• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2000

Standard plaque assay using agarose-overlay has long been used for titration of many infectious virus particle. Plaque assay for the titration of varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine requires three intermittent agarose overlay to visualize plaques. Overall procedure of the assay takes at least nine days from virus inoculation and microbe contamination including fungi is frequently accompanied during incubation period. We studied whether an immunofocus assay in conjunction with peroxidase-mediated immunohistochemical reaction may replace the standard plaque assay for the virus titration by comparing the two methods. A linear relationship was observed between number of foci and virus dilution. The number of foci in a given dilution of virus appeared a little higher than counted plaques formed in standard plaque assay. Independent titration results obtained from two assay methods for a given dilution of virus demonstrated a strong correlation ($r^2=0.99$). Foci of virus infected cells as revealed by the enzyme reaction could be counted either 4 days post-infection (p.i.) under low magnification (40X) microscopy, or 6 days p.i. by naked eye observation. Larger size of cell cuture plate, virus adsorption at $35^{\circ}C$, and 10% FBS in diluent appeared to be better conditions for the assay. Immunofocus assay will be an effective and dependable titration method for varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine in place of the standard plaque assay in respect to accuracy, costs, and experimental convenience.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1293-1301
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• 2005

Flavonoids, a group of low molecular weight phenylbenzopyrones, have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anticancer, bactericidal, and anti-inflammatory. We carried out anti-herpetic assays on 18 flavonoids in five classes and a virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibitory assay, plaque reduction assay, and yield reduction assay were performed. When flavonoids were applied at various concentrations to Vero cells infected by HSV-1 and 2, most of the f1avonoids showed inhibitory effects on virus-induced CPE. Among the flavonoids, EC, ECG (flavanols), genistein (isoflavone), naringenin (flavanone), and quercetin (flavonol) showed a high level of CPE inhibitory activity. The antiviral activity of flavonoids were also examined by a plaque reduction assay. EC, ECG, galangin, and kaempferol showed a strong antiviral activity, and catechin, EGC, EGCG, naringenin, chrysin, baicalin, fisetin, myricetin, quercetin, and genistein showed moderate inhibitory effects against HSV-1. In these experiments, flavanols and flavonols appeared to be more active than flavones. Furthermore, treatment of Vero cells with ECG and galangin (which previously showed strong antiviral activities) before virus adsorption led to a slight enhancement of inhibition as determined by a yield reduction assay, indicating that an intracellular effect may also be involved.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2023

Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRSV) and blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) are included in the quarantine virus list managed by the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with an internal control was developed for the simultaneous detection of both viruses. The specific primers used here were designed based on the highly conserved regions of the genomic sequences of each virus, obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide databases. The primers were designed to amplify a partial sequence within coat protein (CP) for detecting BRRSV and a partial sequence within the CP-16 kDa for detecting BlScV. 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used as internal control, and the primer set used in a previous study was modified in this study for detecting 18S rRNA. Each conventional PCR using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 1 fg plasmid DNA. The multiplex PCR assay using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers was effective in simultaneously detecting the two viruses and 18S rRNA with a sensitivity of 1 fg plasmid DNA, similar to that of conventional PCR assays. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study was performed using 14 blueberry cultivars grown in South Korea. BRRSV and BlScV were not detected, but 18S rRNA was all detected in all the plants tested. Therefore, our optimized multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect the two viruses and 18S rRNA in field samples collected from South Korea in a time-efficient manner. This approach could be valuable in crop protection and plant quarantine management.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2022

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) has been a major viral pathogen causing significant losses of cereal crops including oats worldwide. It spreads naturally through aphids, and a rapid, specific, and reliable diagnostic method is imperative for disease monitoring and management. Here, we established a rapid and reliable method for isothermal reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) combined with a lateral flow strips (LFS) assay for the detection of BYDV-infected oat samples based on the conserved sequences of the BYDV coat protein gene. Specific primers and a probe for RT-RPA reacted and optimally incubated at 42℃ for 10 min, and the end-labeled amplification products were visualized on LFS within 10 min. The RT-RPA-LFS assay showed no cross-reactivity with other major cereal viruses, including barley mild mosaic virus, barley yellow mosaic virus, and rice black streaked dwarf virus, indicating high specificity of the assay. The sensitivity of the RT-RPA-LFS assay was similar to that of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and it was successfully validated to detect BYDV in oat samples from six different regions and in individual aphids. These results confirm the outstanding potential of the RT-RPA-LFS assay for rapid detection of BYDV.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2018

A multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) assay was developed for the detection of Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV), Peanut mottle virus (PeMoV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which were recently reported to infect soybean and azuki bean in Korea. Species-specific primer sets were designed for the detection of each virus, and their specificity and sensitivity were tested using mixed primer sets. From among the designed primer sets, two combinations were selected and further evaluated to estimate the detection limits of uniplex, duplex, and multiplex RT-PCR. The multiplex RT-PCR assay could be a useful tool for the field survey of plant viruses and the rapid detection of ClYVV, PeMoV, and TSWV in leguminous plants.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.56.1-56.10
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• 2021

