Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a widely distributed soil fungus known as a common saprotroph of biodegradation. It is also an opportunistic human pathogen that can produce various secondary metabolites. Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of S. brevicaulis isolated from air in South Korea. Total length of the mitochondrial genome is 28,829 bp and encoded 42 genes (15 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, and 25 tRNAs). Nucleotide sequence of coding region takes over 26.2%, and overall GC content is 27.6%. Phylogenetic trees present that S. brevicaulis is clustered with Lomentospora prolificans with presenting various mitochondrial genome length.

Background: Human breast milk (HBM) contains optimal nutrients for infant growth.Probiotics are used to prevent disease and, when taken by the mother, they may affect infant microbiome as well as HBM. However, few studies have specifically investigated the effect of probiotic intake by the mother on HBM and infant microbiota at genus/species level. Therefore, we present a comprehensive analysis of paired HBM and infant feces (IF) microbiome samples before and after probiotic intake by HBM-producing mothers. Methods: Lactating mothers were administered with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (n = 9) or Saccharomyces boulardii capsules (n = 9), for 2 months; or no probiotic (n = 7). Paired HBM and IF samples were collected before and after treatment and analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Results: Forty-three HBM and 49 IF samples were collected and sequenced. Overall, in 43 HBM samples, 1,190 microbial species belonging to 684 genera, 245 families, 117 orders, and 56 classes were detected. In 49 IF samples, 372 microbial species belonging to 195 genera, 79 families, 42 orders, and 18 classes were identified. Eight of 20 most abundant genera in both HBM and IF samples overlapped: Streptococcus (14.42%), Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, and Veillonella, which were highly abundant in the HBM samples; and Bifidobacterium (27.397%), Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium, which were highly abundant in the IF samples. Several major bacterial genera and species were detected in the HBM and IF samples after probiotic treatment, illustrating complex changes in the microbiomes upon treatment. Conclusion This is the first Korean microbiome study in which the effect of different probiotic intake by the mother on the microbiota in HBM and IF samples was investigated.This study provides a cornerstone to further the understanding of the effect of probiotics on the mother and infant microbiomes.

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a widely distributed soil fungus known as a common saprotroph of biodegradation. It is also an opportunistic human pathogen that can produce various secondary metabolites. Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of S. brevicaulis isolated from air in South Korea. Total length of the mitochondrial genome is 28,829 bp and encoded 42 genes (15 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, and 25 tRNAs). Nucleotide sequence of coding region takes over 26.2%, and overall GC content is 27.6%. Phylogenetic trees present that S. brevicaulis is clustered with Lomentospora prolificans with presenting various mitochondrial genome length.

Background: Human breast milk (HBM) contains optimal nutrients for infant growth.Probiotics are used to prevent disease and, when taken by the mother, they may affect infant microbiome as well as HBM. However, few studies have specifically investigated the effect of probiotic intake by the mother on HBM and infant microbiota at genus/species level. Therefore, we present a comprehensive analysis of paired HBM and infant feces (IF) microbiome samples before and after probiotic intake by HBM-producing mothers. Methods: Lactating mothers were administered with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (n = 9) or Saccharomyces boulardii capsules (n = 9), for 2 months; or no probiotic (n = 7). Paired HBM and IF samples were collected before and after treatment and analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Results: Forty-three HBM and 49 IF samples were collected and sequenced. Overall, in 43 HBM samples, 1,190 microbial species belonging to 684 genera, 245 families, 117 orders, and 56 classes were detected. In 49 IF samples, 372 microbial species belonging to 195 genera, 79 families, 42 orders, and 18 classes were identified. Eight of 20 most abundant genera in both HBM and IF samples overlapped: Streptococcus (14.42%), Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, and Veillonella, which were highly abundant in the HBM samples; and Bifidobacterium (27.397%), Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium, which were highly abundant in the IF samples. Several major bacterial genera and species were detected in the HBM and IF samples after probiotic treatment, illustrating complex changes in the microbiomes upon treatment. Conclusion This is the first Korean microbiome study in which the effect of different probiotic intake by the mother on the microbiota in HBM and IF samples was investigated.This study provides a cornerstone to further the understanding of the effect of probiotics on the mother and infant microbiomes.

