• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.808-816
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• 2018

Bacterial biofilms have been demonstrated to be closely related to clinical infections and contribute to drug resistance. Berberine, which is the main component of Coptis chinensis, has been reported to have efficient antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of a combination of berberine with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to inhibit Salmonella biofilm formation and its effect on expressions of related genes (rpoE, luxS, and ompR). The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of the combination of berberine with CIP is 0.75 showing a synergistic antibacterial effect. The biofilm's adhesion rate and growth curve showed that the multi-resistant Salmonella strain had the potential to form a biofilm relative to that of strain CVCC528, and the antibiofilm effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm microstructures were rarely observed at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations (MIC, minimal inhibition concentration), and the combination had a stronger antibiofilm effect than each of the antimicrobial agents used alone at $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. LuxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions were significantly repressed (p< 0.01) at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations, and the berberine and CIP combination repressed mRNA expressions more strongly at the $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. The results indicate that the combination of berberine and CIP has a synergistic effect and is effective in inhibiting Salmonella biofilm formation via repression of luxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.147-156
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• 2022

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in different age groups, including children. Bacteria are the main etiological agents of UTIs. The aim of the present study was to isolate, identify, and determine the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from children with UTIs from Baghdad, Iraq. Three hundred and two urine samples were collected from children aged 6 months to 12 years. The samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar. The selected colonies were subjected to biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility analysis using the Vitek^® 2 Compact automated microbial identification system. In this sample, 299 bacteria were identified, of which, 267 were gram-negative bacteria, and 32 were gram-positive bacteria. Escherichia coli (56%) was the most commonly isolated gram-negative bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14%), Enterobacter spp. (10.48%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.36%), Proteus spp. (7.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii (1.5%), and Morganella morganii (0.37%). Enterococcus faecalis (62.5%) was the most commonly detected gram-positive bacteria, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%). E. coli and P. aeruginosa were the most antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Among the tested antibiotics, meropenem showed 100% sensitivity, followed by imipenem (97.4%), amikacin (91.8%), and tobramycin (83.5%). In contrast, the high frequencies of resistance were observed with cefixime (93.2%), cefotaxime (78.7%), and ceftriaxone/cefotaxime (71.2%). In conclusion, carbapenems and aminoglycosides are highly recommended for the empirical treatment of UTIs, while, Quinolones, penicillins, and cephalosporins are not suggested. Frequent antibiotics susceptibility testing are warranted to determine the resistance pattern of UTI bacteria.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.368-379
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• 2022

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a ligand of CD44, accumulates in some types of tumors and is responsible for tumor progression. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) regulates cytoprotective genes and drug transporters, which promotes therapy resistance in tumors. Previously, we showed that high levels of CD44 are associated with NRF2 activation in cancer stem like-cells. Herein, we demonstrate that HA production was increased in doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer MCF7 cells (MCF7-DR) via the upregulation of HA synthase-2 (HAS2). HA incubation increased NRF2, aldo-keto reductase 1C1 (AKR1C1), and multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) levels. Silencing of HAS2 or CD44 suppressed NRF2 signaling in MCF7-DR, which was accompanied by increased doxorubicin sensitivity. The treatment with a HAS2 inhibitor, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), decreased NRF2, AKR1C1, and MDR1 levels in MCF7-DR. Subsequently, 4-MU treatment inhibited sphere formation and doxorubicin resistance in MCF7-DR. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data analysis across 32 types of tumors indicates the amplification of HAS2 gene is a common genetic alteration and is negatively correlated with the overall survival rate. In addition, high HAS2 mRNA levels are associated with increased NRF2 signaling and poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. Collectively, these indicate that HAS2 elevation contributes to chemoresistance and sphere formation capacity of drug-resistant MCF7 cells by activating CD44/NRF2 signaling, suggesting a potential benefit of HAS2 inhibition.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.792-804
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• 2023

