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The genus Loxocorys is reviewed along with the type species, L. sericea (Butler) and a new congener, L. curvilineata sp. nov. from Korea and Taiwan. The external and genital features of the two species are described. The generic features of Loxocorys are updated with diagnostic comparisons of the congeners. The generic relationships of the new species within Wurthiini are discussed with morphological evidence and a COI barcode-based phylogeny. Two COI barcodes of the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio vulnificus is a well-known opportunistic pathogen causing food-borne illnesses by ingestion of contaminated seafood. A new strain of V. vulnificus FORC_016 was isolated from a patient's blood sample in South Korea. The genome consists of two circular DNA chromosomes: chromosome I (3,234,424 bp with a G + C contents of 46.60% containing 2,889 ORFs, 106 tRNA genes, and 31 rRNA genes) and chromosome II (1,837,945 bp with a GC content of 47.00% containing 1,572 ORFs, 13 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes). In addition, chromosome I has a super integron (SI) containing 209 ORFs, which is probably associated with various additional functions including antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity. Pan-genome analysis with other V. vulnificus genomes revealed that core genome regions contain most of the important virulence factors. However, accessory genome regions are located in the SI region and contain unique genes regarding cell wall biosynthesis and generation of host cell protecting capsule, suggesting possible resistance ability against environmental stresses. Comparative RNA-Seq analysis of samples between contact and no contact to the crab conditions showed that expressions of amino acid/peptide and carbohydrate transport and utilization genes were down-regulated, but expressions of cell division and growth-related genes were up-regulated, suggesting that the crab may be a nutrition reservoir for rapid propagation of V. vulnificus. Therefore, consumption of the contaminated fresh crab would provide a large number of V. vulnificus to humans, which may be more dangerous. Consequently, biocontrol of V. vulnificus may be critical to ensure the safety in seafood consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The reinfection rate of Helicobacter pylori has been reported to be low in developed countries but high in developing countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term reinfection rate of H. pylori and to investigate its associated risk factors in South Korea. Methods During 2003-2010, H. pylori-positive 970 patients received standard proton pump inhibitor ( PPI)-based triple eradication therapy, and follow-up H. pylori tests were performed with 13C urea breath test or invasive tests (Giemsa histology, CLO test, and culture) 4 weeks after completion of treatment. A total of 331 patients who were maintained an H. pylori-eradicated state at 1 year after eradication were divided into two groups according to reinfection. For the evaluation of risk factors of reinfection, gender, age, smoking, alcohol, income, education, gastrointestinal symptoms, clinical diagnosis, histologic atrophic gastritis or intestinal metaplasia, and clarithromycin resistance were analyzed. Results The follow-up period was 18-95 months (mean: 37.1 months), and H. pylori reappeared in 36 of 331 patients (10.9%), resulting in the annual reinfection rate of 3.51% per year. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender ( HR 2.28; 95% CI, 1.05-5.00, p = .037) and low monthly family income (≤5000$ vs >5000$) ( HR 3.54; 95% CI, 1.08-11.67, p = .038) were associated with H. pylori reinfection. Conclusion This long-term reinfection rate of H. pylori stayed rather low (3.51% per year), and male and low income determined the reinfection, factors already known to be important for H. pylori infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]