• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 1998

A multiplex PCR method was designed by employing primers specific for the eaeA gene, conserved sequences of Shiga-like toxins (SLT-I.II), and the 60-MDa plasmid of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 strain. A set of six synthetic oligonucleotide primers derived from sequences of the SLT-I.II, eaeA, and 60-MDa plasmid genes of E. coli O157:H7 were used in a multiplex PCR amplification procedure to detect these genes in the same enteric pathogens. In two enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 35150, ATCC 43894) reference strains, PCR products of 317bps (eaeA), 228bps (SLT-I.II), and 167bps (60-MDa plasmid) were successfully amplified simultaneously in a single reaction. However, the specific PCR products were not amplified in control strains of other enteric bacteria. The sensitivity of the multiplex PCR assay for detection of the SLT-I.II, eaeA, and 60-MDa plasmid genes of E. coli O157:H7 was found to be 2.5$\times$10$^{6}$ of bacteria in diarrheal stool to amplify all three bands. The multiplex PCR technology will allow large-scale screening of many clinical specimens or contaminated foods, and will be a very useful method for the detection of a wide range of microorganisms present in the environment, including EHEC O157:H7 in various types of specimens. The multiplex PCR assay has the potential to be used as a specific and rapid method for clinical diagnosis of disease caused by EHEC O157:H7.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 1999

Characteristics of the food isolates and the clinical specimens isolates of E. coli harboring virulence factor and their correlations were analyzed. The predominant serogroup were 08 and 027 in the food isolates and 06 and 018 in the clinical isolates, respectively, showing the different patterns in serogrouping between them. In the test of antibiotic susceptibility, the food isolates were resistant to cephalothin, streptomycin, tetracycline and minocycline, and the clinical isolates were resistant to ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, cephalothin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracyclino and minocycline, respectively. It shows that E.coli isolated from food sources and clinical specimens might be correlated. Plasmid profile in the food and clinical isolates showed wide diversity. Especially, large sized plasmid DNA such as 60 MDa, 90 MDa and 120 MDa were observed. The plasmid DNA (60 MDa) containing a gene encoding hemolysin was found in 43% of the food isolates and 35% of the clinical isolates. To study chromosomal homology, PFGE analysis was performed, showing different restriction patterns by Xbal. This result indicates that there were no genetic correlations between the foods and the clinical isolates.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2000

The incidence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli(VTEC) was surveyed in domestic foods including hamburger, raw meats and vegetables from 1997 to 1999. The molecular biological characteristics of the isolates were analyzed. Three VTEC strain were isolated from 1,700 samples. Serotypes of those isolates were 0157 : H7, 026 H4, and 056 : Hl2, respectively. Serotype O26 : H4 produced VT I and VT II, and 055 Hl2 isolate produced VT I, however the 60 MDa plasmid DNA and eae gene were not found from both strains. One 0157 : H7 isolate produced VT II and harbour 60 MDa plasmid DNA, however eae gene was not found in the strain. Although they produced VT, it seemed that the virulence of two strains were relatively weak because of the lack of the eae gene. In addition, the serotype O157 : H7 isolate resistant to ampicillin and streptomycin, while isolates of serotype O26 : H4 and O55 : Hl2 were multi-resistant to antibiotics including ampicillin, carbenicillin , cephalothin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline. Supernatants of cultures of all three isolates were showed cytotoxic effect to vero and HeLa cell

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.566-570
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• 1997

During sporulation, Bacillus thuringiensis strains produce crystals consist of toxin proteins highly specific against insect pests. Their host specificities are desirable from a standpoint of environmental safety, but also limit market potential. Thus, development of improved Bacillus thuringiensis strains having broad host spectrum will contribute to increase its use. For the construction of Bacillus thuringiensis strain having broad host spectrum, we cloned cry1C gene encoding a toxin protein highly toxic against Spodoptera exigua from a B. thuringiensis isolate and constructed two recombinant plasmids, pUBClC and plC60. The plasmid PUBC1C has a replication origin of the natural plasmid pBC16 from B. cereus which is closely related species to B. thuringiensis, and the pBC16 was known to be replicated by rolling-circle mechanism. The plasmid pIC60 has a replication origin of a resident 60 MDa plasmid from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD263, and it is believed that the pIC60 is replicated in a theta mode. The two plasmids were introduced into B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki cryB strain, and the transformed strains produced well-shaped bipyramidal crystals. We confirmed the expression of the cry1C gene by SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting. By investigating the segregational stability, it was found that the plasmid pIC60 is more stable than the pUBC1C.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.571-575
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• 2004

Escherichia coli O157:H7 cause hemorrhagic colitis and the extraintestinal complication of hemolytic-uremic syndrome, with their higher incidence occurring in children. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of E. coli O157:H7 is very important to make IgG anti-LPS with bactericidal activity. To identify the characteristic of E. coli OI57:H7, we isolated 60 MDa plasmid and amplified stx genes of shiga-like toxin (Stx) 1, 2 of E. coli O157:H7 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Using the simple purification method which contained phenol extract, ethanol precipitation and gel filtration steps, the LPS of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated and purified. Finally, we confirmed the purity of LPS through SDS-PAGE and silver nitrate staining.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2000

Nine hundred patients diagnosed with diarrhea or hemorrhagic uremic syndrome in the Kyungpook Province, Korea, were examined from November 1998 to February 2000. One patient in Kumi appeared to possess the Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain, which is very important in clinical decision making and public health action. The isolated strain, an E. coli O157:H7 KM, contained a 60 MDa plasmid and typical virulence genes including the verotoxin 2 gene, ehxA gene (encoding enterohemorrhagic hemolysin), and eae (encoding attaching and effacing protein-intimin) gene. This strain produced only verotoxin 2. Pulsed field gel electrophoretic analysis showed that the genomic organization of the E. coli O157:H7 KM strain may differ greatly from those of representative strains previously reported in the United States and Japan.