• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2006

The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases ($ESBL_S$) is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, whose prevalence varies depending on the different geographical areas. In the last years it has increased notably to the point of being considered a health problem of great importance. The characterization of the ESBLs producing Klebsiella penumoniae strains present in clinical isolates is time-consuming. I describe here the development of a new system, which consists of a multiplex PCR. I found 51 K. pneumoniae strains to be presumptive strains ESBLs producers by clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The double disc synergy test showed 47 positive K. pneumoniae, which were K. pneumoniae isolates. All ESBLs producing K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to antibiotic amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. By multiplex PCR analysis, $bla_{TEM}$ gene in 17 strains 44 $bla_{SHV}$ genes and $bla_{CTX}$ genes in 33 strains were identified. In this study, the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a good method to detect and differentiate ESBLs producing K. penumoniae strains in clinical isolates.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2023

Antibiotics either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. However, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Infections caused by such bacteria often lead to severe diseases. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) can be horizontally transmitted across different bacterial species, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of how ARGs spread across various environments. In this study, we analyzed the plasmid sequences of 33 extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli isolated from pigs, farms, and their owners. We conducted an antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) with aztreonam and seven other antibiotics, as well as whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the strains using MinION. Our results demonstrated that the plasmids that did not harbor ARGs were mostly non-conjugative, whereas the plasmids that harbored ARGs were conjugative. The arrangement of these ARGs exhibited a pattern of organization featuring a series of ARG cassettes, some of which were identical across the isolates collected from different sources. Therefore, this study suggests that the sets of ARG cassettes on plasmids were mostly shared between pigs and their owners. Hence, enhanced surveillance of ARG should be implemented in farm environments to proactively mitigate the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.263-271
• /
• 2000

A clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae K7746 produced the extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL) SHV-12. A 6.6 kb BamHI fragment containing the $bla_{SHV-12}$ gene of K7746 strain was cloned into pCRScriptCAM vector resulting in the recombinant plasmid p7746-Cl. The restriction map of 3.6 kb inserted DNA and sequences immediately surrounding $bla_{SHV-12}$ of p7746-C1 were homologous to plasmid pMPA2a carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$. In addition, both $bla_{SHV-12}$ and $bla_{SHV-2a}$ were expressed from a common hybrid promoter made of the -35 region derived from the left inverted repeat of IS26 and the -10 region from the $bla_{SHV}$ promoter itself. The results indicate that $bla_{SHV-12}$ and $bla_{SHV-2a}$ may have evolved from a common ancestor in the sequential order of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ first, followed by $bla_{SHV-12}$. Furthermore, by the PCR mapping method using primers corresponding to the IS26 and $bla_{SHV}$, the association between IS26 and $bla_{SHV}$ was studied in 12 clinical isolates carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$, 27 clinical isolates carrying $bla_{SHV-12}$, and 5 reference strains carrying $bla_{SHV-1}$ to $bla_{SHV-5}$. All 39 strains carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$ or $bla_{SHV-12}$ were positive by the PCR, providing confirmative evidence that IS26 has been involved in the evolution and dissemination of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ and $bla_{SHV-12}$. But 5 reference strains carrying $bla_{SHV-1}$ to $bla_{SHV-5}$ were negative by the PCR. Therefore, we concluded that the molecular evolutionary pathway of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ and $bla_{SHV-12}$ may be different from that of other $bla_{SHV-ESBL}$, e.g., $bla_{SHV-2}$, $bla_{SHV-3}$, $bla_{SHV-4}$, and $bla_{SHV-5}$.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.307-318
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Bacterial biofilm is regarded as a significant threat to the production of safe food and the arise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the quorum sensing inhibitory effect of Nepeta curviflora methanolic extract. Methods: The effectiveness of the leaves at sub-inhibitory concentrations of 2.5, 1.25, and 0.6 mg/mL on the virulence factors and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa was evaluated. The effect of N. curviflora methanolic extract on the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, including pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, protease, and chitinase, was evaluated. Other tests including the crystal violet assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swarming motility, aggregation ability, hydrophobicity and exopolysaccharide production were conducted to assess the effect of the extract on the formation of biofilm. Insight into the mode of antiquorum sensing action was evaluated by examining the effect of the extract on the activity of N-Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) and the expression of pslA and pelA genes. Results: The results showed a significant attenuation in the production of pyocyanin and rhamnolipid and in the activities of protease and chitinase enzymes at 2.5 and 1.25 mg/mL. In addition, N. curviflora methanolic extract significantly inhibited the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilm by decreasing aggregation, hydrophobicity, and swarming motility as well as the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS). A significant reduction in AHL secretion and pslA gene expression was observed, indicating that the extract inhibited quorum sensing by disrupting the quorum-sensing systems. The quorum-sensing inhibitory effect of N. curviflora extract appears to be attributed to the presence of kaempferol, quercetin, salicylic acid, rutin, and rosmarinic acid, as indicated by LCMS analysis. Conclusion: The results of the present study provide insight into the potential of developing anti-quorum sensing agents using the extract and the identified compounds to treat infections resulting from quorum sensing-mediated bacterial pathogenesis.