본 논문에서는 실외 대기 환경의 바이오에어로졸 혹은 입자상물질의 미생물 메타게놈 특성과 이에 영향을 미치는 기후 및 환경 인자의 영향을 고찰하였다. 시료 채취 지역 및 환경 조건 특성별 대기 중 세균과 곰팡이 농도를 요약 하고, 에어로졸과 PM 시료의 세균과 곰팡이의 메타게놈 특성을 조사하기 위한 비배양법 기반 분석방법과 메타게놈 특성을 정리하였다. 또한, 세균과 곰팡이의 메타게놈 특성과 다양성 및 특성에 미치는 기상 인자와 환경 인자의 영향을 고찰하였다. 대기 중 미생물의 생존, 생장과 분산은 지역 기상 조건 및 대기 오염 물질에 의해 크게 영향을 받았다. 일반적으로 기온이 상승함에 따라 AM 농도는 증가하지만, 여름에는 고온과 강한 자외선의 영향으로 AM 농도가 감소하였다. 습도와 미생물 농도는 양의 상관성을 보이나, 습도가 너무 높으면 AM의 분산이 지연되었다. 이러한 종합적인 고찰 결과는 대기권에서 미생물의 역할과 기능을 이해하고, 이들 미생물에 의해 야기되는 환경 및 공중보건 문제를 해결하기 위한 전략 수립 및 저감 기술 개발에 활용될 수 있다.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) are major causes of hospital- and community-acquired infections. The treatment of biofilm-related infections caused by these bacteria is a global healthcare challenge. Therefore, the development of alternative therapeutics is required. An essential oil extracted from Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) Rosc, also known as white turmeric, has been reported to possess various antimicrobial activities. In the present study, we evaluated the antibiofilm activities of an ethanolic extract of the CZ rhizome against MRSA and MSSA. The results showed that the CZ extract with the highest sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC), 1/2 MIC (0.312 mg/ml), significantly inhibited biofilm production by up to 80-90% in both tested strains. Subsequently, we evaluated the ability of the CZ extract to prevent cell-surface attachment to a 96-well plate and extracellular DNA (eDNA) release from the biofilm. The CZ extract demonstrated an inhibitory effect on bacterial attachment and eDNA release from the biofilm biomass. The CZ extract may inhibit biofilm formation by preventing eDNA release and cell-surface attachment. Therefore, this CZ extract is a potential candidate for the development of alternative treatments for biofilm-associated MRSA and MSSA infections.

Aflatoxin contamination in rice has been documented in a number of studies, and has a high incidence in Asian countries, and as such, there has been a growing interest in alternative biocontrol strategies to address this issue. In this study, 147 strains of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were screened for their potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) active against Aspergillus flavus strains that produce aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Five strains within four different genera showed greater than 50% growth inhibition of some strains of A. flavus. These were Anthracocystis sp. DMKU-PAL124, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144, Rhodotorula sp. DMKU-PAL99, and Solicococcus keelungensis DMKU-PAL84. VOCs produced by these microorganisms ranged from 4 to 14 compounds and included alcohols, alkenes, aromatics, esters and furans. The major VOCs produced by the closely related Aureobasidium strains were found to bedistinct. Moreover, 2-phenylethanol was the most abundant compound generated by Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, while methyl benzeneacetate was the major compound emitted from Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144. On the other hand, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were significant compounds produced by the other three genera. These antagonists apparently inhibited A. flavus sporulation and mycelial development. Additionally, the reduction of the AFB1 in the fungal-contaminated rice grains was observed after co-incubation with these VOC-producing strains and ranged from 37.7 ± 8.3% to 60.3 ± 3.4%. Our findings suggest that these same microorganisms are promising biological control agents for use against aflatoxin-producing fungi in rice and other agricultural products.

