Search

Bareogonalos xibeidai Tan and van Achterberg, 2017 (Hymenoptera: Trigonalyidae) was newly recognized in South Korea. The species was reared from the nest cells of the Korean yellowjacket, Vespula koreensis koreensis Radoszkowski, 1887 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), which is a new host record for the trigonalid species. Diagnoses and images of the species and genus are provided in the present study.

Comparative wood anatomy of Viburnum was carried out to understand the differences in wood features amongst the species which might be useful for taxonomic discrimination in the genus. Altogether, nine taxa belonging to five clades were investigated using a sliding microtome and light microscopy. The growth rings are well represented and earlywood and latewood are distinguishable in cross-section. Some of the important wood features include angular, oval and rounded vessels with scalariform perforation plates, opposite to scalariform inter-vessel pitting, rounded pits with slit-like apertures, thick-walled xylem tracheids with simple, rounded bordered pits, diffuse axial parenchyma, uni- and multiseriate rays, 2–4 cells wide. In general, there is a remarkable uniformity in the qualitative wood features in Viburnum species, although quantitative measurement showed some disparities. The most significant quantitative wood variables which might be useful for taxonomic groupings of the species comprise a frequency of vessels and rays, the diameter of the vessels and tracheids in the radial and tangential planes and height and width of rays in the tangential plane.

This article presents a new checklist of Scrophularia in Uzbekistan. The synopsis includes 21 species; one of them is national endemic, and seven species were newly recorded for Uzbekistan as a result of field collecting missions, studies, and examination of Tashkent (TASH), St.-Petersburg (LE), Almaty (AA), and Moscow (MW) herbarium collections. The geographical distribution of Scrophularia in Uzbekistan was mapped and analyzed. The identification key, a table of comparative diagnostic characters, nomenclatural types, and ecological data are provided. Keywords: Middle Asia, New records, Scrophularia, Taxonomy, Uzbekistan

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a rare congenital optic disc anomaly with a characteristic fundal finding with severe visual impairment. It may occur in association with various systemic manifestations, even though most of the reported cases were isolated. A 6-year-old male visited the nephrology clinic with a history of microscopic hematuria and at the age of 12 years, he was diagnosed thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy by kidney biopsy. After the following years, the patient had progressive deterioration of visual acuity, and diagnosed as MGS. Whole Exome Sequencing of this patient and his mother revealed heterozygous COL4A4 mutations [c.81_86del (p.Ile29_Leu30del)]. It is more reasonable to consider MGS seen in this patient as a coincidental finding of autosomal dominant Alport syndrome. To our knowledge, this case represents the first case report of autosomal dominant Alport syndrome associated with MGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a nine-year-old boy who presented with persistent eczema and alopecia from birth. Topics discussed include tests and treatments received by the patient. Information is also presented on ichthyosis follicularis, atrichia and photophobia (IFAP) syndrome and keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD).

The technology of successful cryopreservation is a very important factor in research and commercial applications. However, the survival and development of the vitrified-thawed (VT) oocytes are lower than those of non-vitrified-thawed (non-VT) oocytes. This study investigated the effect of the addition of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to a vitrification solution of bovine oocytes. For the vitrification, bovine metaphase II oocytes were pretreated with a solution containing 10% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 µg/mL HPC for 5 min, then exposed to a solution containing 30% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 µg/mL HPC for 30 sec, and then directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. Oocytes exposed to 0, 10, 50, and 100 µg/mL HPC were named the 0, 10, 50, and 100 HPC groups, respectively. Samples were thawed via sequential incubation in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (D-BPS) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and decreasing concentrations of sucrose (1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 M) for 1 min each time. After thawing, VT oocytes were treated at 0.05% hyaluronidase, and cumulus cells were removed by mechanical pipetting. The oocytes were washed with HEPES-buffered Tyrode’s medium and incubated in a droplet of previously cultured in vitro maturation medium for 1 h to recover. The survival rate of the oocytes was significantly higher in the 50 HPC group (84.2%) than in the 0 (75.4%), 10 (80.4%), and 100 (75.5%) HPC groups. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of the non-VT and 50 HPC groups were lower than the 0, 10, and 100 HPC groups. The mRNA levels of proapoptotic genes (Bax) were lower in the non-VT, 0, and 50 HPC groups than in the other groups. The mRNA expression levels of antiapoptotic genes (BCl2) was higher in the non-VT than in the other groups. The mRNA level of a stress-related gene (Hsp70) was lower in the 50 HPC than in the other groups. At day 8, the developmental capacity of embryos obtained via parthenogenetic activation (PA) was determined in the non-VT, 0 HPC, and 50 HPC groups. The cleavage rate of the non-VT group was significantly higher, but the blastocyst development rate and total cell number per blastocyst did not significantly differ between the non-VT and 50 HPC groups. The mRNA levels of proapoptotic genes (Bax and Caspase-3) and a stress-related gene (Hsp70) were higher in the 0 HPC group than in the non-VT and 50 HPC groups. In conclusion, supplementation of vitrification solution with HPC improves the survival rate of VT bovine oocytes and the development capacity of embryos derived from these oocytes via PA.

