• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 1991

Pediococcus acidilactici strain M produced a bacteriocin which was proteinaceous, heat stable, and exhibited antimicrobial activity against lactic acid bacteria, variety of food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The antimicrobial activity was not caused by $H_2$$O_2$ and organic acid, and was remained between pHs of 4.0 to 9. Molecular weight of crude bacteriocin was approximately 2, 500. Phenotypic assignment after plasmid cruing experiment demonstrated that a 53.7 kilobase (kb) plasmid, designated as pSUC53, was responsible for the sucrose fermentation phenotype ($Suc^+$) and a 11.1 kb plasmid, designated as pBAC11, was associated with bacteriocin production phenotype ($Bac^+$). Neither of the two plasmids were linked to antibiotic resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.871-874
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• 2010

Many studies require expression analysis of the same gene/promoter across a range of bacterial genera. However, there is currently a lack of availability of reporters based on the broad-host-range IncQ replicon, which is compatible with a popular improved IncP transfer system that is self-transfer defective. We report IncQ lacZ reporter plasmids with features including (1) compatibility with IncP, IncW, and pBHR/pBBR replicons, (2) a variety of antibiotic markers (Sp-r, Sm-r, Km-r, Cm-r), (3) convenient mobilization via a novel self-transfer-defective IncP conjugation system, and (4) GenBank DNA sequences. Utility is demonstrated using three different promoters in different Gram-negative genera.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-304
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• 1988

Antibiotic resistance plasmids (RP4, pMG1, R679 and R91-5) were used as primary selective markers to detect the fusants in Pseudomonas spp. By using plasmid marker, clones containing both plasmids of parental strains were obtained as fusants by direct selection. The spheroplast fusion was occured not only between strains of interspecies, but also between strains of intergenus such as Pseudomonas and E. coli. The frequencies of fusant formation were variable from $2.8\times 10^{-1}$ to $6.0\times 10^{-4}$ -4/. In addition, chromosomal recombinants were formed among the clones with both parental plasmids in frequencies of 0.44-1.3%. The fusant formation frequency between interspecies of intraspecies was not different markedly, but stability of plasmids in fusants correlated with the phylogenic smilarity of the parental strains.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2018

Staphylococcus aureus is a well-recognized human pathogen that causes a wide range of infections as a result of its extensive virulence factors. One of these factors is Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a potent pore-forming cytotoxin that has been linked to invasive S. aureus infections. PVL is one of the important virulence factors for S. aureus and has been largely recognized as one of the markers for community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus. However, the presence of PVL in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections is not widely reported in the literature. Thrombotic sequelae of S. aureus infections associated with PVL expression are uncommon in children. We hereby report two children with thrombotic complications associated with PVL-producing methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Both patients responded well to antibiotic and anticoagulant therapies, and survived without any long-term sequelae.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2005

In this study, we assessed the susceptibility of 12 Lactobacillus strains, all of which had been isolated from the gastrointestinal tracts of chicken, to three antibiotics (chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline) used commonly as selective markers in transformation studies of lactic acid bacteria. Among these strains, $17\%,\;58\%,\;and\;25\%$ were found to exhibit a high degree of resistance to $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ of tetracycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol, respectively. Seven of the 12 Lactobacillus strains exhibiting resistance to at least $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of chloramphenicol or erythromycin, and five strains exhibiting resistance to at least $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of tetracycline, were subsequently subjected to plasmid curing with chemical curing agents, such as novobiocin, acriflavin, SDS, and ethidium bromide. In no cases did the antibiotic resistance of these strains prove to be curable, with the exception of the erythromycin resistance exhibited by five Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus I16 and I26, L. fermentum I24 and C17, and L. brevis C10). Analysis of the plasmid profiles of these five cured derivatives revealed that all of the derivatives, except for L. acidophilus I16, possessed profiles similar to those of wild-type strains. The curing of L. acidophilus I16 was accompanied by the loss of 4.4 kb, 6.1 kb, and 11.5 kb plasmids.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.388-393
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Acute cholecystitis is a rare condition in pregnant women, potentially affecting the maternal and fetal prognosis. Our aim was to report the main clinical and paraclinical features of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy and therapeutic modalities. Methods: We conducted a case series analysis recording pregnant patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to our surgery department over a period of 11 years. We collected clinical data, paraclinical features, and management modalities related to cholecystitis. Results: There were 47 patients. Twenty-eight percent was in the first trimester of pregnancy, 40% in the second, and 32% in the third trimester. Abdominal pain was located in the right hypochondrium in 75% of cases. Fever was noted in 21% of cases. C-reactive protein was elevated in 39% of patients. Cholestasis markers were high in four patients. Abdominal ultrasound showed a distended gallbladder in 39 patients, with thickened wall in 34 patients, and gallbladder lithiasis in all cases. No patient had a dilated main bile duct. All patients received intravenous antibiotic therapy. Tocolysis was indicated in 32 patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 32 cases (68%), and open cholecystectomy in 15 cases (32%). Postoperative course was uneventful in 42 patients, and complicated in 5 patients. Rate of complications was statistically higher after open cholecystectomy (p = 0.003). Morbidity rate was higher in the third trimester (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Delay in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy can lead to serious complications. Management is based on antibiotic therapy and cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be less morbid than open cholecystectomy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.319-327
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• 1987

In order to develop useful plasmid vectors for Zymomonas cells, attempts were made to isolate natural plasmids from Z. mobilis ATCC10988. Among a few plasmids isolated, a small plasmid of 3.9 Kb size was chosen and designated as pZM3. By introducing the replication origin of pZM3 into pBR325, a hybrid plasmid vector of 8.4 Kb size, pHZ22, was constructed. This vector contained chloramphenicol resistant gene as a selectable marker and proved to be conjugally transmissible and stably maintained in Z. mobilis. Tetracycline resistant gene was isolated from RP4 and introduced into pHZ22 to make a new vector called pHZT224 of 10.7 Kb size. Through n series of experiments, it was evident that these plasmid vectors containing selectable markers of chloramphenicol and tetracycline resistance were shuttle vectors functional in Z. mobilis as well as E. coli.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Sepsis is a physiological response to a source of infection that triggers mechanisms that compromise organ function, leading to death if not treated early. Biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and accuracy that could differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could bring about a revolution in sepsis treatment. Given the limitations and time required for microbial verification of pathogens, the accurate diagnosis of infection before employing antibiotic therapy is important and clinically necessary. Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and proadrenomedullin (ProADM) are the common biomarkers used for diagnosis. The procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections effectively reduces antibiotic exposure and side effects while improving survival rates. The evidence regarding sepsis screening in hospitalized patients is limited. Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare decision-makers should consider these findings and limitations when implementing screening tools, future research, or policy on sepsis recognition in hospitalized patients. The use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis is promising, although such use should always be correlated with clinical evaluation. Biomarkers may also improve the prediction of mortality, especially in the early phase of sepsis, when the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins are elevated.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2007

The green revolution has significantly helped in increasing the food production. So far, various breeding methods have been exploited, besides them recombination DNA technology provides another approach for increasing the food production. By means of this technology the losses in food production incurred by various biotic and abiotic stresses can be effectively controlled. In most of the transgenic studies scientists have used antibiotic resistant genes as markers for easy selection of transformants but there are risks involved in use of GM foods. To make such foods safer and environment friendly we have discussed a novel strategy i.e. Cre-lox which involves site specific recombination. By means of Cre-lox the marker genes can be specifically removed once the selection of transformants is over. In addition, this strategy can be used to module the hybrid chromosomes, avoid gene silencing and incorporate single copy of a transgene for its higher expression.

• 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.