• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2024

Unlike resistant cells, persister cells resist antibiotics due to a decreased cellular metabolic rate and can transition back to normal susceptible cells when the antibiotic is removed. These persister cells contribute to the chronic symptoms of infectious diseases and promote the emergence of resistant strains with continuous antibiotic exposure. Therefore, eliminating persister cells represents a promising approach to significantly enhance antibiotic efficacy. Here, we found that Coicis Semen extract reduced Staphylococcus aureus persister cells at a concentration of 0.5 g/L. Linoleic acid and oleic acid, the major components of Coicis Semen extract, exhibited a comparable reduction in persister cells when combined with three antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, and tobramycin. Conversely, these effects were nullified in the presence of the surfactant Tween 80 (1%), suggesting that the hydrophobic characteristics of linoleic acid and oleic acids play a pivotal role in reducing the number of S. aureus persister cells. Considering the concentration-dependent effects of linoleic acid and oleic acid, the persister-reducing activity of Coicis Semen extract was primarily attributed to these fatty acids. Moreover, Coicis Semen extract, linoleic acid, and oleic acid increased the cell membrane permeability of S. aureus. Interestingly, this effect was counteracted by 1% Tween 80, indicating a close association between the reduction of persister cells and the increase in cell membrane permeability. The identified compounds could thus be used to eliminate persister cells, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and shortening treatment duration. When used in conjunction with antibiotics, they may also mitigate chronic symptoms and significantly reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2019

Bifidobacteria are a prototype probiotic, which normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans. In the present study, four species of Bifidobacterium isolated from the feces of infants were characterized. The tolerance for acid or bile salt, autoaggregation, and antibiotic resistance of the bacteria were examined. The four species were resistant to low pH, bile salts, and up to 3% bile acid. Autoaggregation rates were as high as 90%. The bacteria were consistently resistant to gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid. Due to their tolerance to environmental factors like acid and bile salts, B. longum MG723, B. breve MG729, B. bifidum MG731, and B. animalis subsp. lactis MG741 are potentially valuable as probiotics and may be useful for industrial application.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.158-161
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• 2015

Bacterial dermatitis is common disease that is necessary to treat with antibiotics. In recent, antibiotic-resistant bacteria is being increased in worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of resistant genes in Staphylococcus (S.) pseudintermedius isolated from dogs, and to compare the resistant gene profile with the result of antibiotic disc diffusion test. A total of seven S. pseudintermedius was included in the study. Bacterial identification was performed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. S. pseudintermedius isolates had more than one antibiotic resistant gene (mecA, blaZ and aac(6')/aph(2"). While all isolates were PCR positive to blaZ gene, only two isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanate. Among five isolates harboring gentamicin resistance, one isolate was negative to aac(6')/aph(2")-targeted PCR. Taken together, the results suggest that resistant gene-targeted PCR and disc diffusion test are complementary to detect antibiotic resistance.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2003

Objectives : Gram-positive bacteria have became increasing resistant to antibacterial agents, and hence multi-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are now a major problem in clinical medicine. There is, therefore, a need for new antibacterial agents. In the course of our screening program for potent antibacterial agent from medicinal plants, the extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) showed antibacterial activity against methcillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antibiotic-resistant S. aureus. Methods : S. miltiorrhiza was extracted with 80$\%$ EtOH. The extract was suspended in H2O and fractionated successively with hexane chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-buthanol. The chloroform fraction, which showed the highest antibacterial activity(MICs, 78㎍/ml) against MRSA, was chromatographed on a silica gel column and recycling prep-LC to give the pure antibacterial component. Results and Conclusions : The second fraction among the chloroform soluble portion of an aqueous EtOH extract of S. miltiorrhiza root showed outstanding antibacterial activity against MRSA and antibiotic-resistant S. aureus compared to the other fraction. An active compound was isolated from the second fraction using silica gel column chromatoraphy and recycling prep-LC. Based on these data together with the IH-, 13C-NMR, mass and mp, the active compounds were identified tanshinone Ⅰ, dehydrotanshinone Ⅰ and cryptotanshinone. Among tanshinones, cryptotanshinone and dihydrotanshinone Ⅰ MICs against MRSA and antibiotics-resistant S. aureus were 12.5, 12.5 and 6.3㎍/ml, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Objectives: The most prominent microorganisms that cause hospital infections and acquire antibiotic resistance are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The present study aimed to compare the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of various Allium ampeloprasum and Allium porrum extracts and evaluate the antibacterial effects of these extracts against these two microorganisms. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the acetone, methanol, aqueous, and hexane leeks extracts from A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum were measured. The antibacterial activity of these extracts against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was tested using the disk diffusion method for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Further, the minimum inhibitory concentrations and the minimum bactericidal concentrations of these extracts for these two bacteria were evaluated and compared with those of common antibiotics. Results: The aqueous extracts showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents and at concentrations of 35 and 40 mg per disk, showed the most antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa; P. aeruginosa showed more sensitivity to the aqueous extracts than S. aureus. Conclusion: Aqueous A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum extracts may prevent the growth of hospital pathogens, especially P. aeruginosa; our findings will aid the discovery of new antimicrobial substances against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.288-297
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• 2024

