• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1537-1546
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• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a cause of high mortality in humans and therefore it is necessary to prevent its transmission and reduce infections. Our goals in this research were to investigate the frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, and assess the relationship between the phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns and the genes responsible for resistance. In addition, we examined the antimicrobial efficiency and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against MRSA isolates. Seventy-two nasal swabs were taken from patients; MRSA was cultivated on Mannitol Salt Agar supplemented with methicillin, and 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted in addition to morphological and biochemical identification. Specific resistance genes such as ermAC, aacA-aphD, tetKM, vatABC and mecA were PCR-amplified and resistance plasmids were also investigated. The MRSA incidence was ~49 % among the 72 S. aureus isolates and all MRSA strains were resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, and cefoxitin. However, vancomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, mupirocin, and rifampicin were effective against 100% of MRSA strains. About 61% of MRSA strains exhibited multidrug resistance and were resistant to 3-12 antimicrobial medications (MDR). Methicillin resistance gene mecA was presented in all MDR-MRSA strains. Most MDR-MRSA contained a plasmid of > 10 kb. To overcome bacterial resistance, AgNPs were applied and displayed high antimicrobial activity and synergistic effect with penicillin. Our findings may help establish programs to control bacterial spread in communities as AgNPs appeared to exert a synergistic effect with penicillin to control bacterial resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.590-592
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• 2007

We report the isolation of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium phage type DT104 (CCARM 8104) from swine in Korea. The CCARM 8104 isolate was resistant to nalidixic acid and showed reduced susceptibility to quinolones. The CCARM 8104 isolate had a missense mutation, Asp87Asn, in the quinolone resistance-determining region in gyrA and produced PSE-1. The CCARM 8104 isolate carried two different class 1 integrons, and the PSE-1 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was inserted into a 1,200 bp class 1 integron. The presence of DT104 with pse-1 in an integron located in a plasmid and reduced susceptibility to quinolone in swine pose a significant threat of possible horizontal spread between swine and humans.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.293-304
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• 2007

The emergence of extended spectrum $\beta$-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria is worldwide concern. Until recently, the most frequently identified strains in the Republic of Korea were E. coli and Klebsiella spp. The incidence of resistance to extended spectrum $\beta$-lactam antibiotics is increasing in Wonju city, Korea. Total 57 strains of ESBL producing E. coli and Klebsiella species were isolated from Wonju Christian Hospital during a 9 month-period from April to December, 2003. To determine the prevalence and genotypes of the ESBL producing clinical isolates, antibiotic susceptibility and ESBL activity test by VITEK system and double disk synergy (DDS) test, and PCR based genotyping were performed. Fourteen (82%) isolates of 17 ESBL producing E. coli were found to have $bla_{TEM}$ gene and 5 (29%) isolates were found to have $bla_{CTX-M}$ gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty (75%) isolates of 40 ESBL producing Klebsiella species with $bla_{TEM}$ gene, 38 (95%) isolates with $bla_{SHV}$ gene, and 7 (20%) isolates with $bla_{CTX-M}$ type gene were also identified. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and similarity index by dendrogram for genetical similarity to band pattern of each clinical isolates were examined. ESBL producing E. coli were grouped into 6 clusters up to 84% of similarity index and Klebsiella species were grouped into 12 clusters up to 76% of similarity index. In conclusion, ESBL producing clinical isolates were characterized with the results from antimicrobial resistance pattern and genetical similarity using ERiC PCR.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

This study was aimed to investigate occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from the feces of wild birds in Daegu. In total, 98 E. coli isolates (17.9%) were obtained from 547 fecal samples of wild birds. The E. coli carried by the birds showed a relatively high rate of antimicrobial resistance to tetracycline (27.6%) and ampicillin (21.4%). Drug resistance of the isolates to the others (penicillins, cephems, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, quinolones, sulfonamides and phenicols) resulted in the rates less than 20%, and all isolates were susceptible to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, cefotetan, and amikacin. Approximately, 45% E. coli among the isolates were resistant to one or more drugs tested. The higher rate of tetracycline resistance led us to determine the prevalence of the tet genes (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD and tetE) in the tetracycline-resistant E. coli isolates by using PCR. All isolates of the tetracycline-resistant E. coli contained at least one or more of these tet genes examined. The most prevalent one was tetA (59.3%), and followed by tetB (7.4%) when tested with the selected 5 tet genes. Except tetA and tetB, however, the remaining tet genes (tetC, tetD, and tetE) tested were not found in this study. Nine isolates among the tetracycline-resistant E. coli contained the two (tetA and tetB) determinants of tetracycline resistance, simultaneously.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.596-604
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• 2019

Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes food poisoning, mainly via marine fisheries products. We investigated the virulence factors and drug resistance of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from fisheries products purchased from the Yeosu Fisheries Market. The isolates were identified using a variety of biochemical tests and the detection of toxR and hns gene. The presence of the virulence factor-encoding genes tdh and trh in the isolates was also investigated by PCR. The resistance of the isolates to 13 antibacterial agents was tested using the disc-diffusion method and carriage of β-lactamase genes and class 1 integrons by ampicillin-resistant isolates was investigated by PCR. Four of seventeen isolates identified as V. parahaemolyticus by biochemical tests produced a species-specific PCR band. Those isolates showed >98% 16S rRNA gene sequence homology with V. parahaemolyticus and only one isolate harbored the tdh gene. All of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin; moreover, VPA0477, a class A β-lactamase gene, and class 1 integrons were detected. Therefore, V. parahaemolyticus from fisheries products represents a low risk to human health. Also, V. parahaemolyticus is likely to develop multidrug resistance because it has class 1 integrons.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2022

