• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2009

This study has shown the screening of anti-bacterial activity of three Indian medicinal plant choloroform : methanol (50:50) solvent leaf extracts (i.e. Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, and Curcuma longa) with different concentrations (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312, and 0.156 mg/ml) under in vitro conditions against fish pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio harveyi, V. anguillarum, and Edwardsiella tarda isolated from olive flounder farms, Jeju Island, South Korea. The anti-microbial activity of the A. indica and O. sanctum extracts yielded the zones of growth inhibition (ZI) was 3 and 1mm against A. hydrophila at concentration of 0.156 mg/ml when compared to that of tetracycline standard (3 mm). At highest concentration (10 mg/ml) of A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa, high inhibition was 9, 7, and 6 mm when compared to that of tetracycline (11 mm) against A. hydrophila. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa at 0.156 mg/ml that yield 9, 10, and 13 CFU/ml for A. hydrophila, 16, 22, and 25 CFU/ml for S. iniae and 18, 22, and 23 CFU/ml for E. tarda compared to the tetracycline. At highest concentration (10 mg/ml) of the three extracts was better inhibiting the growth of A. hydrophila, S. iniae and E. tarda. A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa were determined to the potential antioxidant activityon the basis of their scavenging activity of the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. A. indica extract was 0.625 mg/ml which indicated that the strong anti-oxidant activity. However, O. sanctum and C. longa extracts showed weak anti-oxidant activity at this concentration. Hence, in vitro assay among the pathogens, A. hydropila is better inhibitory activity of the extracts. It is evident that the Indian medicinal plants extracts were subjected to its effectiveness against A. hydrophila, S. iniae, and E.tarda at low concentrations. The obtained results in the present study suggested that the Indian plant extracts is a prevention tools for Korean olive flounder aquaculture pathogens and its need further advance investigation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2010

Although the demand of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as Kimbab is growing, large quantities and wide distribution of these foods is difficult due to their short shelf-life, exposed packaging with hygienic risk, and decreased quality at refrigerator temperatures. This study was undertaken to develop preservation and storage methods to extend the shelf-life of RTE rice products using microwave and packaging methods such as vacuum and modified atmosphere packages. RTE rice ball samples inoculated with Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus cereus were microwave treated for 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds. Populations of pathogens on the rice balls were significantly reduced with an increase in treatment time. There were more than 5 log reductions of all pathogens when the samples were microwave treated for 60 seconds. RTE rice balls inoculated with two pathogens (S. aureus and B. cereus) were packaged via air, vacuum, $N_2$ gas, and $CO_2$ gas following microwave treatment for 90 seconds. The initial S. aureus and B. cereus concentration before treatment was 7.60 and 6.59 log CFU/g, and these levels were reduced by 3.37 and 2.18 log CFU/g after microwave treatment. The levels of pathogens were significantly increased during storage time at room temperature. $CO_2$ packaging was the most effective at inhibiting microbial growth among the tested packaging methods. The levels of total mesophilic count, S. aureus and B. cereus after 5 days of storage were 7.7, 8.8 and 9.3 log CFU/g in air packaged samples and 2.4, 3.2 and 8.3 log CFU/g in $CO_2$ gas packaged samples, respectively. However, after 3 days of storage higher levels of B. cereus were observed in all samples, indicating that the samples were not safe to be consumed. Base on these results, microwave treatment and MAP packaging methods using $CO_2$ gas could be used as a potential method for extending the shelf-life of RTE foods.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a microsporidian species, has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients. This organism has also been identified in a wide range of animals, and the zoonotic potential of human infections is of particular interest. This study revealed that this organism was found with relatively high prevalence in feces of asymptomatic cattle in Korea. Fecal specimens were obtained from a total of 1,720 cattle in a slaughterhouse located in Chungnam province, Daejeon city and Chonbuk province. After removal of fecal debris by sieving and density gradient centrifugation, samples were examined by microscopic examination and then nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Microscopic examination with the modified trichrome staining for the fecal specimens revealed 194 (11.28%) positive calves for microsporidia spore. PCR using the specific primer for E. bieneusi revealed 79 (4.59%) positive calves. The infection ratio of microsporidia was higher in March than other season.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2013