Fermented cooked rice is known to have remedial properties and good for health, but there is a lack of scientific knowledge to prove their beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the presence of antibiotic-producing bacteria in fermented cooked rice. The probiotic properties of the bioactive isolates were also investigated. A total of seven pure isolates were isolated from fermented cooked rice prepared from parboiled cooked Aus rice in the lab following traditional methods. All the isolates were gram-positive, can grow at thermophilic range of temperatures, and all but CRS9 were able to coagulate milk. Three strains exhibited moderate to high broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against the test bacteria including Shigella brodie, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus sp. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences of the strain CRS8 and CRS11 showed that they belong to the genus Bacillus as they exhibited >99% identity to several strains of Bacillus. Both strains could survive the highly acidic conditions and can tolerate bile acid indicating their potential to be the candidate probiotic strains. The strain CRS8 was resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins including amoxicillin, penicillin, cephalothin, however, the CRS11 was sensitive to all the antibiotics tested. This is the first report that fermented cooked rice is a source of antibiotic-producing Bacillus sp. The probiotic properties of the Bacillus isolates from fermented cooked rice were also investigated for the first time.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between antibiotic use and the antimicrobial resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated from blood cultures in a pediatric population. Methods: From January 2014 to June 2018, the antibiotic resistance pattern of Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from bacteremic patients aged ≤18 years hospitalized at Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital was analyzed and the parenteral antibiotic consumption data were retrieved. Results: During the study period, the blood culture was positive for K. pneumoniae (6.4%; 105/1,628), E. coli (5.6%; 91/1,628), P. aeruginosa (3.3%; 54/1,628), and A. baumannii (2.5%; 41/1,628), and the extended-spectrum antibiotic resistance rate of gram-negative bacteria was consistently high. The overall resistance rate of E. coli and K. pneumoniae to extendedspectrum cephalosporin was 49.3% and 54.4%, respectively. Carbapenem-resistant E. coli was first detected in 2014; its overall resistance rate to carbapenem was 5.3%. There was a linear correlation between the usage of 3rd generation cephalosporin and the resistance of A. baumannii (r²=0.96, P=0.004) and carbapenem usage and the resistance of K. pneumoniae (r²=0.79, P=0.045). Conclusions: A positive linear correlation was observed between antibiotic resistance and the corresponding antibiotic usage in 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant A. baumannii and carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae. The judicious use of antibiotics in healthcare settings is important to minimize selection for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenem resistance in gram-negative bacteria.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2014

Streptococci are among the normal human microflora that populate the oral cavity. However, oral streptococci are known as a major causative agent for dental caries and bacterial endocarditis. Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used for oral infections but two mechanisms of tetracycline resistance in streptococci have been reported. The tet(K) and tet(L) genes in these bacteria are related to the active efflux of tetracycline, whereas tet(M) and tet(O) confer ribosomal protection from this antibiotic. It has been reported that the tetracycline resistance of streptococci is related mainly to the activity of tet(M) and tet(O). In our present study, we examined the prevalence of tet(M) and tet(O) in oral streptococci isolated from Korean dental plaques using PCR. One hundred and forty eight of 635 isolates (23.3%) were tetracycline resistant; 68 of these strains (46%) harbored tet(M) and 3 strains (2%) were positive for tet(O). However, tet(M) and tet(O) did not co-exist in any of the resistant strains. Seventy seven of the 148 tetracycline resistant strains (52%) were negative for both the tet(M) and tet(O) genes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 1996

A total of 315 microorgainisms were isolated from 256 pneumonic lung samples of pig in abattoirs of northern Chungnam area during February to November 1994, and Identified 97 strains as Pusteurella multocida, 89 strains as Staphylococcus spp, 54 strains as Streptococcus spp, 22 strains as Mycoplasma spp, 21 strains as Escherichia coli, 18 strains as Haemophilus parsuis, 11 strains as Corymebacteroi, pyogenes, and 3 strains as Acrinobacillus spp by Gram's and Dienes stain, and biological properties test Involved API system. After that, they were examined anti biotic susceptibility for ampicillin(AM), cephalothin(CF), chloramphenicol(CP), erythromycin(EM), kanamycin(KM), gentamicin(GM), neomycin(NM), penicillin(PC), streptomycin(SM), tetracycline(TE), tiamulin(TIA), tylosin(TYL), methicillin(DP), colistin(CL) and trimet hoprim(SXT). In antibiotics susceptibility test, 293 isolates except Mycoplasma spp 22 strain were highly susceptible to DF(79.2%) and AM(76.2%), but resistant to PC(14.0%), NM(19.5%) and KM (23.2%) The multiple drug resistant patterns were noted in most isolates, whereas only 7 isolates resistant to single drugs.