Transcriptome sequencing of the endangered land snail Karaftohelix adamsi from the Island Ulleung: De novo assembly, annotation, valuation of fitness genes and SSR markers.

Background: The Bradybaenidae snail Karaftohelix adamsi is endemic to Korea, with the species tracked from Island Ulleung in North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea. K. adamsi has been classified under the Endangered Wildlife Class II species of Korea and poses a severe risk of extinction following habitat disturbances.

Transcriptome analysis of Haemaphysalis flava female using Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing: de novo assembly, functional annotation and discovery of SSR markers.

Background: Ticks are ectoparasites capable of directly damaging their hosts and transmitting vector-borne diseases. The ixodid tick Haemaphysalis flava has a broad distribution that extends from East to South Asia. This tick is a reservoir of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) that causes severe hemorrhagic disease, with cases reported from China, Japan and South Korea.

A review of the endangered mollusks transcriptome under the threatened species initiative of Korea.

Transcriptome studies for conservation of endangered mollusks is a proactive approach towards managing threats and uncertainties facing these species in natural environments. The population of these species is declining due to habitat destruction, illicit wildlife trade, and global climate change. These activities risk the free movement of species across the wild landscape, loss of breeding grounds, and restrictions in displaying the physiological attributes so crucial for faunal welfare.

A Transdiagnostic group therapy for sleep and anxiety among adults with substance use disorders: Protocol and pilot investigation.

Introduction: Treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) is challenging with high rates of treatment dropout and relapse, particularly among individuals with comorbid psychiatric conditions. Anxiety and insomnia are prevalent among those with SUD and exacerbate poor treatment outcomes. Interventions that concurrently target anxiety and insomnia during the early stages of SUD treatment are lacking.

Transcriptome analysis of the endangered dung beetle Copris tripartitus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and characterization of genes associated to immunity, growth, and reproduction.

Background: Dung beetles recycle organic matter through the decomposition of feces and support ecological balance. However, these insects are threatened by the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and habitat destruction. Copris tripartitus Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a dung beetle, is listed as a class-II Korean endangered species.

Pathogenesis of a novel porcine parainfluenza virus type 1 isolate in conventional and colostrum deprived/caesarean derived pigs.

Two experimental challenge studies were conducted to evaluate the pathogenesis of a porcine parainfluenza virus type 1 (PPIV-1) isolate. Four-week-old conventional (CON) pigs were challenged in Study 1 and six-week-old caesarean derived/colostrum deprived (CDCD) pigs were challenged in Study 2. Results indicate that PPIV-1 shedding and replication occur in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of CON and CDCD pigs as detected by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry.

De novo transcriptome sequencing of triton shell Charonia lampas sauliae: Identification of genes related to neurotoxins and discovery of genetic markers.

Charonia lampas sauliae (triton snails, triton shells or tritons; Mollusca, Caenogastropoda, Littorinimorpha, Ranellidae) is a marine species with a wide distribution. In Korea, this species is listed as vulnerable and is regionally protected as an endangered species. Here, we report the first comprehensive transcriptome dataset of C.

Comparison of ZMAC and MARC-145 Cell Lines for Improving Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Isolation from Clinical Samples.

The MARC-145 cell line is commonly used to isolate porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) for diagnostics, research, and vaccine production, but it yields frustratingly low success rates of virus isolation (VI). The ZMAC cell line, derived from porcine alveolar macrophages, has become available, but its utilization for PRRSV VI from clinical samples has not been evaluated. This study compared PRRSV VI results in ZMAC and MARC-145 cells from 375 clinical samples (including 104 lung, 140 serum, 90 oral fluid, and 41 processing fluid samples).

Transcriptome analysis of air-breathing land slug, Incilaria fruhstorferi reveals functional insights into growth, immunity, and reproduction.

Background: Incilaria (= Meghimatium) fruhstorferi is an air-breathing land slug found in restricted habitats of Japan, Taiwan and selected provinces of South Korea (Jeju, Chuncheon, Busan, and Deokjeokdo). The species is on a decline due to depletion of forest cover, predation by natural enemies, and collection. To facilitate the conservation of the species, it is important to decide on a number of traits related to growth, immunity and reproduction addressing fitness advantage of the species.

Transcriptome analysis of the threatened snail Ellobium chinense reveals candidate genes for adaptation and identifies SSRs for conservation genetics.