차아염소산나트륨(NaClO)은 병원 및 식품산업 분야에서 널리 사용되는 소독제로 세균, 곰팡이, 바이러스에 대해서도 항균 활성이 있다. 차아염소산나트륨의 항균 활성은 용액의 pH에 의해 조절되는 안정적인 HClO 농도의 유지에 있다. 차아염소산(HClO)은 화학적으로 중성이므로 세균의 막에 쉽게 침투할 수 있으며 차아염소산나트륨의 항균 활성은 차아염소산염 이온(ClO^-)보다는 용액 내 HClO 농도에 의존하리라 사료된다. 본 연구에서 pH 조절에 따른 차아염소산나트륨의 항균 활성을 time kill test와 차아염소산나트륨 처리 전후의 활성산소종(ROS) 및 ATP 농도 변화로 조사하였다. 또한 전계방출형 주사 전자 현미경(FE-SEM)을 통하여 세포벽의 파괴정도를 확인하였다. pH 5 조건에서 5 ppm 차아염소산나트륨은 Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) 균에 대하여 99.9%의 항균 활성을 나타내었고, ROS 생성량은 pH 7 조건보다 48% 증가하였다. 또한, pH 5 조건의 차아염소산나트륨에 노출된 E. coli와 S. aureus의 ATP 농도가 각각 94%와 91% 감소하였다. FE-SEM 결과, pH 5 조건에 노출된 균의 세포벽이 파괴된 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구결과를 종합해보면, pH를 조절하는 것 만으로 5 ppm 농도의 차아염소산나트륨의 항균 활성을 향상시킬 수 있음을 시사한다.

Glycosylation of aesculetin was performed using amylosucrase from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis DSM 11300 to improve the solubility and biological activity of aesculetin. A newly synthesized aesculetin glycoside was identified as α-cichoriin (aesculetin 7-α-D-glucoside) by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The solubility of α-cichoriin was 11 times higher than that of aesculetin because of the attached glucose moiety. Aesculetin and α-cichoriin had no significant effect on the proliferation of normal cells, such as RAW 264.7, but they showed a cell proliferation inhibitory effect on B16F10 melanoma cells. Unlike treatment with aesculetin and α-cichoriin, aesculin (aesculetin 6-β-D-glucoside) showed no antiproliferative activity in B16F10 cells. Based on the molecular structures of aesculin and α-cichoriin, the position where glucose binds to aesculetin and the anomeric configuration between glucose and aesculetin are thought to be important for exerting an antiproliferative effect on the B16F10 cell line. Based on these results, we propose that α-cichoriin, the α-glycosylated form of aesculetin, may serve as a model for developing phytochemical analogs with therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases associated with tumor cell proliferation without cytotoxicity to normal cells.

Helianthus tuberosus is perennial plant as Compositae family and is shown various physiological activities such as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, aperient, cholagogue, diuretic, spermatogenic, stomachic, and tonic effects. In this study, we investigated the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects of pancake mixture powder (PM) supplemented with H. tuberosus (PMH) in rat skeletal muscle L6 cells and murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. PM and PMH inhibited in vitro α-glucosidase activity. Glucose consumption was increased by PM and PMH without cytotoxicity in rat myoblast L6 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PM and PMH down-regulated glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β activation in L6 cells. PM and PMH inhibited inflammatory mediator, nitric oxide (NO) production without cytotoxicity in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects of PMH was more stronger than those of PM. Anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects of PMH would be due to functional characteristics of the supplemented H. tuberosus and the presence of garlic and onion used as ingredients of PM. Taken together, our results that addition of functional materials such as H. tuberosus in product has synergic effects and PMH is potential candidate for treatment of diabetes through inhibiting inflammation.

Psychrophiles have evolved to produce cold-adapted enzymes to enable survival in low-temperature environments. In this study, the cold adaptation of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CpsEPSPS) from Colwellia psychrerythraea, a model psychrophile, was analyzed. The optimum temperature for the activity of CpsEPSPS was found to be 25℃, with 35% activity remaining at 5℃. However, the unfolding temperature of CpsEPSPS was 54℃. This phenomenon is frequently observed in cold-active enzymes. As is the cases for most cold-active enzymes, the K_m values of CpsEPSPS for its substrates were higher than those of Escherichia coli EPSPS. These results indicate that CpsEPSPS is cold-adapted, but not perfectly.

