• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.414-419
• /
• 2018

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the most common foodborne pathogens responsible for outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis, which can lead to the life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome. In this study, we identified phytochemicals that specifically inhibit the expression of LEE operon in E. coli O157:H7. Among phytochemicals, diosmin decreased the adherence of E. coli O157:H7 towards Caco-2 cells in vitro (p<0.01) and its biofilm formation activity (p<0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcripts of Ler-regulated genes and genes related to curli production were significantly reduced in the presence of diosmin. However, diosmin does not affect bacterial viability, indicating that the resistance rate to diosmin was remarkably low. Overall, these results provide significant insights into the development of a novel anti-infective agent that is different from conventional antibiotics.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is categorized as a red alert pathogen that is increasingly associated with a high mortality rate in infected patients because of its resistance to extensive antibiotics. This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of some essential oils (tee tree, rosemary, and lavender oils) against 18 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MRAB). The carbapenemase screening Hodge test showed that all 20 strains of A. baumannii were resistant to imipenem. The identification of multidrug-resistant microbes was carried out using the VITEK system. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils was tested by a disk diffusion method against MRAB. In the disk diffusion method, tea tree showed the largest increase in inhibition size compared to lavender oil, and rosemary had no antibacterial effect. These results proved the antimicrobial effect of multidrug resistance A. baumannii. Tee tree oil would be a useful alternative natural product for the treatment and prevention of most common human pathogens and MRAB infections. This is expected to be used as an antimicrobial agent, such as hand disinfectant using natural essential oil in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.1420-1429
• /
• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2018

Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) are found in animals, humans, and environment. In addition, S. Enteritidis draws attention to the public health concerns due to carriage of antibiotic resistance traits. For these reasons, the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of S. Enteritidis are significant issues with regard to public health. To address this issues, a total of 24 strains of S. Enteritidis from 164 samples collected from several slaughterhouses in Gyeong-Nam province in order for antibiotic resistance profiles. Subsequently, we characterized the genotyping by random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. As a result, very high level of resistance to protein synthesis inhibition antibiotics and most isolates were susceptible to others. Six random primers were used for RAPD-PCR to reveal genotypes of S. Enteritidis isolates. One of the primer, P1245, generated 147 distinct RAPD-PCR fragments ranging from 400~3000 bp. The number of RAPD-PCR products ranged from 4 to 8 for this primer. The RAPD-PCR fragments could be placed these strains into 3 subgroups and 2 classes by UPGMA cluster analysis. Interestingly, several S. Enteritidis that isolated from different slaughterhouses showed same genotype. These results showed only limited genetic variation among the isolates, those were grouped into a few different patterns of antibiotic resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.714-720
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the antibiotic risk of $Enterococcus$ in fermented soy paste, $Enterococcus$ spp. were isolated and identified from 31 $Cheongkukjang$ and 17 $Doenjang$, samples. Exactly 123 $Enterococcus$ spp., 119 from $Cheongkukjang$ and four from $Doenjang$, were ultimately isolated. The most frequently collected $Enterococcus$ isolates in $Cheongkukjang$ were 69 strains of $E.$ $faecium$ and 20 strains of $E.$ $faecalis$. All four $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Deonjang$ were identified as $E.$ $faecium$. All isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, and tetracyclin $E.$ However, they showed broad spectra from sensitivity to resistance to erythromycin, ripampin, and streptomycin. Vancomycin minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Cheongkukjang$ ranged from 0.25 to 8 ${\mu}g/mL$. Almost all strains were sensitive to vancomycin, but eight strains showed intermediate resistance to vancomycin. Seventeen strains showing the highest MIC of 8 ${\mu}g/mL$ among all isolates were evenly distributed among $E.$ $faecalis$, $E.$ $faecium$, $E.$ $gallinarum$, and $E.$ $casselifalvus$, in which the strong resistant genes of $van$A and $van$B for vancomycin were not detected. Overall antibiotic resistance of $Enterococcus$ isolates was relatively low and particularly low vancomycin resistance was similar to those of $Enterococcus$ isolates obtained from other foods. Therefore, the antibiotics resistance of $Enterococcus$ and especially vancomycin-resistant $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Cheongkukjang$ and $Doenjang$, is not hazardous.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.569-576
• /
• 2007

Four hundred and fifty tilapias ($6.77{\pm}0.23$ g) were assigned randomly to six groups to evaluate the feasibility of the tested antibacterial peptides (ABPs) and oligosaccharides as substitutes for antibiotics. The control group was fed with a commercial tilapia diet; other five groups were fed with the same commercial diet supplemented with konjac glucomannan (KGLM), cluster bean galactomannan (CBGAM), and three animal intestinal ABPs derived from chicken, pig and rabbit at 100 mg/kg respectively. After 21 days of feeding, growth, disease resistance, and in vivo anti-adherence were determined. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of tested agents on adhesion of Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria (A.vbs) strain BJCP-5 to tilapia enteric epithelia in vitro was assessed by cell-ELISA system. As a result, the tested agents supplemented at 100 mg/kg show significant benefit to tilapia growth and disease resistance (p<0.05), and the benefit may be correlated with their interfering in the contact of bacteria with host mucosal surface. Although none of the tested agents did inhibit the growth of BJCP-5 in tryptic soy broth at $100{\mu}g/ml$, all of them did inhibit the adhesion of A.vbs to tilapia enteric epithelia in vivo and in vitro. In vitro mimic assays show that three ABPs at low concentrations of $25{\mu}g/ml$ and $2.5{\mu}g/ml$ have the reciprocal dose-dependent anti-adherence effect. The inhibition of ABPs may be correlated with a cation bridging and/or receptor-ligand binding, but not with hydrophobicity. The KGLM and CBGAM inhibited the adherence of BJCP-5 to tilapia enteric epithelia with dose-dependent manner in vitro, and this may be through altering bacterial hydrophobicity and interfering with receptor-ligand binding. Our results indicate that the anti-adherence of the tested ABPs and oligosaccharides may be one of the mechanisms in promoting tilapia growth and resistance to A.vbs.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 2006

ERM proteins transfer the methyl group to $A_{2058}$ in 23S rRNA to confer the resistance to MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B) antibiotics on microorganism ranging from antibiotic producers to pathogens. To define the functional role of peptide segment encompassing amino acid residues 1 to 25 in NTER (N-terminal end region) of ErmSF, one of the ERM proteins, DNA fragment encoding mutant protein deprived of that peptide was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli to obtain a purified soluble form protein to the apparent homogeneity in the yield of 12.65 mg per liter of culture. The in vitro activity of mutant protein was found to be 85% compared to wild type ErmSF, suggesting that this peptide interact with substrate to affect the enzyme activity. This diminished activity of mutant protein caused the delayed expression of antibiotic resistance in vivo, that at fIrst cells expressing mutant protein showed the retarded growth due to the antibiotic action but with time cells inhibited by antibiotic gradually recovered the viability to exert the resistance to the same extent as those with wild type protein.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.145-147
• /
• 2004

The ethyl acetate extracts from the liquid cultures of Coriolus versicolor, Phellinus linteus, and Hericium erinaceus showed significant antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli K88, E. coli K99, E. coli 987P, and Salmonella typhimurium 14058 causing bacterial diarrhea in Korean house pigs and chicken. Of these extracts, Coriolus versicolor extract showed the highest antibacterial activity. In addition, these extracts also showed significant growth inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus CARM3230 and E. coli CARM1381 which are known as kanamycin and ampicillin-resistant strains. These results showed that the mushroom extracts could be developed as a livestock feed additives that can replace commercial antibiotics, and also could be good resources for the development of a new antibacterial agent.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.244-251
• /
• 2012

In vitro and greenhouse screening of seven rhizobacterial isolates, AB05, AB10, AB11, AB12, AB14, AB15 and AB17, was conducted to investigate the plant growth promoting activities and inhibition against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in pepper. According to identification based on 16S rDNA sequencing, the majority of the isolates are members of Bacillus and a single isolate belongs to the genus Paenibacillus. All seven bacterial isolates were capable of inhibiting C. acutatum to various degrees. The results primarily showed that antibiotic substances produced by the selected bacteria were effective and resulted in strong antifungal activity against the fungi. However, isolate AB15 was the most effective bacterial strain, with the potential to suppress more than 50% mycelial growth of C. acutatum in vitro. Moreover, antibiotics from Paenibacillus polymyxa (AB15) and volatile compounds from Bacillus subtilis (AB14) exerted efficient antagonistic activity against the pathogens in a dual culture assay. In vivo suppression activity of selected bacteria was also analyzed in a greenhouse with the reference to their prominent in vitro antagonism efficacy. Induced systemic resistance in pepper against C. acutatum was also observed under greenhouse conditions. Where, isolate AB15 was found to be the most effective bacterial strain at suppressing pepper anthracnose under greenhouse conditions. Moreover, four isolates, AB10, AB12, AB15, and AB17, were identified as the most effective growth promoting bacteria under greenhouse conditions, with AB17 inducing the greatest enhancement of pepper growth.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.148-156
• /
• 2020

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 has two multidrug resistance (MDR) efflux pump transporters, MexAB-OprM and MexEF-OprN. To understand the role of these MDR efflux pumps in virulence, we generated deletion mutants, ΔmexB, ΔmexF, and ΔmexBΔmexF, and investigated their sensitivity to plant-derived antimicrobial compounds, antibiotics, and virulence. Growth inhibition assays with KB soft agar plate showed that growth of the wild-type (WT) was inhibited by 5 μl of 1 M catechol and 1 M coumarin but not by other plant-derived potential antimicrobial compounds tested including phytoalexins. The sensitivity to these compounds tended to increase in ΔmexB and ΔmexBΔmexF mutants. The ΔmexBΔmexF mutant was also sensitive to 2 M acetovanillone. The mexAB-oprM was constitutively expressed, and activated in the ΔmexF and ΔmexBΔmexF mutant strains. The swarming and swimming motilities were impaired in ΔmexF and ΔmexBΔmexF mutants. The flood inoculation test indicated that bacterial populations in all mutant strains were significantly lower than that of WT, although all mutants and WT caused similar disease symptoms. These results indicate that MexAB-OprM extrudes plant-derived catechol, acetovanillone, or coumarin, and contributes to bacterial virulence. Furthermore, MexAB-OprM and MexEF-OprN complemented each other's functions to some extent.