• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.558-568
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• 2023

Vibrio vulnificus is an aquatic bacterium causing septicemia and wound infection in humans. To understand this pathogen at the genomic level, it was performed whole genome sequencing of a cefoxitin-resistant strain, V. vulnificus 1908-10 possessing virulence-related genes (vvhA, viuB, and vcgC) isolated from Gadeok island coastal seawater in South Korea. The genome of V. vulnificus 1908-10 consisted of two circular contigs and no plasmid. The total genome size was estimated to be 5,018,425 bp with a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 46.9%. We found 119 tRNA and 34 rRNA genes respectively in the genome, along with 4,352 predicted protein sequences. Virulence factor (VF) analysis further revealed that V. vulnificus 1908-10 possess various virulence genes in classes of adherence, antiphagocytosis, chemotaxis and motility, iron uptake, quorum sensing, secretion system, and toxin. In the comparison of the presence/absence of virulence genes, V. vulnificus 1908-10 had fur, hlyU, luxS, ompU, pilA, pilF, rtxA, rtxC, and vvhA. Of the 30 V. vulnificus comparative strains, 80% of the C-genotype strains have all of these genes, whereas 40% of the E-genotype strains have all of them. In particular, pilA were identified in 80% of the C-type strains and 40% of the E-type strains, showing more difference than other genes. Therefore, V. vulnificus 1908-10 had similar VF characteristics to those of type C strains. Multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin of V. vulnificus 1908-10 contained 8 A-type repeats (GXXGXXXXXG), 25 B.1-type repeats (TXVGXGXX), 18 B2-type repeats (GGXGXDXXX), and 7 C-type repeats (GGXGXDXXX). The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) showed that the RtxA protein of V. vulnificus 1908-10 had the effector domain in the order of cross-liking domain (ACD)-C58_PaToxP-like domain- α/β hydrolase-C58_PaToxP-like domain.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.520-527
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 보육시설 실내공기에서 분리된 식중독 균주의 독소 유전자 분포와 항생제 내성을 분석하여 보육시설 실내공기에 의한 식중독 발생을 사전 예방하고 식중독 발생 시 적절한 치료를 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 어린이집 실내공기에서 분리된 Staphylococcus aureus 16주, Bacillus cereus 37주를 실험대상으로 하였다. S. aureus와 B. cereus 독소 유전자는 PCR 방법으로 검출하였다. 항생제 감수성 실험은 Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute의 디스크 확산법에 따라 실험하였다. S. aureus 16 균주 중 11 균주(68.6%)에서 seg와 sei 독소 유전자가 검출되었다. B. cereus 37 균주 모두에서 nheA와 nheB 독소 유전자가 검출되었다. B. cereus 독소 유전자 패턴은 총 12개로 나타났으며 nheA-nheB-nheC 독소 유전자가 가장 중요한 패턴으로 나타났다. S. aureus 16 균주의 항생제 감수성실험 결과 ampicillin과 penicillin 항생제에 93.8%, 87.5% 내성을 나타내었으나 methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus와 vacomycin resistance Staphylococcus aureus는 검출되지 않았다. B. cereus 37 균주의 항생제 감수성 실험 결과 ampicillin과 penicillin 항생제에 100% 내성을 나타냈었다. 이러한 결과를 종합하여 볼 때 보육시설 실내공기에 오염된 S. aureus와 B. cereus에 의한 식중독을 발생을 예방하기 위하여 주기적인 환기와 공기 질 관리가 필요한 것으로 판단되었다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

The molecular epidemiological characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates have demonstrated their genetic diversity and evolution. A total of 137 strains of MRSA clinical isolates was collected from Korean healthcare facility in 2007. The MRSA clinical isolates were analyzed by molecular typings (SCCmec element and agr locus typing), virule nce factor gene detections {(Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), enterotoxin, exfoliative toxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)}. The MRSA clinical isolates were classified as SCCmec type II-agr type 1 (2 strains), type II-agr type 2 (79 strains), type III-agr type 1 (24 strains), type III-agr type 2 (2 strains), type IV-agr type 1 (27 strains), type IV-agr type 2 (2 strains), and non-typable (1 strain, agr type 3). Based on SCCmec types, SCCmec type II (95.1%) and III (88.5%) indicated higher multidrug resistance rate than SCCmec type IV (10.3%) (P<0.001). The most common enterotoxin genes were seg (83.8%), sei (83.1%), and sec (80.2%). The tst gene was present in 86 out of 137 (62.8%) MRSA isolates. All MRSA isolates were negative for PVL and exfoliative toxin genes. The combinations of toxin genes were observed in particular SCCmec types; 97.6% of SCCmec type II strains carried sec, seg, sei and tst genes, 73.0% of SCCmec type III strains carried sea gene, and 89.7% of SCCmec type IV strains carried sec, seg and sei genes. Each of the SCCmec types of MRSA isolates had distinct AFLP profile. In conclusion, SCCmec type II, agr type 1 and 2 have demonstrated to be the most common types in Korea, and the results indicated that the virulence factors are closely associated with their molecular types (SCCmec and agr types).