This study validated microbiological hazards of ginseng farms at the cultivation stage and suggested recommendations to develop a good agricultural practices (GAP) model. A total of 96 samples were collected from cultivation environments (soil, irrigation water, and atmosphere), plants (ginseng and its leaf), personnel hygiene (glove, cloth, and hand) of 3 ginseng farms (A, B, and C) and were tested to analyze sanitary indicator bacteria (aerobic plate count, coliforms and Escherichia coli), major foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus), and fungi. Total bacteria, coliform, and fungi in the 3 ginseng farms were detected at the level of 1.3~6.0, 0.1~5.0, and 0.4~4.9 v/g (or mL, hand, and $100cm^2$), respectively. Only irrigation water collected from one ginseng farm was confirmed to be E. coli positive. In case of pathogenic bacteria, B. cereus was detected at levels of 0.1~5.0 log CFU/g (or mL, hand, and $100cm^2$) in all samples, but other pathogen bacterias were not detected in any samples from all farms. Although E. coli were detected in irrigation water, the level of microbial for the three farms was lower than the regulation limit. According to the results, the ginsengs produced from the 3 farms were comparatively safe with respect to microbiological hazard. However, cross-contamination of bacteria from environments and workers to ginseng has been considered as potential risks. Therefore, to minimize microbial contamination in ginseng, GAP model should be applied for ensuring the safety of ginsengs.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1984

Shigella remains to be an important enteric pathogen in this country for the present. Moreover, most of the isolates have become multiple resistant to various antibiotics which used to be drugs of choice for shigellosis. This study was made as an attempt to assess the present stage of antibiotic resistance and the incidence and transferability of R factors of Shigella. A total of one hundred and seventeen strains of Shigella isolated from patients in Seoul and provincial area between 1982 and 1983 were tested for their resistant to antimicrobial agents and transmission of R-plasmid. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by an agar dilution method. Muller hinton agar were used for the assay of drug resistance and tryptic soy broth were used for propagating medium for conjugation. Shigella isolated found to be one or more antibiotics were considered potential donor of R-plasmid. The following results were obtained. 1. Among 117 strains of Shigella isolated, 111 strains(94.9%) were found to be resistant to one or more drugs tested and 97.3% of these resistant strains were multiply resistant, indicating the multiply resistant strains were more than the single resistant strains. Only six strains were susceptible to all drugs tested. 2. Among 117 strains of Shigella isolated, 107 strains(91.5%) were resistant to Tetracyclin(Tc), 106 strains(90.6%) to Chloramphenicol(Cp) and Streptomycin(Sm), 97 strains(82.9%) to Ampicillin(Ap), 68 strains(58.1%) to Cephaloridine(Cr), 10 strains(8.5%) to Nalidixic acid(Na), 5 strains(4.3%) to Kanamycin(Km) and 2 strains(1.7%) to Rifampicin. No strain was resisfant to Amikacin(Ak) and Gentamicin(Gm). 3. All drug-resistant Shigella strains, except three, were multiply resistant to two or more drugs. Fifty eight strains were resistant to five drugs, followed by 26 strains resistant to dour drugs, 12 strains resistant to three drugs and 11 strains resistant to six drugs. 4. The 73% of multiply drug-resistant Shigella transferred their resistance to E. coli by conjugation and the resistance was considered to be mediated by R-plasmid. Resistance to Nalidixic acid and Rifampicin were not transferred by conjugation to recipient. As for the transferability of resistance to each seperate drug, Ap resistance was transferred with 73.2% frequence and Cm and Tc resistance were transferred with approximately 50-60% frequence whereas Sm and Cr resistance were transferred in 19.1-21.4% The other four drugs resistant failed to transfer their resistance to recipient. 5. As for the incidence and transferability of resistance to each seperate drug, the strains resistant to Tc and Cm were encountered most frequently with the rate of 91-92%, whereas transfer of Tc and Cm were low, 51-52%. The incidence of Sm resistance was very high(90.6%) but transferability of drugs resistance was much lower(25.4%). Though the incidence of Km reristance was much lower(4.3%) transferability of Km resistance was considerably higher(60%). 6. The greater the multiplicity of resistance, the greater was the likelihood that part of all of the resistance markers would be transferable.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Objectives Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen and a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. New antibacterial agents that have not been compromised by bacterial resistance are needed to treat MRSA-related infections. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity ofethanol extract of Haedokgeumhwa-san (HGH) which prescription is composed of korean medicine against MRSA. Methods The antibacterial activity of HGH extract was evaluated against MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors. The checkerboard dilution test was used to examined synergistic effect of ampicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin and norfloxacin in combination with HGH ethanol extract. A time-kill assay was performed a survival curve which was obtained by plotting viable colony counts depending on time on bacterial growth. Results The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract (HGH) ranged from 1,000 to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ against all the tested bacterial strains, respectively. We are able to confirm that HGH extract has potentially strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, fractional inhibitory concentration index of HGH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergy or partial synergism against S. aureus. A time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after 8 hr of treatment with the combination of HGH with selected antibiotics. For measurement of cell membrane permeability, HGH $250{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ along with concentration of Triton X-100 (TX) and Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) were used. In the other hand, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) and Sodium azide ($NaN_3$) was used as an inhibitor of ATPase. TX, Tris, DCCD and $NaN_3$ cooperation against S. aureus showed synergistic action. Accordingly, antimicrobial activity of HGH was affected by cell membrane and inhibitor of ATPase. Conclusions These results suggest that Haedokgeumhwa-san extract has antibacterial activity, and that HGH extract offers a potential as a natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2015

