• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.402-407
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• 2008

The synergistic antimicrobial effect of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Bifidobacterium extracellular factors against Clostridium difficile were measured using a turbidity method. Each broth supernatant of Bifidobacterium infantis ($68.8{\pm}0.02%$) and Bifidobacterium adolescentis ($33.2{\pm}0.2%$) obtained by adding ethyl acetate soluble fractionate from A. japonica Nakai ethanolic extracts (AJNEA, 100 ppm, no inhibition) showed high synergistic antimicrobial activity against C. difficile. In addition, the antimicrobial activity in a laboratory medium and yogurt products against C. difficile were evaluated. In yogurt prepared with a starter 5 (Lactobacillus acidophilus: Streptococcus thermophilus: B. adolescentis =1 : 1 : 1) and a starter 4 (L. acidophilus: S. thermophilus: B. infantis=1 : 1 : 1) and 0.5% AJNEA powder, high antimicrobial effects were recorded that measured 79.0 and 65.2%, respectively. The results indicated the potential of AJN extract for use as an antimicrobial agent. In addition, the efficiency of the antimicrobial activity of the extracts was further improved in combination with lactic acid bacteria, which suggests that they have the potential to be used as a highly effective antibiotic-tolerant microorganism prevention system. Such a strategy can be used for alternative drugs or functional food additives for treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.696-703
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• 2014

Clostridium difficile causes mucosal damage and diarrhea by releasing two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B. C. difficile colitis is associated with alterations in bowel flora and the failure to mount an effective antibody response. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether antitoxin sera prevent toxin-A-induced apoptosis, cytoskeletal disaggregation, cell detachment, and tight junction loss in cultured colonic epithelial cells. Serum samples were isolated from mice that survived a C. difficile infection following antibiotic treatment, and the antitoxin effects of these samples were investigated in toxin-A-exposed HT29 colonic epithelial cells and a toxin-A-induced animal model of gut inflammation. Unchallenged mice did not produce IgG against toxin A, whereas serum (antiserum) from C. difficile-challenged mice showed significant IgG responses against toxin A. Treatment with the antiserum markedly inhibited mucosal damage and inflammation in the toxin-A-treated mouse model. In contrast to control mouse serum, the antiserum also markedly inhibited toxin-A-induced DNA fragmentation, dephosphorylation of paxillin and Epo receptor (EpoR), deacetylation of tubulin, and upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p53. Taken together, these results reveal that the generated antitoxin serum has biotherapeutic effects in preventing various C. difficile toxin-A-induced cellular toxicities.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.146-153
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• 2010

목 적: 최근 소아에서의 지역사회 획득 Clostridium difficile 관련질환(CDAD)은 증가하는 것으로 보고된다. 그러나 아직 소아에서 발생한 CDAD에 대한 정보는 부족한 실정이다. 저자들은 소아 CDAD환자에서 지역사회감염(CA-CDAD)과 병원감염(HA-CDAD)의 역학과 임상양상의 차이를 비교하여 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법: 2008년 4월부터 2010년 3월까지 가천의대 길병원 소아청소년과에 내원한 환자들의 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하여 소화기계 증상을 가지고 있으면서 C. difficile 독소 A, B 또는 C. difficile 배양검사에서 양성으로 확인된 경우 CDAD로 진단하였다. 결 과: 총 61명(남 32, 여 29)의 환자가 연구에 포함되었고, 평균연령은 3.79${\pm}$4.54세였으며, 1세 미만이 22명(36.1%)으로 가장 많았다. 전체 중 23명(37.7%)의 환자만이 증상 발현 3개월 이내에 항생제를 투여 받은 적이있었다. 총 61명의 환자 중 CA-CDAD군이 41명, HA-CDAD군이 20명이었고, 나이, 성별, 증상, 검사실소견, 회복기간, 합병증 발생 및 재발률은 두 군 간에 유의한 차이가 없었으나 항생제 노출 여부는 HACDAD의 발생과 관련이 있었다. 결 론: 소화기계 증상을 가지고 외래에 내원한 영아와 어린 소아에서 항생제 노출력이 없는 CA-CDAD의 발생이 증가하고 있다. 신속하게 검사를 시행하는 것이 정확한 진단과 치료를 위해 요구된다.