• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2010

Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is an important nosocomial infectious diarrhea and is associated with antibiotic use. Recently, incidence of C. difficile has been increasing in hospitals. A total of 1,329 stool specimens were examined from January, 2005 to December, 2008. This study analyzed the incidence and clinical characteristics of C. difficile infections on them. Out of 1,329 stool specimens, 283 specimens showed toxin A/B positive, using EIA. The positive rate was 21.2%; with the highest incidence among and above the 70years old. On endoscopy, psedo membranous colitis was found in 57.7%, and 19.5% of patients were normal. Pathologic finding showed PMC in 26.8% of patients, AAC in 52.2%. C. difficile was associated with PMC, however, endoscopic and pathologic findings tests showed normal to PMC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.937-946
• /
• 2011

Several isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were screened for the vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip) effective against sap-sucking insect pests. Screening results were based on $LC_{50}$ values against cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), one of the dangerous pests of various crop plants including cotton. Among the isolates, the Bt#BREF24 showed promising results, and upon purification the aphidicidal protein was recognized as a binary toxin. One of the components of this binary toxin was identified by peptide sequencing to be a homolog of Vip2A that has been reported previously in other Bacillus spp. Vip2 belongs to the binary toxin group Vip1-Vip2, and is responsible for the enzymatic activity; and Vip1 is the translocation and receptor binding protein. The two genes encoding the corresponding proteins of the binary toxin, designated as vip2Ae and vip1Ae, were cloned from the Bt#BREF24, sequenced, and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Aphid feeding assay with the recombinant proteins confirmed that these proteins are indeed the two components of the binary toxins, and the presence of both partners is essential for the activity. Aphid specificity of the binary toxin was further verified by ligand blotting experiment, which identified an ~50 kDa receptor in the brush border membrane vesicles of the cotton aphids only, but not in the lepidopteran insects. Our finding holds a promise of its use in future as a candidate gene for developing transgenic crop plants tolerant against sap-sucking insect pests.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.268-272
• /
• 2000

Thoracic sympathicotomy has been used safely and successfully to treat essential hyperhidrosis. However, it has been difficult to treat compansatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathicotomy and focal hyperhidrosis. The sweat glands were innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers with acetylcholic serving as the transmitter. Botulinum A toxin has been reported to block neuro-transmission at the cholinergic autonomic nerve terminals. Prospecting its effect for the sweat gland, we treated 5 patients with focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum A toxin. Three patients received bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (1 case) and sympathicotomy(2 case) via VAT. The hyperhidrosis area was marked with betadine and was subdivided into squares of 2$\times$2 cm(4$\textrm{cm}^2$) each. Botulinum A toxin was injected intracutaneously in a dosage of 2.5U/0.1ml(100U/4ml) /4$\textrm{cm}^2$. A total dose of 100U of Botulinum A toxin was injected into the affected sites. Subjective assessment of sweat production by the patients using a visual analogue scale showed a 20~70% improvement. During the follow-up period, no toxic effects were observed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.597-601
• /
• 2017

The clpks18 gene was first cloned and identified in Curvularia lunata. It contains 6571 base pairs (bp) and an 6276 bp open reading frame encoding 2091 amino acids. The ClPKS18 deletion mutant displayed an albino phenotype, and almost lost the ability to product 5-(hydroxymethyl) furan-2-carboxylate (M5HF2C) toxin, implying that clpks18 gene in C. lunata is not only involved in 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin synthesis, but also relatively associated with M5HF2C toxin biosynthesis of the pathogen. The pathogenicity assays revealed that ${\Delta}ClPKS18$ was impaired in colonizing the maize leaves, which corresponds to the finding that ClPKS18 controls the production of melanin and M5HF2C in C. lunata. Results indicate that ClPKS18 plays a vital role in regulating pathogenicity of in C. lunata.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.826-832
• /
• 2023

