• Title/Summary/Keyword: Streptococcus Pneumoniae

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Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria in the Oral Cavity of Smokers or Non-Smokers (흡연자와 비흡연자간의 구강 내 세균 분포 및 항균제 감수성)

  • Jeong, Hyun-Ja;Kim, Su-Jung
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.46 no.4
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    • pp.334-340
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    • 2010
  • It is well known that smoking as well as drinking is a factor of stomatopathy, however there are few investigations about comparison of oral flora between smokers and non-smokers. In this study, we isolated the oral flora of 30 smokers and 30 non-smokers and cultured them on blood agar plates. The isolated pathogenic microorganisms were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and resistance using the Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing method. Each colony was stained using the Gram staining method and was identified by an automatic identifier, known as the VITEK system. We isolated 41 colonies from smokers' oral cavity, and they were sorted as 63% of Gram-positive cocci, 29% of Gram-negative cocci, 3% of Gram-positive bacilli, and 5% of Gram-negative bacilli by gram staining, whereas 38 colonies were isolated from non-smoters' oral cavity, and their proportions were 55% of Gram-positive cocci, 26% of Gram-negative cocci, 3% of Gram-positive bacilli, and 16% of Gram-negative bacilli. The VITEK system revealed specific distribution of bacteria species that Streptococcus mutans (6/41), Gemella morillorum (6/41), Streptococcus oralis (2/41), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1/41), Staphylococcus aureus (3/41), Streptococcus anginosus (1/41), Streptococcus intermedius (1/41), Streptococcus uberis (1/41), and Streptococcus sanguinis (1/41) in smokers oral cavity whereas Streptococcus sanguinis (8/38), Staphylococcus aureus (1/38), Staphylococcus auricularis (1/38), Streptococcus uberis (1/38), Streptococcus intermedius (1/38), Streptococcus mutans (1/38), and Streptococcus oralis (1/38) in those of non-smokers'. Three cases of Staphylococcus aureus from smokers produced Beta-lactamase and were identified methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However one case of Staphylococcus aureus from non-smoker did not produce Beta-lactamase and was sensitive to methicillin. In conclusion, the distribution of oral flora was different between smokers' and non-smokers' oral cavity, especially Gemella morillorum and MRSA were predominantly found in smoker's oral cavity. These results are useful in the treatment and prevention of patients with stomatopathy caused by smoking.

A Pattern Recognition Receptor, SIGN-R1, Mediates ROS Generation against Polysaccharide Dextran, Resulting in Increase of Peroxiredoxin-1 and Its Interaction to SIGN-R1

  • Choi, Heong-Jwa;Choi, Woo-Sung;Park, Jin-Yeon;Kang, Kyeong-Hyeon;Prabagar, Miglena G.;Shin, Chan-Young;Kang, Young-Sun
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.271-279
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    • 2010
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major pathogen that frequently causes serious infections in children, the elderly and immunocompromised patients. S. pneumoniae is known to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and S. pneumoniae-produced ROS is considered to play a role in pneumococci pathogenesis. SIGN-R1 is the principal receptor of capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) of S. pneumoniae. However, there is a considerable lack of knowledge about the protective role of SIGN-R1 against S. pneumoniae-produced ROS in SIGN-$R1^+$ macrophages. While investigating the protective role of SIGN-R1 against ROS, we found that SIGN-R1 intimately bound to peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1), one of small antioxidant proteins in vitro and in vivo. This interaction was increased with ROS generation which was produced by stimulating SIGN-R1 with dextran, a polysaccharide ligand of SIGN-R1. Also, SIGN-R1 crosslinking with 22D1 anti-SIGN-R1 antibody increased Prx-1 in vitro or in vivo. These results suggested that SIGN-R1 stimulation with CPSs of S. pneumoniae increase the expression level of Prx-1 through ROS and its subsequent interaction to SIGN-R1, providing an important antioxidant role for the host protection against S. pneumoniae.

Improvement of the Stability of the Multibead Assay for Pneumococci by the Use of 6B-protein Complex (피막 다당류 6B-단백질 복합체를 이용한 폐렴구균에 대한 Multibead Assay의 안정성 향상)

  • 김지혜;임낙룡;박문국
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.62-65
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    • 2003
  • A procedure to increase the stability of 6B capsular polysaccharide on microbead surface in the mutibead assay, a serotyping method for Streptococcus pneumoniae, was studied. Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide 6B was conjugated to bvine serum albumin (BSA), and the coating efficiency and the stability of the 6B-BSA complex was measured. The 6B-BSA complex showed about 200-fold higher coating efficiency to polystyrene surface than 6B polysaccharide. And the stability of the 6B- BSA to be used in the multibead assay for 30 days after coating.

Screening of Essential Genes in Staphylococcus aureus N315 Using Comparative Genomics and Allelic Replacement Mutagenesis

  • Ko Kwan-Soo;Lee Ji-Young;Song Jae-Hoon;Baek Jin-Yang;Oh Won-Sup;Chun Jong-Sik;Yoon Ha-Sik
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.623-632
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    • 2006
  • To find potential targets of novel antimicrobial agents, we identified essential genes of Staphylococcus aureus N315 by using comparative genomics and allele replacement mutagenesis. By comparing the genome of S. aureus N315 with those of Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, a total of 481 candidate target genes with similar amino acid sequences with at least three other species by >40% sequence identity were selected. of 481 disrupted candidate genes, 122 genes were identified as essential genes for growth of S. aureus N315. Of these, 51 essential genes were those not identified in any bacterial species, and 24 genes encode proteins of unknown function. Seventeen genes were determined as non-essential although they were identified as essential genes in other strain of S. aureus and other species. We found no significant difference among essential genes between Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. aureus with regard to cellular function.

Efficacy of 23-valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine in Steroid Responsive Nephrotic Syndrome (스테로이드 반응성 신증후군 환아에서 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine의 예방효과)

  • Hahn, Hye-Won;Ha, Il-Soo;Cheong, Hae-Il;Lee, Hoan-Jong;Choi, Yong
    • Childhood Kidney Diseases
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.56-60
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    • 2002
  • Purpose Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen in both adults and children, causing significant morbidity and mortality In patients with nephrotic syndrome, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of spontaneous peritonitis, and the increasing incidence of penicillin-resistance strain facilitates the development of effective vaccine. The limitation of current pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine prompted development of polysaccharide- protein conjugate vaccine. Methods: We reviewed the medical record of total 225 steroid responsive nephrotic patients to ascertain the effectiveness of 23- valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Results. Twenty- eight patients have developed peritonitis during the courses, and 7 of those have recurrent peritonitis. Fifty- five patients were vaccinated and followed- up for 1- 108 months (mean 38.5 months), and during the follow- up period, pneumococcus related peritonitis was not detected. Vaccine- related relapse of nephrotic syndrome w as absent. Conclusion: In spite of the non- consensus about the efficacy of PPV23, clinically it benefits, and until the clinical trial of PCV7 is completed, PPV23 will be recommended. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2002;6: 56-60)

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