• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.484-489
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• 2005

Streptococcus pmeumoniae is the leading cause of pneumonia and bacterial meningitis. The current polysaccharide vaccine has been reported ineffective in elderly adults and children less than 2 years of age. Thus, in recent many researchers have been focused on a different approach, DNA vaccine. In our laboratory we developed a Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA (SPDNA) vaccine. This SPDNA vaccine was formulated by inserting the region encoding part of the capsule in the S. pneumoniae into the LAMP-1. In present work, with use of the SPDNA vaccine we attempted to establish a certain methodology useful for evaluation of effectiveness and immunoresponse of a DNA vaccine. Results showed that the subcutaneous route was the most effective for production of antisera specific for S. pneumoniae in mice. By isotyping analyses, IgM, IgGl, IgG2a, and IgG2b were determined. In addition, INF-$\gamma$ and IL-4 were predominantly detected. Combination of those data resulted in a pattern of IgGl < IgG2a=IgG2b and INF$\gamma\>$ >IL-4, which indicates the inmmunity towards the Thl response predominantly; furthermore, the SPDNA vaccination induced resistance of the CD4+T lymphocyte-depleted mice against disseminated pneumococcal infection. These data appear to be possibly due to activation of CDS8+T cell-activation. Taken together, this methodology can be applied for evaluating efficacy and mode of action of a DNA vaccine as minimum critera.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1987

In order to increase the production of tryptophan by maximizing expression of recombinant trp plasmid, Klebsiella pneumoniae KC 105(pheA tyrA trpE trpR tyrR) was genetically modified. KC 107, inosine monophospate(IMP) auxotroph from KC 105 and KC 108, histidine(His) auxotroph from KC 107 were also derived respectively to increase phosphoribosylpyrophosphate(PRPP) production which is required for tryptophan biosynthesis. From KC 107 phosphoribosylpyrophosphate consumption which is required for tryptophan biosynthesis. From KC 107 and KC 108, KC 109 and KC 110, both arginine auxotrophs were derived respectively. To investigate the expression of recombinant trp plasmid in the selected K. pneumoniae mutants, the auxotrophic mutants were transformed with recombinant trp plasmids pSC 101-$trpE^{FBR}$, pSC 101-trpL(.DELTA.att) $trpE^{FBR}$ (pSC 101-trp-AF). Amount of tryptophan produced and activities of tryptophan synthase of $trpR^{-}$ mutant (KC 100) and $tyrR^{-}$ mutnat(KC 105) containing recombinant plasmid pSC 101-trp operon were increased by 30-40% as compared with KC 99(pheA tyrA trpE) containing recombinant plasmid pSC 101-trp operon. Activities of tryptophan synthase and production of tryptophan of KC 108 ($His^{-}$) and KC 109($Arg^{-}$) containing recombinant plasmid pSC 101-trp operon were increase by two-fold as compared with KC 107 containing pSC 101-trp operon.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2015

Activating transcription factor-3 (ATF3) acts as a negative regulator of cytokine production during Gram-negative bacterial infection. A recent study reported that ATF3 provides protection from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by activating cytokines. However, the mechanism by which S. pneumoniae induces ATF3 after infection is still unknown. In this study, we show that ATF3 was upregulated via Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways in response to S. pneumoniae infection in vitro. Induction was mediated by TLR4 and TLR2, which are in the TLR family. The expression of ATF3 was induced by pneumolysin (PLY), a potent pneumococcal virulence factor, via the TLR4 pathway. Furthermore, ATF3 induction is mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Thus, this study reveals a potential role of PLY in modulating ATF3 expression, which is required for the regulation of immune responses against pneumococcal infection in macrophages.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.193-197
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• 2023

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of septic arthritis in adults. However, late detection can cause serious complications, including joint destruction and immobility. The purpose of this study was to report a case of successfully treated septic arthritis of the hip joint (SAHJ) caused by K. pneumoniae. A 49-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with fever and progressive severe pain in the right hip area. Although there was no abnormality on plain radiographs, ultrasonography revealed diffuse swelling of the right hip joint. Under ultrasonography guidance, the hip joint fluid was aspirated, and Gram staining and culturing were performed. The patient's pain was significantly reduced after the joint aspiration. The Gram staining and culturing revealed gram-negative bacilli, which were subsequently identified as K. pneumoniae. According to the results, systemic intravenous antibiotic (ceftriaxone) was administered without complications, and the patient was discharged on oral antibiotic (ciprofloxacin). Clinical cases of septic arthritis of the knee or sacroiliac joint have been occasionally reported in adults, but cases of SAHJ are rare. Moreover, K. pneumonia-induced SAHJ has not been reported to date. Therefore, we report this very rare case and its successful treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.376-379
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• 2005

Purpose : Mycoplasama pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and exacerbates other respiratory conditions such as asthma. Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and surfactant structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. In this study, SP-A mediated mycoplasma cidal activity. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in the genetically homogeneous Korean population. Methods : PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. The forty nine children with Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia were matched to 50 nomal neonates. Results : The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 gene in the study population were : $6A^2=21$ percent, $6A^3=45$ percent, $6A^4=11$ percent, $6A^8=9$ percent, $6A^{14}=8$ percent, 1A=11.3 percent, $1A^0=38$ percent, $1A^1=12.7$ percent, $1A^2=9.2$ percent, $1A^5=15.5$ percent, $1A^7=2.9$ percent, $1A^8=4.9$ percent, $1A^9=2.2$ percent, others=3.3 percent. The frequencies of specific genotypes such as $1A^2$ was higher than control group, significantly. Conclusion : $1A^2$ are susceptible factors for Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus($1A^2$) is an important determinant for predisposition to Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.428-436
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• 2016

