• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.482-492
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• 2007

Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. We here investigated the effect of SLT-I on tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ production, effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3) expression, and relationship between Gb3 level and differential susceptibility of cells to SLT-I. In this study, we observed that detectable levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ are produced 6 hrs after induction and continued to increase during 48 hrs by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that macrophages had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and showed refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and dendritic cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. These results suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary, but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its receptor, Gb3, in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.509-516
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• 2007

Starters of lactic acid bacteria(LAB) were isolated from the commercial yoghurt products and the four isolates have been studied on their identification and some physiological characteristics. For the purpose of identification, microscopic examination, API test, and 16s rRNA gene sequencing were conducted. Isolate A from a yogurt product of local dairy company A was shown to be Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. All strains isolated were turned out to be as Lactobacillus paracasei by using a API 50 CHL kit. In contrast, isolate A was identified as a strain of Lactobacillus helveticus based on the 16S rRNA sequencing data, and L. casei ssp. casei for both B and D and L. paracasei for C. All the isolates survived the simulated gastric juice, pH 2.0 within 3 hours and sharply decreased in viability so that no viable cell was observed after 4.5 hours incubation. In addition, the four isolated strains were almost identical in antibiotic susceptibility to six different kinds of antibiotics including erythromycin ($15\;{\mu}g$), ampicillin ($10\;{\mu}g$), gentamycin ($10\;{\mu}g$), neomycin ($30\;{\mu}g$), but rather resistant to colistin ($10\;{\mu}g$) and streptomycin ($10\;{\mu}g$). It was noteworthy that four isolates were confirmed to produce antibacterial substance against foodborne pathogens of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli 0157:H7 as test organisms based on the inhibitory zones on an MRS soft agar medium. At presence, the inhibitory factor is unknown so that further studies are required to ascertain the active factor responsible for the inhibitory activities.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.400-407
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• 2014

Urban farming supplies emotional stability and fresh vegetables to participating persons, however, no information regarding the biosafety of agricultural products from urban farming is available. Here, we collected 260 samples of Chinese cabbages and lettuce from 4 urban community gardens and 6 roof gardens in Seoul from September through October 2012, and monitored the microbiological and parasitological contamination quantitatively and/or qualitatively. The mean counts of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms were $6.1{\pm}0.8\;log\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$ ( range, $5.4{\pm}0.6{\sim}7.1{\pm}0.8\;log\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$) and $4.0{\pm}0.7\;log\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$ (range, $2.3{\pm}0.6{\sim}6.1{\pm}0.9\;log\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$), respectively. Coliforms were detected on 59.6% among 260 vegetable samples. There were no significant differences in the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms between the Chinese cabbages and lettuce, whereas both levels of vegetables from urban community gardens were higher than those of roof gardens (p > 0.05). Escherichia coli was isolated at 3.1% among whole vegetables, and contamination level was $1.5{\pm}0.2\;log\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$. Among foodborne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 1.5%, however, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected on any of the vegetable samples. We also found undefined parasite eggs from two samples of Chinese cabbages (0.8% of total vegetables we tested). From these study, we found the presence of microbial contamination of agricultural products from urban farming, thus we need further concern to improve the biosafety during production of agricultural products.