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), particularly antimicrobial-resistant NAS, have a substantial impact on human and animal health. In the current study, we investigated (1) the species profiles of NAS isolates collected from healthy broilers, farm environments, and farm workers in Korea, (2) the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant NAS isolates, especially methicillin resistance, and (3) the genetic factors involved in the methicillin and fluoroquinolone resistance. In total, 216 NAS isolates of 16 different species were collected from healthy broilers (n=178), broiler farm environments (n=18), and farm workers (n=20) of 20 different broiler farms. The two most dominant broiler-associated NAS species were Staphylococcus agnetis (23.6%) and Staphylococcus xylosus (22.9%). Six NAS isolates were mecA-positive carrying staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) II (n=1), SCCmec IV (n=1), SCCmec V (n=2), or nontypeable SCCmec element (n=2). While two mecA-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from farm workers had SCCmec II and IV, a mecA-positive S. epidermidis isolate from broiler and a Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolate farm environment carried SCCmec V. The occurrence of multidrug resistance was observed in 48.1% (104/216 isolates) of NAS isolates with high resistance rates to β-lactams (>40%) and fusidic acid (59.7%). Fluoroquinolone resistance was confirmed in 59 NAS isolates (27.3%), and diverse mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were identified. These findings suggest that NAS in broiler farms may have a potential role in the acquisition, amplification, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2023

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes in duck farms of Jeollanam-do Province, South Korea. A total of 1112 samples (breeder ducks, 286; broiler ducks, 826) were collected from 196 duck farms (breeder duck farms, 25; broiler duck farms, 171) between January 2018 and November 2019. The total prevalence of Salmonella serotypes was 45.4% (89/196) in the duck farms, with no significant difference between prevalence in breeder and broiler duck farms (48% and 45%, respectively; P>0.05). The most prevalent serotype among the 127 Salmonella isolates was Salmonella Typhimurium (20.5%) followed by Salmonella Albany (17.3%), Salmonella Hadar (15.7%), and Salmonella Enteritidis (11.8%). Maximum resistance was observed against penicillin (78.74%), followed by tetracycline (68.50%), and kanamycin (65.35%). Of the 127 isolates, 117 (92.13%) were resistant to ≥3 antimicrobials and 2 to all 18 antimicrobials. Our results demonstrate the presence of Salmonella strains and their resistance to multiple antimicrobials, thus indicating a public health concern in South Korea. The emergence of Salmonella stains that are resistant to multiple drugs highlight the need for careful use of antimicrobials in duck farms.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.626-633
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• 2023

Vibrio spp. are aquatic bacteria that are ubiquitous in warm estuarine and marine environments. Especially, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae are currently known to cause potentially fatal infections in humans. This study investigated the distribution and antibiotic resistance of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae isolated from coastal areas of Gyeongsangnam-do in 2022. A total of 252 samples of water, shellfish and coastal sediment were collected from 7 locations along the coast, and 124 samples of fishery products were collected from markets. Among the 252 samples, forty-four V. vulnificus (11.7%) and fourteen V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 (3.7%), none of which carried the ctx gene, were isolated. Out of the 124 samples, 6 (4.8%) tested positive for V. vulnificus and V. cholerae was not detected. The isolation rates of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae showed a significant correlation with environmental factors such as seawater temperature and salinity. In an antibiotic resistance test, V. vulnificus was susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, imipenem trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to cefoxitin (100.0%), followed by tetracycline (9.1%). Multidrug resistance was also observed. Continuous monitoring of Vibrio pathogens with water temperature and salinity is expected to help reduce the outbreaks, and rational use of antibiotic agents is needed to prevent the accession of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.70-76
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• 2023

Purpose: Typhoid remains a major health problem, especially in the developing world. Furthermore, the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains of Salmonella typhi added a sense of urgency to develop more effective typhoid vaccines, one of which is bacterial ghosts (BGs), prepared by both genetic and chemical means. The chemical method includes incubation with numerous agents for a short time at their minimum inhibitory or minimum growth concentrations. This study included the preparation of BGs by a sponge-like reduced protocol (SLRP). Materials and Methods: Critical concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate, NaOH, and H₂O₂ were used. Moreover, high-quality BGs were visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Subculturing was used to confirm the absence of vital cells. Besides, the concentrations of the released DNA and protein were estimated spectrophotometrically. In addition, the integrity of cells was proved by visualizing Gram-stained cells using a light microscope. Furthermore, a comparison between the immunogenicity and safety of the prepared vaccine and the available whole-cell killed vaccine was established. Results: Improved preparation of high-quality BGs of S. typhi, visualized by SEM, revealed punctured cells with intact outer shells. Moreover, the absence of vital cells was confirmed by subculturing. At the same time, the release of respective amounts of proteins and DNA is another evidence of BGs' production. Additionally, the challenge test provided evidence that the prepared BGs are immunogenic and have the same efficacy as the whole cell vaccine. Conclusion: The SLRP provided a simple, economical, and feasible method for BGs preparation.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.432-440
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• 2023

