• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2019

Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HT) is prescribed in oriental medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases. This study examined the anti-bacterial effect to select the index components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) HT. The disc diffusion method and minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) tests were conducted to measure the antibacterial activity of HT. The strains were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli 23724. Berberine and geniposide were selected as the index components of HT and were analyzed quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As a result, the inhibition ring was formed at $11.7{\pm}1.3mm$ and $8.7{\pm}0.7mm$ at HT 20 mg and 10 mg on S.aureus ATCC 25923, respectively; and $8.0{\pm}0.0mm$ at HT 20 mg on E.coli ATCC 23724. The MIC were 31.25 mg/mL in S.aureus ATCC 25923 and 125.0 mg/mL in E.coli ATCC 23724. In quantitative analysis for standardization, HT contained 16.55 mg/g of berberine and 81.85 mg/g of geniposide. Overall, when antibiotics are developed using natural products, they may reduce the side effects and inhibit resistant bacteria. If research on HT continuously proceeds, positive developments are expected to be made in oriental medicine as well as in various other industries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2023

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides synthesized on ribosomes, produced by bacteria, that inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial strains. Since the discovery of nisin, many bacteriocins with unique structures and various modes of antibacterial activity have been described, and genes encoding production, secretion, and immunity have been reported. Nisin is one of the bacteriocins applied in cheese, liquid eggs, sauces and canned foods. Many of the bacteriocins of the genus Bacillus belong to lantibiotics, which are modified peptides after translation. Other genus Bacillus also produce many non-lantibiotic bacteriocins. Bacteriocins of the genus Bacillus are sometimes becoming more important because of their broader antibacterial spectrum. Bacteriocins are considered attractive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industries to prevent food spoilage and growth of pathogenic bacteria. Bacteriocins can be used as biological preservatives in a variety of ways in the food system. Biopreservation refers to extending shelf life and improving safety of foods using microorganisms and/or their metabolites. The demand for new antimicrobial compounds has generated great interest in new technologies that can improve food microbiological safety. Applications of bacteriocins are expanding from food to human health. Today, many researchers are shifting their interest in bacteriocins from food preservation to the treatment of bacteria that cause infections and antibiotic-resistant diseases. This exciting new era in bacteriocin research will undoubtedly lead to new inventions and new applications. In this review, we summarize the various properties and applications of bacteriocins produced by the genus Bacillus.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to confirm the epidemiologic change of the causative organisms of neonatal and pediatric bacterial meningitis in Korea. And we tried to evaluate the risk factors correlated with prognosis which was available on the day of admission. Methods : Retrospectively, we reviewed the medical records of 57 patients admitted for bacterial meningitis at six hospitals affiliated with Catholic Medical Center for 6 years(Jan. 2000~Dec. 2005). Results : 22 cases(38.6%) of them were neonates under 28 days and 35 cases were infants and children ; 16 cases(28.1%), under 1 year ; 6 cases(10.5%), under 5 years ; 13 cases (22.8%), under 15 years. In neonates, 16 cases(72.7%) were caused by group B streptococcus (GBS). In infants and children, S. pneumoniae(25.7%), H. influenzae type b(Hib)(22.8%) and N. meningitidis(22.8%) were common cause of bacterial meningitis in order. In the informations available on the day of admission, weight deficit for age under 3 percentile, increased CRP level and decreased glucose level of CSF were related to poor prognosis(P<0.05). Conclusion : GBS became a leading cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis. Though, pneumoccocal, Hib and meningococcal meningitis were confirmed as major causes of bacterial meningitis. The routine immunization of pneumococcal and Hib vaccines will be considered, and it is necessary to introduce meningococcal vaccines to our country in the future.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1999