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been increased and become a public health concern worldwide. Many bacterial infections can be sequentially treated with different types of antibiotics. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the changes in survival, antibiotic susceptibility, mutant frequency, ${\beta}$-lactamase activity, biofilm formation, and gene expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae after exposure to sequential antibiotic treatments of ciprofloxacin and meropenem. Treatments include control (CON; no addition), 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition (1/2CIP), 2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition (2CIP), initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 1/2 MIC meropenem (8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC ciprofloxacin (16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP), initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 1/2 MIC meropenem (8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC meropenem (16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-1/2MER-2MER), and initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 2 MIC ciprofloxacin(8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC meropenem(16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER). No growth of K. pneumoniae was observed for the 2CIP throughout the incubation period. The numbers of planktonic cells varied with the treatments (7~10 log CFU/ml), while those of biofilm cells were not significantly different among treatments after 24-h incubation, showing approximately 7 log CFU/ml. Among the sequential treatments, the least mutant frequency was observed at the 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP (14%). Compared to the CON, 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER decreased the sensitivity of K. pneumoniae to piperacillin, cefotaxime, and nalidixic acid. The highest ${\beta}$-lactamase activity was 22 nmol/min/ml for 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP, while the least ${\beta}$-lactamase activity was 6 nmol/min/ml for 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER. The relative expression levels of multidrug efflux pump-related genes (acrA, acrB, and ramA) were increased more than 2-fold in K. pneumoniae exposed to 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2MER and 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER. The results suggest that the sequential antibiotic treatments could change the antibiotic resistance profiles in K. pneumoniae.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.487-491
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• 2008

Purpose : Although Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection can cause wheezing in non-asthmatic children, the mechanisms of this symptom remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and is also known to be elevated in cases of chronic pulmonary disease such as asthma. We hypothesized that VEGF may increase in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia and wheezing. Methods : Nine patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia were enlisted from children admitted to Korea University Hospital. They had had more than one episode of wheezing during the illness, which was confirmed by a physician; they comprised the wheezer group. The individuals with M. pneumoniae pneumonia without wheezing were 63 in number, and they comprised the non-wheezer group. Patients with a history of asthma or who had received asthma medications were excluded. Serum concentrations of VEGF, total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were measured. Results : The serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the wheezer group ($mean{\pm}SD$; $650.2{\pm}417.9pg/mL$) than in the non-wheezer group ($376.5{\pm}356.2pg/mL$, P=0.049). M. pneumoniae antibody (1:1,380 vs. 1:596, P=0.048) and serum total IgE (591.8 IU/mL vs. 162.2 IU/mL, P=0.032) were higher in the wheezer group than in the non-wheezer group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of serum ECP concentration or blood eosinophil count. Conclusion : In the presence of wheezing, serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. This finding suggests that VEGF may associate with wheeze-related symptoms in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2004

Purpose : This study was performed to observe the epidemiological pattern of M. pneumoniae pneumonia during the period from 1993 to 2002 and also to see some clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia during recent five years. Methods : We had performed a retrospective analysis of epidemiological pattern of occurrence in 682 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to Department of Pediatrics of Han-il General Hospital from January, 1993 to December, 2002. Results : The annual ratio of M. pneumoniae pneumonia was compared with the total numbers of respiratory tract infection patients. The ratios were 19.1% in 1993, 13.0% in 1994, 5.6% in 1995, 12.8% in 1996, 18.6% in 1997, 22.6% in 1998, 1.1% in 1999, 13.3% in 2000, 9.1% in 2001, 6.0% in 2002, and 19.9% in 2003. The epidemics have occurred in 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2003 years showing 3~4 year intervals. The peak incidence of age was four to six years old(286 cases; 41.9%) and male-to-female ratio was 1 : 1.1. Monthly distribution showed a high frequency from August to December and the major outbreak occurred in November(119 cases; 17.4%), in October(106 cases; 15.5%), and in December(96 cases; 14.1%) in order of frequency. The most common symptoms were cough (660 cases; 96.8%), fever(569 cases; 83.4%), and sputum(522 cases; 76.5%) in that order. Leukocytosis was observed in 31.2% of patients based on a normal range according to the adjusted age. Increased ESR(${\geq}20mm/hr$) was noted in 42.5% of cases and CRP was positive in 37.8% of cases. On the chest X-ray examination, pulmonary infiltration was noted in 557 cases(81.7%), and the patterns of pneumonic infiltration were bronchopneumonia(78.0%), lobar(35.5%), lobular(19.2%), and interstitial pneumonia(28.7%). Complications were paranasal sinusitis(41 cases), acute otitis media(23 cases), pleural effusion(19 cases). cervical lymphadenitis(18 cases), and glomerulonephritis(1 case). Conclusion : The pattern of M. pneumoniae pneumonia from 1997 to 2003 noted 3~4 year interval with peak monthly distribution of October and November compared with 3 year interval and peak incidence of summer period before 1996.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.582-590
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• 1992

S. pneumoniae recP mutant was compared with rec-8 mutant to identify whether they are the same gene or not by determining sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. recP and rec-8 mutant have almost same sensitivity to UV, ethylmethane sulfonate, and methylmethane sulfonate, suggesting that recP has the same function as the rec-8 gene in DNA repair.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 1986

It was observed that the strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from rhizosphere of rice, capable of utilizing chlorivated hervicides, such as 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetate and 3-chlorobenzoate, as sole source of carbon and energy and confirmed that their degrading ability of the herbicides was due to plasmid genes. Characteristics of selected strains such as nitrogenase activity, resistances to antibiotics and heavy metal ion were measured.