• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 2019

The absorption and release capacities, survival efficiency, and recovery rates of five kinds of transport media were evaluated based on the swab elution method (Quantitative) of CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) M40-A2. Liquid media showed mostly better results than semi-solid media in the three evaluations. The flocked swabs had better ability to absorption and discharge bacteria than the standard swabs. The liquid medium (S4) had the best survival efficiency. Pneumococcal strains with poor growth had a higher survival efficiency and recovery rate in liquid media (S4, S5). The results of microbial recovery showed that S. pyogenes met all the CLSI standards in all media. S. pneumoniae was inadequate in the semi- solid media (S2, S3) and all the remaining media met the criteria. H. influenzae was unsuitable in semi-solid media (S1, S3) and met the criteria in semi-solid medium (S2) and liquid medium (S4, S5). The viability of the H. influenzae, pneumococcal strain causing respiratory disease, was poor in most media. Overgrowth of P. aeruginosa was observed at room temperature. The combination of liquid medium and flocked swab confirmed the best results in the three evaluation methods.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 2008

HI0381 of Haemophilus influenzae was investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. HI0381 is a 153-residue peptidoglycan-associated outer membrane lipoprotein, and a part of the larger Tol/Pal network. Here, we report its backbone $^1H$, $^{15}N$, and $^{13}C$ resonance assignments, and secondary structure predictions. About 97% of all of the $^1HN$, $^{15}N$, $^{13}CO$, $^{13}C{\alpha}$, and $^{13}C{\beta}$ resonances covering 131 non-proline residues of the 134 residue, mature protein, were clarified by sequential and specific assignments. CSI and TALOS analyses revealed that HI0381 contains five ${\alpha}$-helices and five ${\beta}$-strands. To characterize the structure of HI0381, the effects of pH and salt concentration were investigated by CD. In addition, the structural changes occurring when HI0381 was in a membranous environment were investigated by comparing its HSQC spectra and CD data in buffer and in DPC micelles; the results showed that helix ${\alpha}4$ and strand ${\beta}4$ became aligned with the membrane. We conclude that the conformation of HI0381 is affected by the membrane environment, implying that its folded state is directly related to its function.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2006

Purpose : We investigated the causative organisms of bacterial meningitis by age distribution from 1996 to 2005. Methods : Retrospective data were obtained from the medical records with diagnosis of bacterial meningitis or neonatal meningitis from 1996 through 2005. A case was defined by isolation of organism or detection of its antigen by latex agglutination from cerebrospinal fluid. Results : A total of 46 cases(27 neonates and 19 children) were identified. 15 of 27 episodes(55.6%) of neonatal meningitis had a concomitant-positive blood culture. Group B streptococci were the most common bacterial causes of neonatal meningitis(44.4%). Nine of 12 episodes(75.0%) were late-onset infections in neonatal meningitis caused by group B streptococci. 16 of 19 children(84.2%) with bacterial meningitis beyond the neonatal period were younger than 5 years of age(median age, 23 months). Of 19 cases, 8 infections were with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 8 were with Haemophilus influenzae and 3 were with Neisseria meningitidis. Since 2001 there was no case of meningococcal meningitis in this study. Conclusion : In neonates group B streptococci are the most common causative organisms of bacterial meningitis, especially late-onset infections. In infants and young children, the predominant causes of bacterial meningitis are H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae; meningitis caused by the former are likely to decrease after the introduction of the conjugate vaccine for H. influenzae type b.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2013

Canine influenza virus (CIV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe and acute respiratory disease in dogs. In 2006, the H3N2 CIV was first identified in dogs from Guangdong province in China. The nine isolates were grouped together with the canine H3N2 viruses isolated from dogs and cats in Korea. The possible interspecies transmission of influenza A virus is very important. We carried out a serological retrospective study using invited canine serum. The hospital invited 123 dogs, first vaccination group were revealed with CIV antibody positive rate of 81.8%. the second vaccination group were detected a positive rate of 91.2%. Antibody generation rate was higher in 3~10 years dogs. Protective antibody titers were detected from 2 weeks to 12 months. thereafter below the protective antibody. The results indicate that H3N2 CIV may have been consistently circulating in dog populations. Recently. These findings showed that H3N2 CIV has the capacity to replicate in and transmit among cohoused dogs and underscore the need for continued public health surveillance. Considering the result continuous management and prevention system against CIV is required at the concentrated animal care centers. The importance of CIV surveillance in this region for understanding the genesis of this virus, and it is important to remain aware of the potential of H3N2 CIV to be transmitted from dogs to the human population.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.490-494
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• 2004

An efficacy test of PRP (polyribosylribitol phosphate)-TT (Tetanus toxoid) conjugate vaccines was carried out using BALB/c mice as an animal model by inoculating Haemophilus in­fluenzae type b (Hib) with a virulence enhancement factor (VEF). Three administrations of the conjugate vaccines at 2-week intervals elicited a significantly high level of PRP antibodies (P>0.0001). The protective activity of the PRP immunization was challenged with either Hib with iron dextran (Hib/) or with a combination of mucin and hemoglobin (Hibmh) as a VEF. The me­dium lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ for Hibmh and Hibiwas measured as 10 CFU (Colony Forming Unit) and $2.5{\times}10^{8}$ CFU respectively. Each immunized animal was challenged with five or ten times the $LD_{50}$ level of bacteria with a VEF. A significant difference in mortality between the immunized and control mice (P> 0.01) was observed with the Hibmh challenge inoculation but not with the Hibi challenge inoculation. These results show that a combination of mucin and hemoglobin was able to enhance the virulence of Hib in BALB/c mice to cause a lethal infection, thus suggesting that BALB/c mice introduced to this method can be an effective model animal for testing the protective efficacy of H. influenzae conjugate vaccines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1730-1735
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• 2018

