as a Causative Agent for Soft Rot of Radish in Korea

In October 2021, soft rot disease seriously affected radish crop in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The infected radishes were stunted and turned dark green, with yellowish leaf foliage. A slimy, wet, and decayed pith region was observed in the infected roots. The bacterial strain KNUB-03-21 was isolated from infected roots. The biochemical and morphological characteristics of the isolate were similar to those of Pectobacterium brasiliense. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and the concatenated DNA polymerase III subunit tau (dnaX), leucine-tRNA ligase (leuS), and recombinase subunit A (recA) genes confirmed that the isolate is a novel strain of P. brasiliense. Artificial inoculation of radish with P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 resulted in soft rot symptoms similar to those observed in infected radish in the field; subsequently, P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 was reisolated and reidentified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. brasiliense as a causal pathogen of radish soft rot in Korea

Possible Mechanism on Enhanced Blood Compatibility, Biostability, and Anticalcification of Sulfonated Polyethyleneoxide-Grafted Polyurethane

To investigate the correlation between blood compatibility and biostability as well as the calcification-resistance of polymers, the surface of polyurethane (PU) was grafted with hydrophilic polyethyleneoxide (PEO), and further negatively charged sulfonate groups (S03) to produce PU-PEOIOOO and PU-PEOIOOOS03, respectively. PEO-S03 grafted PU surface showed great smoothness and high hydrophilicity. PU-PEOIOOO-S03 was much more blood compatible than untreated PU and PU-PEOlOOO from the results of in vitro platelet adhesion test and blood clotting times and ex vivo occlusion times. After 6 months implantation in rats, the degree of surface cracking and calcification on explanted PUs was decreased in the following order: PU ) PU-PEOIOOO ) PU-PEOlOOO-S03, meaning that PU-PEOlOOO-S03 is most promising as a biostable and calcification-resistant polymer. It is suggested that the more blood compatible modified PUs are, the more biostable and calcification-resistant. Such superior blood compatibility, biostability, and anticalcification of PU-PEOlOO 0-S03 might be attributed to the synergistic effect of nonadhesive and mobile PEO and negative sulfonate acid groups. Therefore, surface-modified PU-PEO-S03is expected to be useful for blood/tissue contacting biomedical material

Autophagy deficiency leads to protection from obesity and insulin resistance by inducing Fgf21 as a mitokine

Despite growing interest and a recent surge in papers, the role of autophagy in glucose and lipid metabolism is unclear. We produced mice with skeletal muscle–specific deletion of Atg7 (encoding autophagy-related 7). Unexpectedly, these mice showed decreased fat mass and were protected from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance; this phenotype was accompanied by increased fatty acid oxidation and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) owing to induction of fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21). Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by autophagy deficiency increased Fgf21 expression through induction of Atf4, a master regulator of the integrated stress response. Mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors also induced Fgf21 in an Atf4-dependent manner. We also observed induction of Fgf21, resistance to diet-induced obesity and amelioration of insulin resistance in mice with autophagy deficiency in the liver, another insulin target tissue. These findings suggest that autophagy deficiency and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction promote Fgf21 expression, a hormone we consequently term a 'mitokine', and together these processes promote protection from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance

Characterization of Coleosporium phellodendri Causing Rust Disease on Japanese Prickly–ash Tree

A typical rust symptom showing yellowish spots on upper surface and pustules on lower surface of leaves was observed on Japanese prickly–ash tree (Zanthoxylum ailanthoides) in Hyeonpo–ri, Buk–myeon, Ulleungdo, Korea in 2010. Based on the morphological characteristic of urediospores and teliospores, the rust fungus was identified as Coleosporium phellodendri. The urediospores were yellowish in color, globose in shape with annulated verrucae surface and 26～37×22～28 µm in size. The teliospores were reddish yellow, ellipsoid and 43～63×23～33 µm in size. Phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rDNA region sequences of this fungus supported that it belong to Coleosporium spp.. This is first record of C. phellodendri causing rust disease on Japanese prickly–ash tree in Korea

Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Alleviate Cold Allodynia in a Rat Spinal Nerve Ligation Model of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain caused by lesions or nervous system dysfunction is a neuroimmune disease with limited therapeutic options. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) are multipotent mesenchymal stem cells with potent immunosuppressive properties, and their use as novel cell-based therapeutics have been proposed in many immune diseases. However, the analgesic effect and efficacy of ASCs to treat neuropathic pain remain unclear. This study, thus, investigated whether ASCs or ASC-derived culture medium can relieve neuropathic pain behaviors (i.e., mechanical and cold allodynia) in a rat model with L5 spinal nerve ligation. Intrathecal injection of ASCs significantly reduced cold allodynia, but not mechanical allodynia. Importantly, cold allodynia was completely reversed in rats with repeated injections of ASCs. In contrast, intrathecal injection of ASC-derived culture medium or retro-orbital injection of ASCs had no effect on neuropathic pain behaviors. These results suggest a novel and alternative therapeutic application of ASCs to target specific neuropathic pain behaviors

Survey of Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus and Cherry green ring mottle virus incidence in Korea by Duplex RT-PCR

The incidence of Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) and Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) have recently been occurred in Korea, posing a problem for sweet cherry cultivation. Since infected trees have symptomless leaves or ring-like spots on the pericarp, it is difficult to identify a viral infection. In this study, the incidence of CNRMV and CGRMV in sweet cherry in Gyeongbuk province was surveyed using a newly developed duplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method that can detect both viruses in a single reaction. CNRMV and CGRMV co-infection rates were 29.6%, 53.6%, and 17.6%, respectively, in samples collected from three different sites (Daegu, Gyeongju and Gyeongsan) in Gyeongbuk province during 2012 and 2013. This duplex RT-PCR method offers a simple, rapid, and effective way of identifying CNRMV and CGRMV simultaneously in sweet cherry trees, which can aid in the management of viral infections that could undermine yield

Local delivery system of immune modulating drug for unresectable adenocarcinoma: in vitro experimental study and in vivo animal study

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a developed drug delivery system containing OK-432 through in vitro and animal study

Development of a Species-specific PCR Assay for Three Xanthomonas Species, Causing Bulb and Flower Diseases, Based on Their Genome Sequences

In this study, we developed a species-specific PCR assay for rapid and accurate detection of three Xanthomonas species, X. axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola (XAP), X. hyacinthi (XH) and X. campestris pv. zantedeschiae (XCZ), based on their draft genome sequences. XAP, XH and XCZ genomes consist of single chromosomes that contain 5,221, 4,395 and 7,986 protein coding genes, respectively. Species-specific primers were designed from variable regions of the draft genome sequence data and assessed by a PCR-based detection method. These primers were also tested for specificity against 17 allied Xanthomonas species as well as against the host DNA and the microbial community of the host surface. Three primer sets were found to be very specific and no amplification product was obtained with the host DNA and the microbial community of the host surface. In addition, a detection limit of 1 pg/μl per PCR reaction was detected when these primer sets were used to amplify corresponding bacterial DNAs. Therefore, these primer sets and the developed species-specific PCR assay represent a valuable, sensitive, and rapid diagnostic tool that can be used to detect three specific pathogens at early stages of infection and may help control diseases