Oomycetes belong to the kingdom Straminipila, a remarkably diverse group which includes brown algae and planktonic diatoms, although they have previously been classified under the kingdom Fungi. These organisms have evolved both saprophytic and pathogenic lifestyles, and more than 60% of the known species are pathogens on plants, the majority of which are classified into the order Peronosporales (includes downy mildews, Phytophthora, and Pythium). Recent phylogenetic investigations based on DNA sequences have revealed that the diversity of oomycetes has been largely underestimated. Although morphology is the most valuable criterion for their identification and diversity, morphological species identification is time-consuming and in some groups very difficult, especially for non-taxonomists. DNA barcoding is a fast and reliable tool for identification of species, enabling us to unravel the diversity and distribution of oomycetes. Accurate species determination of plant pathogens is a prerequisite for their control and quarantine, and further for assessing their potential threat to crops. The mitochondrial cox2 gene has been widely used for identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of various oomycete groups. However, recently the cox1 gene was proposed as a DNA barcode marker instead, together with ITS rDNA. To determine which out of cox1 or cox2 is best suited as universal oomycete barcode, we compared these two genes in terms of (1) PCR efficiency for 31 representative genera, as well as for historic herbarium specimens, and (2) in terms of sequence polymorphism, intra- and interspecific divergence. The primer sets for cox2 successfully amplified all oomycete genera tested, while cox1 failed to amplify three genera. In addition, cox2 exhibited higher PCR efficiency for historic herbarium specimens, providing easier access to barcoding type material. In addition, cox2 yielded higher species identification success, with higher interspecific and lower intraspecific divergences than cox1. Therefore, cox2 is suggested as a partner DNA barcode along with ITS rDNA instead of cox1. Including the two barcoding markers, ITS rDNA and cox2 mtDNA, the multi-locus phylogenetic analyses were performed to resolve two complex clades, Bremia lactucae (lettuce downy mildew) and Peronospora effuse (spinach downy mildew) at the species level and to infer evolutionary relationships within them. The approaches discriminated all currently accepted species and revealed several previously unrecognized lineages, which are specific to a host genus or species. The sequence polymorphisms were useful to develop a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for detection of airborne inoculum of B. lactucae and P. effusa. Specificity tests revealed that the qPCR assay is specific for detection of each species. This assay is sensitive, enabling detection of very low levels of inoculum that may be present in the field. Early detection of the pathogen, coupled with knowledge of other factors that favor downy mildew outbreaks, may enable disease forecasting for judicious timing of fungicide applications.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2001

