• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.569-577
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• 2018

Background: The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) infection represents a global public health emergency. We evaluated the usefulness of a newly developed multiplexed, bead-based bioassay (Quantamatrix Multiplexed Assay Platform [QMAP], QuantaMatrix, Seoul, Korea) to rapidly identify the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and detect rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance-associated mutations. Methods: A total of 200 clinical isolates from respiratory samples were used. Phenotypic anti-TB drug susceptibility testing (DST) results were compared with those of the QMAP system, reverse blot hybridization (REBA) MTB-MDR assay, and gene sequencing analysis. Results: Compared with the phenotypic DST results, the sensitivity and specificity of the QMAP system were 96.4% (106/110; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9072-0.9888) and 80.0% (72/90; 95% CI 0.7052-0.8705), respectively, for RIF resistance and 75.0% (108/144; 95% CI 0.6731-0.8139) and 96.4% (54/56; 95% CI 0.8718-0.9972), respectively, for INH resistance. The agreement rates between the QMAP system and REBA MTB-MDR assay for RIF and INH resistance detection were 97.6% (121/124; 95% CI 0.9282-0.9949) and 99.1% (109/110; 95% CI 0.9453-1.0000), respectively. Comparison between the QMAP system and gene sequencing analysis showed an overall agreement of 100% for RIF resistance (110/110; 95% CI 0.9711-1.0000) and INH resistance (124/124; 95% CI 0.9743-1.0000). Conclusions: The QMAP system may serve as a useful screening method for identifying and accurately discriminating MTBC from non-tuberculous mycobacteria, as well as determining RIF- and INH-resistant MTB strains.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.90-97
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• 2013

The tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) release assay (IGRA) have been widely used for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). In order to overcome limitations of current LTBI diagnostic methods, the development of a novel molecular assay which is able to measure the IFN-${\gamma}$ messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific antigen was recently developed. The ability of a molecular assay to detect MTB infection was similar to commercial IGRA however, the optimal incubation time for stimulating IFN-${\gamma}$ was not yet established. Therefore, in this study the direct comparisons of MTB Ag stimulation times (4 and 24 hrs) were performed for diagnosis of MTB infection. Data showed that the coincident rate between QFT-GIT IFN-${\gamma}$ ELISA and IFN-${\gamma}$ RT-PCR (4 hrs) was 88.35% and that of QFT-GIT and IFN-${\gamma}$ RT-PCR (24 hrs) was 70.85%. Based on a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the 4 hrs-MTB specific Ag stimulation time for IFN-${\gamma}$ RT-PCR had the significant P value, 95% CI value, and AUC (P < 0.0001, 95% CI=0.82 to 1.02, and AUC=0.9214) in comparison with 24 hrs-MTB specific Ag stimulation time (P = 0.009, 95% CI=0.06 to 0.94, and AUC=0.7711). These results show that 4-hr was the most optimal MTB Ag stimulation time for performing IFN-${\gamma}$ RT-PCR. Although semi-quantitative RT-PCR had a few analytical limitations, it might be useful as an alternative molecular diagnostic method for detecting MTB infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권1호
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• pp.44-49
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• 2012

Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is an increasing public health problem and poses a serious threat to global TB control. Fluoroquinolone (FQ) and aminoglycoside (AG) are essential anti-TB drugs for MDR-TB treatment. REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ (M&D, Wonju, Korea) were evaluated for rapid detection of FQ and kanamycin (KM) resistance in MDR-TB clinical isolates. Methods: M. tuberculosis (n=67) were isolated and cultured from the sputum samples of MDR-TB patients for extracting DNA of the bacilli. Mutations in genes, gyrA and rrs, that have been known to be associated with resistance to FQ and KM were analyzed using both REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$, respectively. The isolates were also utilized for a conventional phenotypic drug susceptibility test (DST) as the gold standard of FQ and KM resistance. The molecular and phenotypic DST results were compared. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ were 77 and 100%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the assay were 100 and 95%, respectively, for FQ resistance. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ for detecting KM resistance were 66%, 94%, 70%, and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ evaluated in this study showed excellent specificities as 100 and 94%, respectively. However, sensitivities of the assays were low. It is essential to increase sensitivity of the rapid drug resistance assays for appropriate MDR-TB treatment, suggesting further investigation to detect new or other mutation sites of the associated genes in M. tuberculosis is required.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2020

Tuberculosis is a global public health problem and manifests itself as a difference in the genetic susceptibility of the host, along with the properties of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes proposed in the Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on tuberculosis in a recently published Chinese population were reported. In this study, we investigated whether the genetic polymorphism of candidate genes related to tuberculosis is reproduced when targeting Koreans. The CLCN6 (rs12404124, rs198391, rs535107), DOK7 (rs1203104, rs1203103) and HLA-DRA (rs1051336) gene polymorphisms showed statistically significant results. In addition, it was also found whether it acts as an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) that can influence gene expression. This study confirmed that the genetic polymorphism of the three genes (CLCN6, DOK7, HLA-DRA) affects the development of tuberculosis and will help to understand the genetic specificity of tuberculosis and the interaction between pathogens and hosts.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.201-209
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• 2012

