• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 2000

Background : Pulmonary complications following bonemarrow transplantation (BMT) are common and associated with a high mortality rate. We investigated the yield, safety, and impact of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) for diagnosis of postBMT pneumoniae. Methods : From May 1997 to April 2000, 56 FOBs were performed in 52 post BMT patients for clinical pneumoniae. BMT patients with respiratory symptoms and/or pulmonary infiltrates had a thoracic HRCT(high resolution computed tomography) and bronchoscopic examination including BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage), TBLB (transbronchial lung biopsy), PSB (protected specimen brush). Results : The characteristics of the subjects were as follows : 37 males, 15 females, mean age of 31.3 years(l7-45), 35 sibling donor allogenic BMTs, 15 nonrelated donor allogenic BMTs, and 2 autologous BMTs. Fiftynine percent of FOBs (33 FOBs, 31 patients) were diagnostic. Isolated pathogens included the following : 12 cytomegalovirus (CMV) (21.4 %), 7 pneumocystis carinii (PC) (12.5 %), 11 CMV with PC (19.6 %), 2 Mycobacaterium tuberculosis (3.6%), and 1 streptococcus (1.8%). Most of the radiographic findings were diffuse interstitial lesions. CMV pneumoniae had mainly diffuse interstitial nodular lesion, and PC pneumoniae had diffuse, interstitial ground glass opacity(GGO). When CMV was accompanied by PC, a combined pattern of nodular and GGO was present. Of the 56 cases (23.2%), 13 died of CMV pneumoniae (n=2), PCP (n=2),mixed infection with CMV and PC (n=3), underlying GVHD (n=1), underlying leukemia progression (n=1), or respiratory failure of unknown origin (n=4). There was no major complication by bronchoscopy. Only 3 cases developed minor bleeding and 1 episode temporary hypoxemia. Conclusion : Based on our findings, CMV and PC are the major causes of postBMT pneumoniae. In addition, BAL can be considered a safe and accurate procedure for the evaluation of pulmonary complications after BMT.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2005

This Study was conducted to investigate the effects of microbial phytase in low phosphirus and calcium level diet on the performance and nutrient digestibility in laying hens. One hundred ninety two, 50 wks old, ISA brown commerical layers were used for 12 weeks feeding trial after 7-d adjustment period. Four dietary treatments included CON(control; Co.), P2 ($0.06\%$ Natuphos, BASF) and P3 ($0.06\%$ PHOSMAX, GENOFOCUS). Ca and available P concentrations of P1, P2 and P3 were 90 and $50\%$ of NRC recommecdations to accentuate difference in response to phytase availability. In whole period, egg production was not affected by treatments. At 12 weeks, egg weight was significantly increased in adding phytase treatments (P<0.05). Egg shell thickness was increased in P1, P2 and P3 treatments compared with control (P<0.05) at 9 weeks. Ca concentration of serum tended to decrease in P1 treatment without significant difference (P>0.05). Ca and P concentrations of tibia were higher in layers fed dietary phyrase than those fed control diet without significant difference (P>0.05). Digestibilities of DM, N and ash were improved in P1 treatment compared with P2 and P3 treatments (P<0.05). Ca and P digestibilities were the highest in P2 treatment (P>0.05), but was not significant difference between control and P1 treatments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.313-319
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• 2020

Recently, cattle epidemic diseases are caused by a pathogen such as a virus or bacterium. Such diseases can spread through various pathways, such as feed intake, respiration, and contact between livestock. Diagnosis based on the ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) methods has limitations because these traditional diagnostic methods are time consuming assays that require multiple steps and dedicated equipment. In this review, we propose the use of the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) Cas system based on DNA and RNA levels for early point-of-care diagnosis in cattle. In the CRISPR/Cas system, Cas effectors are classified into two classes and six subtypes. The Cas effectors included in class 2 are typically Cas9 in type II, Cas12 in type V (Cas12a and Cas12b) and Cas13 in type VI (Cas13a and Cas13b). The CRISPR/Cas system uses reporter molecules that are attached to the ssDNA strands. When the Cas enzyme cuts the ssDNA, these reporters either fluoresce or change color, indicating the presence of a specific disease marker. There are several steps in the development of a CRISPR/Cas system. The first is to select the Cas enzyme depending on DNA or RNA from pathogens (viruses or bacteria). Based on that, the next step is to integrate the optimal amplification, transducing method, and signal reporter. The CRISPR/Cas system is a powerful diagnostic tool using a gene-editing method, which is faster, better, and cheaper than traditional methods. This system could be used for early diagnosis of epidemic cattle diseases and help to control their spread.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 1999