Mastitis is one of the most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry. Especially, Staphylococcus aureus is a major contagious mastitis-causing pathogen in dairy cattle. Because of its high transmission rate and resistance to antibiotic therapy, staphylococcal mastitis presents a constant threat to the dairy industry. Staphylococcal enterotoxin C(SEC) produced by S aureus has been known as one of superantigens which are able to stimulate a large proportion of T lymphocytes independently of their antigenic specificity. In this experiment, we have conducted preliminary studies with mice and lactating cows to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the experimental vaccine consists of SEC mutant antigen on controlling the bovine mastitis associated with S aureus infections. The average value of somatic cell counts in quarter milk, isolation rate of S aureus were consistently decreased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups, whereas antibody titers were highly increased in SEC-SER vaccinated groups. Peripheral blood were also collected from the lactating cows to determine the proportion of leukocyte subpopulation associated with humoral immunity(HI) and cell mediated immunity(CMI). Proportion of leukocyte subpopulation expressing $BoCD2^+$(total T lymphocyte), $BoCD4^+$(T helper cell), $BoCD8^+$(T cytotoxic/suppressor cell) and NonT/NonB lymphocyte which are involved in CMI in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were decreased for the initial stage after first vaccination and then increased from ten weeks after first vaccination maintaining elevated level till 14 weeks after vaccination. In contrast, proportion of monocyte, MHC class II and B lymphocyte which are associated with the production of primary immune response in SEC-SER vaccinated groups were increased for the initial period and then decreased from ten weeks after first vaccination. We present evidence that vaccination of SEC-SER mutant antigen in lactating cows induced a significant proliferation of bovine T lymphocytes. These results suggest that SEC-SER mutant antigen used in this experiment might be one of potential immunogen in developing innovative vaccine against bovine IMI associated with S aureus. Additional challenge trials should be carried out to evaluate substantial protection against S aureus under the commercial farm conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2005

Ethaboxam[(RS)-N-(a-cyano-2-thenyl)-4-ethyl-2-(ethylamino)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboximide] is a novel fungicide with high level of activity against Oomycetes fungi. The control effects of ethaboxam technical and various ethaboxam formulations were investigated against P. brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot disease in Chinese cabbage. When ethaboxam was applied to infested soil, club formation caused by P. brassicae was strongly inhibited at 8.33 mg/L soil and $EC_{50}$ of ethaboxam was 2.65 mg/L soil. Five ethaboxam formulations [10% suspension concentrate (SC), 15% SC, 2% granule (GR), 5% GR, 25% wettable powder] and mixture formulation of ethaboxam and metalaxyl (3%+1% GR) exhibited good efficacy against the pathogen. 10% SC, 15% SC, and 2% GR formulations of ethaboxam showed better disease controlling efficacy on Chinese cabbage clubroot than the other formulations. The $EC_{50}$ values of 10% SC, 15% SC, and 2% GR formulations of ethaboxam were 3.72 mg AI/L soil, 1.1 mg AI/L soil, and 4.95 mg AI/L soil, respectively. Among them, soil drenching application by 15% SC formulation of ethaboxam exhibited the most in vivo antifungal activity on P. brassicae. These results indicate that ethaboxam has a high potential for the control of clubroot disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.737-748
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• 2016

By this time, insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been characterized more than 150 peptides since purification of cecropin in the hemolymph of pupae from Hyalophora cecropia in 1980. Therefore, it is considered that insects are good sources of AMP selection. Insect AMPs are small (low molecular weight) and cationic, and amphipathic with variable length, sequence, and structure. They perform a pivotal role on humoral immunity in the insect innate immune system against invading pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Most of the insect AMPs are induced rapidly in the fat bodies and other specific tissues of insects after septic injury or immune challenge. Then the AMPs subsequently released into the hemolymph to act against microorganisms. These peptides have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against various microbes including anticancer activities. Insect AMPs could be divided into four families based on their structures and sequences. That is the α-helical peptides, cysteine-rich peptides, proline-rich peptides, and glycine-rich peptides/proteins. For instance, cecropins, insect defensins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common insect AMPs, but gloverins and moricins have been identified only in lepidopteran species. This review focuses on AMPs from insects and discusses current knowledge and recent progress with potential applications of insect AMPs.