Apoptosis is a physiological programmed cell death process. Tubercle bacilli inhibit apoptosis of alveolar macrophages and phagolysosome fusion. We investigated whether the Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic member, Bfl-1/A1, plays an important role in the anti-apoptotic process during mycobacterial infection. PMA-treated human monocytoid THP-1 cells were infected with mycobacteria (H37Rv, BCG, and K-strain) at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 for 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 48, or 72 h. In addition, PMA-treated THP-1 cells were pretreated with specific inhibitors for 45 min before stimulation with mycobacteria at an MOI of 10 for 4 h. After the indicated time, the cells were subject to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, and a Bfl-1/A1-specific Western blot was performed. In PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells, the expression level of Bfl-1/A1 mRNA was increased by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv infection. The mRNA level of Bfl-1/A1 peaked 3 h after MTB infection, then declined gradually until 9 h. However, Bfl-1/A1 mRNA induction gradually re-increased from 24 h to 72 h after MTB infection. No difference in Bfl-1/A1 expression was detected following infection with MTB H37Rv, K-strain, or M. bovis BCG. These results were not dependent on mycobacterial virulence. Moreover, mRNA levels of other anti-apoptotic molecules (Mcl-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL) were not increased after MTB H37Rv or K-strain infection. These results suggest that mycobacteria induce the innate immune host defense mechanisms that utilize Bfl-1/A1 molecules at early time points, regardless of virulence.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.315-324
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• 2001

연구배경 : IL-8은 강력한 화학주성인자로서 결핵감염 부위로 염증세포들을 동원함으로서 결핵균에 대한 숙주의 방어기전에 있어서 중요한 역할을 한다. IL-8의 유전자의 발현에 있어서 NF-${\kappa}B$가 중요한 역할을 한다. 저자들은 결핵 감염시 폐상피세포가 NF-${\kappa}B$ 의존성으로 IL-8을 분비하는지 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 말초혈액단핵구에 결핵균을 감염시키고 24시간 배양 후 배양상층액(CoMTB)을 얻었다. 결핵균, CoMTB로 자극한 A549 세포주의 IL-8 분비 정도를 ELISA 방법으로 측정하였다. CoMTB로 자극한 A549 세포주의 IL-8 mRNA 의 발현 정도를 RT-PCR로, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$의 분해를 western blot 분석으로, NF-${\kappa}B$의 핵이동과 DNA 결합은 electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA)를 이용하여, 그리고 NF-${\kappa}B$ 의존성 IL-8 유전자의 전사활성은 luciferase reporter gene assay를 이용하여 측정하였다. 결 과 : A549 세포주를 CoMTB로 24시간 자극하여 얻은 배양액의 IL-8 농도는 $46.8{\pm}4.8\;ng/ml$로 분비하여 결핵균으로 직접 자극하였을 때의 $6.8{\pm}2.9\;ng/ml$보다 높았다. CoMTB로 A549 세포주를 자극하였을 때 IL-8 mRNA의 발현이 증가하였고, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$의 분해가 일어났으며, NF-${\kappa}B$의 핵이동과 DNA 결합이 일어났으며, NF-${\kappa}B$ 의존성 IL-8 유전자의 전사활성이 증가하였다. 결 론 : 결핵병변에서 폐상피세포는 결핵균을 탐식한 단핵식 세포와의 상호작용에 의해 NF-${\kappa}B$ 의존성으로 IL-8을 분비한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제74권6호
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• pp.251-255
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• 2013

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the largest health problems in the world today. And the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease appears to be increasing worldwide. Recently, an automated, nucleic acid amplification assay for the rapid detection of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampin resistance was developed (Xpert MTB/RIF). And fixed-dose combinations of anti-TB drugs and linezolid have been introduced in the treatment of TB. And new NTM species, named Mycobacterium massiliense, which is very closely related to Mycobacterium abscessus was reported. In this review, these recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of TB and clinical characteristics of M. massiliense lung disease are discussed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2012