Precisely reliable and quantitative reporters can provide phenotypes that are consistent with research goals in protein expression. Here, we developed an improved reporter mATglu III 5 by directed evolution using a versatile β-glucosidase ATglu derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. When expressed in hosts, a vector containing this mutant distinctly showed a colored or fluorescent phenotype, according to the supplemented substrate, without any inducer. Analysis of mATglu III 5 showed it to be fully functional in fusion state with oligomeric proteins, especially under non-induction conditions, thereby offering an alternative to conventional reporters.

Cellulases are a group of biocatalyst enzymes that are capable of degrading cellulosic biomass present in the natural environment and produced by a large number of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, etc. In the current study, we isolated, screened and characterized cellulase-producing bacteria from soil. Three cellulose-degrading species were isolated based on clear zone using Congo red stain on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plates. These bacterial isolates, named as HB2, HS5 and HS9, were subsequently characterized by morphological and biochemical tests as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, the bacterial isolates were identified as Bacillus cerus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stratosphericus. Moreover, for maximum cellulase production, different growth parameters were optimized. Maximum optical density for growth was also noted at pH 7.0 for 48 h for all three isolates. Optical density was high for all three isolates using meat extract as a nitrogen source for 48 h. The pH profile of all three strains was quite similar but the maximum enzyme activity was observed at pH 7.0. Maximum cellulase production by all three bacterial isolates was noted when using lactose as a carbon rather than nitrogen and peptone. Further studies are needed for identification of new isolates in this region having maximum cellulolytic activity. Our findings indicate that this enzyme has various potential industrial applications.

Actinomycetes isolated from marine habitats represent a promising source of bioactive substances. Here, we report on the isolation, identification, productivity enhancement and application of the bioactive compounds of Streptomyces qinglanensis H4. Eighteen marine actinomycetes were isolated and tested for resistance to seven bacterial diseases. Using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis (GenBank accession number MW563772), the most powerful isolate was identified as S. qinglanensis. Although the strain produced active compound(s) against a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, it failed to inhibit pathogenic fungi. The obtained inhibition zones were 22.0 ± 1.5, 20.0 ± 1, 16.0 ± 1, 12.0 ± 1, 22.0 ± 1 and 24.0 ± 1 mm against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli ATCC 19404, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, respectively. To maximize bioactive compound synthesis, the Plackett-Burman design was used. The productivity increased up to 0.93-fold, when S. qinglanensis was grown in optimized medium composed of: (g/l) starch 30; KNO₃ 0.5; K₂HPO₄ 0.25; MgSO₄ 0.25; FeSO₄·7H₂O, 0.01; sea water concentration (%) 100; pH 8.0, and an incubation period of 9 days. Moreover, the anticancer activity of S. qinglanensis was tested against two different cell lines: HepG2 and CACO. The inhibition activities were 42.96 and 57.14%, respectively. Our findings suggest that the marine S. qinglanensis strain, which grows well on tailored medium, might be a source of bioactive substances for healthcare companies.

