• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

This study focused on isolating and identifying strains from the gut of Epinephelus akaara cultivated in aquaculture facilities on Jeju Island. The aim was to evaluate the potential of utilizing these strains as probiotics for industrial applications. A total of 129 strains were isolated from the gut of E. akaara and screened based on their ability to create a clear zone of 10 mm or more in a preliminary antimicrobial activity test. Twelve strains were selected for further analysis, including bile resistance, acid tolerance at different pH levels, antioxidant activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and biochemical characteristics using the API kit. Through these characteristic experiments, eight strains (G1, G3, G15, G21, B1, B2, B3, B5) were identified as having potential as probiotics. Among these, the B group strains (B1, B2, B3, B5) exhibited significantly higher activity compared to the G group strains (G1, G3, G15, G21). Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the selected microorganisms, the strains were named as follows: B1 strain as Lactobacillus paracasei B1, B2 strain as Lactococcus lactis B2, B3 strain as Lactobacillus plantarum B3, B5 strain as Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae B5, G1 strain as Bacillus licheniformis G1, G3 strain as Bacillus velezensis G3, G15 strain as Brevibacterium frigoritolerans G15, and G21 strain as Bacillus pumilus G21.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2003

Purpose : Nosocomial infection with Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin resistant S. aureus, has become a serious concern in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of this study is to investigate the virulence factors, and the relationship between the antibiotic resistance and the associated genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nasal cavity of neonates. Methods : Fifty one isolates of S. aureus were obtained from nasal swab taken in 28 neonates in the NICU and nursery of Pusan National University Hospital between February and May, 2001. They were tested in regard to antibiotic susceptibility, coagulase test and typing, plasmid DNA profile, as well as reactivity to enterotoxin A-E(sea, seb, sec, sed, see) genes and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1(tst) gene by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Associated genes such as mecA, mecR1, mecI, and femA were also determined by PCR. The origin of MRSA strains was assessed using DNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily-primed polymerase chain reaction(AP-PCR). Results : Twenty three(45.1%) and six(11.8%) isolates were resistant to oxacillin and vancomycin respectively. Multidrug resistance to three or more of the antibiotics tested was observed in 51.0% of the isolates. Forty two isolates were coagulase positive and twenty two isolates had mecA gene. Sixteen isolates had both mecA and femA genes and had type I-III plasmids. 64.7% of isolates carried sec gene, and 80.4% carried tst gene. DNA fingerprinting by AP-PCR for 12 MRSA strains showed 10 distinct patterns, suggesting different origins. Conclusion : We confirmed that the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus and the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus, especially vancomycin resistance, is very high in neonates who were admitted in NICU and nursery. It is possible that these pathogens are responsible for serious nosocomial infections in neonates. The need for improved surveillance and continuous control of pathogens is emphasized.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.796-801
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• 2001

A total of 277 mineral spring water samples in Kangwon province from 1999 to 2000 were analyzed for the presence of Yersinia spp. by the conventional Food and Drug Administration protocol, and presumptive strains were identified by morphological, cultural and biochemical tests according to Bergey’s manual. Also, the biotypes, serotypes, and susceptibility to 12 antibiotics were tested. Among the total 277 mineral spring water samples, 40 samples (14.4%) were found to be contaminated with Yersinia species. Among the 40 strains of Yersinia spp. isolates, 33 strains (82.5%) for Yersinia enterocolitica, 4 strains (10%) for Yersinia frederiksenii, 2 strains (5%) for Yersinia intermedia, and 1 strain (2.5%) for Yersinia sakazaki were identified, respectively. Of 40 Yersinia spp. isolates, Yersinia enterocolitica (82.5%) was the most predominant species in the mineral spring water samples compared to other Yersinia species. Compared to direct culture method after KOH treatment and KOH treatment method after cold enrichment for better isolation ratio of according to comparision of Yersinia species, the detection ration (18.5%) of KOH treatment method after cold enrichment was about 3 times better than that (6.1%) of direct culture method after KOH treatment. According to serotypes of Y. enterocolitica isolates, O : 5 (12.9%) was the most predominant and followed by O : 3 (9.7%), O : 8 (6.5%), and O : 9 (3.2%), and others. For biotypes of Y. enterocolitica isolates, 1A (71.0%) was the most predominantly abundant and followed by 3A (12.9%), 3B (9.7%), 1B (3.2%) and 5 (3.2%). Also, an antibiotic susceptibility test showed that Yersinia spp. isolates were very susceptible to the antibiotics tested, but they were very strongly resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin and carbenicillin.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.256-263
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• 2007

We performed the biochemical characteristics, molecular epidemiologocal analysis, and drug susceptibility test on V. vulnificus isolated from environmental sources in Incheon. For this study, 233 strains were isolated from seawater, sediment, shellfish. V. vulnificus isolates were divided into 15 biochemical groups, which were positive for ONPG and Amygdalin test. Among the 209 strains, 206 (98.6%) strains and 110 (52.6%) strains revealed positive for vvhA and viuB gene, and the viuB gene detection rates of V. vulnificus from seawater, shellfish and sediment were 48%, 48.5% and 61.6%, respectively. From disc diffusion test on 175 isolates, most of strains were sensitive to Imipenem (100.0%), Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (98.9%), Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin (98.3%), Ampicillin/sulbactam (97.1%), Ohloramphenicol (96.6%), Cefepime (94.9%) and Ceftriaxone (94.8%), multi-drug resistance rates was 31.5% of seawater, 34.4% of sediment and 29.2% of shellfish. PFGE was performed on 233 V. vulnificus isolates with the objective of investigating the extent of genetic diversity of these isolates in our region. We could find that at least 126 different PFGE patterns were generated according by 90% of similarity and 13 clusters by 58% of similarity. The major cluster was type I (44.6%) during the most of the year, and type J was frequent pattern in June and October. There were 9 distinct PFGE types in July, 8 types in August, 7 types in June, 6 types in September, 5 types in October 3 types in May and 1 type in March.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2017

This study evaluated the characteristics of rice cookies with varying amounts (0, 250, 500, and 750 mg) of dandelion complex powder. Dandelion powder is considered a functional food with skin-moisturizing and atopic skin improvement effects by KFDA. Quality characteristics of AF343 and rice cookies were measured by determining antimicrobial activities, physical characteristics, sensory evaluation values, and antioxidant activities. An antibiotic susceptibility test of the powder showed positive activities in Escherichia coli (O157:H7), Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Rice cookie containing 250-500 mg powder showed significantly increased antioxidant activities compared to controls (p<0.05). However, sensory intensities between the two sample groups were not significantly different. Thus, rice cookies containing 250-500 mg dandelion complex powder were successfully developed to improve antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities. These products may attract the attention of health-conscious consumers in the highly competitive cookie industry.