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the BACTEC MGIT (Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube) 960 system for mycobacteria culture and immunochromatographic assay to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in positive MGIT culture. Methods: Mycobacteria-culture-positive cases were retrospectively analyzed from December 2010 to July 2011. The detection rates and the recovery times of the mycobacteria between the Ogawa media and the MGIT were compared. An immunochromatographic assay (ICA) (SD BIO-LINE) was also performed in the positive MGIT culture for identification, and the results were compared with those of the Ogawa media in the Korea National Tuberculosis Association. Results: Among the 261 patients (M:F, 168:93; mean age, $61.6{\pm}17.16$ yrs), 450 specimens (sputa, 365; bronchial washing, 61; and pleural effusion, 24) were found positive with mycobacteria. Mycobacteria were grown both on the MGIT and Ogawa media in 310 cases (68.9%); only on the MGIT in 115 cases (22.6%); and only on the Ogawa media in 25 cases (5.5%) (p<0.05). The recovery time was $28.2{\pm}8.9$ days in the Ogawa media and $11.1{\pm}5.8$ days in the MGIT (p<0.05). Among the 127 cases from the positive MGIT culture, all 92 cases that were confirmed as MTB cases bythe Korea National Tuberculosis Association were identified as MTB by ICA, with 100% sensitivity. Conclusion: MGIT increases the detection rate and shortens the recovery time of mycobacteria in clinical respiratory specimens, and the TB Ag MPT64 kit using ICA is useful in identifying MTB in a positive MGIT culture.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.323-328
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• 2019

결핵균에 의한 만성 세균성 감염인 결핵은 결핵균의 특성, 숙주의 면역상태와 유전적 감수성의 차이에 의해 잠복성과 활동성으로의 진행정도에 차이가 있다. 결핵균에 대한 숙주 방어 기전은 주로 대식세포, T 세포 및 수지상 세포 사이의 상호 작용에 기인한다. CD44는 결핵균에 감염되면 활성 T 세포에서 발현되며 림프구 이동을 조절한다. 또한 CD44는 ECM에 대한 백혈구의 부착을 매개하여 대식세포, CD4+ T cell 등을 폐로 불러모으는 역할을 한다. 따라서, CD44 유전자의 다형성은 결핵균에 대한 숙주세포의 면역기전 저하를 유발할 수 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 CD44 유전자의 유전자 다형성이 결핵의 감수성에 영향을 미치는지 조사하는 것이다. 결핵균과 CD44의 연관성에 대하여 대한 한국 협회 자원의 443명의 cases와 3228명의 control을 이용하여 CD44 유전자의 237개의 SNP를 분석하였다. 이 중 17개의 SNP가 결핵과 통계적으로 유의한 관련성을 보였다. 가장 유의성 있는 SNP는 rs75137824였다(OR=0.231, CI: 1.51~3.56, $P=1.3{\times}10^{-4}$). 또한 결핵 발병에 유의성이 있는 SNP중 rs10488809의 경우는 전사인자 JUND 및 FOS에 결합하는 부위로써 CD44 유전자 발현에 영향을 줄 수 있는 것으로 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 결핵 발병이 CD44 발현 차이에 의한 숙주 면역반응에 차이에 의해서 감수성의 차이가 있을 수 있음을 나타 낼 수 있다. 이번 연구 결과는 결핵균 감염에 대한 숙주면역의 유전적 차이가 결핵 진행정도의 차이를 유발할 수 있다는 유전적 배경에 대한 기반을 마련해 줄 수 있을 것이라고 기대한다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.250-255
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• 2014

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) resides and replicates inside macrophages. In our previous report, we reported that CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses specific for the peptide derived from MTB RNA polymerase beta-subunit ($RpoB_{127-135}$) could be induced in TB patients expressing HLA-$A^*0201$ subtype. In order to examine whether $RpoB_{127-135}$ specific CD8+ T cells can recognize MTB infected macrophages in vitro, CD8+ T cell lines specific for $RpoB_{127-135}$ peptide were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy HLA-$A^*0201$ subjects by in vitro immunization technique. In this study, we observed $RpoB_{127-135}$ specific CD8+ T cells could recognize and destroy macrophages infected with MTB for 2 to 4 days. $RpoB_{127-135}$ specific CD8+ T cell immune response was inducible from PBMC of healthy subjects expressing HLA-$A^*0206$ subtype, one of HLA-A2 supertype members. Next, we investigated the HLA-I processing mechanism of $RpoB_{127-135}$ peptide in MTB infected macrophages. As a result, the presentation of the MTB derived epitope peptide, $RpoB_{127-135}$, to CD8+ T cells was not inhibited by the treatment with brefeldin-A (ER-Golgi transport inhibitor) or lactacystin (proteasome inhibitor), which blocks the classical HLA-I processing pathway. However, $RpoB_{127-135}$ specific CD8+ T cell activity was blocked either by the blocking agent for the endocytosis (cytochalasin D) or by the blocking antibody (W6/32) for HLA-I molecules. Therefore, the $RpoB_{127-135}$ peptide may be processed by accessing the alternate HLA-I processing pathway. Understanding the processing and presentation mechanisms of the MTB derived proteins will help to improve the efficacy of vaccines and the efficiency of therapeutic agents for TB.