Distribution and Ecological Risk of in South Korea.

The number of alien species introduced into South Korea continues to increase over the years. In particular, several plants have been introduced as ornamentals. , which is native to the Americas and Australia, is believed to have been planted as an ornamental aquatic plant called "water primrose" and "primrose".

Complete genome sequencing of three methicillin-resistant isolated from the blood of patients with persistent bacteremia.

We report the complete genome sequences of three molecular types of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) clinical strains isolated from the blood of three patients diagnosed with persistent MRSA bacteremia: KNIH_5618 (ST5-t5076-SCCII), KNIH_5844 (ST72-t664-SCCIV), and KNIH_6268 (ST89-t375-SCCII). These genome sequences contribute to an enhanced understanding of the underlying causes of persistent MRSA infection.

Abiotic stress-induced secondary metabolite production in Brassica: opportunities and challenges.

Over the decades, extensive research efforts have been undertaken to understand how secondary plant metabolites are affected by genetic, environmental, and agronomic factors. Understanding the genetic basis of stress-response metabolite biosynthesis is crucial for sustainable agriculture production amidst frequent occurrence of climatic anomalies. Although it is known that environmental factors influence phytochemical profiles and their content, studies of plant compounds in relation to stress mitigation are only emerging and largely hindered by phytochemical diversities and technical shortcomings in measurement techniques.

Detection and characterization of potential virulence determinants in and strains isolated from canine otitis externa in Korea.

Background: A recent increase in the occurrence of canine skin and soft tissue infections, including otitis externa and pyoderma, caused by antimicrobial-resistant and has become a significant public and veterinary health issues.

Objective: We investigated the virulence potentials associated with the occurrence of canine otitis externa in and

Methods: In this study, the prevalence of genes encoding leukocidins, exfoliative toxins, and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) was investigated using previously characterized (n = 26) and (n = 19) isolates derived from canine otitis externa. Susceptibility to cathelicidins (K9CATH and PMAP-36) and hydrogen peroxide (HO) was also examined in both staphylococcal species.

Heat shock factor binding protein regulates seed and pod development in .

Plant heat shock factor binding proteins (HSBPs) are well known for their implication in the negative regulation of heat stress response (HSR) pathways. Herein, we report on the hitherto unknown functions of in . was found to be predominant in flower buds and young leaves, while its segmental duplicate, , was abundant in green siliques.

OsWRKY114 Is a Player in Rice Immunity against .

Every year, invasive pathogens cause significant damage to crops. Thus, identifying genes conferring broad-spectrum resistance to invading pathogens is critical for plant breeding. We previously demonstrated that OsWRKY114 contributes to rice ( L.

High Prevalence of Clonal Complex 398 Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant in Pig Farms: Clonal Lineages, Multiple Drug Resistance, and Occurrence of the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome IX.

High prevalence of livestock-associated methicillin-susceptible and -resistant (LA-MSSA and LA-MRSA, respectively) in livestock farms, particularly pig farms, is an increasingly serious threat to food safety and public health. In this study, 173 (84 MRSA and 89 MSSA) isolates from healthy pigs, farm environments, and farm workers in Korea were examined to determine the (1) genetic diversity of isolates (sequence type [ST], , and types), (2) staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) types of MRSA isolates, and (3) multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes of MRSA and MSSA isolates. Clonal complex 398 (CC398) genotypes of MRSA and MSSA isolates, particularly CC398- type t571- I lineages, displaying MDR phenotypes were highly prevalent in pig farms.

The effect of regional distribution of isolation rooms in emergency departments on ambulance travel time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The number and distribution of isolation rooms in Korea differ by region. The distribution of isolation beds in emergency departments may have affected ambulance travel time and burden on emergency medical service (EMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed EMS records in four regions of the Gyeonggi Province, Korea, from January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2020.

Combinatorial transient gene expression strategies to enhance terpenoid production in plants.

Introduction: The monoterpenoid linalool and sesquiterpenoid costunolide are ubiquitous plant components that have been economically exploited for their respective essential oils and pharmaceutical benefits. In general, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are produced by the plastid 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) and cytosolic mevalonate (MVA) pathways, respectively. Herein, we investigated the individual and combinatorial potential of MEP and MVA pathway genes in increasing linalool and costunolide production in .

A study on the proliferation of Myzus persicae (sulzer) during the winter season for year-round production within a smart farm facility.

In this study, we examined the feasibility of Myzus persicae proliferation through interrelationships with host plants in a smart farm facility during winter. We investigated aphid proliferation under an LED artificial light source and attempted to interpret aphid proliferation in relation to the net photosynthetic rate of the host plant, Eutrema japonicum. We observed that aphids continuously proliferated in the smart farm facility in winter without dormancy.

Clonal distribution and antimicrobial resistance of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from broiler farms, slaughterhouses, and retail chicken meat.

Colonization of food-producing animals by antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In the current study, clonal diversities of livestock-associated S.

Phylogenomics-Based Reconstruction and Molecular Evolutionary Histories of Brassica Photoreceptor Gene Families.

Photosensory proteins known as photoreceptors (PHRs) are crucial for delineating light environments in synchronization with other environmental cues and regulating their physiological variables in plants. However, this has not been well studied in the Brassica genus, which includes several important agricultural and horticultural crops. Herein, we identified five major PHR gene families-phytochrome (PHY), cryptochrome (CRY), phototropin (PHOT), F-box containing flavin binding proteins (ZTL/FKF1/LKP2), and UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8)-genomic scales and classified them into subfamilies based on their phylogenetic clustering with Arabidopsis homologues.