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most common causes of mortality in Korea. In 2016, the mortality rate from pneumonia was 16,476 deaths per 100,000, which was an 11% increase from the previous year. The aim of our study was to determine the distribution of the bacterial pathogens causing respiratory symptoms in different age groups over a 10-year period. Between January 2008 and September 2017, 1,861 specimens from 1,664 patients admitted to Dankook University Hospital with respiratory symptoms were examined. We used multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect six bacterial pneumonia pathogens: Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. We detected bacterial pneumonia pathogens in 1,281 (68.83%) specimens. Of the 1,709 pathogens detected, S. pneumoniae was the most common (48.57%; n = 830) followed by H. influenzae (40.08%; n = 685). Most infections were found among children younger than 10 years (92.69%; n = 1,584). Although S. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen detected in all age groups, M. pneumoniae infection increased in prevalence with age (p < 0.05). The rate of co-infection was also high among these patients (31.1%; n = 399), which peaked in 2015 (54.55%; n = 42/77). The prevalence of bacterial pneumonia in Cheonan, along with the proportion of co-infections among patients increased over the 10-year study period. The findings will aid the development of treatment and prevention guidelines.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2009

Acute otitis media (AOM) and pneumonia are among the most common infectious diseases of children. Both are mucosal infections and share many common features such as etiological agents, pathogenesis and immunity. Influenza plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AOM and pneumonia. A vaccine against influenza may have substantial impact on these diseases during the influenza season. In clinical trials, influenza vaccine has reduced the incidence of AOM and pneumonia complicating influenza in children. However, the efficacy of vaccines has been controversial in children less than 2 years of age. Similarly, vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), both common causes of AOM and pneumonia, have the potential to reduce the impact of disease. Clinical trials showed that the currently licensed 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), administered during infancy, had an efficacy of 6-7% for the prevention of AOM, however, visits to the clinic for AOM were reduced by up to 20-30% after routine use in the U.S. Both Hib and PCVs have a proven effectiveness of >20% for prevention of radiologically confirmed pneumonia in children. The recently introduced pnuemococcal vaccine conjugated with protein D is expected to reduce AOM and pneumonia caused by non-typable H. influenzae, in addition to its effects on pneumococcal diseases. Considering their high incidence in children, recent achievements in the prevention of AOM and pneumonia with vaccines may have a significant economic and social impact.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2002

Bacterial infection is a very complex process in which both pathogenic microorganisms and host cells play crucial roles, and it is the outcome of interactions between the two participants. To elucidate the bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms, therefore, it is essential to understand the cellular and systemic responses of the host as well as the virulence factors of the pathogen. Infection of a host by pathogenic bacteria causes drastic changes in the physiology of host cells, leading to activation of a program of various gene expression. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.65-73
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• 1996

LPS/LOS, the compound found only in gram-negative bacterial outer membrane, plays important roles in bacterial maintenance as well as its pathogenesis. We isolated and characterized several genes required for NTHi 2019 LOS biosynthesis, which encode enzymes required for sugar substrate synthesis or the transfer of substrates to receptor molecules. The htrB gene, however, appears to have more complex role. It has acryltransferase activity as well as various other activity, which may control regulation of LOS biosynthesis as well as its pathogenicity. Evidences supporting the latter come from the observations that the lipid A of the B29 induced significantly less TNF ${\alpha}$ from macrophages than that of the wild type LOS (unpublished data). H. influenzae A2-htrB mutant strain was also significantly less invasive than the wild type strain. The structural similarities of the enterobacterial LPS and the Haemophilus LOS enabled us to isolate the NTHi 2019 genes involved in LOS biosynthesis genes by using the S. typhimurium LPS deep core mutants. While a similar approach has been used for E. coli, this technique for selection of an LPS phenotype has not been applied to nonenterobacterial species. The difficulties inherent in the molecular manipulation of organism such as Neisseria and Haemophilus species make this approach particularly attractive in the identification and cloning LOS genes. Studies on genetic features of LPS/LOS biosynthesis would be useful for understanding bacterial pathogenesis as well as for developing vaccines for these gram-negative pathogenic bacteria.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.315.3-316
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• 2002

A universal set of genes encodes the components of dissociated. type II. fa11y acid synthase system that is responsible for producing the multitude of fa11y acid structures found in bacterial membranes. We examined the biochemical basis for the production of fatty acids by bacteria. Several genes from HaemophHus influenzae Rd and three genes from Enterococcus faecalis V583 were predicted to encode homologs of the ${\beta}$-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthases I or II or III of Escherichia coli(FabB or BabF, or FabH)were identified in the genomic database. The protein products were expressed. purified, and biochemically characterized. efFabH and hF abH carried out the initial condensation reaction of fatty acid biosynthesis with acetyl-Coenzyme A as a primer. and hFabB and efFabF1 carried out the elongation condensation reaction of fatty acid biosynthesis with myrixtoyl-ACP.