Backgrounds : The advent of penicillin has led to the marked reduction in the mortality from pneumococcal bacteremia, however, the mortality is still relatively high in this post-antibiotic era. Actually the prevalence of infection due to penicillin-resistant penumococci is increasing worldwide, and it is especially high in Korea due to irrelevant use of antibiotics. So, the high mortality of pneumococcal sepsis might be related to the emergence of penicillin-resistant strains, however, many other antibiotics, which eradicate pneumococci effectively, are available in these days. This has led us to suspect the role of penicillin-resistance in the high mortality rate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of penicillin resistance on the mortality of patients with penumococcal bacte remia. Methods: The study population consisted of 50 adult patients with penumococcal bacteremia who were admitted between Jan, 1990 and July, 1997. Medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Most of the patients (96%) had underlying diseases. The most common local disease associated with pneumococcal bacteremia was pneumonia (42%), which was followed by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (14%), cholangitis (10%), meningitis (8%), liver abscess (4%), pharyngotonsillitis (4%), sinusitis (2%) and cellulitis (2%). While the overall case-fatality rate in this study was 24%, it was higher when peumococcal bacteremia was associated with pneumonia (42%) or meningitis (50%). The rate of penicillin resistance was 40%, which was increased rapidly from 1991. The rate of penicillin resistance was significantly higher in patients with the history of recent antibiotics use and hospitalization within 3 months respectively. The clinical manifestations, that is, age, severity of underlying diseases, nosocomial infection, associated local diseases, and the presence of shock or acute renal failure were not statistically different between the patients with penicillin-resistant and -sensitive pneumococcal bacteremia. The mortality of patients infected with penicillin-resistant pneumococci was not statistically different from those with penicillin-sensitive pneumococcal bacteremia. Conclusion: Penicillin resistance is not associated with high mortality in adult patients with pneumococcal bacteremia. As the overall mortality is high, active penumococcal vaccination is recommended in patients with high risk of infection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2001

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical features of hospitalized infants 28~90 days of age with fever without source and to analyze those of young febrile infants using risk criteria for serious bacterial infection. Methods : The clinical features of 131 infants 28~90 days of age admitted to the Ulsan Dong-Kang General Hospital Pediatric Department because of fever(temperature ${\geq}38^{\circ}C$ rectally) without source, from January 2000 to December 2000, were investigated by retrospective chart review. The clinical features of 131 febrile infants were analyzed using Rochester criteria. Results : Among 131 cases, there were 60 cases(45.8%) of urinary tract infection, 33 cases (25.2%) of aseptic meningitis, 2 cases(1.5%) of bacteremia and 36 cases(27.5%) of no specific diagnosis. Among 131 cases, there were 57 cases(43.5%) in low risk group and 74 cases(56.5%) in not low risk one by Rochester criteria. A significant difference in the incidence of urinary tract infection, aseptic meningitis and no specific diagnosis was not found between both groups. Male to female ratio was 1.8 : 1. Sex ratio between both groups was not significantly different. Most febrile infant were noted in spring(35.1%) and the summer(36.7%). The peak incidence of aseptic meningitis was noted in May and June. The fever subsided mostly within 48~72 hours after administering antimicrobial agents(61.8~83.2%). A significant difference in duration of fever after administering antimicrobial agents was not found between both groups. Conclusion : A selected group of low risk infants 28~90 days of age with fever without source can be managed as outpatients provided that a thorough initial evaluation is performed, that parents can reliably monitor their infant closely at home and that careful follow up can be assured. Because bag collected specimens were more likely to yield indeterminate urine culture result, a suprapubic or catheter obtained urine specimen for culture is a necessary part of the evaluation of all febrile infants 28~90 days of age. The further prospective study on evaluation and management of young febrile infant should be performed in our hospital.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.240-247
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• 2010

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram (-) opportunistic human pathogen causing a wide variety of infections on lung, urinary tract, eyes, and burn wound sites and quorum sensing (QS), a cell density-sensing mechanism plays an essential role in Pseudomonas pathogenesis. In order to investigate the importance of QS in the Pseudomonas infections of Korean patients, we isolated 189 clinical strains of P. aeruginosa from the patients in Pusan Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea. The QS signal production of these clinical isolates was measured by signal diffusion assay on solid media using reporter strains. While most clinical strains (79.4%) produced the QS signals as similar level as a wild type strain, PAO1 did, where LasR, the initial QS signal sensor-regulator was fully activated, a minority of them (4.2%) produced much less QS signals at the level to which LasR failed to respond. Similarly, while 72.5% of the clinical isolates produced QS signals enough to activate QscR, an another QS signal sensor-regulator, some few of them (9%) produced the QS signals at much lower level where QscR was not activated. For further analysis, we selected 74 clinical strains that were obtained from the patients under suspicion of Pseudomonas infection and investigated the total protease activity that is considered important for virulence. Interestingly, significant portion of them showed very low protease activity (44.6%) or no detectable protease activity (12.2%). When the biofilm-forming ability that is considered very important in chronic infection was examined, most isolates showed lower biofilm-forming activity than PAO1. Similarly, significant portion of clinical isolates showed reduced motility (reduced swarming activity in 51.4% and reduced twitching activity in 41.9%), or non-detectable motility (swarming-negative in 28.4% and twitching-negative in 28.4%). Our result showed that the clinical isolates that produced QS signals at the similar level to wild type could have significantly reduced activities in the protease production, biofilm formation, and motility, and some clinical isolates had unique patterns of motility, biofilm formation, and protease production that are not correlated to their QS activity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.237-241
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• 2003