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.43-49
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• 2002

We have cloned cDNAs encoding toxin from the spider, Araneus ventricosus, and constructed a recombinant baculovirus expressing the insecticidal toxin. The cDNAs encoding toxin were cloned from the cDNA library of A. ventricosus. Sequence analysis of the cDNAs encoding the toxin of A. ventricosus revealed that the 240 bp cDNA for AvTox-1 and 192 bp cDNA for AvTox-2 have an open reading frame of 80 and 64 amino acid residues, respectively. The deduced protein sequence of the toxin genes of AvTox-1 and AvTox-2 was aligned to that of the snack Anemonia sulcata and scorpion Centruroides limpidus limpidus, respectively. Northern blot analysis indicated that AvTox-2 toxin gene showed a fat body-spe-cific expression pattern at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, we have explored the possibility of improving baculovirus by incorporating the A. vontricosus toxin gene into Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome under the control of polyhedrin promoter, The AvTox-2 toxin gene was expressed as approximately 5.8 kDa band in the recombinant baculovirus-injected silkworm larvae. Bioassays with the recombinant virus expressing AvTox-2 on 5th instar silkworm larvae demonstrated a decrease in the time to kill $(LT_{50} days)$ compared to wild-type BmNPV-Kl $(LT_{50} 6.72 days)$ in the injection of 10 viruses. These results indicate that A. ventricosus toxin is a novel member of the spider toxin family, suggesting that the toxin gene can be used in recombinant baculoviruses to reduce insect feeding damage and increase the speed of insect kill.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.134-141
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• 2011

본 연구는 들깻잎과 들깻잎 생산환경을 대상으로 276개의 시료를 채취하여 B. cereus를 분리 하였다. 분리된 B. cereus 200주의 toxicity를 평가하고자 독소유전자와 항생제내성을 검색하였다. 그 결과 분리된 균주에서 11개의 서로 다른 독소유전자 패턴은 확인하였으며 5개의 설사형독소와 구토형 독소를 모두 생성할 수 있는 균주는 21%였다. 가장 빈번하게 검출되는 독소유전자는 nheA(100%), enFM(100%), hblA, C, D(66.5%)였으며 EM은 가장 낮은 빈도(21.0%)로 검출되었다. 항생제 내성평가결과 분리된 대부분의 B. cereus는 18종의 항생제 중 10개의 항생제에 대해서는 감수성이었으나 ${\beta}$-lactam계 항생제인 penicillin(100%), ampicillin(100%), oxacillin(94.9%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid(95.6%), cefazolin(78.2%)과 비${\beta}$-lactam계 항생제 rifampicin(58.0%)에 대해서 저항성을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 들깻잎과 들깻잎 생산환경에서 분리된 B. cereus의 독소유전자와 항생제내성 패턴은 서로 유사하였다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 들깻잎에 오염된 B. cereus에 의하여 설사형 뿐만 아니라 구토형 식중독이 발생할 가능성을 시사하며 들깻잎과 생산환경에서 항생제 저항성 B. cereus가 검출되어 의약계뿐만 아니라 농업현장에서도 항생제내성균주 출현을 예방하는 대책이 요구된다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.266-272
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• 2024

본 연구는 어린이집 급식설비 손잡이의 식중독 세균 오염도를 측정하고, 분리 균주의 독소 유전자와 항생제 내성을 분석하여 급식설비 손잡이에 의한 집단식중독을 예방을 위한 과학적 기반을 마련하고자 하였다. 실험 대상은 전라남도 일부 지역 어린이집 101곳의 냉장고, 냉동고, 자외선 살균기 손잡이, 총 303개를 대상으로 하였다. 어린이집 냉장고, 냉동고 손잡이에서 B. cereus 4 균주(1.3%)가 검출되었고 어린이집 냉장고 손잡이에서 S. aureus 2균주(0.7%)가 검출되었다. B. cereus와 S. aureus의 독소유전자를 분석한 결과 B. cereus 4개 균주 모두에서 nheA, nheB, nheC, entFM, cytK가 검출되었으나, S. aureus의 2개 균주의 경우 모두 sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, sej 독소유전자가 불검출되었다. B. cereus에서 설사를 유발하는 장독소가 검출되어 B. cereus에 의한 식중독 발생가능성이 상존하는 것으로 판단되었다. B. cereus와 S. aureus의 항생제 감수성을 실험한 결과 B. cereus 4 균주에서 AM, FEP 등 β-lactam계 항생제에 내성을 나타내었고 S. aureus 균주 모두 AM, P 항생제에 내성을 나타내었다. S. aureus 균주는 OX 항생제에 각각 중간 내성 1 균주와 감수성 1 균주를 나타내었으나 MRSA는 검출되지 않았다. 이러한 결과를 종합하여 볼 때 어린이집 급식설비 손잡이의 교차오염으로 인한 식중독 발생을 예방하기 위해 급식설비 손잡이에 대한 주기적인 살균 등 위생관리 방안을 강화해야할 것으로 판단되었다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.543-552
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• 2020