Irrational and injudicious use of antibiotics, easy availability of them as over-the-counter drugs in economically developing countries, and unavailability of regulatory policies governing antimicrobial use in agriculture, animals, and humans, has led to the development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria. The use of medicinal plants can be considered as an alternative, with a consequent impact on microbial resistance. We tested extracts of Piper longum fruits as new natural products as agents for reversing the resistance to antibiotics. Six crude extracts of P. longum fruits were utilized against a clinical isolate of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.The antibiotic susceptibility testing disc method was used in the antibiotic resistance reversal analysis. Apart from cefoxitin and erythromycin, all other antibiotics used (lincosamides [clindamycin], quinolones [levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin], and aminoglycosides [amikacin and gentamicin]) were enhanced by P. longum extracts. The extracts that showed the greatest synergy with the antibiotics were EAPL (ethyl acetate [extract of] P. longum), n-BPL (n-butanol [extract of] P. longum), and MPL (methanolic [extract of] P. longum The results of this study suggest that P. longum extracts have the ability to increase the effectiveness of different classes of antibiotics and reverse their resistance. However, future studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the synergy between antibiotic and phytocompound(s) and identify the active biomolecules of P. longum responsible for the synergy in S. aureus.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2024

At the present study, it was aimed to explore the states of antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 1,360 chickens, pigs and cattle carcass (400 chickens, 480 pigs and 480 cattle) in Daegu province from January 2022 to December 2022. Among 1,360 samples, 81 of S. aureus were isolated cattle (1.4%), pigs (7.7%) and chickens (9.2%). In antimicrobial susceptibility test, all of the isolates were demonstrated susceptibility to rifampin. But the isolates were showed resistance other antibiotics in order of tetracycline (62.9%), ciprofloxacin (62.9%), tobramycin (58.0%), gentamicin (51.8%), amikacin (40.7%), penicillin (39.5%), clindamycin (35.8%), enrofloxacin (33.3%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (30.8%), oxacillin (30.8%), minocycline (29.6%), erythromycin (25.9%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (20.9%), chloramphenicol (12.3%), cefoxitin (9.8%). Among the 81 S. aureus isolates, 25 (30.8%) methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were observed. Seven (28.0%) of 25 MRSA harbored mecA gene. About 96% of MRSA were multidrug resistance to at least 3 more drugs. A continuous monitoring and surveillance program to prevent antimicrobial resistance in livestock products is demanded.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.409-415
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• 2001

배 경 : 다제내성 폐결핵은 대부분은 획득내성에 의해 발생한다. 그러나 일부분에서 초회내성으로 발생하는데 이러한 환자들은 획득내성으로 인한 환자들과 차이가 있을 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구는 초회내성으로 진단된 다제내성 폐결핵 환자들의 임상적 특징을 조사하여 향후 이들에 대한 효과적인 치료에 지표로 삼고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 1995년 1월부터 1998년 12월까지 입원치료를 시행한 초회내성으로 진단된 다제내성 폐결핵 환자 30명을 대상으로 하였다. 임상적 특징을 조사하기 위하여 성별, 연령, 가족력, 균음전화 기간, 내성약제수, 치료약제와 흉부방사선상 NTA 분류를 이용한 병변의 정도 및 공동 유무와 치료기간 등을 조사하였다. 통계적 분석은 흉부방사선상 병변의 정도와 공동의 호전 여부를 윌콕슨 부호 순위 검정법을 이용하였고, Kaplan-Meier 방법으로 1년 및 4년 무병율을 조사하였다. 결 과 : 환자들의 평균나이는 평균 46.6세였고, 남녀비는 1:1이었다. 폐결핵 가족력이 있었던 경우는 6(20%)명이었다. 객담에서 균이 음전된 기간은 평균 2.6개월이었으며, 내성약제의 개수는 평균 7.6개였다. 환자들 중 23(67%)명에서 12개월 이하로 치료하였다. 그리고 초치료 처방으로 치료한 경우는 28(93%)명이었다. 흉부방사선상 병변의 정도와 공동은 치료 후 호전되었다(p<0.05). 총 13명의 환자들 평균 22.6개월간 외래 추적조사 결과 2(15%)명에서 재발을 관찰할 수 있었고, 1년 및 4년 무병율은 85%였다. 결 론 : 초회내성으로 진단된 다제내성 폐결핵의 경우에 있어서 초치료 처방으로 하여 흉부방사선상 병변의 정도와 공동의 호전 여부를 주의 깊게 관찰하면서 9-12개월을 치료한다면 성공적인 결과를 얻을 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.