To optimize the reproduction of Jeju black cattle (JBC), freezing conditions for sperm were established and sperm motility, vitality, morphology, and fertility were evaluated to select the optimal bull for breeding. Semen samples from five JBC bulls were individually mixed with freezing medium at a final concentration of 1 × 108 sperm/mL and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor at a height of 3 or 7 cm (referred to as 3 cm sperm and 7 cm sperm, respectively). When the freezing conditions were compared, the motility of 7 cm sperm was significantly higher than that of 3 cm sperm for the JBC-A bull. The motility, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, and average path velocity of fresh and frozen–thawed sperm were the highest for the JBC-A bull. The vitalities of fresh and frozen–thawed sperm were the highest for the JBC-A/E and JBC-A bulls, respectively. The percentage of normal cells in fresh sperm was the highest for the JBC-D bull. The rates of the normal formation of two pronuclei and total sperm penetration were the highest in zygotes fertilized with sperm from the JBC-A bull. The sperm from the JBC-A bull had superior qualities and are thus the most appropriate choice for the preservation and reproduction of these endangered cattle.

Longitudinal bone growth is primarily mediated by the growth plate, which is a specialized cartilaginous structure. Aggrecan, encoded by ACAN, is a primary proteoglycan component of the extracellular matrix in both the growth plate and articular cartilage. Aggrecanopathies have emerged as a phenotype of genetic skeletal disease in humans. A heterozygous ACAN mutation causes short stature, premature growth cessation, and accelerated bone age maturation. We report the case of a 15-year-old boy with familial short stature, with height of 149 cm (Korean standard deviation score [SDS] of -3.6) and weight of 50.5 kg (-1.48 SDS). He presented with mild midfacial hypoplasia, frontal bossing, a broad chest, and a short neck. The father's and mother's heights were 150 cm (-4.8 SDS) and 153 cm (-1.69 SDS), respectively. The patient's bone age was 2--3 years more advanced than his chronological age, and no endocrine abnormalities were detected. Wholeexome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing revealed a heterozygous ACAN mutation, c.512C>T (p.Ala171Val), in both the proband and his father. Short stature is generally associated with a delayed bone age, and this case suggests that ACAN mutations may be the most likely etiology among patients with short stature and an advanced bone age and should warrant early treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve our understanding of the relationship between soil higher fungi (belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) and Abies koreana, we surveyed A. koreana soil fungal communities in a forest in Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, Korea by next-generation sequencing (Illumina Miseq). To confirm the soil higher fungal communities, we collected two types of soils from a defined plot: soils with dead (AKDTs) and living A. koreana (AKLTs), respectively. Soil fungi were classified into 2 phyla, 19 classes, 64 orders, 133 families, 195 genera, and 229 OTUs (895,705 sequence reads). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed significantly different soil higher fungal communities between AKDTs and AKLTs (p<.05). In addition, the saprophyte composition was significantly affected by A. koreana status (p<.05). The pro- portion of the mycorrhizal Clavulina spp. was different between soils with AKDTs and AKLTs, suggesting that Clavulina spp. may be a crucial soil fungal species influencing A. koreana. This study will lead to a better understanding of the ecological status of A. koreana in Mt. Halla. In addition, this study could be useful for the conservation and management of A. koreana habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune-acquired responses after vaccination vary depending on the type of vaccine and the individual. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the acquisition of immunity and the side effects, health status, and lifestyle after completion of the second dose of AZD1222. Blood samples were collected after a second dose of AZD1222. The Euroimmun Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (IgG) for anti-S1 antibody, the cPASS SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody detection kit for the surrogate virus neutralization test, and the T-spot Discovery SARS-CoV-2 kit were used to identify cellular immunogenicity. Patient experience of adverse effects was investigated using questionnaires. Information on health status and lifestyle were collected from the most recent health checkup data. Generally, females experience more reactogenicity in both intensity and duration. The rash of the first shot and chills of the second shot were associated with humoral immunity. However, comprehensive adverse effects had no correlation with humoral and cellular immunity. The T-spot-positive group had a higher creatinine level, which reflects muscle mass, than the T-spot-negative group. Males presented a higher level of T-spot assays. Body mass index and age were negatively correlated with the T-spot assay and anti-S1 antibody, respectively. Immune acquisition after the second AZD1222 shot was not associated with reactogenicity. However, individuals’ sex, age, and BMI were found to be associated with immunogenicity after vaccination.