In this study, 143 strains of Enterococcus spp. were isolated from inland pollution sources near shellfish farms on the west coast of South Korea. Not all isolated Enterococcus spp. strains possessed vancomycin resistance genes (VanA and VanB). However, since vancomycin-resistance Enterococcus (VRE) have been detected not only in the clinical field but also out in the world, it is possible that the VRE gene may be transferred to other bacterial strains commonly found in coastal waters where seafood is produced. It is important to monitor trends in the appearance of VRE. In addition, antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates were examined in this study. Overall antimicrobial resistance rates were high: ciprofloxacin (32.2% of isolates resistant), chloramphenicol (30.8%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (19.6%), and tylosin (15.4%). Eight E. faecium strains (6.2%), out of the 129 strains assessed, showed multidrug resistance. All multidrug-resistant E. faecium showed resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin, in all 14 strains. All multidrug-resistant E. faecalis showed resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin. Both multidrug-resistant E. faecium and multidrug-resistant E. faecalis showed common resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.587-595
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• 2019

Eighty-three Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from surface seawater in Gomso Bay on the west coast of Korea, and commercial fisheries from Gunsan fisheries center were analyzed for the presence of virulence genes and susceptibility to 30 different antimicrobials. All 83 isolates were examined for the presence of two virulence genes (tdh or trh) using polymerase chain reaction; however, neither gene was found in any of the isolates. A disk diffusion susceptibility test, showed that all of the strains studied were resistant to clindamycin, oxacillin, ticarcillin, and vancomycin, and also revealed varying levels of resistance to ampicillin (98.8%), penicillin G (95.2%), streptomycin (20.5%), cefoxitin (14.5%), amikacin (6.0%), cephalothin (4.8%), and erythromycin (3.6%). However, all of the strains were susceptible to 19 other antimicrobial agents, including cefepime, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, nalidixic acid, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and trimethoprim. All 83 isolates (100%) were resistant to five or more classes of antimicrobials, and two strains exhibited resistance to ten antimicrobial agents. The average minimum inhibitory concentrations against V. parahaemolyticus of clindamycin, oxacillin, ticarcillin, and vancomycin were 55.9, 98.3, 499.3, and 44.3 ㎍/mL, respectively. These results provide new insight into the necessity for seawater sanitation in Gomso Bay and commercial fisheries, and provide evidence to help reduce the risk of contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.324-329
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• 2008

Vibrio parahaemolyticus species, which cause acute gastroenteritis in humans, were isolated from farmed fish and seawater and their antimicrobial-resistance pattern and factor were investigated. They exhibited the highest resistance to ampicillin (88.9%), followed by trimethoprim (51.9%) and rifampin (22.2%). The relatively high resistance to trimethoprim was unexpected because trimethoprim was not commonly used in fish farming in Korea. R plasmid related resistance was identified by the treatment of novobiocin (7 ug/mL) and it was named as pVPBW1. A putative trimethoprim resistance gene in 2.0 kb fragment of pVPBW1 was also confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.188-199
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• 2018

Genomic epidemiology exploits various basic microbial research areas. High-throughput sequencing technologies dramatically have been expanding the number of microbial genome sequences available. Abundant genomic data provide an opportunity to perform strain typing more effectively, helping identify microbial species and strains at a higher resolution than ever before. Genomic epidemiology needs to find antimicrobial resistance genes in addition to standard genome annotations. Strain typing and antimicrobial resistance gene finding are static aspects of genomic epidemiology. Finding which hosts infected which other hosts requires the inference of transient transmission routes among infected hosts. The strain typing, antimicrobial resistance gene finding, and transmission tree inference would allow for better surveillance of microbial infectious diseases, which is one of the ultimate goals of genomic epidemiology. Among several high-throughput sequencing technologies, genomic epidemiology will benefit from the more portability and shorter sequencing time of the Oxford Nanopore Technologies's MinION, the third-generation sequencing technology. Here, this study reviewed computational methods for quantifying antimicrobial resistance genes and inferring disease transmission trees. In addition, the MinION's applications to genomic epidemiology were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2020

The antimicrobial resistance rate in bacteria has increased over the last several decades. The transfer of antimicrobial resistant determinants on mobile genetic elements could cause the accelerated emergence and spread of multidrug resistant bacteria. This study investigated the aminoglycoside resistance determinants transferred by mobile genetic elements in a total of 33 aminoglycoside non-susceptible E. coli isolated from clinical specimens in Chungcheong province. 16S ribosomal RNA methyl-transferases (RMTases) and aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AME) genes were detected via PCR and DNA sequencing. The most common AME genes were aac(3')-II gene (54.5%), followed by aph(3')-Ia (18.2%) and aac(6')-Ib (15.2%). None of the evaluated RMTase genes were detected in the 33 isolates. Seventeen of the 18 isolates harboring aac(3')-II gene were resistant to gentamicin, and 16 of them were resistant to tobramycin. The 5 isolates harboring aac(6')-Ib gene were all resistant to tobramycin. In this study, we confirmed that one of the important mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance in E. coli isolated from human is the acquisition of AME genes. Continuing investigations of antimicrobial resistant determinants in bacteria isolated from human may be required to prevent dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.