Enhanced binding and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by a plant-derived ACE2 protein containing a fused mu tailpiece.

Infectious diseases such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) present an increasingly persistent crisis in many parts of the world. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a crucial cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

High-quality genome assembly and genetic mapping reveal a gene regulating flesh color in watermelon ().

The unique color and type characteristics of watermelon fruits are regulated by many molecular mechanisms. However, it still needs to be combined with more abundant genetic data to fine-tune the positioning. We assembled genomes of two Korean inbred watermelon lines (cv.

The complete chloroplast genome of using long-read sequencing: Comparative analysis to examine the evolution of the tribe Hibisceae.

, a member of the tribe Hibisceae, is considered an important ornamental and medicinal plant in east Asian countries. Here, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast genome of var. using the PacBio long-read sequencing platform.

The association between clinical parameters and resectability in stage III non-small cell lung cancer, and a combination of N2 lymph node burden and lung immune prognostic index score as a potential biomarker.

Background: Surgery is important treatment option for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because of its curative potential. We investigated the characteristics of resectable patients, and compared the outcomes according to treatment modalities.

Methods: Among 1,092 patients with NSCLC diagnosed between 2008 to 2020 from 7 university hospitals of Catholic Medical Center, we retrospectively analyzed 252 patients with clinical or pathological stage III.

Genome sequence and characterization of a novel fabavirus infecting Cirsium setidens (gondre) in South Korea.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a novel gondre (Cirsium setidens)-infecting virus, provisionally named "cirsium virus A" (CiVA), was determined by high-throughput and Sanger sequencing, revealing a genome organization typical of fabaviruses. RNA1 and RNA2 are 5,828 and 3,478 nucleotides long, excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tails, each containing a single open reading frame. The highest sequence identity values for the CiVA coat protein and proteinase-polymerase, compared with known fabavirus sequences, were 59.

Complete genome sequence and genome characterization of a novel potyvirus from Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

The genome of a new potyvirus from a Lamprocapnos spectabilis plant in South Korea was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The new potyvirus was tentatively named "lamprocapnos virus A" (LaVA); its complete genome contains 9,745 nucleotides, excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tail. The LaVA genome structure is similar to that of members of the genus Potyvirus and contains an open reading frame encoding a large putative polyprotein of 3,120 amino acids (aa) with conserved motifs.

Complete genome sequence of Stellaria aquatica virus B, a novel polerovirus that infects Stellaria aquatica.

The complete genome sequence of Stellaria aquatica virus B (StAVB), a new member of the genus Polerovirus that infects Stellaria aquatica, was determined using high-throughput RNA sequencing with confirmation by Sanger sequencing. The complete StAVB genome (GenBank accession no. OP389993) is 5,900 nucleotide (nt) long with seven open reading frames (ORF0-5 and ORF3a) that encode putative proteins (P0-P5 and P3a) in a similar configuration to that of other typical poleroviruses.

Investigation of poor predictive factors in extensive stage small cell lung cancer under etoposide-platinum-atezolizumab treatment.

Background: The phase III trial IMpower133 showed that platinum and etoposide plus atezolizumab was associated with improved overall survival (OS) and progression free-survival (PFS) when compared to the placebo group in treatment-naïve extensive stage (ES) small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Due to superiority in clinical outcomes, combination immunotherapy plus chemotherapy have become mainstay treatment modalities as first-line treatment in ES-SCLC. Nevertheless, real-world data are still lacking and the search for potential biomarkers is essential.

Complete nucleotide sequence of hemisteptia virus A, a polero-like virus.

The complete genomic nucleotide sequence of hemisteptia virus A (HemVA) from a Hemisteptia lyrata Bunge plant in South Korea was identified by high-throughput sequencing. The HemVA genome consists of 6,122 nucleotides and contains seven putative open reading frames, ORF0-5 and ORF3a, encoding the putative proteins P0-P5 and P3a, respectively. Pairwise amino acid sequence analysis shows that the HemVA P1-P5 proteins have the highest sequence identity (23.

Hidden loss to follow-up among tuberculosis patients managed by public-private mix institutions in South Korea.

In South Korea, public-private mix (PPM) was launched in 2011. This retrospective cohort study sought to determine the rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB) patients in all nationwide PPM institutions, and the risk factors for LTFU. National notification data for DS-TB patients diagnosed between August 2011 and July 2014 in PPM institutions were analysed.

Latent Tuberculosis Cascade of Care Among Healthcare Workers: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis in Korea Between 2017 and 2018.

Background: In 2017, Korea implemented nationwide latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) project targeting healthcare workers (HCWs). We aimed to assess its performance using the cascade of care model.

Methods: We included 45,503 employees of medical institutions with positive interferon-gamma release assay result who participated between March 2017 and December 2018.

Identification and molecular characterization of a novel kudzu-infecting virus of the family Betaflexiviridae.

A new virus, tentatively named "kudzu virus D" (KuVD) was discovered in kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) in South Korea. Its complete genome comprises 7,922 nucleotides, excluding the poly(A) tail, and contains five open reading frames (ORFs) encoding, from 5' to 3', a replicase (ORF1), three triple gene block proteins TGB1-3 (ORF2-ORF4), and a coat protein (ORF5).

Natural History of Contralateral Bullae/Blebs After Ipsilateral Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Contralateral bullae/blebs are frequently found in patients who are scheduled to undergo ipsilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Research Question: Should visible contralateral bullae/blebs be simultaneously resected when ipsilateral VATS bullectomy is performed?

Study Design And Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, we included patients aged ≤ 30 years who underwent ipsilateral VATS for PSP from April 2009 to December 2019. Electronic medical records, radiograph images, and preoperative high-resolution CT images were reviewed.

Investigating the appropriate adenosine deaminase cutoff value for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in a country with decreasing TB burden.

As the burden of tuberculosis (TB) in South Korea decreases while that of malignancy increases with an aging society, the composition of etiology for pleural effusion is changing. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) in this circumstance. Medical records of patients who underwent medical thoracoscopy from May 2015 to September 2020 in Incheon St.

Identification of accession-specific variants and development of KASP markers for assessing the genetic makeup of Brassica rapa seeds.

Background: Most crop seeds are F1 hybrids. Seed providers and plant breeders must be confident that the seed supplied to growers is of known, and uniform, genetic makeup. This requires maintenance of pure genotypes of the parental lines and testing to ensure the genetic purity of the F1 seed.