Iris loczyi is a perennial rhizomatous herb distributed in Central Asia. We examined genomic architecture of the complete chloroplast genome in I. loczyi by assembling the Illumina MiSeq reads using de novo strategy. The chloroplast genome is 150,940 bp in length harboring 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. It exhibits typical quadripartite structure comprising LSC (80,907 bp), SSC (17,853 bp), and a pair of IRs (26,090 bp). Phylogenetic analysis of 20 chloroplast genomes from Asparagales revealed that Iridaceae is a monophyletic group and the I. loczyi is clustered together with the congener, I. sanguinea.

Genus Eumasia Chrétien in Psychidae was newly recognized from Korea with an unrecorded species, E. muscella Saigusa and Sugimoto. Larva and male genitalia of the species were described, and DNA barcode for precise identification of the species was also provided. Keywords: Bagworms, Eumasia, Eumasiinae, Korea, Psychidae

Previous studies on the chloroplast genome in Clematis focused on the chloroplast structure within Anemoneae. The chloroplast genomes of Cleamtis were sequenced to provide information for studies on phylogeny and evolution. Two Korean endemic Clematis chloroplast genomes (Clematis brachyura and C. trichotoma) range from 159,170 to 159,532 bp, containing 134 identical genes. Comparing the coding and non-coding regions among 12 Clematis species revealed divergent sites, with carination occurring in the petD-rpoA region. Comparing other Clematis chloroplast genomes suggested that Clematis has two inversions (trnH-rps16 and rps4), reposition (trnL-ndhC), and inverted repeat (IR) region expansion. For phylogenetic analysis, 71 protein-coding genes were aligned from 36 Ranunculaceae chloroplast genomes. Anemoneae (Anemoclema, Pulsatilla, Anemone, and Clematis) clades were monophyletic and well-supported by the bootstrap value (100%). Based on 70 chloroplast protein-coding genes, we compared nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) substitution rates among Clematis, Anemoneae (excluding Clematis), and other Ranunculaceae species. The average synonymoussubstitution rates (dS)of large single copy (LSC), small single copy (SSC), and IR genes in Anemoneae and Clematis were significantly higher than those of other Ranunculaceae species, but not the nonsynonymous substitution rates (dN). This study provides fundamental information on plastid genome evolution in the Ranunculaceae.

Clematis, a widely distributed genus in Ranunculaceae, is one of the most difficult groups of taxa in the family from a taxonomic point of view. A comprehensive study on achene morphology and the anatomy of 19 taxa of Clematis from Korea was carried out using scanning electron and light microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic significance of achene characters. Clematis achenes are elliptical, obovate or fusiform in shape, light yellow or brown to black in color and completely or sparsely covered with hairs. The permanent style is elongated and plumose in all the studied taxa except C. brachyura. We found that the size, indument, permanent style, surface sculpture, shape in cross-section, and nature and thickness of the exocarp, and endocarp were valuable achene features for species delimitation and may contribute to the unraveling of the taxonomic problems in the genus Clematis. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the quantitative achene variables among the species were highly significant (p < 0.001). Principal component analyses based on seven quantitative characters and UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean) analysis based on seven quantitative and 18 qualitative characters also signify the utility of achene features for taxonomic discriminations of the Clematis taxa within the genus. Similar to other morphological characters in the genus Clematis, achene morphological and anatomical characters with the limited taxonomic value alone cannot be expected to resolve the infrageneric relationships but certain achene features combined with other morphological features could be useful as an alternative means of determining the infrageneric relationships within the genus.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Liparis yongnoana was determined and analyzed in this study. The chloroplast genome size is 153,165 bp in length with 36.9% GC content. It comprises a large single-copy region (LSC) of 83,690 bp, a small single copy region (SSC) of 17,661 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb) of 25,907 bp separated by the SSC. The genome contains 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 38 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from 16 Orchidaceae chloroplast genomes suggested that L. yongnoana was closely related to L. loeselii.