Clostridium perfringens causes diarrhea and other diseases in humans and animals. We investigated the prevalence, toxin gene profiles, and antimicrobial resistance of C. perfringens isolated from commercial jeotgal sample. C. perfringens was isolated from 11 of 22 commercial jeotgals. All C. perfringens strains were positive for the alpha toxin gene, but not for the beta, epsilon, iota, CPE or NetB toxin genes; therefore, all strains were identified as type A C. perfringens. However, the beta2 toxin gene was identified in 54.5% of isolates. Disk diffusion susceptibility tests showed that most isolates were resistant to kanamycin (90.9%), nalidixic acid (72.7%), oxacillin (54.5%), erythromycin (27.3%), ciprofloxacin (9.1%) and clindamycin (9.1%). However, all strains were susceptible to 14 other antimicrobial including amoxicillin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol. The average minimum inhibitory concentrations against C. perfringens of clindamycin, kanamycin, and nalidixic acid were 128.0, 128.0, and 54.0 ㎍/mL, respectively. These results provide new insight into the necessity for sanitation of commercial jeotgal, and provide evidence to help reduce the risk of contamination with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.129-131
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to present a case of persistent parotid fistula treated successfully with preoperative botulinum toxin type A injection into the parotid parenchyma, followed by fistulectomy. Methods: A 72-year-old female patient presented to the hospital with a 5-month history of clear, watery discharge from a tiny opening on the left cheek, which increased during food intake. A chemistry test of the fluid revealed an high amylase level. An ultrasonography of left parotid gland showed a $1.13{\times}0.6cm$ sized fistula. After demarcating the left parotid gland with assistance of ultrasonography, a total 40 units of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan, Irvine, CA) was injected into 4 subdivisions of the left parotid gland. The clear serous discharge ceased completely on the 5th day after botulinum toxin injection. On the 7th day, a fistulectomy was performed under the local anesthesia. Results: The parotid fistula healed completely without complications. During the 6-month follow up period, there was no discharge from the cheek. Conclusion: On the basis of our experience with type A botulinum toxin as a local anticholinergic agent in treating parotid fistula, preoperative botulinum toxin A injection seems to be very useful to prevent recurrence after fistulectomy.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the respiratory and aerodynamic function of adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) patients. Participants were (1) 18 females SD patients with non- Botulinum toxin injection (2) 14 females SD patients who had taken treatment of Botulinum toxin injection. (3) 14 age- and sex- matched normal female controls. Spirometer and phonatory function analyzer were used for respiratory muscle pressure (MIP: Maximum inspiratory pressure), MEP: Maximum expiratory pressure)& MPT(Maximum phonation time) and aerodynamic(F0:Fundamental frequency, intensity, MFR: Mean flow late, Psub: Subglottal pressure) measurement. The results were as follows: (1) Normal group was significantly higher in MIP, MEP, MPT than two SD groups (p < .05); (2) MPT was significantly lower in SD with non-Botulinum toxin injection group than SD with the treatment experience of Botulinum toxin injection (p < .05); (3) All aerodynamic parameters, F0, intensity, MFR, Psub, were not significantly different among three groups(p > .05).The reason of short MPT in ADSD may use lower respiratory pressure than normal group as strategy to decrease their tremulous voice quality. Moreover respiratory muscle pressure was lower than normal group regardless of botulinum toxin injection treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.788-792
• /
• 2012

We report the computational structural simulation of the Cry1Ab19 toxin molecule from B. thuringiensis BtX-2 based on the structure of Cry1Aa1 deduced by x-ray diffraction. Validation results showed that 93.5% of modeled residues are folded in a favorable orientation with a total energy Z-score of -8.32, and the constructed model has an RMSD of only $1.13{\AA}$. The major differences in the presented model are longer loop lengths and shortened sheet components. The overall result supports the hierarchical three-domain structural hypothesis of Cry toxins and will help in better understanding the structural variation within the Cry toxin family along with facilitating the design of domain-swapping experiments aimed at improving the toxicity of native toxins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.710-716
• /
• 2021

A risk analysis of Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding bacteriophage was carried out by confirming the transduction phage to non-Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and subsequent expression of the Shiga toxin genes. The virulence factor stx1 was identified in five phages, and both stx1 and stx2 were found in four phages from a total of 19 phage isolates with seven non-O157 STEC strains. The four phages, designated as ϕNOEC41, ϕNOEC46, ϕNOEC47, and ϕNOEC49, belonged morphologically to the Myoviridae family. The stabilities of these phages to temperature, pH, ethanol, and NaClO were high with some variabilities among the phages. The infection of five non-STEC strains by nine Stx-encoding phages occurred at a rate of approximately 40%. Non-STEC strains were transduced by Stx-encoding phage to become lysogenic strains, and seven convertant strains had stx1 and/or stx2 genes. Only the stx1 gene was transferred to the receptor strains without any deletion. Gene expression of a convertant having both stx1 and stx2 genes was confirmed to be up to 32 times higher for Stx1 in 6% NaCl osmotic media and twice for Stx2 in 4% NaCl media, compared with expression in low-salt environments. Therefore, a new risk might arise from the transfer of pathogenic genes from Stx-encoding phages to otherwise harmless hosts. Without adequate sterilization of food exposed to various environments, there is a possibility that the toxicity of the phages might increase.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.551-559
• /
• 2004

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes various clinical signs in human and animals, and has been indicated as a global enteropathogen with zoonotic importance. In this study, the feces of healthy pigs were collected from the slaughtered pigs of Daejon abattoir during the period from December 2001 to October 2002. Of 326 specimens, 13 STEC were confirmed by culture, PCR and colony hybridization. The isolates were further studied for toxin types, pathogenic factors, plasmid profiles, and antimicrobial resistance to characterize the genetic and toxigenic properties. In PCR, all of 13 isolates were evident to have shiga toxin gene (stx). Of 13 isolates stx1 gene was detected in 4 and stx2 gene in 9. The genes of eaeA, hlyA and rfbE were not present in any isolates. In colony hybridization using shiga toxin common primer (STXc), 2 to 9 per 100 colonies subcultured from 13 isolates showed the positive reaction. In the examination for plasmid profiles of the isolates, one to eleven plasmids with varying sizes of 1.0 Kb to 100 Kb were detected, and the 13 STEC could be classified into four groups by the plasmid patterns. The antimicrobial resistance patterns of the isolates were comparably corresponded with the plasmid profile patterns.