For efficient prevention and treatment of enteric colibacillosis, understanding about latest virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli is essentially needed. The aim of this study was to survey antimicrobial resistance and determine the prevalence of fimbriae and enterotoxin genes among 118 pathogenic E. coli isolates obtained from Korean pigs with diarrhea between 2016 and 2017. The genes for the toxins and adhesins were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The susceptibility of the E. coli isolates to antimicrobials were tested using the standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The most prevalent fimbrial antigen was F18 (40.7%), followed by F4 (16.9%), and the most prevalent combinations of toxin genes were Stx2e (21.2%), STb:EAST-1 (19.5%), and STa:STb (16.9%), respectively. Among the pathotypes, enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was the most predominant (67.8%), followed by Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC, 23.7%). We confirmed high resistance rates to chloramphenicol (88.1%), tetracycline (86.4%), streptomycin (86.4%), and ampicillin (86.4%). And the majorities of isolates (90.7%) showed multi-drug resistance which means having resistance to 3 or more subclasses of antimicrobials. Results of this study can be a source of valuable data for investigating the epidemiology of and control measures for enteric colibacillosis in Korean piggeries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.521-529
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• 2016

Extensive use of antibiotics over recent decades has led to bacterial resistance against antibiotics, including gentamicin, one of the most effective aminoglycosides. The emergence of resistance is problematic for hospitals, since gentamicin is an important broad-spectrum antibiotic for the control of bacterial pathogens in the clinic. Previous study to identify gentamicin resistance genes from environmental samples have been conducted using culture-dependent screening methods. To overcome these limitations, we employed a metagenome-based culture-independent protocol to identify gentamicin resistance genes. Through functional screening of metagenome libraries derived from soil samples, a fosmid clone was selected as it conferred strong gentamicin resistance. To identify a specific functioning gene conferring gentamicin resistance from a selected fosmid clone (35-40 kb), a shot-gun library was constructed and four shot-gun clones (2-3 kb) were selected. Further characterization of these clones revealed that they contained sequences similar to that of the RNA ligase, T4 rnlA that is known as a toxin gene. The overexpression of the rnlA-like gene in Escherichia coli increased gentamicin resistance, indicating that this toxin gene modulates this trait. The results of our metagenome library analysis suggest that the rnlA-like gene may represent a new class of gentamicin resistance genes in pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we demonstrate that the soil metagenome can provide an important resource for the identification of antibiotic resistance genes, which are valuable molecular targets in efforts to overcome antibiotic resistance.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.761-765
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• 2008

Bacillus cereus causes two different types of food poisoning syndromes: diarrhea and emesis. The diarrheal syndrome is attributed to various enterotoxins, including nonhemolytic enterotoxin, hemolytic enterotoxin, and enterotoxin-T, whereas the emetic syndrome is caused by the dodecadepsipeptide toxin cereulide. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to rapidly detect and identify B. cereus strains. Three primer pairs specific to regions within genes encoding nonhemolytic enterotoxin (nheA), molecular chaperonin (groEL), and cereulide synthetase (ces) were used to identify and differentiate between the enterotoxin-producing and emetic toxin-producing B. cereus strains. The cereulide-producing emetic B. cereus showed 3 PCR products of 325, 405, and 685 bp for the groEL, ces, and nheA genes, respectively, whereas the enterotoxin-producing B. cereus showed 2 PCR products without a ces gene specific DNA fragment. Specific amplifications and differentiations by multiplex PCR assay were obtained using 62 B. cereus strains and 13 strains' of other bacterial species. The detection limit of this assay for enterotoxin-producing strain and emetic toxin-producing strain from pure cultures were $2.4{\times}10^1$ and $6.0{\times}10^2\;CFU/tube$, respectively. These results suggest that our multiplex PCR method may be useful for the rapid detection and differentiation of B. cereus strains in foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1420-1429
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• 2021

The safety of the probiotic strain Q180, which exerts postprandial lipid-lowering effects, was bioinformatically and phenotypically evaluated. The genome of strain Q180 was completely sequenced, and single circular chromosome of 3,197,263 bp without any plasmid was generated. Phylogenetic and related analyses using16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that strain Q180 is a member of Lactiplantibacillus (Lp., formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes were bioinformatically analyzed using all Lp. plantarum genomes available in GenBank, which showed that AMR genes are present differently depending on Lp. plantarum strains. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that some mobile genetic elements such as prophages and insertion sequences were identified in the genome of strain Q180, but because they did not contain harmful genes such as AMR genes and virulence factor (VF)- and toxin-related genes, it was suggested that there is no transferability of harmful genes. The minimum inhibition concentrations of seven tested antibiotics suggested by the European Food Safety Authority guidelines were slightly lower than or equal to the microbiological cut-off values for Lp. plantarum. Strain Q180 did not show hemolytic and gelatinase activities and biogenic amine-producing ability. Taken together, this study demonstrated the safety of strain Q180 in terms of absence of AMR genes and VF- and toxin-related genes as a probiotic strain.