• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.519-527
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• 2021

In this study, the hemolysis of Enterococcus faecalis BMSE-HMP strains, isolated from human breast milk, was investigated, and the anti-hemolytic and antimicrobial effects on multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were investigated. The enzyme activity of E. faecalis BMSE-HMP 4 strains was measured, and it was found that the activities of esterase and esterase lipase were the highest. In addition, no hemolytic reaction was observed in any of the isolates. Subsequently, the anti-hemolytic activity against MDR strains causing hemolysis was evaluated. E. faecalis BMSE-HMP002 had the highest anti-hemolytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus CCARM 3855 at 75.71 ± 10.00%. The anti-hemolytic activity against Escherichia coli DC 2 CCARM 0238 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCARM 0223 showed that the activity of BMSE-HMP001 was highest at 76.92 ± 2.99% and 87.93 ± 1.93%, respectively. Examination of the antimicrobial effects against the MDR bacteria Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., and E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains showed antimicrobial effects against both gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Breastfeeding delivers enterococci into the intestinal tract of newborns by lactation, and its usefulness is attracting attention as it has been reported that enterococci have a potential effect on neonatal immune development. In this study, the hemolytic and antimicrobial effects of E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains on MDR bacteria were investigated, to confirm their potential as useful lactic acid bacteria. Additional studies on the antibiotic resistance and toxicity of the E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains, isolated in this study, are necessary to prove it safe for use.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2013

The major aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of genes that encode multidrug efflux pumps in Enterococci spp. isolates from bovine milk samples and antibiotic resistance patterns of these strains. Of the 245 isolates, 44.1% showed ampicillin resistance, 79.2% showed erythromycin resistance, 76.3% showed tetracycline resistance and 36.3% showed chloramphenicol resistance. In case of vancomycin and ciprofloxacin, all of the isolates were susceptible to these antibiotics. Of the 245 enterococcal isolates, 82.1% have MFS type eme(A) gene, 72.7% have ABC type efr(A) gene, 77.1% have ABC type efr(B) gene, and 71.8% have ABC type lsa gene. In case of Enterococcus faecalis, the original strain for these genes, 92.5% have eme(A), 87.4% have efr(A), 88.4% have efr(B), and 88.4% have lsa. Interestingly, in case of different species of Enterococci, eme(A) was also detected in four strains of E. faecium, seven strains of E. avium, four strains of E. durans and two strains of E. raffinosus. efr(A) was also detected in two strains of E. faecium and two strains of E. durans and efr(B) was also detected in four strains of E. faecium, five strains of E. avium and four strains of E. durans. This means the possibility of co-transfer of resistance genes between Enterococci species in natural environment. These results are the first report describing the presence of same multidrug efflux pumps in different species of Enterococci in Korea.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate tissue dissolving capacity, antimicrobial effect of Hydroxyethylidene bisphosphonate (HEBP) interacting with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as conventional endodontic irrigants and to determine tissue dissolving efficacy depended on temperature. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 bovine muscles were randomly distributed into 8 groups (n = 10). After their initial weights determined on a precision scale, the specimens in each group were immersed in the solutions for 5, 10 and 15 min and reweighted at each time period. Agar diffusion test inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis was performed for antimicrobial effect of each endodontic irrigants. Results: The ability to dissolve organic matter was greater in NaOCl group following NaOCl and HEBP mixture. Heated NaOCl ($40^{\circ}C$) and NaOCl/ HEBP mixture was greater tissue dissolving efficacy than room temperature ($25^{\circ}C$). Antimicrobial effect was greater and significant in the following order EDTA > EDTA + 1% NaOCl > $1%\;NaOCl{\geq}1%\;NaOCl$ + HEBP. Conclusion: HEBP as soft chelating agent does not disturb antimicrobial effect and less affected tissue dissolving efficacy as inherent properties of NaOCl. In the heated NaOCl/HEBP mixture analyzed, it dissolved more the organic matter than room temperature.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to compare two commercial root canal medicaments, ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa, USA) and OrthoMTA (Bio MTA, Korea), by assessing the antimicrobial effects on three selected species commonly found in root canals of infected teeth, namely Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Colonies of these bacteria were treated with varied concentrations of ProRoot MTA or OrthoMTA over different lengths of time. The results are as follows : 50, 25 and 12.5 mg/mL of ProRoot MTA or OrthoMTA did not completely inhibit the growth of E. faecalis, but a decreased growth rate was evident in comparison to the control (p < 0.05). 50 mg/mL of both materials successfully eliminated F. nucleatum during the first 24 hours. Regrowth of microbes after 24 hours, however, indicated a diminished effect of ProRoot MTA whereas OrthoMTA showed its continuously sustained antimicrobial actions (p < 0.05). 50 mg/mL of ProRoot MTA and 50, 25 mg/mL of OrthoMTA exerted their full antibacterial actions against S. epidermidis during the first 24 hours. Although the regrowth of colony was observed after 24 hours, the rate of growth was significantly decreased, approximating a complete inhibition (p < 0.05). The present study revealed that OrthoMTA, recently developed in Korea, had antimicrobial activity higher than ProRoot MTA.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.373-379
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• 2017