Background: Fluorescent antibody virus neutralization (FAVN) test is a standard assay for quantifying rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) in serum. However, a safer rabies virus (RABV) should be used in the FAVN assay. There is a need for a new method that is economical and time-saving by eliminating the immunostaining step. Objectives: We aimed to improve the traditional FAVN method by rescuing and characterizing a new recombinant RABV expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Methods: A new recombinant RABV expressing GFP designated as ERAGS-GFP was rescued using a reverse genetic system. Immuno-fluorescence assay, peroxidase-linked assay, electron microscopy and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed to confirm the recombinant ERAGS-GFP virus as a RABV expressing the GFP gene. The safety of ERAGS-GFP was evaluated in 4-week-old mice. The rabies VNA titers were measured and compared with conventional FAVN and FAVN-GFP tests using VERO cells. Results: The virus propagated in VERO cells was confirmed as RABV expressing GFP. The ERAGS-GFP showed the highest titer (10^8.0 TCID₅₀/mL) in VERO cells at 5 days post-inoculation, and GFP expression persisted until passage 30. The body weight of 4-week-old mice inoculated intracranially with ERAGS-GFP continued to increase and the survival rate was 100%. In 62 dog sera, the FAVN-GFP result was significantly correlated with that of conventional FAVN (r = 0.95). Conclusions: We constructed ERAGS-GFP, which could replace the challenge virus standard-11 strain used in FAVN test.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.821-831
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• 2022

American plum line pattern virus (APLPV), a member of the genus Ilarvirus in the family Bromoviridae, is one of the plant quarantine pathogens in Korea. In this study, 15 candidate primer sets were designed and examined to develop a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for plant quarantine inspection of APLPV. Using APLPV-infected and healthy samples, the primer sets were assessed for APLPV detection. To confirm the occurrence of nonspecific reactions, six ilarviruses (Apple mosaic virus, Asparagus virus 2, Blueberry shock virus, Prune dwarf virus, Prunus necrotic ringspot virus, and Tobacco streak virus) and 10 target plants (Prunus mume, P. yedoensis, P. persica, P. armeniaca, P. dulcis, P. tomentosa, P. avium, P. glandulosa, P. salicina, and P. cerasifera) were examined. Finally, two primer sets were selected. These primer sets could generate the expected amplicons even with at least 1 ng of the total RNA template in concentration-dependent amplifications. In addition, a positive clone was developed for use as a positive control in the abovementioned RT-PCR assay.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.465-480
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• 2009

Objective : Lonicerae Flos has detoxifying properties and been used as antipyretic, antibacterial and antitumor. Fermentation of herbal medicine is known to increase the absorption, enhance effectiveness, decrease herbal toxicity and reduce side-effects. This study was performed to measure the effects of fermented Lonicerae Flos on influenza A/WSN (H1N1) virus replication. Material and Methods : Lonicerae Flos was fermented by Lactobacillus casei PM1. Fermented Lonicerae Flos was treated for 12 hours to MDCK (Mardin Darby canine kidney) cells, then cell-virulence was observed by MTT assay for 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours after treatment. Following cases were conducted for 0, 10, 100, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations of fermented Lonicerae Flos under the same time-frame; the fermented Lonicerae Flos was treated to MDCK cells before and after contamination by A-type influenza virus. The fermented Lonicerae Flos and the virus were mixed directly. The influence was observed by MTT assay and plaque assay. Results : These findings suggest that the fermented Lonicerae Flos inhibited the virulence of influenza A virus in MDCK cells and suppressed the plaque forming colonies induced by influenza A virus. Furthermore, pretreatment with fermented Lonicerae Flos was more effective than post-treatment. The titer of influenza virus was reduced for all before and after influenza A virus inoculation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.665-672
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• 2022

Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) is one of economically important viruses that cause significant losses of orchids in the world. In the present study, a reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay combined with a lateral flow immunostrip (LFI) assay was developed for the detection of CymMV in orchid plants. A pair of primers containing fluorescent probes at each terminus that amplifies highly specifically a part of the coat protein gene of CymMV was determined for RT-RPA assay. The RT-RPA assay involved incubation at an isothermal temperature (39℃) and could be performed rapidly within 30 min. In addition, no cross-reactivity was observed to occur with odontoglossum ringspot virus and cymbidium chlorotic mosaic virus. The RT-RPA with LFI assay (RT-RPA-LFI) for CymMV showed 100 times more sensitivity than conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the RT-PCR-LFI assay demonstrated the simplicity and the rapidity of CymMV detection since the assay did not require any equipment, by comparing results with those of conventional RT-PCR. On-site application of the RT-RPA-LFI assay was validated for the detection of CymMV in field-collected orchids, indicating a simple, rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for detecting CymMV in orchids.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2024

Garlic can be infected by a variety of viruses, but mixed infections with leek yellow stripe virus, onion yellow dwarf virus, and allexiviruses are the most damaging, so an easy, inexpensive on-site method to simultaneously detect at least these three viruses with a certain degree of accuracy is needed to produce virus-free plants. The most common laboratory method for diagnosis is multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, allexiviruses are highly diverse even within the same species, making it difficult to design universal PCR primers for all garlic-growing regions in the world. To solve this problem, we developed an inexpensive on-site detection system for the three garlic viruses that uses a commercial mobile PCR device and a compact electrophoresis system with a blue light. In this system, virus-specific bands generated by electrophoresis can be identified by eye in real time because the PCR products are labeled with a fluorescent dye, FITC. Because the electrophoresis step might eventually be replaced with a lateral flow assay (LFA), we also demonstrated that a uniplex LFA can be used for virus detection; however, multiplexing and a significant cost reduction are needed before it can be used for on-site detection.