to remove hemorrhage, gas, or silicone oil in the subretinal space.
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Flynn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Flynn
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136
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41
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Abstract
A specially designed cannulated extrusion needle facilitates the internal drainage of subretinal fluid during vitreoretinal microsurgery. Case histories demonstrate the use of this instrument in the management of complex retinal detachments including eyes with preretinal and subretinal hemorrhage, proliferative vitreoretinopathy with open peripheral retinal breaks, retinal detachment with giant retinal tear, and combined traction-rhegmatogenous detachments due to diabetic retinopathy. This method of internal drainage appears to have specific advantages over standard techniques by allowing the removal of subretinal hemorrhage, the utilization of pre-existing peripheral breaks for internal drainage, and the complete reattachment of shallow posterior pole retinal detachments to allow laser endophotocoagulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Flynn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136
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43
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Lee WG. Psychological evaluation of the child with a suspected central auditory dysfunction. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 1985; 18:353-61. [PMID: 4011259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
I have attempted to summarize the role of the psychologist and psychological evaluation in assessing a child with a suspected central auditory dysfunction. The reasons why a child may be referred for a psychological evaluation along with some of the exhibiting behaviors were discussed. The role of the psychological evaluation was examined. The indications for psychological evaluation in central auditory dysfunction were presented and alternative types of education were discussed.
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