An investigation on the habitation of Callipogon relictus Semenov, 1899 in Gwangneung forest was carried out, where the Korea National Arboretum is located. In an investigation spanning the last eleven years (2007-2017), 22 emergence holes, nine pupal chambers, six adults, and two larvae of C. relictus were identified. In this study, biological information about habitation of C. relictus is provided by comparing and combining the results of this investigation with a survey conducted in Ussurisky Nature Reserve, Russia, in 2015. The distribution is also reviewed to include the Korean Peninsula and a new location of South Korea is added to the distribution for C. relictus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flora of Jeokgeunsan Mountain forest genetic resources protection zone was identified and the major flora distribution examined. From May 2011 to September 2012, the flora was made up of taxonomic groups including 84 families, 283 genera, 432 species, four subspecies, 59 varieties, and six forma. Eleven families and 16 taxonomic groups were endemic plants to Korea, and 13 taxonomic groups were rare flora of Korea designated by the National Forest Service. Eight families and 24 taxonomic groups for naturalized plants were confirmed and the naturalization rate was 4.8%. Out of 501 taxonomic groups, 404 were resource plants of which 208 (41.5%) were edible plants, 152 (30.3%) were medicinal plants, 199 (39.7%) were herbaceous plants, and 55 (11.0%) were ornamental plants.

This study was performed to investigate the distribution of vascular plants and the characteristics of naturalized plants in Dokdo Island, South Korea. The survey was conducted a total of 5 times from June 2012 to September 2013. The number of plants confirmed in this study was 60 taxa in total: 29 families, 49 genera, 55 species, 2 subspecies and 3 varieties. To classify them by regional groups, 53 taxa were confirmed in the Dongdo and 38 taxa were confirmed in the Seodo. Among them, the distribution of Stellaria neglecta Weihe and Puccinellia nipponica Ohwi was first discovered in this study. The naturalized plants distributed in Dokdo was 7 taxa: Chenopodium album L., Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Sonchus oleraceus L., Ipomoea purpurea Roth, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., etc. Overall, concerns over the naturalized plants in Dokdo are high regardless of the scale of their distribution and the appearance frequency.

This study was conducted 13 surveys from 2007 through 2012. The surveys on the entire plants distribution in the Ungseokbong Mountain found 491 taxa in total: 99 families, 290 genera, 419 species, 3 subspecies, 61 varieties, and 8 forms. 1,211 specimens were secured as evidence. In particular, 11 taxa of the rare plants which were designated by the Korea Forest Service were confirmed, and 12 taxa of the endemic plants were confirmed in this study. Those plants above Class III of the specific plants designated by the Ministry of Environment were confirmed 19 taxa. Among them, in particular, it was confirmed that Kirengeshoma koreana Nakai has a new habitat in the Unseokbong. Naturalized plants included 34 taxa accounting for 6.9% were representatively confirmed.

This study was conducted to examine the distribution of vascular plants along the altitudinal gradient and investigation routes of Gyebangsan (Mt.) in Korea. The total number of flora of Gyebangsan (Mt.) was 510 taxa in total, comprising 83 families, 283 genera, 449 species, four subspecies, 52 varieties and five forms. In the flora of this area, 14 taxa were Korean endemic plants and 17 taxa were rare plants. Naturalized plants in Korea numbered 27 taxa. The number of vascular plants monotonically decreased with increasing altitude. In contrast, the rare plants mostly increased with increasing altitude. The endemic plants of Korea did not show any special pattern by altitude gradient. The naturalized plants were mainly distributed at the open area below 1000 m.

To study the distribution of vascular plants in Banronsan (Mt.) located in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. The vascular flora in Banronsan (Mt.) were surveyed a total of four times-three times from May 2010 to October 2010, and once in August 2012. This result revealed 447 taxa in total: 89 families, 278 genera, 390 species, four subspecies, 47 varieties, and six form. In the flora of this area, 15 taxa were Korean endemic plants including Aconitum pseudolaeve Nakai, Lysimachia coreana Nakai, and Saussurea macrolepis (Nakai) Kitam., and 17 taxa were rare and endangered plants of Korea including Astragalus koraiensis Y.N. Lee, Pseudostellaria japonica Pax, and Paeonia japonica (Makino) Miyabe and Takeda. Three taxa were found as a special forest conservation species designated by the Korea Forest Service including Delphinium maackianum Regel and Daphne pseudomezereum var. koreana (Nakai) Hamaya. Besides, 76 taxa were found to be specific floristic plants designated by the Ministry of Environment, whereas naturalized plants in this area were 32 taxa. Resource plants were categorized by usage into eight groups: 189 edible, four fiber, 127 medical, 48 ornamental, 150 pasturing, three industrial, 10 dyeing, and eight timber plants.

A newly reported species of Poaceae, Eragrostis aquatica, is reported from South Korea, which was collected from Naejang and Sucheong reservoir, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do. E. aquatica is known to be an endemic plant in Japan, but its distribution in South Korea was confirmed in the present study. It can be distinguished from Eragrostis pilosa and Eragrostis multicaulis by its habit and morphological characteristics, with perennial and spikelets 1.5-2.0 mm wide.