Ellobium chinense (Pfeiffer, 1854) is a brackish pulmonate species that inhabits the bases of mangrove trees and is most commonly found in salt grass meadows. Threats to mangrove ecosystems due to habitat degradation and overexploitation have threatened the species with extinction. In South Korea, E.

Complete Genome Sequence of Strain USA/MN25890NS/2016, Isolated in the United States.

A porcine parainfluenza virus type 1 (species ) cell culture isolate, USA/MN25890NS/2016, was obtained from porcine nasal swabs, and its complete genome sequence (GenBank accession number MF681710) was determined to help further characterize this virus.

Concomitant origin of the anterior or posterior spinal artery with the feeder of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF).

Background/objective: The concomitant origin of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) or the posterior spinal artery (PSA) from the feeder of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is rare and the exact incidence is not known. We present our experience with the management of SDAVFs in such cases.

Methods: In 63 patients with SDAVF between 1993 and 2015, the feeder origin of the SDAVF was evaluated to determine whether it was concomitant with the origin of the ASA or PSA.

Multiplex Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for Simultaneous Detection of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus.

Objectives: A multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was developed for the identification of three Vibrio species: Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus.

Methods: Specific primers and probes targeting the hlyA, tlh, and vvhA genes were selected and used for multiplex real-time PCR to confirm the identification of V. cholerae, V.

Isolation of canine mesenchymal stem cells from amniotic fluid and differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells.

Recent findings have demonstrated that amniotic fluid cells are an interesting and potential source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we isolated MSCs from canine amniotic fluid and then characterized their multilineage differentiation ability. Canine amniotic fluid stem (cAFS) cells at passage 5 had a fibroblast-like morphology instead of forming colonies and were positive for pluripotent stem cell markers such as OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2.

Leptin and nonessential amino acids enhance porcine preimplantation embryo development in vitro by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been considered one of the strong assisted reproductive technologies for producing transgenic animals as well as treating infertility in animals and humans. However, in porcine ICSI, embryos produced by in vitro methods show low pregnancy rates with high abnormal offspring and blastocyst formation rate as well as quality are poor compared with those in other species. For these reasons, developing a protocol for porcine ICSI is essential to efficiently generate transgenic pigs.

Histological and genetic characterization of true hermaphroditism in Korean pigs.

True hermaphrodites are animals of equivocal sex in which both male and female gonads develop simultaneously in the same individual. The frequency of true hermaphroditism is relatively higher in pigs than in other domestic animals. Two Korean pigs were diagnosed with true hermaphroditism showing ovotestes, epididymides, a penis and uteri.

DNA sexing of Nipponia nippon by duplex polymerase chain reaction.

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, simple, sensitive, and accurate duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to sex Nipponia nippon, a monomorphic bird. Amplification by duplex PCR of a sex-related gene on the female chromosome and the 12S rRNA gene yielded good results using genomic DNA extracted from a feather follicle or the membranes of eggshell samples. To simplify the DNA extraction procedure, a simple boiling method was used.

Characterization of interaction between porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine dendritic cells.

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is an infectious disease that causes abortions and respiratory disorders in swine. In this study, the interaction between PRRSV and porcine dendritic cells generated from CD14(+) monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 was examined. As a result, it was shown that immature and mature dendritic cells can be productively infected with PRRSV.

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of aryl N-ethyl thiocarbamates in acetonitrile.

The aminolysis of aryl N-ethyl thiocarbamates (EtNHC(=O)SC(6)H(4)Z) with benzylamines (XC(6)H(4)CN(2)NH(2)) in acetonitrile at 30.0 degrees C is investigated. The rates are faster than the corresponding values for aryl N-phenyl thiocarbamates (PhNHC(=O)SC(6)H(4)Z), reflecting a stronger push to expel the leaving group by EtNH than the PhNH nonleaving group in a concerted process.

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of aryl N-phenyl thiocarbamates with benzylamines in acetonitrile.

The aminolysis reactions of aryl N-phenythiocarbamates (PhNHC(=O)SC(6)H(4)Z; 3b) with benzylamines (XC(6)H(4)CH(2)NH(2)) in acetonitrile are studied. Rates are much faster than the corresponding reactions of aryl N-phenylcarbamates (PhNHC(=O)OC(6)H(4)Z; 3a). The rate increase from 3a to 3b is greater than that expected from substitution of thiophenoxide for phenoxide leaving group in the stepwise aminolysis reactions of esters.