• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.334-341
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the cause of cholera outbreak in Gyeongbuk province in 2001.90 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor serotype Inaba were isolated from diarrheal patients. By multiplex-PCR, all of the isolated strains revealed positive for detection ctxA, hlyA and tcpA genes. There were DNA sequence difference of the cholera-toxin subunit A gene and subunit B gene between isolated V. cholerae O1 and the strain of GenBank. In analysis of PFGE patterns, all of the isolated strains were showed the same DNA fragments. We also collected plankton samples in the east coast of Gyeongbuk to isolate V. cholerae O1 and V. cholerae O139 from August to October 2002. The samples were examined to detect the rfb gene and cholera-toxin gene by multiplex-PCR. The cholera-toxin gene was detected and then we tried to isolate V. cholerae O1 and V. cholerae O139, but they were not isolated.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2015

In developing countries threat of cholera is a significant health concern whenever water purification and sewage disposal systems are inadequate. Vibrio cholerae is one of the responsible bacteria involved in cholera disease. The complete genome sequence of V. cholerae deciphers the presence of various genes and hypothetical proteins whose function are not yet understood. Hence analyzing and annotating the structure and function of hypothetical proteins is important for understanding the V. cholerae. V. cholerae O139 is the most common and pathogenic bacterial strain among various V. cholerae strains. In this study sequence of six hypothetical proteins of V. cholerae O139 has been annotated from NCBI. Various computational tools and databases have been used to determine domain family, protein-protein interaction, solubility of protein, ligand binding sites etc. The three dimensional structure of two proteins were modeled and their ligand binding sites were identified. We have found domains and families of only one protein. The analysis revealed that these proteins might have antibiotic resistance activity, DNA breaking-rejoining activity, integrase enzyme activity, restriction endonuclease, etc. Structural prediction of these proteins and detection of binding sites from this study would indicate a potential target aiding docking studies for therapeutic designing against cholera.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2003

The studies were carried out to identification of biochemical characteristics and serogroup of 55 Vibrio cholerae non-01 isolated from sea waters and shellfish from Apr., 1996 to Nov., 1996 in Korea coastal, and clinical sources from 1984 to 1996 in Korea hospitals. The results were as followed: V. cholerae non-O1 isolated 21 (10%) of 206 samples and the distribution in Kusan area was highest (16%) compared with those of other area, and its were not isolated during low water temperature of 13-18$^{\circ}C$. Of 55 strains, a strain was delayed sucrose utilization for 48hr in the biochemical characteristics. Fifty five V. cholerae non-O1 were differentiated 15 types by serogroup test and O14 of sea waters were 76% of highest followed by 14 clinical sources were O8.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.248-252
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• 1999

The PI-oduction of virulence factors such as cholera toxin, heinolysin and hemagglutinin in V cliolerae non-01 and non-0139 were examined. Among 65 strains isolated from environmental and clinical blood sources, 29 (14.6%) strains produced hemolysin only, 35(53.9%) sh.ains produced both hemolysin and hemagglutinin. From one 037 slrain isolated from environmenl, cholera toxin, ctx gene, hemolysin, and hemagglutinin were detected. All of the strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources showed hemolytic activity against human 0 group e~ythrocytes. In inhibition patterns of heinagglotination, 5 of 18 clinical strains (27.8%) were inhibited by less than 1% mannose and galactose, while, among the 47 environmental isolates. hose paltems by less than 1% mannose and galactose 55.4% wel-e inhibited. Thel-ehre, exohamagglutinin positive rate was high in clinical blood isolates but in environnlental sources, the rate was almost similar lo ihe rate or endohemagglutinin positive. These results indicaled that V cholerae non-01 and non-0139 produced various virnlence factors such as cholera toxin, hemolysin, and hemagglutinin but not a single factor. Further studies are need for epidemiological or bacteriological shtdies of V cholerae 037 isolated from environment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1396-1405
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• 2022

Cholera remains a major global public health problem, for which oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) being a valuable strategy. Patients, who have recovered from cholera, develop antibody responses against LPS, cholera toxin (CT), toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) major subunit A (TcpA) and other antigens; thus, these responses are potentially important contributors to immunity against Vibrio cholerae infection. However, assessments of the efficacy of current OCVs, especially inactivated OCVs, have focused primarily on O-antigen-specific antibody responses, suggesting that more sophisticated strategies are required for inactivated OCVs to induce immune responses against TCP, CT, and other antigens. Previously, we have shown that the toxT-139F allele enables V. cholerae strains to produce CT and TCP under simple laboratory culture conditions. Thus, we hypothesized that V. cholerae strains that express TCP via the toxT-139F allele induce TCP-specific antibody responses. As anticipated, V. cholerae strains that expressed TCP through the toxT-139F allele elicited antibody responses against TCP when the inactivated bacteria were delivered via a mouse model. We have further developed TCP-expressing V. cholerae strains that have been used in inactivated OCVs and shown that they effect an antibody response against TcpA in vivo, suggesting that V. cholerae strains with the toxT-139F allele are excellent candidates for cholera vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.626-633
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• 2023

Vibrio spp. are aquatic bacteria that are ubiquitous in warm estuarine and marine environments. Especially, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae are currently known to cause potentially fatal infections in humans. This study investigated the distribution and antibiotic resistance of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae isolated from coastal areas of Gyeongsangnam-do in 2022. A total of 252 samples of water, shellfish and coastal sediment were collected from 7 locations along the coast, and 124 samples of fishery products were collected from markets. Among the 252 samples, forty-four V. vulnificus (11.7%) and fourteen V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 (3.7%), none of which carried the ctx gene, were isolated. Out of the 124 samples, 6 (4.8%) tested positive for V. vulnificus and V. cholerae was not detected. The isolation rates of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae showed a significant correlation with environmental factors such as seawater temperature and salinity. In an antibiotic resistance test, V. vulnificus was susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, imipenem trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to cefoxitin (100.0%), followed by tetracycline (9.1%). Multidrug resistance was also observed. Continuous monitoring of Vibrio pathogens with water temperature and salinity is expected to help reduce the outbreaks, and rational use of antibiotic agents is needed to prevent the accession of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.555-559
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• 2013

Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 are the major serotypes associated with illness, and some V. cholera non-O1 and non-O139 isolates produce cholera toxin. The present study describes a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the species-specific detection and quantitation of V. cholera using a primer pair based on an outer membrane lipoprotein lolB gene for the amplification of a 195 bp DNA fragment. The qPCR primer set for the accurate diagnosis of V. cholera was developed from publically available genome sequences. This quantitative PCR-based method will potentially simplify and facilitate the diagnosis of this pathogen and guide disease management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

Objectives: The pathogenic Vibrios genus denotes halophilic bacteria that are distributed in aquatic environments, including both sea and freshwater. Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are the most important species since they can be potent human pathogens and leading causes of septicemia, wound infections, and seafood borne gastroenteritis. The recent emergence of a potential pandemic clone, V. cholera serotype O1 and the cholera outbreak in South Korea in 2016 indicates the importance of consistent surveillance of pathogenic Vibrio genus within coastal areas. Methods: The present study was undertaken to determine where and how vibrios live in the aquatic environment adjacent to coastal areas of South Korea. For this survey, a total of 838 samples were obtained at 35 different sites in South Korean coastal areas during the period from January 2016 to December 2016. Pathogenic vibrios was determined using the real-time PCR method, and its clones were isolated using three selective plating media. We also monitored changes in seawater and atmospheric temperature, salinity, turbidity, and hydrogen ion concentration at the collection points. Results: The total isolation rates of V. vulnificus, V. cholera (non-pathogenic, non-O1, non-O139 serogroups), and V. parahaemolyticus from seawater specimens in 2016 were 14.2, 13.48, and 67.06%, respectively. Conclusions: The isolation rates of pathogenic vibrios genus showed a positive correlation with temperature of seawater and atmosphere but were negatively correlated with salinity and turbidity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.222-227
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• 2001

The members of the genus Vibrio include harmless aquatic strain as well as strains capable of causing infections in human and fish. Pathogenic mechanisms are only understood for Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 and not for the majority of Vibrio species. Twelve clinical and nonclinical strains were examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments for the importance of extracellular enzymes as a virulence determinant of Vibrio species. In vivo cytotoxicity assay was performed by injecting approximately $10^{8}$ cells/mL into mice (BALB/c). V. harvyi and V. vulnificus showed 100% lethality within 3hr after bacterial injection. V. fluvialis and four strains of V. parahaemolyticus showed 50% lethality within 4hr. V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus and V. furnissii revealed 30% lethality within 9hr. Nonclinical strains, V. campbellii and V. ordalii, did not show any lethality. In vitro protease and hemolytic activities were also good indicators for clinical and nonclinical strains of Vibrio species. The clinical strains showed much higher activities than nonclinical strains. The activity of some clinical strains of re-isolates was evidently increased. Most clinical strains had $\beta$ hemolytic activity. The results demonstrate that the prevalent distribution of extracellular proteases in pathogenic Vibrio sp. implies their importance as a virulence determinant.