PURPOSE: Japanese hop (Humulus japonicus) is a major cause of weed pollinosis in East Asia. However, supplies of commercial allergen extract from this plant have not met clinical demand. The pollen of common hop (Humulus lupulus), a closely related species, may provide an alternative source if there is strong IgE cross-reactivity between these two species. We aimed to compare the IgE cross-reactivity and allergenicity of common hop and Japanese hop pollen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-reactivity was measured by inhibition ELISA. One- and two-dimensional (2D) gel analyses combined with IgE immunoblotting and mass spectrometry [liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS)] were performed to detect IgE-reactive pollen components. RESULTS: Up to 16.7% of IgE reactivity to Japanese hop was inhibited by common hop. A 12-kDa protein component of Japanese hop pollen that showed the most potent IgE reaction was absent from common hop. Six IgE-reactive components from Japanese hop were detected by 2D gel electrophoresis and LC-ESI-MS/MS, but showed low Mascot scores, preventing positive identification. CONCLUSION: No significant IgE cross-reaction was observed for Japanese and common hop pollen allergens. Development of allergy diagnostic and immunotherapeutic reagents based on Japanese hop pollen are urgently needed.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chromatography ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Equipment and Supplies ; Far East ; Humans ; Humulus* ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plants ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

We present a new next-generation sequencing-based method to identify somatic mutations of lung cancer. It is a comprehensive mutation profiling protocol to detect somatic mutations in 30 genes found frequently in lung adenocarcinoma. The total length of the target regions is 107 kb, and a capture assay was designed to cover 99% of it. This method exhibited about 97% mean coverage at 30x sequencing depth and 42% average specificity when sequencing of more than 3.25 Gb was carried out for the normal sample. We discovered 513 variations from targeted exome sequencing of lung cancer cells, which is 3.9-fold higher than in the normal sample. The variations in cancer cells included previously reported somatic mutations in the COSMIC database, such as variations in TP53, KRAS, and STK11 of sample H-23 and in EGFR of sample H-1650, especially with more than 1,000x coverage. Among the somatic mutations, up to 91% of single nucleotide polymorphisms from the two cancer samples were validated by DNA microarray-based genotyping. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of high-throughput mutation profiling with lung adenocarcinoma samples, and the profiling method can be used as a robust and effective protocol for somatic variant screening.
Adenocarcinoma ; DNA ; Exome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Mass Screening ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic function of killer cells is inhibited by specific recognition of class I MHC molecules on target cells by inhibitory killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) expressed on NK cells and some cytotoxic T cells. The inhibitory effect of KIR is accomplished by recruitment of SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP) to the phosphotyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic tail. METHODS: By in vitro coprecipitation experiments and transfection analysis, we investigated the association of KIR with an adaptor protein Shc in Jurkat T cells. RESULTS: The cytoplasmic tail of KIR appeared to associate with an adaptor protein Shc in Jurkat T cell lysates. Similar in vitro experiments showed that phosphorylated KIR cytoplasmic tail bound SHP-1 and Shc in Jurkat T cell lysates. The association of KIR with Shc was further confirmed by transfection analysis in 293T cells. Interestingly, however, Shc appeared to be replaced by SHP-2 upon engagement of KIR in 293T cells. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that KIR associate with an adaptor protein Shc in Jurkat T cells, and suggest that KIR might have an additional role which is mediated by this adaptor protein.
Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Phosphotyrosine ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transfection

Enterococcus hirae is a member of the Enterococcus genus and is known to cause infections in animals, but it is uncommonly encountered in clinical isolates from humans. We isolated E. hirae from blood of a patient with acute pyelonephritis and sepsis. This is the first case report of bacteremia caused by E. hirae in Korea.
Animals ; Bacteremia ; Enterococcus* ; Humans ; Korea ; Pyelonephritis* ; Sepsis*

Enterococcus hirae is a member of the Enterococcus genus and is known to cause infections in animals, but it is uncommonly encountered in clinical isolates from humans. We isolated E. hirae from blood of a patient with acute pyelonephritis and sepsis. This is the first case report of bacteremia caused by E. hirae in Korea.
Animals ; Bacteremia ; Enterococcus* ; Humans ; Korea ; Pyelonephritis* ; Sepsis*

BACKGROUND: Erythromycin is currently recommended as an alternative antibiotic for treatment of streptococcal infections in patients allergic to penicillins. Less than 5% of the group A streptococci are known as resistant to erythromycin but the resistance pattern differs among time and region. The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of beta-emolytic streptococcal strains isolated during 1999 in Wonju. METHODS: A total of 107 beta-emolytic streptococci were isolates from the Wonju Christian Hospital during 1999. The susceptibility to penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin was tested with agar dilution method. RESULTS: No beta-emolytic streptococci strain was resistant to penicillin, ceftriaxone and vancomycin. Among beta-emolytic streptococci strains, 20-1%, 18-0% and 14-7% were resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It appears prudent that active surveillance of the beta-emolytic streptococci for antibiotic resistance be implemented since there are no currently effective vaccines or other methods for controlling the spread of infections due to these virulent organisms.
Agar ; Ceftriaxone ; Chloramphenicol ; Clindamycin ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Erythromycin ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Penicillins ; Streptococcal Infections ; Tetracycline ; Vaccines ; Vancomycin