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

본 연구는 한국, 중국 등 극동아시아의 온대지역에서 재배되고 우리나라에서는 콩 다음으로 수요가 많은 팥 껍질(Phaseolus angularis shell)의 미백 효과를 검증하여 화장품 소재로서의 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 팥 껍질의 효능을 screening 하기 위하여 효소 실험인 tyrosinase 저해활성을 측정한 결과 1,000 ㎍/ml의 농도에서 76.39%의 저해활성을 나타내었다. 이후 멜라노마 세포의 생존율을 측정하여 팥 껍질이 세포에 독성을 미치지 않는 생존율 90% 이상의 농도에서 세포 실험을 진행하였다. 팥 껍질 추출물이 멜라닌 합성에 영향을 미치는 인자인 MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase 단백질 및 mRNA 발현 억제 효과를 측정한 결과 모든 인자에서 발현량이 감소하였으며 대조군으로 사용된 kojic acid와 비교하였을 때 발현 정도가 유의하거나 더 감소한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과, 팥 껍질 추출물의 미백 활성이 우수하다는 것을 확인할 수 있었으며 이는 미백 기능성화장품 소재로서 활용 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Colibactins (clb) and Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factors (cnf) are virulence factors that impact cell cycle through cellular differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common among type of infection among outpatients, with a lifetime incidence of about 60-65% in adult females. Here, we sought to isolate uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPCE) from urine specimens and investigates the prevalence of clb A, B and cnf 1, 2 genes among these isolates. A total of 110 E. coli isolates were collected from patients with UTIs. All the isolates were examined for their hemolytic activity and only 46 isolates showed a halo zone of hemolysis on blood agar. The collected UPEC isolates were screened for the existence of clb A, B and cnf genes. The results revealed that out of 110 isolates, 28 harbored the clbA gene, 40 harbored clb B, and 24 isolates harboured cnf1. 13 isolates harbored clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes, while no cnf2 gene was detected among isolates. The molecular detection revealed that 8 out of 28 hemolytic isolates carrying the clbA, 11 out of 40 were carrying clbB, 1 out of 24 were carrying cnf 1, and 5 out of 9 carrying clbA+clbB. Furthermore, 7 out of 13 isolates were hemolytic and carrying clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes. Finally, we investigated the cytotoxicity of E. coli harboring clb and cnf genes, eukaryotic REF cells were exposed to E. coli producing colibactin, which induces DNA damage and leads to cell cycle arrest, senescence and death.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) regulates the immune system, including inflammatory responses, through TLR2-mediated signaling pathways. LTA isolated from Staphylococcus aureus (aLTA) has been shown to induce apoptosis, but the detailed mechanism has not been identified. We found that aLTA induced apoptosis through an autocrine mechanism in the human monocyte-like cell line, THP-1. We observed that the expression level of the anti-apoptosis protein, Bcl2, was suppressed in LTA-treated THP-1 cells. In addition, the cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ, which have been shown to induce apoptosis in some cell lines, were involved in THP-1 cell death via the modulation of Bcl2. The suppression of Bcl2 by aLTA was recovered when the negative regulator, SOCS-1, was knocked down. Taken together, these results showed that aLTA induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells through an autocrine mechanism of cytokines and SOCS-1-mediated Bcl2 inhibition.

본 연구에서는 제럼본에 처리에 의해 유도된 H. pylori 유전자의 전사적 변화를 분석하였다. NGS를 사용하여 RNA 발현 변화를 분석한 다음 그 결과를 검증하기 위해 RT-PCR을 수행하였다. NGS 분석 결과, 1,632개의 유전자 중 총 23개가 제럼본 처리에 의해 유의하게 발현이 변화된 특이발현 유전자로 분석되었다. DNA 복제와 전사, 병원성 인자 및 T4SS 성분과 관련된 유전자 중 10개는 현저하게 하향 조절되었고 5개는 상향 조절되었다. RT-PCR을 이용하여 유전자의 발현 수준을 재확인하였고 그 결과, 14개 유전자에서 NGS와 동일하게 발현 양상이 변화하였다. RT-PCR은 제럼본 처리에 의해 10개의 유전자(dnaE, dnaQ, rpoA, rpoD, secA, flgE, flhA, virB5, virB8, virB9)의 발현 감소와 4개의 유전자(flaA, flaB, virB4, virD4)의 발현 증가를 보였다. 이러한 본 연구의 결과는 제럼본이 다양한 H. pylori의 병원성과 관련된 인자들을 조절함으로써 H. pylori 감염의 잠재적인 치료제가 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

The fruits of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) (PT) Steud. have been reported to exert a variety of biological activities. A previous study confirmed that compounds isolated from PT fruits (PTF) exerted anti-inflammatory effects on TNF-α-stimulated airway epithelial cells. However, there is no report on the protective effects of PTF on acute lung injury (ALI). Here, we examined the ameliorative effects of PTF in an experimental animal model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. In ALI mice, increased levels of inflammatory cell influx were confirmed in the lungs of mice, and an increase of microphage numbers, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 production and protein content were detected in mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, these increases were significantly reversed with PTF pretreatment. In addition, PTF inhibited the increased expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the lungs of ALI mice. Furthermore, the upregulation of MAPK and NF-κB activation was decreased in the lungs of ALI mice by PTF. In the in vitro experiment, PTF pretreatment exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the secretion of nitric oxide, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Collectively, these results indicated that PTF has ameliorative effects on airway inflammation in an experimental animal model of ALI.