• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.141-147
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• 2013

It has been established that berberine has strong antimicrobial effects. Little is known however regarding the antimicrobial activity of berberine against endodontic pathogenic bacteria or its cytotoxicity in human oral tissue cells. The antibacterial properties of berberine were tested against 5 strains of Enterococcus faecalis and type strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia, which are involved in endodontic infections. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) measurements. The viability of normal human gingival fibroblast (NHGF) cells after exposure to berberine was measured using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The data showed that berberine has antimicrobial effects against A. actinomycetemcomitans with an MIC and MBC of $12.5{\mu}g/ml$ and $25{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In the cytotoxicity studies, cell viability was maintained at 66.1% following exposure to $31.3{\mu}g/ml$ berberine. Overall, these findings suggest that berberine has antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria. Nevertheless, lower concentrations in combination with other reagents will need to be tested before these in vitro results can be translated to clinical use.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Prior to the end of the 20th century, microorganism research was limited to culture and has since been revolutionized by genetic analysis. Microorganisms, including bacteria, can cause disease, but most of them are commensal microorganisms in our bodies. This knowledge changes the pathological approach to infectious diseases and lends to a new perspective on the effects of gut and oral microorganisms on disease and health. The oral cavity, particularly the periodontal pocket, is considered to be a reservoir of microbes that cause disease, and oral microbial control is becoming more important. In this review, I will examine the changes in the microbiological revolution and the meaning of oral healthcare management based on those changes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.219-221
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• 2017

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, obligately anaerobic and rod- or filament-shaped bacterium. F. nucleatum is part of oral microflora and is a causative agent of periodontitis as well as is associated with a wide spectrum of systemic diseases of human. F. nucleatum KCOM 1323 (= ChDC F317) was isolated from a human subgingival plaque of periodontitis lesion. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of F. nucleatum KCOM 1323.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.178-181
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• 2017

Peripheral odontogenic myxoma is a rare odontogenic tumor representing an extra osseous counterpart of central odontogenic myxoma. It is commonly seen in gingiva between the 3rd and 4th decades of life and appears predominantly in females. Compared to central odontogenic myxoma, it is a less aggressive, slow-growing lesion with a low recurrence rate. However, close postoperative follow-up is required because of the unlimited growth potential of incompletely removed lesions. It shares many features with other soft tissue myxoid proliferations occurring in the oral cavity and hence needs to be differentiated from them. Very few cases of peripheral odontogenic myxomas have been reported and, to the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported in a pediatric patient. We present an unusual case of peripheral odontogenic myxoma occurring in a 12-year-old girl located in the anterior mandibular gingiva, with an emphasis on differential diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.146-148
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• 2018

Fusobacterium animalis (formerly Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. animalis) is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, and filament-shaped bacterium. F. animalis may be a part of normal flora and a periodontopathogen of human oral cavity. F. animalis KCOM 1280 (= ChDC F318) was isolated from a human periodontitis lesion. In this report, we present the draft genome sequence of F. animalis KCOM 1280.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.131-133
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• 2017

Streptococcus intermedius is a Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic, nonsporeforming, and nonmotile cocci. S. intermedius is a member of oral flora and is endodontic infection, respiratory infections, infective endocarditis, brain abscess, and liver abscess. Streptococcus intermedius ChDC B718 (= KCOM 1545) was isolated from a human pulpitis lesion. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of S. intermedius ChDC B718.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.74-76
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• 2018

Recently, Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. vincentii was reclassified as Fusobacterium vincentii based on the average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distance analyses. F. vincentii is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, and filament-shaped bacterium. F. vincentii is a member of normal flora of human oral cavity and plays a role in periodontal diseases. F. vincentii KCOM 2931 was isolated from a periodontitis lesion. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of F. vincentii KCOM 2931.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.71-73
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• 2018

Recently, Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum was reclassified as Fusobacterium polymorphum based on the average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distance analyses. F. polymorphum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, and filament-shaped bacterium. F. polymorphum is a part of normal flora of oral cavity and causative agent of periodontal diseases. F. polymorphum KCOM 1001 (= ChDC F119) was isolated from a human subgingival plaque of gingivitis lesion. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of F. polymorphum KCOM 1001.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.67-68
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• 2019

Streptococcus constellatus is Gram-stain-positive, facultative anaerobic, and non-spore forming coccus. It is a member of normal flora of human oral cavity. S. constellatus KCOM 1039 was isolated from human postoperative maxillary cyst lesion. In this report, we present the draft genome sequence of S. constellatus KCOM 1039.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate whether neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system were also expressed in oral keratinocytes. Expressions of various neurotransmitter receptor genes in immortalized mouse oral keratinocyte (IMOK) cells were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. IMOK cells expressed calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor subunit genes Ramp1 and Ramp3 and glutamate receptor subunit genes Grina, Gria3, Grin1, Grin2a, and Grin2d. Moreover, IMOK cells expressed Adrb2 and Chrna5 that encode beta 2 adrenergic receptor and cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 5 for sympathetic and parasympathetic neurotransmitters, respectively. The expression of Bdkrb1 and Ptger4, which encode receptors for bradykinin and prostaglandin E2 involved in inflammatory responses, was also observed at low levels. Expressions of Ramp1 and Grina in the mouse gingival epithelium were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. When the function of neurotransmitter receptors expressed on IMOK cells was tested by intracellular calcium response, CGRP, glutamate, and cholinergic receptors did not respond to their agonists, but the bradykinin receptor responded to bradykinin. Collectively, oral keratinocytes express several neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting the potential regulation of oral epithelial homeostasis by the nervous system.