To improve Bacillus strains producing biopolymer, conditions for protoplast formation and regeneration were investigated in biopolymer producing Bacillus subtilis K-1 and lactose utilizing Bacillus coagulans. Bacillus subtilis K-1 mutant (SM-2) and Bacillus coagulans mutants (CM-12) were marked auxotrophic and antibiotics-resistant (SM-2) and an antibiotics-resistant mutants, respectively. To formate protoplasts derived from the mutants, conditions were established as follows. For B. subtilis mutant SM-2, its culture in mid-logarithmic phase was added with penicillin G (1.0 unit/ml) and further reacted for 1.5 hr. Cells were collected and then treated in lysis fluid (pH 7.0) containing 0.4 M sucrose and lysozyme $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ for 40 min at $37^{\circ}$. Protoplast formation was very successful (99.6%) and the ratio of cell wall regeneration was 2.4%. For Bacillus coagulans mutant CM-12, its mid-logarithmic phase culture was treated with penicillin G (0.3 unit/ml) and glycine (0.5%) for 1hr. Cells were collected and then resuspended in lysis buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.6 M lactose and lysozyme $(300\;{\mu}g/ml)$ for 30 min at $37^{\circ}$. Protoplast formation was also successful (90.8%) and cell wall regeneration ratio was similar to SM-2 (2.2%). To improve regeneration frequency, regeneration medium was obtained as followed condition,. Cell wall regeneration was improved 2-4 folds with 5.1% for B. subtilis SM-2 and 10.3% for B. coagulans CM-12 when protoplasts mixed with soft top agar(0.4%) was overlaid onto trypticase soy broth medium containing 0.4 M sucrose, 0.7% casamino acid, 1% PVP, 25 mM $MgCl_2,\;25\;mM\;CaCl_₂$ and 1.5% agar.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.274-277
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• 2019

Ruminococcus sp. KGMB03662 was isolated from fecal samples obtained from a healthy Korean. The whole-genome sequence of Ruminococcus sp. KGMB03662 was analyzed using the PacBio Sequel platform. The genome comprises a 2,707,502 bp chromosome with a G + C content of 43.09%, 2,484 total genes, 2,367 protein-coding gene, 14 rRNA genes, and 53 tRNA genes. In the draft genome, genes involved in the hydrolysis enzyme, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolite, antibiotic biosynthesis, and antibiotic resistance have been identified. Those genes of KGMB03662 may be related to the regulation of human health and disease.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2006

Purpose : Shigellosis is still an important cause of acute food-borne diarrheal diseases throughout the world. We investigated the transmission routes and clinical course through the outbreak of shigellosis in Mapo-Gu, Seoul. Methods : From October 7th to November 19th in 2005, Mapo-Gu public health center had referred 32 patients with confirmed or suspected shigellosis to the National Medical Center. We had investigated source of infection, epidemiology, laboratory findings, and clinical course of the cases occurred during this outbreak. Results : Among 32 patients, 24 patients had been confirmed with shigellosis, 8 patients had been diagnosed with suspected shigellosis. They ranged in age from 5 months to 12 years old and their mean age was 6.5 years. The clinical manifestations were as follows; diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and asymptomatic condition. Symptoms had sustained for 3.7 days on the average. S. sonnei were cultured by rectal swab and founded to be resistant to ampicillin and TMP/SMX except to 3rd generation cephalosporin. After treatment with antibiotics such as cefixime and ceftriaxone or imipenem and conservative treatment with electrolyte and fluid replacement for 5~7 days, Stool cultures of the rectal swab grew no Shigella in these cases except 3 cases. Conclusion : An outbreak of shigellosis had occurred in a preschool and elementary school children. From the same results of antimicrobial susceptibility and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns in this study, we suggest that the outbreak of shigellosis in this report had been originated from a single strain. According to all negative results about suspected food and water cultures, we couldn't find out source of infection. Through materials offerred by Mapo-Gu Public Health Center, we presumed the trasmission routes probably were person-to-person.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2010

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the clinical and phylogenetic characteristics of Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infections (E. coli UTI). Methods : We enrolled patients with culture-proven E. coli UTI, who were admitted at the study hospital from September 2008 to August 2009. We investigated clinical data of patients with E. coli UTI and characteristics of isolated E. coli strains. The phylogenetic groups were classified using triplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the distribution of nine virulent genes was determined by multiplex PCR. Results : A total of 47 patients have participated in this study. Thirty (63.8%) were under 6 months; eight (17.0%) were between 6-12 months; and nine (19.1%) were over 12 months. We compared two age groups between under 6-month and over 6-month. In the age group under 6-month, higher proportion of male (P =0.002) and group B2 strains (P =0.020) were observed. In contrast, higher proportion of female and group non-B2 strains were observed in age group over 6-month. Frequencies of papC, papGII, papGIII, sfa/foc, hlyC, cnf1, fyuA, iroN and iucC were estimated as 68.1%, 57.4%, 42.6%, 46.8%, 46.8%, 31.9%, 87.2%, 48.9% and 63.8%, respectively. In the comparison of phylogenetic groups, group B2 showed higher distribution of virulent genes, while group D included more strains resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) than other groups. Conclusion : We showed the age group-specific difference in the distribution of sex ratios and phylogenetic groups; more male and group B2 strains in age group under 6-month, while more female and group non-B2 in age group over 6-month. However, further evaluation including larger number of patients will be necessary to confirm above thesis in future molecular epidemiological studies.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