We carried out the enzymatic synthesis of 1, 2-hexanediol galactoside (HD-gal) by transgalactosylation reaction using recombinant Escherichia coli ${\beta}-galactosidase$ (${\beta}-gal$). The amounts of ${\beta}-gal$ and 1, 2-hexanediol (HD), pH, and temperature, respectively, were first optimized (${\beta}-Gal$, 4.8 U/mL; HD, 75 mM; pH, 7.0; temperature, $37^{\circ}C$). Under these optimal conditions, about 96% HD was converted to HD-gal. When we investigated the water holding capacities (WHCs) of HD and HD-gal using pig epidermis in the concentrations of 84.4, 126.6, 168.8, 211.0 mM, WHC of HD-gal was superior to HD. In particular, at 168.8 mM HD and HD-gal, WHC of HD-gal showed about 20% greater than that of HD. However, it was observed that MIC values against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus of HD-gal were about three to ten times greater than those of HD, although MIC value of HD-gal against Enterococcus faecalis was almost the same as that of HD. Finally, it was concluded that the covalent bonding of a galactose molecule to HD (transgalactosylation) resulted in an increase in WHC of HD-gal and a decrease in anti-bacterial activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.979-985
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• 2010

This study was performed to detect enterococci strain as an indicator of faecal contamination, to identify of 16S rDNA sequence and vancomycin resistance by MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) test from drinking spring-water samples in Seoul. The detection frequency of enterococci was 42 (19.8%) among 212 samples, and its concentration was ranged from 0 to 110 CFU/100 mL. These results were confirmed the possibility as an indicator microorganisms that similar to the frequency of E. coli detection (t test p-value 0.268, significant level 0.05). Isolated 56 enterococci samples were identified by 16S rDNA sequence data and their NCBI BLAST searching. They were identified to Enterococcus faecalis of 24 samples, E. faecium (10), E. casseliflavus (10), E. gallinarum (3), E. hirae (2), E. durans (2), E. sanguinicola (1). E. faecalis was dominant species that clinical case report of a domestic was similar. Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) of 53 samples showed that vanB and vanC1/C2 type with 2 and 12 case, respectively. These results indicated that the drinking spring-water quarantined to fecal pollution for block out outbreak of gastrointestinal symptom with using such as disinfection process.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.364-374
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• 2011

Lactobacillus brevis DK25 isolated from Dongchimi was identified by physiological and biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Bacteriocin of L. brevis DK25 exhibits inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes when using agar well diffusion method. Maximal production of bacteriocin was reached in the beginning of the stationary phase, and inhibitory activity declined after the late stationary phase. This result suggested that bacteriocin was produced in a growth-associated manner. Complete inactivation of bacteriocin activity was observed after treatment with protease, but the activity was stable between pH 4-9 and heat resistant (30 min at $100^{\circ}C$). Bacteriocin showed a concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes KCTC 3569. Moreover, the application experiment showed that combination of bacteriocin (320 AU/ml) with potassium benzoate (0.05%) could significantly reduce the counts of L. monocytogenes KCTC 3569 in mayonnaise during storage at 4 or $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Thus, bacteriocin from L. brevis DK25 may be used for hurdle technology by combination with potassium benzoate in order to increase pathogenic bacteria inactivation in food processing and food safety control.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2023

Objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is a gram positive diplococci, highly versatile and a normal commensal of the gut microbiome. Resistance to vancomycin is a serious issue in various health-care setting exhibited by vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) due to the alteration in the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. This study is thus aimed to detect the VRE from the patients with root caries from the clinical isolates of E. faecalis and to evaluate the in-silico interactions between vanA and the Aegles marmelos bio-compounds. Methods: E. faecalis was phenotypically characterized from 20 root caries samples and the frequency of vanA and vanB genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Further crude methanolic extracts from the dried leaves of A. marmelos was assessed for its antimicrobial activity. This is followed by the selection of five A. marmelos bio-compounds for the computational approach towards the drug ligand interactions. Results: 12 strains (60%) of E. faecalis was identified from the root caries samples and vanA was detected from two strains (16%). Both the stains showed the presence of vanA and none of the strains possessed vanB. Crude extract of A. marmelos showed promising antibacterial activity against the VRE strains. In-silico analysis of the A. marmelos biocompounds revealed Imperatonin as the best compound with high docking energy (-8.11) and hydrogen bonds with < 140 TPSA (Topological polar surface area) and zero violations. Conclusion: The present study records the VRE strains among the root caries with imperatorin from A. marmelos as a promising drug candidate. However the study requires further experimentation and validation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 1997

Considering many problems caused by the abuse of antibiotics recently, the appearance of antibiotic resistance bacteria is believed to help the cure of patients greatly. From Jan. 1st, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1996, 6135 strains were examined after being asked of and seperated from the clinical pathology departments of general hospitals, and the isolation frequency of identified bacteria and the susceptibility of antibiotics showed the following result. 1. The isolation frequency of strains was Escherichia coli, 1134 strains (18.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 856 strains (13.9%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus, 793 strains (12.89%), Staphylococcus aureus, 555 strains (9.02%), B. cepacia, 421 strains (6.84%), Enterobacter cloacae, 366 strains (5.95%), Enterobacter faecalis (4.86%), and Klebsiella pneumonia, 220 strains (3.85%). 2. The isolation rate of specimen was urine, 1, 969 strains, wound 1, 104 strains, sputum 701 strains, blood 643 strains, vaginal swab, 342 strains, and eye discharge, 192 strains, 40% of urine strains were E. coli 18％ of wound strains were B. cepacia, 43.7％ of sputum were P. aeruginosa, and in blood strains there were Enterobacter cloacae (25.8%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (19.6%), and P. aeruginosa (8.7%). 3. The result of antibiotics susceptibility showed that, among gram negative bacilli, P. aeruginoas had resistance in almost all antibiotics except ceftazidme imipenem. But B. cepacia, the same glucose non-fermentation gram negative bacilli had more than 90％ of sensitivity in aztreonam, ceftazidime, ciproflxacin, piperacillin, trimethoprim/sulfa and had resistance in the others. Enterococcus faecalis showed more than 85% of sensitivity in penicillin-G, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin. 4. In the case of specimen antibiotics susceptibility, Enterobacter cloacae was lower in specimen isolated from blood than in those isolated from others and p. aeruginosa was low in specimen isolated from urine, which showed that there was difference in specimen antibiotics susceptibility. The result of this study shows that there happen many resisitances in antibiotics used frequently and some countermeasure is necessary because many bacteria began to show new resistance. Also it is desirable that the choice of antibiotics for infection diagnosis and its cure should be made after the inspection of antibiotics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.711-722
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of 716 bacterial strains among 1,104 microbes which were isolated in blood culture from 13,595 in-patients and out-patients in K hospital during the pe-riod of 1993 to 1996. The results obtained were as follows : The isolation rate of microbes from the blood culture for 3 years was 8.1% (1,104/13,595). Among 716 bacte-rial strains, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were 29.8% (213) and 19.5% (140) respectively. The bacterial isolation frequency according to ages was high at fifties, sixties and two or less years old groups, especially the isolation rate of S. epidermidis was 47% at two or less years old group and that of Salmonella typhi was 36% at thirties years old group. The seasonal isolation rate of the bacterial species except E. coli was high during May to September. Gram positive cocci were resistant to penicillin-G except Enterococcus faecalis, but susceptible to vanco-mycin and teicoplanin. Gram negative bacilli were susceptible to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem, but resistant to ampicillin except S. typhi. These results indicate that bacterial strains isolated from bacteremia patients were resis-tant to penicillins, but susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem.