• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.61-76
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• 2009

At the present study, it was aimed to explore the molecular genetic characterization of multiple antimicrobial resistant Salmonella spp. isolates from pigs and cattle. A total of 138 Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) isolates were typed with phage, among them, 83.3% of S. Typhimurium tested could divide into a 10 phage types. Definitive type 193 (DT193) (25.4%) and DT195 (24.6%) were exhibited as the dominant types. DT104 and U302 were found from pigs and cattle. On the other hand, S. Enteritidis had 6 phage types, of them, phage type 21 (PT21) and PT11b were the popular types. In the plasmid profiles, 135 of S. Typhimurium isolates were exhibited 1 to 6 plasmid bands which molecular weight ranged from 90 to 2kb. 35 isolates (25.4%) harbored a 90kb plasmid which is thought to be the serotype specific virulence plasmid. Two of twenty five S. Enteritidis had common plasmids at 2 and 1.5kb. With multiplex polymerase chain reaction, virulence genes (invA and spvC) were detected from all Salmonella spp. from 167 of S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis and chloramphenicol resistant S. Schwarzengrund, but some drug resistant genes, such as PSE-1, cml/tetR and flo were not determined but other drug resistant genes, for example TEM and int were found. The detection rates of spvC, TEM and int gene was 35.3%, 29.3% and 72.5%, respectively. The TEM gene was highly popular in S. Typhimurium, which was detected from ampicillin and amoxicillin resistant strains as 95.9%. int gene was able to detect from all the isolates identified as multidrug resistsnt (MDR), particularly DT193 was thought as the most prevalent virulence and multidrug resistance isolate. The major plasmid profile and drug resistance pattern of DT193 were 90, 40, 10.5, 6.3, 3.0kb and ACCbDNaPSSuT, respectively. MDR was commonly found in other phage types, particularly DT104, U302 and DT203.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of genes that encode multi-drug efflux pumps and virulence factors in Enterococcus faecalis isolated from retail meat and antibiotic resistance patterns of these strains. Of the 277 retail meat samples, 93 Enterococcus faecalis were isolated. The strains exhibited resistance to ampicillin (35.5%), chloramphenicol (6.4%), ciprofloxacin (4.3%), erythromycin (18.3%), levofloxacin (0%), quinupristin-dalfopristin (76.3%), tetracycline (45.2%), teicoplanin (0%) and vancomycin (0%). The strains were positive for MFS type eme(A) (100%), ABC type efr(A) (100%), ABC type efr(B) (98.9%) and ABC type lsa (91.4%) efflux pump gene. The strains were positive for gelE (68.8%), ace (90.3%), asa1 (47.3%), efaA (91.4%) and esp (12.9%) virulence gene. This research will help to assess the hazards associated with the occurrence of drug resistance among enterococci from retail meat. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor enterococcus spp. isolated from retail meat continuously.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 2021

This study investigated the prevalence, serotypes, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Listeria monocytogenes isolates collected from salmon products. A total of 16 out of 65 salmon products (24.6%) were positive for L. monocytogenes. Bacteria were most frequently identified in smoked salmon products (15/53, 28.3%). Serological tests revealed that serotype 1/2b (62.5%) was the predominant serotype of L. monocytogenes, followed by 1/2a (37.5%). All isolates harbored 10 virulence-associated genes (inlA, inlB, plcA, plcB, hlyA, actA, prf, fbpA, iap, and mpl), confirming their potential pathogenicity. The isolates of L. monocytogenes showed resistance to cefotetan (100%), cefotaxime (87.5%), cefepime (31.3%), erythromycin (6.3%), and tetracycline (6.3%); however, most of the strains were susceptible to antimicrobials except cephalosporins. These results provide useful information regarding the contamination of salmon products with L. monocytogenes, which may have implications for public health.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.203-208
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens isolated from farmstead cheeses. Twenty-seven isolates, including 18 Bacillus cereus, two Escherichia coli, and seven Staphylococcus aureus, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect virulence genes and toxin genes, and the antibiotic resistances of the isolates were determined. All E. coli isolates were determined by PCR to be non-pathogenic. Among the 18 B. cereus isolates, 17 isolates (94.4%) were diarrheal type, as indicated by the presence of nheA, entFM, hbIC, cytK and bceT genes, and one isolate (5.6%) was emetic type, based on the presence of the CER gene. Among the seven S. aureus isolates, three (42.9%) had the mecA gene, which is related to methicillin-resistance. Most B. cereus isolates (94.7%) showed antibiotic resistance to oxacillin and penicillin G, and some strains also showed resistance to ampicillin (26.3%), erythromycin (5.3%), tetracycline (10.5%), and vancomycin (5.3%). These results indicate that microbial food safety measures for farmstead cheese must be implemented in Korea because antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens, with resistance even to vancomycin, harboring virulence genes were found to be present in the final products of farmstead cheese.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2016

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a communicable disease of pigs caused by infection with Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) which expresses F18 fimbriae and/or Stx type 2e (Stx2e). While STEC causes a severe illness including hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans, it induces damage to the vascular endothelium, which results in edema, hemorrhage, and microthrombosis, leading in high mortality in pigs. In the present study, we cultured Stx2e-producing E. coli field isolates from conventional pig farms that experienced sudden deaths previously with symptoms similar to porcine edema disease, which were further investigated with Shiga toxin profiles. A total of 43 strains were identified from the collected samples by F18 or Stx2e specific PCR. Based on the PCR, 42 isolates out of 43 isolates were proved to carry one of F18 or Stx2e genes and 14 isolates to carry both F18 and Stx2e genes. All of the 30 isolates that harbored Stx2e gene induced the cytopathic effect (CPE) in vero cells and especially, the isolate 150229 produced the highest level of Shiga toxin. Therefore, we identified the virulence genes (F18 and Stx2e) and demonstrated Shiga toxin-producing abilities from porcine edema disease causing E. coli filed isolates. These results suggested that one of the isolates could be a vaccine antigen candidate against STEC through further investigating to elicit an immune response.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1146-1151
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• 2005

The yeast Candida albicans has a distinguishing feature, dimorphism, which is the ability to switch between two morphological forms: a budding yeast form and a multicellular invasive filamentous form. This ability has been postulated to contribute to the virulence of this organism. Previously, we reported that the yeast-to-hypha transition in this organism is suppressed by farnesoic acid, a morphogenic autoregulatory substance that accumulates in the medium as the cells proliferate. In this study, using a differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) technique, we have identified several genes induced in C. albicans by farnesoic acid treatment. These observations indicate that farnesoic acid can alter the expressivity of multiple genes, including the DNA replication machinery and cell-cycle-control proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1551-1556
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• 2016

Broiler meat production worldwide has been plagued by lethal food-poisoning bacteria diseases, including listeriosis. A fatality rate of 15.6% was recorded in human beings in the EU in 2015. During 2013, a total of 200 poultry farm samples, including litter, chicken breast, farm feed, and drinking water, were collected to generate baseline data for the characterization of the genus Listeria in broiler poultry farms. Listeria spp. were detected in a total of 95 (47.5%) poultry farm samples. The isolates of Listeria spp. included L. innocua (28.5%), L. ivanovii (12.5%), L. welshimeri (4.5%), and L. monocytogenes and L. seeligeri (1% each). Listeria spp. contamination rates were higher in farm feed (70%), followed by litter (52.5%), chicken breasts (42.2%), and drinking water (10%). Almost all Listeria spp. isolates were resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics (multidrug resistant). Besides this, we observed a significant resistance level to penicillin and fluoroquinolone drugs. However, lower resistance levels were recorded for broad-spectrum cephalosporins. The inlA, inlC, and inlJ virulence genes were detected in almost all of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Thus, food safety management approaches and interventions at all stages of the broiler rearing cycle were needed to control cross-contamination and the zoonotic potential of listeriosis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.102-114
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• 2022

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) is a gram-negative, broad host range bacterial pathogen which causes soft rot disease in potatoes as well as other vegetables worldwide. While Pectobacterium infection relies on the production of major cell wall degrading enzymes, other virulence factors and the mechanism of genetic adaptation of this pathogen is not yet clear. In the present study, we have performed an in-depth genome-wide characterization of Pcc strain ICMP5702 isolated from potato and compared it with other pathogenic bacteria from the Pectobacterium genus to identify key virulent determinants. The draft genome of Pcc ICMP5702 contains 4,774,457 bp with a G + C content of 51.90% and 4,520 open reading frames. Genome annotation revealed prominent genes encoding key virulence factors such as plant cell wall degrading enzymes, flagella-based motility, phage proteins, cell membrane structures, and secretion systems. Whereas, a majority of determinants were conserved among the Pectobacterium strains, few notable genes encoding AvrE-family type III secretion system effectors, pectate lyase and metalloprotease in addition to the CRISPR-Cas based adaptive immune system were uniquely represented. Overall, the information generated through this study will contribute to decipher the mechanism of infection and adaptive immunity in Pcc.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.710-724
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• 2023

The plant defense responses to microbial infection are tightly regulated and integrated with the developmental program for optimal resources allocation. Notably, the defense-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) acts as a promoter of flowering while several plant pathogens actively target the flowering signaling pathway to promote their virulence or dissemination. Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum inject tens of effectors in the host cells that collectively promote bacterial proliferation in plant tissues. Here, we characterized the function of the broadly conserved R. pseudosolanacearum effector RipL, through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. RipL-expressing transgenic lines presented a delayed flowering, which correlated with a low expression of flowering regulator genes. Delayed flowering was also observed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants transiently expressing RipL. In parallel, RipL promoted plant susceptibility to virulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae in the effector-expressing lines or when delivered by the type III secretion system. Unexpectedly, SA accumulation and SA-dependent immune signaling were not significantly affected by RipL expression. Rather, the RNA-seq analysis of infected RipL-expressing lines revealed that the overall amplitude of the transcriptional response was dampened, suggesting that RipL could promote plant susceptibility in an SA-independent manner. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning RipL effect on flowering and immunity may reveal novel effector functions in host cells.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2001

Erwinia amylovora causes a devastating disease called fire blight in rosaceous trees and shrubs such as apple, pear, and raspberry. To successfully infect its hosts, the pathogen requires a set of clustered genes termed hrp. Studies on the hrp system of E. amylovora indicated that it consists of three functional classes of genes. Regulation genes including hrpS, hrpS, hrpXY, and hrpL produce proteins that control the expression of other genes in the cluster. Secretion genes, many of which named hrc, encode proteins that may form a transmembrane complex, which is devoted to type III protein secretion. Finally, several genes encode the proteins that are delivered by the protein secretion apparatus. They include harpins, DspE, and other potential effector proteins that may contribute to proliferation of E. amylovora inside the hosts. Harpins are glycine-rich heat-stable elicitors of the hypersensitive response, and induce systemic acquired resistance. The pathogenicity protein DseE is homologous and functionally similar to an avirulence protein of Pseudomonas syringae. The region encompassing the hrpldsp gene cluster of E. amylovora shows features characteristic of a genomic island : a cryptic recombinase/integrase gene and a tRNA gene are present at one end and genes corresponding to those of the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome are found beyond the region. This island, designated the Hrp pathogenicity island, is more than 60 kilobases in size and carries as many as 60 genes.