Secondary metabolism in actinomycetes has been known to be controlled by a small molecule, ${\gamma}$-butyrolactone autoregulator, the binding of which to each corresponding receptor leads to the regulation of the transcriptional expression of the secondary metabolites. We expected that expression of an autoregulator receptor or a pleiotropic regulator in a non-host was to be gained insight of effective production of new metabolic materials. In order to study the function of the receptor protein (seaR), which is isolated from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we introduced the seaR gene to Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) as host strains. An effective transformation procedure for S. coelicolor A3(2) was established based on transconjugation by Escherichia coli ET12567/pUZ8002 with a ${\varphi}C31$-derived integration vector, pSET152, which contained int, oriT, attP and $ermEp^*$ (erythromycin promotor). Therefore, the pEV615 was introduced into S. coelicolor A3(2) by conjugation and integrated at the attB locus in the chromosome of the recipients by the ${\varphi}C31$ integrase (int) function. Exconjugant of S. coelicolor A3(2) containing the seaR gene was confirmed by PCR and transcriptional expression of the seaR gene in the transformant was analyzed by RT-PCR. In case of S. coelicolor A3(2), a phenotype microarray was used to analyze the phenotype of transformant compared with wild type by seaR expression. After that, in order to confirm the accuracy of the results obtained from the phenotype microarray, an antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out. This test indicated that sensitivity of the transformant was higher than wild type in tetracycline case. These results indicated that some biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline biosynthesis in transformant might be repressed by seaR expression. Therefore, subsequent experiments, analysis of transcriptional pattern of genes for tetracycline production or resistance, are needed to confirm whether biosynthesis genes or resistance genes for tetracycline are repressed or not.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1168-1175
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• 2017

Probiotics are usually defined as intestinal bacteria that provide healthy benefit to the host and may offer new therapeutic materials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus are known as typical probiotics. But, these bacteria have mostly a weak viability and thus decreased probiotics-mediated effects in the intestinal tract. Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease, which is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including cytokine and IgE. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and disregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially mast cells, monocytes, T cells, eosinophils and neutrophils in asthma. We performed these studies as in vitro and in vivo test the human inflammatory cell lines and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. And then the inhibitory effects of Enterococcus faecalis whole extract on inflammatory responses were examined. For our examinations, the E. faecalis whole extract (Ef extract) was acquired from whole bacteria of E. faecalis using freeze/thawing after ultrasonication method. As results, OVA-mediated THP-1 cell viability was decreased by the treatment of Ef extract. In the asthmatic mouse model, Ef extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflammatory sites and blood. This whole extract may have anti-asthmatic effects associated with the regulation of IL-5 and IgE expression. It may also be a promising candidate in anti-allergic medicine for the treatment of asthma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2009

Antioxidative, antimicrobial activities and Raw 264.7 cell viability as cytotoxicity of various solvent extracts from leaf of Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. dried by different methods were investigated for processing as functional ingredient. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, RLE (80% EtOH extract of raw leaf) and FLE (80% EtOH extract of freeze-dried leaf) exhibited strong scavenging effect on $300{\mu}M$ DPPH radical solution (1.71 mg/mL and 2.11 mg/mL for RLE $SC_{50}$ and FLE $SC_{50}$). Also in nitric oxide scavenging activity, RLE and FLE showed strong activities (83.9% and 82.2% in 5 mg/mL sample concentration). Total phenolic compound contents of each extracts were found to be $73.7{\sim}215.4$ mg/g and RLE was showed the highest phenolic compound content. Also, total flavonoid contents were found to be $24.85{\sim}110.3$ mg/g and RLE was showed the highest flavonoid content. In antimicrobial activity, RLE was showed higher growth inhibition effect against all microbial strains. RLE, RLW (hot water extract of raw leaf), and FLW (hot water extract of freeze-dried leaf) exhibited strong antimicrobial activities against MRSA and S. aureus. In measurement of cytotoxicity by MTT assay, Raw 264.7 cell viabilities of 80% EtOH extracts showed better effect than water extracts. Especially viability of RLE was found be over 100% in every tested sample concentration.