OsWRKY114 Negatively Regulates Drought Tolerance by Restricting Stomatal Closure in Rice.

The WRKY family of transcription factors plays a pivotal role in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. The WRKY Group III transcription factor OsWRKY114 is a positive regulator of innate immunity against pv. ; however, its role in abiotic stress responses is largely unknown.

Identification and Characterization of () and Genes by CRISPR/Cas9-Targeted Mutagenesis in Chinese Cabbage ( L.).

The CRISPR/Cas9 site-directed gene-editing system offers great advantages for identifying gene function and crop improvement. The circadian clock measures and conveys day length information to control rhythmic hypocotyl growth in photoperiodic conditions, to achieve optimal fitness, but operates through largely unknown mechanisms. Here, we generated core circadian clock evening components, () , , and (both and double knockout) mutants, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in Chinese cabbage, where 9-16 genetic edited lines of each mutant were obtained.

Identification of a Major QTL and Validation of Related Genes for Tiller Angle in Rice Based on QTL Analysis.

An ideal plant architecture is an important condition to achieve high crop yields. The tiller angle is an important and complex polygenic trait of rice ( L.) plant architecture.

Profiles of Non- Staphylococci in Retail Pork and Slaughterhouse Carcasses: Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Genetic Determinant of Fusidic Acid Resistance.

As commensal colonizers in livestock, there has been little attention on staphylococci, especially non- staphylococci (NAS), contaminating meat production chain. To assess prevalence of staphylococci in retail pork and slaughterhouse carcass samples in Korea, we collected 578 samples from Korean slaughterhouses (n=311) and retail markets (n=267) for isolation of staphylococci and determined antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in all the isolates. The presence of and prevalence of -family genes (, , , and ) and mutations in genes were examined in fusidic acid resistant isolates.

The Circadian Clock Gene Is Involved in the Regulation of Glucosinolates in Chinese Cabbage.

Circadian clocks integrate environmental cues with endogenous signals to coordinate physiological outputs. Clock genes in plants are involved in many physiological and developmental processes, such as photosynthesis, stomata opening, stem elongation, light signaling, and floral induction. Many family plants, including Chinese cabbage ( ssp.

Metabolic Perturbation and Synthetic Biology Strategies for Plant Terpenoid Production-An Updated Overview.

Terpenoids represent one of the high-value groups of specialized metabolites with vast structural diversity. They exhibit versatile human benefits and have been successfully exploited in several sectors of day-to-day life applications, including cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Historically, the potential use of terpenoids is challenging, and highly hampered by their bioavailability in their natural sources.

Overexpression Confers Heat Shock Tolerance in Transgenic through Inherent Chaperone Activity, Induced Glucosinolate Biosynthesis, and Differential Regulation of Abiotic Stress Response Genes.

Plant phosphoprotein phosphatases are ubiquitous and multifarious enzymes that respond to developmental requirements and stress signals through reversible dephosphorylation of target proteins. In this study, we investigated the hitherto unknown functions of protein phosphatase 5.2 () by transgenic overexpression of lines.

Species Distribution, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Enterotoxigenicity of Non- Staphylococci in Retail Chicken Meat.

Non- staphylococci (NAS), including coagulase-negative staphylococci, have emerged as important causes of opportunistic infections in humans and animals and a potential cause of staphylococcal food poisoning. In this study, we investigated (i) the staphylococcal species profiles of NAS in in retail chicken meat, (ii) the phenotypic and genotypic factors associated with antimicrobial resistance in the NAS isolates, and (iii) the prevalence of classical and newer staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes. A total of 58 NAS of nine different species were isolated from retail raw chicken meat samples.

Changes in Beneficial -glycosylflavones and Policosanol Content in Wheat and Barley Sprouts Subjected to Differential LED Light Conditions.

The spectral quality and intensity of light, photoperiodism, and other environmental factors have profound impacts on the metabolic composition of light-dependent higher plants. Hence, we investigate the effects of fluorescent light (96 μmol ms) and white (100 μmol ms), blue (100 μmol ms), and red (93 μmol ms) light-emitting diode (LED) light irradiation on the -glycosylflavone and policosanol contents in young seedlings of wheat and barley. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analyses of -glycosylflavone contents in barley reveal that the saponarin content is significantly enhanced under blue LED light irradiation.

Effect of on High-Fat Diet-Induced Memory and Cognitive Impairments.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is related to cognitive and memory dysfunction. Much attention was focused on functional foods as a therapeutic strategy to treat cognitive decline by obesity. In the present study, we confirmed the protective effect of (VA) on cognitive and memory impairment in an obese mouse model.

, a Expansin-Like B1 Gene is Associated with Root Development, Drought Stress Response, and Seed Germination.

Expansins are structural proteins prevalent in cell walls, participate in cell growth and stress responses by interacting with internal and external signals perceived by the genetic networks of plants. Herein, we investigated the expansin-like B1 interaction with phytohormones (IAA, ABA, Ethephon, CK, GA3, SA, and JA), genes (, and ), biotic (Turnip mosaic Virus (TuMV), clubroot disease), and abiotic stress (salt, oxidative, osmotic, and drought) conditions by either cDNA microarray or qRT-PCR assays. In addition, we also unraveled the potential role of in root growth, drought stress response, and seed germination in transgenic Arabidopsis and lines.