A case of juvenile onset generalized demodicosis of one year old, intact female Japanese Chin dog weighing 3.1kg was presented to the Small Animal Clinic of the College of Veterinary Medicine of Kyungpook National University. The diagnosis was made based on the physical examination, deep skin scrapings, hematology, serum chemistry, endocrinologic evaluation and bacterial culture. Numerous D. canis mites of various stages were observed in multiple skin scraping samples. CBC, serum chemistry, $T_3$, $T_4$ and free $T_4$ values were within normal range and Staphylococcus intermedius was isolated in bacterial culture of pustules. The dog was healthy other than skin lesions at the presentation. The three different treatment protocols were tried for the case. No clinical improvement was observed during 13 weeks of orally given daily basis ivermectin therapy at 600ug/kg and 2 weeks of spot-on weekly basis selamectin therapy at 30 mg/kg with cephalexin given orally twice a day at 25 mg/kg. However, a remarkable remission was seen by 0.1% amitraz dip on weekly basis with 4% chlorhexidine bath given twice a week. The secondary staphylococcal infection and accompanied pruritus was almost disappeared in two weeks and she was recovered clinically normal in 9 weeks of therapy. The therapy was continued for 4 more weeks to prevent relapse. The dog is clinically normal and being monitored for development of any abnormal dermatological signs for the time being.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2003

In the course of screening for antifungal agents, a bacterial strain, DM3 was isolated from a mud sample collected at Daechon in Chungnam province and identified as Bacillus licheniformis based on API 50CHB test. It has antifungal activity against 12 plant pathogenic fungi in paper disc assay. At the 95% lethal dose of gamma radiation ($^{60}Co$, 10 kGy, $D_{10}=2.32\;kGy$), the antifungal activity deficient mutant (mDM3) against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was induced From 2-D electrophoresis analysis, serine hydroxymethyltransferase (45.0 kDa), hypothetical protein(40.7 kDa), NifU protein homolog(15.4 kDa), and resolvase(12.5 kDa) homologous proteins were detected only in B. licheniformis DM3. Lysozyme(18.1 kDa) and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase(15.6 kDa) homologous proteins were expressed uniquely in B. licheniformis mDM3. Further studies are needed to reveal that these proteins from B. licheniformis DM3 could be closely related to the antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.194-198
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• 2014

Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) are emerging as important pathogens in humans and animals worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MRS in the racehorse population and in horse-related personnel in Korea. A total of 195 horses and 18 humans (eight veterinarians, three veterinary hospital staff, and seven horse-handlers) from racehorse farms in Korea were included in the study. The samples were collected from nasal cavities using bacterial transport medium and were cultivated on tryptic soy agar with 5% sheep blood for 3 days at $37^{\circ}C$ to confirm the presence of Staphylococcus spp. Presumptive Staphylococcus spp. isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis. The coagulase test and oxacillin susceptibility tests were performed using the tube dilution and disk diffusion methods, respectively. The presence of the mecA gene was determined using a polymerase chain reaction assay. Of the 195 horses, 29 (15.6%) yielded 29 MRS isolates. Twelve (66.7%) of the 18 horse-related personnel yielded 12 MRS isolates. All of the MRS isolates from horses or horse-related personnel were identified as methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS). The result of this study suggest that the prevalence of MRS increased with the duration of antibiotic use (p = 0.002). This study also provides evidence for the zoonotic transmission of MRCNS between horses and humans, although further investigations are needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1428-1433
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• 2011

In this study, we isolated and characterized plant-associated lactic acid bacteria which are able to produce angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidative activities. Five lactic acid bacteria were isolated from plants (grape and leek), a plant-associated fermentative product (Kimchi) and Korean traditional alcohol (Dongdongju). Strains K-1 and K-21 from Kimchi, strain L-5 from leek, strain G-3 from grape, and strain D-3 from Dongdongju were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Weissella cibaria, L. plantarum, and L. brevis, respectively, by 16S rRNA gene analysis. ACE inhibitory activities of isolated strains ranged from 44.3 to 71.9% in the MRS broth. G-3, L-5 and K-1 strains especially showed high ACE inhibitory activities (59.8-98.69%) in the MRS broth containing skim milk. DPPH radical scavenging activities of the strains were in the range of 42.5-82.7%. All strains showed varying levels of resistance in artificial gastric fluid (pH 2.5), retaining viability ranging from 42.2 to 88.1% after 3 hr of incubation. All strains showed high resistance to 0.3% oxgall after 24 hr of incubation; survival rates were in the range of 55.4-112.8%. Isolated strains were found to be antagonistic to some pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.